tempest, and man has built up another; shall we not destroy that also?"

20. And, strange to conceive, the little man who would not let the people approach unto the old throne, because it was Cæsar's, now cried out and said:

21. "People, the Lord hath hurled down one throne ;-blessed be the Lord!

22." People! the thrones which you now see are the thrones of Cæsar; and the Lord said, Hurl down the thrones of Cæsar.'Blessed be the Lord !"

23. And the people who had formerly called the little man a fool, now called the little man a prophet.

24. And from the vases which had been overturned they took out large handsfull, not of gold or of silver, or of precious stones, but of pœans, and hymns, and praises, and they showered them on the head of the little

man.

25. And the little man, gorgeous with the vanities of the world, cried out and said : "I am the man of God,"

PROTESTANTISM.

CHAPTER VII.

The French Protestants-Protestant Population-Payment of the State to the Protestant Religion—“ Institution of Public Utility"-Protestant ChurchesThe Calvinist Church-Nomination of the ClergyAttention to the Poor-The Lutheran Church-Mixed Marriages-Education-Protestant Dissenters-Annual Conferences-Catholic and Protestant Pastors.*

THE French protestants are called calvinists and lutherans ;t but the calvinists profess few of the doctrines of Calvin, and the lutherans, few of the doctrines of Luther.

The confession of faith belonging to the old French reformed church, has lost its force,‡

* I beg to acknowledge my obligation to the eloquent and excellent Mr. Cockerell for most of the facts which this chapter contains.

The lutherans are chiefly in Alsace-the calvinists scattered throughout France.

Not more than ten priests, says Mr. Cockerell, would be found to sign it.

and no promise or profession as to his dogmas is exacted from the minister, on ordination.

So

little difference, indeed, divides the different protestant communities, that it is generally wished to sink all differences in the common title, adopted in Germany of " Evangelic ;" and although different administrative differences interfere at present with such a union, it is not unusual to see lutherans preach from calvinist, and calvinist from lutheran pulpits. Instances, indeed exist of what are called "Eglises mixtes," where one pastor presides over the two communions, while the holy table is alternately served with bread and with the wafer.

POPULATION.

The protestants may be reckoned at something more than a million, though that is the figure officially given, and there are many reasons to suppose they are on the increase; but though hanged in reality in 1762, and in effigy in 1767-persecution has not produced all its legitimate effects, and they are still less numerous than at the edict of Nantes.

SALARY AND STATE SUPPORT.

The payment of the state to the protestant religion is always voted without opposition.

The salary is 12 or 1500, or 2000 francs, according to the population of the clergyman's residence; at Paris 3000 francs are given.

any

Beyond this, there is no legal demand for function which the priest is called upon to perform all acts and extracts from the consistorial register are delivered also free of expense.

:

The body of the religious edifice is maintained by the state, but the service is defrayed, sometimes by funds belonging to a particular church, and derived from legacy; more generally by subscriptions.

A parsonage or presbytery is usually found in the rural districts by the commune. In the great towns, the department or the town commonly votes an allowance for lodging, and an additional subsidy, amounting to about the same sum, is accorded by the budget.

66

There is no retiring pension specially allotted for the priest, prevented by sickness or old age from continuing his duties, but in such case he is allowed to have a suffragant,”* who is sometimes paid by himself, sometimes by the consistory, and sometimes, though not frequently, by the state.

There exists at Bordeaux a society of clergy

* What we should call curate or assistant.

men engaged to afford mutual succour to the widows and orphans of the church, and since the revolution of July it has been allowed, by the title of "Institution of Public Utility," to receive legacies.

CHURCHES.

The churches are furnished either by the government, or the towns and communes, or by the religious communities themselves, in which case a certain allowance is given them by the state or department.*

But the greatest number of congregations want a place of worship; offering up their prayers in the open air, or in some barn or grange according to the season.

No where are the seats let; every place is open to the first occupant.

In many places the protestant was formerly a catholic church, now given up by the towns as no longer useful to its original possessors.

L'Oratoire at Paris is one of these, and was granted to the protestants in lieu of St. Thomas du Louvre; pulled down in order to enlarge the "Place du Carrousel."

The sacrifice was a great one; for the government had used this church (l'Oratoire) as a

They are sometimes hired-sometimes lent.