The Henson Journals

[78]

Tuesday, December 21st, 1920.

My morning was frittered away. There were several callers, some indispensable letters, a visit to the Bank, and the long–overdue clearing up of my study–table. Mr Griffin, who for 5 years past, has been doing practically all the duty in Coxhoe, where old Canon Fleming has just died, came to see me by appointment. He is a widower: has been in Orders 16 years: professes himself a liberal–minded Churchman: & declaims against "spikes". He is an Irishman. I do not think that, as a general rule, it is wise to appoint curates to be the incumbents of the parishes where they are actually working. Accordingly I wrote to the L. Chancellor who, for this turn is patron of Coxhoe, indicating that I did not wish Griffin to be appointed, and suggested Cecil Fortescue. Ernest arrived before lunch, and walked for an hour with me in the Park. After tea I wrote to Dicey, & Chancellor Dowdall. Maish, having decided to keep on until the end of the year, I was able to get through some rather important correspondence. The worst problem of my office takes more intractable shape daily viz. how to find suitable Ordination candidates. There is but too evident reason for thinking that the Ministry has become in this diocese a kind of "dock–gates" for the lower middle–class, where men who cannot for their incompetence earn a living in any other trade or profession are able to secure a present maintenance. This is the root of the public contempt for clergymen, & explains the failure of the Church. But where is the remedy?

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