The Henson Journals
Tue 24 September 1929
Volume 48, Page 342
[342]
Tuesday, September 24th, 1929.
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The weather became very warm. I worked at a sermon for Sunderland, and after lunch walked round the Park with Jimmie Dobbie. I received 'with the author's compliments' a small volume, which seems interesting: 'Thomas Chalmers, Apostle of Union' by Adam Philip. D. D. (James Clarke & Co). Breakfast was Dr Chalmers' favourite meal. Scott, like Johnson, indulged in a very hearty breakfast, & lamented as life went on that he could only take three eggs. (p. 71.) Chalmers had a favourite idea that when a man reached sixty he entered on the Sabbath of life. (p. 65). He lived to be 67. At the Disruption he was 63, so that the historic achievement of his life was effected after 60.
Among the 'memorable sayings' is the familiar tag, 'A house–going minister makes a church–going people'. I wonder whether this was original. Probably the great man was only quoting it. But even so, he may have made it 'current coin'.