The Henson Journals

[107]

Wednesday, December 10th, 1924.

I have to confirm the boys – perhaps 50 – of the Durham School, and the question how I shall address them shadows my mind. What do I know about the mind of a boy? It is true that I was once a boy myself, but so abnormal were the circumstances of my boyhood that I cannot learn anything from cross–examining my own memory. In truth I never recall a time when I thought or felt essentially differently from what I think & feel now. This cannot but be a formidable barrier to any genuine understanding of the boy's mind. I shall take for my text the verse which Dean Stanley loved – "I see that all things come to an end, but Thy commandment is exceeding broad". The two–fold character of all human experiences – immediate & visible, and also remote and invisible – illustrated by the lessons and games of boyhood, but holding true throughout life: the essence of religion consisting in giving first place to the unseen aspect which alone persists: confirmation implying a confession of our loyalty to the Unseen, and, also, our receiving the pledge of that Power by which the Unseen finally prevails – these, perhaps, may serve as the ideas, which the sympathy born of contact may clothe with intelligible words.

[108]

We all motored into Durham in time for the School Confirmation in the Cathedral. I confirmed 49 boys from the School, and 5 of the Cathedral Choir boys. I think the boys were attentive, and they seemed to be devout. Then I went to the Castle, and instituted Parry to his slum–parish, S. Stephen's, Ayres Quay, Sunderland, and licensed 10 curates. Among the latter was Fuller, who goes to his father's parish. After this, Clayton and I lunched with Wilson: & then I went to the Cosin library and presided over a meeting of the Diocesan Conference Committee. I announced my intention of addressing the Conference on the vexed and pressing subject of 'Spiritual Healing'. Then I went to the Cathedral and listened in my Throne to the rendering of Mozart's Twelfth Mass. The Cathedral was well filled, i.e. the Nave. After this, I picked up the two ladies, & returned to Auckland.

Wilson told me that he recollected one occasion on which Bishop Moule had the Ordination candidates in the Castle at Durham. In view of the larger number which in the pre–War years were ordained, and the larger household at Auckland, where did the bishop find room for the candidates?

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