The New York herald., 1872-09-22
The Schools Closed and the Fathers
Ordered to Depart.
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE.
The Police and Citizens of Essen
in Bloody Conflict.
WHERE WILL THE WANDERERS GO 2

When the law was passed against the Jesuits
some months ago, there were some people who
might have thought that the law would not have
been carried strenuously into 0fect. "His bark
Is worse than his bite" was the remark made by
some with regard to the Chancellor OF the German
Empire; In passing this law he merely makes q
threat; he merely wishes to show the Jesuits that
II they venture to take any measures In opposition
to his views he has an instrument ready to his
hand, by which he can punish them" This view
Of Prince Bismarck's intentions has proved to be
entirely incorrect; the law against the Jesuits has
been carried into almost immediate operation
and at this moment the members OF the Society are
busy packing up their goods and taking leave OF
their old homes, and pupils and devotees, previous
to an early departure from the German Fatherland.
Many Others have already lett Germany behind
them. Let me give youa
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE QUESTION.
First, there was dispute with regard to the in
depreciation OF the law. The Jesuits and their
friends were willing to give up the teaching in the
schools; but they insisted that this and this only
was the scope of the law against their Order. The
government officials, however, took very different
view Of the question, and maintained that the State
would be satisfied with nothing short OF a complete
expulsion Of the Jesuits from the country. The
Jesuts found able defender OF their view of the
case in the person OF Baron Won Ketteler, the
eloquent and energetic Bishop Of Mayence.
The argument Of the Jesuits was that they could,
as secular priests, hear confessions, visit the sick,
and perform the like spiritual offices. In letter
to the government the Bishop writes:-'T can
not omit to point out that the carrying out Of the
Imperial law has received application here which
even exceeds the severity OF the action OF the gov
ernment in Prussia l must believe that misun-
ytoto how
been forbidden to hear confessions. Neither the
imperial law nor the decree of the Federal
Council gives this authority, and the meas
ure attacks SO fundamentally the rights
Of conscience Of individual Catholics that
1 regard Its being carried out as morally
impossible. No State authority can have the right
to forbid me in my affairs Of conscience from seek
ing advice where please. This original natural
right cannot be withheld from the Catholics OF
Mayence."
ADVOCATES OF THE FATHERS.
Nor was this the only effort made, by the Catho-
lies to maintain the rights Of their father confes
sors AS many of your readers are doubtless
aware the Jesuits wherever they make their ap-
pearance, at once become not only the favorite
preachers but also the favorite confessors of the
Catholic population. This Is easily accounted for.
RELATIONS OF THE JEsUITS TO THE PEOPLE.
The ranks Of the Jesuits are recruited from the
ablest men. These men go through q training
which is unparalleled for length and intensity;
cOrdingly, penitents crowd to the confessional Of
the Jesuits, for In them they find men capable of
clearly understanding the condition Of their souls,
and of giving them the most suitable counsel. To
deprive Jesuts then, Of the right Of hearing confes
sional Is to deprive many Catholics Of their most
trusted and best beloved advisers. 1t Is not sur
prisng, under these circumstances to find that the
Catholics of Mayence have backed up their Bishop.
number Of citizens have presented
an address to Baron Won tKetteler, in
which they say:-"As citizens OF the
German Empire and the Grand Duchy OF Hesse we
demand the freedom of exercising our religion,
which has existed of old and which has been con-
stitutionally recognized. For this purpose we
should, in the first place. have free communication
with those priests whom our higher authorities
send to us, and who, as teachers and father con-
fessors, possess our confidence"
THE CATHOLICS NOT HOSTILE TO THE EMPIRE
In reply to this address the Bishop uses the fol.
lowing emphatic words:-"Everything that has
been said to justify these is only an un-
founded pretext-everything said on the subject
Is untrue. 1t Is untrue that the Catholics are
hostile to the Empire-untrue that the Empire Is
threatened by the DEGREES OF the Vatican Council
All the other reproaches which uttered against
them, and which could not possibly enumerate,
are untrue" In addition to this o number OF
noblemen in westphalia have drawn up an ad-
Dress in which they strongly protest their admira-
tion Of the Jesuits and their dissatisfaction with
the measures which have been taken against them.
can be formed of the effects that will be produced
by the carrying out OF
PRINCE BIsMARCKs LAW.
I now proceed to detail the instances in which
the law has been carried into operation. Opera.
tions began In Prussan Poland, and nobody will
deny that things were carried on there with
promptitude. The very day the law was published
the police authorities proceeded to a small town
named GniewkowO. Here the Jesuts were preach
ing what the Catholics call "Msssion"-that is,
were giving series OF religious exercises, extend
ing over ten or twelve days. The ''Missionr had
still two days to run before 1t terminated. The po-
lice authorities, however would not allow this in
terva of grace and insisted that the Jesuits should
cease to ofllcate forthwith. This is case No. 1.
CASE NO. 2
is also In Prussian Poland In Schrimm the Jesuits
had a large establishment, partly consisting OF
priests and partly of what are called lay brothers.
The lst of August was the anniversary OF St.
Ignatius the founder Of the Order To celebrate
this event the Jesuit Fathers had invited to
Schrimm large number Of Catholics, lay and cleri-
cal, from the neighborhood On the very morning
of the anniversary the authorities and ordered
them to desst from the performance OF any re-
ligous Offices. The students were ordered to leave
within eight days, provided they were German sub
jects Two Austrian subjects were ordered 70 leave
Germany within three days. The church OF the
Jesuits was then closed and the keys taken away.
Alter some time the Jesuit Fathers asked permis
sion to be allowed to say mass This was granted.
The Jesuits invited a secular priest to say mass In
their church, and large number of Catholics came
to attend mass. Thereupon number of gendarmes
were sent to the church, and these taking up posi-
tions at the door, prevented the people from enter
ing The rector complained Of this conduct, and
the gendarmes were removed. AT the same time