The Henson Journals

[158]

Thursday, March 13th, 1930.

I received from Lord Stamfordham an invitation to preach to the King at Windsor on the 6th of April, and to the [sic] stay the weekend at the Castle. Is this an 'olive–branch' from a placable Sovereign? or, rather (and this is more probable) just a friendly action of Lord Stamfordham?

Anyway, it dislocates my arrangement for the Confirmations, and involves a journey to London. I ought to get a new suit of clothes, for I am fearfully shabby, but I shan't!

I finished the Russian sermon, which is too long, too dull, too discursive, and too honest!!

Pattinson and I motored to Beamish, where I confirmed about 100 persons from the three parishes – Beamish, Tanfield, & Burnopfield. The discrepancy of numbers between the sexes was painfully obvious, for there were ̭was̭ about one male to five females. I called attention to this fact when, after the service, I talked with the clergy. There really is no explanation that omits the failure of duty on their part. As the women monopolize the church, the men cease to appear, & the notion that religion is an affair of women and children roots itself in the general mind. We returned to Auckland after the service.

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