“February 28th, 1870.”
On the 18th of July the same year Pius IX. announced his dogma of Infallibility. A few weeks afterwards the thunderbolt of excommunication struck Ignaz von Döllinger. It is greatly to King Ludwig’s honour that he still continued to support him. On the 28th of February, 1871, he sent him a letter in which, among other things, he says:
“My dear Dean and Councillor of State,
Dr von Döllinger,
“I cannot let your birthday to-day go by without sending you my best and most affectionate congratulations—giving you a sign of my particular vigilance. My country and myself are proud of being able to call you ours. And I am glad to dare believe that you, as the ornament of science, and in your tried attachment to the Throne, may yet for long, as hitherto, continue your activity for the good of the State and Church.
“I need hardly emphasise how heartily glad I am at your firm attitude in the Infallibility question. Very painful is it to me, on the other hand, that Abbé Haneberg has submitted in spite of his convictions. I daresay he has done it out of ‘humility,’ In my opinion, it is a very perverted humility when a person officially gives way and bears outwardly a different opinion from that he has in his heart.
“I rejoice that I have not been disappointed in you. I have always said that you are my Bossuet; he, on the other hand, is my Fénélon.... I am proud of you, true rock of the Church! With assurances, my dear Mr Dean, of my continued good-will, I remain, with my kindest regards,
“Your greatly attached King,
“Ludwig.”
The King later was in the habit of asking Döllinger for information regarding religious works, and several times sent messengers to him to require his explanation of certain passages.
Johannes von Lutz, the son of a village schoolmaster, but early well known as a prominent lawyer, had become Prince Hohenlohe’s successor as Premier. He also was persecuted by the Catholic Church party. Ludwig ennobled him, creating him a baron, and always protected him. When the majority of the Parliament opposed the Government in 1883, he sent him the following characteristic autograph letter:—