The Henson Journals

[97]

Saturday, March 7th, 1931.

More snow during the night, & intermittent blizzards during the following day. I wasted much time in clearing up my chaotic table, which had become almost too congested for work.

Esmond Drury came to lunch, and afterwards walked with me in the snow. He talked freely of his experiences in Kenya. He is a well–grown, good–looking youth of 20, who is clearly puzzled as to his career. Probably he has never had any very serious thoughts about religion, but has a healthy outlook on the world, conventional and Philistine. I showed him the Chapel, & then we had tea, & he went his way. Mr Langford Day came to see me, a poor little gesticulating parson of 59, full of many grievances, and embarrassed for lack of employment. I said that if he could find a clergyman to employ him, I would grant permission for 3 months, & then reconsider his situation. But I doubt his discovering any incumbent who will make the venture! His experience in this diocese so far has not been fortunate. Neither S. Francis nor St Aidan's is a tolerably worked parish. But the incumbents – Warner & Salkeld – are helpless, futile men, who are equally idle and incompetent.

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