The Henson Journals

[1]

4th Sunday in Lent, March 18th, 1917.

958th day

I did not get up for the early service as I had undertaken to celebrate after Mattins. Mine host himself brought me tea & shaving water. I suspect that he also cleaned my boots himself! The exquisite little Norman church of Adel looked its best in the sunlight. There was a fair congregation including some of the superior class (merchants & professors of the University) who reside in the parish. The service was reverent & hearty. I preached on "Calamity, the Mother of Superstition", & was well listened to. Also I celebrated the Holy Communion, at which about a dozen or fourteen people communicated. After lunch, feeling unusually fatigued, I retired to my room, & rested. Sadler came to tea. He is very keen about the Russian Revolution, & says that it was all arranged last summer. On the whole, the change is thought to be favourable to the Allies. I went in to Leeds, and preached at Evensong in the parish church. There was a great congregation. My sermon was that which I originally preached in Windsor Castle on "Jeremiah's golden sword". I returned to Adel for supper, & went to bed very tired. An unusual circumstance marked my visit to Adel, – an owl laid an egg in the vestry. The Rector produced it at breakfast, & speculated on the portentous significance of the bird!

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