The Henson Journals

[553]

Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25th, 1915.

509th day

I went to the Cathedral for Mattins at 7.45 a.m: and celebrated the Holy Communion at 8 a.m. There was a fair number of communicants. At 10 a.m. there was the Military Service, at which carols were substituted for the canticles and the sermon. A good many soldiers were present, & seemed interested in the proceedings. The Choral Eucharist followed at 11 a.m. I preached from the words: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts". The congregation was disappointingly small, but the music was devotional, and the atmosphere worshipful. Hughes was the Celebrant. After service Ella & I visited the little Red–Cross Hospital, and gave Christmas greetings to the wounded soldiers. After lunch, Cruickshank and I walked for an hour: and then came Evensong, to which a considerable congregation assembled. We began with a procession round the Church & Nine Altars. The Choir sang admirably. Dolphin and his wife came in to tea.

The extreme mildness of the weather, and the sunshine more suggestive of May than of December, made all things agreeable. The Post brought very kind letters from Gow and Colonel Grimshaw. Also Geoffrey Heselton sent me his photograph, & Arthur sent me a post–card from India. There was no newspaper to disturb us with false tidings and false comments on them! After dinner I read Milton's "Ode on the Nativity" aloud to Ella. Meade–Falkner called to see me, & stayed for an hour. He is very discontented with the Government, and would like to make a 'clean sweep' of Ministers. He thinks that Lord Derby might be a possible substitute for Asquith. Rather to my surprise, he spoke darkly of possible developments in the German navy during this long sojourn in their home waters.

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