[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,—As an Irish Churchman
who is giving money and time to the work of re-endowment, I hope you will permit me to reply to the Dublin clergyman who, in the Spectator of the 24th, writes to say that God is opposed to our work. I will not discuss the logic or the theology of the conclusion that we ought not to re- build what He has permitted Parliament to destroy, but I will mention that the Irish Church Act has not declared against but in favour of the principle of private endowments. Our private endowments have been preserved under that Act.
It may be true that the age is opposed to State Churches. If so, I think the age is wrong. But the age is not opposed to private endowments. Stuart Mill (utinam nosier met!) is one of the favourite teachers of this age, and he has written most ably in their defence. It is not the highest wisdom of this age to do nothing for the next.
It is too soon to call re-endowment a failure. Many, I have no doubt, are waiting to see what the Convention will do when it
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