THE TITHE QUESTION IN ENGLAND AND IN WALES
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Some months ago you were good enough to publish a letter from me dealing with the utterly unreasonable position in which Parliament has left the collection and application of tithe dues in England and the harm which, inevitably, is thus worked to the Church of England. Since then other instances of disorder have been reported, and one well-known land- owner and Conservative Member of Parliament is reported as saying that the whole matter is bound to come up in the House of Commons for reconsideration at an early date.
Many people will think the sooner the better. The real point to consider is not whether the settlement under the last Act was intended to be, or was accepted all round as a fair and final compromise or bargain, but whether it has in fact turned out to be so.
It is surely pretty plain that it has not The public dis- orders are now spreading to Wales. The position there is even more absurd than it is in England. The Church and Clergy in Wales have no financial interest in the collection of tithe dues ; and yet we have the ridiculous spectacle of litigation being raised to enforce payment of tithe in the name of the Church. What on earth is the Welsh Church doing in this galley ?
Cannot our ecclesiastical lawyers obtain from Parliament arrangements more consistent with common sense ? And why should the 'Church acquiesce in the present position ?-
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