The Henson Journals

[57]

14th Sunday after Trinity, September 9th, 1928.

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Mrs Rolt who was living in Cape Town with her husband the Dean of the Cathedral there when Hickson came thither on his faith–healing mission, told me much about the man and his methods. About 2000 persons passed under the Healer's hands, but when subsequently the results had to be appraised & registered with a view to public thanksgiving, no more than 3 cases could be certified as "super–natural". I inquired particularly about the man himself, & I was told that he left an unpleasing impression of avarice and self–indulgence, not clearly of dishonesty and excess, but quite clearly of mundane & self–indulgent temperament & habit. "We have the treasure in earthen vessels", and it would ill become us to quarrel with the Instruments which the Almighty wills to use in working His "magnalia". Nevertheless, we are so built that we inevitably demand a measure of congruity between the man and his message. 'By their fruits ye shall know them' tends to justify this demand, & it seems plainly taught in the New Testament that there is a definite connexion between moral quality and insight into the things of the spirits. "The pure in heart shall see God" said our Saviour, & He seems to disclose a principle of the Divine Economy, supremely illustrated in Himself.

[58]

I celebrated the Holy Communion at 8 a.m. There were 10 communicants including all our guests except John Rolt, who came to chapel but retired feeling faint.

I wrote to William at Bulawayo: and to the Bishop of Guildford.

Then for an hour I walked in the Park with Cock and the two boys.

Cock accompanied me in the motor to Winlaton, where the centenary of the parish church was being celebrated. The church, (which, however, is of no great size) was crowded, & the congregation listened to my sermon very attentively. After the service I had some talk with old Canon Jones who has held the Rectory for 44 years, since 1884. He was ordained as long ago as 1876. Winlaton contains 16,500 parishioners, is stated to have an endowment of £500: & is in the patronage of the Bishop of Chester. There are two mission churches, but the combined accommodation of all the three buildings is only 770: and – this is the sinister fact – is abundantly sufficient for the huge population. I had a good deal of conversation with Cock on the way, & was pleased with him.

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