The Henson Journals

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Wednesday, November 13th, 1912. Cambridge, Mass.

The weather, which last night was oppressively warm, changed suddenly in the early morning, & became quite cold. A cheerless drizzle escorted me to the Appleton Chapel, where I conducted prayers, speaking to the youth on 'Prejudice’. My lesson was taken from Mark vi. 1–7, the record of the repudiation of Christ by the men of Nazareth. My vigil in Wadsworth House was broken by only two visitors, one of them Gray Zabriskie.

When I returned to the house, I received a call from the Rev. James Sheerin, an Episcopalian parson in a poor part of Boston, formerly Rector of Christ Church, Warren, Ohio. He brought me a copy of "Moral Discipline in the Christian Church", which he had purchased in England when he was there for the Pan–Anglican Congress, ^in order that I might write my name in it^. He had then been the guest of Mrs Romanes, whom he had himself since entertained in Ohio. He was much amazed at her vehement advocacy of the confessional, which apparently she had urged him to adopt, and continued to urge him by letter! He said that he had arranged for her a series of lectures: but she had not given much satisfaction, for "she seemed wholly devoted to persons with whom her husband cd have had little sympathy". The American public seems little attracted by our Sacerdotalists. Mrs Hodges, the wife of the Dean here, told me that both Figgis & Bull failed to interest the men on account of their [203] [symbol] insistence on the confessional.

We lunched with Mrs Burgess at her Social Settlement. She had collected a number of workers & supporters. I sate between two ladies, the past & the present heads of the venture. They were both filled with the madness of all the nostrums I most detest – female suffrage, socialism &c. However I addressed the company in a few vague phrases, which went down well enough: & then we went over the House. A roomful of Syrian mothers with their infants was a curious sight.

Later in the afternoon, I delivered the last of my lectures at Andover College. It was a very ragged affair, but was listened to with close attention: & the audience applauded at the end. The subject "The Problem of Economics" was, of course, impossible for such treatment.

The Bishop of Rhode Island talked to me through the telephone, asking me to do some preaching in Providence on December 1st, but, of course, this was impossible.

We dined with President & Mrs Fitch. Mr & Mrs Evarts were of the party. I sate next Mrs E. at dinner, & found her very agreeable. These banquets are commonly served without any offer of wine. But mineral water is served with all the reverent ceremonial which might accompany champagne! The rain fell steadily all the evening, & the weather outlook remained evil.

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Issues and controversies: female suffrage