The Henson Journals

[40]

Thursday, May 14th, 1925.

He confessed to viewing with a certain misgiving the tendency of some of their men to develop an elaborate ritual at the expense of the sermon. If it was done to cover a certain loss of faith in preaching, the minister might just as well write "Ichabod" over his church doors, for vestments & liturgies & a tiny ten–minutes' sermon were never going to make a church a power. If it was done in the hope of attracting the outsider, it was a pretty desperate expedient. Preaching must be their strength and glory still.

(Inaugural Address of Rev. J. D. Jones D.D. as Chairman of the Congregational Union of England & Wales – Times. May 13th, 1925.).

Lord Milner's death is reported in the newspapers. He had just been elected to be 'our honoured Lord & Chancellor' at Oxford. Lazenby came to see me about the discipline case & stayed to Lunch. Canon Wykes lunched here, & then accompanied me to Gainford where I instituted Mr Bidwell to the Vicarage. Then I returned to Auckland, only to set out again almost immediately for West Hartlepool, where I confirmed about 120 persons in Christ Church. After the service we returned to Auckland. A fine warm day.

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