The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-01

Correspondence Of the HERALD
RrRIIN- March x. l846.


Correspondence Of the Herald
BERLIN, March g. l846.
Reopening of the Opera Hox~-Ns,c Opera by Mty-
erber and neW Stars-Conf ession Of the Incendia
| ry ,cho destroyed the precious Buiiding-44masing
Religious Revolution IN Prussia, arising out Of the
exhibition Of Christ's Garment at Treres on the
| Rhine second Luther in the person Of John
Ronge-Rupfure ,ctth Rome, and the establish ent
| off "Ge,man Catholic Church"
JAMES G. BENNETT ESQ.,
SR-The re-opening of the Opera House, after its
being partly destroyed by the conAagration of ls4S,
has formed quite era in the theatrical annals of
this metropolis and excited unusual interest, not
only in Germany, but even IN France and England
| The house was thrown open on the 7th December,
this day having been chosen the centenary ami
versary from the time OF its being first erected by
der OF Frederick the Great. The building is GER
didly and gorgeously fitted up, with paintings and
decorations by the first masters, the whole present.
ing scene Of magnlfcence that must satisfy the
most fastdious taste. BY raising the roof, they
have been enabled to add third tier of boxes, be-
sides the amphitheatre the royal box in the centre
OF the house, is most splendid affair." and the stage
boxes are fitted up In style OF unequalled luxury
and comfort. A new opera had been written for
the OCCASION and set to music by Meyerbeer, emit
| tied san Encarnpment in Silesia," Tin German, Elm
Feldlager in Schlesien:) The subject is taken from
the seven years war, the classic age Of Prussia and
although the libretto is not of much account, the
music has met with great applause, as could not be
expected otherwise Of the composition of cele-
brated maestro. The house is crowded at every
| representation; tickets are only to be had by apply
ing several weeks in advance, and the general en-
thuslasm has been increased by the opportune APP
pearance of new star of the first magnitude, in the
person Of Mademoiselle Jenny Lind first vocalist of
| the Theatre Royal, Stockholm The public are in
raPtures with her. and exhibit degree of trenzied
delight that Is quite at variance with the stocal apa
thy attributed by some writers to the inhabitants Of
the North; but the truth is, that where heatricals
concerned, the Germans may be said to rival the
Italians in their outbreaks of musical fanatcism-
M lie. Lind, who received her artistic education at
although the Berlin managers have made her the
most brilliant Offers she has been obliged refuse
them. She would certainly be great acquisition,
but only having leave of absence for limited time
she must return to Sweden as soon 1t is expired
To console us for this loss, another distinguished
cGntGtrice, Miss Sophia Loewe, is expected here
early in the spring. Her name must be familiar to
both in London and Paris.
report has been prevalent lately that the opera
house was set on fire the year before last by in
given himself up to the authorities. He was one Of
the chorsters or singer in the choruses at the ope
ra house; but being discharged for some fault he
revenged himself by. destroying the theatre. He eff
fected this by throwing cOmbustibes wrapt rags
with slow match in them, through some of the
windows, and these did the business so far as to
consume the interior of the buildingthe outer walls
were, however, too strong for the fire to nure them
and the engines arriving in body, they succeeded
in extlngulshing the confagration. No lives were
lost at the time, nor was any even hurt never
heless 1t Is asserted that his conscience would not
let the pepetrator rest until he divulged his crime
AS all such occurrences kept secret in this coun-
try till the Judicial investigation is completed and
the punishment notified by the authorities the pub
c are left entirely in the dark, and reports Of this
facts are brought to light.
"From grave to gay-from lively to severe" AZ
ter discussing theatricas, must direct your at
ticed in the Morning Chronicle, and other papers,
an account of the Holy Robe, he identical garment
worn by Christ,) which was exhibited to the gaze
q the faithful At Treyes on the Rhine, BY order Of
the Roman Catholic Bishop of that city. This relic
has been kept at the cathedral for centuries and the
summons of the Bishop attracted thousands of pill
grims from the Roman Catholic provinces of Ger
many, from France, from Belgium, &C., dissolution
having been promised to those who adored the Holy
Robe, accompanying this pious act by the recital Of
| certain number OF Gvis, and the performance OF
the necessary genufiexlons, Nc. To attest the vir
tue Of the relic several miracles were wrought, in
curing persons afflicted with diseases Of many years
standing; of course, they were all enoined to give
aims at the shrine enclosing III, holy robe, and you
collected, if you consider that, although, the
bulk of the pilgrims were of the lower classes, q
great proportion were persons of good standing In
fact, the aims and other offerings collected by the
clergy, are computed to amount to more than mil
lion of Prussian dollars and report says took the
priests several weeks to count the money received
from their deuded votaries: For time every thing
went on swimmingly, and the middle ages appeared
to have been revived in the nineteenth century; but
a reaction was at hand. AS the pilgrimage was
drawing to a close, Roman Catholic priest, named
John ,'i Lh9nge, residing n small town in Siesia,
in the most rational and stringent language, and up
braiding the Bishop for authorisag such exhibit
ton. He complained Of its attracting the poor and
/ VxrkN ntnA tt~as~
their little ALL to return naked and penness to their
wretched homes He insisted on the disorders and
excuses that were likely to ensue from so great
concouIse OF people, infamed by religious supersti-
ton and frantic with excitement he spoke with
dgnation of the scandal occasioned by transactions
SO little in accordance with the spirit Of the age, and
pointed out in forcibe TERMS that the alteration Of
ter than Sheer doatry This letter has created re a an
immense sensation 1t appeared first in Saxon pro-
testant paper, to whom the author had sent it, and
from thence il made the round Of nearly all the Pc
riodcals of the other protestant States Of Germany,
| In the Roman Catholic countries, the principal OF
which are Bavaria and Austria, and where the Je-
suits reign triumphant,it wasmmedately prohibited,
and the sr1cest measures taken prevent any copies
being introduced. But for all this il has found its
way into these strongholds of Papistry, and is
read there with avidity. 1t was impossible for the
Catholic priesthood to leave SO bold demonstration
unnoticed. The Bishop of Bresau, to whose diocese
Ronge belongs began the attack by suspending him,
and then finding he would not recant, proceeded to
launch the thunders OF accommodation at hishead
| But this measure, tar from slencng the undauned
reformer, has had a very different effect. Ronge is
now considered in the light of martyr, and from
humble and nameless parish-prest has become one
Of the most popular characters of Germany. Several
communities have already separated from the Rom
ish Church, and promulgated their confession Of
faith expressing their intention to constitute them
selves into an Apostolic Catholic Church, independ-
ent of Rome, or some call it, a German Catholic
Church. This movement commenced at small
town village in Western Prussia, called Schneide-
headed by their priest (whose name is Czerski) So
lemnly renounced their allegiance to the Roman
Pontiif They have done away with the mass in
Latin, and every part of the church service is be
| performed in German. The confessional is abolish
ed, well as the cebacy of the priesthood (Czerski
himself having got married) but they still continue