New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-08
A CLERICAL TRADESUNTON.

Anthony C.. Dcne. himself curate. speaks
with refreshing candor. in "The National Re-
vew," Of the Curates' Union recently organized
I'm the English Church. He says that II Is the
creation Of n small and noisy clique and that
the idea of a trades-union for priests is abhor-
rent to the great majority of English clergy
men. The ostensbe object Of the Union is to
exploit the grievances Of curates and give them
the rights now denied them But Mr.. Dcne says
that many Of their grievances are imaginary
and that they enjoy about all the rights they de-
serve to enjoy. They do suffer some hardships;
hut so also do the benefited clergy. Their I'M
satisfactory condition is largely the result Of cir
cumstances OF which no one has any control;
ond it will certainly not be made any better by
the formation of q trades union.
The first alleged grievance noted by Mr.. Dene
IS the fact that curates are no longer ranked as
gentlemen: but, he replies, many Of them are not
gentlemen, and the same thing Is true Of many
of the benefited clergy. They are good men,
doubtless and as clergymen do a useful work;
but their ordination does not regenerate them
socially nor does it bridge over the social gap
that exists between them and the gentry. THAT
fewer gentlemen by BIRTH he adds, "are or
"dained each year Is unfortunately too true; and
mo one having seen much Of those who now en-
"ter for the bishops examinations will contra
"dict this statement" In the old days the Eng
lish clergy were gentlemen, as rule. and that
fact did much to strengthen the hold Of the
Church on the upper classes. Now that men
not gentlemen socially are getting into the min
istry, it remains to be seen whether they will
strengthen the hold Of the Church on the lower
middle classes. Mr.. Dene's point, however. is
that clergymen who are not gentlemen cannot
complain If they are not received socially in the
houses Of the gentry.
He next meets the allegation that curates are
underpad. by showing, first, that they are the
only class of the clergy whose stipends have in
creased during the last nifty years, and that
many Of the benefited clergy are miserably I'M
derpaid. In fact, it is the appalling poverty Of
many Of the benefited clergy that Is RESPONSE
tle for another grievance Of the Curates' Union,
ramely, the circumstance that large number
Of curatcs are unemployed. For, owing TO a re-
duction in their incomes, clergymen who used to
employ one or more curates are able TO do so
no longer And, therefore, the best way to
improve the condition of curatcs would be to i'm
prove first the condition Of the benefited clergy
The general readiness of curates to contract
improvement HlaTTEdSeS II ScNtl'i! CoHucilntu
by Mr.. Dcne While he does not say so in so
many words he appears TO think that the aver
age curate who has no private income ought
not to marry at all. That his brother curates do
not take this view Of the case is fact well
known to every observer. The English curate
is, above all else a family man, and oftentimcs
the smaller his stipend is the larger Is his fam
lily. Doubtless It Is wrong for any man, whether
clergyman or layman, to marry before he is able
to support n family. But so long as the Church
recognizes the right Of its clergy to marry. II is
morally bound to pay them a stipend large
enough to permit them to marry. In the mean
while. young men who feel that fhey cannot live
a celibate life, and who have no private means
should hesitate long before they enter the minis
try of the Anglican Church.