The Henson Journals

[72]

Tuesday, May 29th, 1923.

The quiet thinker in the scientific cloister are, like the poets, the makers and shakers of the world.

J. Arthur Thompson

I wasted the morning in writing to the Bishop of Chelmsford, from whom the post brought me a letter. Cruickshank writes to me urging me to "Overcome my natural repugnance to approach him", as he appears, in spite of his cant, to agree with my "positive policy". I doubt if he is really a free agent, for his foible of playing the part of reconciler carries him into dangerous companies in which he commits himself to more than he realizes.

Philps from Stanley lunched here to meet Wynne–Willson. After lunch W.W. and Clayton accompanied me to Trimdon where I confirmed 50 persons, & afterwards had tea in the Vicarage. The Vicar, Revd F. A. Rainbow, was ordained in 1912; is married, & has 3 young children. His official income is said to be only £211. He presented 19 candidates out of a population which is hardly 1000. I motored to Sedgefield, and showed W.W. the church. We called at the Rectory. Then we went to Kelloe, & confirmed something more than 50 persons, nearly all female. The Vicar, Canon Martin, is 80, and evidently very ill: but I could not conceal from myself that the parish was in a bad state. It ought to net nearly poundsign1100. Hence the calamity of aged incumbents. We returned to Auckland Castle after the service, arriving about 9.15 p.m.

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