The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20

authors statement ut was chieny for
his attachment to wyclif that he got
into trouble at Prague and was burned
at Constance"
Three mighty currents were running
through the life OF Prague, a moral
movement involving reform OF the
clergy, one Of doctrinal reform
centring in wyclifry, and a civic bat
tie In which the Czech populstion
strove for supremacy over the Ger
mar element: and Huss was a leader
in them all. He boldly attacked the
vices of the clergy, he openly
preached the wyclif doctrine. and II
was his championship OF the native
cause In the university that gained
for him in 1909 the rectorship. So
bitter had the fsht been that In laos,
when the Czech academic nation"
acquired voting strength superior to
that Of the other nations" in the
university, the foreign professor and
students. some 5000 of them. Sc
coded. In that schism the University
OF Leipsic had its origin. and with II
began the German opposition that
followed Huss into the trial chamber
at Constance. Denying that he had
fomented Teuton- Bohemian anlmosity.
he declared that he loved a good Ger
mar better than a bad Bohemian
brother. and good English priests bet
ter than wicked Bohemian priests.
Was the ambiguity In this perhaps In
territorial? Did Huss meal that all
English priests were good and all Boz
hemian priests wicked? Magister
Johannes Of Husinecz chose his words
not wisely but toe well.
Huss became the chief popular
force in the city" and an open OPP
ponent Of his Archbishop. Zbynek. who
had favored him greatly until he
began to fear the power OF his "
making. In I410 Zbynek had the
books Of wyclif publicly burned, an
religious troubles Of Prague and in
the career OF John Huss. The. Arch
bishop proclaimed the excommunica-
ton Of all who had any Of wyclifs
writings in their possession; the uni
versity denied his authority. Huss
preached to a crowded house. BE
hold" he said. Il have appealed
against the archbishop's decree AMI
do now appeal. VIII YOU stand bv
me?" The people cried. We will.
We do stand by you" He then called
upon the congregation to stand fast
and pay no heed to the decree Of ex-
communication.
Huss said In a letter that he had
but gently touched the tail OF Re
hemoth. which is Satan. and Behe-
moth had opened his jaws to swallow
up both him inc his brethren In
stead Of a local affair in church politics
the battle became 1.-THE concern 81
Latin Chrstendom." The archbishop
died. and Huss had now to face the
Pope. He did II boldly; rather. some
would say. rashly. He might have
gained his end possibly at less cost.
He declared that III the Papsl utter
ances agree with the law OF Christ
they are to he obeyed. but II they are
at variance with It then Christ's dis
ciples must stand manfully against all
Papal bulls. and be ready. II necessary
to endure malediction and death.
When the Pope uses his power In an
unscriptuIal way, to resist him is
not a sin. II is a duty.
The contumacious theologian was
communicated; and II was an "ag-
gravated' accommodation that Car
dinal Colonna pronounced upon him
The faithful we're instructed to avoid
him in all places, to refuse him hos.
pitality. fire and water. Any place
that harbored him was interdicted
II he died while bound by the censure
church sculpture was to be denied
him. II already dead when the sen
tence was pronounced, his body mus
he disinterred. by speaking OF
standing or rising up. by walking oI
riding, by salutation or association. by
eating or drinking. by cooking or Ia
boring, by buying or selling or fur
nishing clothes or shoes. by giving
drink or water or any OF the othei
necessities Of life. by offering consola'
ton or any help whatever, all the
faithful Of Christ We're enjoined from
having any part or lot with the un'
fortunate man. and any n presum
ing to do 50 was also to share in the
anathematization." His chapel wa.
to he destroyed. as a nest Of heresy.
Huss left Prague. After a brief Sc
Clusion he went, under Imperial safe
guard. to appear before the Decumen
ical Congress at Constance. OF which
his case was made the first business
In the common form Of this his
tory ne suffered treachery at tn
hands Of King Sigismund but hac
an honest trial; in DR.. Schar'i
,lx-, 49, D1ll.h Lta- 80 No trottAr
conviction OF heresy cancelled. in tn
custom Of the time. all pledges oil oh
legations to the convict-but the tria
was unfair, the accused was pre-
Judged. Huss. r%eaflrmins all that h,
had preached. denied that tho preach
ing had been heretical. But 20 Ortho
dox churchmen only ono view wa!
possible: Huss was a rebel and
dangerous one. He had to be crushed
So they crushed him; but Ibis sou
went marching on" He was unques
tionably an influence subversive o
church rule and discipline. He tool
the torch Of tolerance when II fel
from Wyciif's hand. and passed II OF
to Luther.
The long arguments Of the trial wer,
%lightened by dramatic interludcs:
Then Huss went on to speak of tn
chief priests. scribes and Pharisees win
delivered Christ to PLATE. saying, 1T I
not lawful for us 20 put any ono q
death" These were more Migrant muir
derers, he continued. than plate. for Chris
said. He who hath delivered Me up haiti
the greater sin" Then the buzz turned
TO a tumult. and the council cried out
"who II like unto those scribes an
Pharisees7 do you pretend to mean thos
who deliver a hereto over to the secu,a
arm - Hnss rerlied: "Those. mean