Letters to the Editor
THE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION OF ORDINANDS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—Mr. Lennard's letter in the Spectator of March 8 states clearly a familiar difficulty inherent in the administration of any scheme for the endowment of Ordination candidates. It is difficult to earmark emoluments exclusively for their original purpose without depriving • the holders of their natural freedom of action. It is right that this difficulty should be recognized : it is unfair that its importance should be exaggerated.
For more than forty years I have been dealing with a trust fund of this character. Candidates for certain Ex- hibitions arc required by the terms of the trust to declare at the time of their election their intention to take Holy Orders at a date usually some four or five years later. There have been occasions when the difficulties of which Mr. Lennard speaks have been overpowering and when changes of intention during the tenure of the Exhibitioni have frustrated the intentions of the founders. But in the great majority of cases the trust has achieved results for which the College and the Church have good reason to be thankful.
Some risk of failure is inevitable in any venture of faith.
But there is no reason why the risk should be regarded as unduly great at the present time. Some of the failures within my own experience occurred -long ago when the prospect of ordination was far more common among under- graduates than it is now. A few can be explained by the general disillusionment that characterized some of the years after the War. At present there are clear signs of an increasing response to urgent appeals. And many of those who respond can only fulfil their purpose if the funds that Mr. Lennard criticizes are forthcoming.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
