LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
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CHURCH LAY REPRESENTATION.
(TO THE Enrroa OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 SIRS I fear I trespass too much upon your courtesy, which has already allowed me twice to argue against the view which you uphold, but I really cannot refrain from expressing some little surprise at your last reply, which seems to me tantamount to saying that the clerical profession is an absolute superfluity in the world. For if, as you appear to maintain, the clergyman's "art" is in nowise conducive to the spiritual health of the community, if his position, experience, and training do not enable him to remove stumbling-blocks and administer spiritual consolation better than other people,—not even better, according to you, than a man who wants the last can administer it to himself, I must own, for my part, that, being what I subscribe myself, I would heartily vote for the abolition of the whole Order.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A LOVER OF PROGRESS.
[Our correspondent has misunderstood us, through ignoring our object, which is, not to deny the right of the clergy to a distinct and large influence in any Church body, but to an exclusive influence. We do not deny that he is master of a special craft, in which the ordinary layman has no share. We do not, of course, deny that his knowledge of the sources whence spiritual health is to be obtained ought to be, and usually is, much greater than that of ordinary laymen.—En. Spectator.]
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