The Henson Journals

[34]

Monday, May 12th, 1924.

Lord Ravensworth went away after breakfast. I motored to Houghton–le–Spring, and had an interview with Knight. I told him of the difficulty which had arisen through the Dean's strange behaviour, and asked him frankly whether in spite of this, he would be prepared, if I asked him to do so, to take on as Quirk's successor. He was evidently much astonished at Welldon's strange behaviour, but none the less he said that if I offered him the position, he would accept it. I said that I would consider the whole subject, and, when my mind had settled to a decision, I would let him know. I returned to the Castle in time for lunch. Graham White, the Vicar of Dawdon, lunched, and divers others. He came to sing the praises of his curate, Key. Later, I motored to Haswell, where I confirmed 19 persons, and afterwards had tea with the Vicar, Skene. Then I motored to Wheatly Hill, and confirmed 79 persons. On both occasions the preponderance of females over males was exorbitant. I returned to Auckland after the service, & found that Clayton had already returned. I incline to think that it might be a more edifying practice, if there were separate confirmations for boys & girls. The spectacle of a handfull of boys forlornly placed against three times the number of girls in a congregation almost wholly composed of females cannot but give the impression that Confirmation is mainly a woman's affair, not naturally appertaining to the concern of normal males – an impression now but too common.