--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Squires, Lawrence collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 13 number: 1 published: 1909-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Lawrence Squires, "Jean Calvin," *Improvement Era* 13, no. 1 (November 1909): 26–36.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1301unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1301unse start_page: 26 end_page: 36 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1301unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Jean Calvin Jean Calvin. BY LAWRENCE SQUIRES. DEVANT CE REMPART DE L'ANCIENNE GENEVE CONSTRUIT EN 1543 SERA ERIGE LE MONUMENT INTERNATIONAL DE LA REFORMATION 10 JUILLET 1909 IVe CENTENAIRE DE LA NAISSANCE DE CALVIN On Tuesday, July 6, the above inscription, the first stone of a monument to be erected commemorative of the Reformation and the work of Calvin at Geneva, was laid, there being delegates from almost every country of Europe and America present at the ceremony. Before this there was scarcely a thing, unless it is a short, narrow street which bears his name, to tell the passing voy- ager that Jean Calvin once ruled over Geneva, or to give one the least idea that this city was at one time the center of the Reforma- tion in Europe, and called by some the Rome of Protestantism. In the month of July, 1536, a French voyager, who was passing through Switzerland on his way to Strasburg, entered Geneva to spend the night. By his dress one would recognize him as being a student of one of the schools; he had a valet who called him Master Jehan. It was Jean Calvin. The reform had already been commenced by William Farell, who had been sent down to Geneva from Bern. To help him he had a man by the name of Viret, from the Canton of Vaud. But the "reform" was having difficulty in taking root; it lacked a good leader. Farell, on learning Calvin was in town, knowing him .//•;. l.V CM A' IX. 27 already by reputation, went down to the inn to see and talk to him about Geneva. Calvin, with clear eyes, could easily see the task that lay be- fore the man who should undertake to lead the reform in this city, General View of the Monument in Commemoration of the Reforma- tion, and the Work of Calvin, at Geneva, Switzerland. The bass-reliefs between the smaller figures show the first predication of Farell and Viret at Geneva, and of Knox at Edinburgh; these are im- mediately at the right and left of the central figures. The others are different historical events of other countries, pertaining to the Reforma- tion, such as France, Germany, the American Colonies, England, Austria- Hungary, and the United Provinces, or Netherlands. The smaller fig- ures are those of some of the noted historical figures of that epoch, namely, Coligny, William the Taciturn, and Frederick William of Brandenburg, the great elector, on one side, and Roger Williams, Oliver Cromwell and Etienne Bocskay, prince of Transylvania on the other. The four central figures each holds a Bible in his hand. and at first refused Farell' s request that he stay, alleging that his health would not permit it, and that he had already chosen an- other career. But Farell, thinking that it was through God's providence that Calvin had been led here, was not going to let him v>8 IMPROVEMENT ERA. escape so easily, and even threatened him with divine curses, if he refused to stay. His zeal and sincerity impressed Calvin, who then decided to stay and work with him. One of the papers of this city has this to say of the results of Calvin's decision: "A month after he [Calvin] decided to stay over in Geneva, he com- menced the work that consumed the twenty-seven years of existence that lay before him. That work is Geneva, the Geneva of modern times. It is its national church, it is its civil laws of the sixteenth century. It is its university and public school, an international center of culture, learning, patriotism and energy. It is the character of its people and magistrates. It is the situation it has assured for itself in Switzerland among the Pro- testant towns of Bern, Basel and Zurich. It is the position it held among the capitals of Europe, a puny, little city, become in that quarter of a century the refuge of thousands of people who were banished from their own countries, for the most noble of causes, the metropolis of a republic without limits." I am inclined to believe the person who wrote this was a little over-enthusiastic because of the Jubilee, and may have overstated real facts, but this is the sentiment of many of the Protestants with whom I have talked. As a short resume of Calvin's life and work may be of interest to the readers of the Era, I add to the foregoing intro- duction the following facts that I have gathered together: Jean Chauvin (or Calvin) was born at Noyon, near Paris, July 10, 1509, and died at Geneva, May 27, 1564. He was always very quick at learning, and while yet a student, showed that intel- ligence which quickly grasps all that is within its reach, that strength of mind which so vigorously converts acquired knowledge to its own use and seems to be less a recent conquest than an in- born faculty. He was usually the leader of his class and often completed before his fellow-pupils the lessons that they had just heard. As a pupil, he had the authority of a master. At one time he made an appointment with a Spanish physician, who was also a philosopher, for a theological argument; the physician, whose name was Servetus, and the duel did not come about until nineteen years later at Geneva, and then it was rather one-sided, as Calvin was in power at the time. JEAN CALVIN. 1\) Calvin had first learned of the reform in Prance, through the writings of Luther, and soon after started to preach it in that Farell, Calvin, Knox and Viret —the four central figures of the Monument of the Reformation, Geneva. country. He was sought after, and not feeling himself safe, quit his mother country about 1534 and went to Basel. There he learned Hebrew, and published his Institution Chretienne in 1535-6. He afterwards returned to France, hastened to arrange his affairs, and set out again, this time for Germany. Not being able to cross Lorraine and Flanders, because of the war, he resolved to pass through Geneva, where we found him at the commencement of this article. It was not an easy task that fell upon him when he consented to stop at Geneva, because it was necessary, and this was the most difficult, to coincide the reform of the morals with the religious reform. So, to really be able to appreciate the work that Calvin accomplished and the difficulties which he had to overcome, we must have an idea of what Geneva was at that epoch. Guizot gives us a very good picture of that city's condition, in 1536, the year of Calvin's arrival: "The reform at Geneva had been preceded by long political agitations, and for several years the parties, delivered over to themselves, had been prey to the alternatives of a violent struggle, so had, one might say, un- learned discipline and obedience to law. The parties of the Dukes of 30 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Savoy* and the Bishop, to retain their power, which was escaping from them, had in their moments of triumph resorted to those infamous poli- tics which permit licentiousness and debauchery among the people, in the hope of conducting them to servility by corruption. The patriotic party, often oppressed, had nourished itself with hateful passions, but had not been able, even in such a small state, to escape the contagion of the bad habits. Victory, however, was at last theirs, but victory after such dis- order is followed by new corruptions. "Introduced in Geneva, amidst these conditions, the reform, eagerly and sincerely embraced by the people, was at first adopted by the state leaders and the party men for political views only, in order to conserve the alliance with Bern, and to raise an insurmountable barrier between the republic and the old governors. This object was attained, but the reform called for the improvement of the public morals, the establish- ment of a regular order and reverence to the magistrates and laws as well. From that time numerous obstacles were encountered, licentious- ness reigned, places of debauchery were not only tolerated, but were con- verted into institutions. This loose living had penetrated into the homes of families and colored itself with foolish maxims. On the other hand, the long duration of the factions had accustomed the people to insubor- dination and riots, so the principal citizens had contracted that arbitrary taste and those habits of irresponsibility and despotism, which render when it wishes to fulfil its duty by exercising itself authority so difficult over all. Moreover, in the bosom of reformed Geneva, and after the ex- pulsion of the foreign party, a new faction formed itself, called Libertins. This party assumed to conduct itself according to its own caprices, and to govern the state as it wished, not even permitting itself to be governed by any authority or rule. It was also very mutinous and licentious and fought against the amendment of the morals and the power of the magistrates. It was led by a few men, formerly patriots, * It was at the beginning of the sixteenth century that the struggle between Geneva and the House of Savoy became active and violent. The Duke had thought, by showing himself friendly, he would induce the "Genevois" to give themselves over to him. He promised to re-establish the former fairs that had been taken away from them, if the syndics would consent, in the name of the community, to give him an oath of loyalty. — The General Council replied to him "that the citizens would rather be poor and free, than rich and slaves." This reply angered him, and from then on he tried to do them all the harm possible. JEAH CALVIN. 31 who were indignant that after having obtained the national independence and having expelled Catholicism, they sin mid fall under the yoke of mor- als and laws." It was in the midst of this turbulent dissolution that the re- form had to be organized. Calvin immediately set to work, and with Parell, drew up a formulary of a profession of faith, and a plan of ecclesiastical discipline. These two acts, read before the Conseil des deux cents in the month of November, 1536, were sanctioned by the people assembled in general council, July 29, 1537. This was but a first step. After having regulated the liberty of thought and belief by the formulary, there rested to re- press the liberty of habits. Farell and Calvin preached against licentiousness and demanded a repression. This excess of zeal upraised a discontent that was almost general, and Farell and Cal- vin, refusing to submit to certain restrictions demanded by the people, especially the Libertins, who became the controling fac- tion, were banished. Farell retired to Neuchatel and Calvin to Strasburg (1538). The Libertins feted their victory with a great deal of noise and eclat, and immediately abolished the severe regulations estab- lished by the reformers. Living became loose, and the republic was badly administered. The people soon felt the need of a firm hand to hold the reigns of the government, so there soon uprose a very pronounced movement which manifested itself against the Libertins. In 1541, after a decision made by "syndics" chosen by the adversaries of the Libertins, Ami Perrin was sent to Strasburg to tiy to induce Calvin to return and again take charge of Geneva. This he succeeded in doing, after a long hesitation by the reform- er, and Calvin re-entered Geneva September 3, 1541, this time almost in triumph. Immediately upon his return, he took the necessary measures to give the church that order she so much needed. He first drew up the Ordinances Ecclesiastiques, a sort of religious constitution that regulated eveiything concerning the "culte," the election of ministers, the church administration and the inspection of the mor- als. To execute the ordinances he created the Consistoire, a 32 IMPROVEMENT ERA. body composed of both laity and clergy, and the office of which was to direct the church and to superintend the private life of the citizens. It held the right to censure, pronounce the exclusion of the sacrament, and to even apply by council pecuniary and corpo- ral punishment. Thanks to these drastic measures, the morals of the people were much improved and became austere. The registers of the councils and consistories also proved that the people were observing the laws; a number of persons were fined for not having attended religious worship regularly. Sumptuary law forbade men to wear gold or silver chains, and women to have broideries, or more than two rings. It was even prohibited to serve more than four dishes at dinner, and men were only allowed to assemble in five designated places to play skittles, these being restricted to certain hours, and the surveillance of a member of the council. Thus the judging of all errors in doctrinal matters, all vices and all disorders, were under the jurisdiction of this Consistoire.'" Gerusez says, "Plagiarist of Rome and Madrid, Calvin thus estab- lished, under the name of consistory, anew inquisition with a more extended jurisdiction than that of the 'Catholic Inquisition.'' Dating from 1541 to his death," continues the same historian, "Calvin reigned at Geneva. However, his reign was not left un- contested, he had much to wrestle with. ' It is during these years of struggle that one should see and admire the activity of his mind, as well as the influence and power of his character, in all the crit- icalcircumstances. To maintain the high position that he had made for himself, he was obliged to be constantly before the public; talking to the people and appearing upon the public squares to brave those who desired to contest his power. One can scarcely understand how he was able to attend to so much work; predica- tions almost every day, improvised theological discussions, appoint- ments with all those who desired to be enlightened upon matters of faith, as well as an active correspondence kept up with all the dissidents of Europe. All this marched abreast of the church ad- ministration, the surveillance of the state, and the composition of his great works. All that he has written and said, all that he has produced is incalculable. His letters alone, if they were united, would fill not less than thirty volumes, and there exists at Geneva .//•:. l.V CALVIX. :::: two thousand sermons that he has pronounced which have re- mained manuscripts. "We must realize also, and this increases our astonishment, that this man with such an active mind was feeble in body, that he was a prey to the most cruel of maladies, and most of his writings were dictated while he was confined to his bed. However, one might think that this bodily weak- ness, that this constant illness which did not permit him to enjoy any of the worldly pleasures, contributed to magnifying the activity of his mind. One is almost seized with fear, in the presence of this activity of mind that is carried away by ambition towards a single goal, in one constant direction Drawn by Lawrence Squires, which nothing turns aside and with From an engraving. a movement that nothing slackens. John Calvin, Protestant Re- The struggle for power is often at the former; Born 1509, Died in Geneva, 1564. price of this perseverance; but power in the hands of such ardent, sickly, ambitious men becomes an insupportable tyranny." Freedom of thought was even more obnoxious to Calvin's mind than loose living. He, like some of the other reformers, after ob- taining power resorted to the same cruel means to protect his be- liefs that the Catholics had "What man," says Rous- employed. seau, "was ever more peremptory, more imperious, more decisive, or more divinely infallible, in his own mind, than Calvin, to whom the least opposition, the least objection that we dared to make, was always considered a work from Satan, a crime deserving of death?" But all tyranny provokes opposition, and Calvin was obliged to fight, both in politics and religion, against formidable adversa- ries. I once passed through a small town in France that is situated about three and a half miles from the city of Geneva. This town has about 3,000 inhabitants and is called Annemasse. In the principal — . — 34 1MPR0 VEMENT ERA part of it, there has been a monument erected in memory of Michael Servetus who was Calvin's most formidable adversary. Servetus wrote a book which he called Restitutio Christianismi and which contested some of Calvin's beliefs, principally that of the Trinity. This he sent to Calvin who was terribly agitated by it; but, after all, it was merely the consequence of the principle laid by Protes- tantism itself, that is, private interpretation of the scriptures. In his indignation he wrote to Farell and Viret, in the month of February, 1546, that if Servetus should come to Geneva he would not leave it alive. He kept his word, but it was through the fault of the Vien- na Magistrates who, outstripping the Catholic judges, condemned Servetus to be burned, in June, 1553. Servetus succeeded in evad- ing the law and was only burned in effigy. But the strangest thing is that he took refuge in Geneva, the city ruled by his mortal enemy. Arriving there in the first part of July he was arrested about August 13, and after a trial which lasted more than two months, Servetus, judged by authentic extracts from his works, was condemned to the flames. The most touching and impressive parts of this story are the inscriptions found upon the monument raised in honor of Servetus. These I have copied and send to your readers. On the front of the base is written: — To Michael Servetus Apostle of free belief and Martyr of free thought Born Villeneuve, d'Aragon, Sept. 29, 1511. Upon the denunciation of Calvin Burned in effigy at Vienna by the Catholic Inquisition, June 17, 1553 and Burned alive at Geneva, Oct. 27, 1553. On the left side is written: The arrest of Servetus in Geneva, where he had neither published anything nor dogmatized, and where consequently he was not amenable, should be regarded as a barbarity and an insult to the right of nations. (Voltaire.) —— JEAN CA L IN. I 35 Locked up in a damp prison, sick and deprived of all relief, Servetus wrote to his judges: — I entreat you to shorten this agony, you sec that Calvin, to please himself, wishes to have me rot in prison. The lice are eating me alive, my shoes are in tatters, and I haven't the means of changing neither doublet nor shirt. On the back: — The administrative council of the city of Geneva having refused a site for the statue of Michael Servetus offered by international subscrip- tion, the committee thereof had it removed to the municipality of Anne- masse. It was inaugurated Oct. 25, 1908. Mr. J. Cursat being .Mayor of Annemasse and A. Pellet and E. Laurancin deputies. On the right: Michael Servetus Hellenist, geographer, physician, physiologist, has well merited from humanity, by his scientific discoveries as well as his devotion to the sick and poor, the indomitable independence of his intelligence and conscience. "At the critical moment as through all the course of his trial there was never a word of retraction came from these lips of Servetus, his con- victions were invincible and he had made for the cause of truth the sac- rifice of his life." Jules Barni (1862). Most of Calvin's followers and admirers have regretted this act and have condemned it as an unjustifiable cruelty, but at the same time they excuse him by recalling the condition of his sur- roundings, at that epoch, as well as the sincerity of his convic- tions. -At his death, according to his orders, he was buried in the city cemetery, without ceremony. Today all that marks his grave- is a small stone of about 8x10 inches, with J. C. cut in it. One would naturally think that such austerity as that prac- ticed by Calvin, in Geneva, would leave its effects upon the inhabit- ants, through many generations to come, but today it is scarcely visible in this beautiful city. In fact,we find the other extreme, and the Genevans are quite proud to have their "Mile" called "Le Petit Paris." They also attempt (and succeed quite well) to keep pace with all of that celebrated city's latest "modes" of dress, etc. I think this is due mostly to the necessity of attract- 36 IMPROVEMENT ERA. ing the tourists, pleasure-seekers, etc., to their city, as it depends a great deal upon this element for sustenance. Therefore, if Jean Cal- vin was to come back to his once proud possession and walk along its streets or visit its "Kursaal" he would be terribly shocked. By this I don't wish to infer that Geneva is so greatly demoral- ized, but its inhabitants, ' catching the habit from then- visitors, have become pleas- ure-seekers, careless in then- living, and treat religion rather lightly. Geneva is an ideal place for the voyager, who is at From a Drawing by Lawrence Squires. the same time seeking rest, St. Peter's Church, where Calvin to spend a few days or weeks. Preached. Along the "quais" of an evening there is a continual strain of orchestral music, coming from the different hotels, cafes, etc.; this, added to the beautiful effect of the many lights reflecting in the waters, leaves a most lasting impression, and has a most charming effect upon a person. There are veiy few people who have not read or heard tell of the beauties of Lake Geneva, upon the shores of which we found so many beautiful little summer retreats, where people from al- most every clime pass a few weeks or months of the year. A part of this lake runs over onto French territory while the largest part of it is in Switzerland. Between Geneva and the Chateau de Chil- lon, which are situated on the extreme ends of the lake, there is a continual line of lake steamers which are always crowded, during the beautiful summer months, with voyagers, representing almost all of the modern nations. I have noticed that in all of the small villages frequented by the tourist, large hotels are being erected, and one remarks a de-