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the State used its right of overseeing and reforming them。 … Social
usefulness of corporations。… The sound part in the monastic
institution。 … Zeal and services of nuns。 … How ecclesiastical
possessions should be employed。 … Principle of the Assembly as to
private communities； feudal rights and trust…funds。 … Abolition and
expropriation all corporations。 … Uncompensated suppression of
tithes。… Confiscation of ecclesiastical possessions。 … Effect on
the Treasury and on expropriated services。 …The civil constitution
of the clergy。… Rights of the Church in relation to the State。 …
Certainty and effects of a conflict。 … Priests considered as State…
functionaries。… Principal stipulations of the law。 … Obligations of
the oath。 … The majority of priests refuse to take it。 … The
majority of believes on their side。 … Persecution of believers and
of priests。
There remained the corporate； ecclesiastic； and lay bodies； and；
notably； the oldest； most opulent； and most considerable of all the
regular and secular clergy。 Grave abuses existed here also； for；
the institution being founded on ancient requirements； had not
accommodated itself to new necessities。＇37＇ There were too many
episcopal sees； and these were arranged according to the Christian
distribution of the population in the fourth century； a revenue
still more badly apportioned bishops and abbés with one hundred
thousand livres a year； leading the lives of amiable idlers； while
curés； overburdened with work； have but seven hundred； in one
monastery nineteen monks instead of eighty； and in another four
instead of fifty；＇38＇ a number of monasteries reduced to three or to
two inhabitants； and even to one； almost all the congregations of
men going to decay； and many of them dying out for lack of
novices；＇39＇ a general lukewarmness among the members； great laxity
in many establishments； and with scandals in some of them； scarcely
one…third taking an interest in their calling； while the remaining
two…thirds wish to go back to the world；＇40＇ it is evident from
all this that the primitive inspiration has been diverted or has
cooled； that the endowment only partially fulfills its ends； that
one…half of its resources are employed in the wrong way or remain
sterile； in short； that there is a need of reformation in the body。
That this ought to be effected with the co…operation of the
State and even under its direction is not less certain。 For a
corporation is not an individual like other individuals； and； in
order that it may acquire or possess the privileges of an ordinary
citizen； something supplementary must be added； some fiction； some
expedient of the law。 If the law is disposed to overlook the fact
that a corporation is not a natural personage； if it gives to it a
civil personality； if it declares it to be capable of inheriting； of
acquiring and of selling； if it becomes a protected and respected
proprietor； this is due to the favors of the State which places its
tribunal and gendarmes at its service； and which； in exchange for
this service； justly imposes conditions on it； and； among others；
that of being useful and remaining useful； or at least that of never
becoming harmful。 Such was the rule under the Ancient Régime； and
especially since the Government has for the last quarter of a
century gradually and efficaciously worked out a reform。 Not only；
in 1749； had it prohibited the Church from accepting land； either by
donation； by testament； or in exchange； without royal letters…patent
registered in Parliament； not only in 1764 had it abolished the
order of Jesuits； closed their colleges and sold their possessions；
but also； since 1766； a permanent commission； formed by the King's
order and instructed by him； had lopped off all the dying and dead
branches of the ecclesiastical tree。＇41＇ There was a revision of the
primitive Constitutions； a prohibition to every institution to have
more than two monasteries at Paris and more than one in other towns；
a postponement of the age for taking vows that of sixteen being
no longer permitted to twenty…one for men and eighteen for
women； an obligatory minimum of monks and nuns for each
establishment； which varies from fifteen to nine according to
circumstances； if this is not kept up there follows a suppression or
prohibition to receive novices： owing to these measures； rigorously
executed； at the end of twelve years 〃the Grammontins； the Servites；
the Celestins； the ancient order of Saint…Bénédict； that of the Holy
Ghost of Montpellier； and those of Sainte…Brigitte； Sainte…Croix…de…
la…Bretonnerie； Saint…Ruff； and Saint…Antoine；〃 … in short； nine
complete congregations had disappeared。 At the end of twenty years
three hundred and eighty…six establishments had been suppressed； the
number of monks and nuns had diminished one…third； the larger
portion of possessions which had escheated were usefully applied；
and the congregations of men lacked novices and complained that they
could not fill up their ranks。 If the monks were still found to be
too numerous； too wealthy； and too indolent； it was merely necessary
to keep on in this way； before the end of the century； merely by the
application of the edict； the institution would be brought back；
without brutality or injustice； within the scope of the development；
the limitations of fortune； and the class of functions acceptable to
a modern State。
But； because these ecclesiastical bodies stood in need of reform it
does not follow that it was necessary to destroy them； nor； in
general； that independent institutions are detrimental to a nation。
Organized purposely for a public service； and possessing； nearly or
remotely under the supervision of the State； the faculty of self…
administration； these bodies are valuable organs and not malign
tumors。
In the first place； through their institution； a great public
benefit is secured without any cost to the government … worship；
scientific research； primary or higher education； help for the poor；
care of the sick … all set apart and sheltered from the cuts which
public financial difficulties might make necessary； and supported by
the private generosity which； finding a ready receptacle at hand；
gathers together； century after century； its thousands of scattered
springs： as an example； note the wealth； stability； and usefulness
of the English and German universities。
In the second place； their institution furnishes an obstacle to the
omnipotence of the State； their walls provide a protection against
the leveling standardization of absolute monarchy or of pure
democracy。 A man can here freely develop himself without donning
the livery of either courtier or demagogue； he can acquire wealth；
consideration and authority； without being indebted to the caprices
of either royal or popular favor； he can stand firm against
established or prevailing opinions sheltered by associates bound by
their esprit d