The Henson Journals

[558]

Saturday, June 17th, 1916.

684th day

A most glorious morning, the first for at least a fortnight. If but such days had come while Ernest was here, we might have done something. I wrote a second letter to the "Challenge" under the heading "Festina lente" [make haste slowly], answering criticisms from two correspondents in this week's issue. Then I presided at a Meeting of Chapter, at which we had an application for a Maughan Scholarship. [N.B. Maughan was a clergyman who taught a Durham King's Scholar so successfully that he (Gent) 'swept the Board' at Oxford. In recognition thereof a sum of £500 was collected by Gent's friends & invested. The proceeds of the money were to be given to a boy belonging to the old parish of Stanhope, and for one year educated in an elementary school there, who should be at the Durham Grammar School, & approved by the Trustees (i.e. the D. & C.) after examination.]. I attended Evensong: and afterwards, at Ella's instigation, picked up two officers whom she had observed in the Cathedral, brought them in to the Deanery, gave them tea, & showed them the house. [Their names were Major F. E. Barnett, 6th S. Staffordshire Regt & Capt: A. G. C. Sims, 6th S. Staffs. They were stationed at Richmond.]. Then the candidates for Ordination came to tea. I gave them copies of 'Moral Discipline in the Christian Church', or "Frederick Robertson of Brighton". [Of the one book 15 copies, of the other 7 were taken.] Later they came to the Chapel for an abbreviated Evensong, and the Bishop's final address. The Chaplain had succeeded in raising a harmonium, which was played by one of the candidates. A singing bird poured his soul in musick at his own Evensong, & so accompanied and assisted ours. I bethought me of Cuddesdon 29 years ago, and traced again my troubled way across the years.

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