New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-09
THE OLD CATHOLICS.

-,,r, -, o,, 1uE OLD CATHOLICS OF GER
MANY. p
During the session of the second section OF
the Evangelical Alliance at st. Pauls Church,
Yesterday morning, the Rev. DR.. Philip Schah
raad long letter from the Old Catholic Con-
gross of Germany to the Alliance. In intro
ducing the letter he said
We lost had an authentic history Of the Old Cath
olic movement from one residing In the very head
suartcrs of the samoa movement which TOOK IT'S
rise three years ago IN council That presents
strange contrast 70 tins General Conference OF tne
Evangelical Alliance, the most important cOuhSl
ever held within the bonds of the Roman CatDoilc
Church. council far surprising thus Conference IN
hierarchc, Rsthetic and ceremonial splendor, but
connc convened for the purpose OF pToea,m,ne Inc
absolute sovereignty and dOgmatlc lnfalhbllty OF
the Pope, thus making what was formerly simply
private opinion of individual Catholics to be dogma
OF faith without which no man can be q Cathohc ana
no man can be saved. We convene together as a
free assembly We convene together III apostolic
simplicity, we sing together t1e hymns OF pI'use
we admit laty as well clergy we deliberate
openly and have no secret SESSIONS; we DO not en-
dcaVOT 10 bind the conscience, but intend TO stand
fast ourselves by the liberty which Christ has gwen
us and allow others TO worship with us according
to the dictates of their own oonsclences. we
proclaim tho absolute sovereignty and lnIalh6lnty
of Jesus Cbust and His Gospel Out OF that Coun-
Clin Rome sprung the Old Catholic movement,
which claims now the attention Of the thinking ana
religious world, and which, perhaps, is q most I'M
pOTant consequence of that Council as far as these
consequences have yet developed themselves. Ilns
movement is headed by men who, few years
ngO, were regarded In the Roman Catholic Church
az the most distinguished of Roman Catholic
scholars and opponents of Professionalism. nus
movement embraces a vast amount of learning. A
SIMILAR movement sprung up IN Swltzerland, lnder
the lead of PeTe Hyacintbe and lt were not TOT te
recent alienation of France from Germany, IT would
have spread III France which was always dlstln-
guished for Liberal Catholicism. Now, in view OF
the importance of that movement II was considered
altogether night and proper that the opportunity
should be given for the hearing Of this topic IN the
Conference here. Tie Old Catholics have made a
half approach TO Professionalism; why should we
not extend the hand Of sympathy 10 them APP
plause Many Protestant churches have been
opened to them in Germany in their present distress,
until they have churches of their own Why should
not open our churches to them on TINS occasion!
[Appause.l They have been greeted already by
branch Alliance which held its sessions in 1871 IN
Geneva, aud IN its name tie distinguished DE- Merle
dAubigne wrote there friendly letter on greeting
aud sympathy TO them. That was the last work OF
his hte.
the American Branch Of the Alliance, secured the
attendance of Pere Hyacinthe and when | was
lsst Summer at Bonn with the leaders OF
Old Catholicism there, told them we would DO
very glad on this occasion 10 treat them as honor
able guests in the same way IN which they had III
vited 10 their second Congress at Cologne dlstln-
guished divines and theoogians from the Protest.
ant Churches of Germany, England and America.
That Is, would not at all regard them as MEM
beers of the Alliance; we would not commit them to
our Professionalism or compromise them III any way.
Nor would we, the other hand, commit tins
Alliance to their Old Catholicism. But we mean to
NSGuU 10 tnrl an opportunity VI giving US dututu-
&c information concerning the origin, progress, aud
aims Of the Old Catholic movement, ana at the same
time get an idea of the power OF Professionalism
which they would have an opportunity 70 see on
this occasion, as they could not IN the old world
They received the invitation most kindly, and they
were al ready to accept If circumstances admitted
lApplause.l Prof. Won Schultz, the learned lay
leader Of the movement, said he would come nm,
self but he had to preside over the Oid
Catholic Congress, the third that was held. only
three weeks ago at Constance, switzerland,
where four hundred years ago, another Conference
was held to proclaim the superiority OF the Council
over the power OF the Pope, ana yet burning J0hh
Huss the fOrerunner of Professionalism. Bishop
Reinkeus just about being ordained and clothed
with heavy load Of responsibility. Professors
Huber and Friedrich of Munich had already re-
solved 10 visit Conference, when the cholera IN
Jerfered. Pere Hyacnthe lapplausel, who had IN
tended 10 come originally mas II impossible now
owing 10 personal difficulties and 10 bis urgent
duties in Geneva. But being prevented from coming
here personally, the Catholic Congress, which adj
lCunCd few weeks ago. sent the following docu-
mcnt 10 this Alliance. AppauSe.I Ii is III response
TO our invitation Ii Is important IL its character.
1t has been translated from the German and as II Is
rather long / shall not read ii III full 1t WILL how
yer, be published 10 full IN HE TRIBUNE. lGreat
applausc.l
Parts of the following document were then
read from proofs furnished from The TRIBUNE
Office. The document was translated from the
original German by TRIBUNE reporters, and Is
the only authorized or correct copy published.
THE LETTER OF THE OLD CATHOLICS.
The President of last years Cologne Congress re-
oeyed the petition presented through the Rev. Dr..
Schaff. proposing to the Old Catholic Congress to
send three delegates TO the sixth International Gen.
eral Conference of the Evangelical Alliance to be
heldin the City of NewYork from the I'd to the l2th
of October, and commission them to communicate
TO the Christian public of America authentic nfoma-
ton concerning the origin progress and aims of the
Old Catholic movement" he therefore submitted it
70 the Synodical representation of the Old Catholics
of the German Empire. The President had first
taken pans to fix upon number of gentlemen who,
by their social position and standing in the move
Inent as also by their linguistic and other attain
Tnents were fit TO be proposed to the Congress AZ
delegates. Unfortunately, various reasons partly
Of personal nature and partly relating to the cir
cumstances of the time especially the ravages of
the cholera in several parts of Germany, compelled
them TO decline the mission. The President him
self. for personal reasons, could not assume the
charge In consequence the Conference had to orego
the idea of sending delegates, and content itself
with passing an unanimous resolution to address
through the President letter TO the General Con-
ference of the Evangelical Alliance thanking
them for the friendly invitation and for the
kind and generous manner In which the visit
of the delegates would have been facilitated.
We also express our sincere pleasure at the tes-
timony this invitation renders to the great and
Interchangeable purpose originally expressed by us,
and TO our endeavor to Teunite all Christian confess
sions into one great Church of Christ in which any
particular church, though united far essential
doctrines are concerned may still preserve all other
pecuarities corresponding to its national character
its historical culture, and its political aud social
worth
With regard TO authentic information touching
the origin, progress, and aims of our movement
we need say but little after the publication of tho