The Henson Journals

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2nd Sunday in Advent, December 8th, 1912.

No prayer for light will save us from the trouble of conscientious labour, or bring us a miraculous knowledge; but it may woo to our side humility, sympathy, and candour, who will go with us, the angel guardians of our way, & keep us from the slough of self–deception.

James Drummond. 'Johannine Thoughts' p. 69.

I preached a "Farewell" sermon at Mattins. There was a very large congregation, including Alfred Lyttelton & Mrs Lowther. My text which of course was a mere label, & had no other relation to the Sermon, was taken from Romans XV. 5.6. Gilbert & I carried the MS. to the 'Times’ Office during the afternoon. The 'Times’ sent me a telegram yesterday begging for the MS.

The Bishop of London preached in the evening at the Abbey, & the overflow of his congregation thronged St Margaret's. Consequently the Offertory exceeded £11, making a total for the day of over £33.

[237]

The "Times" in its issue of Monday, the 9th December printed my sermon in extenso. If I may judge from the expressions of opinion which have come to me, it has pleased persons of very different types & temperaments. Thus the Dean of Rochester (Lane) & Hutton write in quite ardent terms: the Dean here expresses himself favourably: the Warden is very pleased with it. Dr Tait writes that it seemed to him 'perfect’. Arbuthnot was ardently laudatory. Several men whom I don't know came up to me in the Athenaeum to thank me for it. Several strangers have written in the same strain. Emmet, who counts as a Broad Churchman, thanks me warmly.

On Thursday we lunched with the Speaker and Mrs Lowther. They were most kind, & expressed much regret at our departure.

On Saturday we lunched with the Bp. of London, who was as ever affectionate. He would like to think that he is also large–minded: but it is not given to his type to be that. We parted in peace on the note of old memories.

In the evening I attended a meeting of the Guild.

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