National Republican., 1873-11-13
THE OLD CATHOLICS.
The Eccl-siasiical Character and Numbers

The Ecclesiasticul Character and Numbers.
tFrom the Louisville ier-JournAll
The breach between the Pope and the German
Emperor will continue to widen. Much Is done
both In Germany and In France to produce this
result.
The congress Of Old Catholics which lately
closed Its sessions At Constance formed the era
Of new departure In the history Of an I'M
portant movement. Their efforts have hitherto
been tentative, provisional; now they have taken
definite shape, effected q permanent orginiza-
tion, adopted rules for tho constitution OF an
episcopal synoJ, and following Immediately upon
this, have obtained recognition by the State as
an ecclesiastical organization.
Thcy held their session in the great Consn.
itms Saai, where was held the famous council of
the Church u4i4-rS which deposed the three
rival Popes-John XXfIf., Benedict Kill, and
Gregory Xtl-and elected Martin V. Ths Is the
council which gave John huss and Jerome OF
Prague to the nauieA. Few councils Of the Church
could boast greater array Of civil and eccleslas-
tical dgnitarles than this. Tue Emperor Slgs-
mund, Pope John NXllI,, 20 princes, liO counts,
bishopa, 600 pTeatcs and doctors, and more than
1000 priests were present ut the opening OF this
famous council. In striking contrast was the
modest and unpretontlous assembly OF the
Old Catholic congress. There were no
archbishops. cardinals, or rival poniilfs,
no emperors, kings, princes and couuts
S1 Ssas ea%, p S oc pSS sa
Schultz, the newly-consecrated Bishop Rein
kens, Or. Mlchelis, Bishop Doane, OF Albany,
New York; Dr; lyman; bishop elect o. North
DR.. Heldenhelm, OF Zurich; Drs. Michaud and
Presence, OF France; two archpriests from Rus
sia, and Prot llolizman, OF Germany, were
among the distinguished men present--Catholic
and Protestant and orthodox Grsek, oil taking
counsel together how they might best promote
the cause Of the Master whom they profess to
serve. II Is creditable to the congress that no
bitterness OF speech, no ungenerous sentiments
respecting rival lcommunions, no petty jealousles
msrrel the sittlngs. Bishop Doane, Dean Hou-
and Professor Hoitznan, with others not in the
Catholic communion, took part 10 the proceed
ipgs, some bssring the greetings Of their
sSssass sSss se sod sc Ssfc' s'p liz
has been made. A bishop has been elected
by the sufagen Clergy In initiation o. the prim,
Blsnop Of Rotterdam. Negotiations have been
brought TO successful Issue with the Arch
bishop Of Utrecht respecting the ecclesifttl ;al,
and with Prince Bismarck respecting the VII
status OF the Church. In 1870, when Schultz and
Dolllnger took counsel together at Nuremberg,
they counted fourteen supporters. Now their
heTents In the empire who have not yet formally
allied. themselves with them. In North Germany
there are % congregations; In Bavaria, %; In
Baden, 81. These numbers are still small but
encouraging more than Professionalism numbered
In the 1fst three years after Luthers reforma-
tion began, . fact noted with Just pride by the
president in his address. communication was
read from De schsr, inviting delegates 70 repre-
sent the body in Nsw York u tho meeting Of the
Evangelical Alliance, 10 which suitable response
es 5aS g. sis ss io
them on the basis Of simple creed.
But tue most important business was the
scheme Of church law drawn up by the general
committee and adopted with slight notifications
by the congress. This scheme provides fpF an
Episcopal Synod, the most notable feature In
whose constitution Is the proyislon for lay repre-
The priests IN the diocese are entitled % be pres
ent, aud besides these each congregation Is en-
ttled to send one lay delegate for every two
each year at Whitsuntidc, unless called oitener
10 extra session by the bishop and his council.
The council consists OF four priests and i've lay
men, one OF each order retiring each year, the
vacancy being nlled by election. Tho priest ia
hence member four years and the layglan aye
On the death OF . bishop the vacancy shall be
supplied BY the Synod fgol llst,of names pro.
triests, who are removable only by canonical
btocess for proved offence against faith or dis
cfpline. Provision Ia made for the education OF
candidates for holy orders, and at the Sunday
service during the session Of the congress, when
Dean Houson and Bishop Lyman ofiiciated, quite
2 large collection was made In furthersnce ot
These are the principal matters OF interest en-
gaging the attention oil the late Congress. The
hreaph with the Papacy Is now complete and ir-
fecOnClluDlt. IHlb was mhue specldlly eVlutut
by the feeling excited when such words Us Pa
psinus Jesulllsmus vaticanismus were used.
Though much has been done, much remains TO
be done. The recognition by the Prusslan mon
archy places them, 80 far as the temporal Iala-
tions OF the movement 20, on q secure footing.
But the great eleiregt Of strength, next TO the
CONSEQUENCES Of right, consists In the fact that
the lower aud the strength of the Roman Catho-
lie professors Of law and theology In Germany
are with them. Their legal recognition secures
the retention Of these men In their chairs, and
will provide successors worthy Of them. The
late decisions Of the 9overnnlent In the case Of
Archbishop LedschGuski, of sllesia, and the
Bishop Of Eulda will ere long give them place
in the educational system OF the state out OF all
proportion to their numbers. Should tho Count
de ChambOrd succeed In his pretensions to the
crown OF France, the breach between Germany
and the Papacy, wide as 1t already IL, will be.
come wider still, Wei viii y be for the old
Catholic movement II success does not corrupt
them. II 10 certain that In proportion TO mum.
bers there were lnore real Christians while the
piocletiap persecution ragged than whom thu
Church became, under Constantine and his sue
oessOrs, the religion OF the Roman empire.