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part of the public - revenue * In the provinces wrested from Denmark , two- thirds of the whole are applied to church purposes . The Lutheran clergy also hesitated not to attempt the acquirement of the
ascendancy possessed by their Catholic predecessors . In thi 3 , however , they failed . They lost also much of their power and influence by the exclusion of the bishops from the senate ; and most probably it was for this reason that no youths of distinguished family took orders for some time after . It
is only latterly that a few poor Counts and Barons have become clergymen . During the really aristocratic , but falsely named popuhir government , which existed from 1720 to 1772 , the clergy obtained a considerable accession of political influence ; and
Gustavus III . won them to his purposes by means of knightly decorations , and other factitious dignities . From that time they have ever attached themselves to the Court party in the meetings of the States-General , and thus have retained many prerogatives , which otherwise would have been
wrested from them by the other orders . * . After the Reformation , the history of the Swedish Church does not present any thing worthy remark , if we except the strange infatuation
for the discovery of witches , which , in the seventeenth century , affected the whole of Europe . These beings were known in Sweden by the name of Easter-hags , from the supposition that they employed the Easter week in
* In order to understand this , it must be remembered that , at the meeting of the States-General in Sweden , the Representatives are composed of four classes or chambers , viz . nobles , priests , burghprs and peasants . Each class legislates by itself ; and when a project is introduced into one of the chambers , it is communicated to the others . The agreement of three of the chambers is
necessary for the final passing of a law , excepting in matters touching the constitution , when the whole four must agree ere a decision can be formed . If two chambers be of one opinion , and two
of another , a jury is chosen , composed of an equal number of members of each chamber ; and by J ; he majority of their votes the question is decided . On all other occasions the chambers vote separately .
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y i j 1 s i visiting the infernal regions , bestriding whatever lay in tbeir way , and particularly children . The priesthood were the first to give countenance and support to this superstition , and many women fell a sacrifice to it . But the
delirium passed away $ a healthier judgment prevailed ; and it was then discovered to what a frig htful extent private enmity hatTgone , in availing itself of public fanaticisni for the destruction of those whose ruin it premeditated . ¦' .,: > :. ' ..
The custom , wliich prevailed in Sweden , that all sentences of death must receive the signature o £ the King or that of the Senate , delayed the legal proceedings — and thereby afforded time for the vehemence of passion to cool . The Swedish nation ,
too , is not disposed to bigotry , and is generally very favourable to toleration : * the same must , in justice , be acknowledged of most of the Swedish clergy . The reasons for these dispositions are perhaps distinct . ; The tolerance of the people is founded on their character . A Swede is
mistrustful of all that is new ; he hesitates and considers long ere he decides ; he will not take for granted what he does not completely understand ; and he will rather think for himself thau communicate his thoughts to others :
whence it happens that peasants are not unfrequently found , in the more remote tracts , who have carried into effect very difficult mechanical operations , without possessing any conception of the mathematics . The
tolerance of the priesthood may , in great measure , be owing to the circumstance of its income not being in any manner affected b y differences in religious opinion . The peasant is compelled to pay the clergyman the same amount , whether he frequent his church or not . Thp scattered situation of the inhabitants of Sweden is also very
unfa-* It may be here remarked , as characteristic of the Swedish nation , that at the time the Christian religion was jfirst preached in Sweden , and when the priests of Heathenism and Christianity were
contending for superiority , the people determined , at the States-General , that the secular power should not iu any way interfere in the contention * but that every one should be at liberty to profess the religion which he preferred .,-
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194 The Noncon / bmim No . XXVIII .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1824, page 194, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2523/page/2/
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