The Henson Journals

[327]

Saturday, May 7th, 1921.

A letter arrived from George, dated April 10th from Port Said. It had evidently been immersed in the sea. He asks me to write to S.S. Eurypylus c/o Messrs Booth & Co, 17 Battery Place, New York, U.S.A. and mentions that his friend, Mrs Bryson, would be staying in Durham, & would call on me.

I spent the morning in sermon–preparation. Slovach came to lunch. I promised to draft a letter of appeal for the C.L.B. [Church Lads Brigade] and gave him ten guineas as my own contribution. After lunch Clayton and I motored to Ushaw Moor, where I dedicated a war memorial, and gave an address. The Hon. Joseph Pease unveiled the memorial, and said a few words very effectively. After this function we motored to Collierley, where I confirmed 55 candidates. The Vicar (Revd J. Maxwell) is in the last stage of decrepitude, & quite incompetent for his duties. Both the churchwardens were eager to impress me with the necessity of his removal. I doubt, however, whether he is sane enough to resign. The curate (Rev. F. Ferguson) was very anxious to show that he was the main upholding pillar of the church in those parts, and that he was refusing livings out of loyalty to his present duties. But I did not feel much impressed! We returned to the Castle after service, arriving about 8.15 p.m. After dinner we went through the correspondence, which was rather more exacting than usual.

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