The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-05
RELIGION In SWITZERLAND
IS TESTED BIZ ITS OWN
FRUITS.
Compares FayOrabIy with That of
Other Counties.

Other cOuntfies.
The Swiss are religious nation, and
their religion if tested by its fruits,
will compare favorably with those of
other countries. Professionals include
rather more than three-fifths Of the
population. and they live in the cities
and the lower and more accessible
parts If the country. Roman Catholics
are most numerous in the mountain
districts. Liberty of conscience is pro-
claimed in the constitution, and no one
can be compelled to support church
to which he does not belong. Each
canton has the right to choose its re-
ligion and to use such means as are
needful TO maintain it, and to restrain
sects from encroaching upon the rights
of citizens or breaking the peace. There
are also federal laws against the
Jesuits and against the invasion of the
Swiss church by the papal power, and
the Salvation Army has been prOscrib-
ed on account of it's military character
But upon the whole there is great
degree of practical religious liberation,
enjoyed in Switzerland. And chosen
church of each canton is supported
either from the ecclesiastical proper
ties of the state, or by special tax; but
| If the latter is the case, no one is
obliged to pay the tax if he not MEM
Der of the established church of the
canton. Thus a Protestant living in
Catholic canton. would not be obliged
TO pay any special ecclesiastical taxes
levied in that conton, and vice versa.
There are six Roman Catholic bishops,
with their sees at Basal Coire, Sion,
| St. Gall, Lausanne, Geneva and Fret
burg, but they do not hold or control
| the property, which is in charge of To-
cal trustees, and no priest can hold a
public secular office. The power of the
priest or pastor lies in his ability to in
| fuence public opinion, and the Roman
Catholic system enables the priest to
do this more efficiently than Protes-
tantism does Zurich. Berne, Glarus
and NeuchateI are largely Protestant,
and are the most densely populated
part of Switzerland, Vaud and Appen-
zell-ausser- Rhodes are almost entirely
! Protestant; Geneva, St Gall, the
Grisons, Aargau and Thurgau are
evenly balanced; Freiburg, Zug, Lu-
cerne and Soleure are mostly Roman
| Catholic; while Appenzell-inner
Rhodes, Schaffhausen, Valais, Tessin,
Unterwaldens, schwytZ and rri are
strongly Roman Catholic. The Roman
| Catholic organization does not differ
materially from that of this church in
other countrie~. though 1t is sharply di
vided between "Old Catholics" who
deny papal infallibility and the Ultra
montanes. Both, parties are active and
| intelligent especially in the matter of
education. The Protestant church or
ganization is too elaborate for brief de-
scriptiOn, but 1t has vigorous life and
pervades the federation with far
stronger influence. than any other re-
| ligious system. This is natural, for
while Romanism has the advantage of
organic union and q ecclesiastical con-
solidation Professionalism is the natural
ally of freedom and popular sovereign
ty, which have their home and power
nowhere more strongly established
than among the Alps and lakes of the
Swiss republic. / said that the relig-
| ious fruits of Switzerland will compare
| favorably with those of other lands.
| There is no part of the European con-
tinent where morality and healthy
| family life flourish better than in
Switzerland. Intemperance is the only
form Of immortality that makes any
show, and great efforts are constantly
put forth to curb and reduce this evil
The general life of the people is pure
and homely, female innocence is pre-
supposed and protected, the amuse-
ments and festivities of the young are
athletic and healthful with ut-of-door
games. song societies and deCorous and
modest associations of young men and
maidens
| There is a certain watch and care
over the young which is a part of long
custom and self-respecting life. 1t
would be absurd to say that vice does
not exist; but it is true, that even in
the large cities it not only hides it's
head, but the evil-dOer must hunt for
his opportunity. Those two nations
which have looked so long with COW
etous eyes upon this little republic,
and have talked of the advantage
which its absorption or division be-
tween themselves would be to Switzer-
| land. are mistaken in their estimates.
| Switzerland has more to give than to
get by any such union France and
| Germany might learn much from this
country fthose principles and prac-
tees Of religion and morality which
make and keep nations healthy, strong
| and prosperous.
Swiss religion fosters industry, en-
courages and develops philanthropy,
promotes honesty and thrift and pro-
duces a moderated happiness among
| the people. In the cases of many in
dividuals, it's influence has been world
wide, not only in past times, but during
| the century just closed and the active
mind and persistent investigation of all
subjects of human interest by this peo-
| pie guarantee the same development of
| individual genius and influence in flu
ture. But the Swiss religion has a.
character of its own. 1t has little in
| harmony with Judaism, and while it's
doctrinal sympathies have often been
with the strictest and most difficult