The Henson Journals

[43]

Septuagesima, February 1st, 1931.

I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. We were only 4 communicants – Mrs Berry, one of the maids, William & myself. Charles was celebrating at New Shildon. Ella & Fearne were away from home.

The Epistle for this Sunday is short, stern, minatory, like a military command on a day of battle. What do the Calvinists make of S. Paul's fear lest "When he had preached to others he himself should be a castaway'?

I went through the Temple sermon yet once again, trying to give it a more connected form, & to emphasize the dissent from Ralph's fierce "Protestantism", while removing the direct reference to him. A quotation from his saner predecessor, Church, perhaps made such a reference superfluous. But now I am in some doubt about the length of the sermon, which will, I judge, take about half an hour to deliver.

The Papers report the death of Robertson, once Bishop of Exeter, but for nearly 15 years an invalid living in retirement in Oxford. For 14 years (1883–97) he was Principal of Hatfield Hall, Durham: and he was the successful candidate for the Bampton Lectureship when I was the unsuccessful one in 1901. How differently might my life have worked out, had I been appointed!

[44]

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I read through the Pope's Encyclical on 'Christian marriage" which has been published as a pamphlet by the 'Catholic Truth Society'. The full title indicates its range & character: "On Christian Marriage in view of the present conditions needs errors and vices that affect the family & society". It extends to 67 pages, and reads fairly well. The oracular style of unquestioned & unquestionable authority is not without an impressiveness of its own, but all the conditions of the "Sex–problem", as it confronts an informed & considering Christian today are simply ignored.

The "Observer" reports that the jury returned a verdict of "Guilty" against Rouse, in whose burnt car the body of an unknown man was found. The Judge, Talbot, passed sentence of death. In this case the entire evidence was 'circumstantial', and no 'motive' was suggested.

I wrote to Robin, William, Ella, Gilbert, Archdeacon Cornwall, Canon Stack, Frank Bishop, Charles and I went to the Chapel and read our Evensong together. Tonight I complete thirteen years of my episcopate. It began in resentments and apprehensions: it has moved through much confusion and disappointment: to what manner of ending is it destined?

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