Zwingli, and their respective followers, was detrimental to the cause of truth in both Germany and Switzerland; and in the latter, as well as in the former, tlie rise of the Anabaptist body was both a source of injury and re- proach. In the year 1527 Berne became professedly a Reformed canton, and for mutual securitj' allied itself, in 1529, with the canton of Zurich. In 1530, at the Diet of Augsburg, when the Lutheran Confession was pre- sented, the Swiss divines presented another drawn up by Bucer, known, from the four towns it represented — namely, Constance, Strasburg, Lindau, and !Miiiiiiigen — as the Tetrapolitan Confession. The two confessions only differed as to the sense in which Christ was under- stood to be really present in the Lord's supper. At this time, also, Zwingli individuallj' presented a confession, to which we find Eck replying. The five Romish can- tons, having made ample preliminary preparations, de- termined by force of arms to check the further progress of Reformed princi|)les in the confederation. The French sympathies of Zwingli, and his hostility to Charles V, deprived the I'rotestant cantons of German support in the approaching conflict. The Protestant cantons formed a confederacy, and by a resolution adopted at Aarau, May 12, 1531, instituted a strict blockade of the five cantons. Goaded on by the consequent famine and its attendant miseries, these last determined on war, and entered the field on Oct. 6 of the same year, the first engagement, taking place at Cappel, proving most disas- trous to Zurich and fatal to Zwingli. The Reformation now took the direction of Geneva, its opinions being first proclaimed by William Farel about 1532. He was banished, but was succeeded by Anthony Fromment, who soon shared the same fate. The following year they were recalled, and the bishops fled. In 1535 the Council of the city proclaimed their adherence to the Reformed faith. The following year witnessed the arri- val of John Calvin, and on July 20, 1539, the citizens abjured popery and professed Protestantism. Prior to this, a reaction of the popish and conservative elements in the State led to such dissensions and opposition that Calvin and Farel were banished, but, at the earnest en- treaty of the citizens, the former returned in 1541. Whatever difference of opinion there may be with ref- erence to the theological views of the great Genevan Re- former, there can be none as to his intellectual ability, and his wonderful organizing and executive power. His legal training (in early life he had studied law) qualified him to frame a civil code for (ieneva, the good effects of which were apparent in the improved state of public morals. "Through his influence," says Hase, " Geneva became a republic firmly established, govern- ed by an oligarchy, pervaded by an ecclesiastical spirit, and renowned in the history of the world. Thither re- sorted all who during that age were persecuted for their faith, and it became the acknowledged centre of a Re- formed Church." See Cai.vin. For some years after the death of Calvin (15(34), the religious history of Switzerland is closely identified with that of the Cath- olic reaction from the Reformation. Hopes which had been cherished with regard to the rapid progress of a purer form of Christianity in Germany and France and Switzerland were doomed to be disappointed. For many j-ears the Roman Catholic power in the last of these countries seemed to have the ])redominance. Towards the close of the 17th century, the strife be- tween the two great religious parties, the papists and the Protestants, began to assume a more open character, and in 1703 the Catholic and the Protestant cantons took up arms against each other. A civil war was car- ried on for several years. At last, in 1712, a fierce bat- tle was fouglit at Yillmergen, and victory was on the side of the Protestants. The Catholics were comjilete- ly routed, and two thousand of their number were left dead on the battle-field. See Reforjiation.
At present, a majority of all the inhabitants of Switzerland are Protestants. In eleven of the cantons the Catholics outnumber the Protestants, although the
SWORD
59
SWORD
ecclesiastical government is in a certain sense under the control of the cantonal government. The pope lias at- tempted to do certain things in the regulation of the af- fairs of those over whom he claims to exercise jurisdic- tion, hut his acts have been declared illegal by the civil authorities, and they are null and void. Tlie "Old Catholics" have obtained possession of several parish churches in three or four of the cantons. The present constitution of Switzerland grants complete and abso- lute liberty of conscience and of creed. No one can in- cur any penalties whatsoever on account of liis religious opinions. No one is bound to contribute to the ex- penses of a Church to which he does not belong. Free worship is guaranteed, civil marriage is compulsory, and subsequent religious service is optional. The can- tons have the right to maintain peace and order be- tween different religious communities, and to prevent encroachments of ecclesiastical authorities upon tlie rights of citizens. Bishops must receive the approval of the federal government. Liberty of press, petition, and association is guaranteed ; but Jesuits, and all re- ligious orders and associations which are athliated to them, are prohibited. Of late years much evangelizing work has been done by the Presbyterians, Baptists, and ]\Iethodists. In 1849 the Methodist Episcopal Church organized the " Germany and Switzerland Mission," which in 1856 was constituted the German INIission Con- ference, with Switzerland as one of its districts. The fol- lowing are its statistics for 1879 : Number of preachers, 15; local preachers, 7; Church members, 34-11 ; proba- tioners, 675; Sunday-schools, 119; Sunday-school schol- ars, 7526; churches, 17; value of churches, $1,268,296. There is also a Methodist book establishment at Bremen and a theological school at Frankfort-on-the-BIain.