The Henson Journals

[71]

Monday, June 4th, 1928.

I baptized Elizabeth Jean Linnell in S. Anne's. Gerald Linnell & his wife were there, also his brother–in–law, the Archbishop of Sydney & his wife, and Mrs Linnell senior. Also Mr & Mrs Wilson from Burnopfield with Peter. They all had lunch at the Castle after the ceremony.

Lionel and I motored to Silksworth, where I preached to the members of the Mothers' Union from the Rural Deanery. They crowded the church into which many were quite unable to gain entrance. I preached a poor little sermon from notes which I had prepared on the mistaken supposition that I was to address an open–air gathering. Then Petrie, the Vicar of St Barnabas, Sunderland, carried me off to confirm a husband & wife privately. This ended, we returned to Auckland.

Burkitt has rather a 'waspish' letter in the Times, ostensibly designed to 'answer' my review of "Fix": but in fact having small relation thereto. He refers to what he is pleased to call my "notorious sermon" at Cambridge. Very hastily I wrote and sent off a short reply. Probably I should have been wiser to let it alone.

The weather has become quite cold again, & there are threatenings of rain.