The Henson Journals

[303]

Friday, April 22nd, 1921.

Last night I was aroused by a knocking at my bed–room door. It was the maid with a telegram which had been sent on from Auckland with an answer pre–paid. The telegram was from the sub–Dean, & ran thus:

"The King would be very glad if you could preach at the ten oclock service Buckingham Palace Sunday as well as at Chapel Royal. is this possible?"

After breakfast I walked to the Athenaeum, & answered to the effect that the King's command should be obeyed. I wrote to Colin Kennedy, and then walked to Westminster, where I called on Lea, & spent an hour over my income–tax returns. Then I called on Charles, & learned to my satisfaction that he held with Headlam's criticism of Lake's book. After lunching at the Athenaeum, I went to 98 Park Street, and saw Mrs Murray. To my surprise Buff, & her husband were there, having returned from Borneo. I walked back to the Club, & wrote to Ella, and Headlam. The weather became almost oppressively warm. I called on the Sub–Dean. He told me that the King liked extempore sermons, & that he was becoming deaf. I said that there doubtless [sic] preachers enough who would gratify H.M. by their unpremeditated effusions, but that I was not one of them! The Prime Minister was reported to have convened a meeting of the Mine–owners & the Miners this afternoon.

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