The Henson Journals

[414]

2nd Sunday after Easter, April 21st, 1912.

The brilliant weather continues, & has become very warm. I celebrated at 8 a.m. when there were 23 communicants. The services necessarily took the form of memorials for the unparalleled ship–wreck. It is just a week since the Titanic was sent to the bottom of the Atlantic by collision with an iceberg, no less than 1635 lives being lost. The newspapers have been filled with heart–rending narrations, which include many incidents of genuine heroism. I preached twice in S. Margaret's, the church being thronged. Over £100 was collected for the Lord Mayor's Fund. The 'Dead March' was played after service.

As I strolled with Mary Scott & Logic in the Victoria Gardens, I observed on one of the seats a lad reading a paper. We got into conversation, & I learned that his name was Wilfrid Cyril Molloy, that he was not yet 16 years old, that he had been out of work for some weeks, & had spent the night on the Embankment. I brought him to the house, entertained him during the day, & housed him during the night.

[414] [sic]

My interesting young 'Find' turned out to be a shameless young liar. He stayed here until Wednesday morning when he was 'recovered' by his mother, a decent–looking, gentle mannered woman. On Tuesday I had expended £3. on providing him with clothes, which Mrs Benny obtained for him. I wrote (1) to the clergyman who had prepared him for confirmation, (2) to the 'Economic Society' where he said he had been employed, (3) to the woman, with whom he said he had lodged, (4) to the School–master, under whom he had been educated (5) to the Superintendent of the local police.

The letters were favourable to the lad, but proved him to be a wonderful expert in 'terminological inexactitudes'. His mother told me that the lad's father had become an Agnostic, & that this circumstance had caused much unhappiness in the house.

On Wednesday afternoon, the 24th April, we went to Birchington: & the next day we lunched with the local Rector.

On Friday morning I returned to Westminster & at noon conducted a Memorial Service in St Margaret's for Howard Brown Case & the others who were drowned in the shipwreck. This service was arranged by the Society of Americans resident in London: & was very largely attended by the colony. The American Ambassador sate in the Speaker's seat.

[416]

On Saturday morning I travelled again to Birchington, & that same afternoon we drove to Grove Ferry, & there had tea in a Hotel over–looking the Stour.

On Sunday, the 28th April 1912, I preached twice in the parish Church, & celebrated the Holy Communion. There were but meagre congregations, & I received the impression of a dead–alive parish.

On Monday, the 29th April, we returned to Westminster: at Victoria I bought a copy of 'Vanity Fair', which contains a most villainous caricature of me.

Mr Anson Phelps Stokes who is in Europe keeping his 'Sabbatic year' lunched with us.

Convocation met on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday this week. I attended & made a speech on the Welsh Church Bill which was admired far beyond its merits.

On Thursday, the 2nd of May, I was "raised" to the grade of a Master Mason. There was a parade of ludicrous solemnities, which struck me with much wonder at the gratuitous foolishness of mankind.

Mitford Mitchell dined here the same evening.

On Friday evening, the 3rd of May, I dined with Sir Kenneth Muir Mackenzie. The other guests were Miss Haldane, Edmond Gosse, & Percy Mathieson.

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