The Henson Journals

[71]

24th Sunday after Trinity, November 22nd, 1914.

111th day

Cummings appeared at the starting–hour with the dismaying tidings that he could nowise induce the car to make a start! He rushed off to Laidler & borrowed such car as he could provide, but this he reported to be useless! Lillingston came to the rescue, & lent us his new 'Ford', which served our turn. Ella accompanied me to Gateshead, where I preached twice, first, to soldiers in S. Chad's, next, in the Parish Church in aid of Belgian refugees. The soldiers had been up & on duty since 6 a.m., and were tired, listless, and immensely clamourous with coughing! The congregation at the Parish Church was very small. So the expedition which began in disorder, ended in failure!! The Offertory just exceeded £7: and the church–wardens evidently thought the amount creditable! It is sufficiently evident that Gateshead is a poor parish: & its church a feeble force. Something, perhaps, must be set down to the nervous excitement prevailing in the district. The inhabitants have been warned that they may have to evacuate their houses at a moment's notice! Yet nobody seems really to believe in the probability of a German invasion. I baptized my chauffeur's son – Herbert St George Cummings – in the Cathedral under Bishop Cosin's noble font–cover, but alas! not in Bp. Cosin's font, which still remains at Pittington. Then I attended Evensong, & heard a delightful anthem of Mendellsohn [sic], excellently well sung.

At tea there came Major & Mrs Lowe, & the young American artists who have been staying with Mrs Steinthal. After tea I wrote a series of letters. Later I had some conversation with Lillingston, who has accumulated some pastoral experiences which might, perhaps, be worth adding to one's own stock.

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