The New York herald., 1872-12-10
GERMANY.
Lay Power Action Against Roman Catholic
Church Invocation and Altar Discipline.
TEleGnAMS TO THE NEW YORK NeAALD.

BERLIN, Dec. Q, 1872
The Roman Catholic Church ediflces In the city
and province Of Posen, which belong to the gov
ernment have been closed because special SER
vice was celebrated therein, "paclng the church
OF Posen in her present trials, under the especial
protection OF the Most Sweet Heart of Jesus"
The pastors of churches and teachers in the Cath
olic schools have been summoned to appear before
the magistrates for examination on the charge Of
publicly reading an exciting pastoral letter issued
by the Archbishop OF Posen.
Prince Bism aTclx's Position Against Cler-
ical ReactiOnary Agitation.
The Premier Prince Bismarck defined his position
towards clerical agitation on subjects OF govern
mental legislation, and particularly with respect
to an organized system OF prestly opposition to
the educational system OF the country, in speech
which he delivered during the progress of Par
liamentary debate on the Prussan Schools Inspec-
tion blu. His Excellency said:-
1t is true that great number OF petitions have
come In against the Schools Inspection bill; but
it is very easy to get up petitions especially In the
Catholic districts, and while the Reichstag is sit
ting the Uitramontane leaders used to order or
countermand petitions at their pleasure. In
proof OF this statement Prince Bismarck read some
extracts IRON letters which had been addressed by
"a prominent member OF the Centre party to
Canon K0zmian, at Posen, and which were seized
by the police in the canon's house. In Of these
the canon requested not to send any more peti-
tlons to the Reichstag; and in another, signed by
German Catholic Bishop, the writer says s:-'There
is certain prospect that sooner or later, the Cath
Olic Powers will come forward in favor OF His HOl
ness the Pope, and then the German Princes will
not dare to prevent such intervention If they be-
come convinced by means OF petitions that this
would cause much discomfort among the Catholics
in Germany" Turning to the Evangelical party
Prince Bismarck said he was not surprised at the at
titude OF the Poles, whose nationality and religion
afford grounds for opposition which are entitled to
si0nate hostility with which q great part OF the
Evangelical members OF the House, and especially
those who had formerly shared the conservative
opinions OF the government, to which 1t still ad-
heres, have opposed the bill" He cautioned the
| conservatives against the vaccinations Of the
| Ultramontanes, who are endeavoring to get up
| popular agitation against the government by ac-
cuSing Il Of attempting to make Prussia "a Cod
| less State.' Such man9uvreS were totally at
rance with the character OF conservative OppO-
the conservatives would give any countenance TO
them.
The Prince then pointed out that since the de-
feat OF Catholic Austria and France by Protestant
Prussia the German Ultram0ntanes have entered
upon the felG OF foreign political ntrigae and he
just received from lone OF the most prominent
German Ambassadors at one OF the most important
posts in Europe.v This despatch says, "The re-
venge which France desires Is connected with the
arousng of religious dissensiOnS in Germany. The
power and unity OF Germany are to be parayzed
by such dissensions."
Passage OF the Counties Reform Bill by
the Peers.
BERLIN Dec. Q, 1872.
The Counties Reform bill finally passed the Up.
per House OF the Prussan Diet to-day by q vote OF
116 yeas to 81 nays.