3. The Iciders of the Old-Catholic movement express themselves hopeful in regard to the future. Inclusive of the Church of Utrecht, in the Netherlands, with which they entirely agree, they bad in June, 1876, six bishops, and a population of about 140,000. But the number of those who, while fully sympathizing with them, have not yet severed their connection with the papal Church they believe to be immensely larger, and they expect a rapid increase as soon as they obtain from the state govern- ments the same efficient i)rotcction which is accorded to them in Baden, I'russia, and some of tlic Swiss can- tons. They have in Germany, Switzerland, and Aus- tria a number of periodicals, the most important of which are the Deutsche Merkur (a weekly), in Munich, and the Theolojkche Lilemturblatt, of Bonn. See Keinkens,
Ueber den Ursprung der jetzigen Kirchenhewegung (Co- logne, 1872); Nippold, Ursprung, Umfang, Jlemmnisse und Aussichten der altkatholischen Beicegung (Berlin, 1873) ; I'ere Hyacinthe, De la Rejhrme Catholique (Paris, 1872) ; Michaud, Progi-amme de Reforme de VEglise d'Occident (ibid. 1872) ; Frommann, Gesch. u. Kritik. d. Vat. Condi, v. 1869-70 (Gotha, 1872); Whettle, Cathol- icism and the Vatican (Dublin, 1872) ; Theodorus, The Neio Reformation (Lond. 1874, 8vo). The most val- uable sources for the history of the movement are the official report on the Old - Catholic congresses, the synods, and the union conferences. Quite full extracts and a trustworthy synopsis have been reg- ularly given in the Metk. Qu. Rev. (from 1869 to 1876). See also Amer. Ch. Rev. July, 1873, art. i; (Lond.) Qu. Rev. July, 1872, art. iii ; Bi'it. Qu. Rev. July, 1873, art. iii ; Contemp. Rev. Dec. 1871, art. viii ; Nov. 1872 ; Netc- Englander, April, 1874, art. viii ; Christian Qu. Oct. 1872, art. iv. (A. J. S.)
Old Dissenters. See Reformed Pkesbyterian CiURCir.
Oldenburg, a grand-duchy of Germany, consists of three distinct and widely separated territories, viz. Oldenburg Proper, the principalitj- of Liibeck, and the principality of Birkenfeld, and has a collective area of nearly 2469 square miles, and a population of 314,459 (in 1871). Oldenburg Proper, which comprises seven eighths of this area and four fifths of the entire popula- tion, is bounded on the north by the German Ocean, on the east, south, and west by the territory formerly the kingdom of Hanover. The principal rivers of Olden- burg are the Weser, the Jahde, the Haase, the Leda, and other tributaries of the Ems.
The grand-duchy of Oldenburg Proper is divided into eight circles. The country is fiat, belonging to the great sandy plain of Northern Germany, and consists for the most part of moors, heaths, marsh or fens, and uncultivated sandy tracts; but here and there, on the banks of the rivers, the uniform level is broken by gen- tle acclivities, covered with wood, or by picturesque lakes surrounded by fruitful pasture-lands. Agriculture and the rearing of cattle constitute the chief sources of wealth. The scarcity of wood for fuel, and the absence of coal, are compensated for by the existence of turf- beds of enormous extent. With the exception of some linen and stocking looms, and a few tobacco-works, there are no manufactories. Oldenburg has principally a coasting-trade, but there are exports of horses, cattle, linen, thread, hides, and rags, which find their way chiefly to Holland and the Hanseatic cities.
The principality of Liibeck, consisting of the secular- ized territories of the former bishopric of the same name, is surrounded by the Prussian province of Sleswick- Holstein, and is situated on the banks of the rivers Schwartau and Trave. It contributes 140 square miles to the general area of the grand-duchy, and 21,693 in- habitants to the collective population. It is divided into four administrative districts. It has several large lakes, as those of Pliiu — noted for its picturesque beauty — Keller, Uklei, and Gross -Eutin; while in regard to climate, soil, and natural products it participates in the general phvsical characteristics of Holstein.
The principality of Birkenfeld, lying south-west of the Rhine, among the Hundsrilck Mountains, and be- tween Rhenish Prussia and Lichtenberg, is an outlying territory, situated in lat.49^ 30'-49=' 52' N., and in long. 70.70 3"o' ]?_ jtg area is 194 square miles, and its pop- ulation 36,128. The soil of Birkenfeld is not generally productive; but in the lower and more sheltered val- leys it yields wheat, flax, and hemp. Wood is abun- dant. Tlie mineral products, which are of considerable importance, comprise iron, copper, lead, coal, and build- ing-stone; while in addition to the rearing of cattle, .sheep, and swine, the polishing of stones, more especially agates, constitutes the principal source of industry. The principality is divided into three governmental districts.
OLDENBURG
337 OLD-LIGHT ANTIBUEGHERS
Oldenburg is a constitutional ducal monarchy, hered- itary in the male line of the reigning familj'. The con- stitution, which is based upon that of 1849, revised in 1852, is common to the three provinces, which are rep- resented in one joint chamber, composed of thirty-three .nembers, chosen by free voters. Each principality has, however, its special provincial council, the members of which are likewise elected by votes; while each gov- ernmental district within the provinces has its local board of councillors, and its several courts of law, police, finance, etc. ; although the highest judicial court of ap- peal, and the ecclesiastical and ministerial offices, are lo- cated at Oldenburg. Perfect liberty of conscience was guaranteed by the constitution of 1849. The Lutheran is the predominant Church, upwards of 200,000 of the population belonging to that denomination, while about 70,000 persons profess the Roman Catholic religion. There are two gymnasia, one higher provincial college, several secondary, and over 500 elementary schools ; but in consequence of the scarcity of villages in the duchy, and the isolated position of many of the houses of the peasantry, schools are not common in the country dis- tricts, and the standard of education of the lower classes is, from these causes, scarcely equal to that existing in other parts of Northern Germany.