The Henson Journals

[232]

Tuesday, December 6th, 1927.

This foolish pledge to contribute a sermon to a volume of sermons composed on the supposition that the preachers were, & knew that they were, preaching for the last time, is extraordinarily difficult to redeem. I think, perhaps, I should desire to insist after the manner of Bishop Butler on the awfulness of Religion if true, & the gross folly of treating it as a matter for jesting.

I spent most of the morning on the Speech for the House of Lords. Probably I should succeed best by making a purely debating speech i.e. by finding my materials in the debate itself. But I feel that the occasion is important, & may give the chance for making "a great speech".

After lunch I went in to Durham, & attended a meeting in the Castle of the Senate of the University. Lord Durham was there, & we discussed the state of the Castle for 2 hours. We drew up a list of a Committee, & undertook to invite the persons contained on it.

I went over to the Bishop of Jarrow, & talked with him, forgetting my obligation to confirm in Darlington. However, by reckless driving I managed to get to S. Luke's only 13 minutes after the "scheduled time". There were nearly 130 candidates, of whom more than half were males, & among them David Harold Brigden, whose recovery from what was thought to be tuberculosis seems almost miraculous. But the poor lad has no work to do, &, I fear, small chance of getting any.