The Henson Journals

[204]

Monday, March 24th, 1924.

Between two worlds Life hovers like a star,

'Twixt Night and Morn, upon the horizon's verge,

How little do we know that which we are!

How less what we may be! The eternal surge

Of Time and Tide rolls on and bears afar

Our bubbles; as the old burst, new emerge,

Lashed from the foam of ages; while the graves

Of Empires heave but like some passing waves.

"Don Juan" canto XV, stanza xcix.

I wrote letters, and squandered time on "Byron". Then I walked in the Park. At 5 p.m. I motored to South Shields, and confirmed 113 persons in S. Mary's Tyne dock. This confirmation pleased me well. The sexes were not very unevenly divided. 48 males to 65 females: the candidates were of a good age, & gave me the impression of great earnestness and resolution. There was a considerable, and well–behaved congregation. This is an "Anglo–Catholic" church but of a comparatively moderate type. Both Vicar and curate are unmarried men, who get on well together, & are keen about their work. The curate, Strong, is one of the best of the men whom I have myself ordained: but then he is a parson's son, his father being an incumbent in the Midlands. That type has now become almost extinct. After service we returned to Auckland arriving about 10 pm.

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