The Henson Journals

[130]

20th Sunday after Trinity, October 21st, 1928, Manchester.

Dr Burgess told me the following story:–

During the General Strike, his son, an undergraduate volunteered for work, & was allotted a position as a stoker on an express. He was much surprized to receive in due course a cheque for his wages amounting to £4:9:6. The 9/6 he sent to his little sister at school. Of the rest, he sent £1 to his father saying that, as his father had expended much on his education, he thought it only fair that he should have a share of his first own ^first^ earnings. Dr Burgess, naturally touched by this proof of filial piety, placed the pound note in an envelope, sealed it up, & deposited it in his safe endorsed – 'Part of his first earnings sent to me by my son Robert John Burgess". Shortly after, the burglars broke in to his house, opened the safe, took his wife's jewels &, about £200 in cash, threw about his documents, and opened the envelope but replaced the note, & left it behind them. May we not interpret this as an indication of the same kind of chivalrous sentiment in crime which adorned Robin Hood and Dick Turpin?

[131]

Dr Burgess obligingly lent his car to take us to the Cathedral for the morning service which consisted of Mattins up to the Benedictus, & then the Holy Communion. The sermon followed the Nicene Creed. There was a considerable congregation, largely composed of men. I preached from I. Cor. xv. Ii. "Whether it be I or they, so we preach, & so ye believed." The sermon took exactly 22 minutes to deliver, which was not excessive. After lunch I rested for an hour in order to save my voice, which cannot stand the strain of continual talking. Dr Burgess's car carried us to the cathedral for the special service at 3.30 p.m. There was a large gathering of doctors, medical students, & nurses, but the place was not crowded. I preached from Acts xx.35. "In all things I gave you an example, how that so labouring, ye ought to help the weak, & to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he Himself said. It is more blessed to give than to receive." I preached for exactly 30 minutes by the pulpit clock. Rather to my surprize the verger handed me a cheque for three guineas.

After tea I wrote to William, sending him good wishes for his birthday on November 26th. He is as old as the century – 28 – surely the very prime of life.

[132]

The Armstrong College branch of the Student Christian Movement takes itself very seriously. With reprehensible rashness, I promised some weeks ago to address it next Tuesday. My directions are thus given:–

"My committee has been discussing this meeting during the last few days, & we are agreed that it should attempt 1) to show the importance of religion & its relevance to life; and 2) indicate how trifling are our own intellectual difficulties compared with the moral & spiritual challenges that Christianity presents. As some of us pointed out, it may pass the wit of man to treat these themes adequately in one address: nevertheless we should be glad if your lordship could keep these two ideas in mind."

Here is indeed a generous programme: but it lacks in precision what it gains in generosity.

Religion has its roots in certain facts which confront men, & which, as men advance in civilization, require explanation. These facts suggest 3 questions, the answering of which is the purpose & the test of religion.

1. What is the source & the significance of life?

2. What is the explanation of moral conflict?

3. What is the meaning & importance of Death?

[133]

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[symbol] Divers people came to supper, & among them the well–known editor of the Manchester Guardian, C. P. Scott. He sate by me, and we conversed freely. He said that there was no reasonable prospect of the Labour Party coming into power for at least 20 years: that the Liberal party would act as a determining factor, & would be strong enough to restrain Labour from its worst blunders. He himself desired a Labour Government maintained by the Liberals on terms. He was very positive that none of the parties would touch Disestablishment. We spoke of the condition of America, & I was rather surprised to find him heartily endorsing my unfavourable opinion. He had read Judge Lindsay's books, & was properly horrified by their disclosure of American morals.

The Bishop of Middleton, Dr Parsons, is a heavy man with a self–consequential manner & an abhorrent reek of stale tobacco. His wife is a doctor, but not in any settled employment. They are said to keep no servant, & she acts as her husband's chauffeur. Archdeacon Aspinall, a hideous little man with an amiable expression, was also present, but I got no speech with him.

The weather all day has been pleasant, though with an autumnal touch in sight & feeling.

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