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

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(Heidelberg), and the Westminster Catechisms, which gradually superseded
it.
Calvin has been called “the father of popular education and the inventor of
free schools.” f479 But he must share this honor with Luther and Zwingli.
Besides the Confession and Catechism, the Reformed pastors (i.e. Farel,
Calvin, and Courault) presented to the Council a memorial concerning the
future organization and discipline of the Church of Geneva, recommending
frequent and solemn celebration of the Lord’s Supper, at least once a
month, alternately in the three principal churches, singing of Psalms,
regular instruction of the youth, abolition of the papal marriage laws, the
maintenance of public order, and the exclusion of unworthy
communicants. f480 They regarded the apostolic custom of
excommunication as necessary for the protection of the purity of the
Church, but as it had been fearfully abused by the papal bishops, they
requested the Council to elect a number of reliable, godly, and
irreproachable citizens for the moral supervision of the different districts,
and the exercise of discipline, in connection with the ministers, by private
and public admonition, and, in case of stubborn disobedience, by
excommunication from the privileges of church membership.
On Jan. 16, 1537, the Great Council of Two Hundred issued a series of
orders forbidding immoral habits, foolish songs, gambling, the desecration
of the Lord’s Day, baptism by midwives, and directing that the remaining
idolatrous images should be burned; but nothing was said about
excommunication. f481 This subject became a bone of contention between
the pastors and citizens and the cause of the expulsion of the Reformers.
The election of syndics, Feb. 5, was favorable to them.
The ministers were incessantly active in preaching, catechising, and visiting
all classes of the people. Five sermons were preached every Sunday, two
every week day, and were well attended. The schools were flourishing, and
public morality was steadily rising. Saunier, in a school oration, praised the
goodly city of Geneva which now added to her natural advantages of a
magnificent site, a fertile country, a lovely lake, fine streets and squares,
the crowning glory of the pure doctrine of the gospel. The magistrates
showed a willingness to assist in the maintenance of discipline. A gambler
was placed in the pillory with a chain around his neck. Three women were
imprisoned for an improper head-dress. Even François Bonivard, the
famous patriot and prisoner of Chillon, was frequently warned on account