The Henson Journals

[59]

3rd Sunday after Trinity, June 16th, 1918.

1413th day

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A cool beautiful morning, but the turf is assuming a brown burnt up aspect, and the crops cry out for rain.

The collect for this Sunday is very consoling – "we, to whom Thou hast given an hearty desire to pray" is a description which fits the worst & least of us. The "desire to pray" is ours though the power & the comfort of prayer are not. I celebrated in the Cathedral at 8 a.m. There were 30 comts besides myself: and these were all women except some boys from the school in khaki, 2 vergers, & Bateman. After breakfast I went to the Palace, & spent the morning in making some notes for the Birmingham Sermon. I lunched at the Deanery, & then went to the cathedral where the annual service in support of the Herefordshire General Hospital had been arranged. There was a very large congregation composed of many societies from the Corporation to Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. I preached the sermon, and gave the Benediction. The collection amounted to £36.15.9. which was said to be very good. I attended Evensong, when Winnington–Ingram preached to a rather scanty congregation. I read the 2nd Lesson, & gave the Benediction. At the afternoon service the pastoral staff was carried by the new Prebendary Treherne. It was a curious reflection that less than six months ago he was leading the agitation against my consecration, and organizing the distribution of all kinds of calumnies against me. I think the oddness of the contrast must have suggested itself to a good many persons; for "these things were not done in a corner". The Archdeacon commented on the fact.

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