Page:Glimpses of Bohemia by MacDonald (1882).pdf/36

 Notwithstanding the comparative failure and the many defects of his great scheme, Joseph’s work has been permanently beneficial to his country, and his name is now remembered with gratitude.

“As soon as the Imperial patent of 1781 was issued,” writes Mr. Dorfl, “crowds of people rushed to the Government offices confessing with great joy that they were professors of the old creed, and the descendants of the Bohemian brethren. This was beyond all Roman Catholic anticipation. The heretical doctrines of the heretical nation, which they supposed to be completely destroyed, were not dead, but just rising from a long, long sleep; of course Roman Catholic interference was unavoidable. Every one who confessed himself to be an adherent of his ancestor’s faith was, at first, reasoned with, then threatened, and not seldom forced to renounce his heretical ideas; or, as it was called, he was examined by Roman Catholic priests, who had to ascertain whether he was fit for Protestantism or not! It can easily be imagined that by such measures many a one was entirely alienated from our Church.

“If the want of ministers could have been supplied by Bohemians, our Reformed Church should have, most probably, become the predominant Church of Bohemia. For, however strange it may sound, yet it is true, the dawn of the Bohemian Church brought forth the morning of the Bohemian nation. She, too, awoke from her dream, but alas! how different from what she had once been! She arose still wrapped in shrouds in which the Jesuits had laid her down in the grave of the White Mount; a strong voice out of the Church perhaps would have brought her back to Christ, but she herself having been without national ministers and active leaders was too weak to defend her own rights.”

In some seventy places the people declared themselves to be Protestant in sufficient numbers to entitle them to be recognised by the Government as congregations, and the whole country was divided as regards its Protestant inhabitants into parishes attached to these congregations. It thus happens that the Reformed pastors have a recognised position over a large tract of country, an advantage of great importance in a country where the right of public meeting