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    1188 THE LEADER. [Sa-tk^ay/

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    IJI/TRAMONTANTSM IN GERMANY. (jUltOT Alt...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    Mao Dal Un A 8yl 17m.S. Notwithstandino ...

    town , the Honourable and Reverend B . Liddell , successor of the Reverend W . E . Bennett , of St . Paul ' s , JKnightsbridge , the Honourable and Eererend C . A . Harris , and other gentlemen connected with , the Church or with estates in the county , appeared as speakers and supporters The institution was established at the suggestion of the Church Penitentiary Society , which comprises twelve Bishops . The object of the society is two-fold . It is to supply an asylum for penitent wanderers of the female sex , and to afford occupation or

    organization for Protestant ladies , who desire to enrol themselves in a religious sisterhood . They will be bound together * says the Bishop of Oxford , " by the rules of their own Church" —a statement not easily to be understood by those who know the rules of the Church of England . The Bishop ' s remark , that there are no precedents for such religious houses within th « Church of England , appears incompatible with the other statement ; while his discovery , that pure-minded women are not contaminated by intercourse with the fallen , also shows how little the Protestant

    Church had previously learned on some subjects of religious discipline . In separating from the Church of IRome , the Protestant Church , with the abuses , repelled many of the excellences of that Church ; and amongst the excellences , not the least , was an opportunity for disappointed minds to seek solace and repose in a religious retirement , where pious exercises should be varied by works of benevolence . That a church must be imperfect which forbids social retirement of this kind is self-evident ; and we believe that the Bishop of Oxford and his friends are supplying a serious defect in their Church . How far they are departing from its essential character , it is for them , rather than for us , to ¦

    say . . " The second department of the institution involves an asylum for those women who have broken the great conventional law of this country in regard to women . Another discovery which the Provost of Eton has made , he confesses , since he turned his attention to the subject about four years ago , shows how new its obvious truths are to these gentlemen : he lias found out that " these unfortunate women should not be regarded with disgust ; " that " there are men who loolc down with contempt on the victims of their own

    wickedness ; " another inquirer has discovered " that women are misled through abuse of the very feeling b y whicli their restoration is to be worked ;" and the Bishop of Oxford has been newly taught that " woman falls more often through weakness of character than obstinate purpose . " How little the dignitaries of the Church have yet investigated the great curse of the country ! Indeed , they are as yet but scratching the surface . They are providing asylums for the Magdalens : when will they ask themselves whether they can help in stopping the supply of Magdalens ? And howr Edward Gibbon Wakelield describes a

    girl Hitting forlorn before the gates of an institution , at which in her total poverty and helplessness she had applied for assistance , and had received the answer that she could not have it because she was not qualified : it was a Magdalen institution .

    1188 The Leader. [Sa-Tk^Ay/

    1188 THE LEADER . [ Sa-tk ^ ay /

    Iji/Tramontantsm In Germany. (Jultot Alt...

    IJI / TRAMONTANTSM IN GERMANY . ( jUltOT AltTICM . ) A QfiAUP chain of Roman flacerdoUlifim , organized liko the Chaine de Npblo . SHe of tho old regime , is . stretched ovqr the whole of Hotith Germany . This thcocratical lwyjuo receives its vlot d ' ordre regularly from the Vatican . It has for its European allies iVl ontalembtart the Jesuit , Veuillot the inquisitor , and that , spiritual Guy FawlcoH , who is officially styled Cardinal -Wiseman . This hmguo strives to re-establish tho good old times of J ' ope Ilildobrand . It acts in conceit throughout all Germany . It has regular raiirlncatioiisstud important oonno . xionH even in Prussia , where a jnoiVarcli half mad nbout tlie " right divine , " .-i / feots owtwiri ecclesiastical vairaries somewhat

    resembling Englinh PuseyiHin . — -TJw « tfM ^ « $ 'f t " out : U 10 party waxen strong through Jhfc J ^ HAKti mi h ¥ tmVpctty German govoriuncntH , doHti-/ Mj ^^ pl ^ ttJr ^ BJ ^ vi ^ s " ui > i > ort from their peoples , whoso /^ 4 f ^ \^ 0 ^^^^}^^\ n' "'""¦"' -iilceablo , and whose |^/ j ^ it ^ tft 1 ^ .. j ^ l ^ " ;' rtl U ^«| Vl < l i >« check by t . lita terrorism of ¦ 't ^ i ^ P ^^^ ' ^^ ' ^> - ' . V ° V Ci ) H ( 'aff . '' Any shock to the \ - ^ Vwrflh ^^^ v * h jrf j 0 | r ^ i ( exclaims tho . A rchbishop of V ^ ' ^ Jb ^^^ - 'JiO' ^ IWi l ^ vGrjiiiiwiit of Badon ) in an equal \ ^ unfi ^ w ^^ - ^^ ' 6 r ^ iwt \ xonty . Remember tins days ? J ^ WPiilHMJU 4 $ WI & W * '' iwder . " - ( Declaration of tiio EiMlAli !* p , ' % WV JFribonrg , November 4 . ) Tho < lyiiHHties of tho south are in truth dtwrted by the

    people , whose predilections are Republican ; alienated from the middle classes by successive perjuries ; secretly betrayed by the haute noblesse , which is Austrian at heart . Nevertheless , from sheer hatred of all that smacks of the canaille bourgeoise the Courts swarm' exclusively with that noblesse , politically Austrian , and ecclesiastically ultramontane conspirators . In the conflict now raging between theCrown and the Papal Church , the Government of Baden , in spite of its dissensions with the people , might easily have got public opinion to rally to its cause . The people of Baden are , generally speaking , anti-clerical , although two-thirds of the Duchy belong to the Catholic worship . * For the last thirty-four years , ^ since the existence of the Chambers , the Government of contest

    Baden has always been urged forward m the with the hierarchy by the popular , pressure ^ The Roman Church , after numerous efforts , could only squeeze into the Second Chamber two or three of its partisans . But the dynasty , fearing the power of free thought , was for ever hesitating to take decided measures , paralyzed by vacillation , and occasionally—a Protestant dynasty—protecting ultram ontanisin itself . Indeed , but for this protection , not one single representative of the Papacy could have got into the Chamber elected by the citizens . By coquetting with the Jesuits , the dynasty thought to raise up anally against the democracy . But it hugged a serpent . Here , again , we find the same imprudence , the same cowardice , the same meanness of policy . miserable ri

    The Prince Regent of Baden , a espt de caserne as he is , dreads the reawakening of liberal ideas . He has not even suffered public opinion to express itself in opposition to the policy of the Crown . By an ordonnance , the Government of Carlsruhe forbids even addresses of approval , which the people were beginning to sign . The subject ought to have no opinions . Even to approve is to revolt . Hence , we observe , in this conflict between , the State and the Church , the high aristocracy takes sides with the Society of Jesua . The middle classes , finding themselves rebuffed , let things take their course with absolute indifference . The peasant is sometimes disposed to resist the gendarme ; and the Government finds its only support in the bureaucratic section of the bourgeoisie . But the bureaucracy are not a class —they are servants . Is not the weakness of the Government sufficiently explained ?

    No wonder the cassock takes high ground . For the Roman clergy are not only well assured of the weakness and reactionary tendency of the southern dynasties , hut they are also sure of the secret acquiescence of the Prussian Throne , that guardian of German Protestantism . Just as , a few years ago , the war-cry of the Frenchultramontanists was , " Liberty as in Belgium , " so now , the German Jesuits cry , " Liberty as in Prussia . " The Archbishop of Fribourg demands , " that the Prince Regent of Baden decide after the example of his august Majesty the King of Prussia—that the Catholic Church shall administer herself , and regulate her own affairs freely and independently . "

    Such are the fruits of the suppression of the democratic spirit in Germany . The Papal hydra , which , during the Revolution of 1848 and 1849 , drew in its hundred heads , for fear of having them chopped off and burnt , now rears its haughty crests again . The Governments directly attacked , in vain attempt resistance ; and the mystical bigot of Berlin , who cannot shake from his memory that vision of an abject king uncovering his sacred head to the corpses of his murdered subjects , would fain assume the part of a new Uerculen reversed , and make the old serpent of Rome sprout fortli with hundred heads renewed .

    Considering the proportions whicli this struggle between the spiritual and temporal powers has attained , it may bo interesting to xecal briefly the striking characteristics of the past history of the two antagonists . To every attentive observer , as to every deep thinker , this struggle will seem all the more significant that , in fact , the attack wan commenced , and systematically pursued , on a grand scale of operations by the clerical party , as soon as the successful coap d' 6 tat , in France , executed with the aid of the Roman clergy , had appeared to initiate a new era for the hoiih of Loyola and IIootfHtracten . in the

    In Baden , the interference of the civil power internal administration of the ClniToh begins with the overthrow of the Teutonic constitution of the Holy Roman Empire .. The " Holy Roman Empire of the German nation" found itwjlf , by an abstract theological conception , bound to tho Holy Seo . of Koine . . It wan thus that tho ( ji erman Empire was prevailed upon to make large conc ^ HHioiiH to the j xrotonHions of that Hierarchy which in all times haB insisted on independenei ) of tho laws of any State- ; claiming , as now , to bo " bound to its own Pontiff by a solemn oath , which to break would be to commit an act of disobedience to tho Superior . " ( These arc tho words of thn Archbishop of Fribourg . ) ' Germany , besides her thousands of feudal robbers , was consequently distributed in * Tim diitturbiniccM which have recently Uikon place in tho Grand Duchy of lUulun huvo boon eontinod to a few riotous ¦ iwwinblttfji'H in two or three villages . It bun been the object of tho pupiHt prenH to frightpn the CJoverninonts with the bugbear ot u voli t ions war , and to magnify Hies into elephant . " .

    pieces to ecclesiastics who carried on the secular G-o . vernment of Germany for the profit of a foreign Sovereign residing beyond the mountains . The influence of the French Revolution shook violently the thrones of these princes , archbishops , bishops , and other sovereigns in red stockings . Bcmar parte , invading with his armies the countries of the Rhine , destroyed along his path the ecclesiastical principalities , and delivered Germany from that most terrible of all national calamities , the secular gove rnment

    of priests . In the destruction of the temporal power of the Roman Church , Napoleon was guided in Germany by considera . ions which pertained exclusively to the policy of the hour . Perhaps Napoleon would hardly have considered it his peculiar mission to scour that cloaca of papal feudalism , if the re-union of the left bank of the Rhine' to France , and the imperative necessity of rallying the petty dynasties had not sealed the destinies of the Catholic Church . The miserable Princes of Germany cheerfully surrendered a part of their own .

    territory , if they were allowed to appropriate a portion of their neighbours , no matter whose . They had no objection to become valets in the antichamber of the ci-devant sub-lieutenant Bonaparte : their only consideration was to gain in sovereignty , whether against their subjects or rivals . One of these Princes was the Markgraf or Elector of Baden , shortly after , by favour of Napoleon , Grand Duke of Baden . The Grand Duke , among others , gained in sovereignty against the Prince , the Bishop of Constance .

    By the grand secuI / ABIZATION of 1803 , decreed by the law of the German empire , the sovereignty of the Prince Bishop of Constance was abolished ; the secular prerogatives of the grand Chapter were incorporated by legal process in the sovereignty of the Elector of Baden . In consequence of an ulterior modification of the diocesan institution Fribourginstead of Constance became the residence of the Archbishop . It is at this Fribourg that the knot of theocratic intrigues has now to be untied .

    The secularization of 1803 was only the first step towards the subordination of the Papal Church to the sceptre of the Baden dynasty . The Church that time at least relinquished its rights without much resistance . The times were little favourable to the pious desires of those maniacs who regret that Luther was not burnt . The philosophy of the eleventh century had carried its torches through the gloomy vaults of cathedrals , and the horrible subterranean recesses of the Holy Office . Even in Germany , through the activity of Freemasonry , and the secret connexion of the Illuminah inion had taken

    orders with the clubs of Paris , public op so bold a flight , that the Papacy was incapable of imposing restrictions upon that lust of domination which lurks under the mask of the autonomy of the Catholic Church . Josephinism , too , had penetrated deeply and widely into the bosom of the Church . By not only abolishing , the temporal power of the Princes of the Church , but retaining also their spiritual power , the Governments advanced in accord with public opinion , while they turned the current of liberal principles to the profit of their dynastic policy . secularization legall

    In Baden , as soon as the was y decreed in 1803 , we shall find that the State laid its hands upon the internal administration of the Church . This intermeddling in spiritual affairs did not constitute an usurpation in any respect . * It is a mistake to suppose ffliat the measures wlncu the Grand Ducal Government is taking in 185 . J are illegal innovations . On the contrary , the clergy were the first to transgress the legal path , traced originally by a synallagmatic treaty between the Crown and the ChurchThe rihts of the Government of Baden , bo iar

    . g as the participation in the administration of the allaira of the Church are concerned , date from 1804 ; they have a leal basis which no power , laic or canonical can invalidate . Certain journals have fallen into a mistake in fancying that tho Superior Council ( Uuerkirclienrath ) , which administers in the name ot tne Government the affairs of tho Catholic Church , is an extraordinary creation of rocont date . I his Council has exercised its functions for years . r I he excommunication was launched against tho Council because it refused to lend itself to tho illegal intrigued of a band oi

    afliliated conspiratorH of tho Society of J chub . We have before w , in rxtenw , the Treaty of 1804 , concluded ~ t , ctv ; ecn the Elector Ohurtes Lrcdenck ) oj Baden and the Prime Archbwhop of Constance , predecessors , tho owu of the present Prince ^ gent < » Baden , the other of tho present Archbishop of l < n hoiiq ,. By this treaty it is legally recognised " ¦» dHhI »» hlt ^ J ' well for tho present as for the future , that the Aid bishopric shall renounce for ever the njfhto of pat a « » nd preferment ( Patronat , and ( Jollatur- 1 fo > clit «) for all the parishes nituated in the territory ot Baden , the ** rights ikihs absolutely to the «^« rmniait ^ Baden . . By iL above- mentioned treaty , wlnol « oorner-stono of tho rights of tho civil Government , UK > Romish Church In Baden bocarno by nor . own J , what Hho now calls " it spiritual bureaucracy whether . ho likoH or dislikes that por tion , riu » 1 .- « « doubtedly bound horHidnjojto jco ^^ ~ Tj " , ^~^ Jy ~ r Hnin « l . oiir readorH that wo vrrifco within the tt'rrriH of tbo rooogniHcd legality .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 10, 1853, page 12, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10121853/page/12/