of Germans--including Austrians--were Protestant.

In 1910 the Germans of the {133} German Empire and of Austria were divided thus: Protestants 37,675,000; Catholics 29,700,000.

The Protestants were about 56 per cent., and this proportion was probably about that of the year 1600.
[Sidenote: Lutheran schisms] Historically, the final stemming of the Protestant flood was due to the revival of energy in the Catholic Church and to the internal weakness and schism of the Protestants.

Even within the Lutheran communion fierce conflicts broke out.

Luther's lieutenants fought for his spiritual heritage as the generals of Alexander fought for his empire.
The center of these storms was Melanchthon until death freed him from "the rage of the theologians." [Sidenote: April 19, 1560] Always half Catholic, half Erasmian at heart, by his endorsement of the Interim, and by his severe criticisms of his former friends Luther and John Frederic, he brought on himself the bitter enmity of those calling themselves "Gnesio-Lutherans," or "Genuine Lutherans." Melanchthon abolished congregational hymn-singing, and published his true views, hitherto dissembled, on predestination and the sacrament.