The Austrian Mission by W. PRILLWITZ

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 28, 1907

The Austrian Mission

By W. PRILLWITZ

W. PRILLWITZ

THE Austrian field comprises the whole empire of Austria with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has a population of about thirty-one million. The latest statistics report 28,999,760 for Austria itself.

with eleven different nationalities besides the foreigners. Equal to the variety of languages are the different professions: Catholics, 27,000,000; Protestants, 549,000; Israelites, 1,362,360; Mohammedans, 1,110; and 9,000 of other beliefs.

It is remarkable to see from these figures that the Catholics are the dominating class in this country, notwithstanding the fact that in the former Protestant countries of Bohemia and Moravia men like Huss and Hyronimus have sacrificed their lives at the stake in behalf of the truth which they proclaimed.

A monument of this ferocity is still preserved in the capital of Moravia in the so-called “Spielberg.” Dungeons were excavated two stories beneath the surface of this hill. This place was used as the prison for political criminals who were generally fastened to the wall in upright position, having iron rings around their necks; iron fetters bound their feet, and both their hands were fastened to the ceiling of the cell by a rod and heavy chain. Scores of others again were chained together, and fixed to an iron rod that went through the wall, having a handle on the outside, which the watchman was compelled to jerk very violently every quarter of an hour so as to prevent the prisoners from sleeping. All the various implements of torture of the middle ages were in operation in these subterranean dungeons. From such damp, dark, and insufficiently ventilated places no groan could escape to the outside.

Protestants are well aware of what is understood as political crimes by the Jesuits. Although the noble Emperor Joseph abolished this sort of imprisonment after he had asked to be locked into one of these dungeons, nevertheless the whole country is suffering from the rude and arbitrary rule of the “Romans.” We can still find the common announcements of indulgence on the doors of the old churches, where the prices are given in guilders, which were to be paid for the various sins.

The Protestant church is acknowledged, while all other professions are simply tolerated, having no permission to hold public meetings. There are no warranted rights of any kind for these. However, in some places they are permitted to perform house-worship, and only members of the sect conducting the meeting are permitted to attend these, and such others as are personally invited by the leader, and are able in some manner to prove this.

Liberty of the press is an unknown privilege. The distribution of literature and invitations is prohibited by excessive fines, and in cases of repetitions, even up to three years’ imprisonment. The only liberty that we have been able to secure is the publication of our Bohemian paper Hlasatel Pravdy (Herald of Truth), which is looked upon as a private concern of a Bohemian subject, who has been appointed editor of the paper. Every copy has to be examined by the censor.

There are good reasons for encouragement as we see how the Lord is making openings here in spite of all the difficulties. Considerable is being accomplished in the way of securing liberty in general. The most important society that has been formed is called the “Free-School-Society.” It has a membership of about twenty thousand, and is taking the lead in this very important work. The fact that they held two hundred meetings in 1906 is very significant for their activity in public. Their aim is to release the children from the compulsory attendance on religious exercises in the schools. In fact, this has not been urged by the Austrian constitution, but that document has been arbitrarily violated, and attendance on religious exercises has been enforced by the Catholic Church, in such a way that they have even succeeded in fining the parents if they refuse to let their children attend these exercises. In case the children do not attend these exercises, they are threatened with non-promotion into the higher classes, and even with the refusal of a certificate on leaving the school. Many complaints have been forwarded to the minister of education against such treatment during the last eighteen months. However, as yet no decision of any kind has been announced.

It is very remarkable that many of the leading papers have opened their columns for wide discussion of this question in favor of the Society, notwithstanding the constant strong protests of the bishops of Linz, Brünn, Graz, Prague, Salzburg, and Königgrätz in their pastoral letters and in the clerical press. They state that “the Free-School-Society is to be considered as an institution of the Freemasons, and aims to overthrow the law, and operate an anti-religious propaganda.” Deputies to the diet and delegates of the house of representatives are associating with this Society in order to fight the battle unitedly, and no less than twenty societies of teachers can be looked upon as champions of this effort. A highly distinguished member of Parliament, Privy Councilor Baron v. Bock, councilor of the court of administration, has brought in a bill demanding the release of the colportage. This shows that the day may not be very distant when the spirit of liberty will also prevail in this country, and give us an opportunity to hasten the promulgation of the soon-coming kingdom of God.

The work was begun by the German Union in the city of Prague in the year 1901, and we are glad to state that at the present time we have a membership of thirty-six in this city, and eighty-three in the whole field. In view of this, we must say: “But what are they among so many?” John 6:9. Over three and one-half million to one laborer in this dark field! But “if God be for us, who can be against us?” Our daily prayer is that God may go before us with his power and Spirit, that his work may prosper in this country also. In this prayer we ask all our people to unite. If any have addresses of friends in Austria, they should not fail to supply them with literature bearing on this message.

Hamburg, Germany.