OLD CATHOLIC SCHEMES OF RE-UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLII, Issue 4312, 7 December 1874, Page 3

OLD CATHOLIC SCHEMES OF RE-UNION.

(London Correspondent of the Melbourne Argus.)

If congresses,, and the interchange of opinions which they imply, are a sign of advancing civilisation, old Europe is making, progress. The last month has been fruitful' in conferences of many kinds. First in importance, perhaps, was the Old Catholic Congress, which met at Frieburg, and which was characterised by strong nationality of feeling. Its discussions were free and vigorous, perhaps the more so tfaitt the Old Catholics have now their synod, and the congress, therefore, is not fettered by the responsibilities of a legislative assembly. The position which they now take up is significantly shown by their demand for a religious ■ census. They are no longer content to allow the great body of the indifferent to bereckohed as nominal adherents to the Ultramontane dotirine; they would not only compel their opponents to make good their ground, but te renumber their forces, and they urge that it is the duty of the state to 'step in, and ask every man officially whether he accepts the decree of the Vatican Council, and in default of such adhesion, that he should be held to be an old Catholic. Such a proposal may appear to outsiders chimerical, but it indicates the changed relationship of parties, and they say they are not afraid to abide the inquiry, which would multiply largely the 100,000 adherents whom they now claim, from the 14,000,000 of Ultramontanism. A great interest attaches, however, in this country to a conference which was hold, after the dispersal of the Congress at Bonn, under the presidency of Dr Dellinger, with the object of framing some basis of reunion for the churches of Christendom. The Anglican Church was represented by men of different schools—the Bishop of Winchester, Dean Howsou, Canon Liddon, and others. . From America came the Bishop of Pittsburgh and other Episcopalians. The Eastern Church was represented by conspicuous men from St. Petersburg]!, Moscow,.. Athens, and other places. There mere also present several delegates of German three pastors from Denmark, and the Abbd Michaud, as an old Catholic from Franco. In all there Were more than fifty names inscribed op the lists.; but the attendance was much larger;Dr Dollinger, who spoke English with 'ease, proved an admirable president, and showed that he thoroughly understood the diffioultiea of the task to which he had , addressed bunself. The: warmest debate related to—« question of interest only ,to theologians; but which it was necessary to settle before the members of the Eastern Church would eater into the negotiations. As is well-known, the great difficulty between the Churches of the east and the west relates to “ the Procession of the Holy Spirit,” and the: addition c£>|fae Filiogue to the Nioene Creed. A deojoritihn was first submitted to. the. effect that the way in which this word was inserted was illegal, and that with a view to peace and'amity, the original form of the creed should he restored.. But this declaration did not satisfy the eastern theologians, and only after protracted debate aha reconsideration in committee, could they be brought to any conclusion. Finally all parties agreed that it was desirable the whole church should set itself seriously to consider whether the creed could be restored to its primitive form without sacrifice of any true doctrine which is expressed in the Western form. A more important series of articles was presented by Dr Dollinger, With the purpose of meeting Anglican objections to the Homan doctrines. The chief of them affirmed that the reading of. the Holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue cannot lawfully I be forbidden ; that in general, it is more fitting the iittirgy should be in the tongue understood'.Thy the people; “that faith working by dove, not faith without love, is the means and condition of man’s .justification before God ”; and other points the mere enumeration of which would carry me into the regions of controversial ' theology. A subsequent paper was directed against the excesses of modem Boman Catholic doctrine, and rejected the Immaculate Conception. Touching Confession, it Was affirmed that the practice '.bid come down from the primitive church,and that “purged from abuses and freed from constraint, it should bo preserved.” The declaration on the Eucharist, which was subsequently adopted, ! may give entire as relating to the central questions of ecclesiastical interest, and as characteristic-'of the general tenour and: aim of the conference. It ran. as follows <—“The Eucharistic 'celebration in the Church is not a continuous repetition or' renewal of the propitiatoiy sacrifice filtered once forTWver by Christ upon the cross. ; but its aacriflbial character consists in thfa—that it in tbe wermonent msmorial of it, and represtomlioa arid presentation on earth of the one oblation of Christ for the salvation of redeemed naankind, which, according to the Epistle ;to the Hebrews, is coctinnonrly presented in Heaven by Christ, who now appears in the presence of God for ns. Whj|e..thi». is the character of the Eucharist in reference to the .sacrifice of Christ, it is also a sacred feast,, wherein the faithful receiving the body and blonj, of our Lord have comaumion one with another.” Basdars trill pardon the theological language, which nay . seem out of place u theea columns, but which, by . ito oarefally-guarded word!, best represent* both , the the possibilities Of this hew movement. The memberrof the Conference when they repeated together: the Te JJeum at ite close, believed that they had taken a step which might lead to larger result* of brotherly intercommunion, it,-was an honest attempt to subordinate differences by mutual concession, and to formulate articles in which the members of diyers Churches might agree ; but the main endeavour was to find word* which concealed differences, rather.than removed them, and the fatal weakness of all sash compromises still remains. The re-union of Christendom is a dream worthy of Dr DoUinger, !: the boldest of our religious reformers,'what is wanted is not so much the discussion of theological subtleties as united action against the evil and corrupt praotices whioh hifeat the church as well as the world. . . a