The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-18
BOHEMIA.
The Catholic Movement Towards Church
Independencc-0bject and Aim or the
Peopie-Au Outdoor Demonstration.

The Catholic Movement Towards Church
Independencc-0bject and Aim OF the
People-An Outdoor Demonstration.
PRAGUE, Oct. l, 1869.
meeting has just been held in the interior OF
Bohemia, which, considering the condition OF tho
religious question In Europe at the present time, IL
full OF significance. At Malin, small village near
Kutna Hora, or Nuremberg as the Germans call it,
900 people assembled and held OF those great
outdoor meetings for which Bohemia is so famous.
This meeting was held ostensbly under the
auspices OF laymen, but some OF the prime movers
in ft were priests, as have been informed by one
OF the authors Of the resolutions q translation
OF which from the Bohemian language / append
to this letter. After the circular OF the
Fulda bishops and the letter of the Partisan
Monk Hyaclnthe. this meeting which Is, as am In.
formed but the beginning OF an important move
ment cannot but be considered of the irst mpor.
lance. The declaration OF the Fulda bishops, though
coucned In the most cautious language. Is nothing
more nor less than vigorous protest % the
"paronsr OF the Church against the usurpations OF
centralized despotism. In form IL Is an assurance
to the world that nothing will be done at Rome con.
trary to the fundamental principles both OF Chris
tanity and modern cvllzation In substance 1t Is
attempt to warn Rome OF the perils OF going too far
The Fulda bishops, however, say nothing positive
In regard to the real condition and wants OF the
Church Moreover, though they are opposed to the
providing means for preventing these usurpa-
tions aud, what Is attn more important,
and Is, in TACT, the main principle, they
leave out OF consideration both the lower
clergy and the entire body OF laymen. The opposition
OF bishops has hitherto been p0weress against the
compact organization OF power OF Rome. With the
present government OF the Church. bishops have no
power to fall back upon, simply because they DO not
depend IN any degree upon the laity. Tho conse.
quence ID that as Rome gives them power and slg-
ntncance they will not be likely to put themselves
In opposition to her. Even II they did the oppos.
t0n would be that or an oligarchy against central.
check to uitramontanism Is the great necessity Of
the day in the Catholic Church few thinking men
can Doubt One poser, however. can only be
checked by another. Aud II there Is any pos.
sibty OF remedying the evils OF beuro.
cracy and Capitalization In the governmens
by giving the lower clergy and the laty
the means OF exerttng their due influence, and
thereby restoring the more popular form OF govern
ment which was prevalent everywhere In the Chris.
tan world before the feudal ages and which Is SILL
preserved Ia the churches OF the East TO greater or
q lesser degree: and the Bohemian people as repre-
scented IA THIS meeting, demand that they have q
proper share In tho government OF the Church, and
that the language OF the people he used In oil cere
monies OF religion. They hope that when religion
becomes every mans affair tue indtnerentsm OF the
present day win disappear. The following transla-
ton gives the Substance OF tho deliberations Of the
meeting:--
of resonY docs this evil demand ibs aeo.ion Of our
peopss What 10 BE- done for tie removf Indifference
10 religion sxiss
ceremonies,
seo0nd-Bsosuss religious nsrscsiou too mechanical.