The Henson Journals

[83]

Tuesday, February 24th, 1931.

A cold, comfortless, blustering day. I began an Address for the Diocesan Conference. After lunch I walked in the Park, and later motored to Norton, where I confirmed 104 persons in the parish church. Charles and I dined with the Vicar & his family after the service.

I received an interesting letter from Dr Wilson, the Bishop of Eau Claire. He is evidently not very favourable to attempts at fraternization with "our dissenting brethren":–

"Protestantism in its sectarian form is really disintegrating over here. The Fundamentalists are kicking themselves out of everything valid they ever had. The Methodists are burning incense at the altar of Prohibition until their adherents frankly yearn for a fresher breath of Anglican atmosphere. The Congregationalists have denuded themselves of all convictions until nobody knows what they are any more. Our bishops are besieged by Methodist & Congregational ministers seeking Holy Orders. Recently a string of German Congregational Churches, numbering 40,000 persons, applied to our National Council to take them over bodily – property, ministers & people – and the matter is now under advisement."

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