The Henson Journals

[105]

S. Michael & All Angels. Thursday, September 29th, 1927.

A stormy wet morning. Ernest went off early in his precious [sic] leaving me a highly characteristic letter, and a bill for 32/– for Postages and Travelling! So ends the experiment of a ''Diocesan Chaplain''. Could it have succeeded if the Chaplain himself had been a more reasonable & responsible being?

The Ordination was held in the Chapel at 10.30 a.m. A number of the clergy formed a choir, and de Bunton sang the Litany. I ordained 3 deacons viz:–

1. Robert David Baxter. B.A. (Camb). 25

2. James Edward Talbot. B.A. (Durham). 24

3. Michael Wilkinson. B.A. (Oxon), 29

Among the clergy was Jimmie Dobbie and I took occasion to have a 'heart–to–heart' talk with him after the service. Our luncheon party numbered over 30.

After lunch Lionel and I walked round the Park, & were joined by old Dr McCullagh, to whom I lent Fulop–Miller's book on 'The Mind & Face of Bolshevism'

Carnegie–Simpson sent me a type–written copy of his Address to the Free Church Federal Council on the ''Free Churches and the New Prayer Book''. It is perfectly fair and, largely for that reason, extraordinarily embarrassing to the Bishops! I wrote a civil letter in acknowledgement. The chances of the Measure in Parliament would certainly be increased by some declaration from the Episcopate.