2110-3-10-21

26th July 1921

NORTHERN CLUB, EDINBURGH.

My dear John

Very many thanks for your letter and the discourse on the Good News. I'm awfully glad you like it.

I was very interested in the idea, and took a lot of trouble over it for no end or reason but my own am

usement. I certainly did not mean to publish it until this week. But two or three friends of mine are pressing me to do so, and I think very likely I will.

They are very keen to recapture Jesus for the publicans and sinners like ourselves, as they regard him as having been exploited too long by the Scribes and Pharisees: And the idea of the Gospels served up with an after dinner

flavouring pleases them. - Quite right too for Jesus was clearly one of the most popular "diners out" in Palestine. (I think I'll add this)

The worst of it is that it is too long for a magazine article, and too short for a book. It spread out beyond a sermon; but like a tree that has begun in a pot for a year or so, the early cramping has permanently affected its size. I have

touched it up a bit in the last week. but I don't think it will expand further: though I could write lots of notes in it.

Well I wish I could see you but I don't think I'll be doup in town for ages. If I am I'll ring you up. I'm afraid I won't be up for a week end at all. It would be a treat to see

Mrs John & Alice and the boys: and I'd like to get put wise about the ways of printing and publishing too: but I'll ask old Walter Blackie my friend of Constable's if I decide on that line

I was dipping in to the