The National tribune., 1899-08-31
THE CHURCH IN ENGLAND.
The Erpenslyeneis oi a State Essbilshment.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
issue Of Aug. II, in the editorial columns,
appeared the following misleading item:
Religion comes high in England. The
Archbishop Of Canterbury receives $4,000
q year, and the Bishops from $35, 600 to
have died in the last few years left property
worth $50, 0,O00,O 900. So much for a state
church."
The one answering purpose Of public
journal should be- to give its readers moth
ing but the truth, and so far as it attempts
to instruct the public it should give no
instruction that is not founded on absolute
facts. And it is, remarkable to note how
many newspaper men blunder when they
come to write about the Church of England.
You recite the fact that certain English
prelateS receive certain annual salaries.
You remark, first, that religion comes
high in England" and close with the
both OF which sentences will inevitably
leave on the mind of your uninformed
reader Impressions az far from the truth as
the darkness Of midnight is from the light
of clear Summer noontide.
The Government OF England has no
more to do with the payment of salaries OF
the clergy of the English Church than it
has to do with the payment of the salaries
of the clergy of any of the Christian de-
nominations in the United States OF
America.
And the fact that "121 rectors and pre-
lateS who have died in the last few years
left property worth S80,O00,O00" has as
much todo with the cost Of maintaining the
Church of England as it has with the
annual cost OF Supporting the City OF Wash
ington.
have not written this article in defense
OF the English Church, but simply in the
interests OF truth and that ordinary lnteili-
gence which the average American citizen
ought to possess in regard to religious as
well as profane history.
Any one who will take the time to read
can learn that the English Church is sup
ported by landed and other endowments,
and the voluntary offerings of those who
attend its services. Many of the endow-
ments were made long centuries ago, and
although small when given yield millions
of income to-day.-G. l.. E., Beaver, Pa.
I'VE are completely at loss to see where
our correspondent finds any error in our
statement. 1t does not change the facts
to say that the Church of England re-
ceived its endowments centuries ago. 1t
has held on to them firmly through all the
changes in England since then. This is
particularly true of the tithes on all the
farming-land in England and Wales,
which is now committed to an annual
money payment Of 81 ,S08 ,000-equal to
about S9,C0O,0O0. Whitaker, whom our
correspondent will recognize as good au-
thority, estimates the total income of the
Church from "all sources, endowments,
tithe, glebe, rent, value Of residences, pew
rents, and surphce fees, at about $780,
00O." This is about S36, ,250, 900, or nearly
so per capita for the populationof of Eng
land and Wales. The Church popula-
tion," Whitaker estimates at 13,500, 600, OF
about half that of the country. The avail
able church sittings' are only 6,200, ,OOO,
or one for every four of the people.
Whittakar ,rivpS the fpllnUinC col or;a
of the prelates:
A rch hichnn Of Cnnforh11ru S-E onn