19 DECEMBER 1896, Page 14

THE GRIEVANCES OF CURATES.

[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR:1 SIR,—As there are people who believe that incumbents are justified in choosing as curates men who are under thirty-five years of age, to the exclusion of older men, may I ask them if they think it worth while that any one should be ordained for the sake of working from the age of twenty-three till thirty-five,—i.e., for twelve years? How is the nnpromoted clergyman to occupy his time after that period has expired, and what is he to live on? Is this feature one of the attrao- tions to induce able men to take orders ?—I am, Sir, &c., M.A. C.A.MB,