The Henson Journals

[39]

Tuesday, October 20th, 1914.

78th day

Twelve years ago on this day Ella and I exchanged vows in the Abbey. We have traversed much broken ground in the interval, and had our full portion of disillusionment & failure. Yet, like the British Army, we are still in being, & ready to go forward. I gave her Baxter's "Breviate of his wife's life" as an offering "to another very excellent wife from another very quaint husband". I attended both services in the cathedral in Knowling's stead. After Mattins I spent two hours in the Cathedral with Hughes, looking at the MSS.

The papers announce the death at the relatively early age of 43 of Robert Hugh Benson, the "pervert". He was most in his element as a novelist, though his romances were spoiled by his ardour for proselytizing. I remember that he preached for me in the Abbey shortly after I came to Westminster, & impressed me as an ill–balanced hysterical creature. But he had a literary gift.

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