The Henson Journals
Sun 29 July 1917
Volume 21, Page 124
[124]
8th Sunday after Trinity, July 29th, 1917.
1091st day
"Apart from conscious results which the process may condition, it is hard to see what interest lies for God or man in the infinite shiftings of the cosmic dust".
Set beside the philosopher's dictum this word of an Apostle:–
"All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous, but grievous: yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness".
"Finem respice" [Look to the end] is still the word.
I went to the Holy Communion and [the] 8 a.m. Poole celebrated, & read the wrong collect. Dennett followed with the wrong Epistle: & the Precentor, reverting to the right Gospel, emphasised their errors. George & Edgar were among the communicants. It is their last Sunday at the Choir–school, where they have spent the last five years. Their experiences here will have made, or marred, them. God grant it be the first. They look happy and good. The congregation was mainly composed of school boys. I attended Mattins. Cruikshank ended his sermon by reading the account of Justin Martyr's trial & execution. It reminded me of the too familiar scenes with Conscientious objectors. Then I lunched with Knowling & Fearne. Cruikshank & his niece were there, and Turner. We had much talk about the War. Arthur Morgan came to see me, & said Goodbye. He goes immediately to a cadet school at Farnborough to learn flying. I attended Evensong. Afterwards Pemberton came to see me, and had tea. We talked together for an hour, and then I walked with him as far as S. Giles Church, & there turned back home. There are notices posted in the town announcing a meeting in the Market place next Saturday in order to pass a patriotic resolution declaring "inflexible determination" to go on with the war until the victory has been won. Lord Durham, the High Sheriff, and the Dean are to be speakers. This is all well enough, but one cannot shut out the doubt as to our power to live up to these valourous declarations. There is a limit even to the fighting power of Britain.