The Henson Journals

[23]

3rd Sunday in Lent, March 20th, 1927.

I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. We numbered 8 Communicants, including James. After breakfast I set to work on preparing notes for a sermon in the little mission at Cleadon, of which Cecil Booth has charge. The Bicentenary of Isaac newton's death (March 20th 1927) formed a peg on which to hang a discourse about the Revelation of God in nature as revealed by science. And the glorious verse in Proverbs XX.27. "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord." provided a text.

Lionel and I left the Castle at 5p.m., & motored viâ Gateshead to Boldon, where he preached, and then I went on to the Mission Church in Cleadon, which was keeping its anniversary. I preached the sermon, which I had prepared, but which was not particularly well–suited for the occasion. I was pleased with the behaviour of the choir, which was un–surpliced. Cecil Booth seems to be making a good start. He is engaged to be married, but is not yet able to "afford a wife". But he is 31 years old, and every year's delay will endanger the success of an experiment which, in the most favourable circumstances, cannot but be precarious.

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