The Henson Journals

[515]

2nd Sunday in Advent, December 5th, 1915.

489th day

I preached at the military service to a considerable company of soldiers. My text was “The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God”, and my subject the Bible. Knowling preached at Mattins, a sermon which was not only extremely interesting, but also spiritually helpful. Both he and Compston, who was the preacher at Evensong, took 'Hope' for their theme. I celebrated at midday: & attended Evensong.

Mr Dolphin, the late British consul at Liége, came to lunch with his wife. He told us much that was interesting about the defence of Liége, & the behaviour of the Germans; against whom he expresses himself with considerable vigour. I shewed them the House, & the Library. I asked Mr Dolphin whether the Belgians generally, after their terrible experiences of German Power & barbarity, were still confident that their government had acted rightly in standing out for Belgian independence. He replied that they were, & that they would rise against the Germans on the first opportunity. In Liége, especially, where the manufacture of small arms was the staple employment, everybody was armed, & there might easily be a modern 'Sicilian Vespers'. He said that there were numerous Germans resident in Belgium, & that these were active spies. Compston accompanied me to St Cuthbert's where I preached to a small congregation (the church was not much more than half filled), repeating a sermon which I have used on both sides of the Atlantic on 'The Broadness of the Divine Law'. "I see that all things come to an end but Thy Commandment is exceeding broad". This is said to have been Dean Stanley's favourite text. Compston 'discoursed sweet music' from the piano after dinner: & we had much talk before going to bed.

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