Church Revenues

Church Revenues

The work critiques the financial structure and distribution of church revenues, particularly focusing on the compensation of bishops and the implications of high church prizes. It argues that the original intent of offering substantial rewards for exceptional merit has been undermined over time, leading to a system where ecclesiastical positions are often secured through political maneuvering rather than genuine merit. The author challenges the notion that high incomes correlate with high virtue or intellectual achievement, suggesting that the selection process for bishops is flawed and influenced more by electoral politics than by scholarly or moral excellence. The text posits that the exaggerated perceptions of bishops' incomes do not reflect their actual charitable contributions, asserting that bishops often give significantly more to charity than wealthy nobles, despite public misconceptions. The argument emphasizes the need to reassess the distribution of church revenues, advocating for a system that prioritizes merit and genuine service over political connections. It calls for a reevaluation of how church funds are allocated, suggesting that a more equitable approach would enhance the church's role in society and better fulfill its charitable mission. The work ultimately defends the integrity of the clergy, arguing that they act with a sense of responsibility towards their resources, contrary to popular belief.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1818 · Genre: Non-fiction, Political Commentary, Philosophical Essay · 381 words

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Your argument against the high prizes in the church might be put strongly thus: -- Admit that in the beginning it might have been fairly said, that some eminent rewards ought to be set apart for the purpose of stimulating and rewarding transcendant merit; what have you to say now, after centuries of experience to the contrary? -- _Have_ the high prizes been given to the highest genius, virtue, or learning? Is it not rather the truth, as Jortin said, that twelve votes in a contested election will do more to make a man a bishop than an admired commentary on the twelve minor prophets? -- To all which and the like I say again, that you ought not to reason from the abuse, which may be rectified, against the inherent uses of the thing. _Appoint_ the most deserving -- and the prize _will_ answer its purpose. As to the bishops' incomes, -- in the first place, the net receipts -- that which the bishops may spend -- have been confessedly exaggerated beyond measure; but, waiving that, and allowing the highest estimate to be correct, I should like to have the disposition of the episcopal revenue in any one year by the late or the present Bishop of Durham, or the present Bishops of London or Winchester, compared with that of the most benevolent nobleman in England of any party in politics. I firmly believe that the former give away in charity of one kind or another, public, official, or private, three times as much in proportion as the latter. You may have a hunks or two now and then; but so you would much more certainly, if you were to reduce the incomes to 2000_l_. per annum. As a body, in my opinion the clergy of England do in truth act as if their property were impressed with a trust to the utmost extent that can be demanded by those who affect to believe, ignorantly or not, that lying legend of a tripartite or quadripartite division of the tithe by law.

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Church Revenues is listed on Textopian as an essay by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1818 CE.

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Church · Revenues · Samuel Taylor Coleridge · Clergy · Bishops · Charity · Income · Merit · Politics · Religion · Critique · Philosophy

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