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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 de corps。 Such； at the present day （1885）； is the
situation of a professor at Oxford； G？ttingen； and Harvard Such；
under the Ancient Régime； were a bishop； a member of the French
Parliaments； and even a plain attorney。 What can be worse than
universal bureaucracy； producing a mechanical and servile
uniformity！ Those who serve the public need not all be Government
clerks； in countries where an aristocracy has perished； bodies of
this kind are their last place of refuge。
In the third place； through such institutions； distinct original
societies may come to be inside the great commonplace world。 Here
special personalities may find the only existence that suits them。
If devout or laborious； not only do these afford an outlet for the
deeper needs of conscience； of the imagination； of activity； and of
discipline； but also they serve as dikes which restrain and direct
them in a channel which will lead to the creation of a masterpiece
of infinite value。 In this way thousands of men and women fulfill
at small cost； voluntarily and gratis； and with great effect； the
least attractive and more repulsive social needs； thus performing in
human society the role which； inside the ant…hill； we see assigned
to the sexless worker…ant。＇42＇
Thus； at bottom； the institution was really good； and if it had to
be cauterized it was merely essential to remove the inert or
corrupted parts and preserve the healthy and sound parts。 Now；
if we take only the monastic bodies； there were more than one…half
of these entitled to respect。 I omit those monks； one…third of whom
remained zealous and exemplary…the Benedictines； who continue the
〃Gallia Christiana；〃 with others who； at sixty years of age； labor
in rooms without a fire； the Trappists； who cultivate the ground
with their own hands； and the innumerable monasteries which serve as
educational seminaries； bureaus of charity； hospices for shelter；
and of which all the villages in their neighborhood demand the
conservation by the National Assembly。＇43＇ I have to mention the
nuns； thirty…seven thousand in fifteen hundred convents。 Here；
except in the twenty…five chapters of canonesses； which are a semi…
worldly rendezvous for poor young girls of noble birth； fervor；
frugality； and usefulness are almost everywhere incontestable。 One
of the members of the Ecclesiastical Committee admits in the
Assembly tribunal that； in all their letters and addresses； the nuns
ask to be allowed to remain in their cloisters； their entreaties； in
fact； are as earnest as they are affecting。＇44＇ One Community
writes；
〃We should prefer the sacrifice of our lives to that of our
calling。 。 。 。 This is not the voice of some among our sisters；
but of all。 The National Assembly has established the claims of
liberty…would it prevent the exercise of these by the only
disinterested beings who ardently desire to be useful； and have
renounced society solely to be of greater service to it？〃
〃The little contact we have with the world；〃 writes another 〃is the
reason why our contentment is so little known。 But it is not the
less real and substantial。 We know of no distinctions； no
privileges amongst ourselves； our misfortunes and our property are
in common。 One in heart and one in soul 。 。 。 we protest before
the nation； in the face of heaven and of earth； that it is not in
the power of any being to shake our fidelity to our vows； which vows
we renew with still more ardor than when we first pronounced
them。〃＇45＇
Many of the communities have no means of subsistence other than the
work of their own hands and the small dowries the nuns have brought
with them on entering the convent。 So great； however is their
frugality and economy； that the total expenditure of each nun does
not surpass 250 livres a year。 The Annonciades of Saint…Amour say；
〃We； thirty…three nuns； both choristers and those of the white
veil； live on 4；400 livres net income； without being a charge to our
families or to the public。 。 。 If we were living in society； our
expenses would be three times as much；〃
and； not content with providing for themselves； they give in
charity。
Among these communities several hundreds are educational
establishments； a very great number give gratuitous primary
instruction。 Now； in 1789； there are no other schools for
girls； and were these to be suppressed； every avenue of instruction
and culture would be closed to one of the two sexes； forming one…
half of the French population。 Fourteen thousand sisters of
charity； distributed among four hundred and twenty convents； look
after the hospitals； attend upon the sick； serve the infirm； bring
up foundlings； provide for orphans； lying…in women； and repentant
prostitutes。 The 〃Visitation〃 is an asylum for 〃those who are not
favored by nature；〃 and； in those days； there were many more of
the disfigured than at present； since out of every eight deaths one
was caused by the smallpox。 Widows are received here； as well as
girls without means and without protection； persons 〃worn out。 with
the agitation of the world；〃 those who are too feeble to support the
battle of life； those who withdraw from it wounded or invalid； and
〃the rules of the order； not very strict； are not beyond the health
or strength of the most frail and delicate。〃 Some ingenious device
of charity thus applies to each moral or social sore； with skill and
care； the proper and proportionate dressing。 And finally； far from
falling off； nearly all these communities are in a flourishing
state； and whilst among the establishments for men there are only
nine； on the average； to each； in those for women there is an
average of twenty…four。 Here； at Saint…Flour； is one which is
bringing up fifty boarders； another； at Beaulieu； instructs one
hundred； another； in Franche…Comté； has charge of eight hundred
abandoned children。＇46＇ Evidently； in the presence of such
institutions one must pause； however。 little one may care for
justice and the public interest； and； moreover； because it is
useless to act rigorously against them the legislator crushes them
in vain； for they spring up again of their own accord； they are in
the blood of every Catholic nation。 In France； instead of thirty…
seven thousand nuns； at the present day （1866） there are eighty…six
thousand…that is to say； forty…five in every ten thousand women
instead of twenty…eight。＇47＇
In any case； if the State deprives them of their property； along
with that of other ecclesiastical bodies； it is not the State that
ought to claim the spoil。 The State is not their heir； and
their land； furniture； and rentals are in their very nature devoted
to a special purpose； although they have no designated proprietor。
This treasure； which consists of the accumulations of fourteen
c