The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-15
THE RULE OF MAMMON.
The Engiish Church on the Auction
Block.
The London Telegraph says:

The London Telegraph says:
The purchase system is enwoyen-shall we
beautifully say lii golden thread with
many British institutions. For the loyal
luxury Of serving his sovereign, ensign, lieu
tenant, captain, major or hentenant-colonel
an Euglish gentleman also has to pay certain
sums, regu, aied by the Horse Guards. and an
uncertain sum ruled BY the state Of the com
missi % m" rket, where swords are sold to the
highest bidder, and ''fake. then, the sabre, ~
is her Majesty's spirit stirring address to the
buyer who has most money in his pur Q.
Then we all know that there is tariff for
seats in the House Of Commons; some
boroughs rule hlgh," others are firm" while
purchnsable.
= But Of all kinds OF British purchase
none must seem 80 strange to foreign OBJ
server as the sale Of advowsons in the English
Church. Centuries have elapsed since the
Apostles were sent forth to preach, and the
early ideal Of the Christian priest and mission
ary has been often travesIed, sometimes terri
bIy, sometimes coarsely. by wicked or worldly
men. Nevertheless, IN all chuiches the old
standard is avcwed. People do still consider
that minister OF religion ls man that holds
himself C. cmmlssioned by Divine authority
to preach the Gospel and administer the
rites OF the Christian Church. Face to face
with this still potent belief, we have the
extraordinary fact that the sacred right is
openly offered for sale that the greatest pub
licau and sinner 10 the City OF London may buy
the next right OF presentation to living, and
may exercise the power Of appointment. His
money may have been made in any OF the vile
ways within the wide boundary Of our loose,
elastic law; but the gold does not smell. and
he purchases the right OF placing at one OF
Gods affairs any creature Of his o8n-perhaps
some clerical companion OF his festive heurs,
perhaps some silly or innately vicious relative
Of bis house. But, independently of this ire
quently deplorable result, the open sale ls
The actioneer endeavors to show on the null
tlfarlous ATTRACTIONS" Of the living. and those
attractions are the very reverse OF such ss
would be supposed to influence jealous or o
religious man. We are told that the souls TO
be saved are few, that the duties are light,
that the "socety" and even the "hunting" is
good. The ''rectory and vicarage OF Westbo-
thus praised at an auction mart on Tuesday
last; but the blddings were slack. Intending
purchasers we're told that one hundred pounds
sterling year would pay curate 10 discharge
the duties, leaving six hundred pound year
of surplus for the rector; while the present rec
tor was seventy y-three, aud therefore must soon
die; still the bidders paused, aud The proper
ty" was Withdrawn. Thess shameful scenes
are not rare; they occur IN the metropolis 1t
least once a week, aud the religious" or Der
haps we ought to say the clerical journals,
abound with the latest reports hom the markst
OF souls.
The origin OF this gross evil is explainable
enough, and Ahe theory ls not half 30 bad as
the practice itself. Strictly speaking, the suc-
tIoneer does not sell the riRht 70 minister at
the altar IN particular parish; he SIMPLY sells
the right Of the next presentation" that Is,
the pu1 1chaser may present" TO the bishop an
ordained clergyman OF the Church OF England
for induction into the living. II the bishop
discovers in the candidate any grave moral OF
theological defect. he may legally refuse in
duction; but tho usual uncertainty OF British
law hangs around this right, AID it Is, there.
FORE rarely exercised.