Fraternity-Testvériség, 1960 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1960-04-01 / 4. szám
FRATERNITY 11 backed by the full power of the State, was gradually sucking all the strength out of the Protestant resistance and scattering its resources. After the war of freedom under Rákóczi, the situation had been considerably different from what it was after the Peace of Vienna. Then the country had been cut into three; now it was unified, though indeed only on the surface, and the people were “pacified” rather than at peace within the bounds of the Kingdom. Moreover, much of the country, almost depopulated as a result of the kuruc wars and the wars against the Turks, was now swept by severe plagues, which in turn brought famine and misery on those that remained. The original inhabitants were by now about half Protestant in numbers, but were largely without churches or ministers, and so, receiving little instruction in the faith, showed less and less powers of resistance to the pressure of the priests. Yet this 18th century that wras now beginning was the really heroic century in the story of the Reformed Church, in that during it the Church resisted neither with the sword nor by putting up a battle for its legal rights, but by suffering grimly and in silence, and living in entire dependence only upon the grace and power of God. In 1715 Charles III called together a mixed committee of Roman and Protestant personnel, though the latter were in the minority. It was only in 1721, however, that this committee first sat in consultation in the city of Eudapest. As was to be expected, the committee, far from reaching agreement, only worsened the situation by its deliberations. For one thing, men aspiring to public office had now to take an oath by the Virgin Mary and all the saints, an oath that had fallen out of use for something like two centuries now; and this the Protestants could not agree to do. (To be continued)
