The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-11-12

The next day was sitting in an eating house, in
the city of Cologne, when heard murmur of
voices without. looked out, and it was the same
procession, with its crosses aud beads, passing
under the window, and repeating prayers as rtl
defed through the street.
Against these pilgrmages, and against the
persuasion that the holy coat of Treyes or any
other relic had the power of working miracles,
Ronge, parish priest of Silesia, in the Prussian
domnons, protested and preached with such We
hemence and obstnacy that ,aftervarou attempts
10 restrain him, he was excommuncated from
the Roman Catholic Church. He treated the ex-
communication as an empty ceremony, denied
the authority of the Pope, and continued par
ish priest still, but parish priest of the New
Catholics This happened about nine months
since, and the number of New Catholic congre-
cations in Germany are now two hundred. Il
have been told by those with whom have con-
versed on the subject in various parts of Germa-
ny, that their number is rapidly increasing =
Pamphlets relating to this new question pass
through edition after edition. Medallion like
nesses Of Ronge, engraved from his portrait, and
little buss of him in porcelain, are seen in the
shop windows of the Protestant cities.
EYou must understand, however, said Ger
man TO me, shat this progress of the new doc.
ttrine is almost confined to those parts of Germa-
ny where the Catholics are in the minority; that
is TO say, TO Prussia, SaxoRy, Wurtemburg, and
| you may include the Grand Duchy of Baden. In
Austria, a disposition to discuss the question has
lately shown itself, but the government keeps it
down by prompt and severe measures. In Ba-
vara, also, no congregation of the new denomi
nation can be formed, It's dscountenanced by
the government of Saxony, which, to the great
offence of its Protestant bjects, prohibits them
fromallowing the new Catholics TO assemble for
worship in the Protestant churches. 1t is DIS
countenanced also by the government of Prus-
sa, which, in this matter, listens to the counsels
of Metternich. Meanwhile, the want of agree
ment in regard to points Of doctrine is, perhaps,
an obstacle TO the spread ofthe new sect. The
Jesuits know very well what they would have 3;
among them there is no disagreement, and their
Organization is most complete. The New Cath
olics, however, have almost as many varying
creeds as congregations, some departing more
and some less from the standard of belief which
Ills acknowledged at Rome. They may, however,
be said to agree in rejecting the authority of the
Pope, the celbacy Of the clergy, auricular con-
ession, and the worship of images"
'It-is mistake said an intelligent friend
whom afterwards met at Berlin, Fto say that the
New Catholics are discountenanced by the Prus
sian Government The government would,
have no doubt, aid their progress by every means
in its power, from desire to weaken the power
of the Roman Catholic church, with which it has
had so many controversies, did it not fear that
under the pretoxt of a change in, religious organ
zation there lurked design to effect political
changes. Germany is at this moment in the
midst ofreligous, political and social agitations
Many of those who appear to be the champions
of the new denominations, | believe, are single
lin their views, and simply and sincerely desire
what they profess; but others, have no doubt,
oin in the movement in the hope that it may
lead to some change in the government, 1t is
4 this which embarrasses the Prussian government
and makes it hesitate what part 10 take
On the evening of my return to Heidelberg
from Baden and Srasburg, / was taken to a
club, where Kerbler was expected. lie was not
There when | arrived, and went out 10 make a
call on an old friend. When came back the
club room was full of tobacco smoke, the greater
Ipart of the members, professors, physicians, ju-
Irsls, authors and theoogians were sucking their
Ipipes filled with German tobacco, the odor of
which is particularly detestabIe, and drinking
the beer Of their country, light beverage, allow
me 10 say, out of large, high glasses; but Ker-
1 bier had come and gone. He had made speech
to the company, and they were commencing bis
fluent and impressive manner.
The next morning called, with the old friend
whom have already mentioned, Catholic, but
inclined to favor the new sect, on DR.. Wolf, a
Lutheran clergyman of Heidelberg. found an
Iold man of ~ years of age, of portly and majes-
tic presence, a fresh countenance, and flowing
white hair, sitting with crutch by his side, il
the midst of his books and his papers, and wri.
Etng with a strong clear hand, an example OF
what is very common in Germany, of a labOrous
scholar preserving The freshness aud activity OF
his intellect to the last stage of human life. He
spoke of Kerber as admirably fitted to be the
apostle of the new sect. 'IIe is, he said, 'st
byoung, IN the yigor of his years, full Of earnest
enthusiasm, yet modest and discreet. | could
, not he added, 'on account of my infrmties, at
tend 10 hear his discourse, but from those who
were present, and whose opinion is to.be relied
on, learn that nc is an impressive speaker, anc
that his manner was exceedingly persuasive. He
was careful not to rouse the prejudices OF his
FFCatholic hearers, and assured them, that though
he and his brethren had rejected practices which
they regarded as coruptly engrafled upon the
clhrch, they had not forsaken the church, and
Twere Catholics still.H
u If you have looked at the introduction whicl
the English translator has preExed TO the able
work on Symbolism, by Mohler, Catholic pro
fessor of theology at Munich, you will remember
thatit speaks of the 'And-celibats,' as having
formed, few years since, aalarge and powerful
party IN the Catholic Church of Germany; bu
the writer adds that their opinions were giving
Iway to more orthodox views. 1t is this party
already long in existence, which, unable by an!
loher means to resist the zeal of those who arc
aborng to restore the Roman Catholic Church
to the state in which It was hundred years ago
has thrown off at last all dependence upon the pa
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