New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-26
0eyed 10 have him 20 from before three years shall
have Afforded him the sight and the frution OF Justice
CHURCH AND STATE IN SWITZERLAND.

THE CASE OF NJ. MARMILLOD-A CONFLICT CP
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH THE CANTON
OF GENEyA-A GENERAL MOVEMENT AGAINST
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUSEI
GENEVA, Sept 24.--It is no secret that this
little Swiss Canton has been the OF some stormy
contentious between the Church OF Rome and her enc
mics but It L. II not secret, fact worth noting that
the courage Of the two factions to have changed
nyersey their fortunes Three centuries ago the foo
made no pretenson TO be other than rival creed To-
dav when the Reformed Church the stronger IL shell
ters itself behind the civil authority, and makes tho
neutral government Of "mIxed" Canton nght
it's battles II Is singular fact that a
Canton which borders on France. speaks the French
language and contains many French refugees, should
be swayed by Protesantsm perhaps the strongest 10
be found in Switzerland The traditions OF Calyinsn
arc by no means extinct It is difficult short OF actual
contact TO understand the hatred which Geneva
Protestants bear toward the Roman Catholic Church.
This sentiment is however but one element In the long
quarrel IL is clear and fair statement OF the con-
oversy 10 say that the element OF mutual hatred Oes
set aside the have majority Of the citizens
and the control OF the Government, while the Catholics
are supported by great hierarchy and their ewn
remarkable audacity.
There are In Geneva three great religious bodies The
most important the regular Protestant or National
Church." It is called, which owes its existence to inc
reformation OF Zwingus and Calvin, and which Is
adopted and supported civil pohtN NcA1 S"Oio
ia the Free" Protestant Church. which, in matters OK
faith agrees substantially vita the National Church, bus
which Is selfsupporng and Independent Of the STATE
II may be mentioned strong argument for disestao-
lishment that this sefsuppOrng society Is the nehest
in the Canton. Finally comes the Catholic Church.
which is supported by large minority OF
the inhabitants Like the National. 1t IL sup
ported by the State, and IN return is subjected
to certain regulations imposed by the State.
Two of these regulations into the present conro
versy. The first which Is in the form OF papal buD
issued 1872 Incorporates the Canton OF Geneva IN the
diocese OF Lausanne, whereof the Episcopal seat IL AZ
Fribourg This arrangement was made think at the In
stance Of the Canton, and was formally accepted after
the appearance OF the bull that really has the force
OF a concordat IL concession on the part OF the
Genevese, and the most that could be exacted from
their nhexble epugnance TO the Catholic clergy TIE
other regulation, to which have alludeh'
provides that the appointment Of CURES shall
be subject TO ratification by the C0nSe"
dpEtqu of the Canton. The arrangement Is thus tho
reverse Of that France where the state noHnates ana
the Church rates The present Bishop of the Diocese
OF Lausanne and Geneva is Etienne Marley. hsgr.
Marley is bold, restless, and able prelate, veteran
in diplomacy and intrigue and skillful leader OF tho
Catholic forces in the OF his diocese. His lie may
be said TO have passed in conflicts with the civil author-
ties Some 80 years ago the ConSeH dEtdt refused To
accept him as cure OF Geneva, whereupon the Pope
named him. in retaliation, Bishop Of the Diocese In
1s4s he came into collision with the Government OF FRI
bourg by opposing the execution Of law for the sup
preston Of converts and by refusing to take the oatn
exacted OF citizens, and was promptly arrested ana con
fined for two months in the Castle OF Chiffon huDml+
sion in due time restored him his functions but did not
secure the State against fresh nrues the part Oh
his active BRAIN
In 1854 the post Of cure OF the CITY OF Geneva was
regularly filed by the appointment of Gaspar Mermlod
The new incumbent fayorte OF Bishop Marley
and shares his qualities or head and heart He Is more
over man of culture Of refined manners, and OF rare
oratorical powers The Protesants have, therefore,
long been Jealous Of his reputation and influence 1t
clear that NJ Mermilod was chosen with a view 20
future trial of strength with the State. Ia 1869 to the
title and functions Of cure OF Geneva we're superadded
the title OF Bishop Of Hebron ~ pdrtduS' ana the
functions Of Vicar General to the Bishop oi
Lausanne. This movement caused some excitement
al the time but the COHseI dEtat simply protested
against the exercise OF his new powers by NJ Meunod
except in subordnatiOn the Bishop of Lausanne H.
refused IN official 70 recognize hm - other
than the cure Geneva In the course OF time. how
ever the distinction almost forgotten ana Tor
seven years NJ Mermlod has practically acted with full
episcopal rights and privileges. singular feature OF
the affair is that the COnsel dEta has been abo
10 obtain a copy OF NJ. Mermods commission. If tne
term may be used Of any sign OF his authority eN-
cent brief letter from Msgr. Marley, informing the
Government that he had assigned the Bishop OF He
brouD to the performance Of the episcopal functions for
the Canton Of Geneva.
Thus the matter stood down to the month OF July last
Early in that month the public startled by the re-
mort published by journal Of Lausanne that the Pope
had divided Old diocese, and had erected the canton
of Geneva into separate epscopate with h. herhloa
as bishop. II impossible TO obtain any Vefcauon
of the rumor The ConseH fEat applied to the Federal
Council at Berne address the papal nuncio on the SUD
ect but the latter declined to act on newspaper re-
Tho ffonN was
Fribourg. but he returned eyasiye answer. The
Consea d'Eta baled In this attempt, determinedt 10
fan back on longsumDerng rights with regard 10 'he
bishop of Hebron. When it had decided 10 act u acted
promptly. Bishop Marley was summoned early ia
August to furnish copy Of the papai decree
naming NJ Mermilod bishop Of Hebron and Vicar
General The bishop returned an ambiguous response
Thereupon the ConseA dEtat addressed tAug Sol a
letter TO NJ Mermilod, "ctsrt OF Geneva" Gung u"
concorda of 1872 the provisions OF law relating TO the
appoiutment OF cures, and directing him 70 cease Hoi"
exercising in the any other functions than those
of cure The latter replied that he haa referred tne
latter 70 his ecclesiastical superors On the I'd OF Sep
tenber he was summoned meet the President OF the
OonseiI dEtat The willy priest took the precauuoh 70
have his solicitor with him at this somewhat sgnheah'
interview What took place is told Oy the Co"T"' d"
| Genere the Catholic paper OF the city,
The President OF the COnsett a EtdL ~ Cartert Pre-
scnted NJ Mermillod written demand that he conform
himself henceorth TO the law OF the State and abandon
all other functions and titles than those OF Cure OF
Geneva The latter replied that he did not recognize the
authority of the CoseH dEdt in matters spiritual or
ecclesiastical that for several he had exercised
without disturbance and without any nfracton OF law,
the functions OF auxiliary Bishop OF Geneva; thal us
duty to his interiors and his conscience forbade h "a
adopt different course This reply was %iltt 9I
on the 2Oh OF September appeared tue resb0nst on %
Couseii al Eat in the form OF two DEGREES Tue DE-
cites the circumstance OF the removes Merno
from the post OF cure and suppresses the aI2Sauoo
10 600 francs for support OF the incumbent
forbids lin to exercise episcopal function IN te
ard warns eLrGs not 10 permit MS mlnsiraNons INC
L nluInr