Nebraska advertiser., 1882-05-11
THE ENGLISH PARSON.

HE ENbblSu IN hSUNs
In England the Parson" is the par
ish clergyman -Episcopalian, of course,
Nonconformist preachers Of all kinds
being termed Minister'S the title of
clergyman denied them, and that of
Reverend given with n grudge-
legally they have IL not; neither, by law,
any ecclesiastical connection with the
parish, nor say in its secular affairs.
Legislation and adjudication upon these
last are done by the parishioners AS
semblcd in vcstIy, their execution being
intrusted TO two church. wardens. one of
whom is elected by the vestry, the other
appointed by the clergyman himself,
and known rs his church-warden. The
latter is usually the Squire, or other.
gentleman belonging to the church
congregation. Dssenters, however,
have the same right of voice and vote i'm
the vestry rs other parishioncrs. In the
holding of his Office and administration
of it, the parson is altogether free of re-
sponsibility to the people. He holds it
independent of them, and for life, or
during good behavior. But he must be-
have badly, indeed to lose it; and then
its loss would come through the Bishop,
and not by any act or power of the par
ishioners. As these have no say in
making, neither can they unmake him.
The appointment of Church clergy
men to their benelices. or rs they are
more commonly called, "livings,h pro-
ceeds from various sources. Some are
in the gift of the Crown through the
Lord Chancellor; others at the disposal
of the Bishops; still others where cor
porate institutions have the right of be-
stowal; while of the l3, 600 odd livings
the total number in England and
Wales-more than half are the property
of private individuals, Just as much as
their houses or lands! These last
named owners or patrons of church
temporalities, are of every class and
kind; though chiefly heads of great
houses-titled families-some of whose
ancestors owned them by ancient man.
orial right while upon others they were
bestowed by Henry VIII, being part of
the spoils taken from the suppressed
monasteries, Many grandees, as the
Duke of Bedford have each II score or
TWO OF churchlivings at their disposal,
and can give or sell them to owhomsoever
they please, unless under entail, rs their
lands, or other portions of their estates.
Independent of these noble proprietors,
hundreds, nay thousands, of benefces
are in the hands of men of
every rank and degree; in short,
OF all who have the money,
with the inclination to speculate in
them. Scores of "advowsonsn n-anoth-
er name for this marketable commodity
are ever in the market, barefacedly
advertised in the newspapers, bought
and sold like houses, horses or any
other merchantable thing. 1t is not un-
common to see advertisements of livings
III the George Robins Style painted
coHteUr-dc-rOSG; the parish described ms
having only a few hundred inhabitants
hence the less trouble with the cure of
Its souls-the rectory, or vicarage, as a
handsome house with ornamental
grounds, the scenory of the neighbor-
hood picturesque, its climate salubriou,
and society of the best. If the liyino
be reversion instead of one to be i'm
mediately entered upon, its occupying
incumbent is depicted rs an aged mar
old aS the advertiser dare make him
possibly in poor health and feeble-ir
short, on his last legs! Half a column
of such advertisements frequently ap
pears in papers that are the special or
gans of the Established Church! o.
course there is outcry against thi,
shameful trailic-trading in souls, as i
were-still it continues, and will con
tinue so long as England's State Church
stands on her present footing.
Taking advantage of this condition
OF things, not unfrequently man whC
has the means and knows himself TO b,
saddled with half-imbecile son, ha.
the latter trained up for the church
buys him an advowson, and so fixes
him for life, II needs only institution
by the Bishop or his ordinary; but thi,
the purchaser of the living-thence
forth its pdtron-may demand if no OBJ
lection can be urged against his ap
pointee ON the score of morals.
The parish clergyman is either Q
IRector" or "Vicar," the chief dis.