The Henson Journals

[64]

Wednesday, January 24th, 1917.

905th day

'Divide with reason between self–love & society; & be so true to thyself as thou be not false to others, especially thy king & country. It is a poor centre of a man's actions, himself. It is right earth; for that only stands fast upon his own centre; whereas all things that have affinity with the heavens move upon the centre of another, which they benefit.'

Bacon Essay xxiii 'Of Wisdom for a man's Self'.

Babington's Preface to the 'Rolls Series' edition of Bishop Pecock's book "The Repressor of over much blaming of the Clergy" is very good reading. It contains a fairly good account of his trial & condemnation by Archbishop Bourchier in 1457. He was offered by his Grace the pleasant alternative of recantation or burning at the stake, & he chose the former. The modern admirer of the medieval church may well consider this aspect of it.

The "Newcastle Daily Journal", the "Yorkshire Post", and the "Times" have my letter to the 'City Temple' secretary announcing my acceptance of the invitation to preach there on March 25th. So that fat is in the fire, & we must see what kind of a blaze will come! I chose the text for the Commemoration Sermon, and made a start at the discourse. Ernest, having developed a cough, stayed in bed, and was visited by Dr Stuart. Scarcely had that loquatious leech taken his departure before a telegram from the adjutant at Gravesend ordered Ernest to report himself tomorrow! This seemed too rash, so I telephoned to the doctor, who undertook to communicate with the adjutant. Ernest himself wrote a propitiatory letter explaining his situation.

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