The Henson Journals

[270]

Tuesday, March 31st, 1925.

It is generally known that John of Salisbury debated more or less seriously the question "Can an Archdeacon be saved?" but few know the earnest & far more significant discussion in Caesarius of Heisterbach. He begins: "A certain clerk at Paris pronounced a terrible judgement on Bishops a few years ago, saying "I can believe anything, but I cannot believe that any German Bishop can ever be saved:" and he goes on to quote Salimbene's Geoffroi de Péronne as saying, "The state of the Church is now come to such a pass that it is not worthy to be ruled but by Bishops doomed to damnation.

v. Coulton 'From St Francis to Dante' p 284

I motored to Stanhope, & confirmed 4 boys and 18 girls in the parish church. This petty number represented the Church's harvest from two parishes with a total population of nearly 6000 people! Both these parishes, moreover, are well–endowed, the one being worth £1600 per annum & the other £1000: and neither is in my gift. I had tea with the Rector, and then returned to Auckland, displeased and perplexed. A dreadful mining catastrophe is announced from Newcastle. 38 men & lads have perished.

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