The Henson Journals

[23]

Saturday, April 14th, 1923.

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I prepared the notes of my speech on Prayer Book Revision . Then I received a deputation from S. Francis, South Shields. Wright brought 6 young men with him, and they held forth to me in the library on the vital importance of Reservation & Confession! They had sent a protest to the newly nominated Incumbent against his appointment! This precious document they had even sent to the Radical Member of the district! I spoke firmly but kindly to them: and then gave them tea in the dining room. The impression left on my mind was rather depressing. The notion that they belonged to the Church of England, & were not free to have a law and system of their own different from those of the Church seemed to them both novel and unpalatable. These Anglo–Catholics use a language of their own, & test the clergy by their familiarity with it. The newly nominated Incumbent appears to fail under that test!

The secretary of the Lightfoot came to see me with reference to the use of the Park for cricket. I said it might be used from June 1st.

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