The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-05
THE OLD CATHOLICS.

THE OLD CATHOLICS.
Bishop Reinkens, Pastoral TO the Lafty
and Clergy OF the German Empire.
The following are extracts from the authorized
edition OF Bishop Reinkens' pastoral as published
ct Bonn:-
JOSEPH HUBERT RErNKENs, Catholic Bishop, to the
clergy and laity OF the German Empire stead.
fast IN the Old Catholic faith. Salutatlon in the
More than so, 900 German Catholics, to whom
truth Is still Of Incompatible and imperisha6le
junction with those priests who have remained
true to their faith elected me. in an unwOnted
new mode is but the primitive one suppressed,
but still the apostOical, truly ecclesiastical mode.
While seeming to Introduce innovations, beloved in
the Lord. we are returning 70 the original legiti
mate form. For 1000 years and mOre-lndeed, so
late a. the twelfth century, as the letters Of st.
bishop was, even in the Western Church, from an
ecclesiastical point OF view, only then considered
as legitimate Sthat is to say, as according TO the
clergy and Ialty. But ever before that time this
aud violated. When the episcopal ONCE
became more and more surrounded BY out
wss6 Pomp by wealth 4, and pripnoey spiendor;
price for It, the temporal princes, in whose ranks
the Pope Of Rome now stood, began to make mer.
the Church, the faithful laity and clergy, Of the
right OF election, and gradually usurped this right
under various pretexts1tne Pope OF Rome on his
as, for many centuries before, the whole body of
bishops had. been styled Wears Of God, each one
hundred years OF CONFLICT, IN which the temporal
welfare OF the people, no less than religion itself,
deeply suffered, the result IN the Western Church
ops, and consequently of the apOstOlica legitimacy
OF the bishops. Catholic princes nominate the new
Catholic governments certain ecclesiastics, called
canons, are, by mutual agreement between princes
ana and Pope (Which men they were never ust
invested with the right OF election; but even in
these cases the Pope really nominates. In heather
less separated the nomination proceeds simply
from Rome. This power, obtained and secured by
asurpation and violence Is now styled the existing
law but this law, created solely by human Ordf-
nance. has nothing in common with the apOst0iicai
canon Tor the election Of bishops.
II, therefore, the great bishops Of the primitive
Church-Cyprian, Hilary, Martin, Ambrose, Angus
tine, or the Popes Leo L. Innocent l., Gregory l.
Ss woS
one bishop Of the Roman Catholic Church, now ltv-
ing, not one OF these elections having been con-
Fathers. Never, in their time, would they have
admitted bishop as Catholic bishop Unto their
lalty-this form Of election being looked upon as
dtviney appointed and therefore hon0red as the
Church's inalienable right-although. by reason OF
his ordination they might IN other respects have
regarded him as true bishop.
Bishop Remkins then proceeds to argue at great
length the position assumed BY the old Catholics
and concludes:-
Thus OF so many ramifcations but from one
root beloved In the Lord Is the office which have
Two powerful enemies stand opposed to the full
nlment OF my task, ecclesiastical matertalism and
perniOious Romanism 81 the Western Church.
Eccleslasttc material1sm reduces religion into
excitement of the senses, ana mechanical govern
m n "a AnvU lint
Is divine to places and accidental persons, whom
u makes objects OF worship; nourishes itself by
the ceaseless craving for miracles which supersti-
ton has created in people designedly separated
from the Holy Scriptures and tradition. The spirit
has ned and there = no 20 lon relations s
Injected BY this materialism, Christs words-.It Is
the spirit that quickeneth the nesh profteth
are spirit and they are iife John VI. ssl~we are
But the number Of those who, in the turmoil Of
this busy, busting world, have become Indifferent
and deaf to the heavenly recital Of the glory Of
Coo and to the sweet harmonies Of eternal peace
Del, is legion they are mass for our opposers to
work upon, who reckon them among their number.
Besides these we are impeded on the right and
lett Of our path by the half-hearted OF whom some
say, "Y0u go too far for u.s." and others, "Y0u do
not 60 far enough for u.s." To these l answer-we
no i1rtner II you believe yourselves more II iled
and urged by this Spirit, good then come and help
u or lead US; but 70 stand all the day idle when
u
loud call for more lab0rers-that Is, at all events,
sin.
Nevertheless we acknowledge with thankfulness
to God that many, to whom religion had been made
repuGtve by materialistlc ROmantsm. have re-
turned with Joy to Church fellowship, since it is
now offered to them in an appropriate and truly
religious manner.
But we, beloved In the Lord, who through Gods
grace have attained to q clearer knowledge, we,
above all, should strive to bring our hearts more
and more un0er the absolute sway OF truth and
righteousness kingdom Of God in us-that,
the life Of the Spirit becoming manifest, we may
bring about true revival OF Christianity in Its
primitive brightness and winning beauty, exhibit
Ing Il before the eyes Of the nations. Then the
ennObling hope animating US, that at length all the
evils will be remedied which the establishment OF
spiritual supremacy has caused IN the Church, will
grow stronger from day to day.
The schism between the Eastern and Western
churches and their internal divisions are great
evil Not unity but disunion has peen wrought by
the RomIsh supremacy because It deposed love
ana enthrOned violence In It's stead. We are
striving to restore unity, but in conflict, and on
our banner is written on one side. 'Other founda-
ton can no man lay than that Is Land, which is
Jesus Christ" and on the other, "Whatever ID not
OF faith Ia sin."
August IL, 1879.