The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-25
BISMARCK AND THE BISHOPS,


Catholic Bishops in Conference at Fulda-vIo.
lntion Of Their Rights by Bismarck-Ad.
dresses Of Bishops Krementz md Won Kettle
lsr-Thoy All Determine Appeal to the
Reichstag and the Emperor william.
FULDA, Sept. 8, 1871.
The North German Bishops have closed their con.
ference. Bishop Won Ketteler, OF Mayence left last
night; several Of the prelates have departed this
forenoon, and the rest Will decamp In the evening.
In regard to the principal business transacted by
the reverend gentlemen my surmises were correct.
Inasmuch as the proceedings concerned North Ger
many only-viz., the Berlin gOvernment-n0 invita-.
ton was given to the Bavaran bishops, nor to
the two Bishops OF Alsace and Lorraine, and not
even to Bishop Ledochowsky. OF Gnesen and Posen
who, though loyal TO the government, considers him.
self OF the Polish rather than Of German nation
atty. Bishop Won Ketteler, OF Mayence, who does
not properly belong to North Germany, but to Hesse
Darmstadt came as the schoolmate and Intimate
friend Of Bishop Melchers, Of Cologne, but also as
THE ACKNOWLEDGED LEADER OF THE ULTRAMoN-
TAME PARTY
In the German Reichstag lie is certainly the best
prosecuting attorney who could have been selected
to bring heavy charges against Bismarck and his
clumsy instrument, Herr Won Mdher, and to lay
bare with great vgor VIII t the Catholics conceive
high-handed and wantOn violation OF their rights.
The names Of the bishops present Archbishop
Paulus Melchers, OF Cologne; Prince Bishop DIR.
Heinrich Forster, OF Breslau; Bishop Peter Joseph,
OF Lienburg; Bishop with. Emanuel Won Ketteler,
OF Mayence; Bishop DR.. Conrad Martin, OF Pader.
BORN Bishop Martin Eberhard, OF Treves; Bishop
Philip Krementz Of Ermeand; Bishop Ad. Won
Nance anowsky, OF the Prussian Army; Bishop
Daniel W. Sommerwerk, Of Hidesheim; Bishop
Johann Bernhard, OF Munster; Substitute Capitular
Of PeplD, Of Culon, and Bishop Christopher Floren-
tine Won Koett, Of Fulda Owing to the fact that
fhn Mir fhn
the well-kno wn case Of
THE BRAUNsBERG COLLEGE,
1t dev0lved upon Bishop RrementZ within whose
diocese Of Ermeland the said college Is situated, to
lay before the Assembly the religious points OF the
case, while Bishop Won Ketteler consented to ex-
pound its political bearing. The former launched
out by showing the necessity which compelled
HIM to excommunicate the refractory and anti
nfallibillst priest DR.. Wollmann, Of Braunsberg
College, who had become cause Of danger to
faithful members and to the welfare Of the whole
flock for which he, the Bishop, was responsible.
Tho decree Of Muller OF June 49, which attempts
to force Catholic scholars to either attend the rel
gious lessons OF Dr. Wollmann or leave the college
altogether, Is an outrage against the rightful au-
thorites OF the Church. lie, the Bishop, had de.
clared the teachings Of wolmann to be non Catholic
ana no worldly government had any right to inter-
fere with this decision. the said decree OF the
against the acknowledged and guaranteed rights OF
the Catholic Church I'm Prussia During previous
administrations the independence OF the Church in
all matters OF faith was fully vouohsaied, and he
ned In his hands the COPY Of O government decree
OF April ID, 1s49 which boasts OF the decacy OBJ
served towards the Church In the following words-
''The administration has never claimed the privilege
OF aorogating any episcopal decision concerning the
control or discipline rghtfuly exercised by the
Church, or even, as court OF appeal msnded to
review any such decision"
THE MULLER DECREE
had overrued him the Bishop) and his prerogatve,
and attempted 10 nuify Church authority. Nun !
lers deience-that Wollmann Is still teaching pre-. |
ciscly the same that with the consent OF the Church
he taught previous to July 49, 1870 and that there
fore, he must not be removed-is worthless because
Wolmann mas always taught, and Is by his oath COM
PEELED to teach that every Catholic order to be
the decisions Of general council Though an order |
has lately been given by the Department of Public
instruction that Wollmann should omit i'm his teach
ings certain dogmatical points, 1t makes the case |
no better, as such involuntary abstinence on the |
part OF the teacher In presence Of his scholars Is
tantamount to constant protest against his Qhe |
Blshop's rightful authority. lie was compelled 10
TO an accommodated teacher, they would |
thereby expose themselves and their chill
dren to the severest penalties Of the Church.
The Bishop wound up by stigmatizing
the Muhler decree as q violation or the existing
laws an attack upon the dearest rights OF Catholics
and the first step upon an inclined plane leading to
destruction. Our Informant tells us that although
the facts OF the case fully known to the members
OF the conclave the succinct statement of them by
Bishop kremcnL produced considerable excitement
and many eXclanatlOns such as "Fie, for shame ~
Az The subsequent sitting HsbOO Kettelsr prVpQsed