The Henson Journals

[116]

Festival of the Epiphany, January 6th, 1924.

Could we by a wish

Have what we will and get the future now,

Would we wish aught done undone in the past?

So let him wait God's instant men call years;

Meantime hold him hard by truth and his great soul,

Do out the duty! Through such souls alone

God stooping shows sufficient of His light

For us i' the dark to rise by. And I rise.

Browning. "Pompilia"

We all motored into Durham for the morning service in the cathedral. I preached and celebrated the Holy Communion. There was a very small congregation, smaller perhaps than I had a right to expect, but it is vacation time, many residents are away from home, and many have bad colds. Ella, Fearne and I lunched in the Deanery. After lunch I called on the Bishop of Jarrow, and discussed with him this woeful business at Marley Hill. Then I attended Evensong in the cathedral, and sate in the Throne, from which I pronounced the Benediction upon a strangely meagre congregation. The singing was wonderful. It does seem strangely perplexing that this exquisite & costly service should be so little valued. After Evensong I had some talk with Meade Falkner, and then went to Dawson Walker for tea. Recovering the ladies from the Bishop's house, we all returned to Auckland.

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