The Henson Journals

[348]

20th Sunday after Trinity, October 29th, 1911.

A fine cold morning with some disposition to be foggy. I celebrated at 8 a.m. There were 18 comts.

Wilson preached at 11 a.m. in the interest of the Seamen's Mission, & afterwards lunched with us.

Gilbert & Reggie accompanied me to Anerley, where I addressed an assembly of men on "Church Unity" in the Congregational Church. There were a good many questions, which seemed to indicate rather a bitter spirit. The minister, Wallace, spoke afterwards with some freedom on the subject of the recent public reconciliation between Forsyth & Campbell. He described as a carefully engineered piece of acting. Indeed the impression he left on my mind was a painful one. Congregationalism must be in a bad way.

There was a very large congregation in St Margaret's at Evensong in spite of the rain. I preached from S. Luke xx.2.

[349]

On All Souls Day, Nov: 2nd 1911, I did fully intend to go up for the College Gaudy. But there was a strike of taxi–cab drivers, & vehicles were difficult to obtain. This was the more inconvenient since it came on to rain heavily. My wife drove me some way on the road to Paddington, & then dropped me to take another cab & therein to proceed to the station. But I could not get a cab: & the omnibuses were all thronged. Time passed, & I despaired of getting to the station in time for the train. So I sent a telegram to the Warden excusing my absence, & returned home.

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