262 CHAPTER XIII. CHRONOLOGICAL SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS OF THE REFORM Dr. Theiner's Acceptance of the Pastorship of the Breslaw Church--Confession of Faith of the Berlin Minority-The Jesuits at Dresden -Declaration of Wittig on seceding from the Roman ChurchHis Letter-Excesses of the People at Tarnowitz.-Distich against Rongé-Ronge's Reception at Frankfort sur Maine-Rongé at Stuttgardt-Attempts on his Life-Breidenbach-Dean Winter. AUGUST 12. The events of the last month have served to increase, rather than to diminish, the confidence of its friends in the reform movement, proving its cause at once deeply seated and widely spread; for, as it has been well observed, "had the spark elicited by Rongé's attack on the soi-disant 'sacred coat' found no tinder in the minds of his fellow-Catholics, the flash would have been as evanescent as it was sudden, or only burned the hand that had dared to call it forth.” The Prussian royal ordinance, by which government officers were debarred from laying any hindrance in the way of the German Catholics, and the nearly contemporaneous prohibition of granting them the use of Lutheran churches, or any government building, for the celebration of their worship, being naturally enough considered as contradictory, many remonstrances were made, as well by the advocates of religious freedom against the injustice, as by the friends of social order against the policy of the latter measure; and there being, moreover, good reason to apprehend that its result, viz., the assembling of vast multitudes in the open air (always in the immediate vicinity, and often in the churchyard of the debarred churches) would lead to discontent with, if not to a breach of, the laws, the prohibition has been officially withdrawn; and there is now no legal hindrance to the German Catholics holding their religious meetings in Lutheran churches, with the consent of the respective congregations and clergy. A still further approximation to the acknowledgment of the new sect is, the recent recognition of the ecclesiastical validity of their baptisms (on the ground that the form used sufficiently responds to the Christian rite), registration in the Lutheran church-books being required merely for the purposes of civil order. Further, in all places where popular interference. with dissentients has either shown itself, or been threatened (and they are not unfrequent), the civil, and, if requisite, the military power, has invariably afforded them prompt protection. The Roman Catholics, especially in Breslaw and its neighbourhood, since the arrival of the new prince-bishop, seem to have adopted a Nicodemian policy. The scrutinies which have been in many places commenced, with a view to checking or punishing the dissenters from Rome, are for the present suspended; and the principle of "let it alone, and perhaps it may die a natural death," has supplanted the excommunications and fulminations against heresy, which were previously the order of the day. The decision which Dr. Theiner would make as to the place of his future residence has, for some time, afforded the newspapers an almost daily paragraph. Now, he was stated to have consented to go to Berlin; now, to have yielded to the entreaties of the Leipsic congregation; and then, again, to remain true to his Breslaw friends. This last seems, at all 66 events, to be his present resolve, as we learn from Breslaw, that on the 3rd of this month, Dr. Theiner, the muchvenerated, the long-desired, entered on his new pastoral sphere, being introduced to the congregation by Dr. Regenbrecht, as the man to whom, from the commencement of the reform movement, all eyes had turned, and who had at length resolved to devote himself to its further development, as pastor of the Breslaw church. His election was then carried by acclamation the hitherto adopted, though, it must be owned, scarcely suitable mode of voting, in church matters. Dr. Theiner then celebrated divine service in the usual way. In his sermon he enlarged on the real signification and importance of the Messiah. The liturgy was the same, as to arrangement, as that hitherto used; but the several prayers were selected from the prayer-book, prepared by Dr. Theiner, for the use of the Berlin congregation, which, both for their intrinsic merit, and the happy manner in which they harmonized, found unqualified approval. The sacred eucharist was next celebrated, being dispensed by Dr. Theiner, assisted by curate Hoffrichter, to a very numerous body of communicants. Thus has this highly-extolled man entered fully into the active service of a cause which he formerly could only promote by his writings, and his acquisition may well give rise to the most sanguine hopes for its future success and prosperity. A The Berlin minority has now published its confession of faith, and with the Rev. Dr. Pribill, whose views fully accord, has definitely resolved on forming a separate communion. short preamble, the substance of which is, "without confession there can be neither be true faith, nor a true church of Christ," is followed by their confession, which is simply the apostles' creed, with explanations of its several clauses; and, in conclusion, they say, we must, if we would avoid being driven about by every wind of doctrine, declare openly before the Lord, and all true members of his body, the church, what we believe and desire. But we do not wish to debar ourselves from that free and unhindered search into Scripture, that 66 say, freedom,' we would free' (John viii. 36). more; but this we do assert, that other foundation can never be laid than that which is already laid-Jesus Christ;' and that every further development of our confession and profession must rest on this ground alone. We never contemplated the formation of such a symbol as that adopted by the Leipsic conference. We hope never to make common cause with superstition, but as little to give the hand of fellowship to unbelief; and desire simply, following the sure lamp of God's word, to confess, and ever be ready to avow, what is the anchor of our hope and the tenour of our faith" (1 Peter iii. 15). 'with which the Son of God makes us We do not assert that we can learn no The following important intelligence is communicated from Dresden, under date of August 7, 1845:-By the will of the recently-deceased Father Grachi, confessor to the late king, a very considerable legacy is bequeathed to a branch of his order (the Jesuits) resident in Köthen; and the report current some time ago, that the romantically situated Castle of Wesenstein is destined to become a Jesuit college, appears not to have been without foundation. Among the papers of a freeman of this city who died lately, has been found a printed prayer-book, entitled "A Manual of Devotion, for the use of those Members of the Catholic Congregation in Dresden, who belong to the Brotherhood bearing the name of the 'Agony of Jesus on the Cross;' with permission of the magistrates of Dresden, 1817." On the fly-leaf, facing the title-page, stands the following attestation : "On this 5th of February, anno 1843 (here followed the name of the deceased), was enrolled in the meritorious brotherhood of the Agony of Jesus in the chapel royal, Dresden. After his death, this attest to be sent back there-Soli Deo Gloria, iii." From another note, in the middle of the book, it is evident that the brotherhood has existed since 1729. The discovery of the prayer-book has naturally caused a great and very unfavourable impression. On the 9th instant, three sermons, preached by the pastor of Schneidemühl, were publicly burnt N in the Roman Catholic church of Posen. These obnoxious gospel discourses were preached at Schwersenz, to a small Catholic congregation, and afterwards published by request. The commotions which the papal party continued to excite in Posen during Czerski's last visit, have so far answered the end proposed, as to elicit a government order for his refraining to preach there in time to come, without a previously-obtained government permission. This has, however, been petitioned against, as an infringement of the royal pledge," not to lay any impediments in the way of the German Catholics, in the free exercise of their religious duties." Another congregation has been added to those already existing in the grand duchy of Posen. The inhabitants of Franstadt, Lissa, Reisen, and Tabarowa, have united to form a church at Franstadt, and have adopted the Schneidemühl confession of faith, but were denied by the local magistracy the use of the council chamber for their first meeting for worship. An addition to the clergy of the new Catholic church has just been made in the person of priest Wittig, who has published the following declaration:"Hamburg, August 19. "I have struggled for years, but time has decided; the conflict for freedom of mind is ended; and I avow my separation from Rome, the Romish hierarchy, and the church, to which I have belonged for seventeen years; and hereby declare my adhesion to the Christian Catholic church. But, in taking leave of my beloved Catholic congregation in Hamburg, I cannot but gratefully advert to the cordial sympathy of my colleague, Pastor Schiff, as well as of the committee of management, and all the members who have honoured me with a friendship which I can never forget, and for which I now beg to express my sincere thanks. If any shall attack my character on account of the step I have now taken, they are free to do so, so it be manfully and honourably done; against all fair weapons I shall know how to defend myself. But I can no longer belong to the Romish church, for my conscience forbids it; and I will neither dis |