The Henson Journals

[75]

Thursday, November 26th, 1914.

115th day

I finished with difficulty the Oxford sermon on 'War & Religion': it is the merest sketch, & tails off lamentably into the feeblest of conclusions. The place & audience are disconcerting, for everything that I say must needs be twisted into a polemical sense, & then resented on that account. The Church feeling of Oxford is very hostile to me, though a certain kindness is felt for me personally. I attended Evensong in the Cathedral, & afterwards attended the Mayor's meeting in the Town Hall Chamber. Here I 'bit off the head of' the ass, Bothamly, with a frank contempt of prudence which would have been more fitting 30 years ago! We had a reception for Colonel Blackett & his officers. Sundry neighbours came in, & we passed the time adequately.

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