The Henson Journals

[82]

Sexagesima, February 23rd, 1919.

I attended Mattins in the Cathedral, and stayed to the Holy Communion. There was an immense congregation. The sermon – an exhortation to unselfishness – was preached by a Minor Canon named Besley. Lady Londonderry was there. After lunch I walked with Linetta. On Lambeth Bridge we saw a boy fall from the iron–work. He lay so still that we feared the worst. I hastened to S. Thomas's Hospital but they referred me to the Police. Having found a constable I sent him on to the scene of the disaster in a taxi, but aid had already arrived from the Westmr side, & the boy had been removed to that Hospital. I went to the Cathedral at 7 p.m. Barnes preached an excellent sermon, well–planned, well–phrased, and well–delivered. He has a considerable voice which, as I judge, carried well over the building. There was a great congregation. He came in to supper. He had detected my hand in the articles on the Church in the "Times". Rather to my surprise he had not seen before the well–known quotation from Burke which I set at the head of the second article. Unfortunately he is not a member of the Representative Church Council. Influenza will certainly keep away a good many of my supporters, but nothing but sheer necessity will hold back my opponents. It is the Jesuits v. the Medieval Church!

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