A WAR GRANT TO POOR CLERGY.—AN ANOMALY AND iNrusncE.
(To THE EDITOR OP TH1 "SPECTATOR."]
Sts,—The decision of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to give a war bonus to the poorer clergy of the Church of England will be acclaimed by all who recognize the potency and nature of spiritual influences, especially in this time of crisis. If we are to win the war for justice, honour, and freedom, every ounce of strength is sorely needed, while all the help which can be given to those whose life-work is to strengthen the moral fibre of the nation will be regarded by patriotic Churchmen as a primary duty.
No one denies that, as a whole, the clergy are nobly taking their part in the grim struggle by instructing the nation in the principles underlying the war, by inspiring the people with the spirit of loyalty and patriotism, by sacrificing their own sons and daughters in the sacred cause, by offering themselves as chaplains, helpers to the Y.M.C.A., Church Army, de., and—where their consciences allow—I am glad to think, for combatant service, by "keeping the home fires burning," by ministering to the wives and children of our brave men, and in other ways by oo-operating in winning the victory over the titanic forces of tyranny and cruelty arrayed against us.
What is true of England is also true of the Isle of Man. If judged by numbers in proportion to the population, we stand first in the United Kingdom in our supply of men to the Navy and Army. The clergy have also responded with the utmost loyalty to the call of the King and Empire. Work has been readjusted to allow of sacrifices in various ways being made. Not one has failed in his duty. And yet, notwithstanding our loyalty—and -pOverty—no financial help is forthcoming from England (with the exception of grants for assistant clergy from the A.C.S. and the C.P.A.), while the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are precluded by statute from giving us any assistance, not even a war bonus! This last-mentioned anomaly is due to the fact that in the Bill which subsequently gave to the Commissioners their charter, we were deliberately excluded. And why ? Simply because we refused as a Church to be incorporated in the diocese of Carlisle! In other words, because the Churchmen of the island protested— and successfully—against the preposterous proposal to surrender our historic privilege of being a separate diocese by being annexed to the See of Carlisle we were deleted from the Act which defined the sphere of the Commission's operations. A greater injustice is not written in the annals of Church legislation, Meanwhile, until this cross anomaly is removed by an Act of Parliament. nothing remains but to suffer from the wrongs inflicted by a past age, and appeal to the Churchpeople of England for help in the present distress. May I therefore be allowed, by your snipatliy. very earnestly to plead on behalf of my poor clergy, always poor, but now, by reason of the increased cost of living, de., poorer than ever ? My aim is to raise a "War Bonus Fund" which will seethe that at this time the clergy of the oldest diocese in the Northern Province shall receive at least equal sympathy with their brethren on the mainland. I am confident that when the facts are known many of the laity will respond generously to my appeal and that some of the clergy will be disposed to give a small thankoffering out of the bonus they so richly deserve.
May I be permitted to add with some reluctance, lest any one should be tempted to think that I am not prepared to do myself what I am asking of others, that I propose to give 2100 towards the fund ? Donations, which may be paid in two or three
intal- ments, should be sent to G. R. )larjery, Esq., Hon. Treasurer of Finance Board, Lloyds Bank, Douglas; or to the Isle of Man Bank, Parr's Bank, Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank, Douglas, or any of their branches; or may be sent to myself.—With much gratitede
for your co-operation, I am, Sir, de., J. SODOR AND MAN. Bishopscourt, Isle of Man.
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