The Henson Journals

[225]

Monday, February 23rd, 1925.

I received a letter from Lord Balfour inquiring whether any Reformed Church in the XVIth and XVIIth centuries had issued an official condemnation of the Copernican theory. I wasted the morning in trying to verify my belief that none such had been issued, and finally had to send my illustrious correspondent nothing better than my personal impression!

Clayton and I motored to Blackhall, where I dedicated a painted window erected by an old lady, Mrs Lee, to the memory of her son. The donor was not well enough to attend the service, so I visited her in her house, & talked for a few minutes. Then we returned as far as Durham, where we had tea with Wilson. Leng came with a long face to report the back spring broken. So I hired a car & set off with Wilson & Clayton to South Shields, where I instituted the Rev. T. Anderson to the Vicarage of St Aidan's. As we were returning a man simply walked into the car, and of course was knocked down. We carried him to the Infirmary, and where greatly relieved to learn from a very pleasant young doctor – who told me that he came from Durham & was named Ingram – that no bones were broken. So I charged a by–stander to see the man returned to his house, & we continued our journey. At Durham we dropped Wilson, & were met by Leng with the Wolseley car. The weather was wretched.

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