The Henson Journals

[208]

Saturday, May 23rd, 1931.

An overcast, heavy, & rainy day. I finished the Charge for the Ordinands, wrote letters, and walked round the Park, where I put up a brace of partridges.

Rawlinson sent me the thesis which Dennis, the ex–Baptist minister, had written as part of his examination for Orders. It was entitled "Some thoughts on the Apostolic Succession", and was quite a creditable piece of work. But I notice with some concern that, while he frequently quoted the sophist, Moberly, he never referred to Bishop Lightfoot. I doubt whether he was personally responsible for so strange an omission.

I received a note from the Dean thanking me for my letter and memorandum on the subject of Canonical Residence. He appears to expect that Canon Richards will submit to my ruling without delay, but I should doubt this. It is difficult to see what he could do, if the Dean & Chapter refuse to pay him his stipend if he continue to absent himself from his prebendal house. Even if he were to succeed in a legal action, which seems to me wholly improbable, he would draw down upon himself the censure of the public.

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