The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-14
zWINGLfS TRIUMPH.
An Interesting History of the Swiss
Reformation.
Special Correspondents National Tribune.

Special Correspondence National Tribune.
ZURICH, January Is.
Up to the point at which closed my last
letter. the action of the Regierung of Zurich
in calling all the clergy aud inviting the
laity of the Canton to great disputatioH, the
history of the Swiss Reformation was chiefly
the history OF the Development Of one man
Ulrich Zwingi. At this point, however, this
mans change of view, his revolt from Pope
and bishop ceased to be personal matters and
became grave questions Of the administration
of the Established Church. Frcm the day in
1923 on which the eeelesiastics Of Canton Ia
rich obeyed the summons OF the CantOnis lay
rulers and assembled to decide the open ques-
ton between zwingli's doctrines and the doe
trine of the Catholic Church as expounded by
the Bishop of Constance through his ENJOYS
from that day the history Of the Swiss Reforma-
rapid but conscientious and abiding change of
conviction.
On the day Of the disputation- January %, 4
1523-some six hundred persons assembled in
the RathhaHs in Zurich for the purpose of
deciding the question between Catholicism and
Professionalism. The Catholicism was repre-
sented IN the persons OF the ENJOYS sent by
the Bishop of Constructive Vicar General
Taber and the knight Fritz Won AudsTeil.
Professionalism was represented by Zwingli and
two of his friends The opinions OF the as
sembly were presumably in allegiance. In the
center OF the hall, surrounded by half-circle
OF members of the Great and Lesser Local
Councils, sat zwingli, by table, with Bible
in Hebrew and Greek open before him. He
had published sixty-seven theses, which he
now stood ready to defend.
The BurgOmaster of Zurich opened the dis
putation by stating the reasons for calling the
assembly, and announced ZwinglIs readiness
to defend the theses, and urged every one who
had anything to say against Zwingii or his
dogma, to speak freely without fear of harm.
The knight Fritz Won Audsweil then spoke
on behalf OF the Bishop Of Constance, whom he
represented, as feeling deeply the disc0rd which
reigned in his Bishopric and as desiring peace
and unity.
ZwINGLI's TRIUMPH.
Zwingli then explained that discord had
arisen only from the long established custom
of Disgusting the teachings of God under IN
meaning ceremonies; whence he, who only
tried to bring forward Christ's own teaching
IN ciearness and simplicity, was branded as Q
hereto He added: 81 / hope and trust, yea |
kn0'U that my preaching and dogma is naught
else but the holy, true. and undistorted Gospel,
which God hath spoken through me by the in
spiration of His Spirit. Therefore beseech ]
each and every one who holds my words for
heresy here and now TO make answer. Speak,
L
Tirereupon followed accusations on behalf of
the Bishop of Constance charging that, if
Zwingh had not directly contralicted the
Scriptures, at least he had run counter in word
and deed to the old and praisewOrthy customs
of the Church. This Zwingii was far from
denying, but shreTdIy answered that he con-
eeFned himself with no question as to the age
of ecclesiastical institutions, but only as to
their truth and worth.
Did the bishops envoy appeal from the as
sembly to higher authority? forthwith
ZwingIi appealed from the highest conceivable
| ecclesiastical assembly to the Bible which lay
there on the table, and declared that there were
| as learned men in Zurich ready TO expound il
as any university in Europe could bring for
ward.
| After this followed a long silence. No one
| answered Zwinglis seveR-and-sixty aihrms-
t tons When the pause had lasted so long that
10 hope of an active discussion remained, s
| friend OF ZwinglTs suggested that then recent
mandate from the Bishop Of Constance COM
nianding strict adherence TO the old forms of
/ the Catholic Church could no longer he held
valid unless Zwineli's Theses were answered
here and now: But if the mandate were no
| longer valid, the preacher Of Tislipaeh, who was
| in prison for violating is, must be immediately
/ released.
THE BISHOPS DISCONTINUE.
This challenge drove the bishops envoy into
| the unguarled statement that he had by quot
ing the Scriptures, so convinced the preacher OF
| Tislipach that the prisoner had reeanted all
errors regarding the Virgin and the Saints.
Instantly, Zwingli demanded chapter and
| verse Then the bishops envoy, in his embar-
rassment, hesitated long, and was merciIessly
questioned by Zwingli's friends. He referred
| at last to Luke l: a, and similar passages; 70
| which ZWingli replied that, while these spoke
of the holiness of the Virgin. they proved moth
iagin behalf Of prayer to her, or other interees-
sion. A final silence ensuing, the bUTgeraaster
| adjourned the assembly with the observation
that the lance which had pinioned the
preacher Of Tislipach the texts quoted by the
envoy would not answer for the population Of
Zurich"
In the afternoon the Greater and Lesser
Local Councils proclaimed their decision
'-Tuat Meister Ulrieh Zwingli should 90 forth
as heretofore, III the preaching OF the GOsps
and the Scriptures IS well as he could until hi
learned better,H aud that other preachers mus
follow his example.
An episode more Characteristic of the people
Of Canton Zurich would, believe, be difficult
to discover in tho rich literature OF It's thousand
chroncled years. The participation of the
local government IN Church affairs, the calm
willingness to hear both sides OF the question
the intellectual hasis upon which the matter
was declded-alI this IS Is characteristic OF Zu
rich today as it was in 1923.
The disputation marked an epoch in the de
yelopment OF the Reformation IN the decision
OF the Councils in favor of ZwingIi they as
sumed the responsibility of carrying ont hi:
views. and at no time did they shrink from
this responsibility. Thus Zw.ngIi obtainec
from the outset certain power with which Il
meet the organized might Of the CathOli,
Church, and, what was still more important
the groundwork upon which to build his idea
community, in which Church and State wer,
united.
The practical carrying out of the Reforma
tion went forward quickly, steadily, and, il
the main, peacefully. Masses, pictures. an(
church organs were laid aside; nuns Wen
quietly back from the converts to heme-life
the monks of the three begging orders wer,
united in one monastery; the younger. sfronge
ones being helped TO learn handieraitS, tn,
older ones left in quiet possession until dealt
removed them. The order which had grOwI
up about Zwingli's own Grossntunster was re
organized. the choir being reduced and teacher
: appointed 70 the places thus made vacant
teachers whose daty it was to expound tn
Scriptures three times daily in the church
; The Bible was printed in several editions frUI
Lutheran translations with Swiss cancellations
The marriage laws were removed from the in
risdiction of the Bishop Of Constance an
placed under the administration OF local au
! thorities, IN part clerical and in part lay.
THE PROGRESS OF REFORM.