A correspondent, signing himself "An glican " writeslme in a very warm strain of commendation of some remarks made in this column last week upon the extraordi nary way in which some of the Anglican clergy choose to read the lessons and other portions of the Church service. My correspondent's remarks must not be quoted in full for he is so complimentary—far too much so—to the writer of " Echoes " that he puts a severe strain upon my modesty ; but the following is of general interest : " Why do not our clergymen take lessons in elocution before they take deacon's orders? They need not, and indeed ought not, to be ultra-theatrical in their style of reading,the prayers, lessons and so on, but surely they ought to learn

to use their voices properly, to avoid with equal care the odious and ridiculous ' Ox ford Bleat,' or a gabblingly irreverent manner; surely, in a word, they should learn to read God's Word and the service of their Church in a manner that would be, as you so pithily and properly put it, easily un derstood of tho people.' I share your opinion as to the effect this bad reading has upon the educated and intelligent churchmen. They simply won't go to Church to hear the parson mumbling and muddling along, making mistakes that even a fifth standard school boy would avoid."

From time to time we read of someone doing what is currently known as "The Pacific Slope," and occasionally some of the " slopers," being of a facetious turn of mind, write funny letters to their creditors, chaffing them upon their misfortune in a most unkind manner. A certain individual who has decamped with something like ■£lo,ooo belonging to a co-operative society near Newcastle-on-Tyne has, however, broken the record for downright cheek. He was an eloquent local preacher, and held forth with an unctuoxisness which would have been worthy of the great Jabcz Spencer Balfour, of Liberator notoriety.
