The Henson Journals

[86]

Monday, December 27th, 1920.

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A bad post! The Rural Dean of Chester–le–Street reports the Vicar of Hedgefield (Revd T. W. Hanson) for embezzling a considerable sum of money belonging to a society of working people of which he was Treasurer. How can any effectual ministry survive such a failure as that? H. is an Oxford man, and was ordained in 1898 in this diocese.

The Revd N. P. Williams came to lunch. He is a little rat–like man with that queer "under–look" of the sacristy which all our "Catholicks" acquire. I talked with him for an hour, & was interested. His father, the Revd J. P. Williams, is vicar of S. Mary, Tyne Dock.

After he had departed, I walked in the Park for an hour, and then had tea. Which ended, Maish & I did the letters.

I inquired of Williams whether there was a good promise of Ordination candidates at Oxford, and he said that mostly only "smugs" looked to be ordained. I asked why good men would not come to Durham, & he replied that it was the poor quality of the incumbent, and the remoteness of the parishes. Both facts must be admitted, but none the less that they should have such influence argues an absence of an heroic temper in the young men. The loneliness of a young clergyman in an average mining parish is sad to reflect upon. Something, perhaps, might be attempted by way of reunions here at the Castle during the summer. But the clergy are morose & unresponsive for the most part.

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