The Henson Journals

[153]

Quinquagesima, Sunday, February 6th, 1921.

I celebrated in the Chapel at 8 a.m. The collect and the Epistle emphasize the necessity of that most difficult yet most alluring grace of charity. If one were perfectly charitable, how would one think and speak about a grievous clerical scandal?

Clayton and I left the Castle at 9.30 a.m. and motored to Seaton Carew, where we arrived in good time for the service at 10.55 a.m. I dedicated a clock, and a tablet, and then, after Mattins, preached. The church was crowded. Among the congregation were the Mayor & Corporation of West Hartlepool. After service we all walked to the Memorial Cross, which was unveiled by Colonel Robson. I made a short speech, & then dedicated the memorial. Afterwards we lunched with the Vicar (Beavan), Colonel Thomlinson being of the party. After lunch I went to Christ Church Vicarage, & had speech with Macdonald about that woeful man, Duff. Then we motored back to the Castle, where we arrived shortly before 5 p.m.

I read through Kirsopp Lake's "Landmarks in the History of Early Christianity". It is a brilliant piece of work, and wonderfully well–written, but it is terribly destructive. The author's treatment of Jesus Christ is not merely unorthodox (which might not greatly matter) but even aggressively un–Christian. For in no possible sense could such a Person as he indicates be the Object of worship, or the Lord of life. Yet Lake is an Anglican clergyman.

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