JOTTINGS FROM EUROPE by H. P. Holser

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 8, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 48.

JOTTINGS FROM EUROPE.

By H. P. Holser

[From our own correspondent.]

Catholicism and Protestantism.

CATHOLICS are beginning to wake up on the old battle field of centuries, and bestirring themselves in a manner that may well cause men to reflect. Leo's last encyclical, which attracted such world-wide attention, is followed by a new wave of activity among the adherents of Rome. There is no titled personage in Europe to-day whose words affect and sway the nations like those of the pope. It is a remarkable fact that in those countries most Protestant the Catholics are the most active.

Last year the recall of the Jesuits in Germany was for a time believed to be an assured fact; but the final defeat of the measure was not its death knell. The question is again being agitated with a good degree of energy and boldness. Last week the chairman of a large Catholic gathering in Cologne on Catholic day remarked, amidst stormy applause: "The Jesuits must return; we want them, and we shall have them; we shall have them yet in this century; we shall have them not out of love, but out of necessity. And there are already Jesuits among us. To avoid misunderstandings, I would state that we are all Jesuits, and I am an arch-Jesuit."

In Switzerland the Catholics have also manifested new life. Hitherto they have been united in politics with the Protestant Conservative party, sometimes called the clerical party. But last week the Catholics assembled in convention, formed a new and independent party of their own, leaving the Protestant faction entirely out, without saying good-by, or thanking them for past services. As soon as the Catholics felt strong enough to run alone, they had no more use for the Protestant faction. As the indignant Protestants expressed it, "The Moor had served them as long as they needed him, and now the Moor could go."

Evidently the Catholics have reached a stage of progress where they wish to achieve ends in which Protestants would be more hindrance than help to them.

There are also frequent local agitations on the subject of religious liberty. Not long since a man in Prussia left the State church, and hence was labeled Konfessionslos (without creed). He refused to purchase religious books for his son, from which he was to receive religious instruction in the schools. He was hereupon taken in hand by the police, but appealed from one tribunal to another till the highest was reached, the final judgment being that children must receive religious instruction according to the laws of the

land, whether the parents are church members or dissenters. Thus the children must receive just such religious instruction as the State decrees, even though it be entirely antagonistic to the faith of the parents. And this instruction is given by teachers who in general ridicule the Bible and religion. If this be not full-fledged popery, it is a most faithful image of it.

Not long since a court in Bavaria had to decide the question, Is there a Christian religion? The origin of this question is this: On registering the birth of a son, the father was asked by the authorities what religion he professed, to which the father replied, "The Christian religion." In astonishment the official declared that there was no such religion. But the father declared that he was neither Protestant nor Catholic, as these terms were understood, and refused to subscribe to either. They then tried to register him as without creed, but he refused also to sign this statement, hence the matter was brought before the court for decision. The court decided that the term "Christian religion" was not sufficient. Another faithful image of Rome! If a man does not accept for religion what the State specifies, he has no religion!

While Catholics are active, Protestants are not asleep; and yet they are asleep to their own interests, for their activity is largely in the interests of Rome. Although Switzerland is quite well supplied with Sunday laws, Sunday zeal is not satisfied. Last year a great victory was won in the canton of Zurich. The canton already had the national Sunday law, prohibiting Sunday work in factories. This law leaves it optional with the cantons to legalize other holidays, not exceeding eight in number per year. The agitation last year led to the adoption of seven church days, such as Good Friday, Ascension day, Easter, Christmas, etc. But this left room for one more church day, and now there is an agitation to secure this day, and at the same time make a sweeping revision of the whole Sunday law, making it much more rigid. Thus the cords are constantly being drawn tighter.

In Basel the Sunday law is being applied with much zeal to Seventh-day Adventists. Their publishing house in this city has been repeatedly fined of late for Sunday work. The director is personally held responsible, and because he would not pay the fines imposed, his personal property has been seized and sold at public auction, leaving himself and family with one chair apiece to sit upon. As Sunday work in the publishing house continued, another fine of 200 francs and three weeks' imprisonment was imposed. The case, being appealed, resulted in a decision by the cantonal court of appeals affirming the decision of the police court.

The defendant decided to appeal to the supreme court, and, according to law, has sixty days in which to make his appeal, but as soon as the cantonal court rendered its decision, the police department proceeded to execute its sentence at once. But, under remonstrance, they did grant eight days of grace in which to secure an order from the supreme court to suspend operations till after its decision. Thus the sixty days' time was nullified, and the defendant obliged to appeal at once. It gave the impression that the police were rather hungry for their victim.

It is a sad commentary on the present state of so-called Christianity, when, in a city world renowned for its missionary zeal, quiet, harmless citizens are persecuted for no other reason than for keeping the ten commandments. Mr. Editor, are these some of the first rays of the millennial dawn?

H. P. HOLSER.

Basel, Switzerland, Sept. 2, 1894.