The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-10
emperor Williams Letter on Ultramon-
tanism and the Church Question.


tanism and the Church Question.
The following letter has been received by Earl
Russell. in London, from the German Emperor
DEAR LORD RUssELI-I have received your letter
OF January %, with the resolutions or the great
meeting in London, and with my Ambassadors re-
port OF the proceedings. / thank you sincerely Tor
this communication and for the accompanying eX-
Rre PRES on Of Your persona good will 1t Is ncnm
struggle maintained through centuries past by
German Emperors OF earlier days against power
the domination OF which has in no country of the
fWorld been found compatible with the freedom
land welfare OF nations-a power which, II Veto
aione, the blessings OF the Reformation, liberty Of
conscience and the authority of the law.
Eulflment OF my kingy duties and in firm reliance
on Cod, to whose help we look for victory; but
and Of cue WITCH has bsen
stamped by my orelathers on the laws and ad-
m m Isl, OF my States The latest measures
Romish Church or the free exercise Of their re.
lgon by her yotarles they only give to the
some OF the guarantees long possessed by other
countries, and formerly Possessed by Prussia,
without being held by the Romish Church incom
patlbe with the Tree exercise Of her religion. I
was sure, and ! rejoice at the proof afforded me
oi England would not fail inc in this struggle~the
people OF England to whom my people and my
royal house are bound by the remembrance or
many past and honorable struggle maintained
IN common since the days OF William OF orange.
,,ea peg you to communicate nm this letter with my
resolution, and remain, yours sincerely,
BERLIN, Feb. Is, 1874. WILHELM.
What the Prusslan Catholic Bishops
Say.
The Prussian bishops have February 2T, In view
OF the late Imprisonment Of Archbishop Ledo.
chowski and the punishment threatened to
several Of themselves, and also in view OF the sup
elementary ecclesiastical measures awaiting the
sanction of the German Parliament, addressed
soint memorial to the Roman catholic clergy and
laity in Prussia, Of which a German correspondent
forwards the following summary
The Archbishop Of Posen has been imprisoned
merely for refusing to sacrifice the freedom OF the
Church and TO deny the Catholic truth. The
charge brought against them OF being rebels to the
obedience in ali humility to the temporal power in
AZ things iu which 1t can be rightfully claimed.
Ihere u.s. however, er point where such obedience
obey God rather than men," The bishops take
credit for having sought to avoid the conflict
saw that 1t must come along with the ecclesiastical
laws passed IN May last. They consequently
ats saHcon The 'ns laws we're hUTeTeT
passed. and that without the bishops being con.
suited. Rather were the apostate heretics who
1ants consulted, who have no conception of what
the faith life OF the Catholic Church consists in.
DAVIS. That, however, is not rebellion. Again, the
bishops have been charged with giving up the
Church by their persistent opposition, to utter
Church be destroyed 1t will be owing to anOther's
fault, and sooner must they run this risk than
deny the truth and thus desecrate the Church,
Sooner may the Church perish in its purity than be
perverted through the iaithessness OF its pastors
Christ founded, not National Churches" but one
catholic Church. He did not consequently entrust
1t to the care OF temporal Chiefs but to that of His
apostles and their successors and in order the
better TO preserve its unity He placed the supreme
power over II in the hands OF one man, Peter, and
Gls SUCCESSORS, the popes.