The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-27
THE D0LLINGER CATHOLICS.
Meeting of Old Catholic Leaders in
Heidelberg.
Preparations for Future Mass Meetings-The
New Constitution Dollinger's Election as
Rector-Louis XIV. and the Pops-Dis-
cussing Theology Among the Ruins
of Heidelberg- Schloss-Gene-
raj News of the Movement.

HEIDELBURG, August 7, 1871.
Some time ago the Munich Committee of Catholic
Action announced that meeting OF the leaders OF
the liberal Catholics would be held in Heideburg on
the 5h and 9th ofAugust in order to take measures
preparatory the great liberal Catholic mass meet
ings to be held in the Munich Crystal Palace from
the 22d to the oath OF September, when the organ
ization and constitution OF the New Church will be
laid before the Catholics Of Germany for acceptance
The meeting took place announced, and at q
quarter before ten O'Clock this mOfnng the last of
the remaining delegates left the city. Altogether
about forty delegates attended from Bavaria, Prus
STA, Austria and Switzerland, including Professor
Huber OF Mum Oh, swho, In The absence Of Drs. D0n
ger and Friedrlchs represented the Munich Commit
tee OF Action. Among the delegates present noticed
the now celebrated eXcommuncated pastor
Renftle, of Merng, the only excommunicated priest
in Bavaria: who still performs his functions spite
of the ecclesiastical ban; Professor Renkenz,
OF Breslau; Pastor Auton, OF Vienna; Professor
Michaelis OF Braunsberg he anti-infalibility lee.
turer, who has very narrowly escaped being stoned
to death by mobs in the Rhine province>, besides
four delegates from Switzerland.
THE MEETINGS
held here have been strlcly private, and, as an
nounced, were mainly to prepare the way for the
grand September three days meetings in Munich.
The Munich Committee Of Action, cooperating with
the branches in Cologne Vienna and Switzerland,
will leave stone unturned in urging the attend
ance of the German and foreign Catholics
during these three days. After the discussions on
the organization for the coming Munich Congress
It was resolved that the latter should tall into meet
ings for discussion (pr1vae) and public assemblies.
In the latter the questions relating to the New
Church Tor. rather. Old Church, for the Dollinger
Catholics call themselves
TIE GOLD CATHOLICS"
that ls, the Catholics OF the pre-infability era,
will be discussed, and addresses will be de-
livered by eminent orators and clericals As
the great hall Of the Crystal Palace Is capa-
BILE Of seating twenty thousand persons the
meetings promise to be OF extraordinary character
and interest Delegates will be present from the
liberal Catholics Of Austria, Switzerland. Hungary,
Italy, Prussia, and foreign guests from England,
France, Italy and America are expected ana Will be
warmly welcomed. In these meetings the reforma-
tory views now being developed BY the leaders will
take on form and substance.
NEW ''DECLARArIoN"
to the Catholics Of Germany will be issued and the
Catholics OF various lands Will be asked to attach
themselves to the great movement In regard to
the discussions in the Heidelberg Assembly the
addresses OF Pastor Auton, of Vienna and Keller of
Aarau, made great impression. Anton said that
the Austrian Catholics intended to have thorough
reform in Church matters the new movement is
there constantly on the increase, and Old Catholic
communities will shortly be constituted. Keller
spoke Of the condition Of Catholic affairs in Swtzer.
land and gave expression TO the reformatory wishes
Of the Swiss Catholics. His report had very en-
couraging effect upon the Assembly. All the speak.
ers were clear on one polnt-namely, the necessity
OF bringing about vast reforms In the Church. The
greatest hopes are based on the Munich assemblies
in september The new organization aud cOnstltu-
ton of the sold Catholic Church." was told
by Professor Huber, were discussed, but he did not
feel justified In making any part Of this discussion
public.
1t was great disappointment to the people of
Heidelberg that Professor
DoLLINGER DID NOT ATTEND THE MEETING.
AS / entered the city on Sunday morning and saw
the houses covered with flags and the bookstore
windows filed with photographs OF the new re-
former thought all this was in honor OF him until
was reminded that 1t was the anniversary day OF
the victory of Woerth. Professor D0linger is now
engaged on his large work already announced, and
on the Church constitution to be laid before the
Munich Congress. The prosecutions OF English and
other tourists wishing to see the new 'lionn long
ago made his city residence too hot Tor him. and he
is now enjoying some privacy at the Villa Fischer
haus, at Tutzing, on Lake Staruberg, near Munich.
nected with Dr. Dollinger's new residence there,
and 1t may be narrated here. On the slst Of July
1t was DR.. D1llinger's name-day Qgnauus),
and he was greatly surprised and pleased
at an ovation prepared IN his honor by
the Inhabitants OF the village. On the
evening OF the SOth the people living around the
lake could large "nre Of Joy' pickering on the
top OF Johannisberg, southwark OF Tutzing. This
was for Dr. D1nger. and the peasants OF the neigh
A
later brilliantly Illuminated yacht appeared in the
lake in front OF the D6lnger villa; 1t bore trans
parency with the simple inscription, 'To DR.. Won
DUninger on the festival Of his nameday." AS the
venerable Doctor appeared upon the balcony cap
was fired: after which the ship retired and the
mountain fire was extingushed. This quiet SIM
pliclty made the ovation impressive. Dr. Friedrichs
is still In MUNICH but too much engaged to leave at
present. Professor Huber, however, well repre-.
sented his TWO associates; but he Is evidently
ing himself out with hard work and deep thinking.
He speaks but little himself, and he goes about con-
stantly buried In thought
AMONG THE DELEGATES ON AN EXCURSION.
Indirectly am indebted to DR.. Huber for all the
information gained of the Heidelberg meeting.
lie kindly invited me to accompany the delegates
on an excursion to the OF Heidelberg Castle,
freely introducing ne TO the more important men,
bers. The route was by rail to SchierbacK, few
miles up the valley OF the Neckar, then walk over
hin and dale via the Wolisbrunnen and Its famous
trout ponds to the ruins. 1t was my intention to
discuss theological subjects but must say tnat tne
ural beauties OF the place to allow themselves 10
be entrapped into discussions on dogmas Acct.
w
delegate, who, far more open hearted than the rest
impaired TO me some important points relating TO
the discussions OF the Assembly. ] will not men,
ton his name. From him gathered, besides some
interesting Information on Catholic matters IN Switz-
erland, the following
in the speech Of Pastor AutOn OF Vienna one OF the
most practical members present, found general ap-
proval, and will doubtless be accepted into the new
constitution Separation OF the Church from the
State in all political relatiOns participation OF the
laity IN the affairs OF the Church and In the manage
ment OF the Chur funds: free election OF the bsh-
OPS, and the election OF the pastors by the c0mmu-
mites. II Is the intention OF the old Catholics that
the Church shall be thoroughly purified OF the super.
sttious ougrowths Of late centuries. The basis OF
the new constitution will emDOdy those ecclesiasti
cal reforms wnicn striven for at the Council OF
Constance Q4l4 to 1i1s), and adopt In case the prf
macy Is retained the principle at that time renewed,
that General Council was higher than the rope.
IN REGARD TO THE NATTER OF TIE PRIVACY
all the delegates, with the exception OF Professor
Michaeis, were OF the decided opinion that tney
wonid have TO cut loose from Rome, since II IS I'M
posslbe to bring about q reconciliation. PROFESSOR
Michaeis. o very important lecturer and at one
time strongly ultramOntane, declared, however mat
in case the prlmacy was reeCted ne BnOulu Tree