18 AUGUST 1950, Page 16

SIR,—The Bishop of Southwell, whose optimism is congenital rather than

official, attempts to attract young men into the ministry by the assurance that there will be a religious revival to welcome them. But he offers no evidence, and statistics, so far as they go, are against him. He should take warning from the unfortunate example of his late assistant bishop, who, after publishing a work entitled The Returning Tide of Faith, lived for many years to watch it ebb still further. Dr. Barry likewise ignores the unpleasant fact that the only way in which to improve the conditions of the existing clergy is to reduce their number. All appeals to the generosity of the laity have failed.—Yours faithfully,