* I have printed this testimonial with its signatures, for
the sake of contrast, immediately after the Decree of
Suspension, and give here the testimony of the authorities.
Although I consider that, by this testimonial, the secret and shameful accusations against me have been sufficiently refuted, still, for my more perfect exculpation, I shall also produce the testimony of the magistrates and sheriffs of this place, which will not, certainly, be found less favourable. I cannot possibly believe that your right reverend Council, after I have proved a portion of the accusation to be untrue, will carry out in full severity the sentence of the 30th January.
I beg, therefore, humbly to request, should the sentence be so far modified as to leave me in possession of my office, that I may be translated as soon as possible, seeing that even in the exercise of all Christian forbearance, it must still be disagreeable for me to live so near my false accuser, and to eat at his table.
In the lively hope that your right reverend Board will not publicly condemn me on false accusation, marring my earthly prospects, and robbing me of my credit as a citizen; but, on the contrary, that it will remove my Suspension, I shall await here the arrival of a very different decision, especially as the production of the necessary witnesses, and the arrangement of my affairs, require my presence here for some days longer.
As for the rest, I have announced my suspension to Mr. Hoffmann, and shall not venture on the performance of any priestly functions until the arrival of the longed-for reversal, which must most clearly show, that my non-appearance in the Seminary does not proceed from contumacy.*
Besides my own Defence, and the voluntary Declaration by which the town of Grottkau nobly and honourably annihilated the accusations heaped upon me, I sent to the right reverend Council (about six days later) the testimonials from the authorities of Grottkau, which I applied for to assist in my vindication. They run thus:—
* THE TESTIMONIALS OF THE AUTHORITIES OF GROTTKAU.
"Of the Rev. Vicar Ronge, it is hereby certified, at his own
special request, that during his stay here he has always
conducted himself in a moral manner, that he has not worn
unsuitably long hair, nor dressed ur an improper, or
remarkable manner.—von Ohlen, Member of Administration,
"Grottkau, February 6th, 1843."
"Testimonial.—That the Rev. Vicar Ronge, during the period
of his appointment in this place, has at all times
conducted himself with decorum and propriety, and in all
respects irreproachably; and that his dress has never been
unsuitable, nor indeed at all remarkable, is hereby truly
certified, at the request of Mr. Ronge.—Adam, Muller, Sahm,
Reisewitz, Magistrates.
"Grottkau, February 9th, 1843."
"At the request of the Rev. Mr. Ronge, the undersigned
delegates of the city hereby truly attest,—That during the
period of his stay here as vicar, he has always led a
morally correct life, and, in so far as we know, has always
conducted himself towards the inhabitants in an affectionate
and friendly manner. In regard to his dress, it was not at
all indecorous nor unsuitable.
"The delegates of the city have granted this certificate
from individual conviction, and with a good conscience.—
Ebel, President.. von Donat, Stephan, Fleischer,
Ratschbr, Kahlert, Stadler, Zibold, Anders, Olbrich,
Friedrich, Fleischer, Schmidt, Thaum, Tannkrt, Registrar.
"Grottkau, February 9, 1843."
"In justification of my signature, in favour of the Rev. Mr.
Ronge, of this place,—I certify, as an upright and
conscientious man, that since the 24th March 1841, on which
day Mr. Ronge presented to me the notice of his appointment
as vicar, I have perceived nothing in him that could
compromise him as a Catholic clergyman. Neither have I heard
that he has performed his spiritual functions without
reverence or dignity, or that there has been anything
offensive in his dress, or the cutting of his hair. Every
individual has his failings and peculiarities, of which even
accusers are not free, and it is generally easy enough to
injure a man, and bring him under suspicion* although no
charge can be preferred against him in a moral point of
view.
"Grottkau, February 5,1843.
"Pech, Rector."
DEPARTURE FROM GROTTKAU.
Soon after receipt of the Decree of Suspension, I discontinued my official duties, but remained a few days longer in Grottkau, to take the necessary steps for clearing my character from the calumnies of Kaspar Hoffmann, and Ebel the apothecary and president of the body of delegates,* who had brought their silly accusations against me under cover of the Church. By the other inhabitants of the town I was most kindly treated, and the partially evasive testimonies which were afterwards given in by a soi-disant Church community of Grottkau, are only to be accounted for by the employment of Chapter influence. Various reports were, of course, in circulation, for but few were aware of the actual cause of my suspension, or of the manner in which I had been treated; and I was obliged to keep silence—to allow every report to circulate unchecked—deeply though I felt the altered looks of those I had accounted friends. But it would have been unreasonable in me to have expected of them a more thorough appreciation of the circumstances of my case, for no one knew how the slave-yoke of Rome had galled me, nor how my indignation was aroused to see my native land distracted and enthralled by a set of knavish Roman priests and their German assistants. I felt it as a joy and pride to suffer undeserved reproaches for my fellow-citizens, even for those who persecuted me, as they fancied, to the credit and in the name of the Church. I felt an assured confidence that the day of light would come, the day of emancipation from the tyranny of Rome, when my conduct should be made public, and my exculpation be complete; and I gave expression to these feelings in a few farewell words to the inhabitants of Grottkau, which I caused to be inserted in the weekly newspaper.