The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-13
The Swiss.
THEIR CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

Dr Hollands Lausanne correspondents Springfield Re-
pub lean
Tie church In Switzerland is mainly a national
affair. IL is not so much associated with the State
as IL Is @ department of the State. church
that carries State upon its back, carries corpse.
A State that carries church. soils its garments
always by trailing them through the slime of
parry corruptions and party intrigues. Nsverthe.
less there have been. and is, some virtue In this
oh,rch. When in 1915 the State undertook to
ma the church its tool and to publish It's politi.
cslpronunciamentos from the pulpits of the coun.
try, there were not lacking men who rebelled-
men who withdrew from the degrading service
of pulpit which was claimed as q part of the
governmental machinery.
The revolution of 1876 gave the power into the
bsnds of better men and left the protesting Pro.
testaDts free TO form new bodies. So we have
new " The Free Church of Switzerland as well
as the National Church. IL has not extended far
Indeed, my impression is that il does not exist be.
yODo the boundaries of the Clanton of Vaud and
that it only thrives in the larger towns. There
are two chapes 10 Lausanne; and the crowd
that packs :nese full every Sunday presents a
strange contrast to the thin audiences which at
tend the national churches Ihave gone into them
occasionally, and have been much Impressed with
the fervor Of their preachers, and the air of deep
interest and solemnity that the audiences
The dissenting or reSusant clergymen are recog.
nized as the purest, most jealous aud most
thoroughly spiritual minded In the church, and
the people who are In earnest flock TO them for
church Of America can have none but hearty
good wishes for the prosperity Of the Free
Church Of Switzerland.
There are two services held here every Sunday
in the English language. The Church of England,
though varying very widely in its forms of wor-
ship from the national Swiss Church. is, by its
own political associations, 10 sympathy with It,
So. on sunday mornings, the national church of
Ouchy throws open It's doors TO an English con-
gregation, and IN the evening the St. Francois
81 Ian itah
chaplain dictates at both, and the same congre-
cation hears him preach, as the two chapels are
only half mile apart. As many as three hun
bred persons often attend his minstraiiOns,
mainly. of course, English people from the ho-
tells and clearinghouse Of the city and vicinity
Then the Free Church of Scotland main tains
worship in one Of the chspels Of the Free Church
of Switzerland. or rather, has maintained il since
i have been here, though 1t now threatens 10
abandon the station. Beng endowed with rather
n free dspositien myself, attend the Scotch ser
vice. OF course.
AT this time we are enjoying rare treat in the
preaching Of an Americana Rev. Mr.. Bartlett,
who came here from Concord. N. H, but whose
professional life has mainly been spent in New
Orleans. He reminds me much OF Rev. Mr.. Par
ker of Hartford. He is fine speaker, an elO-
quent writer, and good man. / regret TO say
that he il here for his health and that il does not
mend rapidly enough to satisfy himself and his
friends. do not expect to hear any more such
preaching as be gives us till return to America.
To tell you the truth, am learning here new
respect for the American pulpit-Ihe best, as /
very believe, that the world knows The Scotch
are doubtless very sound, bat must say that
they are very heavy also. They are trying TO
keep Mr.. Bartlett here by voluntary subscriptions
on the spot.
There are numerous schools in Lausanne.
mainly supported by foreigners. This is the case
in many OF the larger towns in Switzerland.
Englisb, American and German people send their
children here to learn French. One thing how
ever lie painfully true-Switzerlsud is no longer
cheap place for board or education. Tia intro
6uction OF railroads and the influx of foreigners
have raised the price of Zeal estate ia all direc
tons, snd can board and educate my children
cheaper in Springfield to-day than can ia Switz.
eTland. 1t takes $500 francs year for board aud
Instruction in Lausanne boarding school fer