The Henson Journals

[164]

Wednesday, March 19th, 1930.

A brilliant morning illumining a snow–clothed landscape. Temperature relatively mild.

I motored into Durham, & had a conference with the Archdeacons in my room at 11 a.m. Then I licensed a number of assistant curates, including Heaver to Houghton–le–Spring, Linnell to Whitburn, & Wilson to S. Margaret's, Durham. I returned to Auckland for lunch.

Pattinson and I motored to South Shields, where I confirmed 167 persons in S Mary's, Tynedock. There was a large congregation. The proportion of males to females was normal – 65 to 102. This church is definitely Anglo–Cath:, but there is a genuine devotion, and no extravagance. I could wish that as much could be said about the 'moderate' and 'Evangelical' churches.

The evening paper reports that Lord Balfour died this morning. He is the last of the giants. My personal contacts with him were always most agreeable: and I think he had a liking for me.

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