The Henson Journals

[190]

4th Sunday in Lent, March 10th, 1918.

1315th day

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I went to the Abbey at 8 a.m., & received the Holy Communion. After the service I went into Little Cloisters, meeting Christian on the way, & had some talk with Ernest. He doubts if Burge will accept the Deanery of Durham: but, if he does, thinks it might be well to run Headlam for Southwark. I agreed, but was doubtful whether Mrs H's health would permit his accepting it. Then I went to the Athenaeum, & on the way slipped ignominiously on the pavement hard by the Wesleyan Hall. After writing to Ella, & reading over my sermon, I went to the Chapel Royal. It is a quaint building, curiously un–churchlike, with class distinction stamped on every inch of it. There was a good congregation, most of the seats were occupied. The Sub–Dean & Percival conducted the service wh. consisted of Litany & Holy Commn. I preached from an uncomfortable desk within the rails, & left after the sermon. My text was "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any", & the sermon was not new! Lady Scarbrough carried me off to lunch. The Lyttons were there. I had not seen them for years. Edward Wood & his wife were also there. He was friendly enough, but we kept clear of doctrinal questions! As I walked to Dean's Yard, I met Lady Londonderry, & walked back with her as far as Carlton House Terrace. Then I went to Linetta, & had tea. At 5.30 p.m., I called on the Craiks. They grow more depressing as time advances, perhaps indeed that is the case with us all. I am certainly duller & more cheerless than formerly!

[191] [symbol]

I preached in S. John's, Westminster. Gamble & his 2 curates were present. There was not a large congregation, but larger than usual. The sermon was again an old one on the text: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". After service I changed, and walked to Carlton House Terrace, where I dined pleasantly with Lady Londonderry. The following made up the party:– The Spanish Ambassador & his wife (a very pretty woman, very prettily dressed), Lord Stamfordham, Lord Knollys, Saunders, Maguire, a lady related to the hostess, whose name I forget, & myself. We had much pleasant conversation on politics, architecture, & persons. Merry del Val is a good–looking man, not at all Spanish in appearance. He said that Pius X had condemned the dancing of the Seville choir boys, but when they had danced before him, he so far relented as to permit the dance to continue until the existing garments had been worne out. The resources of sartorial craft had conferred a practical immortality on the vestments! He said that the architectural gem of Spain was neither Seville nor Burgos, but Leon. With Lord Stamfordham I had much talk both about my own appointment to Hereford, & the prospective appt to the Deanery of Durham. I gathered that Burge had not yet finally refused, but might do so, in wh. case Headlam wd probably get it. I backed Headlam against either Hobhouse or Hutton, but not against Burge. Maguire was most friendly. He is greyer & has lost much of the vivacious beauty of his earlier life. At first I didn't recognize him. I got back to Dean's Yard about 11.30 p.m.

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