Page:Glimpses of Bohemia by MacDonald (1882).pdf/47

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THE CENTENARY OF THE TOLERATION OF PROTESTANTISM, 1881.
41

ful readiness in translating English, German, Italian, and Latin, into Czech.

The remainder of the day was spent by the delegates in private intercourse with the pastors, most of whom are highly cultivated and earnest men. The delegates were also able to see a little of the neighbourhood. The land in this district is entirely in the hands of peasant proprietors, the average holding being about ten acres. The population appear to be quite independent of the outside world, and to have food, wine, and clothing, all of their own production, in abundance; but there is no trade, and money rarely passes through their hands. With no middle or upper class to bestir energy and introduce new ideas, this peasantry have lived for generations, son after father, in the same simple way. Habits of cleanliness are notably prevalent, a slovenly dressed person or an untidy house being alike exceptional.

On the following morning there was still a large attendance, although the church was not overcrowded as on the previous days. After devotional services in Czech and in English, a very striking address was delivered in Czech by Mr. Karafiat, of whom more immediately. A solemn farewell service followed, and before noon most of the delegates were off on their homeward journey.

From Klobouk, Mr. Crerar and I drove to Auzpitz—two hours distant. This town is in the parish of a Pastor Sèbesta, who was educated, and for sometime acted as a pastor, at Elberfeld. The church and manse are situated in a secluded village, with a small population, some five or six miles off; but the Pastor, having acquired through his father-in-law a property in the town, has removed his residence to Auzpitz, where he is assiduously engaged in forming a congregation. Part of the property he has converted into a preaching hall, and he has already gathered about 150 people. The teaching of the old Hussites still influences the people in the rural districts, notwithstanding the efforts of the Romish priests to counteract and defeat it. In this neighbourhood, the pastor said, family worship, including reading of the Scriptures and psalm singing, was quite common until about thirty years ago, even among those who were registered as Romanists,