The Henson Journals

[192]

5th Sunday of Easter, May 10th, 1931.

A wet morning, and warm. What the farmers call a ‘good growing day'. I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. We numbered 7 commts including Elland and his wife.

I spent the morning in my study preparing notes for the afternoon's sermon. It occurred to me that I might recall the traditional origin of the Rogation days in order to talk about earthquakes, & their religious suggestions. The historic earthquakes in London (1750) and Lisbon (1755) provide some illustrative material to relieve the toedium!

In spite of the weather, there was a goodly gathering of Freemasons in the Chapel at 3 pm. My address was well listened to, though, perhaps, the brethren secretly wondered why I chose the subject. Lord Thurlow read the prayers, & Burkitt read the lesson. Peter Richardson was in the company, & stayed for tea. He borrowed the two Russian romances – "The Death of the Gods" and "The Forerunner".

I wrote to the Archbishop of York, Peers, Xan Wynne–Willson, Nigel Cornwall, Lionel Trotman, and Cyril Clarke.

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