THE CATHEDRAL.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7359, 11 July 1889, Page 6

THE CATHEDRAL.

TO THB EDITOR OF THS PRES<*. Sir, —In a recent Issue of the Pre9s there was a very honest, true, and outspoken letter about the unsatisfactory manner in which the Cathedral is managed. From the Synod report of 1836 I find that the income of the Dean and Chapter Estate is £2667 19s od. Out of this £1439 is paid to the Dean, Canons, and Precentor, and about £550 for interest on English loan and Bank overdraft. There is therefore a balance of at least £650, so that from the above large income if properly managed there ought to be sufficient funds to meet expenses. The Dean's stipend is fixed by statute in the ordinance trust, but the income of the Canons is not so fixed, and may be altered at any time by trustees. There are five Canons each getting £100 (not £200 a3 mentioned by another correspondent.) Now what do the most of these Canons do for their money? In a recent issue of Church Bells I see the same cry is raised in England, of several Canons not doing any Cathedral work. Why not each Canon take month about, and do work in the Cathedral? The answer is they cannot, for they have parochial work. Then let them pay a substitute. The remedy is plain. Let the canonries be purely honorary, without any stipend attached, and then there will be sufficient funds to pay a precentor and a preacher. This was done in a Cathedral where I worshipped for years. The Canons who held country parishes, and were unable to leave them and reside in turns, paid a residentiary preacher to take their duty, and he permanently preached in the Cathedral. Failing this, I would suggest that every Incumbent in tbe diocese should take turn about and preach one Sunday in the year in the Cathedral. Bis duty could be taken that Sunday by a lay reader. The travelling expenses might be defrayed from the Dean and Chapter Estate, and would average at tbe outside not £2 a trip. In this way there would be a new preacher every Sunday, and it would make the country clergy take an interest in the Cathedral. At present very few of them do, and no wonder, for they are very rarely ever asked to officiate in it. I have submitted this proposal to some of my rev. brethren, and they heartily approve of it. I feel certain it would be a move in the right direction. —I am, Ac, A Cot*-"tbt Parson.