The New York herald., 1871-10-23

The Sultan About to COniiscatc the Property
Of the Church.
A Conflict Between tho Crown and the Clergy
in Prospect
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HeRAlD.

LONDON, Oct. "a, 1871.
kilograms from C0nstantinople report thar the
Turkish government intends 70 appropriate the
eccesiastica property OF the Mosques to the use Of
the State.
THE MOSQUE NCOMEs-PROPERTY CLAIMS or rHH
MUssuLMAN CLERGY AND DANGERS or THE RE
FORM.
Some short time since we had intelligence from
C0nstantlnople like to the above. Il was then
stated that the Turkish government had re-
solved to adopt measures "ior the better man.
agement and In some cases for the sale OF the
ecclesiastical property Of the country" but the
terms which were used In speaking OF the
matter rendered the proposed course somewhat dif-
ncult OF comprehension to persons who had not paid
attention TO Turkish nomenclature or the political
situation which existed at the moment In the Porte
capital.
II is generally believed abroad-in Europe and
America particularly-that vacouf or church prop
ery In Turkey nothing else than certain mainmort
estates, held uncer different titles by q grasping
clergy Thus. public opinion gives an easy acqules-
cence to any act OF vig0r emanating from the Sui
tan against IT. In fact Is wished that the Otto
man government should follow the exam
pie set by the Western Catholic nations. In
Turkey public worship Is not supported at
the cost Of the state The mosques, schools, aims
houses, baths and soup kitchens for the poor have
all proceeded from private persons, who, In order
to assure the preservation or these pious founda-
tions, have, In conformity with the law, endowed
them with perpetual rent which is secured on
freehold property designated by the donor Such Is
the conservation OF the vacouf property, and such
the origin OF all the religious establishments In the
empire Properly speaking, there is no Mussuman
clergy; each foundation pays out OF Its revenues
some servltors called Imans. in the mosques. and
the shelk- islam. In consequence OF the civil
rule which the Koran exercises In family transac-
tions, such as marriages, wills, donations, adoption
OF children, divorce, this person Is more the presi-
dent OF tribunal OF appeal than o religious chief
The holder OF vacouf enters upon the enjoyment
Of 1t after having undertaken the following engage
ments towards the founder:-
F1rst-The payment or determined sum.
Sec0nd-HiS direct heirs alone have the right 10
inherit, to the exclusion or collateral branches.
In case the holder who Ii rather the possessor OF
the income than the proprietor dies without direct
issue the property goes TO the administrator,
which puts 1t up TO auction and sells 1t to the high
est bidder imposing on HIM the conditions stipulated
BY the founder The produce OF tho adjudication is
added to the foundation, and the sum paid Is evi-
denty very inferior TO the real value OF the property
which Is deprecated by the charges with which 1t
remains saddled. In certain parts OF the Turkish
empire the vacoufs which have not found pur-
chssers remain unused and unproductive both for
the STATE and the work Tor which they
were designed. All yacoqg are exempt from
taxes, and, according to persons who know TUT.
key well. they embrace at least one-fourth OF
the whole territery. At Constantlnople the proper
ton s much greater being estimated at two-thirds
thirds. In case OF seizure BY the State OF
such dedicated property It Is easy to
derstand what profound changes would be
caused In the situation OF families and In private
fortunes by law modifying the conditions OF mar
riage and Inheritance. The poor must also be
thought Of 30 that the subject OF Church property
connscauon generally requires the most comprehen
sve liberal and enlightened treatment By the states
men OF Turkey. Otherwise It may produce infinite
trouble In the East.