CLERICAL STIPENDS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—I feel I cannot let "Churchman's" letter, published in your issue of July 30th, go by without comment. He compares the state of the clergy to-day with that of other professional and business men. I always think this comparison rather unfair. These last seven years, while such men have kept pace with the increased cost of living by means of increased fees and charges, the incomes of the clergy have remained stationary. Not only this, but professional and business men instanced are usually able to increase their remuneration by their own endeavour. This possibility is denied the clergy except in a very small number of cases. It is common know- ledge also that the incomes of the higher orders of the Church are no more adequate to their needs and to the many calls upon their purses than are those of the parish priests. And by their " needs" I mean those as accepted by the ordinary mon in the street. The question is, "Can a cleric with £200 or £300 live in the same manner as any other matt with the same income," and keep himself in sufficiently good trim (both physically and mentally) to enable him to discharge the duties
of his office? I submit that he cannot. I believe that if " Churchman " had any experience of the big industrial parishes and their constant call both on the pocket and the physical and mental energy of the clergy he would at once agree
with me.—I am, Sir, &c., LAYMAN. P.S.—I leave out altogether the question of whether a clergy- man should, in fairness, be asked to live on this sum in view of the sacrifices he makes in so many cases.
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