Page:Glimpses of Bohemia by MacDonald (1882).pdf/56

The conclusion I have reached is that our efforts should be concentrated on two schemes—first, Church extension by evangelistic work; and second, the raising of a sum of at least £2000, to secure premises in Prague to be used as the headquarters of the Comenius Association, and the kindred schemes originated and directed by Mr. Kaspar. Dealing with the last first, the Bohemians are a reading people, and at present there is an unusual number of able writers—historical, poetical, and fictional—supplying them with literary food, and the tone of all the more distinguished authors is truly national. The history of Bohemia, if told at all, is a history of Protestantism. The greatest recent work is Palacky’s “History of the Bohemian People,” through which the present generation has been told the true story of the Hussite times, previously withheld under Jesuit influence. It has been followed by works entitled “History of the Bohemian Brothers,” “Rudolph II. and his Times,” and “ History of the Bohemian Revolt of 1618,” by Gindely. By one popular poet the Bohemians are addressed as “The Heirs of the White Mountain,” while another brings up the same eventful crisis under the laconic title “1621.” The historical novelists stir the emotions by stories drawn from the struggles of Huss and Zizka, and the horrors of the persecutions. Artists aid in the same direction, reproducing on canvas the scenes described by the writers. Even the political journalists tell the people that their “fathers were men,” and although they sometimes sneer at the old Bohemian love of the Bible, many openly profess to teach the social and political views of the Hussites and the United Brethren. The dry bones of the national Protestantism are thus being put together, and Mr. Kaspar is the leader of those who seek to clothe them with the flesh of Gospel knowledge, and who watch and pray for the breath of the Spirit to come on their reviving nation. Kaspar’s industrious pen has already produced a considerable supply of the best Evangelical literature, and he is countenanced by nearly all his fellow-pastors. It is of the utmost importance that he should be relieved of pastoral duty, and set apart entirely to this work, and also be fully equipped for carrying it on. It is proposed to purchase premises in Prague, part of which would be used