The Henson Journals

[226]

13th Sunday after Trinity, September 6th, 1925.

[symbol]

I put the finishing touches to my centenary sermon before breakfast, and after breakfast went immediately to Gateshead Fell church for the service at 10.30 a.m. Jimmie went with me to carry my staff, & did his duty "as to the manor born". The Mayor & Corporation of Gateshead attended in state, & there was a considerable congregation. The Rector's son, a stout cleric with an "Anglo–Catholic" intonation read Mattins, & I celebrated the Holy Communion. There were 61 communicants, though the parish contains more than 5000 people, & it was the 1st Sunday in the month, let alone the centenary commemoration. Old Mr Mitchell is far gone in the eighties, and he has held the Rectory for 27 years. After the service we returned to Auckland. We walked round the park with the dogs during the afternoon: and then I wrote letters, read the Spectator, & talked with Jimmie.

In the course of the day I had much talk with Jimmie about the Christian ministry, and his own Ordination thereto. He seems to have settled his mind very firmly on his purpose, and is very determined to master the requisite knowledge. How far his natural powers will make this easy, I am not sure: but he certainly is not below the average, & that is not saying much now.

---