Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-12-12
rae rrensl. Pro.ss.apt crI.I..

CINCINNATI Commercial: Accord
ing TO our dispatches, the excite
ment among French Protestants Is
inereasIng. The nature and source
of the trouble can best be exclaimed
bv q brief historical summary.
The early French protestants, or
Huguenots, as they were called,
werc Presbyterian Calvinists. In
1885, by revoking the edict OF Nan
ties, which tolerated Professionalism,
Louis XIV. made the profession OF
the reformed faith wholly illegal.
The revocation was enforced in the
most cruel manner, and not until
the revolution of 1913, was dissent
from the Roman Church recognized
or allowed. Still. during the eigh-
teenth century the Professionals wor-
SHIPPED in secret, and were aided
by funds and missionaries sent by
the thousands of their sympathizing
countrymen who bad fed to other
lands. The revocation was not the
first hostile measure Of Louis.
Twenty or thirty years previous TO
its publication he had dispersed the
Protestant Synod. That body new
or met again until 1872. The
first Napoleon, following the ex-
ample of the revolutionists, had re-
cognized the Protestants, and paid
:heir ministers out of the public
funds, but be did not authorize the
meeting oftheir official body. Mean
while great differences of belief had
groin up. Disguised with the pre-
whence of Whist they deemed here
sy among some % their hre..AssTTs:i,
and disliking State Interference, a
respectable number of ministers and
laymen formed a free church, which
still exists, and is selfsuppOrting.
1t is wholly orthodox, while in the
National church, perhaps two ffths
Of the clergy are either Unitarians
of advanced RajOnalists. Tho total
number of Protestants in the re-
public is $4,000, their number hav-
ing been much reduced by the sas-
sion of AIsace to GermaBy.
The late NJ. Guizot, who was
strongly orthodox, obtained permits
SION from the Theirs Government
for a convocatiOn of the national
church in 1872. Through his inhu-
encc, also, a declaration was adopt
ed piedging adherence to the old,
Huguehot standard, and belief in
thoroughly orthodox doctrines
This was carried, but only by small
majority. The liberals were great
ly Disguised, and in 1873 petitioned
the Sydod OF that year to hold that
the declaration of 1872 was obliga-
tory only TO its signcrs. The petit
TONERS numbered forty-two men,
hers. and the other side sixty-two.
The petition was not granted, and
The liberals withdrew from the Syn
cd. The orthodox majority then
asked the Government to permit
the publication Of the declaration,
and to declare it's acceptance sine
qua non by every candidate for or
dination to the ministry of the Ma
tional Protestant church. This was
granted, and an order issued for
the election of the different local
church offers in the following spring.
The liberals held their elections at
the designated time, but, as they
had not accepted the declaration of
the Synod, thor representatives
were treated by the Government
as disqualified. They can not re-
eeivc the aid which is extended to
the orthodox, and have thus far,
been refused recognition as new
sect, the organization otwhich, they
felt, was Their only alternative.
From the American yoint of
view, all State support of religious
denominations is Objectionable. If
it is afforded, all sects should be
treated alike. 1t is manifest that
there could be no harmony or neal
cooperation between the two wings
of the National Church as a single
body. Their separation was the
best thing for both. This being
the fact, we can not see how q Gov
eminent, which already pays tho
salaries of several radically different
sects, can logically refuse its aid TO
q new dcnomfnation OF Protestants.
The aggregate of donations will not
be increased thereby, but only
differently divided. 1t would be bet
ter, in the long run, for all the
Churches to be left to take care of
themselves, but until this is done,
thorough impartiality should be
avarc,aad