Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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PREFACE.
This volume concludes the history of the productive period of the
Reformation, in which Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin were the chief actors. It
follows the Protestant movement in German, Italian, and French
Switzerland, to the close of the sixteenth century.
During the last year, the sixth-centenary of the oldest surviving Republic
was celebrated with great patriotic enthusiasm. On the first day of August,
in the year 1291, the freemen of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden formed, in
the name of the Lord “a perpetual alliance for the mutual protection of
their persons, property, and liberty, against internal and external foes. On
the same day, in 1891, the great event was commemorated in every village
of Switzerland by the ringing of bells and the illumination of the mountains,
while on the following day—a Sunday—thanksgiving services were held in
every church, Catholic and Protestant. The chief festivities took place,
from July 31 to Aug. 2, in the towns of Schwyz and Brunnen, and were
attended by the Federal and Cantonal dignitaries, civil and military, and a
vast assembly of spectators. The most interesting feature was a dramatic
representation of the leading events in Swiss history—the sacred oaths of
Schwyz, Brunnen, and Grütli, the poetic legend of William Tell, the heroic
battles for liberty and independence against Austria, Burgundy, and France,
the venerable figure of Nicolas von der Flue appearing as a peacemaker in
the Diet at Stans, and the chief scenes of the Reformation, the Revolution,
and the modern reconstruction. The drama, enacted in the open field in
view of mountains and meadows and the lake of Luzern, is said to have
equalled in interest and skill of execution the famous Passion Play of
Oberammergau. Similar celebrations took place, not only in every city and
village of Switzerland, but also in the Swiss colonies in foreign lands,
notably in New York, on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of September. f2
Between Switzerland and the United States there has always been a natural
sympathy and friendship. Both aim to realize the idea of a government of
freedom without license, and of authority without despotism; a government
of law and order without a standing army; a government of the people, by
the people, and for the people, under the sole headship of Almighty God.
At the time of the Reformation, Switzerland numbered as many Cantons
(13) as our country originally numbered States, and the Swiss Diet was