The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-09-06
FOREIGN ITEMS.

Free Church Of Switzerland The Rev. Dr. Bur-.
IN letter 10 the Presbyterian, says respecting the
Free Church of switzerland This has aided
materially IN giving 10 these commun ties the little
religious life which they possess. Yet the Free
Church, contrary TO what at first thought might be
supposed, is not he church of the people. 1t Is
the church Of the better classes The difference
presented By the appearance OF two congregations
one OF the National, the other of the Free
Church-StrlkeS the stranger at glance. la the
former the minister Is indeed, in a certaiU way
supported by the presence Of the magistrates in
the cOrner pewS which flank the pulpit. But apart
from these, the congregation Is almost wholly made
up from the class Of laboriug people, plainly yet
decently clad To the latter the appearance Is
that OF a select genteel, cultivated company.
The tact Is, that the movement OF separation
from the State was originally clerical rather than
a popular movement The conscientious clergy
reDounced their hvi0gs to escape the expressions
Of the State. IL required more piety, aud more
power of reflection, on the part of the people, than
the majority possessed, to induce them 70 follow
their pastors, especially when the responsibility Of
the pecuniary support OF the latter would need to
be directy met
Free Church is here an eCDeRSjUe Church
lt IS rather the State churches which are free to
the people. Ny proprietor, who attends the Ma
topal church has a short and. to him, conclusive
argument against disestabliShment It Is a bad
thing, Tor then the people will have TO pay; and
they viii not 20 20 church If they have to pay.
In recent efforts for diSestablishment, as in the
canton of Neuichatel, the opposition has come
mainly from the common people.
Condition Of the Papaoy-To the Uitramoutaue
claim that the Papacy has proved its recuperative
strength In the past lot only In the SchiSm of
Avign0n, the Lutheran revolt, the capacity of
Plus VI and Plus VII, and the troubles of lS4S,
the London Morning Post replies: There are
several important points by which the present
overthrow of the Papacy as distinguished from
any previous reverse OF defeat, Is UnqneSuOuably
marked. Plus X has lost his throne IN virtue
OF mOmentOuS national revolution, from which
the entire Italian people have come forth cOnSu
tuted for the FIRST time as nation, and the deStrUc
ton Of bis power Is the last sign and seal OF their
nationality. Whatever national feelings aud IN
terestS existed al the time OF the AvignOn SchiSm
combined 90 recall the Pope to Rome. Lor5
Macauiay has most Justly observed that the national
feelings and interests at the period OF the Lutheran
Reformation we're all enlisted on the side OF the
Popes authority. Now the case Is exactly the
reverse. Italians might in 1916 desire 70 see Ger
many heavily taxed m the shape OF lndugenceS 70
complete the building Of st. Peters. Italians
might then desire the continuance Of the Papal
dominion even Of a temporal lOrdship calculated 70
secure that eud aud to attract into Italian Golfer,
the wealth poured from the devoted Sees OOrth Of
the Alps. But at least nineteen among every
twenty Italians Of the present generation would now
view with uuieigned repugnance the restoration Of
an authority % be effected only by the breaking up
Of a few nobler temples than rose beneath the
hands Of Bramante and Michael AugelO-Of the
the temples of national security and Independence
This Is a point which the more enthusiastic par
tiSans Of the Papacy too apt to overlook, yet it
Is one by which the present crisis In the fortunes
of the Papacy Is completely and essentially dis
UnguiShed from any OF the former periods.
Ever Since Paris was Taken, the Government Of
NJ. Theirs has retained in custody he almost in
credible number Of 30 600 prisoners Of all ages and
Of both sexes They have in many instances been
~ like cattle. vilb Do sufficient provision for
6,a. scarcely even for