Contemporary Evolution. 



their reason as well as an outrage to their conscience.* It 

 amounts to a demand that they should recognise the 

 majority of their fellow-citizens as having the power to 

 determine for them what they shall deem to be essential 

 characters of their own spiritual chiefs. On this principle 

 the emperor's government might require that the title of 

 " Catholic bishop " should be given to Baron Rothschild, 

 and hardly less absurd would be the requisition that 

 Bismarck should be everywhere in Germany received and 

 treated as a "princess" 



It is a matter of deep regret that religious antipathy 

 should cause many in England to sympathise with acts so 

 entirely opposed to English social and political principles, 

 but the outcome will probably bring about a juster view. 



* The complete abandonment of the Christian standpoint by those 

 who advocate new State religions, even when such advocates are 

 disguised as ecclesiastics, is curiously illustrated by the declaration of 

 Dr. Reinkens (when taking his oath to the State). He then declared 

 that if the State should hereafter require of him acts inconsistent with 

 his duty as a Christian bishop, he would resign his office rather than 

 oppose it. Now the universally received ideal of a Christian bishop 

 is that of a shepherd who feeds his flock with sound doctrine and 

 protects it from the attacks of mundane wolves. What Dr. Reinkens 

 asserts as incumbent upon him he, of course, by implication asserts 

 to be also the duty of other bishops. Thus, according to him, the 

 duty of bishops in the presence of a Government which has become 

 hostile to Christianity is to desert their charges and to leave their 

 starving flocks to the mercy of the wolves, as this eminent pastor 

 professes beforehand his readiness to do : " The hireling fleeth, 

 because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." 



