The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-02
THE PRINCE BISHOP OF BRESLAU.
Fiftleth Anniversary of His Ordination
to the Priesthood.
A Domestic JubiIee---Citizen Honor to
the German Pastor.
BERLIN, May 8. 1875.

BERLIN, May .. 1875.
Most Rev. Heinrich Forester. D. D., the Prince
Bishop OF BresIau one OF the most prominent OF
the Roman Catholic prelates OF Germany, cele-
brated the nth or April last the jubilee or nf-
tetn anniversary OF his ordination to the priest
hood Most OF he German catholic newspapers
awaited themselves or the occasion to give short
account OF his career, ana biographical sketch
OF DR.. Forester was published at Neisse, one OF
the chief towns in Siesia- The jubilee celeora-
non appears TO have been especially splendid, the
Pope himself contributing 10 IL by conferring on
the aged bishop q most rare distinction. some
particulars OF the life OF q man who Is the ooJect
OF so much attention may not be unacceptable 20
our readers, the more so because at this moment
the Prussian government Is pressing forward pro-
ceedings with q view OF deprlvlng him Of his See.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE or THE VENERABLE PRELArE.
Heinrich Forester was born the Gath OF No
vemDer 1899, at Gross Glogau, town on the
ODER near the northern frontier or Silesia. His
father was painter BY profession, but the mar
row circumstances Of his paternal abode early
taught quick witted, earnest boy that life de-
mands q constant ana energetic industry. Some
Of the vlcissitudes OF the Napoeonic wars $500
1879 drove the family from their home; and 10
was not until AFTER rhe fnal overthrow Of French
domination In Central Europe, IN 1913, that young
Forester able 10 return to his native town and
begin regularly his education at the gymnasium
there. Here ne remained until 1891 prosecuting
his stud es with suen dtligence and such aoyan-
tage to himself tina when leaving, he received
high testimonial from the scholastic authorities;
and ne himself later IN life, manifested MS sense
what ne owed TO this frst training, by founding
free PAGES ior scholars IN the gymnasium to INC
his divinity studies win distinction at
the University OF Bresau, and was
Within less than month he was appointed TO .
curacy al Llegnltz, one OF the chief places in the
province; and, ia 1928, the magstrscy OF Lands
vnnaa ogft rho han ltnGi
to their parish Here, beneath the shadow OF the
picturesque range OF "the Giant Mountains" he
Iabored 80 wen and so faithfully Tor nine years
that ne wen the love and devotion o, the whole
parish, so that IL was with the deepest grlel thc
parsnoRers saw him appointed oAe OF the Canons
or the Cathedral Chapter OF Breslau, IN 1887. on
the 18TH or october in that year. he began, In the
Cathedral OF IT. John the Baptlst az Bresiau, thas
series Of sermons Which ne continued Tor sixteen
years, and which soon spread his name far and
vide as one OF the very greatest preachers OF Ger
many. one wei acquainted at the time
with those labors writes OF him :-"Pro-
found conception OF sacred truth, an en-
thusiastic love for the Holy Church, burn
ing zeal for the salvation OF souls speak
out IN every one OF his sermons, the language OF
which mas never been surpassed in brinlancy and
elegance. And with TINS nthusIasm which found
utLerance IN his eloquent words, he succeeded In
infamlng mis- hearers many oil whom mad come to
lisIen out OF mere cur osity, and at time OF
lamentabie indifference he was able TO hight mp
again IN their hearts the almost extinguished
name OF faitn ana OF love Ier ther molly Motner
Cnurch.r
Canon Forester did NOT ind himself as happily
pulpit. He was Councillor TO the Vicar Generals
department, al once IN which all the business OF
tie vast Diocese OF Breslaa was transacted The
question OF mixed marriages was enc of the burn
ing topics oil the hour everywhere, especially In
Germany, and nowhere more taan " Prussia. Two
arcnDisnops ftnose OF Cologne and Posenl were nc
this very time IN prison Tor refusing to acquesce
in the orders OF the then King OF Prussia, Fred
eric Willlam ILL.,, one OF the meanest ana most
narrow minded men who ever sat upon q
throne, and at the same-tlme most profoundly lm-
pressed with seli-SatiEhed cOnvicton Oi royal
omnpolence and infallDilty. THIS royal despot
made an ordinances that the children OF all mixed
MARRIAGES OF PrussIan ofnclals should be brought
up 10 the religion OF tue state e., as Protestants
although ne had solemniy pledged himself 10 Sc
cure perfect equality IN al respects Tor bis Roman
CATHOLIC subiec,s. The Prlnce-Bshop oil Bresau
OF tnat day, Won SedlntZky, was q man who would
nave thoroughly satisfied the most Blsmarcklan
era1ons or eccle lastlc4l propriety to hinder his
compliance with the wishes Of any government
cathedral preacher could agree with such a en- e[
aud 30 he Was always engaged IN controversies
with his BishoP, chiefly regarding the m irriage
question, whoa occasioned him the creates affic-
ton and trouble. Al last Sedlnitzky resigned the
Bisnoprc. He retired to Berlin, where ne obtained
a high Official appointment closing his career
by getting marrled-a scandal unparalleled in
this century even IN Germany Tue election OF a
successor 10 the vacant see rested with the chap
ter Inc reforming party, at whose head was
Forester, struve 10 get Dtepenbrock, an energetic
man chosen but in vain; tine old Dean, Knauer
was eleci ed. he lived only year as bishop, his
death having been certainly fastened by the
anxietles and haraaslng responsibilities OF MS
IL May, 1874. IL was q period OF crisis Tor the
Catholic church In Germany, and especially In
S,iesla. IL was tho era OF kongeism, The fore
'oLD CATHOLICISM
Tne leader OF this movement was Ronge, who
had been chaplain al Grottkau, out was suspended
on account OF his tnnovaiing doctrines. Just At
TINS time nc was acting as domestic lntor a. Lau-
rahut'e, and on OCTOBER l, 1874, ne published an
insulting letter addressed 10 Or. wilnam Arnold
the Bishop OF Ireves, with the motto AWAY from
Romei1 (LOS ron ROm.l THIS was the signal for
A
which swept over Sllesla. IL was truly time Of
AGITATION ana trial for spirits. lne courage and
elGquence OF the cathedral preacher soon bore
him into the tnickest Of the storm. ON the twenty
fourth Sunday after Pentecost mat gear tNoyem-
was Il ken from IL parade OF the cookie tMattnvw
xln) and he TOOK as mis- text the words tveTs 20
"Wnie men were asleep toe enemy cametu
preaching a sermon which At once became famous.
lt was translated into French and Polish, and
huuoleus ~ tnVusanus VI evpivS 49, VI suaa.o1
al over Germany BISHOPS aud clergymen, and
even laymen wrote their congratulations 70 the
courageous preacher. me indlgnauon Of the
Rongeites was pToportOndDly great Iney
moobed MIA In the streets. tHey created disturb
ances IN the Cathedral and threatening letters
were addressed to him. A sOrt OF b0dyguard OF
CaIh0nc citizens Of Bresau vas formed 10 escort
hlm home after nis sermons. u vas ~ the midst 81
10 the new election to nn the vacant see. Again
Forester exerted himself and this time success
fully, ana ais friend Melcnior Dlepenorock was
chosen; but IL needed the express com nand Of
the Pope 20 overcome the reluctance OF this
modest scholar and poet and induce him 70 accept
were made from several quarters 20 Canon
Forester. The Chapter OF hayence named him 10
succeed 10 the tnen vacant see 81 81. Bonliace. Ia
1851 ne vas named to al Austrian bishoprie. But
on botn occasions he was able 20 decline tue
honorable burden
BISHOP.
In January, 1853, Bishop DlepenbrocK twho had
been made carGinall dled, and Dr. Forester
was elected ms successor. IL would De dmcult-
Impossible In short nOtice-to do justice ~ tue
Immense improvement wrought IN the diocese DUR
ing MS twenty-three years. administration. Every
year ne mas hau missions aud conferences hello 10
different places BY able and experienced preachers
No labor and no sacrifice has been summed ~
MN to extend ana improve the institutions con-
nccted with education. rne JUNIOR seminary aud
the College 81 Residence for university divinity
students. BOTH FOUNDED nv MIN, attest this. re
was equally socitous about The primary schools,
spending large sums upon them, ana was q
munIncent DeneiactOr TO ne Teacnefs Wla0wS
Fuud, &C. Everywhere ne ENCOURAGED the I'M.
provemeut ofeXlsttna churches ana the building "
naw ones out o. his own means ne built the spicn
old church OF 1t Michael al cost Of over 100000
inalers tsI50000l. For social needs also no mad