The New York herald., 1875-08-22
Religious Questions ina Europe-The
Conference at Bonn.

European politics questions of religion are
assuming more aud more importance. There
is scarcely day during the sessions of the
great Legislative bodies of the Continent
when the relations Of the Church and the
State are not under careful and angry consid-
Grafton. Ii was only the other day that Mr.
Gladstone issued a new pamphlet, calling
upon his countrymen TO beware Of the adj
vance of the Roman power Within few
days we have had question addressed TO
the French Ministry as to the governments
reasons for forbidding the circulation of this
pamphlet in France. Now aud then we
have a little lull in these controversies, but
it does not last very long. We are sure to
have an allocution from the Pope,
or a threat from the German Chancellor.
or q philippe from the late Prime
Minister of England. Even at home we
find the echoes Of these religious discussions.
In different parts of our country we have
what we thought had died away with the last
generation and the presence Of which we
cannot too deeply deplore- the revival of
religious animosities While.the leaders of
the Church and the governing parties in
different European States are measuring
their strength. the various churches are also
drawing together II is not long since we
had conference of Presbyterian delegates
in London. intended to unite in one harmo-
nious organization every branch of that
widely spreading and powerful Presbyterian
fold We note also that Catholic Congress
has been assembled in France, and that an
American prelate preached sermon TO its
members. In Ohio we have the religious
question assuming sudden and painful in
terest in local politics. while in New York no
one knows when it may not break ont again
with an activity as intense as was shown
during the life of the late Archbishop Hughes.
Tn the presence Of this peculiar condition
Of affairs il is interesting TO read Of the con-
ference which has been held at Bonn between
the English and American clergymen, in
connection with the Old Catholic diyines,
under the leadership Of the celebrated DR..
D0llinger. In this conference there were
about thirty English and American cler-
gynen There were also present several
archimandrites and bishops of the Eastern
Church The proceedings were opened by an
address from DIR. DUllinger In this address
the Doctor proposed that the English and
American and Greek churches, who accept
the Christian religion should unite ION mu-
tual recognition of primitive truth which
may enable each Church to admit other
members of other communions to its priv
ileges." In this confederation the Doctor
does not propose an ''actual fusion of creeds'
or "a sacrifice of national or tradi- |
tiona peculiarities of form. The real |
bond of the proposed union will be
"a declaration of belief in the Chris /
tian doctrine and in religious observances as /
taught by the Bible and by the fathers of the
ancient Church The anticipation of the
founders of this movement is that the Eng
lish Church and the evangelical churches in
America and the Old Catholic fragment in
Europe will unite upon some common basis
How far the Eastern or Greek Church will
consent to this alliance is question. The
difference between the Eastern Church and
the English Church is as wide on matters of
faith as between the Roman Catholic Church
and the English Church. From political or
other reasons there has always been an ami
mostly between the Protestant churches in
England and America and the Roman Catho-
lie Church that never has been shown toward
the Eastern churches. 1t is not long since
the English people welcomed with tumul-
tuous Joy the marriage of the Duke of
Edinburgh TO a Russian princess, raised in
the Greek Church. There has always been an
unusual feeling of courtesy between the prel-
ates of the English Church and those of the
Eastern Church We presume that this arises
from the fact that the Catholic Church is
associated in the minds of the English with |
the ferocious contests of the past, when the !
old popes were struggling to retain their rule /
over Great Britain. This feeling is also in
tensifed by the teachings Of men as eminent /
as Mr.. Gladstone, who insist that the Roman
See is endeavoring to revive the strifes of the /
past even to bloodshed.
The tendency Of Christian churches toward
union is a marked feature Of this generation,
that is n union between the bodies of all
religious denominations opposed to the power
of Rome There is no reason why. upon the
basis laid down by DIR. D0llinger, there
sborld not be an active and har-
monious relation between the Greek
Church and the English Church. Although
the Presbyterans have protested in many
ways against prelacy, and dislike the English
Church as warmly as they do the Church of
Rome, it is still possible that there might be
found common ground upon which even
the Presbyterian churches would maintain
frntcrnnl relations with the old Catholics and
the Eastern Church. The declaration which
Dr. DGllngcr proposes namely, can unam-
bguous exposition Of the substance Of Chris
tan doctrine in practice as taught by the
Bible and the fathers of the ancient Church."
is broad enough, we think, for Methodist and
. Epscopalian, for Old Catholics and Presby-
tcrians. But at tho same time. looking ut