The Henson Journals

[320]

Tuesday, January 11th, 1927.

I received from Mr Arthur Hird a series of inquiries about the volume of Ordination addresses, which I answered forthwith. It is a foolish business, &, beyond wasting no small amount of money, will do no good to anyone. Why, then, do I go on with it? If I could answer that question, I should have done something to explain the enigma of my own luckless & preposterous individuality!

I wrote to Lady Wimborne suggesting that the Duke should address himself directly to me.

I went in to Durham, and instituted Bidgood to the new parish of S. Luke, West Hartlepool, and Renwick to the Ecclesiastical District of Shiney Row. Then I lunched with the Bishop of Jarrow, and discussed diocesan business with him. I presided at a meeting of the Diocesan Conference Committee, and interviewed an Ordination candidate named Cross, an under–sized, unhealthy–looking youth who said that he was an Anglo–Catholick. However, as he has a degree, & is well reported of, we must not reject him. South's brutal expression about the sectarian ministries – the offals of other professions often comes to my mind as I review the latest aspirants to Ordination! One sometimes makes mistakes. The least impressive–looking individuals are found to be the most spiritually effective. The combination of physical weakness & moral strength takes high rank among the "Magnalia Dei" which are the glory and the enigma of history. I comforted the poor youth by reminding him that the great Athanasius was described by a contemporary as a "mannikin"!

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