Germany and Rome.—Rome in recent times has not been very successful in her foreign diplomacy. On the three hundredth anniversary of the canonisation of St. Charles Borromeo, the Pope issued an Encyclical which has given great offence to German Protestants. That the matter as regarded as serious may be seen from the following speech:—Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg in his capacity as Prussian Premier said—The Encyclical contains opinions upon the Reformers and Reformation and the princes and peoples favourable to the movement which grievously offend the religious, political, and moral feelings of our Protestant population. These opinions, which are offensive also in form, explain the widespread excitement caused in large sections of the people, and in their effect involve serious danger to religious peace. I therefore immediately on receipt of the Latin text charged our Minister at the Vatican to lodge an official protest with the Roman Curia, and to express the expectation that the latter would find ways and means to remove injuries resulting from the Encyclical. This expectation is all the more justified as, according to a statement of the “Osservatore Romano,” the Roman Curia had not had the least intention of hurting the feelings of the non-Catholics of Germany or their princes. Our Minister carried out his instructions yesterday. A definite answer could not yet be made owing to the shortness of time. In view of this state of the matter further explanations are impracticable at present. It was, however, considered necessary to reply to the interpellations at once, because in view of the uneasiness caused throughout the country, there was ground for the demand to be informed without delay of the position taken up by the Government of the State. The latter is determined in the general interest of the State to do its utmost to preserve and guard religious peace.
Rome and Spain.—At a Council of Ministers under the presidency of King Alfonso, the Premier is stated to have set forth the necessity for fulfilling the undertakings given by the Government in the matter of religion. The King is said to have acquiesced in this view, and to have asked for an indication of the steps which could lead to this result. The Prime Minister suggested the repeal of all decrees which interpret Article 11 of the Constitution in the sense of prohibiting non-Catholics from publicly exercising their religion. He also suggested the repeal of 23rd October, 1876, forbidding meetings of any dissident sects.
Saxony and the Papal Encyclical.—Ministers of State in Evangelics, who are the members of the Government entrusted with the exercise of the ecclesiastical power of Protestant Saxony so long as the King professes the Roman Catholic Faith, have been summoned before His Majesty, who expressed to them his lively satisfaction that his efforts to protect religious peace in the country had hitherto been crowned with success. All the more, added His Majesty, did he regret that his efforts were thwarted at present by such sharp attacks on the Evangelical Lutheran Church as those contained in the recent Papal Encyclical, and he intended therefore to send an autograph letter to the Pope.
Useful Tracts.—The Protestant Imperial Federation have issued the following useful and instructive tracts:—The Government Executes the Work of Rome; Romish Curses and the King’s Scottish Coronation Oath. The latter is by Mr. Walter Walsh, and is a brief historical and expository statement on the King’s Scottish Coronation Oath. By the Act of Security passed by the Scottish Parliament in 1704, it was enacted: “It shall be High Treason . . . to own or acknowledge any person as King or Queen of the Realm in the event of Her Majesty’s decease, leaving heirs of her own body, until they have sworn the Coronation Oath and accepted the Crown in the terms of the Claim of Right.” The Claim of Right decrees “that by the law of this Kingdom (Scotland) no Papist can be King or Queen of this Realm of Scotland, nor bear any office whatsoever therein; nor can any Protestant successor exercise the Royal power until he or she shall swear the Coronation Oath.” It is also to be borne in mind that in the Scottish Oath the King swears to maintain the provisions of the Act establishing Presbyterian government in the Church of Scotland, which, in turn, accepts the Confession of Faith, whose declarations on Transubstantiation are not limited to “superstitious and idolatrous.” When once the Royal Declaration is changed then Romanists will turn their attention to the Scottish Oath, but our hope is in the Lord of Hosts who has already signally defeated the efforts of Rome to get her purpose accomplished in this matter.
“Grievances from Ireland.”—The May issue of Grievances from Ireland is much enlarged and will thus be able to present more reading material to its readers. This monthly periodical is issued by the Protestant Imperial Federation and reveals the extraordinary character of the Nationalist cause in Ireland. The day that Ireland gets Home Rule it will be a serious matter for Protestants. All who are inclined to think that Home Rule would be a good thing for Ireland should become subscribers to Grievances from Ireland (1d. monthly), that they may learn the character of those who would be Ireland’s rulers.