The Henson Journals

[122]

Quinquagesima, February 22nd, 1914.

A very stormy morning with deluges of rain: but later the weather cleared, & there was sunshine.

I celebrated at 8 a.m. There were exactly 36 communicants.

At Mattins I preached in S. Margaret's, addressing myself mainly to young men, 'old boys' of the parochial school. Budworth read the Litany. I preached a sermon, which had been originally composed for a congregation of young men, on Christian Liberty. Save for the coughing of some small children, I was listened to with very close attention.

Mr Erith, the Vice–Principal of S. Chad's College, a very feeble looking creature, came to lunch, in order to meet Sir Peile Thompson who, as a subscriber to the college, wished to see how his money was expended!

I attended Evensong in the Cathedral.

I motored to Brandon Parish Church, & there preached to a full congregation. The parson is evidently a Ritualist, & there were not wanting factors of provocation: but the service was reverent, & congregational. After I had suppressed some coughing, there was fairly close attention.

[123] [symbol]

On Thursday, the 26th February, I went to London, & stayed the night with Pearce at Westminster.

On Friday morning, the 27th, I attended a deputation to the Prime Minister arguing the importance of National Service. Lord Roberts introduced the deputation, & several members of it including myself, made speeches. The P.M. was not very encouraging.

I lunched at the Athenaeum, and attended Evensong at the Abbey. Then I went to Oxford, rejoicing en route in a sunsetting of incomparable splendour. The Bursar's Dinner was an enjoyable function. I stayed with the Warden at All Souls until Monday afternoon. On Saturday evening I dined with the Master of Balliol. On Sunday (March 1st) I attended the sermon in S. Mary's & heard an excellent discourse from Streeter, the incriminated author of the Essay in 'Foundations'. After service I walked to the Orchard, & had speech with Dicey. Mary Scott was staying there. I lunched with Harry Davis, & had much talk with Streeter. Later in the afternoon I walked round the Parks with Compton: & then went to Balliol, where I preached in the college chapel on "Gamaliel & St Paul". I dined in All Souls: & on Monday, attended Driver's Funeral in Christ Church.

[124] [symbol] [symbol]

There was a great gathering of the University at Driver's funeral. I saw Ryle there, & Fearon. After the service I returned to London, & went directly to the Deanery of S. Paul's, where I spent the night. The Brotherhood dined there. Among the rest came Burge, the Bishop of Southwark. It was all pleasant enough. The next day (Tuesday March 3rd 1914) I returned to Durham, and there entertained the Judges – Ridley & Bankes – with their marshals at dinner. On Wednesday March 4th, I dined with the said Judges in the castle: and on the next day, Thursday March 5th, I shewed them the Library. That evening we dined quietly with Meade–Falconer, who lives in the Divinity House hard by the Cathedral. He confessed himself a member of the Baconian Sect in the matter of Shakespeare! In that house there is the ghost of a murdered schoolboy who looks over the bannisters disconcertingly!

[125]

In "a representation of the lower house of convocation about the bishop of Bangor's sermon of the kingdom of Christ" (May 3rd 1717) there is a recognition of the Sovereign's 'headship' of the church:–

"That whereas his majesty is, & by the statutes of this realm is declared to be, supreme heard of the church &c."

[v. Cardwell's Synodalia. ii. 838]

On Saturday, the 7th March, 1914, I presided at the Chapter meeting. We decided to give May £50 in lieu of a house: & also to get plans for making one of the canonical houses, now let to tenants, into two smaller houses for use by the Minor Canons. Also, we resolved forthwith to carry out the works recommended by the two architects.

Later I travelled to Edinburgh, being accompanied as far as Newcastle by Captain Apperley. Mitford Mitchell received me very kindly. He had drawn together a pleasant company for dinner. There were Paterson, Kelman, Forrest, Sir Andrew Fraser, Welsh, & two others. We had much conversation about Kikuyu. Kelman had just returned from Oxford, where he had met the Bishop. He seems to have heard great reports of my sermon in S. Mary's. It had divided Oxford &c &c.

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Issues and controversies: Kikuyu