New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-24

with all his faults. many Of Whlch are Vi
,.o-,, generous character. while some rev are
,,,e the reverse. Emperor William mas always
,.en REGARDED as very religious man. lar more
:. than any Of his predecessors on the 'hrohe
:, Prussia with the exception OF the lathei vi
,,derick the Great, who was wont 10 Cdie
,.osa If his subjects whom he caught pldSihs
,ha tr,ant instead Of going TO chuich OH inc
cah,ath morning. True. he kaisers IDEAS WIN
o~ard 10 Providence are not those OF ordinary
mankind and indicate the existence OF sPocios
~ mysticism. as well as OF a conVicuoh tha' he
Glands in far closer and more intimate re'a-
,,on 70 the Creator than any one else III the
universe. 1t is difficult to find any Of his puolic
u,,erances in which there is not some reference
y. o,ber 70 the Divinity. sometimes in terms of
familiarity that would appear almost oiasphe'h-
Gus II they fell from any other lips IMAM ,hose
~ the Emperor and there is much TO snow 'na'
the teachings of the Holy writ pia! an iihpoi
,ant and continuous role in his daily NE
Hc takes his self-mposed office OF Sunmus
rniscopus of the Lutheran Church IN Germany
., eeriousIv and his influence. like that of
his estirnable consort, has been exercised III .ie
d,rection Of a religious revival throughout his
domnions More churches nave peen ouii' !"
cnrmanv since his succession to the throne than
during the reign Of any four or his predecessors
-, ,ogetber and so widely has it become known
that the quickest road to imperial favor ana re-
- &c IN erect or endow a Lutheran church
that the most generous subscribers 10 'he manu-
come temple consecrated last year at Berlin in
tho presence of the Empress are asserted by the
Rsrlin newspapers to have been the wealthy and
sociallv ambitious members Of the important
Israelite community on the banks of the Spree
e . Kaiser.
end on his personal initiative. that the drastic
and elaborate laws have been enacted not only
against Sunday work. but against Sunday enter
,ainment, laws which insist that the SaDpath
,h,,l he day not only of rest from labor, but
likewise Of rest from revelry and secular a'i'use
mems. day. indeed. devoted to religious exer-
cises and meditation. and to be observed niue"
,r the same manner as by the Puritans in olden
times.
II Is therefore somewhat startling to learn
from the dispatches that the Consistory OF the
Lutheran or state Church Of the Province OF
East Prussia. in which the Imperial game pre-
serves of Romnten are situated. should have
passed at their meeting the other day unan-
;noous vote Of censure upon the Kaiser for hav-
Ing desecrated the Sabbath and violated the
secular laws with regard 10 its observance by
giving big hunting party on Sunday at Rom
inten That the members Of the Consistory
in question should have ventured upon course
so entirely foreign to the attitude OF the clergy
Of the Lutheran Church towards the throne
in times past shows that in the first place
the prestige-~of the Crown mas become greatly
impaireo secondly. that the Emperors teach-
ings with regard to the Divine origin or MS rule
and on the subject OF his infalibility have fall
en- on barren soil. and lastly that he has called
into existence a power heretofore unknown In
Prussia but which is potent as to sway
The destines Of both monarchies and republics
in other parts Of the world. namely, that OF
the Church and of what is known in America
and England as the church element OF the
people.
EXETER HALLS INFLUENCE.
Much Of the policy of Great Britain during
the reign of Queen Victoria has originated IN
Exeter Hall. which is the headquarters OF most
OF the religious movements in England ana
even 10 this day Liberal and Conservative CAM
nets alike are compelled to weigh and consider
the views OF the Hall before emparklng upon
any new course Of action. Here in the United
States religion in its various phases likewise
has TO be counted with in political life But
In Germany during the last two hundred years
the clergy. the Church and the various more or
less secular off shoots OF the latter have played
a yer, small role indeed in the political life.
the ecclesiastical element having been kept en-
t,rel, in the background 1t IS only since the
beginning of the present reign that IL mas ac-
CURED it's present Importance. which has now
grown 10 such an extent that the clergy act
uauv find themselves strong enough TO call
10 account the Emperor himself in spite Of his
claims 10 exercise over them much the same
xrran a l.
prenacy. as that with which ;he Car Is in
ves,ed in Russia. Henceforth, therefore the
Lutheran clergy and the Lutheran Church eie-
ment must be regarded Us a new anu Ne'!
powerful factor in German politics.
II is possible that the Conslstory OF Easter"
Prussia might have abstained from taking the
extreme step OF passing vote OF ceHsu'e uP'''
the Kaiser had It not been for the comment ex-
cited throughout Germany by the sonae"ha'
malicious iuxtaposition in most Of the ne"spa-
ners fortnight previously Of two articles. one
Of which gave an elaborate description OF the
sboo,ing marty BANQUET and theatrical enter
tanment and other species Of festivities organ
ized nv the F,mperor of Austria at the Hung =
rian castle Of Totis in honor Of William. whlIe
in the naral,el column was a proclamation JUST
Issued nv the Governor OF the Province or west
phalia calling attention 70 the lax observance
OF the Sunday laws. and reiterating the pains
and penalties that are prescribed by statute loi
those who shoot sing. dance, play sKittles "r III
duge in any recreation. whether in puDnc or III
private that Is inconsistent with repose on sun
day.
The effect OF this publication was. OF couiS
TO bring before the public in the most strihins
manner possible The Emperors disregard io
the very Laws which owe their existence 10 TIE
initiative and which. while they commend them
selyos 20 a large number % people in Germany
especially 10 those who Interested IN chu'ci
work. are vehemently condemned by the masses
Of the population. who consider them as an u"
warantable invasion Of their rights OF citizen
ship and OF their freedom of conscience. FOR IL
German. o.. ai.au.horo COntlnent o