The Henson Journals

[342]

Thursday, January 27th, 1927.

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We all went in to Durham in order to lunch at the Deanery, and attend the Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors. There was a goodly number of Honorary Canons at lunch together with some neighbours. I sate between Mrs Ford & Lady Eden, & found them interesting. The service was impressive, the singing exquisite: the sermon inadequate and dull. Certainly the Dean of York is not a great preacher. His manner is at once melancholy and pompous;, but his substance deserved no better! After service we had tea in the Deanery, & chatted with many old acquaintances. We returned to Auckland, where Dr Norwood arrived about 6 p.m., in order to address a meeting in the Town Hall at 7 p.m., over which I presided. There was a large attendance, mainly of men. I spoke shortly, & then Dr Norwood spoke for an hour. He is fluent, forcible, & rather flamboyant, but he did not say anything worth remembering. We went back to the Castle, & there he was very entertaining. He is a rather square–built man, Australian by birth, with a hearty manner, a frank smile, & a sense of humour. He told some amusing stories about Joseph Parker, his predecessor in the charge of the City Temple. His account of Australia was not very favourable.

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