The Henson Journals

[19]

Wednesday, March 16th, 1927.

[symbol]

The Modern Churchman arrived. It contains an article by Major on "The Composite Book from the Modernist Point of View", which is rather surprisingly favourable to the Book. He approves both the new Communion Office, & Reservation for the Sick. There is also an Article by Rashdall on 'Bishop Butler' which is a severe & powerful criticism of my greatest predecessor. He holds that Butler's 'Fifteen Sermons' are his most important work. "When I taught Moral Philosophy in Oxford, I always recommended men to begin by reading Butler's Sermons, or some of them, & Mill's Utilitarianism as the typical representation of the two classical schools of Moral Philosophy."

I motored to Durham, & instituted Canon Patterson to Aycliffe, licensed a sinister looking fellow called Chambers to Brandon, and gave a preacher's license to Morley Wells. Then I lunched at the County Club with Wilson. There was at lunch a pleasant fellow who lives near Aycliffe, & is named, I think, Summerson. He is interested in birds, & has travelled.

Lionel & I motored to Greatham where I confirmed 49 candidates. Then we went on to West Hartlepool, where I confirmed 83, in St Aidan's Church. Here the males actually outnumbered the females, an almost unheard of phenomenon. The clergy without exception declared themselves well–pleased with the Composite Book. We returned to Auckland immediately after the Confirmations.

---