The Henson Journals

[218]

Wednesday, April 9th, 1924.

I finished Byron, and sent the M.S. registered to the Cambridge Press.

Lillingston came to lunch bringing with him an Eton master named Martin, and his two boys. I showed them the castle, and had some talk about the failure of the public schools to supply Ordination candidates.

The weather reverted to winter. We drove to Southwick in sleet and rain, through a snow–whitened country. At S. Columba's, Southwick, I confirmed 102 persons. This is a parish, half of the inhabitants of which are said to be miners, and the rest mostly shipyard workers. The population is 8000: the income £380 net: & the patronage belongs to the Bishop. The Vicar – H. F. MacMunn – has held office for 7 years. He is an Anglo–Catholic, though not of the wildest type. He has two insignificant looking curates, whom I myself ordained. They would seem better cut out for office boys than clergymen! Yet they will in due course be set in charge of populous parishes.

Lomax of Ferryhill came to see me. He says that the fanatical socialist, Macmanus, whose aspect & vehement speech in the Diocesan Conference arrested attention, is a saint, works as one of his staff, and aspires to Ordination! I said he might come and see me. What people like Lomax will not consider is the future of these ardent illiterates whom they encourage to seek Orders. How could they ever be appointed to incumbencies?

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