The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-26

defect In the doctrines Of this religion,
viewed merely IS such. ! allude TO the
fact that under the laws, not to be q
member Of the State church is to De
placed cigilly At q disadvantage In many
respects. For instance, II a young per;
son d not confirmed and Is not registered
as a dissenter, marriage is not permitted.
In that case also other privileges are
curtailed. And the result OF this again Is
evil. For example, ten per cent o. Tue iS
children born in Sweden aretlieginma!e.
One can readily see how the restrictions
mt mon marriage by the law In regard
r. CONFIRMATION must tend TO such re-
anil, The profession Of other rell'
eions than those Of the established
Church Is now allowed. Even ,, sne
Jews, who formerly were ioroiud iIn
10 enter the country, can now tesiue
here and have ali the privileges Of other
c;tissns miles possibly that Of holding
office But nevertheless complete tolera-
t;on ia moi practically enjoyed. can IL
in rUr a. from facts. The Methodistsof the
TTS;isJ States have missions in both Swe-
Sen and Norway. Bishop Andrews is
over here during tho present month for
he purpose OF presiding at their confer
ences. And may observe, while touch
ing this topic, that I have met the super
intendent OF the Norwegian Methodist
Missions himself Norwegian and evil
IDENTIFY man Of intelligence and worth.
l am satisfied as to the great need Of just
such q man as work in which he and his
brethren are engaged. And they are
amid great difficulties, and especially IN
spite OF the opposition Of the clergy Of the
state church, doing great deal. But to
come back to my illustration. In Nor
way the members OF the dissenting church,
es cannot hold office. To be postmaster
or a Captain in tile army a man must be
confirmed and be in the established
church. Instances have occurred in
which conversion to Methodism
has been OF necessity immedi-
ately followed by resignation Of or
dismissal from office. And in Sweden
Methodist ministers have been thrown
into prison because, without having reg.
istered themselves as dissenters, they
have preached as Methodists. And no
dissenting clergyman Is allowed to
preach except at some place especially
designated. But on the other hand, any
man who can answer the necessary ca
techetical questions can be confirmed, no
matter what Is the manner Of his life.
The law also says that he must when con.
firmed 20 10 the .sacrement Of the Lords
Supper. / have heard Of well authenti.
Gated cases, in which persons who have
ridiculed the idea Of faith in Christ, have
nevertheless been in good standing in the
State church. Whist, is such system,
but one Of setting reward upon dis.
honesty and a discount upon true con.
scientiousness? Sweden and Norway
both have much yet to learn In the way
OF complete religious liberation.
In fact must abate a good deal what
L said in my letter from Norway in re.
gard to the progress Of spiritual minded.
ness among the clergy or the people. !
fear that there Is little Of it outside Of
the handful OF Dissenters who are in
these lands. There is certainly none Of
the spirit OF Christian Union here. The
Methodists are opposed in every possible
way by the regular clergy. Halls which
can readily be had for dancing are at
their instigation refused them for pur-
poses OF worship. These itinerant mis-
sionaries are denounced Us false prophets.
A proposal was made some time ago to
institute branch OF the Christian Union
in Christiania. But the State clergy set
their faces against it as thing for which
there was no necessity in their land, and
the movement came to nought. When
walking the streets OF the Capital OF Nor
way the other day l saw an advertise
ment, in the native language, Of service
which would invoke the reading Of one
OF Moody's sermons and some OF Sankey's
songs. l thought 10 myself that this was
indeed hopeful. But upon inquiry l was
amazed to learn that the advertisement
was not Of a religious service, but Of a
sort Of theatrical performance Of which
Moodys sermons and Sankey's songs
were 10 he the attraction. Perhaps
this was an extreme case. It may
be that have drawn the picture too
darkly; there may be more good at
work than 1 have discovered. But with
all proper attachments, the picture OF the
religious state OF these lands cannot
properly be regarded as bright, State
churches seem everywhere to end in
spiritual deafness.
PLACE IN HISTORY.