13 MARCH 1909, Page 23

Maintenance of the Parochial System in the Diocese of ffouthw4l

By P. Lyttelton Gall. (Privately Printed, Oxford.)—Tho figures may be regarded as applying, for practical purposes, to any English diocese. We will take one portion, those that refer to the provision of clergy. There are 125 parishes with between 1,000 and 6,000 population. For each of these a curate is wanted. There arc 83 with between 6,000 and 18,000. For these 175 curatas are wanted. To give each of these an average stipend of 4135 there would be wanted 440,500. In Southwell 427,000 is raised. Then there are 470 benofiees. Mr. Goll does not give their value ; sut we may take it at an average of 4250 (somewhat lower than the general figure). Now we find that 250 ministers belonging to the Congregational Union have an average stipend of 4276, with the advantage that the emolument is proportionate to the importance of the charge. We greatly want some arraugement of the kind in the Established Church. Unfortunately private rights and private interests bar the way. Meanwhile much may be done. The few excesses may be left alone, at least for the present; the many defects may be supplied. And here the iray is easy enough. A millionaire with the American enthusiasm for giving might set the whole scheme going. And huudreda of people who are not millionaires could do what is wanted withoet any groat effort. Unhappily, there is a tradition of not givieg among a largo class of Church people. "He has his tithe," they say, or "He has money of his own." A rich parson is really anything but a blessing to his people. They hold themselves absolved from one of the plainest and easiest of Christian duties.