The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-07-11
SUNDAY. READING.
I, Religions ldbcriy ,hEsisss,,,If

ment imposed conditions on the schools
which the Protestants could not accept
viz, the teaching Of the orthodox
faith by priest and the hanging of the
picture of the Virgin on the walls of the
school-room. The Evangelicals, who
have long earnestly contend9d for full
religious liberty, instead of mere toltr-
ation, vigorously ass1iltd the position
of the Government IN the Volas natter
For this they have been accused Of
giving information against and calum-
mating their country. TO this charge
they have recently replied. The sub
stance of this reply, which has been sent
to us from Greece for publication, we
shall now give:
The Evangelical Greeks in Volas,
after the closing of their schools, last
July, sought recognition from the Turk
ish government as a separate religious
community, asking that, in case Of the
union of those provinces with. Greece,
the same religious freedom in reference
both TO worship and education which
they enjoy under the Turkish govern
ment be secured TO them. The minis
ter of England in Constantinople, to
whom the head (ethnarcb) of the Pro-
testants referred the matter, asked DIR.
kalopothakes how much religions lib
erty the Evangelical Greeks enjoyed in
Greece. In answer, he was informed
that the Evangelical Greeks had no oc-
casion to complain ofpersecution or OPP
preston oil the part of the Greek gov
ernment. II had never interfered with
them in their services; but this was due
TO liberation, rather than to acknowl-
edged right. Where, however, tolera-
ton exists, there was Inequality of
rights; consequently, lack of religious
| liberty, =,
In reference to the question of cdu-
cation, even this toleration does not ex-
ist. To no native or foreigner of diff.
fcrent religious belief is It permitted to
establish school in Greece for general
patronage, if the Greek Catechism is
not taught in it by an orthodox priest
and the picture of Christ or the Virgin
hung IN it.
As to toleration in matters of worship
he Evangelical Greeks prove that there
is nothing more by quoting from the
constitution of Greece, which in its first
article has the following:
In Greece the established religion is
he Eastern Orthodox Church ofChrist.
Every recognized religion is tolerated,
and the services of it may be performed
unhindered, under the protection of the
laws"
The absence any official acknowI
edgcment of their church by the gov
crnment, while it is recognized bv all
The Protestant world.
The fact that their chapel is not freed
from the taxes upon houses, which is
| the case with other churches. and the
numerous and repeated demands and
appeals of the orthodox synod to the
Government to close their churches
show that there is toleratlon, but not
liberty. lIl W
In regard to the educational question,
the Evangelical Greeks say that not
only does liberty not exist, but there is
not even tolcration; because to no dis
sentcr, whether citizen or foreigner, is
| it permitted to establish school in
Greece for general patronage without
catechism, priest, and picture.
Minister. Corbet, in communication
to Lord Salisbury, denied that it was
true that the government required that
a picture OF Christ or the Virgin should
be hung in the school-room; but the
order of the Crock minister of eccles-
oical affairs to the Monarch of Attica is
II sufficient refIltation of this denial.
The following is the document:
"To the Monarch Of Att,ca:-You
are requested to make known TO the
applicants that, if they intend to estab-
lish female institution, upon which
scholars oforthodox parents will attend,
they must, conforming to the establish
ed laws OF the state, submit befOrehan
to the ministry, through the monarch,
| A nj ,f ,,,l 1.
taught in the school which they wish to
establish, together with the catalogue
of the names Of teachers, male and fe.
male. In the programme undrOidd6lg
must appear sacred lessons, sacred his
tory of the New and Old Testaments,
and the catechism of our orthodox faith
as also the name of him who is to teach
the lessons in question, who must be a
priest of our own institutions. In the
hall of the lectures must be especially
hung the holy picture of the Motherof
God. a..
'If they are hindcred in conforming
with these requirements of the law, but
desire to proceed in establishing spec
ial school of any known religious de-
nomination, let it be known 10 them
that we have no difficulty in granting
them permission for this object, pro-
vided only the children of Protestant
denominations attend upon such school,
which will, however, continne under
the immediate supervision of the au-
thorities.
''ln this case, however, they ought to
know what responsibility they assume
Tit is discovered that even one scholar
of the orthodox faith has been received
f by them. ....,..... o..
"(Slgned) Til. DELIGIANI, al
minister of Ed. III. and Pub, Inst.
From this official paper ,the caiecbisin,
the priest and the hanging of the pic
turc of the Virgin are made equally oh
I ligatory.
e Rev. Mr.. Hill, of the American Episco-
! pal Church, that the government had
Y not interferred with his work, the
Evangilicals quote from letters Of Nj :.
, Hill TO show that his school work had
not been disturbed because he complied
= with the conditions of the government,
using the catcchism OF the Greek Church
and employing an orthodox priest.
The Evangelicals say they have at
heart, as much as any of their fellow
citizens, the honor and prosperity OF
f Greece, which they believe will be ad-
e vanced by the acceptance of the princi-
pie of full religious liberty. Years ago,
they say, their fathers met and settled
: upon a constitution which would meet
their views. The article on religion
proclaims complete liberty to preach
4 teach and worship. ..-,s. s'r,.l
Now the Disciples are likely TO have
trouble over the question of future