The Henson Journals
Tue 2 June 1925
Volume 39, Pages 66 to 67
[66]
Tuesday, June 2nd, 1925.
Thursday, 30 (Aug 1759) I preached at the Tabernacle in Norwich, to a large, rude, noisy congregation. I took knowledge what manner of Teachers they had been accustomed to, and determined to mend them or end them. Accordingly, the next evening, after sermon, I reminded them of two things: the one, that it was not decent to begin talking as soon as service was ended; & hurrying to and fro, as in a bear–garden. The other, that it was a bad custom to gather into knots just after sermon, & turn a place of worship into a coffee–house. I therefore desired, that none wd talk under that roof, but go quietly and silently away.
John Wesley, Journal Aug. 30th 1759.
"To mend them or end them" – this phrase, applied to the House of Lords, was often on the lips of Radical orators in the eighties of the last century. The references to a 'bear–garden', and a 'coffee–house' are interesting as giving the social setting of Wesley's great work. Eighteenth century England could hardly be better indicated than by those long obsolete institutions.
[67]
I wasted most of the day in writing an article (No. 3) for the Evening Standard. Its subject – Disestablishment and the present Discontent in the Church – was suggested to me by the Editor. It is a subject on which I can say much, but nothing prudently.
My letter headed 'Durham Castle' appeared in the 'Times'. Now Pemberton writes to say that what the Committee wanted from me was, not a letter to the Times, but a letter for private circulation.
I motored to Winston, and 'collated' Canon Wykes to the Rectory. The weather was brilliant, so that the exceeding beauty of that lovely parish was seen to full advantage. The little church was quite full, largely with people from Tudhoe Grange, who came in two motor–omnibuses full of them – to see their old parson collated. More than a dozen clergy attended, a circumstance which indicates the high regard in which Canon Wykes is held. The Vicar of Barnard Castle was conspicuous by his absence. He is an ill–bred man, and I much fear, he is also what is far worse, an ill–natured man. After service I returned to Auckland.