The Henson Journals

[434]

2nd Sunday after Trinity, June 16th, 1912.

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During the night rain fell heavily, but it cleared up about 8 a.m. I celebrated in St Margaret's. There were 22 comts.

My sermon this morning is really the first draft of one of the Lectures which I intend to deliver to the Andover College Students. Its theme is 'The Problem of Ecclesl Unity'. There was a large congregation, though there were vacant seats in the Parliamentary Benches. The sermon was listened to with very close attention, but I fear the hungrier sheep were not fed by it.

A Canadian clergyman named Blagrave came to lunch, also Mr & Mrs Potter, & a lady whose name escapes me. In the afternoon I wrote letters to Carissima & Mary.

There was a very large congregation in the Nave of the Abbey Church at 7 p.m. when I preached on 2. Petter [sic] iii. 'We look for new Heavens, & a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness'. I occupied for the first time the Jacobean pulpit which we have just substituted for the little old XVth century pulpit which we call Cranmer's. The latter has a sounding board, which is lacking from the former, a circumstance which brings the acoustics into some uncertainty . However I think everybody could hear.

Raleigh, Harold & Elsie, Linetta & Gilbert came in to supper.

[435]

~~Men will never be cured of believing too little by unscrupulous attempts to involve them in believing too much. Reason will never be effectually restrained from wandering into the vague & doubtful, by unauthorised claims to settle every controversy by authority, & to forbid the exercise of God's great gift of reason, as if to think for ourselves, and follow the dictates of conscience, were a sin. It is well to note in history how these two evils, superstition & infidelity, act & react in strengthening each other. Still, I cannot doubt that the most formidable of the two for us at present is infidelity.~~

Abp. Tait in 1880.

v. 'The Church of the Future' p. 34.

[436]

On Thursday, June 20th 1912, we dined with Mr George Macmillan. A very pleasant party.

On Friday, June 21st 1912, I dined at Gray's Inn. After dinner I found myself beside Tim Healey, who made himself most agreeable.

There is an interesting custom at Gray's Inn, of which the origin is lost in antiquity. Before dinner the Benchers & their guests seat themselves on forms, & are served with bread & 'wine' (i.e. a decoction such as is used for 'loving–cups' & for nothing else).

On Saturday, June 22nd 1912, Albert Stewart came to see me. He explained his failure to return the £5. borrowed at Whitsuntide, & displayed much concern at having displeased me. We parted after an affectionate reconciliation. Mr Appleton Lawrence & his newly–married wife called here, with a letter from Bishop Lawrence.

I shewed a party of Gresham College Students over the Abbey.

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