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And first； which is a great point； most of the incumbents in the town
parishes； in the three hundred collegial churches； in the small
canonicates of the cathedral chapters； belonged to better families
than at the present day。＇68＇ Children were then more numerous； not
merely among the peasants； but among the inferior nobles and the upper
bourgeoisie； each family； accordingly； was glad to have one of its
sons take orders； and no constraint was necessary to bring this about。
The ecclesiastical profession then had attractions which it no longer
possesses； it had none of the inconveniences incident to it at the
present time。 A priest was not exposed to democratic distrust and
hostility； he was sure of a bow from the laborer in the street as well
as from the peasant in the country； he was on an equal footing with
the local bourgeoisie； almost one of the family； and among the first；
he could count on passing his life in a permanent situation； honorably
and serenely； in the midst of popular deference and enjoying the good
will of the public。 … On the other hand； he was not bridled as in our
day。 A priest was not a functionary salaried by the State； his pay；
like his private income； earmarked and put aside beforehand； furnished
through special appropriations； through local taxes； out of a distinct
treasury； could never be withheld on account of a préfect's report； or
through ministerial caprice； or be constantly menaced by budget
difficulties and the ill…will of the civil powers。 In relation to his
ecclesiastical superiors he was respectful but independent。 The
bishop in his diocese was not what he has become since the Concordat；
an absolute sovereign free to appoint and remove at will nine curés
out of ten。 In three vacancies out of four； and often in fourteen out
of fifteen；＇69＇ it was not the bishop who made the appointment； the
new incumbent was designated sometimes by the cathedral chapter or
corporation； again； by a collegial church or corporation； again； by
the metropolitan canon or by the abbé or prior； the patron of the
place； again； by the seignior whose ancestors had founded or endowed
the Church； in certain cases by the Pope； and； occasionally； by the
King or commune。 Powers were limited through this multiplicity and
inter…crossing of authorities。 Moreover； the； canon or curé being
once appointed he possessed guarantees； he could not be arbitrarily
dismissed； in most cases； his removal or suspension required a
previous trial according to prescribed formalities； accompanied with
an examination； pleadings； and arguments before the officialité or
ecclesiastical court。 He was； in fact； permanently placed； and very
generally his personal merit sufficed to keep him in his place。 …
For； if the highest positions were bestowed according to birth and
favor； the intermediate positions were reserved to correct habits and
attainments。 Many canons and vicars…general； and almost all the curés
in the towns were doctors of divinity or of canon law； while
ecclesiastical studies； very thorough； had occupied eight or nine
years of their youth。＇70＇ Although the method was out of date； much
was learned at the Sorbonne and St。 Sulpice； at the very least； one
became a good logician through prolonged and scientific intellectual
gymnastics。 〃My dear Abbé；〃 said Turgot； smiling； to Morellet； 〃it is
only you and I who have taken our degree who can reason closely。〃
Their theological drill； indeed； was about as valuable as our
philosophical drill； if it expanded the mind less； it supplied this
better with applicable concepts； less exciting； it was more fruitful。
In the Sorbonne of the nineteenth century； the studies consist of the
speculative systems of a few isolated； divergent intellects who have
exercised no authority over the multitude； while in the Sorbonne of
the eighteenth century； the studies consisted of the creed； morality；
discipline； history and canons of a Church which had already existed
seventeen centuries and which； comprising one hundred and fifty
millions of souls； still sways one…half of the civilized world。 … To
a theoretical education add practical education。 A curé and with
still more reason； a canon； an archdeacon； a bishop； was not a passing
stranger； endowed by the State； wearing a surplice； as little
belonging to his age through his ministry as through his dress； and
wholly confined to his spiritual functions： he managed the revenues of
his dotation； he granted leases； made repairs； built； and interested
himself in the probabilities of the crops； in the construction of a
highway or canal； while his experiences in these matters were equal to
those of any lay proprietor。 Moreover； being one of a small
proprietary corporation； that is to say； a chapter or local vestry；
and one of a great proprietary corporation of the diocese and Church
of France； he took part directly or indirectly in important temporal
affairs； in assemblies； in deliberations； in collective expenditures；
in the establishment of a local budget and of a general budget； and
hence； in public and administrative matters； his competence was
analogous and almost equal to that of a mayor； sub…delegate； farmer…
general or intendant。 In addition to this he was liberal： never has
the French clergy been more earnestly so； from the latest curés back
to the first archbishops。＇71＇ … Lastly； remark the distribution of the
clergy over the territory。 There was a curé or vicar in the smallest
of the forty thousand villages。 In thousands of small； poor； remote
communes； he was the only man who could readily read and write； none
other than he in many of the larger rural communes；＇72＇ except the
resident seignior and some man of the law or half…way schoolmaster；
was at all learned。＇73＇ Actually； for a man who had finished his
studies and knowing Latin； to consent； for six hundred francs or three
hundred francs a year； to live isolated； and a celibate； almost in
indigence； amongst rustics and the poor； he must be a priest； the
quality of his office makes him resigned to the discomforts of his
situation。 A preacher of the Word； a professor of morality； a
minister of Charity； a guide and dispenser of spiritual life； he
taught a theory of the world； at once consoling and self…denying；
which he enforced with a cult； and this cult was the only one adapted
to his flock； manifestly； the French； especially those devoted to
manual and hard labor； could not regard this world as ideal； except
through his formulas； history； the supreme judge； had on this point
rendered its verdict without appeal； no heresy； no schism； not the
Reformation nor Jansenism； had prevailed against hereditary faith；
through infinitely multiplied and deeply penetrating roots this faith
suited national customs； temperament； and peculiar social imagination
and sensibility。 Possessing the heart； the intellect； and even the
senses； through fixed； immemorial traditions and habits； it had become