The Henson Journals

[185]

1st Sunday after Easter, April 23rd, 1911.

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"At its best the Church of England has been of the nature of a federal union between groups of believers in a common Christianity, whose diverging opinions in detail are wholly incapable of logical conciliation; at its worst it has attempted to establish the unity of an idea, a theory, or a system, & has denied the right of citizenship to its lawful children, shedding large portions of its population to found those colonies, disdainfully named sects, which constitute a no less genuine part of the religious life of the nation."

( Prof: Dowden. "Puritan & Anglican." p. 77.)

I celebrated at 8 a.m. without any assistant. There were but 12 comts, including Swallow.

I preached at Mattins on 'The Unity of the Church'. The congregation was large but unduly feminine. The Sub–Dean celebrated afterwards.

Mr & Mrs Macpherson came to lunch.

At Evensong the Church was crowded. I preached on the moral obligations of the Christian Profession.

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