The Henson Journals
Sun 22 December 1912
Volume 18, Pages 244 to 245
[244]
4th Sunday in Advent, December 22nd, 1912.
Pride is the greatest enemy to Moderation. This makes men stickle for their opinions, to make them fundamental: proud men having deeply studied some additional point in Divinity, will strive to make the same necessary to salvation, to enhance the value of their own work & pains: & it must be fundamental in religion, because it is fundamental to their reputation. Yea as love doth descend, & men doat most on their Grandchildren, so these are indulgent to the deductions of their deductions, & consequential inferences to the 7th generation, though scarce of the building of religion. Ancient Fathers made the Creed symbolum, the shot & total sum of Faith. Since which how many arrearages, and after–reckonings have men brought us in? To which if we will not pay our belief, our souls must be arrested without bail upon pain of damnation. Next to Pride popular Applause is the greatest foe Moderation hath, & sure they who sail with that wind have their own vain–glory for their Haven.
T. Fuller. "The Holy State". p. 208.
A.D. 1642
[245]
My throat is in an ill state. I made the fact an excuse for shirking the early service.
At Mattins the congregation was large, but not crowded. I saw Dicey & Lord Reay under the pulpit. My sermon was on the subject of the Last Judgement, how the belief in it ought to influence our present conduct. The people were very solemn & attentive.
Mr Rutt, Mr Barclay, Mrs Glassford–Bell, two Americans, Gilbert & Reggie were at lunch making with ourselves, the ill–omened number – thirteen.
Alington & his wife came to offer their congratulations on Durham, & to sing the praises of Willie Temple as my successor!
I called on old Mrs Tennant – she is 94 years old, & still acute & interested. Just now she is reading Father Tyrell's Autobiography, & is full of it.
There was a crowd at Evensong. I read the Exhortation to Holy Communion for the last time, & preached very briefly from the words: "The Lord is at hand". There was another large supper–party. Alec Beechey, Ernest Bennett, Reggie Still, Gilbert, & Baddeley, besides Linetta, Mary, & Angel.