 |
| Reverend William Holwell Carr paid a curate |
| to handle duties in his parish. He was quite |
| generous, paying almost triple the usual wage |
| (though the usual wasn't much to begin with). |
Speaking of bureaucrats...
To summarize a huge topic very briefly: in the 18th and 19th
centuries, various wealthy and noble patrons had authority to grant
"livings" to clergymen. These clergymen would usually come from the
gentry or upper middle-class, and their livings would enable them to
exist quite comfortably--so much so that such a clergyman, known as a
parish priest or rector, would often hire a curate to do part of his
job.
As may be obvious, depending on the living, an Anglican rector could lead a
godly, charitable life in tune with his parishioners; he could also lead
an exceedingly indolent life, having almost no contact with the people
he supposedly served. (Jane Austen's father was offered livings due to his pedigree--the livings were not wealthy ones, though he did support his family based on them.)
Jane Austen tackles the full range of English clergymen from the saintly Edmund to the deplorable Wickham (who does not
become a clergyman due to Darcy's good sense). Between these two
extremes lies Mr. Collins, who--as he unceasingly reminds people--owes
his living to Lady Catherine De Bourgh. I think it is safe to say that
although Mr. Collins does not appear to have many charitable impulses,
he does have to work for a living (ha ha).
Pamela's Mr. B controls a specific living which Mr. Williams
angles for throughout that book. (Mr. Williams spends an enormous amount
of time hovering around the Lincolnshire estate, waiting for the living
to become available.) Although an initial reading of Pamela
paints Williams in a chivalric light (he does try to help Pamela),
closer readings bring this portrayal into question. Richardson, like Mr.
B, seems to believe that Williams overstepped his bounds by biting the
hand that (wants to) feed him. Mr. Collins may be obsequious, but at
least he knows which side his bread is buttered on.
 |
| Consider the ambitions of Austen's Mr. Elton! |
However, Richardson later redeems Williams by making him an agent of reform. Williams ultimately takes a less prestigious position than the one
offered him by Mr. B in order to serve where he can do the most good.
Mr. B then agrees to supplement his income. Mr. B later undergoes his
own personal conversion.
It should be noted that Pamela--like Jane Austen--does not perceive
religion as an ethereal calling. Austen's characters rarely advocate
eschewing the world; rather, they propose adapting the world to one's
religious impulses. Consequently, Pamela has no trouble marrying a man
who is not, ostensibly, as religious as she. After all, she can do more
good as a wealthy woman than as a poor one; sack-cloth and ashes never
got a person very far.
For Austen and Richardson, the worldly aspects of religious service are realities that entail direct thought and solutions.
