The Henson Journals

[18]

Tuesday, May 1st, 1928.

I finished after a fashion the article for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and dispatched it. Then I went across to the Bank, and instructed the manager to invest £1500 in Consols.

Then I wrote to Nicholas Murray Butler inquiring what weight I ought to attach to the statements of Judge Ben B Lindsey.

Jimmie Dobbie came to lunch, and afterwards walked with me round the Park. Everything looks ravishingly beautiful.

Then, at 4 p.m., I confirmed in the Chapel, Fred Dale Johnson and his sister Stella, aged respectively 18 and 14, who are leaving for Canada this week. Ridley Barker, the Vicar of Crook, came with them, & afterwards they all had tea.

Lionel and I motored to Burnhope, where I confirmed 83 persons in the mean little parish church. The parson, Stubbs, is clearly developing in the Anglo–Catholick direction. Two boys who, being under 14, I examined before the service, crossed themselves when repeating the Creed, & prated about Seven Sacraments in a very unblushing manner. Stubbs, strutted about in cassock and biretta. Why cannot they work the Prayer–book 'without frills'?

Mr Isaac Elland, my new Head–gardener, entered on his duties today; and hopes to enter into possession of his house tomorrow.