The Henson Journals

[142]

Tuesday, February 23rd, 1926.

Brooke went back to Gateshead after breakfast. I wrote to MrBrudenel telling him that I had advised the rejection of his offer. This business of giving advice with respect to personal decisions is to me most unpalatable: yet I cannot dispute the title of any clergyman in my diocese to seek his bishop's counsel. I never ask advice myself, & I don't like anybody asking advice from me! A pastoral attitude! I wasted the morning writing letters & reading. After lunch I walked in the Park, & then motored to South Shields where I confirmed 90 candidates. MrAshworth, the Vicar of Harton, presented one candidate. I inquired where he proposed to present the main body of his candidates, & I was informed to my extreme surprise, that this single candidate was the entire presentation for the year. Harton contains more than 1600 people. On a reasonable estimate not less than 30 persons reach the age of 14 years in Harton every year: & the Vicar seemed rather hurt that I was not as satisfied as himself! MrLane–Davies, Vicar of South Westo, presented about 60 candidates out of a population of more than 23,000. Certainly not less than 450 persons in that parish reached the age of 14 last year.

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