312 CHAPTER XV. CHRONOLOGICAL SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS OF THE REFORM MOVEMENT, FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF 1845 To The Protestant Council at Berlin-Quotation from a Speech by Deputy Zittel-Romish Mandate at Freiburg-Rongé's First Public Denunciation of Czerski and his Adherents-Remarkable Sign of the Times-Dr. Hunter's Appointment-Accession of Wilhelm and Kelch-Dissolution of the Silesian Normal School-Appeal to the King of Prussia against General Superintendent HahnDifficulties of the "Free Evangelical Church" of KönigsburgRelaxation of Opposition to the German Catholics-Reconciliation of Czerski and Rongé-Czerski's Explanatory Letter—Remarks on it-Blasphemous Mummery-The Romanists in Suabia and Silesia-Extract from the Catholic Church Reform JournalDr. Theiner's Acquittal-Results of the Reform Movement, and Treatment of the Dissidents in Various Countries. JANUARY. The Protestant council, whose assembling at Berlin has been so long announced, commenced its sittings on the 5th inst.; of course nothing connected with its proceedings has yet transpired. The members who have been announced as composing it appear as representatives of their respective states; and, as most of the Protestant governments have sent one or more deputies, their number is said to amount already to thirty, and more are expected. If, therefore, "in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom," much may be hoped from this constellation of ecclesiastical luminaries; but, alas, there is reason to fear that unity of sentiment is about the smallest of the ingredients they bring with them. Besides, they are, after all, endowed solely with political, but not with a semblance of spiritual power. They are not the deputies of the churches, but merely of the princes of this world. May God give them the spirit of moderation, forbearance, and love; else, evil instead of good, disunion instead of union, will be the result of their decisions. Uhlich, the leader of the Friends of Light, has addressed a long letter to the council, impressing upon it, that entire liberty of conscience is essential to the very existence of Christianity; but, as might be expected from him, deducing, from this great and irrefragable truth, motives for leaving points of faith wholly undefined, and thus opening the door to the most discordant sentiments within each individual church. "The Berlin Reform Journal" gives the following notices respecting the progress of the German Catholic cause in different places. The congregation here is now increased to 2,400 members, of whom fifty, on an average, have hitherto been added monthly. Through the contribution of funds to the cause of reform, the congregation already possesses a burial-ground, a site for a church, and a considerable sum towards its erection, which, it is hoped, will soon be sufficient to admit of the building being commenced. Ecclesiastical reform is likely to make rapid advances in Baden before long. The actual results come more slowly before the public eye than they might, from the determination of the clergy who desire reform, to seek it through regular channels only. The answer which is now expected to the address (demanding the revivals of synods, and which Dean Künzer signed with the rest) will bring matters to a crisis. For, if the petition be negatived, Rome will lose, at one blow, 50,000 disciples, who now but await the result of the legitimate means they have tried for effecting reform within the church, before resorting to the ultimate step of separating from its communion. The fate of Rome, in a thousand instances, now hangs on the P balance; and, unless the hierarchy listen to the guardian angel, who whispers "Beware!" we shall soon receive a new commentary on the old adage, "Vestigia nulla retrorsum.” Another petition for the summoning of a diocesan synod has been forwarded to the Archbishop of Freiburg. The subscriptions, 280 in number, prove the interest taken in the subject by all classes of the Roman Catholic population, although the majority are of the educated part of the community. It is to be hoped, the demand will meet that attention which its own importance and the respectability of the petitioners seem to warrant. The A debate of a most animated nature is reported to have taken place in the Baden chamber, on the 15th ultimo, on occasion of the motion made by deputy Zittel (a Lutheran pastor), in favour of universal liberty of conscience. ingenious and spirited speech with which he introduced and supported it, drew down the liveliest demonstrations of approval from the galleries, which were crowded with eager listeners; and an almost unanimous "bravo" greeted its termination. One passage of his speech well deserves a place here: "In making this motion," said Pastor Zittel, "I believe myself fulfilling the duty of a Protestant clergyman, for free inquiry is linked with the very essence of Protestantism. My proposition has been originated by an event, which a great modern historian (Gervinus) has designated as a public blessing, as a great step in the regeneration of the human mind, and in consonance with what has very often occurred in the political world; an ecclesiastical aggression furnished the occasion for this ecclesiastical reaction. Modern statesmen seem to forget that new barriers raised against freedom generally effect the very contrary of what is intended; so that the friends of liberty might be tempted to wish for stronger demonstrations of encroachment, in the expectation that the counteraction would be stronger too. But, though it is easy to understand the unalterable principles which drive the ultramontane party to act against the German Catholics, it is more difficult to discover why civil government should aid in the crusade. The only solution is to be found in the spread of Jesuitism. When that order was suppressed by the pope, its members then settled down in all the German states (by far the greater portion under different disguises), and thus they still continue to surround us on every side. The best, if not the only effectual weapon against Jesuitism, is the German Catholic movement; and therefore every effort must and will be made, by the friends of that order, to suppress any antagonist principle. I never," continued the orator, "could have believed that the government of Baden would have actually entered the lists against the German reform movement; yet so it is. The first step was, granting permission for the establishment of the order of the 'Sisters of Mercy,' for I coincide in sentiment with Deputy Romer, in Stuttgardt, 'Let the Sisters of Mercy come first, and the Jesuits come next.' The permission of an establishment of 'Sisters of Mercy,' and a permission to carry on proselytism at every sick bed, are synonymous. And, although our government has acted with creditable decision (in regard to the question of mixed marriages) against the Archbishop of Freiburg, to whom have they committed the execution of their decrees? To helpless clergymen, who stand between two antagonist commands, and know not which to obey." "A professor of the Freiburg university has been suspended from office for uniting himself to the German Catholics, and what is the use made of the censorship? While Rongé's letter was altogether suppressed, the grossest libels against the German Catholics are suffered to appear, and yet nothing either immoral or unchristian had ever been alleged against them." After a long debate, in which Privy Councillor Nebenius took part, defending the procedure of government in general terms, and reserving details till the bill should be under discussion, the motion of Deputy (Pastor) Zittel was carried unanimously. It has naturally caused no small stir among the ultramontane party, and they have accomplished the getting up of a host of petitions against it, from a large proportion of the Catholic congregations. But the sense of the educated part of the community is in favour of the motion. The enlightened Roman Catholics are themselves desirous of emancipation from hierarchal despotism; and the ever increasing desire for the re-introduction of synods, and the respectably signed petitions to that effect, which have been sent in to the Archbishop of Freiburg, sufficiently point out the necessity of yielding part, if the Romish party hope to retain any portion of their present authority. M. Zittel's motion cannot, in fact, offend any but a bigot; for, far from wishing to trench on the liberties of the Roman Catholics, it proposes to leave them perfect freedom, both of doctrine and of ritual. It only demands for dissenters, whether Protestant or Catholic, equal freedom; but that is what the hierarchy will use every means in their power to prevent. Hence the bitter tone in which the generality of the petitions sent in against it, are expressed. One little congregation in the neighbourhood of Haldshut has even gone so far as to pray the grand duke to end the contest by dissolving the chamber.* On the other hand, addresses of thanks have been presented to M. Zittel, for his energetic and courageous advocacy of liberty of conscience; and the town of Frankfortsur-Maine has distinguished itself by forwarding its address of thanks (signed, it is said, by all religious denominations, except the ultramontane Roman party) to the reverend gentleman, by a most respectable deputation. Accounts from Freiburg hint at a new collision as likely to take place between the ultramontane party and the government, the hierarchy having recently issued a mandate to all parish priests, forbidding the admission of any person to stand sponsor, who does not confess and receive the sacra * And what is not a little remarkable, he actually did so very shortly afterwards; though we can scarcely suppose in consequence of this suggestion. |