The Henson Journals

[51]

Sunday after Ascension, May 20th, 1917.

1021st day

The day was damp and chilly to start with, but it improved steadily & by lunch time the sun shone brilliantly. The afternoon & evening were calm & beautiful. I attended Mattins and Evensong. Capt. Apperley came to lunch. Also Arthur Morgan who hopes to continue at school for the Michaelmas term also, and evidently assumes that we shall find the money! That is the worst of helping boys: it is impossible to limit the liability. We – Gaisford, Ella & I – motored to Sunderland, and there I preached in St Gabriel's church, where the Dedication Festival was being observed. Lasbrey the Vicar, is a young man, & looks delicate. Allwork, the Curate, was ordained in the Cathedral 3 years ago, & is an old Dunelmian. Both men gave me an impression of ardour & sincerity. There was a very large congregation. The service was of an unusual type. A large surpliced choir led the singing, which was heartily congregational, but there were no candles on the altar, and the "North End" was taken. I preached from S. Mark XI. 17 "He taught, & said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But ye have made it a den of robbers". The sermon was perhaps, too severe in form for such a congregation, but they listened with close attention. I was interested in finding that these young clergymen appeared sympathetic with the notion of exchanging pulpits with Nonconformists. The leaven works, though slowly.

I succeeded in writing a few letters during the day viz: to Arthur, Gilbert & Elsie. Watkins completed his preaching as "canon in residence", for next Sunday, being Whitsunday is a "Dean's Day" by statute. His delivery is so bad (combining, I think, all the known faults of English preachers in an intense form) that his substance doesn't for the most part reach the congregation at all; but my stall was near enough to the pulpit to make it possible for me to hear most of it, & truly it was very sorry drivel, mere rant & rhodomontade. It is very unfortunate that he will insist upon choosing his residence months in full term, so that the unhappy school boys have the full benefit of his pulpit ministrations!

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