IRELAND— ITS SOCIAL STATE. 145 



but if carried far was a great loss to the Church. 

 The Eepresentative Body was very soon induced to 

 give the full right of compounding at their own 

 pleasure to all clergymen. We were assured they were 

 so conscientious, that the right might be granted safely. 



It has come to pass that almost all men promoted 

 to better livings, compound for their former incum- 

 bencies before they finally accept the better ones, 

 and so, besides the income of the better livings, put 

 large sums in their pockets for ever, that otherwise 

 would and should have remained to the Church ! I 

 could quote cases within my own knowledge, in which 

 a Bishop appointed to a see, with a thoroughly 

 secured income of over £1500 a year, compounded 

 for a living he had held before, and put more than 

 £5000 besides into his pocket for ever, that otherwise 

 would have gone to the Disestablished Church. I 

 could tell of a Dean having a small living, and being 

 promoted to a much better living, and compounding 

 for the smaller living, and pocketing £2000 out of it, 

 besides the larger income of his new parish. 



I am thankful to add that we have a few cases of 

 clergymen who refused to take a shilling of such 

 gains, because they said the money belonged to God's 

 service, and not to themselves. All honour be to 

 them ! 



3. There is no such thing as a healthy public 

 opinion in Ireland among any class. There is no- 

 thing and no one to put anybody to shame, what- 



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