The religious war in Prussia is becoming bitterer and bitterer.
We have not yet received the detailed explanation of the very strong measure taken in the province of Posen,—the closing of all Roman Catholic churches over which the Government have any power in the province and city of Posen,—a measure which has been taken, as is alleged in the telegram, on account of a special service having been solemnised, in which the limirin Catholic Church in the province of Posen was placed under the special protection of the " most sweet heart of Jesus." What placing a province under the special protection of the human affections of Christ, means, what it is supposed to secure beyond the love and care of Christ himself, we have not the least conception ; but whatever it means, it can hardly mean anything political, and to make it the excuse for closing churches looks like undisguised hypocrisy, if that phrase be not a contradiction in terms. It is admitted that several clergymen and teachers have been summoned and examined by the authorities on the subject of an exciting pastoral letter by Archbishop Ledochowski which has been read in the churches and schools, and no doubt here is the real root of the matter. Archbishop Ledochowski is the same prelate who outraged Prince Bismarck's feelings, by resuming the title of ' Archbishop of Poland' early in the spring. It is with him that the Government is at open war, and probably every special service he institutes, whether in reference to mystical or to secular subjects, would be regarded indifferently as a ground for suspicion and new restraints. But this is a dangerous step. The Roman Catholics of all Germany will feel and resent bitterly a measure which will deprive many of their Polish brethren of what they regard as essential conditions of spiritual life.
