The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-07-25
s,s' %ST sIS7SFffs,iSjJi iii. n.

CHRISTIAN literature, the numerical as
cendancy Of German Professionalism he's
tict yet been IN The least affected. 2Tle
percentage Of the population whidh is
registered in the Protestant church
books, which contributes TO the fupport
OF Protestant worship, and sends the
children TO be instructed in the doc.
trines of the Reformed churches does as
yet show no decrease whatever. On
the contrary, large numbers of persons
who were formerly hostile or indifer-
ent to religion have become alarmed at
the outspoken aims of the Sociallsts,and
are in earnest search for a religion of
the future. The school-teachers' asso-
ci tiohs, which in Germany are more
thoroughly organized than in any other
country of the world, are unanimously
making front against the anti-religious
platform of the Socialists; and the Cen
eral German Teachers Convention, at
its meeting in 1879, gave prominence to
The discussion on the religious instruc-
ton of the youth. From the statistical
reports on the churches of Berlin it ap-
pears that there has been steady in
crease in the number OF commtinicAnts
since 1871, and that in 1878 st rose to
over 100000. Similar reports are pub
lishcd from other larger cities.
The German churches have for a
number of wears been undergoing a
great transformation in regard to church
government. which ia likely 10 ha con,-
pletcd in the course of The nresent Year
The government bv consisfories. which
were appointed by the sovereiy,,. = has
cvervwl,ere been modified by The intro.
duciion of state synods. elected by the
clergy and laiiy of the churches. I'm
nearly ali the smaller state. the svnods
are now I'm rebnIo,. onerat;oe In P,.ns-
sia provinaiaI syuoeIs haye beon oroan;z.
ed in all the proyiuces. and il is cxncct.
ed that General National SYNOD viii
be invoked before the end of the nres-
ent wear. The comnctitive efforts made
bv the religious parties at the election
of sypodai delc1ates lnve nroved a
powerful check 10 tho former anathv
and indifference. ana conion,tlv With
other causes. are likely TO produee ere
long great change in the asnect of
German Protestapism. II is a note
worthy fact that at these church elec-
tions the Eliberal or rafionaIisf sfic marty
has deyelopcd much less STRENGTH than
its leaders anticipated. and thai II NAV
be REGARDED nc certain that .pv tur,hn,
advance in this direction or thn sole.
GOVERNMENT of Protestant stltc cbnrch.
rs will keen pace with further re,,res-
sion of ratioialistic Tendencies. Evcn
now ratiouaIism il so ranidlv loe;nT
ground that the Pro,estant Hmm ,le
central ORGANIZATION of tbe Rafionol;sts
has engaged in an earnest discussion of
the question whether it would no, be
l....s Al. =
from the state churches and organize
Free Protestant Church on a doctrinal
basis similar TO that of the Unitarians.
In the Grnnd-duchy of Hesse about
1900 persons have recently left the
state church; and in Prussia rational
islic clergyman of some reputation, DR..
kalthofi, has established in Berlin Il
tree congregation; but large majority
of the members OF the Protestant Union
have very decidedly declared against a
secession from the state churches and
are determined to continue their diff
cult struggle for the enjoyment of equal
rights. .
There is yet but loose connection be-
tween the national churches of the sew
eral states. At the time when the Ger
man Empire was re-established the
convC cation of an Imperial Protestant
Synod was proposed; but no practical
steps in that direction have ever been
taken. The only official board which
in some way unites the German Prot
estants of tine twenty-six different states
is the German Evangelical Church Con-
ference, which since 1916 has met at in
tcrvals Of one or two years at Eisenach,
Luther's birthplace. The government