The Henson Journals

[13]

3rd Sunday after Easter, May 11th, 1930.

I slept badly, and got up feeling very giddy & weak. The necessity to attempt what one feels unable to accomplish is a sore burden. Pattinson and I left the Castle at 8.15 a.m. and motored to Gateshead, where I dedicated a side–chapel and a "children's corner" in S. James's Church, celebrated the Holy Communion, and preached the sermon. In spite of the wretched weather (it rained steadily until about 1 p.m.) there were about 200 communicants. I felt so ill that my enjoyment of the service was destroyed, but I could not but be impressed by the spectacle of so many very poor people worshipping so devoutly. Most of them were young men & women. Old Mr Reed was among the communicants. After the service we proceeded to the Rectory, where I rested. At 3.15 p.m. there was the annual service of the Gateshead Freemasons in the parish church. The floor of the church was fairly filled with the Brethren. I preached on 1. Cor. L xv.58. In my sermon I drew a parallel between the history of the Roman Wall and that of Freemasonry. After tea at the Rectory, we returned to Auckland. Ernest Henson arrived in his car which he drives with characteristic recklessness. The afternoon & evening were comparatively fine.

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