The Henson Journals

[86]

Wednesday, June 13th, 1928.

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A woefully wet day, dismal and chilly. Nevertheless, I motored to Wooler, taking Alexander with me. The Vicarage was less attractive and less commodious than I had expected, and than a rental of ten guineas a week might seem to suggest. But it will suffice, & no doubt living in Auckland Castle spoils one for normal houses. The Vicar, Moran, is a little round chatty man inclining to baldness. He said that he had met me in Oxford when I was secretary to the Laymen's League! From him I learned that Frazer, the deacon whom I ordained last Advent, had died this morning. This is very regrettable, & for his parents, whose only son he was, extremely distressing. On returning to the Castle, I wrote a letter of condolence to his father, but indeed, with the best will in the world, what can one say? "The economy of Heaven is dark".

Dr Norman Sykes wrote to me a very interesting letter. He is pursuing his study of XVIIIth century Anglicanism. Hoadly, a repulsive figure, was, he thinks, more respectable than is generally allowed: and John Wesley far less so. I think the exorbitant self–will of the Methodist "Apostle" was the real root of the schism.