The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-25

Lvpde. delivered very interesting lecture
before the Home Study Association, in
the lecture room of the Broadway Pres
bvterian Church. There was large, select
and appreciative audience present. who
listened with marked attention throughout
the remarks of Mr.. Lynde and expressed
themselves gratifed with the way in which
the subject. was handled.
The subject chosen by the lecturer was:
The relationship of the German En-
pire and the Church. in the middle Of the
Eleventh century, with a general review
of government 10 the former country as
compared with other European countries,
especially France and England" The
state of Germany during the minority of
Henry ", was fully discussed, aud when
that monarch attained his majority. the
condition of affairs in Germany was most
unsatisfactory and the fact of his being
Emperor of Italy really weaken his pow
or in the nation, and led to a series
of troubles with Gregory VII Pope Of
Rome, who assumed the power to ap-
point archbishops and other prelates, and
even assumed the prerogatiye of all tenn
poral power. The kingdom called Ger
many, over which Henry ruled, was OF
itself composed of a number of distinct
principalities. each having its own head.
and of itself independent, The struggle
between Henry and Pope Gregory. cul-
minated in the latter's Eexcommunicating
the former from the church, and so affect
ed ths position Of Henry that after stub
born opposition, he was induced to proceed
across the Alpine SHOWS. and sue for for.
giveness of the Pope. The lecturer
graphically sketched the scene where the
king in the court yard at Canossa. 10 the
most hunilitating manner besoueht abso-
luton This absolution vas granted as g
| matter of expediency Cd the part Of
Gregory, but this potentate's whole energy
was devoted to making the Church 81
Rome supreme in both spiritual aud ten
poral power. The reign of Henry was one
series of struggles, which were described
in foreibie naaner by the lecturer. who
also glanced at the devotion ard submis
sion paid TO the church by both Clovis and
! Charlemagne. The elements compos-
iLs the power in European nation:
were referred TO and contrasted
with what we believe to be strong basis o.
stability in nations. The king, the mobiles
the people and the church, were the com
ponent clements OF strength and these II
| different com binations formed the ruling
power. In support Of certain position:
maintained by ts.e Church OF Rome, ref
ereuce was made to an article By Card
nal Manning in the North Americar
Review, and the changes which took place
in the church were reviewed in a lucid
manner The Internal troubles il the
kingdom of Henry. were a constant souroe
of trouble which finally terminated in his
son, afterwards Henry ". usuFping tbs
power and imprisoning him in HOS. The
ultimat death of Henry ". of which
there are two versions was narrated, and
the forced retirement of the Pope tl
Sslerno in 1864 was also briefly alluded to.
The principalities of Saxony, Bavaria and
| Prussia, were the chief component powers
of the German empire and the fatherland
was shown to be only Of recent date. With
a brief dissertation on what constituted
strength in nations. the lecture, which
was delivered in clear and distinct rDan-
| uer. concluded