EVENTS OF INTEREST, IN 1893.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9399, 4 January 1894, Page 6

EVENTS OF INTEREST, IN 1893.

;■■ ■ ■ m ~ ;■ .">■■ :■-•'-'• -\<-. ■ [Uncle John.] ' (Continued from January Ist, 1894.) _■ While the Old Catholic Congress met at . Lucerne towards the end of 1892 its importance demands a recognition, in these notes 6 of matters general religious interest. It was a remarkable gathering of men, brought together in the cause of Christian t liberty, and, as viewed by them, Apostolic order Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, _ Swiss, Dutch, Austrians, Italians, Span- ! iards, Russians, Greeks,' Armenians, Americans, and negroes mot together. The Old B Catholics have about a quarter of a million _ adherents in the various'countries of Europe. The Church of England was repref sented by the Rev. R. . S. Old- _ ham, who appeared aa the representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the . Bishop of Salisbury and others; the Church 8 of Ireland by Archbishop Plunket; the American Church by Dr. Nevin ; the Church . in Hayti by Bishop Holly's deputy, Dr. _ Janvier; the Russian Church by the Arch- < priest Janischeff; the Greek church by the 9 Archbishop of Patras; and tho Armenian ■r Church by Professor Isaac. The Lutheran " Professor Beyschlag, a warm friend to the 8 Old Catholic movement, also attended to show his sympathy. Herr Phillipi, a layman, was elected , President. Professor Friedrich, of Munich, , moved the first resolution, which was to . the effect that the movement was not merely a protest against the new dogmas t, of the Vatican, but a return to the true 8 Catholicism of the old, one and undivided Church by the removal of the corruptions ' of the Papacy. It is also an appeal to all Christian Churches, with a view to the rel establishment of union on the basis of 3 primitive Christianity. '. Dr. Woker, of Berne, moved a resolution . affirming the inalienable right of selfgovernment possessed by national churches. , General Klreef, of St. Petersburg, advo--5 cated the establishment of an International Faculty of Theology, and an international { journal of some kind. The latter sugges- > tion has been adopted by the publication of the Revue Internationale. The editor is k Professor Michand, Erlashstrasse, 17, Berne, k Switzerland; the subscription, 16 francs per I annum. The articles aro written in Gerj man, French, and English. Dr. Weibel, } of Lucerne, invited all religious bodies to unite to unmask Ultramontanism, which he I described as a pseudo-Christian system from £ a religious point of view, and as hostile > to civilization regarded as a political 3 system. Professor Bendel, a Deputy of , the Austrian Parliament, and Pastor Met--1 tetal, a Frenchman, supported the resolution, which was carried. The Rev. Mr. Oldham, who spoke in ex--7 cellent German, assured the Congress of the ' sympathy of the Archbishop of Canterbury. : He claimed for the Anglican Church the 1 title of Old Catholic, and prayed the Divine ! blessing to rest upon the Old Catholic move- ' ment. The address of Pere Hyacinthe was received moat enthusiastically. He showed 1 how once more the faithful could pray in a 1 language they could understand ; how the ' clergy were chosen by their flocks, and took 1 an oath of obedience to the civil magistrate ! in all secular affairs; how the priests were ' permitted to live as human nature and ' Christian freedom indicated, and reconciled in their own persons the two sacraments of orders and marriage ; and, lastly, confession > being voluntary, and confided to a married 1 clergy, was more moral. Count Campello's ' address was also one of great interest, ' showing how Catholic Reform had been, ' and still was, the dream of distinguished • Italians. All lovers of freedom must be deeply interested in these movements, which are > evidencing an onward march. Event* 5 transpiring in Italy, America, Portugal, and elsewhere show that Catholics are i desirous of securing greater freedom, which • cannot bub be beneficial to human pro--5 gress. : The Re - Union Conference held at 1 Lucerne, from June to September, was a notable gathering, which resulted in a 1 declaration signed by representative men ' in communion with the various Protestant J churches : The Bishop of Worcester, • Canons Farrar, Freemantle, and others rek presenting the Anglican Church; Revs. » Bruce and Lindsay, the Presbyterians; • Revs. C. A. Berry, B. Waugh, W. J. " Dawson, R. F. Horfcon, and others, the Con- } gregational; Revs. J. Clifford, R. Glover, • and C. Williams, the Baptists ; Rev. F. W. Bourne, H. P. Hughes, M. G. Peame, Dr. ' Moulton, H. S. Lunn, and others, the r Methodists—in which, at some length, the ' desirability of t seeking united action, and • brotherly co-operation was stated. Various I methods were suggested, such as the pre--5 vention of overlapping, ■ unity in social, J philanthropic, and public objects of Christian endeavour, an interchange of pulpits > as far as practicable, united attendance ab Holy Communion. Whit Sunday, 1894, is recommended as the first Reunion Sunday. The Palestine • Re-union • Pilgrimage, to leave England in February, 1894, is another movement which will have reaching I influence, as lectures by men of eminence • will be given, and the visit made profitable I to all Biblical students. - It may'be asked, hare these movements r any practical interest for us in New Zea- • land ? Yes, undoubtedly. "For since the i world's Parliament of Religion has become . a fact accomplished, the world's religious [ thought can never again be exactly what it was. More and more intelligent and i devout men and women will study and r compare," and, as stated by Dr. Lunn, "No wave of influence that makes itself felt in i the body ecclesiastic can fail in _ some f measure to produce its counter-part in the body politic." In the concluding paper we hope to indicate some directions of col operation, for the benefit of the community. f [To be continued.] ———j-—- u.-i ———