[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, If we clergy
were more ready to trust our lay people, the amendment proposed by Colonel Kenyon-Slaney would not cause us much alarm. I cannot myself conceive any set of circumstances in which I should not be able to give religious instruction in my school. The amendment only deals with cases—few, as you think, and I hope—in which the vicar of the parish endeavours to be absolute, or when he wishes to intro- duce doctrinal teaching not in accordance with the Prayer- book. In either case such control as the amendment gives to the body of managers is not only permissible, but desirable. There are also instances, not so very infrequent, of the clergy giving no religious instruction. It is these clergy who will probably be the first to protest against an amendment which seems to interfere with a prerogative they have never cared to exercise. My view may probably not be the most popular one, and on that account you may be willing to publish it.—I
Vicar of Holy Trinity, Barnstaple.
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