The Henson Journals

[193]

2nd Sunday in Advent, December 7th, 1930.

The fog still hangs over the country, menacing to motorists. There is no wind to shift it.

I celebrated the Holy Communion in the Chapel at 8 a.m. There were 7 communicants. Ella kept her room with some kind of a chill, and Elland communicated. The opening words of the Gospel are an almost exact description of the world situation as it presents itself to a considering man today. It is no wonder that Adventist cranks are again becoming vocal.

I motored to Sunderland, and confirmed 52 candidates in S. Columba's, Southwick. Then I had tea with the Vicar, McMunn, and his two curates, of whom the senior, Nigel Cornwall, leaves for the mission field in January, and the junior, Langdon–Davies is to be ordained to the priesthood at Advent. I preached at Evensong to a congregation which did not fill much more than half the Church. No doubt the persistent rain kept many away. It was, however, overwhelmingly feminine, thus confirming in my mind the suspicion created by the fact that of the 40 candidates presented from the parish only 11 were males. Why is it that these Anglo–Catholicks cannot get hold of men & boys? Is it that they press Confession on them?

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