PARSON AND PERSON
Stst,—Janus asks, " What is a parson ? ", and answers rightly, guided by the Oxford Dictionary, that he is a rector. The Cambridge Dictionary— that of Dr. Skeat—throws some more light. "It is certain that parson= person ; see Low Latin persona, a person of rank." The word describes a dignity. In mediaeval Latin persono meant to hold in honour. 'ix legal phraseology of the order recently issued touching the Duke of Edinburgh is in this case precise. The parson is the rector, the personage of the parish. The vicar is his deputy. In many parishes the vicar has in fact the cure of souls. In other parishes a curate-in-charge, or perpetual curate, is given the cure, and may act instead of rector or vicar. So he IS included ; the point being that whoever is curate (in the sense that the word is used in the Prayer-book) must take care that the name of the Duke of Edinburgh is inserted.—Yours faithfully,
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