The Henson Journals

[368]

Sunday after Christmas, December 31st, 1911.

I celebrated the Holy Communion in S. Margaret's at 8 a.m. There were but 14 communicants, all women save three.

The congregation at Mattins was fair. I preached from the words "Little children, guard yourselves from idols". Offertory amounted to £15.5.7.

There was a very large congregation at Evensong. I preached on "The transitory & the eternal", taking as my text the two passages Isaiah 40.8: & 1. John 2.17. After service we sang four carols, & the "Old hundredth". The Offertory exceeded £9.

Bob Bineham brought his friend Leonard Spiller to supper.

[369]

March 5th	Addressed the Free Church Council at Portsmouth.
April 5th	Addressed Congregational Union at Bradford.
April 24.	Inge appointed Dean of St Paul's
April 25.	Burge " Bishop of Southwark
April 29.	Ryle installed Dean of Westminster
May 12.	Attended meeting of W. Londern [sic] Mission in Queen's Hall.
May 17.	Attended meeting of Presbyterian C. of E. Foreign Missions.
May 25 – 30.	I visited Edinburgh; addressed both the Established & the U.F. General Assemblies, delivered the "Lee" Lecture in St Giles's; & preached in Old Grey Friars, & in the Iron Church.
June 22.	The Coronation
June 28.	I addressed the National Service League, Annual Dinner
July 10.	I preached to Campbell Morgan's Bible Conference.
July 16.	I preached at Eton.
Juy 23.	I preached in the Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral.
Aug 16 – Sept. 20.	Abroad on holiday
Oct: 1st	Preached twice in connection with Church Congress.
Oct. 13th	My 'Appeal to Nonconformists' appeared in 'Times'
Oct. 22.	Preached to the Navy League in S. Martin's
Nov. 12.	I preached twice at Lutterworth
Nov. 14.	I address [sic] the London Congregational Board on 'Welsh Disendowment & Christian Fraternity'
Nov. 21.	I addressed Manchester Wesleyan Mission
Dec. 1.	I addressed Hospital Managers on Insurance Bill

[370] [symbol]

The year 1911 cannot be considered as favourable to me. An unprecedented amount of ecclesl change has taken place, and I remain where I am. The fact suffices to show the disposition of 'the powers that be' towards me: but its significance is enhanced by the appointments which have been made. Moreover, it is impossible not to regard as very unfortunate from this point of view the filling up with relatively young men the two Metropolitan Deaneries, one or other of which might have seemed the natural terminus for me, if (as seems evident) I am regarded as 'impossible' for a bishoprick. This must be held to be the case since Ripon has been disposed of.

But truly we know not what is best for ourselves, & our wisdom is to look well to our steps in the path wherein we are actually treading. The change of Deans here has made the situation pleasanter: & I think a less evil report will go forth of the Deanery respecting me. Possibly this circumstance may underlie the unprecedented course of the Archbishop in asking me to visit him at Canterbury, and talking over Church–affairs very freely & confidentially. Beeching's departure removes my most intimate friend from the Chapter: & Duckworth's death takes away a kind & helpful person. As Sub–dean I succeed to a post which has marked the end of preferment to its holders for a century past!

[371] [symbol]

On New Year's Day, 1912, the Abbey choir–boys came to their annual party. Gerald brought a fine supply of mechanical toys: and Angel Colenso organized the charades.

On Jany 3rd. I dined with Sir Henry Craik. He had collected a very pleasant party, – Mr Bonar Law, Sir Valentine Chirol, Sir Starr Jameson, Dugald Malcolm, George Craik, & myself. Jameson is a very quiet and amiable person, to whom one naturally feels attracted, the very antithesis of the fire–eating buccaneer his connexion with the raid suggests.

On Jan 5th, Friday, the St Margaret's Choir–boys came to their annual party, which they seemed to enjoy greatly. The Precentor, Westlake, Miss Nepean, Angel, Gilbert, Lady Scott, & Mary formed a phalanx of helpers.

Fawkes preached in the Abbey on the afternoon of Jany 6th: an admirable little sermon on the words "The Word was made flesh". He told me that Father Tyrrell had told him that Wilfrid Ward destroyed a letter in which Cardinal Newman expressed doubts as to the rightness of his course in becoming a Papist.

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