The Henson Journals
Sun 27 April 1930
Volume 49, Pages 227 to 228
[227]
Low Sunday, April 27th, 1930.
Scouts in the Cathedral
A thick mist covered the country when day broke, and evidently the night had been rainy. There was no wind, and the air was warm & even languorous. I celebrated the holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. We numbered but 5 communicants.
I wrote at length to Brook Westcott in answer to a letter from him asking my advice on a rather petty matter viz: should he approve a British Legion Service which has been hitherto held in the church, being held this year in the open air, & made what it is the fashion to call rather oddly, an 'united' service? I told him to show himself accommodating and magnanimous. I am afraid he has 'got across' his parishioners, & that, together with much that is sincere & attractive, his character includes a strain of hair–splitting quarrelsomeness in which an aspect of his illustrious grandfather's personality may be discerned! His father, who is a neighbouring incumbent, is said to be rather cantankerous. He is too young to be well placed in a 'fat' living. The situation provokes jealousy in his neighbours.
[228]
The cathedral was thronged by boy–scouts. Lord Barnard estimated that nearly 4,000 were present; and in addition there was a considerable gathering of adults. The service was Evensong with special lessons, and some shortening of the prayers. This was ill suited to such a congregation, and there was much restlessness. My sermon was ill attended to, and lord Londonderry, who spoke from the chancel steps after presenting a medal to one of the scouts, could not be heard beyond his immediate neighbourhood. The spectacle of the great church crowded with boys to its utmost capacity was very impressive: but I cannot say that the service was successful. After tea at the deanery, I went to Rawlinson's house at his request, & received from him a horrifying story of clerical misconduct, which may well mature in an immense scandal. Quis custodiet? I went to S. Oswald's, and preached at Evensong. Before the service I called at the Vicarage, and was shown the arrangement by which the house has been bisected, and one part let to a tenant.
I returned to Auckland when evensong had ended.