Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-05-19
THE CHURCH
AN ENGLISH CU7ATG TELLS WHY HE
TURNED ACTOR.


Preacher, and tho Struggle to Maintain
Family and an Appearance on His
Small Stipend Was Too Great to Bear.
The union between the church and
tho stage has been strengthened by
clerk in holy orders becoming an actor,
tho first instance Oh record.
The gentleman in question is Mr..
Leighton Leigh. He assured Mail rep
resentative that he very strongly objects
to be told no has 'forsaken" the church
for the stage. The severance of his con-
nection with the establishment was not
voluntary. but compulsory. His orders
are still retained, which is not the case
if an ordained priest deliberately quits
the church of his own accord,
Mr.. Leigh, according to his own state
ment, was driven out of the church by
the struggle to make a decent appear
ance and keep up position III the
parish on an absurdly insufficient sti-
pend.
"About IA years ago." said Mr..
Leigh, 81 was ordained to the curacy OF
Horficld, Bristol, where | was assistant
chaplain to the barracks, and remained
there two years. Before definitely de-
cided on a clerical career, however,
had successfully tried the callings of
auctioneer S clerk, tea merchant and
schoolmaster. was also private tutor
for short time before finally entering
n
read for orders. Being ordained, threw
nv whole heart into my work and en-
deavoral to forget the old love for the
stage which had been with me since
childhood.
"Did you ever, previous to taking or
| dcrs, culcuvor to get upon the stage"'
"Once Culy," was the reply, land then
was actually offered an engagement,
| and, marvellous to relate, my heart fall
ed me, and refused it. | was | 2 at the
time. and | had the confidence to apply
to Henry Irving Gas he was them for an
engagement. He sent me to Mr.. Black
more, the agent, who procured me the
offer Ct part in Clarence Hollis New
Babyl0n' company. However, as | say,
my courage failed me, and l let the
chance so by.
"After staying at Horheld for two
wears | became slccessively senior Gu
rate of Hammersmith parish church,
curate in charge at Barley, Herts; SEN
ior curate of Chestnut, Herts, the vicar
being chaplain TO Lord Salisbury; SEN
Tor curate of Hitchin, Herts; senior Gu
rate of Brondesbury, N. W., and final
lv locum tenens at Hatfield, which po-
sition | held for nine months. have
married, baptized and buried hundreds
of people aud preached to many thou
sands, 1t was not from choice, but from
sheer necessity, that gavo up my cler-
ical work was suddenly and unex-
pectedly deprived of the pr e~.te income
| had hitherto enjoyed, being at the
time in receipt of IL net salary CT Gl4O
year.
''This is the average salary OF Gu
rate in tho church Of England, and thus
gives a ran CO lbs. 10d. week to
maintain az a gentleman one of the
most prominent and important positions
in parish | had wife and four chill
dren, and say that ont of this sum a
man cannot keep himself and family,
pay rent and taxes, to say nothing OF
the expenses Of children's education,
the little parochial subscriptions that
arc always cropping up and the occa'
sional doles while visiting the poor OF
the parish. It cannot be done. The lite
Of a father of "a family under such CON
litions il u burden which he cannot
support with success.
"On discovering that l was III the
nredicament mentioned | wrote to
bishop in whose diocese | had worked
for eight years, but to no practical avail
OF course his lordship's letter was kline
and courteous, but he found it impossl
BILE to offer me a living. found out
too, that most of the so called good llv
lugs' in England require an incumben
: with large private means. All the mel
} under whom | have worked have beef
rich men, whose positions cost them ia
} more than their livings produced.
, "At the time of which l speak
wanted G200 year-not an eXtravagan
l sum-and for some time | applied TO
numerous chaplaincies and appoint
. meuts and answered advertisement att
a er advertisement. The reply was Away
: the same Are you married man am
. have you any private means" After ~
Il answer to the effect that l had VIII
and four children, but no private means
q the correspondence ceased. Matters be
il came worse and worse. Debt and diff
Guilty encolnpassed me on every side
> and when things were at their glooml
! est | met Mr.. +. A. Scudamore, VIII
II had been fellow passenger with ne
y trip to Norway some years before. "
= that occasion lad told him of my earl
l. longings for the stage, and when h
t. learned that these aspirations still e,
q listed he offered me an engagement
\ his touring company. jumped at it
IF who would not under such clrcun
stances-and left the church. "-Londo
Mail.