PARISH REVIVAL

SIR,-May I congratulate TRH CATHOLIC HERALD OH its constructive approach during recent months to the problem of the Conversion of England and in particular to the articles in your current issues where the spotlight is turned on the sad deterioration in the conception of the parish as a concrete organisation. I am inclined, however, to think that this aspect of the main problem could have been considered with advantage at a much earlier stage and that Mr. Prentis might profitably have developed more fully the theme of his first few paragraphs, instead of leaping almost immediately into details of a purely administrative nature, with some of which, I imagine, many of your readers will disagree.
To myself, as a layman, it Often seems that there exists an unnecessary multitude and confusion of Catholic societies all jostling one another in the field of Catholic Action, all with good intentions, all in their own spheres doing excellent work, often, alas, competing with each other for the support of the all too few of the faithful who are interested, and failing completely to combine to speak with a representative voice for the laity of the Church.
On the other hand, how comparatively easy it could be to build up a really healthy body on the basis of healthy parochial units. As Mr. Prentis rightly points out, our nonCatholic friends can show us a very definite lead in this respect. In many of our provincial towns, to quote my own experience alone, the congregations are greater than ever before, yet the small body of " parishioners" smaller than ever. Surely with all the added burdens which modern life and legislation have piled on the shoulders of a clergy hitherto by no means lightly laden it should be now at once the privilege and the responsibility of the layman to lend a hand.
C. A. SEENEY.
36, OakfieId Road, Cannon Hill, Birmingham.
SIR,-Mr. Prentis refers to the possibility of doing away with the plate and of one section of the parish making annual contributions to the expenses of the parish. I understand that many Nonconformist churches and synagogues have adopted this scheme which has the advantage that it can be combined with the covenants which save income tax.
In the old days the tithe was a deduction in computing one's income for income tax purposes. Nowadays to get a deduction for one's charitable subscriptions or church collections it is necessary to enter into an agreement tp do so for at least seven years-in which ease one either deducts tax from the subscription, the shortage being made good by the Government or one covenants to pay a net sum equivalent to one's usual contribution, the Government adding (at present) 9s. for every I Is. contributed.
Such a scheme is of course of no use to the majority of our peoplebut for your class (I) well why should we sit back and see the Government practically doubling the Methodist's and the Jew's church subscription and not take advantage of it ourselves?
READER.
SIR, The idea of enroln'knf of the parish members and their "posting' to new parishes, as advocated by Bernard Prentis, reminds me of a similar experiment tried by the R.A.F. chaplains.
Perhaps some of them would be so kind as to inform us of the success, if any, of the scheme.
J. ROUGHLEY.
Chelmore, Abbey Road, Sudbury, Suffolk.
SIR.-I sincerely say, with reverence, God preserve us from parochial regimentation advocated by your contributor, Bernard Prentis.
W. E. ROGERS..
" St. Anthony's,"
81, Warnham Court Road, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey.