The Henson Journals

[149]

Easter Day, April 20th, 1919.

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I went to S. Nicholas, at 8 a.m. and celebrated the Holy Communion. There were more than 100 communicants. After breakfast Ernest accompanied me to Much Dewchurch, where I preached, and celebrated for the 2nd time. The latter had not been included in my intention, but the Vicar was almost voiceless with a cold, so that it was an obvious act of charity to take the Celebration. There were 39 communicants.

Streeter came to see me in the afternoon, & we had some talk. He seems to have much belief in the "Students' Movement", which having begun in conventional Evangelicalism, is now stretching out towards a more reasonable kind of Christianity. The "Anglican Fellowship" is developed from it. High Churchmen of the more spiritual type, having been impressed & attracted by the evident devotion of the "Students' Movement", drew together to consider & think out the religious situation. Men of candid spirits and muddled intellects like Neville Talbot did this, &, perhaps, something may grow from it. W. Temple seems to have drawn back to the ecclesiastical camp, from which he seemed to be escaping. In his case, perhaps, something must be allowed for personal ambition. Well–endowed by nature with brains, physically strong, extremely well–educated, & (last but not least) born in the (ecclesiastical) purple, he is a "young man with great possessions", and the world is at his feet.

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I amused myself by turning over Selden's 'Table Talk'. There is much caustic wisdom in it and some obiter dicta of great value, e.g. "The main thing is to know where to search: for talk they what they will of vast memories, no man will presume upon his own memory for anything he means to write or speak in public". The two essentials are a good knowledge of languages, and a thorough mastery of intellectual method. Both must be gained in adolescence. It was my supreme misfortune that I came away from Oxford with neither.

I preached in the Cathedral at Evensong to an immense congregation. The service was stately, but the amount of music made it rather lengthy. I hope everybody heard the sermon. The congregation was certainly very attentive. Bannister carried the pastoral staff.

Dicey is wonderful, though his deafness is very trying. But his interest is as keen as ever, & his memory, though not so trustworthy as heretofore, is amazing. He talks incessantly, pouring forth a ceaseless stream of anecdote, criticism, aphorism, & reminiscence. He is physically feeble, but mentally as alert as ever – a very wonderful & admirable old man.

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