A REPLY TO "E. H. B."

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1876, Page 5 (Supplement)

A REPLY TO "E. H. B."

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EVENING POST. Sir -I take exception to the violent and ribald language of " E H B." in his letter of the oth instant. He seems to be like Sidney Smith's dog, who always barked at a clergyman, and who had possessed thii peculiar propensity "ever since he was s puppy." Who in the world can believe hi 3 pre posterous and false assertion that th( clergy do nothing, and ''get a good ecre^ (whatever that slang terra, may mean) fqi doing it," when it is well known that th< clergy here are heavily worked ; put t< great expenses ; and are paid, in manj cases, less thau an able-bodied inechanii for their services ? And I am very sorry to see that yoi "cordially agree" with one wh-> thu vituperates a body of men who have uo the right or power to procure the worldl; means of subsistence which his friem "Bill Jone3" possesses. The clergy, as body, are miserably poor, and are oppresse* by the State in every possible way, an< yet " Bill Jones" and his confreres expec them to»assist them out of their wretchei pittances whenever they are in tr üble. I certainly think that "E. H. B." is " cantankerous and short-sighted individual and I cordially pity all who .agree wit: him. I am, &c, Vindex. [ ' ' Vindex " has misrepresented our mean ing. Wedid'lSt •• cordially agree " witl "E. H. B," in attacking clergymen; i fact, we absolutely condemn such a coursi as being wrong and unfair. But we di and do agree with the suggestion tha clergymen should pay rates. It is quit true that in many cases they ought to b better remunerated, but that is anothe question. — Ed. E. P.]