Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-23
DR.. DOllinger.


Dollinger, who is famous for his opposi-
ton to the infallibility dogma, and from
having suffered communication at the
hand of the Pope. The correspondent
writes as follows:
The home of DR.. Dollinger is singularly
serene, and all that is connected with II,
from the servant who takes your card up,
10 the eXcommunicated Provost himself.
You feel that you are breathing the air OF
scholarship and celibacy from the moment
you enter the Professors little parlor,
which adjoins his study, for all the little
ornaments betraying feminine presence
are lacking. For reception parlor 1t Is
Interestingly plain for in Professor Dol
linger's house large library of books has
taken up every available place, and, it Is
said, is to him wife, children and all. The
little room has one bookcase filled with
well-bOund books, pictures of scenery
and of saints, while over all is an air oi
comfort. The adjoining room is DR.. Dol
linger's library, containing several thou
said volumes, in all languages and of all
ages, while S i'll further on is his sleeping
apartment, which, too, has had to make
loom for several hundreds of volumes.
[ had not been seated over two minutes
when DR.. Dollinger entered from his study,
and without uttering a word grasped my
hand and led me to a seat on the sofa,
while he took chair close by. Then,
first, did he allow me to explain my COM
ing. The aged Doctor has a wonderfully
winning smile, that plays constantly over
his features. In statue he isslightly made,
of medium height. Hislanguage, even in
English, is carefully and well selected.
He never pauses for words, and when he
speaks in German easily becomes eloquent.
Fortunately [ addressed him in English,
occording to Professor Friedrich's hint,
and think this language made him freer to
me than he would have been otherwise.
During the whole of a long conversation
he never uttered German word, until,
unfortunately for my ease, Professor Hue
Der stepped in and addressed me IN Ger
man, language which Professor DOlllnger
then insisted on using, as the vehicle or
his thoughts.
Professor Dollinger," l said, 81 feel
that 1 am intruding upon time that be-
longs to a more valuable subject; but, as
you will have seen by myca d, L am here
on the mission of a correspondent. deslrOuS
of getting information on this great move
ment, and, if possible, a few words from
your own lips on the present position and
| future of this agitation"
I almost think DR.. DOllinger was glad to
unburden himself on one subject, and that
WAS 10 uO away WIFI JllC lOCSt w IlCl I1C
| thought prevailed in America that the
anti-infallibilists wished to form a sect
apart from the great Catholic Church. AL
most without warning, and before had
thought of pen and paper, he launched into
a valuable exposition and comparison OF
affairs. Fearing to lose his valuable words,
and knowing well that memory would
avail lite to recall them, [ ventured to in
terrupt him and to explain to him that,
should | trust to my recollection, L should
be liable to give his words wrong or not at
all, asking the privilege of taking down
the words as he uttered them. Dr. Dol
| linger was evidently a little taken aback
at the idea, but, seeing my point, and pen
! Gil and paper ready, he aSSented, though
| his flow of ideas had evidently received
shock from which it took some time to re-
cover. The following is verbatim:
/" 1t is an erroneous idea that we wish to
| found a new sect in the Roman Catholic
| Church. 1t is not the intention Of those
who are engaged in this movement to bring
about separation. Their intention is
simply to remain where they were to
claim all their rights as members Of the
Church in which they are born and edu-
Gated. The real state of things is this: The
bishops try all they can to drive the oppO-
nents of the Vatican DEGREES to separa-
ton, by ecclesiastical censures, by excom-
municatiOns or suspensions. Of course it
would be more advantageous to the cause
of utramontanism if the whole movement
could be reduced to the narrow limits of
mere new sect or denomination. That is
their simple calculation. The opponents
priests and laymen-aFe determined to
remain where they are, and only to do
what is allowed according to Church prin-
cipleS but in cases Of necesSitY-aS, for
instance, the administration of sacraments
as well as in the celebration Of funerals
as in the case of Professor Zenger, it is a
necessity for them to help themselves by
performing the offices which are refused
by the parish priests; but in no way is
there a tendency to separation. This is
the first mistake which we wish to have
removed. And now you may ask he
! anything you like about the movement Ill
Germany"
I left DR.. Dollinger's presence i'm
pressed with the idea that the movement
which bears his name has life and vitality
| in it that the men at the head of it are
| firm and conscientious in their work, and
| that they must ultimately win. For they
are carrying on battle against all that is
| opposed to the advancement and freedom
| of our age; they have with them the bulk
of the intellect and standing of Bavaria and
| do not fear. They intend to carry relig-
| ion and science and culture into districts
hitherto enveloped in medieval darkness
in Bavaria and to do away with men and
superstitions that do not belong to any
country of the German empire. Protest
antism will not win by the movement,
but Catholism will take on a new ana
purified form that all confessions can aa-
mire. Let us hope, with the aged Dol
| linger, that the movementmay bring ABOUT
l the long expected confessional reconcllIa-
| tiOn and the er. of religious peace and de-
velopment dawn.