Year: 1868

The Vienna correspondent Of the London Times
gives the following account OF the new sect called
the Nazarenes, which lately attracted atten-
tion in Hungary


Hungarian Catholics are. as rule, the most
easy going people OF any in matters Of religion.
This Is probably owing somewhat to their having
been, II not the dominant, at least the State re-
ligion, professed by the majority. Things being
thus made comfortable. something similar has
Church towards the latter half Of the last century
The higher clergy being more richly endowed than
any other Church, except the Anglican Of
old, and never being threatened In its posi-
tion had little or no inducement to exert itself and
see that the religious feeling was kept alive. The
usual result has followed; what was not done from
above 10 being done from below, and the clergy
begin to be frightened ut the consequences.
There is no Wesley, but 2 new sect has arisen in
the bosom Of the Catholic Church which promises
to 60 further than Wesleyanism, and to cause
great deal more trouble. On the lower part Of
the Thesis district, and in the great plain between
that river and the Danube, in the very midst Of .
has arisen, the followers of which cail themselves
Nazarenes. No one seems to know where 1t comes
from, no ono can tell when 1t was introduced, or
how IL has found its way into those outlying dis
trcts, almost shut out from oil intercourse with the
rest Of the worlds butt seems to attract the peasant
class OF pure Hungarian stock as powerfully a.
Methodism does the population of Wales. Il is
only among the lower GLASSES that it seems spread
ing, and spreading with q rapidity which makes
people uneasy. Under the old system the pro-
cess, from obvious reasons, went on with the
greatest secrecy-such, indeed, that little more
than vague surmises existed as to its nature; but,
now that every one ID allowed great freedom Of
movement, the new sect has come out more into
daylight Still the daylight has been hitherto but
faint dawn, so that but little can be distinguished
OF its real character. Single teuets alone have
transpred hitherto. and oven people who live
among them seem to have no clear idea Of this new
religion. ..-.7


The name Nazarenes would imply that they con-
slider themselves in connection with Christianity,
although, perhaps, it means likewise that they do
not recognize the divine nature Of Christ. They
admit no priest class, but whoever feels inspired
IN the congregation gets up and speaks and prays.
do not know whether they have any other re-
hgous rites, but the absence of priest class must
probably be taken as sign that they have none.
They refuse to have their children baptized and
Will swear no oath. The communities form closely
connected societies, in which not only matters OF
common interest, but even the private affairs OF
individuals are discussed and arranged. Whether
as some suppose, this community goes really so
no data to decide, although there is an unmistak-
able socialist tiDge in the whole affair. They do
not acknowledge any sacred character in marriage,
but it is equally uncertain whether, as some again
would have it, this means polygamy or even com.
munity Of wives.


You will have already remarked that there are
some features which seem taken from the tenets
of the Society of Friends and it would be, indeed,
curious phenomenon to see this society, which IL
dying out and being transformed everywhere else,
arise in its old shape in this corner Of Europe.
have not heard of any distinctive signs in dress or
appearance but all agree that the followers Of this
new sect are quiet, orderly, sober and industrious
above their neighbors.


Still there has already been some question
about them in the last sitting of the County
Assembly Of Pesth. As they refuse to bring their
children to be baptized they cannot be registered
the registers being kept in church, and one of the
district judges applied for instruction on the sub
ject to the county; this very properly made the
distinction between the religious rite Of baptism
and the civil ordinance Of registration and decided
that they were free to use the former or not, but
had to submit to the latter.