The Henson Journals

[156]

Tuesday, March 6th, 1923.

A letter from Buff told me that his father had died at a hotel in Beaulieu. Willie Murray first came into my orbit in 1887, when I was appointed Head of the Oxford House. He was one of the young Oxonians who, from time to time, visited that outpost of culture in the barbarous district of East London. He conceived a strange admiration and affection for me, which developed into a steady friendship which has lasted until his death. He was a pure and upright man, deeply religious in a way of his own, and extraordinarily sensitive in conscience. We received him here with his wife, and spent a pleasant week at his house last August. It is difficult to realise that I shall never see him again. I wrote to Mrs Murray, Buff, and Vivian.

Clayton and I motored to West Hartlepool. Macdonald took me to a poor paralysed woman, whom I confirmed privately as she could not come to church. Then I went to St Paul's and confirmed 166 candidates of whom at least two thirds wore petticoats. There was much coughing which annoyed, and a collection which displeased, me. I told the Vicar that the latter must not be repeated in future confirmations. He was, I think, genuinely surprized that I should object to so obvious an effort to "raise the wind"! We returned to Auckland after service, arriving about 9.45 p.m.

---