He then undergoes a final examination by a special committee, composed of the clerical members of the consistory and of the professors of the semi nary. Surplice-fees were abolished in 1891. The pastor must give weekly, three or four hours' religious instruction in the public elementary schools, basing his instruc tion on Biblical history and the catechism. In Lutheran parishes he uses the Lutheran catechism, in certain Reformed parishes the Heidelberg cate chism, and in united parishes the catechism of 1894, which combines the Lutheran and Heidelberg cate chisms. There is no uniform liturgy for the whole state, though a movement having as its object the preparation of a liturgy acceptable to all 4.
Recent parishes is now in progress.
To be mentioned here is the choral book edited by J. G. Herzog, and also his book of preludes. In recent years the interests of the State Church have been furthered by the division of the larger parishes, the erection of numerous new churches, by the ordinance providing for the care of the poor, and by regulations against such sects as the Irvingites, Adventists, etc. Sunday-schools are now common. The Innere Mission maintains some thirty hospitals and a large number of other charitable institutions of an educational nature. The Roman Catholic inhabitants are under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Mainz.