New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-04
THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SPAIN.
by the REV. MR.. FIIEDNER OF SPAIN.

BY THE REV. MR.. FIIEDNER OF SPAIN.
The greatest boast of the Spanish nation.
the advantage which believed TO possess before all
Roman Catholic countries the object for which IL spent
all It's intellectual and material strength during cen
turtles is its religious unity Neither Jew Moor
might dwell in this Catholic country; and when more
than 800 900 Jews then innumerable Moors had
TO emgrate from beautiful Andalusia into misery,
leaving all their goods behind. IL little looked
upon by spaniards cruelty that their most Famous
author Ceryantes, not only excused but praised thls
prescription. The tribunal OF the Inqustion was
established TO guard the unity and purity OF the
Catholic faith, and members Of the first families
of Spain counted it their greatest honor to be the
helpers and the officers of the Inquiston. And when
they had cleared their land by the crusades against
the Moors they turned the task Of gaining the victory
for unity of the Romish Church in foreign countries
by power Of their weapons and the weight OF their
politics against the heretical attack OF the Reformers
It seemed though they not to struggle in vain
1t was chiefly be attributed to the efforts of Spain
that the evangelical movement in France was hampered
and almost destroyed in the southern provinces OF the
Netherlands. in Bavaria Italy, Austria, and Poland
IL is true Spain had 10 do rghtful penance for those
services rendered 10 the Romish Church. When the
Westphaan peace put end 10 the nercest raging or
the religious war; its object not only not attained
Spans foreign power stricken to DEATH Its inward
strength vanquished. the country impoverished. and
chapes are counted by thousands and the priests and
monks by hundred thousands and yet TO this day
Ihe pride OF the Spaniard the unity Of his faith
remains mistaken. Even in the last revolution, 1865
the Romish Church was for this retained as
State Church. II was not religious freedom; 1t was
merely relig Ous liberation which was granted "h
spanard should perhaps confess another faith" which
wac, however looked on as impossible The complaints
of the priests against the evangelical movement are
directed chiefly against this point that we wish TO tar
nish the ancient fame Spain Their prudence requires
that the life shoud be ignored or looked upon as
arAcally called forth from without. Their efforts
directed prove that SPAN still has the right to bear
the name OF Catholic country aud retain its allegiance
TO the ROmsh Church.
But it not IN vain that the Spanish martyrs shed
their blood The testimony to the truth which they
gave in land where it met with opposition has not
been lost. The knowledge Of the efforts made by the
evangelical spaniards and their cruel suppression. was
occasion Of the setting OF other countries free from
the Romish yOke and thank God this testimony OF the
martyrs not in vain for Spain either After three
hundred years the letters of religious tyranny are at
last broken and at the seed OF the gospel
falling on good ground, terminating taking root and
growing Even years before the last catastrophe which
gave back freedom SPAIN everything prepared FOR
anew propagation of the Gospel Neither English money
distribution Of the Bible nor political liberalism called
forth this movement that merely took away the last
bars which sooner later must have yielded to the
spiritual development as certainly as the musk under
the growing corn. When Isabella was driven away the
Protestant Spaulards who had been banished for their
faith returned As soon as Spain open the workers
stood ready TO and gather in the harvest in their
beloved country which they had 10 leave for the sake
of the word OF God
Truly we have a fine field and in part already with
harvest. We do not share the eXtrayagant hopes or
those who expect to the whole of Spain Protestant
hoA hoar ha1 For llwan
centuries under such intellectual pressure and In
doatrous servtude by Rome all at be freed
from this sad state and ITS consequences But tnat'
along with all this superstition and indety, new
spirit Of faith is moving that even on TINS seemingly
stony ground the seed Of the Word has not
lost its power is proof that TINS new era
Of religious freedom is offered to the spaniards
in vain Many congregations are already formed
throughout the whole country, and the eYangelcal
movement living reality ana worthy the support OF
Christian brethren The work or evangeliZatop OF
Spain has been hitherto very little known with regard
TO Ms inward nature aud its extent win Few outlines
weill endeayOr 10 sketch the hed OF WORK, the MS
tan workers, the hinderanees aud the hopes TOT e III
ture, and trust 1t will become more ana more eyl-
dent only how welcome bur now necessary the help
OF Protestant Christendom Is in SPAIN
Entering the Peninsula from France, we pass through
the Baskish Province, the residence OF inc Caflss'
where. up to this day, very little mas Oeen done on ae
count Of the civil war, which has there It's dwelnng
place. These provinces are recorded as the most
bigoted ones, "a the majority OF their inhabitants ar.
parsans OF Don Carlos. However, as often as one or
cOlDOrteur5 has SuCCcCueu III luiS re-
Gon he mas had successful sale OF blDes' anu Mey a.
well a. with much enmity with much encouragement
should be forgotten that the tarst cause at
least as much III not more Podit.c9i one 'ta y s
religious one. Tue neghOOrng Province OF Aragoh u
famous through the Virgin OF the Pillar whose worship
reminds US OF the Ephesan Diana But as IL was sad
there in the time OF Paul that the Word OF the Lord grew
nightly and prevailed, 50 also In TirazOna The NOra
has found soil and made growth N0t only mas sinai
Protestant congregation been IOfncd Dut the place O
worship belonging to it, situated in tie principal street
OF the town. and IN the neghOorh0od OF OmIsn Church
is always crowded at the hour Of service Oi course
der the work They have appointed special prayers
and professions against the Protesants, nut As always
happens they only become Instruments OF directing
general attention ana interest 10 Ineir Opposers.
schoo. connected with the church Inen III BaC.Ol
tn capital Of Catalonia we nnd already SIX dineret
places OF worship villa elS schyOls, wien AeTeu, VI
children attend. In the neighbOring island OF M0ied
stations are in the surroundings OF Barcelona and the
WORK among the Galatians would Deen unDOunded
but 50 That want t Sl ESs Of a Re
have found among the common people IN spain great
deal more OF religious sentiment anu giestet wai' vi
religion, greater hunger ana thirs Iot rlghteousness
than nave found In Austria or Italy Africa II Is sald
begus with the Pyrsnees II may NOT oe rue Dnt IN
very limited way. But perhaps thls stinIg aIar Ir0m
tue current OF European dslZ tlOn mas guarded % te
spanish nations the natural warmth Ol ther fcilglous
sentiment Ii We had Ony mon 20 7en'' III oIIei ~ n
the wnoe country with the sound OF the gospel III each
town neyery village, el twenty hundreds would listen
to Al with eagerness aud rejoicing
the political changes nave affected the work
but hitherto only TO very limited extent me Carst
has closed the northern provinces D-Ile tue P1
cal revolutions have drawn the general attention from
the religious matters TO the political ones, and the
general uncertainty binders good many friends from
nelpng AS they would do under other circumstances.
But these nearly i've years of religious liberty nave not
been In vain. To large extent Professionalism has
made itself known In Spain. The spdnards
have learned to look on Protes@nts, not us
terrible Monsters but good earnest, jealous men"
who perhaps better Christians than ourselves"
is sometimes heard-and who care for the education of
the children they used 10 Tor them
selves sameron, the last President protested against
spain being called still Catholic country aud l. Is true
tnat not great part OF the country Is Indifferent To
religion, Dut That also there exists among the lower
classes "A bitter hatred against the Roman CathO-
hes In thee last revolution in the South they
put the Archbishop OF Granada IN prison. destroyed
eome churches nunueries aud the famous process
sioas of the Holy Week did not dare to forward
On,y ia Yaedolid the people said our Holy Virgin Is
70 p1blcau, too" They adorned her the red cap
and carried her We do require enlarge
on the harm which such exercises do to religion IN
general 20 evangelical movement In particular