History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Karl Philip, after some nibblings, took up the Heidelberg Catechism
(which candidly calls the Mass "idolatrous"), and ordered said
Catechism, an Authorized Book, to cease in his dominions. Hessen-Cassel,
a Protestant neighbor, pleaded, remonstrated, Friedrich Wilhelm glooming
in the rear; but to no purpose. Our old gentleman, his Priests
being very diligent upon him, decided next to get possession of the
HEILIGE-GEIST KIRCHE (Church of the Holy Ghost, principal Place of
Worship at Heidelberg), and make it his principal Cathedral Church
there. By Treaty of Westphalia, or peaceably otherwise, the Catholics
are already in possession of the Choir: but the whole Church would be so
much better. "Was it not Catholic once?" thought Karl Philip to himself:
"built by our noble Ancestor Kaiser Rupert of the Pfalz, Rupert KLEMM
['Pincers,' so named for his firmness of mind]:--why should these
Heretics have it? I will build them another!" These thoughts, in 1719,
the third year of Karl Philip's rule, had broken out into open action
(29th August, 4th September the consummation of it) [Mauvillon, i.
340-345.] and precisely in the ime when Friedrich Wilhelm was penning
that first Didactic Morsel which we read, grave clouds from the
Palatinate were beginning to overshadow the royal mind more or less.
For the poor Heidelberg Consistorium, as they could not undertake to
give up their Church on request of his Serenity,--"How dare we, or can
we?" answered they,--had been driven out by compulsion and stratagem.
Partly strategic was the plan adopted, to avoid violence; smith's
picklocks being employed, and also mason's crowbars: but the end was, On
the 31st of August, 1719, Consistorium and Congregation found themselves
fairly in the street, and the HEILIGE-GEIST KIRCHE clean gone from them.
Screen of the Choir is torn down; one big Catholic edifice now; getting
decorated into a Court Church, where Serene Highness may feel his mind
comfortable.
The poor Heidelbergers, thus thrown into the street, made applications,
lamentations; but with small prospect of help: to whom apply with any
sure prospect? Remonstrances from Hessen-Cassel have proved unavailing
with his bigoted Serene Highness. CORPS EVANGELICORUM, so presided
over as at present, what can be had of such a Corpus? Long-winded
lucubrations at the utmost; real action, in such a matter; none. Or
will the Kaiser, his Jesuits advising him, interfere to do us justice?
Kur-Mainz and the rest;--it is everywhere one story. Everywhere
unhappy Protestantism getting bad usage, and ever worse; and no Corpus
Evangelicorum, or appointed Watchdog, doing other than hang its ears,
and look sorry for itself and us!--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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