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68 because the new government had established itself by violence, and because the canons of the church required that the pulpit should be kept free from political questions and dissensions. On this, the new government gave the protesting clergy their choice between obedience to its commands or retirement from their several congregations, whereupon upwards of eight hundred ministers retired from their office, although the greater number did not know at the time how they should find bread or the shelter of a roof for themselves and their families. But this brave protest for the rights of conscience awoke sympathy in thousands of hearts. Abundant contributions of money poured into the fund which was immediately opened for the maintenance of the retiring clergy. A great many persons, and especially ladies, opened hospitals and provided lodgings for the homeless families, and strengthened them in their combat for truth and justice. In forty-three cases, a portion of the congregation seceded with their spiritual leader, and formed themselves into new churches by the side of the old—new also in this respect, that they dissevered themselves from the state, which had made its superior power to be felt merely by domination and arbitrary will. Such was the origin of the Free Church, which immediately became an object of open persecution to the government, and of enactments at once oppressive and ridiculous, which continued for several years. But, as is generally the case under such circumstances, the persecuted congregations became more firmly established, and organized with a higher consciousness of their great purpose.