The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1889-01-25

from 1lOO to I5O0, in the chain of history.
Prior to the transmission of the apostolic
succession, just narrated, Bohemia and
Moravia, then independent States, but
now provinces of Austria, were strong
holds of Romish superstitions. 1t was
about the middle of the 9th century that
the Cheskian Slavonians, who at that
time inhabited these countries, were con-
verified to Christianity, partly through
the efforts of the Roman Catholic, chiefly
through efforts of the Greek church. At
the expressed desire of Prince Rastislav,
himself a Christian, the Emperor Mich
ael, in 1858, sent from Constantinople two
brothers, Cyril and Methodius, in order
to preach the gospel. They became the
apostles of the Bohemians and Moray
ians. In the year ST., the Prince of Boz
hemia, Boriwoy, and his wife Ludmild,
being on visit to the Moravian court,
embraced Christianity and were baptized.
This led to the conversion of the Bo-
hemian nation. Many churches were es-
tablished in the two countries, over one
of which in later times Michael Bradac-
ius governed and everywhere a Slavon-
ian ritual was introduced. This was the
foundation for the national church feel
ing and liberal principles, which distin-
guished the Bohemians and Moravians
over against the pretensions of the Rom
ish hierarchy. The Popes exerted all
their influences possible to bring them
,,n1ar thai. o,rnrap,anu and I'm InS0
Gregory VII succeeded. The hearts of
the people and of many of the priests re-
manned steadfast in the faith of their
fathers and were ready to welcome re-
former and, in the midst of the darkest
period of the dark age, men arose
amongst them who approved themselves
heralds of Truths great champion,
through whom those principles were pro-
mulgated which led to the establishment
of the Brethern's or Moravian Church
distinctively. In 1873, John Huss, the
immediate forerunner OF the Brethren,
was born in the southern part of BOhe-
mia. The careful study of the writings
of Wickliffe deepened his resolutions to
understand the Scriptures. In Bethle-
hem church at Prague, with all his pow
er and eloquence, he attacked the moral
corruption of all classes, particularly
that prevailing amongst the clergy. He
aroused public indignation against the
indulgences sold by command of Pope
John and the papal bull was publicly
burned. He was, in consequence, ex-
communicated. Shortly afterward, he
was cited before church council at Con-
stance, then treacherously imprisoned,
tried and, refusing to recant, was burned
alive as hereto, July 6, 14l5, on his
43d birthday and his ashes cast into the
Rhine. Next year, his friend and coad-
iutor, Jerome of Prague, met the same
fate. These acts reused all Bohemia and
| a powerful party, called the Hussites,
flew to arms and the sanguinary Hustle
war followed. For the first time in CEN
| turtles, whole nation, not merely the
knights, but the artisans and peasants,
took up arms in defense of religion and
their country. Before their rolling wag-
ons, which they built in Old Testament
style into barbados around their camps,
before the sound of their inspired battle
| hymns and before their scythes, clubs
fails and spikes, the kings army turned
and fed, often before they came in sight
Thus the Hussites won many victory
under Ziska, their blind leader; the mos
decisive one at Deutschbrod in l421. A
last effort against them was made in l43l
and then all attempts to conquer Bohe'
i mia by force were abandoned. Unfortu
/ nateIy, the Hussites commended for politi
cal besides religious ends and the result
was that two parties were formed; TIN
i Calixtines, whose chief purpose was th'
restoration to the laity of the cup in tn
Lords Supper and the Taborites, wh'
demanded general reformation of tn
church. The latter party was the mos
: enlightened of the two. In 1431-1443
certain concessions were granted TO tn
Bohemians by thu Council of Basic an
these were accepted by the Calixtine
and rejected by the Taborites. This wa
! productive of war between the two pal
: ties and the latter were totally ovel
thrown, whilst the former became til
: constituted National Church of Bohemis
: under the reign of Albert, son-in-law {
l Sigismund, who was the founder of tn
/. house of Hapsburg. Corruption soon III
: dermined the National Church, as we
f as the hierarchy and the numerous SECT
: that arose about that time were distil
= guished rather for fanatieism than SCUM
h doctrine or principles of true piety.
o the head of the Bohemian church stoo
+ Rokyzan. Some of the Calixtines,
t the midst of all this degeneracy, gathe
n ed together at Prague, as members I
S the Theyn church, in which Bokyza
+ preached. No outward confederate
e existed amongst them From the ranl
IA of these men sprang the founders of Il
|, established Church of the Brother
n Rokyzan, partially owing to conviction
Z. but chiefly on account ofdisappointme
!, in not securing from the Pope his cons
:, Grafton as Archbishop of Bohemia, b
II gan to inveigh against the corruptions
IT the National church and Romish cler,
II and exhorted a return to the principl
n of Huss. This gave life to the men
II Prague. An immediate reformation W
IS planned. Forpolitical reasons, Rokyz
o hesitated and this band of reformers.
IS his suggestion, retired to the shadow
in the Giant Mountains, thus relieving h
r of their temporary embarrassing pr
to- o,,co Tho ;rha h;taufo r,f t1,e rar~;<,.,
N which this band repaired were oppos
n to the principles of Romanism and Mid
e ael Bradacius, a priest amongst them.