The Henson Journals

[86]

7th Sunday after Trinity, July 14th, 1918.

1441st day

The Collect for this Sunday is impressed on my mind more deeply than the rest because it was a favourite of my Father, & entered frequently into the mélange of prayers read and improvised which made up the daily worship of the household. It is a very perfect example of the Prayer–Book style – dignified, vague, easy to remember, impossible wholly to forget:–

"Lord of all power & might, who art the author & giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, & of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"

That is not the kind of prayer which could satisfy the demands of that materialised multitude of whom the Duke of Rutland has made himself the unexpected but not unsuitable mouthpiece. The papers are dubbing his Grace "the new Elijah"!

[87]

By an odd coincidence rain did follow the Duke's appeal to the Bishops for prayers. The following appeared in last Friday's issue of the "Times":–

Sir,

Heartiest congratulations to the Duke of Rutland and to The Times. I hope the rainfall has not been too excessive in the neighbourhood of Belvoir Castle.

Archbishops prayed for wet: their prayers were in vain:

Rutland wrote to The Times – and there was rain.

I am, Sir, Your obedient servant,

G. Stuart Robertson.

Yesterday, under the same heading "The New Elijah" appeared this:–

Sir,

Imbris egent agri: fit epistula, decidit imber:

Tempora nimirum ducit ut ante Ionans.

Your obedient servant,

Boanerges.

The magic of the ducal invocation is not yet exhausted, for the rain is still falling on a yet unsatisfied land.

Fawkes writes to tell me that "a French friend tells him that Lord Halifax has "un naif article sur l'éveque Henson"[a naïve article on the Bishop Henson] in the Correspondent of May 25th. He suggests that he should write a reply to Lake's article in the "Hibbert Journal".

[88]

At 9.30 a.m. I addressed the members of the "Friends First Day Adult School" on Christian Unity & Industrial Peace". About 130 men attended & listened with patience to an extemporaneous address from notes, which lasted 45 minutes. The time until lunch was spent in my study, writing letters, & preparing notes for this afternoon. After lunch Lilley and I together with Bateman motored to Brampton Bryan where a "United Service" in the open air had been arranged. The rain, however, caused the service to be held in the parish church, which was crowded. Divers sectaries prayed; there were several hymns, & I gave another extemporaneous address on "Christian Unity & International Peace". There was a collection for Blinded Soldiers (S t Dunstan's) and Lord Roberts's Home for Wounded Men. After service we had tea with Mr Beavan, the tenant of Harley House. The ruin of the old castle is in front of the modern House. Mr & Mrs Harley were there, & others whose names I cannot recall. All were very civil.

The Vicar, Hastings, is a rough type of man, but his face is not unpleasing, & he impressed me as honest. His house was burned down last year, & the new one was not yet completed. We motored back to Hereford by way of Presteign, Eardisley & Bredwardine; where we picked up Compston, who had pernoctated at the village inn. The heavy masses of vapours gave very remarkable effects in the intervals of sunshine. It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful country. Everywhere is being defaced by the felling of the woods. We reached home about 7.30 p.m.

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