The Henson Journals

[556]

Trinity Sunday, June 18th, 1916.

685th day

Last night I sate with the candidates, and thought myself back to the time when I was myself also a candidate. My note book has this entry under date 'Saturday, June 4th 1887':

"I wrote a letter to Raleigh thanking him for the help he had given me by his example and counsel to shake off the claims of the pseudo–Catholic theory: also I finished the letter to the Abbot which I have put together at intervals during the last few days, stating as far as I could my "attitude" on 'burning questions'. Then I walked into the meadows beyond the church, and sate on a style to meditate. And as I thought, the desire came to me to pledge myself to God there and then: which I forthwith did, bare–headed under the open heaven, promising to be loyal to the Truth, wherever I found it, wheresoever it should call me to seek for it".

Ella and I walked to the station, and took the 9.17 a.m. train to Newcastle. Here we were the guests for the day of Judge Bonsey & his wife. I preached twice in Jesmond Parish Church. In the morning my subject was the Christian Ministry, a subject which appeared to be suitable for 'Ordination Sunday'. In the evening I repeated the often–repeated sermon on Psalm 119.96. "I see that all things come to an end but Thy Commandent is exceeding broad". The congregations at both services were large & attentive. At lunch we met an interesting old seaman, Admiral Tate, & his wife. During the afternoon we had tea with the Bishop and Mrs Wild. They were engaged in entertaining the newly–ordained parsons & their friends. We had supper with the Bonseys, and then returned by train to Durham, arriving in the Deanery about 10.20 p.m.

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