Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-10-18

From the Washington Union,
Sketches Joom Foreign Papers reccirtd by
the Great Western,


The European (continentaD world is at this
moment in greater fermen., upon the sub
Iect of religion, than at any period since the
dnys of Martin Luther. His counterpart is
John Rnngc, an obscure Catholic priest, who has
sprung into great notorleiy since the lst of Oc.
'ooer last Indeed, III this short period, he has
managed to acquire position, and command.
ing influence, which Luther himself was for
many years employed in attaining. .-Doubless,
the march Of mind--the spirit Of the age, which
scorns the trammels Of antiqua,cd theories and
supers'tions, social and political as well as re-.
ligious--,he activity which prevails over the
whole intellectual mass Of society-the energy
OF the prcss--thc power Of associated mind in
all its literary forms-have given an impulse to
curiosity md investigation, which circulate al.
most with the velocity Of the electric fluid
through society These lave prepared the way
for the labors of Rongr. Ye, events show ,ba,
lie is the man cmnen'ly snited for the occ, sion
that is, sufficiently bold, sagacious, eloquent,
and enthusiastic, TO lead great religious refor.
nation among highly cultivated people lie
is Roman Catholic priest =: he is subject of
the Prussan monarchy ; was born in Slesia.
and is said to have become dsnffacted and dis
gnsted by the close discipline of an ecclesiast.
cal seminary, after the liberal studies Of the
gymnasium. and his year spcn, in military du-
iy. which Prussia requires of all her citizens
The London Morning Chronicle of the ooh
inst , saws:
1.-The first cause of Ronge's outbreak wns tho
refusal ofthe Pope TO Sanction the choice made
by the chapter Of fBre,lsu of liberal ,nd moder.
ate prclate. The vicar general in the mean
time, administered the dioce.s in the ideas of
the Jesuit and ultramontane school. Ronge,
the clergyman at Cro,,kau. wro,ca letter TO
journal, complaining. The Graham ofthe dis.
trc' discovered who wrote tie letter, and Ronce
was dismissed He took refuge among the mi.
ners of the mountain and bided his time This
time soon came, wien Arnold, Bishop Of
Trcves, set up the very coat which our Saviour
wore at his execution, in the church Of Trevcs
to be worshippcd, A million and half Of p-o-
pie made pilgrimage to Trevcs, 10 ob,a in there.
by forgiveness of their sins. On the Is, of DC.
toher, lc4i, Rouge wrote his Opinions of a
Catholic Priest ofths matter. Fny thousand
copies were sold in l.e1zic in fortnight Re.
collect said Ronge, to Bishop Arnold, ,ha, our
Saw ours coat fell 10 his execu'oncrs, willis, his
spirit went to dwell with his disciples The
letter OF Ronge cvnccs great talent
OF this coat, it is said that The priesthood OK.
hlbit i, bu, in ~ years for "a days, and re.
nize about GO 600, coo by the trick at each pc.
ROD.
We take from Vie London Times of,hc l9,h
nit, the following Interest, ng synopsis Of
Ronge's celebrated letter. which throws light
un the social and religious condition of Gcrma.
ny;
at was m the Is. Of October last, tla, the
unknown parish priest addressed his letter 20
the bishops aud not To him alone, but 10 II The
Roman Catholics Of Germany, whether priests
or leymen. YOU have heard thst the Bshop
Arnold, of Ircvrs, has exposed ms religious
spectacle for The vcneration OF mankind n vcs>
turc called The co.., of Christ. Iou have heard
this, Christians ofihe ninc,cen,h century, Ger
man people, you know it teachers Of the Ger
man people and of religion, you are satisfied
that this is no fable, no tale, but the truth and
fact The latest accounts inform us that
SEQ DGO souls have made pilgrimage to the
relic, and other thousands continue daily Ia
pour in. hearing and believing this sacred yes.
ture has healed the sick and performed divers
miracles. The news has spread in every land,
and is carried 10 every people and tho clergy
Of France think Fl, to deny the authenticity OF
/ the garment, snd to claim the regard Of men
for The orignnl, which they profess To have
themselves, Such is the opening of Rongp's
letter, Denouncmg the festival as idolorrous
and an unworthy exhibition &C the Romish hier
archy, whom he upbrnids for impoverishing 4
people who can afford neither the expenses o.
the Journey nor the cXtorllnns orthe priests. he
proceeds to say that laborer. have neglected
their work, and the youth have been democrats
zed by answering n summons which has once
more opened the door to superstition, hypocrisy
and fana,acism, and all the wckedness bound
up n them. These are the blessings. which
the exposure Of your coat has showered upor
our land and the man who has brought it 1,
light, who diyerts from their lawful ch,nne
the religious feelings of suffering. credulous
and ignorant mu,itude--who gives his energie
to the cause of superstition and vice-wh,
wings goods and money from a poor hun