RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Finland
affairs were regulated by an order, issued by Queen Christina in 1649, according to which there were to be three kinds of educational institutions — academies, gymnasia, and schools.
After the vigorous period of the Reformation theology degenerated into dead orthodoxy. One of the most zealous defenders of the Lutheran doctrine was Professor Enevald Svenonius in Abo who in his zeal for pure doctrine caused the deposition of Bishop Terserus, a deserving man, for alleged syncretistic views. The extreme desire for pure doctrine manifested itself also in the notorious trials for witchcraft at that time. Numerous persons were burned at the stake or beheaded after disgraceful trials, in Sweden as well as in Finland. Even the most intelligent men of the time labored under that delusion. The Pietistic movement has an honorable place in the annals of Finnish church history. The most noteworthy representatives of Pietism were Johannes Wegelius the Elder and Johannes Wegelius the Younger. The older Wegelius corresponded with Spener ; the younger Wegelius published a book of homilies <Se evangeliumillinen Volgeus (" The Evangelical Light ") which went through three editions. The latter decades of the seventeenth century may justly be called the period of the two bishops, father and son, each named Johannes Gezelius. They were conservative in theology and made it their principal task to educate the common people (see Gezelius, Johannes).
The end of the seventeenth century was a time of great distress and suffering for Finland. A hundred thousand persons died of hunger. King Charles XII. of Sweden led his people from war to war, and extreme poverty was the natural consequence. The new century also began with tumult of war and shedding of blood. The great Northern War sacrificed thousands of Finns. For a quarter of a century suffering increased from year to year in an incredible degree. The period 5. The from 1713 to 1721 is called the time Eighteenth of great discord in the history of and Finland. It seemed as if all life Nineteenth ceased to pulsate. The peace of Centuries. Nystod in 1721 put an end to the bloody days of war, but a long time passed before order was restored. Russia took possession of a considerable portion of eastern Finland, and the rest of the country underwent a new development. The cathedral chapter of the East was transferred from Viborg to Borgo where it is still. As the war had exhausted almost all material resources, the interests of the Church naturally suffered. The new spirit of the nineteenth century which governed all Europe even entered Finland. The free thought of France pervaded the court of King Gustavus III. in Stockholm, and thence spread among the lower classes of society. The Church of Finland presented the same picture of stupor and indifference as the rest of Protestant Christianity. A barren moralism took the place of a vivid faith; but in this time of need God sent a powerful awakening, — a new Pietism originated in Finland. Its author was Paavo Ruotsalainen, a peasant. A great numder of
younger clergymen joined the movement, while the older clergy showed more conservative sentiments. F G. Hedberg separated from the movement, taking a more Evangelical course, and found many adherents (see Boenholmehs). There are today two main tendencies in the Finnish Church — one keeping more strictly to the Law, whose adherents gathered later around the doctrinal system of J. T. Beck, the well-known theologian of Tubingen (see Beck, Johann Tobias), and a more Evangelical one whose acknowledged leader was Hedberg. Many Christian sects have also made propaganda — • Baptists, Methodists, Adventists, and others. Freechurchism has its workers here and there. For some decades the sect of the Lsestadians, called after Provost Lars Levi Lsestadius, has been active in northern and southern Finland.
In 1850, Finland was divided into three dioceses — Abo, Borgo, and Kuopio; in 1897 Nyslott was added as a fourth. Since 1817 the bishop of Abo has been archbishop and thus primate of the Finnish Church. From 1839 to 1843 a 6. Present theological periodical was published at Conditions. Abo, the Ecklesiastikt Litter aturblad. Bishop Schauman edited for some years (1869-72) Sanningsvittnet (" Witness of truth "). Professor Raboergh, who later became bishop, edited a valuable periodical for theology and Church. At present there are two periodicals: Theologisk tidskrift and Wartija ("Watchman"). The new church law, enacted on July 1, 1870, was of great importance. According to it, representatives of the laity have the right of decision in ecclesiastical questions. A general convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland meets every tenth year, or oftener, if necessary. It discusses vital questions of the Church, such as changes in church law, introduction of new church books, catechisms, Bible translations, etc. Another event of the most vital importance was the separation of Church and school, in 1870. At present, there are 1,273 elementary schools. As Finland does not yet possess any civil lists, the church registers of the congregations are the only official documents upon which the census is based. Consequently is it the duty of pastors to keep registers of crimes, vaccination, and lists of men subject to military duty. Since the church convention of 1886 Finland has had a new hymn-book, catechism, and collection of pericopes. A Bible committee is preparing a new translation of the Bible which is necessitated by the national awakening of the last decades and the development of the language. After the great conflagration at Abo in 1827. the university was removed from that city to Helsingfors. The teaching force of the university has been doubled since 1640, but the theological faculty consists of only four ordinary professors. A candidate of theology must have been two years in service before the respective cathedral chapter admits him to the official examination which gives him the privilege of applying for a pastorate. There are consistorial and imperial pastorates. In the former case the preacher is elected by the congregation and confirmed by the cathedral chapter, in the latter case the confirmation comes
Finley Firmilian