The Henson Journals
Mon 27 December 1915
Volume 20, Page 557
[557]
Monday, December 27th, 1915.
511th day
Knowling sent me a few days since the remarkable inscription which he quoted in his sermon. It refers to the Birth of Augustus:
"This day has given the earth an entirely new aspect. The world would have gone to destruction, had there not streamed forth from him who is now born a common blessing. Rightly does he judge who recognizes in this birthday the beginning of life and of all the powers of life. The providence which rules over all has filled this man with such gifts for the salvation of the world as designates him as the Saviour for us & for the forthcoming generations. Of wars shall he make an end, and establish all things worthily. By his appearance are the hopes of our forefathers fulfilled. It is impossible that one greater than he can ever appear. The birthday of God has brought to the world glad tidings that are bound up in him. From his birthday a new era begins."
Knowling adds: "Date B.C. 9: found I think at Triene, in what is called the Calendar Inscription". He told me yesterday that Deismann accepted it as genuine. This inscription seems to disclose something more than an extravagant adulation; there is a poignant consciousness of the world's misery, and an eager welcome of rescue. But what a tragically inadequate response could the cold selfishness of Augustus make to such sentiments! The anthem of the Angels over Bethlehem announced another kind of Saviour, and brought a higher conception of happiness to men. The new era is Christian not Augustan.
[559]
Foakes–Jackson writes to say that the first edition of "The Faith and the War" is exhausted, and that Macmillan calls for a second. This is satisfactory, and suggestive. There appears to be still a market for these composite volumes, which offer to the public the opinions of many authors. It is a development of the 'snippet literature' tendency which has revolutionized journalism, since compulsory education created a vast class of illiterate & mentally untrained readers. There is little interest in processes & premises, only concern for results!
The Archdeacon sent me as a Christmas gift an edition of Hutchinson's History of Durham in 3 volumes. It brings the record a generation later than the edition which I already possess.