The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-10-28

the fret place either he himself or the
electors may appeal to the Supreme Eccle-
siaatical Council, which is really no more
than tho Ministerial department for Pro-
testaDt affairs. THE ia the body whose
internal commotions drew forth that letter
from the King to which we have already
referred, in which his Majesty laid such
stress on the necessity of maintaining pa
rity of faith, and especially belief in the
divinity of Our Savior. 1t is notorious that
this Su preme Council is divided in its views,
the majority inclining to adhere to the old
traditional maxim, quietd non mouere,
which is practically interpreted by them to
mean that Rationalists are not to be dis
turbed. 1t is not go long since that DR..
Sydow, an old man, formerly pupil of
Schleirmacher, having expressly denied the
divinity of Christ, was deposed by the
Consistory but the Supreme Council, on
appeal, reinstated him. Herr Hossbsch
would surely be justified in expecting that
similar lenieucy would be extended to
himself. The other course which may be
followed ut present, and -IHust- be followed
in the event of the final decision beipg G
adverse, will be to proceed to new cleo
ton. A few days ago it vas suggested that,
should Hossbach be rejected, Schumann
(the other candidate who received eight
votes on May BY should be chosen. He
also is au advanced "Liberal," although he
has not go hagrantly committed himself as
Hossbacb. But now the motto is 'No
Surrender" 1t is now understood that the
rejected candidate is to be re elected. 10
this the electors will not be stepping one
inch beyond their legal rights. Should the
Government, after months of struggle,
| force on the parish al "orthodox" clergy
man, the parecbial- -represeutati will
| refuse to vote his salary. 1t will be inter-
esting, should this threat be carried out,
| to observe the attitude of the Prussian
Government and the legal tribunals to-
| wards this recafctrant parochial board,
which considers that man who denies the
fundamental dogmas of Christianity is the
| most suitable person to be pastor of Pro
! testant parish in Berlin.
But. there is graver eide to this matter.
| The Consistory has refused to sanction
Herr Hossbach's appointment to the parish
] of st. j ames on the ground of his erroneous
doctrines. But it will not disturb him il
HIS position at St. Andrews. His heretcal
teaching is recognised as disqualification,
| gu fl cient to disable him from ascendio G
| the one pulpit, but not sufficient to call for
| his removal from the other. Is it that the
| souls in tho one parish are of less impor
| tance than those in the otherP The man
| himself has acted in the most straightf0r-
ward way. He looks on the whole edifice
of Christianity as ridiculous, and the facts
| upon which it rests as contrary to reason.
Yet, this man is permitted to preach from
q pulpit to congregation, the majority of
whom certainly still profess their belief in
Christianity. Can we need a stronger
proof of the disintegration of Prussian
Protestant utismf 1t is small thing COM
paratively, that the Berlin Liberal papers
should howl dismally OF furiously at the
refusal OF the Consistory to approve Hoss
bach's election. Some of them declare that
they expected the Inconvenience sure to
follow upon this refusal would have deter
red the Consietory and frightened them
into acquiescence. What a judgment upon
men, who are by their Office and solemn
professions guardians of the remnant of
Christian truth which still subsists in that
| Protestant land.