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enters on the delicate relations of a landlord towards distressed 

 tenants. In these days every farmer is more or less in arrear or 

 diflRcnlty. The door of a debtor is closed in the parson's face 

 whether he knocks as a minister or as a creditor. Appeals for 

 I'epairs and improvements are made to him in his capacity uf 

 clergyman, of which he would hear nothing if he were a lay 

 squire. How can he preach charity and mercy to his tenants, 

 when he has instructed his solicitor to distrain or given them 

 notice to quit their holdings? How, on the other hand, 

 is he to live if he does not get his rent? If he shows 

 indulgence to a struggling tenant, whose moral character 

 is praiseworthy, he not only loses money himself, but he injures 

 the labourers. When farmers fall into difficulties, they cannot 

 employ sufficient labour. The " wet and dry " man curses the 

 parson for his leniency ; but the moment a tenant is dismissed, 

 he is the first to make a personal application to the clerical 

 landlord of the parable of the unmerciful servant. If the 

 incumbent farms his land himself, he is obliged to keep on lazy 

 or bad workmen, because he knows that no man whom he dis- 

 charges will ever again darken the doors of his church. From 

 first to last he is obliged to set o& against his certain loss as a 

 landlord the possible spiritual benefit which he may confer on 

 his tenants and his servants. He is perpetually impaled on the 

 horns of a dilemma ; if he exercises forbearance he injures 

 himself and his land; if he enforces his rights he loses his 

 spiritual influence. With him it is a case of " Heads you win, 

 tails I lose." He is certain to lose his income or his popularity — 

 or both. I have said nothing of the mental anxiety aud ceaseless 

 worry of farming business. The land must at least distract his 

 attention, if it does not end by absorbing his interests. 



The Legislature has wisely set its face against the modern 

 revival of Parson Trnlliber. Much of the enthusiasm of the 

 older race of clergy was spent upon the due rotation of crops. 

 In the beginning of this century an Archdeacon visited a church- 

 yard which he found cultivated for barley. Turning to tlio 

 rector he said, in a tone of severity, " This must not occur 

 again." " Oh, dear no ! " returned the bucolic rector, " it will 

 be turnips next year." An Act passed in the present reign 

 shows the desire of the Legislature to direct the enthusiasm of 

 incumbents into more professional channels than those of 

 farming or of trading. But the Committee of Convocation upon 

 Clerical Incomes, aud those of the clergy who have accepted tlie 

 report of that body, are, in my opinion, entirely mistaken in 

 their reading of the statute in question (1 and 2 Yictoriae, c. lOG, 

 ss. 28-31). But whatever is its true construction it plainly 

 intimates the intention of the Legislature to prevent the 

 incumbent sinking his clerical duties in his farming propensities. 



