New-York tribune., 1871-10-21
THE REFORMATION IN GERMANY.

TEMPT TO ORGANIZE THE PARTY OF REFORM
AS THE TRUE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
IFRoM THB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRlDUNEI
MUNICH, Sept. 30.-When DR.. Won DOllinger
published his famous declaration against the dogma Oh
Infaibity in March last he little thought that the re-
form movement he then called into life would ever gam
such great dimensions it has 1t is now currently
reported In Munich that even DGinger himself Is aston
sCd ut the magnitude and earnCsness Of the situation
The DOlinger Declaration has now been put into con-
crcto form in platform or confession OF laith just
adopted by q Congress of Old Catholic Delegates VINO
here the 22d and 23d inst and has been ratified
in two massmeetings held in the Crystal
Palace on the Esd and oath. Such reiig-
ious reformatory movement has, perhaps, never
been in Germany since tho days OF the Reforma
tion and assurcdy did such intellect stand at tne
head Of such movement in Germany as now Ihat Ine
TEMPORAL power Of the Pope threatened and earnestly
threatened in Germany, is undOubted and though tho
Old Catholics the DGlinger party call themselves
have not formally declared their secession from Rome'
this act can only be matter OF time. The German
Catholics led by this Munich Congress- arc aiming at the
establishment OF q German National Catholic Church,
with the Pope the spiritual head but not as supreme
temporal sovereign This at any rate was the original
intention as expressly stated by Dr. Won DOnngcr but
it is certain that DOllinger is left far in
the background.
Luther too, commenced his reformatory movement
with fear and trembling; he did not know at first how
far he would co. and circumstances over which he had
no control led TO the Reformation So 1t has been IN re-
gard to the D0llnger movement The principles which
D0nger advocated in his declaration found support In
the hearts Of Catholics and the oppositonto the dogma
Of Infaniby became stronger every successive day.
In Profs Huber and Friedrich, D0lngcr found men OF
intellectual standing and high religious culture ready to
carry ont his ideas in practical life; and to Them per-
haps more than to D0lnger himself s due the present
success Of the Old Catholic movement in Bavaria Both
have been working together in the publication OF anti
Infabiity writings and Prof Huber has been untirng
in organized opposition. Many practical men have
also done their part IN bringing the movement to full ex-
preston. In the village Of Mcrng in Bavaria, 1t was
Pfarrer Reuflc who began to take practical steps Re-
fusing TO accept the dogma, and communicated, he
denies the power Of his bishop to censure him. and still
breaches in his parish the Government protecting him
SO long as his congregation desire his presence In
Prussia the priest Kaminsk in Silesa has taken step
which surprised the Old Catholics Shut out from
his own Church. he has gathered his congregation into
little chapel and there breaches to and Is supported by
his people he the only Catholic among the Rcormers
who has shown that church he supported by the
peope themselves without the aid OF the state
Another RefOrmer is Pfarrer Anton OF Vienna,
who represents Old Catholic community
of three thousand souls. Tho Universities have,
| however, furnished the great working power to
the movement including Prof Renkens Of the Univer
stv Of Bresau Prof Schultz OF Prague Prof Sumpf OF
Cobentz and Prof Windshield Of Hcidclbcrgall men Oh
| the hi CHEST standing anu cultivation.
The movement which is bnt the result OF six months
reformatory labor has already gained foothOld not
only in Bavaria, but in Prussia, Wirtemhcrg, Baden,
Switzerland France Austria, and Hungary, delegates
and other countries being present at the Con
Rress. It is certainly proof that the DOnger antrim
fability movement is attracting universal attention
from the character of the meh who assembled there IL
s characteristic of the time that at such religious
movement the Bishops and higher eccesasucal oncers
whose duty overlook and guide the church were
conspicuous by their absence Thongh the German
Bishops have always opposed the movement as by oath
they arc bound do than one Is looking on win
nerest and il is now certain that the Croatan Bishop
srossmayer has acknowledged his adhesion to the Re
form movement. The Rcformcrs hope to obtain much
srpport from non Catholic bodies They have already
obtained that Of the little Church OF Utrecht, wth be-
lieve seven Bishops Tie Hungarian clergy, notwith-
sandng the fact that their Bishops have over to
Rome are forming societies among themselves for the
purpose Of opposing the DOGMA and the acquiring OF
ecclesiastical autonomy. DOinGcr's previously eX'
pressed desire for reunion with the Greek Oriental and
Russian Church and with Protestant Churches appears TO
he under favorable consideration. The Synod of
St. Petersburg sent Prof Ossinini to the Congress
as its delegate and that gentleman expressed the view
that his church stood upon the principles Of the Catholic
Church it when still undivided, and he saw no
difficulty in the way of reunion. The Spanish Govern
ment commissioned its EnDassddor at the Hague, Juan
dc Aladro to attend the Congress; the Baden Govern
Won Mohl; the Utrecht Church sent three delegates
Patcr Hyacnthe was present at all the meetings both
public and private. and warmly often enthusiastic
cally greeted DUhcer present only in the dis us
sons Of the delegates and disappointment felt
that he did not address the GOO persons assembled ON
the two days in the Crystal Palace.
The delegates succeeded, after two days discussion
in adopting pretty wide platform Of reforms IN which
expression is given to the principles to he sriyen for
The chief points of this programme the telegraph
has undoubtedly made you aware, the retaining OF the
Old Catholic faith and worship the refusal Ia acEnow
ledge the validity OF communication; the refusal to
give up light to Church membership. The Old Catho
cs 20 back to Council OF Trent for their principles
rejecting first the dOmas created under Plus TX, as be-
ing in contradiction to the teachings Of the Old Church.
The dogma OF Infallby and the supreme Jurisdiction
Of the Pope arc here principally referred to; though
among other dOguas herein eectedis that of the lmmac
ulatc Conception The relation Of the Old Catholics to the
Prmae is expressed in the second paragraph Of the pro-
gramne: ave retain the Old Church constitution" it
says "repudlang all attempts to deprive the bishops
OF the Immediate and ndcpen lent guidance OF the single
churches We repudiate the doctrine contained IN the
Vatican that the Pope is the only divinely ns
tuted bearer Of ecclesiastical authority and official power
as being contradictory to the Trdentne Canon accord
ing to which there exists dviney instituted hierarchy
Of bishops, prcsts, and deacons We acknowledge the
priInacy of the Roman Bishop, az he was reooR-
nized on the ground Of the Scriptures, by the
Fathers and Councils, in the ancient inseparable
Church." In this lies the great weight OF the
novement-at the same time contradictions. 1t
dicut to sec how the Old Catholics should first declare
their adherence 10 the Old Constitution OF the Church
las II existed previous to the declaration OF the dogma OF
Iuallbty) and In regard TO the matter Of the primacy
on hack 10 the Christian Fathers. In this programme
the primacy is therefore to be merely position Of
honor n means that the Roman Bishop enjoy
eminent position and an especial reverence
az the spiritual head; but rule and command
~ .hsu noti A was very well expressed by