THE GERMAN PERSECUTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 52, 25 April 1874, Page 9

THE GERMAN PERSECUTION.

A CALL FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OP WESTMINISTER. Thb following letter was read by order of the Archbishpp pf Westminster, in all the Churches of the Archdiocese : -=■ 41 Archbishop's House, Westminster.

" Rev. aitd Dbab Bbethbejt aud Dbab Chhj>bbk in Chbist— On Tuesday last a meeting was held in St. James's Hall by certain of our fellow-countrymen to express their sympathy with the Government of Prussia in persecuting the subjects of the German empire on account of their religion. We are all free in this country to speak our mind. Those who got up and attended the meeting last Tuesday had a right to do so. They upprove of violations of conscience and of persecution by fines and imprisonment for the «ake of religion. Every man who took part in that meeting is an accomplice in these acts of tyranny. They have Bpoken their mind. It is for you now to use the same liberty, and to speak your mind with equal freedom. On Friday next, the (sth of February, a meeting will be held iv St. James's Hall, at half-past seven in the evening, to condemn these doctrines of persecution, fatal to the rights of conscience and to the civil and religious peace of our countiy. You will also convey to those who are suffering for conscience' sake in Germany an expression of heartfeft sympathy, and a promise that we will pray day by day that by the grace of God they may be made strong to stand firm and inflexible against all violence for the rights of conscience and for faith. As many of you as are able will be present at the meeting of the 6th. It is a cause in which rich and poor are alike concerned, for it is the cause of God and of His Church. You will, we are sure, allow no hindrance of any worldly kind to prevent your attending to protest against these mischievous attempts to rekindle the religious animosities which in times past have so cruelly afflicted those kindoms, "t Heney Edwabd, " Archbishop of Westminster." January 30th.