The Henson Journals

[55]

Monday, November 12th, 1923.

I felt woefully unequal to my task of preaching, but, when it came to the actual performance, my voice served me much better than I had dared to expect. The Royal Exchange was filled with an audience almost entirely composed of young & middle–aged men. A pulpit (without any desk whereon papers cd be placed) was provided, & I made shift with my mortar–board as a screen for my MS. The attention of the assembly suggested that they were able to hear what I said, and I was assured by many, that this was the case. A considerable choir led the singing which was "conducted" by a leader in surplice and hood. The Lord Mayor & Sheriffs attended in State: and afterwards I lunched with them at the Mansion House. This function ended, I called upon Hodder & Stoughton in Warwick Square, & found an early copy of my booklet lying on the publishers' table. This I took away with me. Then I went to the hair–dressers, & had my hair cut. I dined with Dunbar– Buller at 15 Upper Grosvenor St: He is 75 years old, & visibly failing: but he was very insistent that he had never had, & that he was never likely to have a stroke! We dined têté–a–têté: & I think he was really glad to see me again. But we grow old & the savour of life is gone.