On receipt of the Decree of Suspension, I took the _legitimate_ course
(if such a term applies,) and sent in a Defence to the right reverend
Board, along with the Declaration of the town of Grottkau, and
testimonials from the authorities. But I was so excited by the calumnies
which I found in the Decree of Suspension, that I was but ill fitted
to write a calm defence. I felt myself therefore laid under great
obligations, which I embrace this opportunity of again and publicly
acknowledging, to a Catholic lawyer, who offered, in the noblest and
most friendly manner, to take the necessary steps. I did not, indeed,
conceal from this my honoured defender, my determination at once to
demit my office, should they proceed to execute the threatened and
dishonouring sentence,--but left him otherwise at liberty,--in order
to shew to my fellow-citizens, that even the most modest proposals and
requests on my part, and the sufficiently distinct expression of feeling
on the part of the town of Grottkau, as well as of the rector and the
principal inhabitants, were alike unavailing to effect the rescinding of
the unjust sentence.
Right Reverend Canons,
I have been deeply moved by hearing the sentence of your right reverend
Council, held on the 30th of last month, which orders my suspension from
office; in the _first_ place, because I am convinced that worthless men
have shamefully traduced my character; and, farther, because I have been
publicly branded, and deprived of honour and office, on the strength
of a current report, and on the credit of a private informer, without
communication of the charge, or awaiting my vindication. The cause of
my answering, as I did, the question whether I were the author of the
article entitled, "Rome and the Chapter of Breslau," was this: that I
felt exceedingly annoyed at being asked,--and vexed, that I, who
live here in the most perfect retirement,--serving all men as I have
opportunity,--should be called on to defend myself from empty rumours,
and be subjected to the necessity of allowing persons, with whom I am
not on a friendly footing, to use the most impertinent language towards
me, under the guise of brotherly affection, as my colleague Schneeweiss
has done. If the right reverend Board believe that I am the author of
the article, and consider it offensive, I expect that, agreeably to the
laws of Prussia, the authorship shall be-brought home to me by proof;
until then, I do not consider myself called upon to render account
regarding it to any one. I might otherwise, with equal propriety, be
held to be the author of any anonymous production, and should have time
for nothing else than constantly assuring and bringing proof, that
I lead a retired life, and trouble myself neither about worldly nor
clerical affairs.
The denunciation by Hoffmann, I here declare to be a contemptible
falsehood. My hair is not an inch longer than that of Hoffmann. That it
curls naturally, while his is smooth, is no fault of mine. Besides, I
may observe, that on account of headache, I never allow my hair to
be cut quite short. My dress is of a dark colour, like that of other
respectable citizens; and the reason that my coat is some inches
shorter than that of Hoffmann, is, that it is of newer fashion. I
am young, healthy, vigorous, and, it is said; spirited; hypocritical
bigotry is foreign to my nature, and hateful to me. I assume no other
manner in the performance of my priestly functions than that of ordinary
life. It may be that Mr. Hoffmann makes lower bows, beats his breast
with deeper groans; it may be that this imposes upon uneducated people,
but, to my thinking, it bears no proof of piety, nor does it elevate the
feelings of educated men. I would even say that my unvarying behaviour
must tend to convince the congregation that I am sincere,--that that
which I preach is my own conviction,--that my words proceed not merely
from my lips, but from my inmost heart.
Dignity and decorum are relative ideas, and the answer to the
question--who possesses them? depends upon the view entertained by
the individual who is appealed to. It is well if Hoffmann and my
other secret accusers can comfort themselves with the consciousness of
possessing dignity and decorum. I hope the contrary may never be proved
of them.
If I am devoid of these two fancied qualities, they have been denied to
me by nature, and I am therefore not to blame; I do not repress decorum
and dignity; I do not purposely neglect them, and I expect a proof
to the contrary--for it is only when the intentions are evil that our
actions can be blamed. That I had given great cause of offence to the
congregation was unknown to me until now.
For the clergyman of this place, where a portion of the congregation is
highly educated, another portion tolerably, while a third is altogether
uneducated, it is peculiarly difficult to satisfy all parties. I
thought, therefore, that the most prudent course for me to pursue, would
be to vary my sermons, and address myself by turns to either class.
If my point has not been gained, and all parties have not been
equally satisfied, it has arisen from a fallacy in the plan, not from
premeditated carelessness on my part, which alone would be culpable.
Without egotism, I may say that the annexed testimonial* from the
Catholic gentry, the most respectable citizens, and regular church-goers
of this town, appears to me to prove that my labours have not been
fruitless, and that at least I have given no public cause of offence.
* I have printed this testimonial with its signatures, for
the sake of contrast, immediately after the Decree of
Suspension, and give here the testimony of the authorities.
Although I consider that, by this testimonial, the secret and shameful
accusations against me have been sufficiently refuted, still, for my
more perfect exculpation, I shall also produce the testimony of the
magistrates and sheriffs of this place, which will not, certainly,
be found less favourable. I cannot possibly believe that your right
reverend Council, after I have proved a portion of the accusation to
be untrue, will carry out in full severity the sentence of the 30th
January.
I beg, therefore, humbly to request, should the sentence be so far
modified as to leave me in possession of my office, that I may be
translated as soon as possible, seeing that even in the exercise of all
Christian forbearance, it must still be disagreeable for me to live so
near my false accuser, and to eat at his table.
In the lively hope that your right reverend Board will not publicly
condemn me on false accusation, marring my earthly prospects, and
robbing me of my credit as a citizen; but, on the contrary, that it will
remove my Suspension, I shall await here the arrival of a very different
decision, especially as the production of the necessary witnesses, and
the arrangement of my affairs, require my presence here for some days
longer.
As for the rest, I have announced my suspension to Mr. Hoffmann, and
shall not venture on the performance of any priestly functions until the
arrival of the longed-for reversal, which must most clearly show, that
my non-appearance in the Seminary does not proceed from contumacy.*
Besides my own Defence, and the voluntary Declaration by which the town
of Grottkau nobly and honourably annihilated the accusations heaped
upon me, I sent to the right reverend Council (about six days later) the
testimonials from the authorities of Grottkau, which I applied for to
assist in my vindication. They run thus:--
* THE TESTIMONIALS OF THE AUTHORITIES OF GROTTKAU.
"Of the Rev. Vicar Ronge, it is hereby certified, at his own
special request, that during his stay here he has always
conducted himself in a moral manner, that he has not worn
unsuitably long hair, nor dressed ur an improper, or
remarkable manner.--von Ohlen, Member of Administration,
"Grottkau, February 6th, 1843."
"Testimonial.--That the Rev. Vicar Ronge, during the period
of his appointment in this place, has at all times
conducted himself with decorum and propriety, and in all
respects irreproachably; and that his dress has never been
unsuitable, nor indeed at all remarkable, is hereby truly
certified, at the request of Mr. Ronge.--Adam, Muller, Sahm,
Reisewitz, Magistrates.
"Grottkau, February 9th, 1843."
"At the request of the Rev. Mr. Ronge, the undersigned
delegates of the city hereby truly attest,--That during the
period of his stay here as vicar, he has always led a
morally correct life, and, in so far as we know, has always
conducted himself towards the inhabitants in an affectionate
and friendly manner. In regard to his dress, it was not at
all indecorous nor unsuitable.
"The delegates of the city have granted this certificate
from individual conviction, and with a good conscience.--
Ebel, President.. von Donat, Stephan, Fleischer,
Ratschbr, Kahlert, Stadler, Zibold, Anders, Olbrich,
Friedrich, Fleischer, Schmidt, Thaum, Tannkrt, Registrar.
"Grottkau, February 9, 1843."
"In justification of my signature, in favour of the Rev. Mr.
Ronge, of this place,--I certify, as an upright and
conscientious man, that since the 24th March 1841, on which
day Mr. Ronge presented to me the notice of his appointment
as vicar, I have perceived nothing in him that could
compromise him as a Catholic clergyman. Neither have I heard
that he has performed his spiritual functions without
reverence or dignity, or that there has been anything
offensive in his dress, or the cutting of his hair. Every
individual has his failings and peculiarities, of which even
accusers are not free, and it is generally easy enough to
injure a man, and bring him under suspicion* although no
charge can be preferred against him in a moral point of
view.
"Grottkau, February 5,1843.
"Pech, Rector."