The Henson Journals

[67]

Saturday, December 11th, 1920.

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Snow was falling smartly when I came into my study at 8 a.m. I wrote many letters, made some sermon notes, and paid some bills before lunch. Afterwards George walked with me to South Church. It is a fine open building, well adapted for congregational use. The tower is a noticeable feature. After tea, I wrote more letters.

I definitely refused to accept as a candidate for Holy Orders a man, otherwise well–fitted, & possessed of a private income, who was blind. It does not appear to me that a man thus physically afflicted can fulfil a ministry of the word and sacrament in any effectual sense. He would always need assistance, & he could hardly pursue any serious study.

The disposition of Houghton–le–Spring weighs on my mind. If K. [Knight] would take it, & give himself whole–heartedly to the work, I might, perhaps, do wisely to risk the local rage by bringing him in. On the other hand, there is something to be said for trying to find a younger man, & getting a "school of prophets" established there. Preferment is so slow in this diocese that I can hardly count on another chance of brining a good man in from outside. There are some legitimate ambitions within the diocese which will have to be disappointed: & by appointing an outsider, I shall lose the opportunity of creating a vacancy, which could be seriously filled.

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