The Country Clergyman and his Work. By the Rev. Herbert
James. (Macmillan and Co.)—This volume is a reprint of six
lectures delivered at Cambridge to candidates for holy orders, their special subject being " Pastoral Work in the Country." Of this, many, perhaps most, candidates know very little. The son of a country parson knows something, so should the son of a squire, though fewer of these take orders than did thirty years ago. The town-bred man is entirely ignorant, while of the needs of the urban population he probably has some notion. The con- dition of the country, too, is changing. In not a few parishes there is not a farmer left. These and other facts give a peculiar interest and value to Mr. James's book. Himself a country
parson, he knows well what he is talking about. He knows the evil ; he has at least ideas about the remedies. One prevalent
notion he wisely corrects. The countryman is slow, but he is not stupid. He is not victimised by that minute subdivision of labour Which does so much to counteract the advantages of town life.
We venture to say that in shrewdness and practical wisdom, the talk of a railway-carriage full of rustics will be more than a match for what one hears from the corresponding class on a metropolitan line. Preaching, visiting, schools, parochial organisation, are the chief subjects on which Mr. James enlarges. In all he descends upon particulars. To follow him would carry us far beyond our province. We must content ourselves with a general commendation. This commendation we would make special as to the part which refers to the village lads. This class is often the despair of the country parson. It is heart- breaking to see the obedient, well mannered schoolboy turn almost instantaneously into the rude "hobbledehoy" who seems to have no respect for God or man. About him, too, Mr. James
Previous page
