The Henson Journals

[172]

Wednesday, March 20th, 1929.

I spent the morning in writing letters, & copying them into my letter–book. It is difficult to see any adequate reason why I should be at the pains of preserving copies of my own letters, for I have nobody who will be interested in them on personal grounds, and there is no permanent value in them on any other. I walked round the Park with the dogs: &, on my return to the Castle, corrected & despatched some more proofs of the Charge.

Lionel & I motored to West Auckland, where I confirmed 85 persons in the little old church. There were an unusual number of elderly women presented. I could not but connect the fact with the Vicar's extensive distribution of cash & clothes to the unemployed. It is difficult to be fair in one's analysis of the motives which lead men & women to religious profession. The crowd that followed the Son of Man was collected more by the reports of His marvellous deeds, than by the truth & grace that marked His speech. And undoubtedly the popular conception of the Christian Minister always associates lavish almsgiving with spiritual ministry & holiness of life. The "hard Church" has little following among the poor.

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