Star.
London, England, 1824-05-22 00:00:00

FANATICISM IN SWITZERLAND.

The pamphlet which at the end of last year pub-
lished a history of the fanatical and sanguinary occur-
rences at Wildenspuch, has now appeared in a new,
corrected, and much enlarged edition, under the title of
" The History of the Crucifixion of a female religious
visionary at Wildenspuch, with an account of the per-
sons implicateJ, their behaviour in prison, their religious
notions, and their final sentence." The seventh section'
of the concluding remarks, treating of the sources and'
causes, as well as the remedies and treatment of this
mental disease, which is painted in its frightful con•
sequences, contains, in particular, some observations
addressed to the Bible Societies, on the danger of a
principle founded on the authority of the British Bible
Association, to distribute the Bible without notes or
comments, which latter have been rejected on account
of the abuse which may possibly be made of them, from
the preconceived opinions of the commentators.
Abuse is certainly possibleb but is much more likely to
occur w hen the judicious and enlightened leave the
task to the injudicious and the ignorant. Numerous
instances are here produced of the melancholy
and fa:al results of the pretensions of the latter.
The most important is certainly the authentic account
of similar scenes that have lately occurred in the Can-
ton of Thurgovia, which ate connected in many respects
with those at Wildenspuch. Here too it was that a
young female, who thought herself enlightened by Gen,
exercised boundless influence over the minds of those
connected s' ith her ; and %chile she indulged in sensual
et,joy meet in an ri:lawfid connexion, stifled the voice
vi conscience by an absurd interpretation (wholly de-
str active of all morali.y) r,f passages in the Bible, and
fancied herself perfect and holy, declaring to the unagis-
trates—,, When I have an impulse in my heart I must
follow it. Go]) has redeemed me of all sins and lusts.
I cannot and shall not sin any more. I have confessed my
sins to GoD,and besought him to direct me in everything."
These people, however, professed and read the Bible;'
but instead of the blessed light of the Gospel, they
sletived from it, :is from the box of Pandora, only
wretchedness arid degradation; because, instead of a
sensible explanation of the Holy Scriptures, they had
only met with interpretations full of mystical absurdi-
ties; and because, instead of exercising their under-
standings in recognising the truths and the consolations
of Religion, only their obscure feelings and meretri-
cious fancy were excited, both of which lead from
truth to delusion, and from virtue to sin.
Who can be insensible to the importance of the pre-
cepts and warnings which these reflections must natu-
rally inspire P—Frank:foi Pape".

PARLIA AIENT AR Y PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 21.

Several private Bills were brought up from the Commons, and
read the first time.
The hail ‘d WESTMORLAND presented a Petition from the
Trustees „r the P. or, and other Parish Officers, in the Hamlet ut
Mile-end, against the Silk Bill.
The Noble Earl also presented one from the Freeholders and
Leasebblders of St. Matthew, Bethnal-green, having the same ob-
ject. Both Petitions were read, and laid on the table.
The Earl of KINGSTON presented a Petition from a Regis-
tered Lodge (No. 66) of Freemasons in the County of Kerry.
praying to be excluded from the operation of the Act of last year,
to prevent the Meetings of Secret Sucieties.—Laid on the table.
Earl DA lINLEY moved for several papers relating to Irelard,
and particularly for one return relating to Derry Cathedral,
which were ordered. The Noble Earl at the same tinv.• congratu-
lated the House on the recent appointment of a Committee to in-
quire into the state of Ireland. lie thought great advantage might
be derived from the measure.

The Earl of HAREWOOD presented a Petition against the
General Gas-light company's Bill.
Lord EGSSLYN presented a similar Petition from Worcester,
and one from Wolverhampton.—Read, and laid on the table.