The Warrington Examiner. — 1873-01-25 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

SECOND NOTICE.  We have now to consider the ecclesiastical life of Lancashire. At the time of the Conquest the churches of this county were few, nor had they increased greatly in Edward's reign. The parishes were large, and some of them were under the episcopate of York and others of Lichfield. The monastries were the most important ecclesiastical institutions, and especially the fine Cistercian abbeys of Furness and Whalley. Neither of them could claim a mitre for its abbot, i but they were amongst the largest and most influential in the north of England. The Cistercian monks leved to erect magnificent buildings in pleasant situations. The soil was not always fertile when they settled on it, but they chose situations of great natural beauty, snd made the earth yield her increase. Their noble buildings were well planned, and carefully, though slowly carried out. In them was displayed a profuse hospitality. The annual consumption of flesh atthe Abbot of Whalley's tables was 76 oxen, 80 sheep, 40 calves, 20 lambs, and 4 pigs. The refectory and other tables within the house were supplied with 67 oxen, 40 sheep, 20 calves, and 10 lambs. There were ninety servants in the abbey, and there would be frequent guests who shared the hospitality of the house. It must be remembered that in the rude times when manastries flourished there were few or no inns, and that the cloisters provided shelter and accommodation for pedlars, cha.pmen, corn dealers, wool staplers, and others who attended the fairs. The monks tilled the soil, drained the bogs and mosses, and cut down the wood. Sad it was that with much that was good there should be scandalous and immoral living; but so it is when a system has outlived its usefulness, it then becomes corrupt and hastens its dowufa,ll. Gross licentionsuebs prevailed, and whr,u exposed the punishment was ridiculous in proportion to the offeuee. Thus a priest for adultery was allowed to appear again after a penance of offering at each of the altars of his church a wax candle, and the same before the crucifix, and the image of our Lady of Grace, and saying fifteen paternosters, 4cc. No wonder that feeling was aroused, and that men began to ask themselves who and what thebe parboils were who retained the privileges ef saints, and were incapable of the most ordinary duties or virtues.  "Make the company great or small, Among a thousand find thou shall Scant one chaste of body or mind." • But the most intolerable evil was that .of "benefit of clergy." In new countries, or those possessing only the rudiments of civilization, it is sometimes necessary to allow public opinion to condemn and ptuaish malefactors without the slow process of the law. Thus. in Nevada to-day, Judge Lynch effects a rapid despatch of many a murderer or thief without giving him the option of a formal trial. During the raiddle ages the Bishops' Consuatory Courts sought to overpass the common limitations of the law of the hum by inflicting penalties for a breach of the moral law. The administration of such a discipline naturally fell upon the clergy. They were the "guardians of morality ; " they were supposed to have a claim to confidence; they had opportunities of observation whica were nor afforded to laymen; and their priestly office gave a terrible weight to their censures. Thus there arose throughout Europe a system of spiritual surveillance of the habits and conduct of all men, taking note of all wrong doing, of allprofligacy and licentiousness, and of every blasphemy against God or the Church. The idea was noble, and if, as Mr. Froude says, it had been carried into execution by saints, it would have been of • incalculable benefit to mankind. But, unfortunately, the judges were anything but saints. They speedily began to take notice of the sins, great or small of laymen, but to be very oblivious of tne crimes of their own . order. Not only were offences against chastity re- . buked, but absence from churcu, speaking evil of saints,. and non-payment of offerings were severely punished. If complaints were made of the judgments of the courts the unfortunate offenders were li.ble to be summoned, at the will of the oflliials, to the metropolitan courts of the archoishops, hundred of miles from their homes. No expenses were allowed; nor was it often they recovered costs however innocent they were. Wneu once summoned tbi y were bound to appear. Ii• they failed, whether innocent or guilty, they were suspended for contempt. If after having received notice of their suspension they failed to appear they were excommunicated. This was a terrible punishment, ana alt honour is due to Away