The Henson Journals

[185]

Monday, March 3rd, 1924.

The new Dean of Carlisle is the socialist Vicar of St Philips Newcastle! It is a great fall to pass from Rashdall to Moll! There can be no concealing the decline in learning & consequence which recent appointments disclose. Chase, Wace, and Rashdall give place to White Thompson, Bell, and Moll.

I motored into Durham, and lunched in S. Chad's College on the occasion of the annual festival. Moulsdale proposed the toast of "Church and King" coupling my name with it. I responded, & took the occasion to speak about the shortage of clergy. After lunch we all descended to the chapel by 34 steps, and there I dedicated a reredos erected to the memory of the 16 members of the college who had fallen during the War. The service was extremely well–arranged. Then we motored to Jarrow where I had tea with Lilburne, & afterwards interviewed Woods, the curate of St Jude's Tynedock in his study. I dissuaded him from leaving the diocese, and recommended him to another curacy. Then we went to S. Peter's, and there I confirmed more than 30 candidates. We returned to Auckland immediately after the service.

The Church is very weak in the Rural Deanery of Jarrow. A considerable proportion of the people is composed of Irish Papists, and there are many Nonconformists, not perhaps of the best type. The district has "developed" very rapidly, & there are no traditions, and but few educated residents.

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