The Henson Journals

[290]

Monday, December 20th, 1926.

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I received from old Lady Wimborne a queer letter, invoking my assistance in order to restrain her nephew, the Duke of Marlborough from becoming a Papist. She said that his Grace knew me, & would be glad to see me. The first statement was, to the best of my knowledge, a falsehood: the last was certainly a hypocrisy. I returned a civil but guarded answer which was calculated to rid me of my ducal client!

I motored to Durham, where I presided over a meeting of the Barrington trustees, & visited Andrews's book shop. After purchasing a number of Christmas gifts I returned to Auckland.

Mrs Boutflower came to consult me about the Mothers' Union. That society is evidently falling into the hand of the Anglo–Catholicks, who are re–casting its constitution with great skill, so as to make it the instrument of the Centre, which they can count on controlling. We must make an effort to save the rights of the Bishops to be supreme within their own dioceses.

Lionel and I motored to Bellasis, where I dedicated a new organ in the Mission church. The parson, the Rev. J. A. Vigor, has been a "rolling stone" since his Ordination by a Scottish bishop in 1902. He did not impress me favourably, nor did the new organ which was, in spite of its dedication, noisy & raucous. There was by no means a large congregation, & the general effect of the service was distinctly depressing. However I preached from the words "Rejoice in the Lord alway: & again I will say, Rejoice". After the service we returned to Auckland.

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