On the very day on which my deposition was made known, (without any
prompting on my part,) I received a Declaration, to be forwarded to
the right reverend Council, from the undersigned individuals (all
Catholics.)**
** DECLARATION BY THE TOWN OF GROTTKAU.
"It affords the undersigned individuals the greatest
pleasure to be enabled, in all truth and duty, to assure
their vicar, Mr. Ronge, that he has never given occasion of
offence to the public, either by his dress, his behaviour,
or otherwise; nor has there been anything unbecoming in his
everyday life and conversation; or in the manner of his
performing the functions of his priestly office.
"On the contrary, Mr. Ronge has justly acquired the
universal love and esteem which he so richly enjoys, by his
modest and highly decorous conduct, by the exemplary
morality of his life--which even the foulest calumny has
never ventured to assail--and, further, by his zealous
energy in the improvement of youth, as well as by his
friendly and winning carriage towards all men."
[Illustration: List of signatures]
This Declaration, and my own Defence, I forwarded without delay to
the Reverend Council, with the observation, that I should also send a
testimonial from the magistracy of Grottkau, so soon as I should receive
it. After the Declaration had been despatched, several other citizens
desired to sign it, and complained that it had not been sent to them. It
will not be a difficult matter for my fellow-believers and townsmen to
make comparisons of the Decree of Suspension and the Declaration of the
town of Grottkau, and to draw their own conclusions as to which party
were in the right. Without further remark, therefore, I shall merely put
the following questions:--