The Henson Journals

[14]

1st Sunday after Trinity, June 6th, 1920.

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Qui confidunt in Domino sicut mons Sion: non commovebitur in aeternum, qui habitat in Jerusalem. Montes in circuitu ejus: et Dominus in circuitu populi sui, ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.

Durham was the 'the English Sion'. I copied the words from an illuminated text in my bed–room, and embraced the omen.

I preached at 11 a.m. in Trinity College Chapel, & received the Holy Communion. It was a singular coincidence that the first sermon I delivered after undertaking to sit in the chair of Lightfoot, Westcott, & Moule, all Fellows of Trinity, should be delivered in that place. I preached on 'Privilege' ̶ the subject was curiously relevant to my own situation ̶ though the sermon was not a new one.

The Holy Communion was wonderfully comforting. I lunched at Emmanuel with the Master, who is Vice–Chancellor. Here I was delighted with the gallery & its pictures. Sancroft, Whichcote, & Cudworth were among these. I walked in procession to the Senate–house, whence we passed in due state to Great St Mary's. There was a very large congregation especially of dons. The Vice–Chancellor told me that he had not seen the Church so full at an University Sermon for 10 years past. My sermon was very closely listened to. I went in to old Prof. Bonney, who was almost affectionate. I told him that I was going to Durham, & he expressed the utmost satisfaction. This also gratified me quite inordinately.

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[As I left the Senate house, a little lady accosted me. She was Miss Perry of Barking, now living in Cambridge. Gilbert Darwin hailed me after the sermon at Trinity: & Cecil Ferens was lunching at Emmanuel to meet me. I had tea in Clough Hall with Elizabeth. Her "best friend" Miss Kennedy from West Ham was there ̶ a very charming, bright girl. Elizabeth walked with me into the town, in order that I might renew my memory of the colleges.] Burkitt & I dined in Trinity as the Master's guests. It was a very pleasant evening. In the Combination room I sat beside McTaggart, who was most civil. Then we went to the Master's Lodge, & smoked (i.e. they smoked) for an hour. The conversation was most interesting. The Master spoke with much freedom of his experiences in efforts to get at the bottom of spiritualism. He thinks it is mainly, if not wholly, fraudulent. At 11 p.m. we left Trinity, & walked home. The night was fine & still. From a cloudless sky, one brilliant star shone, & was reflected in the glassy surface of the river. Nothing could be more beautiful. So I ended an entirely pleasant day. I confessed to Burkitt the sentiment which had swept over me this morning in Trinity, & he said that it established a link with the College. I replied that it would be very acceptable to me if Trinity would approve my going to the great See, which had almost become a Cambridge foundation.

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