The Henson Journals

[70]

Thursday, April 28th, 1927.

A brilliant fine day, but the wind bitter. The Times has a pontifical letter from Edwin Bombay in the "God–Almighty–to–a–blackbeetle" style: and a little small–typed sinister epistle from Mackay & another Anglo–Catholick announcing their determination not to have the Revised Prayer Book on any terms. Also, the Vicar of Islington, an Evangelical opponent of the said book, gives expression to his disgust at the performance of the Protestant underworld in publicly insulting the Archbishop of Canterbury.

William Suthren, the student from St Chad's, who is being assisted by the diocesan Fund came to lunch, & afterwards accompanied me to Durham, where I presided at a meeting of the Lay Workers Association. After talking over diocesan business with the Bishop of Jarrow, & having tea with Wilson, I returned to Auckland, where Shaddick was awaiting me. He accepted appointment to South Westoe very cheerfully. It is an evidence of the difficulty into which the shortage of clergy has brought us that I am compelled to move a man who has only been four years in his present parish. Now the problem of filling up New Shildon presents itself.

James was 18 on Tuesday, & will soon be leaving "to better himself". I gave him Stevenson's 'Kidnapped' as a Birthday Present. I shall miss him when he has gone.

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