[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sm,—I have read with
much interest the letters which have appeared under the above heading in the Spectator. May I point out one fact which seems to have been overlooked by your correspondents? Although agreeing with a good deal of what has appeared in your columns, it seems to me that the first duty of those in responsible positions should be that of educating the laity of the Church of England up to a proper sense of their responsibilities in providing a sufficient income for the ministers of their Church. In doing this there is no need to appeal to the emotions of those who are charitable or philanthropic. This is a matter of justice, and justice alone. If the laity of the Church of England desire to be ministered to by an order of clergy who possess all those necessary but delicate qualifications which are essential for the promotion of spiritual life among all classes of the community, it is obvious that a sufficient remuneration should be offered to them that will enable their great work to be carried on without being hampered by constant financial difficulties. It has often been stated that this Fund is a clerical charity. It is nothing of the kind. The primary object of the Fund is to impress upon all members of the Church of England the clearly defined Christian duty of providing for the maintenance of the clergy. This, as I have already stated, is not a charitable endeavour•, but in the first place an educational one. I quite agree that as they at present exist the finances of the Church are in an unsatisfactory condition, both as regards the levying of the same and in respect to the distribution thereof. But in order to deal with the present emergency it is most desirable that a Fund of this nature should be largely and systematically supported, so as to tido over what I most sincerely hope is but a passing crisis. The Fund has already done good work in the past. During the last foul• years nearly £150,000 has been distributed through this channel in over six thousand grants among the clergy. I venture to hope that the laity of the Church of England will continue to support the Council of this Fund in its endeavour to blot out what is at present undoubtedly the darkest stain upon the fair fame of their Church.—I am, Sir, &c.,
C. GUISE MITFORD, Secretary.
Queen Victoria Clergy Fund, Church House, Dean's Yard, Westminster, S.W.
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