The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-05-07
The Case Of Dr.. Pichlef.

DR.. Pichler, Professor of Theology in
the University of Munich, belonged to the
class of ultra-liberal priests and writer's.
A man of varied knowledge, but wanting
in critical spirit, and above all Of little
faith, he allowed himself to be dragged
along by the anti Roman current in which
severaLof his colleagues were navigating;
some of whom, like Froschamner, have
long ago made shipwreck, whilst others,
such as Dollinger and Friedrich, are still
being. driven hisher and tliither upon its
turbid waters. He published several
works, all of them hostile to the Church,
aud all of them registered in that horrible
book, entitled "The Index" In his "The-
ology of Leibnitz" he makes the great
philosopher express himself after fashion
he could never have dreamt of, 80 that be-
meath the pen of Pichler he becomes ra-
tionalist, an unbeliever; and, above all, he
makes the man, who in Ills Theodicea"
wrote thinQa worthy of a saint, appear
auder the guise of a proud anti Catholic.
In his History Of the Separation Of tho
he lays all the blame on the Popes, and
looks upon the Patriarchs apd mperors of
ConstantnnpIe "a being always in the
right. In his small work, e-.tted cob
stacles to, and Fundamental Cond, n,s
a thorough Reform ofthe Catholic Church,"
he acts like one who, wishing to Improve
house, begins to destroy it, and with
courage worthy of n better cause, proposes
species of democratic government to %
| substituted for that established by Christ.
His writings, and especially that on the
Oriental Schism, gave pleasure at refers
burg, and, in consequences, he received an
| invitation from the Imperial Court OF Rus
STA, to betake himself thither as Librarian,
with a splendid stipend. Tie Professor
forgot many things, accepted the invita-
| ton was constituted Head Librarian, ana
presented with eagles, crosses and roubfes:
| At last, towards the end of the month OF
January In the crrrent year, empty spaces
were discovered here and there IN the I'M
perial Library, Here book was deficient,
there a codex was wanting, and the con-
| tents of the book shelves and bookcase
were in growing contradiction with the
catalogue. The Director-in-Chief OF the
Library, NJ. Dojanow, began to think the
matter over, and ended by comprehendlng
that, when something is not where itoughs
to be, some one must have taken 1t away.
He, therefore, gave orders that no one
should set foot in the library with paietots,
fur-coats or mantes. Professor Pichler,
however, requested and obtained an ex-
emption from the rule for himself on &C
count of his tendency to rheumGtisn and
one day, towards the middle of March, he
went quietly out, enveloped in his wrapper,
and requested the porter to give him his
fur coat. The porter, in helping him on
with it, felt underneath the pafetot q
strange kind eff hardness, which could not
possibly be flesh or even human oones, anu
with truly Russian frankness and cour-
age, he suddenly put his hand under the
paletot and drew out magnificent book,
which had been snugly concealed between
the Professor's shoulders and their cover
At the sight of it the Professor became be-
wildered, and, being taken before the Di-
rector, candidiy confessed that he had been
the author of the numerous thefts that had
taken place. In fact, there were found In
, his house no less than 6OO0 volumes, es.
teemed at the value of $4,000 roubies, and
precious manuscripts of the valne of Co.
600 roubIes, in all amounting to the sum Of
BOZ, 900 francs (9l2 ,0O0). Books and man
useripts were already placed in cases
+ addressed to Romel A legal process was
immediately instituted, but it was suppress
, sed by an Imperial order, which directed
that Pichler should be dismissed from hi
, office and taken to the frontier, which III
l was never more to overpass.