New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-12-03
Foreign Correspondence Of The Tribune
Glartes q. nlo6ern eermanp-
srA rorxc AFRICAN,
RELIGION


Ia nearly al nations OF Europe, there IS but one
popular form OF religion This Is that originally
adopted by the rulers winch o; course the people
were obliged To follow and which when once thus
established has continued for centuries uHatered N
form o. creed. In Germany however. the country
s divided bet gen two great sects. and as there IS
more religious liberty than formerly ew smaller
branches s-e ROW permitted 70 flourish The breach
made 6y Luther and his fellow. retorrners has divi
ded the whole country, with the exception OF Aus
tia nearly equally INTO Catholic and Protestant
since the firm establishment OF the latter faith, the
r7o parties have always existed on terms OF auIty
there has been little Of that fierce Gncharitable,
sectariaa warfare, which IS not yet extinct IN
America and England The have both been nearly
equally favored by the Governments ,whatevermsy
have been the proiesse religion OF the rulers
In some States, as Saxony and Baden. the Peo-
ple profess one religions belief and the Princes
another bnt there IS much mutual tolerauon and
although Church and STATE arc Intimately connect
ed any unfair advantage IS rarely taken. All the
German Governments recognize but Two sects ana
these have their support and protection. At their
expense TheoOgical ScIpinanes are Instituted and
Churches erected for BOTH and from their treasures
are paid the salaries OF Ministers and Priests These
are again collected from the people IN the torn OF
as itself All other religious societies are obliged
to support themselves and many Of them are even
prohibited from erecting Churches
The Protestants are again divided into two bodies
the Lutheran and German Reform No.with .
standing the little difference between their respec
tive creeds there has been much enmlty between
them and !, has only been within few years that
the latter were permitted to build churches IN some
cities believe their principles are essentially the
same as those Of the COngrecatonallsts AZ home -
There is also a small class called Pietsts who
somewhat resemble the Baptsts IN creed. They
are scattered m small bodies through the Northern
part Of Germany and have always been treated
with little liberation perhaps account of the
bloody sway they held over the city OF Munster. IN
the Seventeenth Century. under the government OF
pretended Prophet, who styled himself the King
of Zion They are not allowed TO erect churches and
they are in some places forbidden to bepuse accord
me- 90 their custom. 4 : law OF the Saxon Gov
eminent made this year II appears they are % be
treated with more rlgor than ever
The Jews constitute another religious body who
have had 10 bear all kind OF persecution nothing
but their convenience for replenishlng the exhaust
ed Golfers OF Princes has permitted them to ENJOY
any kind ofreligious liberty. They were formerly
obliged to inhabit particular quarter OF the city
which locked up At sunset and no one permit
ted Ingress or egrcss.
Bv ridiculous law OF Frankfort. which has only
b.en abolished within few years the number OF
marriages among the Jews restricted to thlr-
teen wear "a regulation productive OF very great
misery and immortality. The Jews have also dlvld-
cd into two sects called the Old and the New. The
latter have made many notifications and improve
mens IN the worship OF their fathers, which Is re
tanned by the former. The service. IN the new
churches, are no longer read in Hebrew. the wo-
men are admitted into the worship and the ceremo-
nles are rendered more simple
The Catholics as is well known. have lately had
another division, or rather a great body who call
70, dai hI-f
Ronce have fallen of from the Church and embrac
ed a creed little different from the Professionals
This movement which has been most probably 81
lenty and unconsciously preparing tor many years,
and which seized ON the exhibition OF the socalied
HOLY Tune. al rreves, proper occasion TO de
veop itself. has become powerful and permanent.
The opposition which at first thrown IN It's way
by the Catholics did not IN the least deter It. and
now the whole influence OF the German Govern
ments brought to bear against IT, seems but to IN
crease its progress Religious bodies have been
formed in nearly all the cities, and many instances
have occurred in which whole Catholic congrega
tons with their priests have gone 10 the new
faith In Silesia. particularly where the Reiorma
ton first arose the change has embraced the great
or part of the Catholic population. a general
meeting OF the adherents lately held al SUIT
CART il was endeayored to prevent Ronge from at
tending it, but sufficient show OF justice could not
be obtained II however. hindered from
speaking even remaining in some OF the South
ern German cities
AS most of the Governments have denied the new
proselytes any countenance whatever and the
Princes have leacued with another to put 1t
down il possible tmnst for the present stand by
its own strength But the numbers have swe!ied to
such mass and their leaders have all the prudence
and energy necessary 10 ensure success so that there
is ,.le doubt that they vii! ever recede. The en-
thusiasm with which the appearance OF the reform
was received by the People, IS favorable omen OF
its ultimate triumph. In Prussia they are forbid
den to either erect churches or 10 hold their meet
ines IN the churches of others. Some persons fear
that these restrictions may lead to violent out
break but II Is to be hoped that the time for rcii-
cious wars has gone by
The ProtcstantS also within short time, appear
to have become alarmed at the efforts which the
Catholics particularly the Jesuits who are perhaps
sensible OF their falling power. making. Not
satisfied as formerly with preventing any dlmInu-
ton OF their numbers. they are taking measures to
increase them as much rs possible. For this pur
pose u society called the GHstGv- 1d0Lp Associa-
ton has been formed, named after the great cham
pion Of Professionalism during the Thirty Years
War Tor the purpose % supporting ministers In dis
ticts where the number OF Professionals IS small 1t
is supported by voluntary contributions from all
parts ot Germany, and as the People are beginning
t. be Jealous Ia tins matter these are literally iur
nished. One great Cause OF enmIty has arisen from
the refusal OF Catholic Priests 10 grant absolutlon 10
women who are married 10 Protestant husbands.
but be struck with the marked difference between
those countries which have different cEeeds II IS
a. certain as their very boundaries. | have seen
this most striklnsv shown IN gong from SaSonv
into Austria and rom Canton in Switzerland
to another Within short distance from the Dor
der every thing IS changed the country looks less
cheerful and prosperous the roa,sides are lined
with heSlars. and >rnes and ;he counteii-
ances Of the people denote ignorance and superstl-
non. The wayside IMAGES are held IN sreat and
sincere reverence but il IS difficult 10 conceive how
they can give other than debasins ideas o! what
they represent There are pictures OF the TrnitE
which would seem 10 a stranger blasPhemous CORY
and shastly images OF the Saviour ana SAINTS and
the Virgin usually with seven dsggers sticking II
her bosom-all with horrible, distorted features, IN
which there sign o; either divinity or lnspUa
tion Indeed the uses to which their hottest images
are placed show tina, there things produce an effect
quite contrary 70 reverence In Austria which i
country wholly Catholic, 1t Is customary tor the
common people to have some SAINT painted on the
outside al their houses with bucket OF wafer 10
prevent IRE bIacksInths have the Saviour holding
horse shoe. and bakers the same figure sometimes
seated on pile OF bread Its 10 uncommon thing
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