The Henson Journals

[57]

8th Sunday after Trinity, 25th July, 1920.

I preached to a large congregation in the Temple Church from S. Matthew xx 25–8, which was part of the Gospel for St James's Day. My subject was Reunion as affected by our theory of Christian Ministry; & my sermon was confessedly related to the discussions on Reunion in the Lambeth Conference. I noticed a black bishop in the congregation, and Bishop Mann of South Florida. The last would not have approved of my discourse, which, indeed, was not lacking in decisiveness. I took occasion warmly to recommend Headlam's Bampton Lectures to the study of churchmen. After service Ella & I lunched with the Benchers in the Middle Temple. Lord Finlay, Sir Henry Craik, & several other Scots were present, & they of course approved the sermon. [Janey Fleet was in the congregation, & came in to shake hands after the service. Also the great Dorothea, more effusive than ever. After lunch Ella went off to pay calls, & I lay down to rest.]

[Arthur Shadwell came in to tea, & took off the MS. of my sermon to the "Times" office, promising to return it to me at the Athenaeum. Then mine host & I walked for a while in the Temple Garden. He, too, talks about the succession to Canterbury, & says that my name is freely spoken of. The whole business is indecent & preposterous, but it may explain the quite evident chagrin of the Archbishop, for nothing more exasperates the Man in Power than the suggestion that he nears the end of his tenure, & the indication of a possible successor! However, it can't be helped, & must be endured.]

---