The Henson Journals

[151]

Tuesday, March 2nd, 1926.

I adapted the sermon on "Christianity as the Way" for use in Westminster Abbey next Sunday morning: & wrote some necessary letters. Old Greenway & his daughter came to lunch. He brought me a piece of a marble statue from (as he alleged) the Temple of Ephesus, & talked with irrepressible volume & persistence all the time he was here! I walked in the Park; & then motored to Hebburn for a Confirmation. There were about 107 candidates from the parishes of S. Cuthbert, S. John, & S. Oswald, of which the combined population exceeds 26,000 souls. This means that about one in five of the children of suitable age is presented for Confirmation. There is a considerable Roman Catholic population to be reckoned with, &, of course, the varigated [sic] sectaries are in the sum numerous. It would be a liberal estimate to allow for Papists and Sectaries another fifth. This leaves three fifths of the people outside organized Christianity. It is a dismaying & humiliating reflection. Of the 3 incumbents in Hebburn, Marr was ordained in 1890 & has been 25 years in his present parish. Smith was ordained in 1906, & has held his present benefice for 3 years. Birtwhistle was ordained in 1896, and has held S. Oswald's for 5 years. Marr is the best & most effective of the three.

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