[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sin, — As a Rural
Dean for many years and in two different deaneries I have had considerable experience in the various matters referred to in Mr. Beeching's letter and your article in the Spectator of August 30th. The remedies, however, which are suggested seem to me very inadequate, for, sup- posing the fees paid by the clergy to Bishops' secretaries to be made as low as possible and the cost of dilapidations lessened as you suggest, even then the average gain to the clergy would be hardly £5 a year. What would make a difference to the poorer livings, if it could be accomplished, would be some attempt at a greater equalisation of stipends. As it is, there are livings of £400 a year and £200 a year side by side, with perhaps much more work in the smaller living, and the incumbent a more distinguished man than his better- endowed neighbour. But here lies the difficulty : the richer living is probably in private patronage, and the patron would not consent to his property being lessened in value. Another• difficulty arises from the same cause, for if it is proposed to augment a poor• living in private patronage out of charitable funds, the objection is made that it would be increasing the value of an advowson which may be sold. Altogether it is difficult to see how much can be done with the present endow- ments, even if managed in the most businesslike fashion, so that if nothing is done for the augmentation of the poorer livings the prospect for the Church is a lamentable one. The revival of Easter offerings seems to promise most. —I am,
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