The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-08


The Esw Religious Movements IN Germany
new religious movement has started in Germa-
ny, which, taken in consideration with the philoso-
phlcal and philanthropic movements of the age, and
arising in the midst of these movements, may lead
to important results
Last August in the Cathedral of Treves, the tunic
of Christ was shown and its sight and touch it was
declared, would heal the sick and perform various
miracles Tens ofthousands 1ocked to see and once
more in the middle OF the 10Th century, amidst po-
puations enlightened by the positive sciences, a
childish scene of the middle ages was enacted over
again, but enacted unfortunately not by children
but by beings full ofthe perversy ofperverted fanat
cal and superstititous manhood. This scene excl
ted the indignation of many honest and devoted
hearts, and at length Catholic Priest by the name
of Ronge protested openly and powerfully against
this act Of the Church of Rome, and called upon his
countrymen, who rejected these acts and scenes of
a bye-gone age, to unite with him in the condemna-
ton, and to form German Catholic Church. This
proposition met deep and wide response, and this
movement, undertaken by an obscure individual in
the Catholic hierarchy, has in few months awaken
ed among the Germans new series of religious dis
cusslons, and new spirit. Political questions have
been put aside by the PRESS and the most important
political events give way to the interest excited by
this new religious movement
strange fact is to be remarked in this new move
ment. While the enlightened Catholics of Germany
sustain and encourage this religious reform, is at
tackled with violence by the Pietists, who are the
strictly orthodox Professionals and who correspond to
the Presbyterians andMethodsts &c of this country.
The reason of this Is that while Ronge has protest
ed against what he conceived abuses in the Roman
Catholic Church He has also protested against the
whole policy of these Religioniss, who would make
OF religion means of government, OF personal in
teres OF the maintenance OF what now exists, with
all that is false and christian it, for the benefit
nf hoae w N re- in ND
antlsm is far more closely connected with govern
ment in Germany than in this country, and hence the
selfshy conservative spirit relgns in as it does in
its opponent, the Church of Rome
The truth is, that the new religious movement of
Rouge is political and social in It's nature well
religious, borrowing part OF its ideas from Fourier
and Owen. The idea of a better practical state OF
things on this earth, to be produced by Christian
charity and philanthropy, by those grand doctrines
OF fraternity, justice, equality, and brotherhood,
given to the world by Christ, could not have failed
to enter into movement of this kind because that
idea is now living every where in society," and has
obtained positive existence In the world. Rouge,
with his idea OF Universal Church, which shall
unite all classes of society, connecting the rich and
the poor in the name OF Christian charity, and esab-
fishing brotherhood in the place Of the of castles
and clans, of the privileged and the oppressed is
political and social, as well as a religious retormer
and this has aroused against him those who would
maintain privilege, usurpation and injustice in the
world, whether Protestant or Catholic.
In his last manifesto, addressed to the secondary
clergy, Ronge says:-
1.-THE mission of the Universal Catholic Church was
to realize the brotherhood Of the whole human to
harmonic the most heterogeneous elements to fill up
and bridge all glarng social inequalities She has
failed in this sublime object by her hypocrisy, her
the divine from which she emanated She is it
who has caused the civil Of the past and
times and in testimony look at the present state Of
it into classes of the rich and poor the wise and ignorant
the privileged and the subugated. Her hour has come
IL :... 1s.~lk ~c
truth Of love, whichis the only and true Kingdom Of
Christ"
This view Of Ronge, attributing to Catholicism,
the disunon Of society and an upbuilding Of privi
like other elements of the social compact-the pot-
CAL &cit has done its part in establishing, in past
ages of anarchy, ignorance and brutality, false and
oppressive order-perhaps the only possible, but
its error is still uphold this order, in ages when
humanity, by, its progressive development, refine
men and intelligence, capable OF something better.
But Ronge is declaring war against social injus-
tice inequality, oppression and privilege, no matter
whether he mistakes the source from which they
emanate, has struck cord that will vibrate deeply
| in the conscience of humanity, and bring up the
grand question of the elevation of the racea ques-
ton as much political and social as it is religious
pems which comes from deep religious sentiment,
| the love of God and the love of nelghbor.
This subject suggests new views upon the means
and measures which religious bodies, in these modern
tcal and social results which it carries with it, and
the spirit which animates Christian propagation in
general. We will reserve them for another article.
AT the end of his manifesto, Ronge invites the
secondary clergy, who compose the lower orderr Of
the clergy, who are poor and much oppressed, In all
nations, to make common cause with him, and to
aid in the paclfication, and In securing the moral
and material happiness of all mankind. The last
article of faith, adopted by the new German Catholic
Church, is thus expressed 1t is remarkable.
"These articles of faith in bind the &c.
nerations which to The fundamental princi.
pies of your religion are the love and the progress Of
| humanity. Every Christian sentiment must have its
in love- person6ed by Savior Jesus Christ"
This declaration of love and the progress Of hui
mainly, which will make Christianity operate direct
upon the practical affairs of the woId step taken
in advance of that Professionalism which has become
perifed in theological controversies and the discus
sion and propagation of mere speculative dogmas,
which are separated from the Divine warmth and ef
iciency of love. For this reason many Protestants
are uniting with Rouge. We watch with great in
erest this new social and religious movement in
| Germany A. b. G.
/ Movements OF Travellers.
The arrivals yesterday limited; in pro-
portion to the accession than the hotels received during