The Henson Journals

[29]

Friday, October 3rd, 1924.

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I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8.15 a.m.: and then continued in my study woefully incommoded by tooth–ache all he morning. I sent copies of the Sunderland Sermon to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Chester, Canon Partridge, Ruth, and Jimmie. Also, I wrote to Downing, enclosing Messrs Drake & Graham's receipts for £300, and asking for the mortgage money.

I wrote the candidates' names in the Bibles & Testaments, attended Evensong, & listened to an excellent address from the Archdeacon. After dinner he returned to Durham.

The Bishop of Bradford has authorized Hickson to conduct a "mission of healing" in Frizinghall Parish Church, & "hedges" judiciously in a letter to the diocese. Only those who desire "real spiritual blessing as well as physical health" are qualified to receive healing: and "no physical cures are guaranteed".

"Mr Hickson does not claim to be aught but the instrument of the healing power of the risen Christ, & only those who are willing to be His disciples can expect a blessing, & they will be the first to realize that, like St Paul, a greater blessing may be theirs by the actual denial of the physical relief they seek".

On these terms, Hickson's pretensions can never be brought to the proof of results, and the religious claim he makes is guaranteed in advance against disproof.

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