The Henson Journals

[22]

Monday, April 16th, 1917.

987th day

Snow began falling about 8 a.m. I was interested, and perhaps also amused, by receiving the following by the morning post:–

Chesham Bois Rectory

Chesham, Bucks.

Dear Mr Dean,

At our Easter Vestry this week I had the honour of bringing forward your sermon at the City Temple on the morning of March 25th, & on the motion of the people's warden – a gentleman formerly resident in the City, & for many years greatly interested in Church matters – the following resolution was passed nem. con. "That this Vestry thanks the Dean of Durham for his sermon & for his action, & desires to convey to him its sympathy with the views expressed on the subject of re–union between the reformed churches."

I am, Sir, Yours truly

T. H. Fitzpatrick. Rector

This epistle comes from within the diocese of Oxford, which is deserving of notice. I have been engaged for most of the day in reading the Warden's Diary. It is fuller & more interesting from 1887 onwards. The number & variety of his activities therein disclosed are truly wonderful, & make me feel very contracted and indolent by comparison. I wrote to Curzon & Ridley asking for assistance in the work. I received a letter from Watson saying that permission to quote letters must be obtained from all writers. Perhaps the fewness of letters worth quoting makes this a matter of no importance. Drummond's "Natural Law in the Spiritual World" seems to have made a great impression on the Warden. "I count the reading of it one of the best things I've done in 1884" he writes, and adds that it caused him to read Stanley's 'History of the Jewish Church' and some books on Biology. This is the nearest approach to a sidelight on his religious development, which I have yet discovered.

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