Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-10-03
Correspondence Of the HEEALD.)
CHURCHES OF POWER in EUROPE
The Russian, Lutheran, Catholic aud Epis-
copal Churches Since the Wharf.-The
New Era of Church Party Power
old Churches to Do or Die.


DO without any church assistance
in carrying on the affairs of state, ii
is difficult TO understand how affairs
are managed in Europe whore the
chuTch is a part of the political sys-
tenn in ali the governments.
In Russia The Greek church is a
part of the political system, and as
the Russians are not troubled with
schisms, but little is ever known
abroad as to the Greek church. In
Germany it is understood the nation
al church is Lutheran, yet having
bat little of the faith of Lutherano
ism as it was at the Reformation.
The universities have demoralized
the old religion by liberal contribu-
tons of Rationalism, and the doct-
rines of Strauss, And some of the
universities are avowedly intidel.
La the Catholic parts Of Germany,
and also Austria, the Catholic faith
has also been very largely modified
by the schools and universities, and
especially arrayed against the ultra
moutainism ofthe party Of the Sylla>
bus. But recently the Austrian gov
eminent has been veering toward
independency of the Roman See, and
has certainly refused to allow the
Syllabus to be legally proclaimed as
the faith of Catholics in Austria.
In Sweden, Norway, and the North
where the Teutons and Saxons hold
sway q kind Of Lutheranism pre-
walls, and in Holland the Calvinsts
and other forms OF religion govern.
Switzerland is divided between
Lutheranism. Catholicism and Calvin
ism. 1t is well understood the late
war between Franco and Germany,
so completely changed the religious
hopes and prospects that no party
has any solid footing. The war
emancipaLed those who desired free
dom, and left in church bondage on
ly those who preferred to serve. But
it so happened as in Italy and
France, also in Austria, that great
numbers of people and whole prov.
inces preferred their liberty to have
ust as much or little religion as
they pleased, and to worship accor-
ding to any form or no form as they
liked.
In such countries the people are
but nominally Catholic, and hardly
profess anything Spain is but little
sounder than france and Austria
and most parts of Italy, especially
Rome, is even worse off than non
Catholic, being flied for organized
treason within the church toward
the church, as a household organic
ed for it's own suppression. 1t is
unfortunate to the church, to the
church party OF these countries, that
wherever intelligence exists, in per-
sons or communities. there exists
open or secret hostility to the church
And such intelligent parts are thor>
oughly organized for action at any
moment against the uitra-montain
party. The several governments
in political power 10 France, Austria,
Italy and Spain fraternize moro or
less with these antipodes to the
church. especially since tho war aud
meeting Of the Ecumencal Council
the latter by its action having ef
fected permanent division line be-
tween the intelligent and ignorant
parts of tho church. The war com
ing on about the same time, and the
party Of the church under Napoleon
having lost the day, the opportuni-
ty was thereby offered for all such
as had long desired their liberty to
declare their independence. The
first fruit was Italian unity and loss
Of the Pope's temporal power; next,
Austrian stubbornness, and lastly
the appointment of an Archbishop OF
Paris who had led the opposition to
the Syllabus in the Ecumenic Coun-
Gil. The last mentioned event it is
well understood bears immense mean
ing, as it follows that France is to be
reorganized upon a progressive and
liberal Catholic basis, with provis>
ions for the education Of the masses
andla tolerancy of all religions. Spain
ia self willed to follow France, and
nobody hopes for any reaction in It.
ally and Austria.
The new liberal party Of Catholics
in Europe hopes to clear the church
of Jesuit rule, which has to answer
for the action Of the present Pope,
and for the Ecumenic Council and
Syllabus. Failing in this it cannot
fail to organize independent of the
Jesuits and of Rome. The Pope
meanwhile is communicating the
leaders, of opposition, in view of their
disorganization, the effect of which
may be to either force a compromise
or general separation, and one or
the other must follow at an early
day.
In America thcre are no such di>
visions in the Catholic churches. be-
cause the Jesuits are in almost uni
versal control. Leaving aside relig-
ious party spirit, which too much
governs men in reporting upon such
matters, we feel confident that the
Protestant world ought to deplore
the present divisions and dissentions
among the Catholics of Europe.
The effect cannot fail to be equally
hurtful to Professionalism. The Catho-
lie divisions and bitter wranglinp
presently to stop at no reasonable
bounds, must not only contribute
largely to open Infdclity, but must
so far confirm and establish the Prot
estant powers as to put them above
competition with Romanism-in
which case Professionalism must soon
become as demoralized as CathoIi
cism By keeping up the Catholic
unity and power, that church would
naturally remain the great antagon-
ism for Professionalism to combat
Divide and weaken Romanism and
Professionalism must be without a COM
petitor, then also become usurper
and weak body among the intelli-
gent masses. There is much in hav-
ing strong objective point that a
positive party may keep well organ