THE EARTHQUAKE AND THE CLERGY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20168, 21 February 1931, Page 19

THE EARTHQUAKE AND THE CLERGY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHE33 gjj. —'j'here is a good deal of uncdtiseiouS liuinaiir from time to time in ydiir correspondence coliihihs, but slire|f "Ten Per Cent," deserves especial tiieiition fdr introducing a comic- note is these very serious days. Is he really Unaware that ministers of relifeioirare kept perpetually on . the lower verge bf What is known (is it not?) as the "codhohiic margin"? It is tjiiite probtiblfe tliat lie does hot know that they hrc, as a profession mote poorly paid tri this coUhtry than ih perilaiw any other part of the Empire, and have to maintain here a much highei- standard of living ili many ways than ih In any places elsewhdro. In a newspaper discussion one must generalise, but I think it is true that we need h"t except much-maligned England in this statement, despite a tiiUUJi-quoted tiiiiloi : ity of undetuiliu Church of England livings, which ale receiving tho scridtis and intelligent attention of the Church. It is evident that "len Per Cent." Is not intiltlilte eitough With any minister of lcllgion to have ahy idea of the expenses arising out of the Work that are met out of income. He would have to be very much "ill the know" to be able to judge! bh this point. However, I am inclihe.d to think that ho would find that the "higher paid tlergy"—those Very fdW in receipt of fabufotls, incii'fcdlble fcrtiounts of £3OO, hild, if it can be believed, in certain coses sums even tndte neat'ly approachi?ig the income of many of their people i—are faced with professional demands lipbn their private putse that no layhian In business Would contemplate for One moment paying outi of income. Some men high up in thip stipend list tire probably actually worso 'off financially tliah A rhlsftloJiary in the ljeld Receiving a frel-y few pdlinds and his keep. The- servieo of the Kingdom of God is |idt regarded as n commercial proposition, but if it were,: and the clergy had tb be ptdd for by oi'ditiai'.v profejsioiltll and dbmnietc'ial stfthdards, any hiiiiister could sign himself, both in timds of "boom" and Yours, etc., .. ; , , Pfilt CIiNT. Febrdary, 90th, 1931.

P.6.—Perhaps it would hdltj "Ten Per Cent.'* to remember that a"church spire is thfihs to direct his thoughts to God,' rather thtlil td the minister s pocket. '

to tSe tbiton or the rasas. . ' Sir, —"Ten Per Cent." reminds ohe bf the ostHcli that hides in the sand brid thinks itself safe. If I tUtt not Mistaken your correspondent, when Writing td Twe 'Pbess upon most subjects, signs his name. But when he sets but to belittle the dergy hfe signS hiflJsalf according to ciircuaistahces. As & hite. this class of letier begins • well, but sooil -l<Jftdß,«ii to 'the bttbjefct dear to his heart, 'fie kriowjs nlore about . thfr churches ahd t-lefgy than I do. tn my ignofaricd jl did hot IsfiQw.tberft frere threS churches on;, the Cashiiiere Hflls. ~Sfo doubt JntjUir cori*espdndbnt livesthere. , No# 'Bo bttgwill febl oiit of place i if "Ten P6r Cent."- the clergy ■ in Bafld iflfl s&fc tt-hflt lib cttii do with i them. It will he a liberal ediifcatitttt fof hitfc, espwrialfy amongst the pogrer brethren. What we are all iip against fat present is- getting this Jroung attd fair laid ofa its feet, and to& bait vnljr fltt* that by ehdi bne doihg bis * l ej?y btftfc, Wtilefes Wd hte Willitig ,tt> leaW tM (inborn generation a legacy 6f nritola ,flebti, f'Ten Per cent; has tlig ability, hnd, faerilaps the ibediis. Let nitt gl*« tas a lettd ilitd tdll u8 what, hd is dbihg himself, arid it may rict afeii fetimuliint td ethfets,, ' t 8m no parson br ton of a parson, but ftLir , play itt still a rare jewel. I mtty. he dhljr one cir titav riper cßnti, but I *ill try feiid 811 thb liill.—Yntirtj ttt6 .'oNß tiimmm PM dsfcf. February 20tn, 1981.