The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-25

The Church Property Question.

About fortnight ago. Senator Putnam in
troduced into the Senate of New York bill to
vest the property of all religious congregations
in corporations organized under the general
act establishing religious societies for the pur-
pose. Yesterday the subject was again brought
up, when Mr.. Putnam stated that the select
committee to whom the question was referred,
were unanimously in favor Of the principle of
the bill. The object sought is to defeat the ar
rangement by which Archbishop Hughes aud
the Bishops of Albany and Buffalo have tried
to get hold Of the real property Of the Roman
Catholic congregations in this State. The two
former, as ia known, have succeeded, and the
real estate, churches, &C., within the diocesses
Of New York and Albany now stand in the
name of the prelates but the lay trustees
at Buffalo have proved obstinate, and de-
spite the pastoral exertions Of Monsignor Be-
DIM, papal legate, have persisted in retaining
possession of their lands and buildings. Sena-
tor Putnam now means to place matters on the
same footing in the other diocesses, and to this
end his bill declares that mo grants, convey
ances devises or leases OF real estate, &c, ap-
propriated to religious purposes, shall vest any
right, &c in the grantee, &C." unless the grant
be made to q corporation organized under the
general act. With grants heretofore made, the
Legislature of course cannot interfere, and
whatever happens Archbishop Hughes and the
Bishop of Albany will hold their present estate
for life. But on their demise, should the bill
pass, the property will go to the corporations
chosen by the congregations, aud not to their
successors.
There can be but little question Of the
propriety Of the change 1t has never answer
ed to vest church property in priests. The
popular prejudice against the thing is too gene
raj and too deep rooted to rest on q slender
basis. All experience teaches that priests are
only too apt to identify themselves with the
Deity whose ministers they are, and thus come
naturally to regard property set apart for His
service in the same light as if it were appropri-
ated for their own. This cannot be done with
out great risk Of injury to the rights of the real
owners. Again clergymen are of all classes
the least fitted to undertake the cares of man
aging property. Even churches and grave
yards require management, and business tact
is necessary for the work this requisite is
rarely found in priest whose duties and
habit Of thought lie in totally opposite d.
rection.
But If the occupations Of the clergy unfit
them for the temporal care of managing real
property economically and prodtably, they
seem by no means backward to take advantage
of the power it confers. The divine right has
not been more truly handed down from st.
Peter to Archbishop Hughes than covetous
hankering after houses and lands from the i'm
mediate successors Of the apostles to the HER
arcby Of our times The moment Christianity
set foot in Western Europe its first act was to
get hold of property. Every one is familiar
with the scores of schemes which were used in
former centuries by the abbots aud clergy to
screw donations and requests out Of kings,
lords and rich men. II is also manifest that
the abuse they made Of the power thus gained
was one Of the prime causes of their own ruin
and the success Of the Reformation. II il hard
to say what share the prospect OF plumber
ing the abbeys had in inducing the great Eng
lish lords TO espousc the cause of the Reform
ers ; but certain 1t is that their conversion to
Professionalism was speedily followed by their
partition OF the church property, and thus the
very source Of the power Of the Papists was also
the source Of their overthrow. In France --ac-
cidental circumstances having prevented the
success Of Professionalism work Of stripping
the church was left to the civil authorities.
Louis XIV. began the work the priests them
selves gave it their aid under the reign of Louis
WI. and the revolution completed il. In
Spain, Of the accession Of Carlos III it was com