The Henson Journals

[114]

Thursday, June 2nd, 1927.

I left the Castle at 9.30 a.m., and motored to Morpeth, 41 miles, and there attended the meeting of the Newcastle Diocesan Conference. I spoke in support of a resolution approving the Revised Prayer Book. An amendment was moved by Campbell Fraser, the Rector of Bedlington, & supported by speeches of almost incredible fatuity. After lunching in a Hotel, the Conference resumed, and Lord Hugh Cecil defended the Revised Book in a curiously sophisticated speech, very characteristic and adroit. Hudson, an Anglo–Catholick incumbent recently arrived in the Diocese from Leeds, made a speech in which he announced the resolve of himself & his friends to take no part in the division. How many votes they represented I do not know, but the resolution approving the Book was finally adopted by 214 votes to 23. After the meeting, I went to Newminster ^Abbey^ and had tea with the owner, Sir George Renwick. His wife, a pleasant old lady who assisted her deafness with an ear–trumpet, was there, & some grand–daughters. I arrived back in the Castle a few minutes before 7 p.m.: & found that Colonel and Mrs Marsh had left, and Mrs Gow arrived.

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