The Henson Journals

[9]

Saturday, December 7th, 1929.

The Witton Castle Ball party returned about 4 a.m., and (with one exception) were all down to breakfast! I spent the morning in revising the address, which I design to have published. After lunch Pattinson and I motored to Eastgate where (in spite of the weather) about 120 parochial C. Councillors from the Stanhope Rural Deanery had assembled in the little parish church. Old Canon Croudace, the Rural Dean, appeared. I donned my robes, & used the desk set out for me at the Chancel step. My address occupied about an hour in delivery, & was listened to with close attention. As we were in Church, I did not invite questions, but said a prayer, & pronounced the Benediction. We went back to Auckland immediately, declining an invitation to tea in the schoolroom. Shebbeare was there, feeling no doubt profoundly dissentient, and with him was his curate, the amiable but feeble Collier.

The Editorial Secretary of the S.P.C.K. writes to say that he has no doubt that the Literature Committee will agree with himself in welcoming the idea of S.P.C.K.'s publishing such a pamphlet as my address will constitute, and promising to write again when the Committee has held its meeting next week. I should be glad if they published the poor thing.

---