New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-21
CHURcH AND STATE IN GERMANY.

CHURCH AND SIdIE IN GEnAhNI.
Although the enthusiasts who impulsively
conferred on DR.. Won D0llinger the title of
"the modern Luther" had little ground for
their exaggeratiOn, there LIS an inevitable ten
dency to compare tho present movement In
Germany with the greater Reformation. Ono
analogy may easily be found between the
modern theological war and its wOrld-stirring
predecessor but this point of likeness Is
principally useful, not for prophecy as to the
result, but az showing the opposite tendency
Of the worlds thought now to what it was
when Luther nailed his theses on the chapel
door of Wittenberg Each of these rebelliOns,
though begun within the confines OF the
Roman Catholic Church, has brought about
two revOutiOns-one religious, in the Church
itself; one political in the relations of Church
and State. In the days of the Reformation
mems minds turned first to tho Church
question; all seemed an outgrowth of that,
and it was left to history to find that the
political and social revolution was as mighty
as the religious In our own days the thinkers
turn from the schisms of the Catholic ecclesi
astics, from questions of dogma within the
Church, to ask what have been and will be
the political and social effects of the move
ment in Germany-the new rebellion of DIR.
Won DSllnger and the men who have pleaded
his cause better than he.
In Prussia, where the quick eye of Prince
Bismarck has for years seen trouble in the
unsettled relations of Church and State, the
results hLve been quick to appear, and full of
import. Since 1871, when Frederick William
w. sought to conciliate the Catholic clergy by
concession, tho Catholics had bad q separate
board or section in the Department of Public
Worship in Prussia. This was dissolved by
Cabinet order early In last July. The Govern
ment let it be understood that this WAS done
because the separate board was no longer
necessary !" that if " its tasks" had been fn-
ished sooner it would have been earlier dis
solved in accordance with a provision against
it in the Constitution; but 1t was sufficiently
patent that the Ministry found in the popular
support of the D0llinger revolution the best
opportunity possible for Kidding themselves of
what, in the language Of correspondent Of
the Weser Zeitwng, would have been On
" obstacle in the way of further measures
(which the Government proposes to adopt
with respect to the Roman party" The two
separate sections, Protestant and Catholic,
have been set aside, that the State may now
be free in its dealings with either Church.
But this plain indication Of the resolve to
seize the moment of the religious crisis for the
complete separation of Church and State, was
followed by official acts and words still more
clear and unmistakable. DR.. Kremeuz, the
Bishop of Ermeland, saw fit to pronounce
sentence of accommodation against DR..
Wollman, q Government teacher, and interfere
with the discharge of his official duties. Herr
Won Miihler, the Minister of Public Education,
refused to permit this and, after short and
sharp correspondence with the Bishop, the
Minister wrote decisive and pointed letter,
expressing the views Of the Government and
containing the following definite declarations
of policy "In his (Wollmsn'sl character Of
I" State official he stands under the disci-
culinary power of the State alone. His con-
"duct as an official is entirely free from re-
"proaeh. The theological punishments which
"your L0rdship has seen At to decree against
chin contain no independent reason for an
" Interference of the State. For the
Estate, DR.. Wollman is just as much a mem
"ber of the Catholic Church after the excom-
" munication a. before it," .s'''.
A further indication of this firm stand
against episcopal interference soon followed
The accommodated priest Kaminski was
given, by official decree, permission to con-
tinue the use of the church In KattOwitz for
his services. These and similar words and
acts aroused the Roman Catholic clergy and
the Ultramontane press. But the spirit of re-
form was already IN arms The University of
Munich elected Dr. Won DGllinger it's rector,
and Friedrich, Zlttel, and others of the re-
formers senators Of the University. The
month Of July closed with the two parties
fairly arrayed against each other. Throughout
the movement the Bavarian Government had
pursued the same course as that followed by
Prussia.
The contest waxed hot within the confines
of the Church throughout the month of Au-
gust, bat the Governments looked quietly on,
never interfering cave when the conflict
touched the rights Of tho State, and then act
ing with the same unmistakable 6mnesa as
before. The German Bishops, defendeH of
the dogma OF Papal Infallibility, met at
last at Fulda; their meeting was the
first really organized and authoritative
movement of their party since the eaflier
stages Of the D6llinger controversy. But the
conclaye Of the Bishops only allowed IN Its
turn, by ito concessions, the giant force of
public opinion. The Episcopal Congresa
would not, 1t Is true, bate q jot OF its sdher-
ence to the new. dogma, or hold the "Old
Catholics to be more than heretics outside
the pale Of the Church but It yielded to the
popular voice in the matter Of forms Of yor-
ship, sbolishing the daily morning service,
end naAiss changes wAish would have alec
triHed the devout Catholics 81 q century be.
fore. Savagely enough, however, did they fAll
upon Herr von Muller, making him the b4De-
goat Of the Government they. were powerlsm