THE DAILF EVENING TELEGRAPH TRTPLK SHEET PfflLADELPIHA, SATURDAY DECEMBER 4, I860.' 10 (ECUMENICAL COUNCIL. from Ihi Klrtt Vi?. psrts, repair to Ibis (Ecumenical Council, con voked by w. und t this rll'eet wo Invito, exhort, and admonish them, both In virtue of the oath thoy have taken to us mid t his J loly See, aud of liolv obedience, and under 1 ho penalties by law ttr custom decried against those who full to ap pear lit the councils. We rigorously ordain nud prescribe that they shall lie hound to attend this acred council, unless withheld hy noino just Impediment, w hich, however, must in nil c:ies he proved to the synod hy the intermediary of legitimate proxies. We cherish the hope tli:it God, in whoso hands nre the hearts ol men, rhovvinu Himself favorable to our desire, limy gt'aiit thut, by His incflable mercy nud grace, u" the supreme princes nrid governors, more especially Catholic, of all nations, grow ing daily more conscious of tho hninctiso benefits which human society derives from the Catholic Chundi, and knowing that the Church is the most stable foundation of empires and kingdoms, not only will not Im pede oar venerable brethren, the Bishops and others, from nttcndiuif this Council, but will rather uid and favor this object, nud co-operalo r.t ulously, as becomes Catholic iriuces, in all that may result to tho greater glory of Cod und the benefit of this couucil. "Obliged to devote, w ithout intermission, our thought and our cares to the salvation of all those who acknow ledge nnd adoro Jesus Christ, our eyes and heart are turned towards thoso churches which, formerly attached to the Apos lolle Church by tho bonds of unity, were so nourishing by the merit of panctlty "and divinu knowledge, producing such abundant fruits for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, and which to-day, hy tho infernal arts and machina tions of him who plotted in heaven tho llrst nchisni, we find, to our great grief, domed and separated from that holy Koman Church which It spread throughout the whole world. "It is for this reason tint, from the beginning if our Pontiticato, wo have addressed you, in the fulncwit of our heart, words of peace and ' charity. ADd, although we have not had, by any means, the success w e so ardently desired, nevertheless we have never been without hope that our humble and fervent prayers would some day be favorably received and heard. 'Now, as lately, with the advice of our venerable brothers, the Cardinals of tho holy Koman Church, we liavo indicated and eon ' foked an Oecumenical Council. We address our words to you again, and w o warn nud entreat you, with all the earnestness that we are capable of, to come to this satno (ieneral Assembly, us did your ancestors at the Council of Lyons, . held under the blessed Gregory X, our prede cessor of venerable memory, and to the Council of Florence, celebrated by Ku.geuiu' IV, also our predocessor of happy memory, to tho end that, renewing tho laws of ancient "love, and re storing to its vigor tho peace of our fathers, that celestial nnd salutary gift of Jesus Christ, of which, in time, we have lott the fruits, we may see, ut last, after a long period of grief, in which darkness and division prevailed wo may sec arise tho brilliant and pure morning which WC have to long prayed tor." Who Compose I lie Council. Among those entitled to a seat in the council, and therefore included in the Papal invitation, are the cardinals, bishops, abbots, ami general of religious orders. Bishops arc entitled to a eat by divine right; cardinals, in ease they are not at tho same time bishops, abbots, and gene ral of religious orders, by ecclesiastical law or privilege. Tho number of those, who have been Invited I considerable. According to the Annnariit Ponlijlrio for 1808, the ollicial Papal Almanac, the Koman Catholic Church had at the begin ning of the year 13118, 1:3 Patriarchates, M2 Archbishoprics of the Latin rite, and 7 Arch lishopriea of Oriental rites; 451 Bishoprics of tho Latin rite, and 03 Bishopries of Oriental rites; giving a total of 8(r dioceses. Of theso about 100 are vacant, leaving 750 prelates who bavo been invited to the council. The College of Cardinals had, in 18(18, 25 members who were not bishops. Tho number of generals of reli gious orders, according to tho Papal Almanac, is about .10. The number of mitred abbots is also considerable. Tho following details as to the Catholic hier archy will not be without interest: That body is composed of the Pope, as supreme head, the cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops. By tho rules there ought to be seventy-six cardi nals, bat that number is rarely attained. At this moment, for example, tho Sacred College is composed of only fifty-nine members, Including two hats reserved, in pvllo, for persons un known. That is to say, in fact, that these princes of the Church aro only fifty-seven. The oldest of these high dignitaries is eighty-nine, and a Spaniard, and tho youngeet forty-two, a French man, Prince Lucicn Bonaparte. Among them are four over eighty, thirteen more than seventy, "twenty-five who havo passed sixty, ten over fifty, and five between that ago and forty. Cardinal Antonclli, Secretary of State, is sixty-four. Like Priuco Bonaparte, he received the purple very young, at about fortv-one. With respect to tho proportion in which these spiritual pastors, exclusive of prelates in parli bus, arc distributed over the surface of the globe, there are in tho States of the Church six archbishops and .IS bishops; F.ngland, Ireland, mud the colonlos, 10 and 58; Austria, 10 and 41; Bavaria, 3 and 0: Belgium, 1 and 5; Brazil, 1 and 11; Bolivia, 1 and 3; Chili, 1 and !!; Argentine Confederation, 1 and 5; Two Sicilies, 2ii and 0): German Duchies, I and f!; E pi.itor, 1 and .V. .Spain and her colonics, 11 uud 51; United States, 1 and 48; Franco and her colonics, 18 and 75; Greece, 'I and 0; New Grenada. 1 and 7; Guate mala, 1 and 4; Ilayti, 1 and 4: Hanover has no archbishop but two bishops; Holland. 1 and 1; Mexico, 3 and 15; Mode.ua, 1 and 4; P.irina, no archbishop, but three bishops; Peru, 1 and 7; Persia has one archbishop but no bishop; Por tugal, 4 aud !23; Prussia, 3 and ti; Russia, !.' a si 13;, Kingdom of Sardinia and the Lornbard'i Ycuetlan provinces, 8 and :Ji; Switzerland, 5 bishops, without any archbishop as yet, although tho Pope is going to create an archbishop of Prlbourg; -Tuscany, 4 and 18; Turkey, 5 and 5; Venezuela, 1 and 4. Total, 135 archbishops and 631 bishops. Tho Italian reformer certainly have aoino reasonable foundation fur their desire to diminish the number of bbbops in the new kingdom, as it results from the preceding cata logue that Italy furnishes exactly a third f all the arehleplscopal sees in tho world, and a frac tion more than a third of all the episcopal sues, while tho quondam kingdom of Naples alone figures for more than double the Austrian em pire, or Spain and all her colonics." The Court of tho Vatican, which has not ac cepted tho natural and logical suppression of certain bishoprics effected in Italy after the uni fication of that kingdom, reckons somewhat Dver 1100 sees in tho Catholic world; but o.'lleial documents In tho Koman arelUvci give the fol lowing figures: Patriarchal dioceses with resi dence, 717; sees in parlibu. Sill; total, lAsl. Out Of that number 281 will probably abstain, for no reason or another, from appearing in tho council, and about 700 will probably bo present. Each of theso prelates will bo accompanied by a theologian, sometimes by two, uud have at least one priest for secretary. Many urehbl-hop.s will arrive with a positive suite, so that tho average number of ccclc-hiotles accompanying each pre late may be taken at throe, making, with tho bishop, four, and 700 multiplied hy four gives 3i00 ecclcrhwili'H. To that figure must be added the mitred aMiots, I tho generals of tho religious orders, the thcolo- ' pians summoned by tho Holy Father, nnd who w ill tako their places In tho council, and a total , Is arrived at of more than 3000 member of tho clergy specially attached to this solemn assem bly. We do not reckon here those whom curiosity and Interest may bring, and who will probably be as many more. In Hue, the Ktertril City, which possesses about !i 1.1, 000 Inhabitants, among whom are nearly 15.000 ecclesiastics, will fee within Its walls about 25,000 members of the clergy. The following Fathers of the Church have been in Koine for sonic time past, awaiting the opining of the council: Curinol ',inhtp. Matins Mattel, Bishop of Ostia and Vclletri. Dean of the Pai red College. Constantino Patrii, Bishop of Porto and .Mia. Rufinu, Sub-Dean, Vicar-General of hi- Jlolincsa the Pope. Louis de 8. Fileppo c Sorso, Bishop of Pas trine, Vice-Chancellor of the Church. Nicholas Clarclli Paraeciaui, Bishop of Fras- :ttl, fc'tcri tary of the Papal Bulls and Grand Chancellor of the Orders ot Knighthood. Cutnillo dl Pietro, Bishop of Albano, President of the Census. Curl August von Belsach, Bishop of 8abina, Prefect of the Kudos. I'm-iliiiitl l'rirxln. Fabius Asbuinl, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Kcclesiatieul Im munity. Alessandro Barnaho, Prefect-General of the Attairs of the Oriental Kite. (inlseppe Feretll. Legate of Bologna. Presi dent of the Commission of (Subsidies. l'ictro di Milvcstri. Carlo ISacconi, Prefect of the Supreme Tribu nal of the Legislature of Justice. Angclo Ouaglia, Prelect of the Sacred Congre gation of bishops and Itcirulars. Antonio Marie Paiicbiancc, Grand Pcnilen ciary. Antonio le Luca. Prefect of the Sacred Con gregation of the Index. GuiM ppo Biarri, Prefect of the Sacred Con gregation of Indulgences and Relics. CioYiinni-Battista l'itra, Librarian of tho Holy Church. Filippo Marin Guldl, Archbishop of Bologna. (lustavus Adolphirs von lloueiilohe. Luigl i'.ilio. Lucicn Bonaparte. Innocenzio Ferrari. Lauren.io Barili. Ouiscppo Berardi, Pro. Minister of Com merce, I'ine Arts, ludii-lry, Agriculture, and Public Works. Kaliaclle La Valet ta. ('(inlinnl Ihwnn. Giacoino Antonclli, Se cretary of State of his Holiness, President of the Council of Ministers. Prefect ot the Apostolic. Palaces and of the Holy Congregation of Lo rctto, President of the Special Congregation for the rebuilding of the Basilica of St. Paul. Prospcro Caterini, Prelect of the Sacred Con gregation of the Council and of the Special Con gregation for the rcvi-ion of the Provincial Council. Thcophilc Mcrlel, President of the Council of State. Francesco Pcntlni. Domcuko Cousolinl. Prefect of the Propa ganda. F.dtiardo Borromeo. Annihale Capalti. WKrtrris. Kogero Mattei. Latin Patriarch of Constantinople. Guibcpic Yalcrga, Latin Patriarch of Jeru salem. Besides tLcje, there are archbishops and bishops who arc literally too numerous to men tion. An Invitation to the Oriental ISImIhiiim. On the 8th of September. 1807, the Pope issued a ppecinl letter to tho Bishops of the Oriental Churches, inviting them to attend the Couucil. These Churches the Greek, the Armenian, the Nestorian, the Jacobite, the Coptic, tho Abys sinianrepresent the prevailing form of Chris tianity in Kastern Europe, in "Western Asia, and Eastern Africa. Though separated for fully 1000 years from ecclesiastical communion with the See of Rome, the causes of separation aro fo(v and, on the whole, trivial. The Popes aud the Councils of former nges have becu unremitting in their c.Torts to obtain from them a recogni tion of tho supremacy of the Pope, which, in fact, is the only serious obstacle to a consolida tion; and they have succeeded in annexing frag ments of each of these Churches, which, pre serving many peculiarities of their owu rite, such as the use of their ancient Church lan guage and tho marriage of priests, constitute as United Greeks, United Armenians, and so forth, component parts of tho Roman Catholic Church. But the majoHty of the Eastern Churches have maintained their opposition to union, and one of them, the Greek Church, has of late even been enabled, by the aid of despotic Russia, to make considerable Inroads upon tho territory of the Roman Catholic Church. Pius JX hap, from the beginning of ids poutifleate, devoted to the work of reunion a special solici tude. Immediately after ascending tho Papal Chair, ho addressed the Patriarchs and Bishops of the Eastern Churches on the subject, und 6ubsc(iientlv lie establii-.hed in Rome a special congregation of Cardiualj and theologians for a systematic prosecution of the efforts to promote a union. 1 he convocation ol the Council gave to the Pope a welcome opportunity to renew his personal iin itatio:'.?. Together, the Churches to whose Ri.-hops this invitation is extended cwiistiiute a eon.-ider.il portion of the Christian world. The population connected with them is c-timated at about 81..r(!o,W, over T-l.oOO.boo i whom belong to the Greek Church, which, with tho natural in crease of population of Rie-Mu, where she is the iStatc Church, is advancing nt a more rapid rate than any particular n-ctioii of the Romm Catholic Church. The total number of Bi.dtup. of these Churches is nearly three hundred, of whom about two hundred uud forty belong to the Greek Church. Tlir Aiimvit cfllie C iviern Hilltops. As was to be expected, the great majority of tho Eastern bMiopshavcdocrincd the imitation. Of the bishops of lluia and Greece none would be able to go even if they wished It. us tho Governments of lLose two states would refuse the required permission, Bui some hope was lor a time entertained w ith regard to the Bishops of Turkey. The Sultan, it was thought, could not only not Impede any of the bishops from going, but would gladly favor it if ho could, in order to widen the separation between the Greek Churc h of hU dominions und tho Czar. Reports from son:o of the Eastern cities fos tered this hope, and one of the papers of Rome was so sanguine to announce the probable attendance of about one hundred Biohops of tho Eastern ChurcLc. Subsequent accounts, how ever, did not sustain this expectation, especially after tho decided rctn-al of this Patriarch of Constantinople to accede lo the wishes of tho l'ope. The Patriuich la not the legal head of the Greek Church, but ho still occupies among the Greek bishops tho most exalted position. It may bo supposed, therefore, that the account of the interview between tho Papal Commissioners who formally presented tho invi tation and tho Pali larch, which tho latter pub lished in bis official organ, not only made a pro found impression upon tho entire Greek Church, but determined most of tho bishops who beforo may have been wavering. Nothing has sliieo been heuid of tho readiness of any of the Urcoli bishops to attend the council. A few rocclvc;! the Papal letter with respect. Thus tho Bishop of Ticbl.ond, a man of venerable ngo, is said to havo raised it to his forehead and pressed It to his 1 osoin, exclaiming nt the same time with emotion, "O Home! O Rome! O SI. Peter! O St. Pete:!" Tho Bishop of Adrianoplo returned (ho letter, saying, "I wish llrst to rcHect: I wish to decide for myself." In no Instance, as far as wo know, lias any promise been given of atlen'l ancc. Nothing, or next lo nothing, Is therefore, now expected from the Greek Church, and Uto repoits even ascribe to the Patriarch of Constan tinople, and tho K.mperor of Russia a design to convoke au (Ecumenical Synod of the Greek Church. The other Eastern Churches - the Armenian, Nestoilan, Jacoliite, and Coptic aro still sup posed not to be equally unanimous in their op position. Tho Armenian Patriarch of Constan tinople did not reply by a direct refusal, but promised to refer the subject to the Cathollcos of Etehmiadsln, tho first bishop of the Church. Per sonally he appeared to favor tho project, aud was some months later forced, on that very account, to resign his position. The Coptic Patriarch, also, of Alexandria, received the Encyclical with great lcspectand many expressions of courtesy toward the prelate who was the bearer of it. The hope derived from these, individual expres sions is strengthened by tho fact that all theso small Churches have long been on the road to dissolution, and their bishops generally havo lost confidence in their further continuance as independent communions. Invitation to the I'rott nlnnt Cliiirclica. The last (Ecumenical Council, that of Tront, was held soon after the rise of Protestantism. The Protestant prluecs, in accordance with an invitation addressed to them, sent some theo logians, as delegates; but the difference in tho theological views of the Old Church and the Re formers was too great to ullow of a reconcilia tion. Protestantism became, and has siucc thcu remained, the third great division of the Chris tian world. During tho three centuries of its exUtcnco it lias considerably expanded. Eng land, most of the German States, the Scandi navian kingdoms, Holland, Switzerland, are still, as they were three hundred years ago, Protectant countries. 'To them have since been udded tho whole of the North American Conti nent, Australia, und other dependencies of Pro testant nations, and the population which is to-day under the influence of Protestantism is estimated at 100,000,000. "While the Eastern Churches have maintained a great theological and ecclesiastical similarity with the Koman Catholic Church, Protestantism was from tho beginning separated from the Old Church by a deep gulf, and in the course of centuries tho breach has widened. Individualism has had full sway within its territory . In every Protestant coiinlrj the new form of religious belief lias had a distinct development; and from the original stems of tho Reformation of the sixteenth cen tury numerous branches have grown, and to-day inoro than a hundred Churches, all independent of each other, but all claiming a Protestant character, constitute tho Protestant world To tho whole of the Protestant world the Pope, on the 13th of September, 1807, addressed likewise a letter of invitation. "Wo cannot forbear," he savs, "on the occasion of the meet ing of tho next council, addressing our apostolic ami paternal wont to all those who, wmie reeog. nizing the same Jesus Christ an our Saviour, and rejoicing lu the name ot Christians, yet do not profess the true faith of Christ, or follow tho Communion ot tno vaiiioue laitti. Alter re ferring to tho oneness of tho true Church of Christ and the multitude of the divisions of Pro tcstanlism, tho Papal letter continues: ''Every one can easily comprehcud that this stato of things is altogether opposed to the Church established by Christour Lord a Church in winch the truth must alwavs rest unaltered. wituout oeing me suoject oi anv cnaugc, as a charge intrusted to that same Church, in order that she may preserve it in all its integrity, a charge tor tho care ol which the presence ot th Holv Ghost und ns aid lias been granted lorever to thin Church. No one can ignore tho fact that theso ditlereuces of doctrine and opinion give rise to the social schisms, and that tlierelroiu spring those inuuiucrauio seels and commu nions wijtcii are daily increasing, to the dctri ment ol Christian and civil society. "Whoever, in fact, recognizes religion as the foundation ot human society, cannot refuse to admit and avow the influence exercised over civilized society by those divisions and disagree ments of principles of that nature, and of reli gious societies struggling one with the other; and alno with what power Uie denial of authority established by God to regulate the convictions of the human intelligence, and to direct the actions of men. both in their social and private life, has excited, has developed, and has fomented those most unfortunate troubles, those events, aud thone disturbances which agitate and aflcet all nations in a most deplorable manner. "Ihereiore, m order that nil those who are not instilled with the principles of the unity and iruin ol tno (. atholic Church should seize the occasion offered to them by this council, in w hich tho Catholic Church, to w hich their an- eer-tors belonged, Miows a proof of its com plete unify, ol its vigor, aud of its inextinguish able vitality, that thev should obev the necessi ties of their hearts; that thev t-honld strive to bear themselves awav from that state in which thoy cannot be assured of their salvation; that they should address without ceasing the most fervent prayers to God that lie should dissipate the cloud of error, and that lie should bring ilieiu back to the lioiom of the Church, our holy mother, where their ancestors received the salu tary hour'uhuieut of life and alone preserves In its integrity the doctrine ot .lesus Christ, haul ing it down, and dispensing the mysteries of cclchtial grace. We, therefore, who ought most zealously to fullil all the duties of a good pastor, in accordance with the charsrc of our apostoli' ministry, entrusted to us by Christ our Lord Himself, nnd w lio ought to embrace all men in the world in our paternal cbavitv. address this letter to all Christians separated from us a let ter In w hich we exhort and fenpplicato them to hasten to return to the lold of t hrist. ItciillcM front the i'rolcstuiilH. While tho letter to the Oriental bishops was officially transmitted to each of the bishops, the letter to the Protestant Churches, so far as we know, has not been officially communicated to either of the Protestant Stale Governments or to the heads of any of the free Churches. Tho only medium of publication has been the press; but this medium has proved fully sufficient, aud has made the Pope's letter moro widely known than any previous document of this character has ever become. It has come to the knowledge of every sect for which it was intended, and among tho thousands of nanera which expound tho views of tho several Protestant denominations, there is hardly one which has uot taliou notice of the Idler and discussed it. As tho difference between Prole Uatitlsni and Roman Catholicism Is moro fundamental than that between tho Roman Catholic and Greek Churches, the reception of the Papal invitation on the part of tho Protcstaut world has boon decidedly more unfavorable than if has been on tho part of tho Orientals. Thoso Protestants who still udhero to the theological doctrines as defined in the sixteenth century, havo vlgo-roui-ly rctwci ted Iho charges of their fathers tigalrM Papacy. They Imve told the Pope that the ground of sepamliou between Rouiu and the Protestant Churches is tho Incorporation hy j l.oino in the Catholic creed of doctrines, which Ihey regard as contrary to tho Scriptures, and to the belief of the primitive Church. Replies of this character have heen prepared by the Bishops if the Church of F.iiL'land. .,v tlio Simremn Ecclesiastical Board 'of the Stato Church of Prussia, by tho Dutch University of Gioningcn, nnd oilier bodies. In our country the General Council of the Lutheran Church, the General Convention ot tho Trotestant Epis copal Church, tho two Presbyterian Assombllos nnd other Protestant bodies imoointed com mittees to reply to the Papal letter. On Monday, May 31, 18(10, a great assembly of nbout "0,000 people was held in Worms, to reply to the Pope, iu tho namo of tho German people. Tho meeting had been called by the heads of tho Uhcral or nationalistic partv, tho invitation to it having been signed by men like Profossor Sehcnkel.and Professor Bluntschll of Heidelberg, und many other leaders of tho party. Tho as sembly Issued a declaration against tho letter of the Pope, and against recent "ultratuontnue attacks and encroachments," and in favor of a ehango of tho several Protestant Stato Churches into a National German People's Church. While the breach between tho Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches is at pre sent cither fully as wido as It was threo hundred years ago, or even wider, there are some nota ble exception. 1 here are men and parties in several of the Churches that have generally been counted among the Protestant Churches which regard a union with Homo as practicable and desirable. Others, while not going so far, con sider tho difference between tho Roman Catholic nud the orthodox Protestant Churches as insig nificant in comparison with those which sepa rate the orthodox Protestants from the ration alistic tendencies of modern times, and they consequently advocate a coalition of all Chris tians who believe in tho divinity of Jesus Christ and the inspiration of tho Scriptures against those who deny these doctrines. Guizot is one of the best known representa tives of this cla.!s of men, and he, at a recent meeting, expressed the opinion that Pius IX, in convoking the council, exhibited an admirable wisdom, and that "from this assembly, perhaps, will issue tho salvation of the world, for our societies are very sick; but for great evils there are great remedies." In Germany a Protestant writer, Rciuhold Baumstark, has issued a pam phlet on tho council which breathes a similar spirit, and has had a very wide circulation. But nowhere outside the Roman Catholic Church is there so friendly a disposition toward the object of its convocation a) among a part of tho Ritualists of the Church of England. There Is an organized partv, counting such men as Dr. Pusey among its members, who aro even now ready to rceoguize an honorary presidency of tho Popo over the entire Christian Church, and who believe that the Thirty-nine Articles of tho Church of England can be harmonized with the decrees of the Council of lrcnt. 1 his party hopes and pray for the success of the council, anil some of its members advocate the sending of representatives to Rome to stipulate tho e dilious of their submission. Tho l'ope v. Ir. ('iimmlnjr. Even in very serious things there is oftentimes a comic element, nr. summing, ot .London, who lias neen predicting lor the last hrteen or twenty years that tho world would end iu ISf (lie uas kindly deterred Unit culaslroplie), was expected to supply it in this instance, having challenged tho Pope to enter into a discussion with him, before the council, on the difference between tho Catholic and tho Protestant Churches, and the causes of this difference. The Pope, curtly answering that there can bo no discission of "errors'' already condemned, de clines the controversy. The fun would have been to hear Dr. Cuinming (whose knowledge of Latin may go to the extent of enabling him to construe the lew classical works read in school and at college) rising up in nn assombly composed of learned prelates who havo been trained to speak Latin as if it wero a living lan guage, and attempting to make himself under stood. Independent of his want of fluency in that tongue, his pronunciation of it would have made him ludicrously unintelligible. It has been suggested that if Dr. Cuintning, whoso pa.-bion lor notoriety craves perpetual exhibi tion, desides a bona jidc controversy, ho might challenge Dr. Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury, to discuss in public the diflereuees, iu doctrine and discipline, between the Churches of Eng land nnd Scotland. Both divines are eloquent in Ecglieh, and may be presumed to be well in formed on the points of controversy. The following is the Pope's letter on the sub ject of Dr. Cumming's request to be heard at the council. It is addressed to the Romish Arch bishop of Westminster: l'ope Pius IX to our Venerable Brother lieury i'.dwnni, Archblsiiop ol Westminster. "Veiiernhh: Brother, Health and the Apostolic Blessing Wo have teen from the newspaper that Dr. Ciiiiiming, of Scotland, has inquired of you whether leav will be given at the approach ing council to inoc who uisscnt iroui me Catholic Church to put forward the arguments winch tney think can tie uuvonccu in support ot their own opinions; uud that, on your reply that this is a mailer to be determined by the Holy See, he lias written to us upon the subject. "Now, If the inquirer knows what is tho belief of Catholics with respect to the teaching author ity which has been given by our Divine Saviour to His Church, and therefore with respect to its infallibility in deciding questions which belong to dogma or to moruls, he must know that the Church cannot permit errors w hich it has care fully considered, judged, and condemned, to be itpain brought under discussion. Thii, too, Is w hat lias already been made known by our let ters. (.Viz.: The Letters Apostolic of Scptciu ler i:, 1808, addressed "To all Protestants aud other non-Catholics.") For, when wo said, "it cannot be dcuied or doubted that Jesus Christ Himself, hi order that he might apply to all generations of men the Units ol I lis redemption, built here on earth uton Peter His only Church, that Is, the. one holy Catholic, and upostolio Ihurcli, und gave to him all power that was necessary for preserving whole and Inviolate the dc'iosit of faith, und for delivering the samo'faith to ull peoples, and tribes and nations," we there fore signibed that the rriiuacy both of honor nnd ol jurisdiction, w hich was conferred upon Peter nud ids successors hv 'the Founder of tho Church, is l.Iaecd bevoud the hazard ot disme tation. This. Indeed, is the hinge upon which tin: whole uucflion between Catholics and all who dissent from them turns, and from this dis sent, ns from a fountain, all the errors of non Catholics How. 'For Inasmuch as such bodies of inen nre dcirtitiito ol that living and divinely cstablished authority which teaches mankind especially tho things of faith and tho rule of mtrnk', und which al.io directs and governs them in whatever relates to denial salvation, so Ihe.-e same bodies of men havo ever varied in their teaching, and their ehango and instability never cease.' If, therefore, your inquirer will consider either the opinion which Is held by the Church irs to the infallibility of its judgment in delinitig whatever belongs lo faith or morals, or what wo ourselves luiM) written respecting the primacy und teach ing tuilhoiity of Peter, ho will ut oueu perccivo H at no rot in can be given ut the council fur tho di ll pre ol errors wkich have already bee-i eon deiiil.ul; and that we could net have invited iiou-OUiolicb to a discussion, bu. havo only urged them 'to avail themselves of tho opportu nity afforded by this council, in which tho Ca tholic Church, to which their forefathers be longed, gives a new proof of its closo unity and Invincible vitality, nnd to satisfy tho wants of their souls by withdrawing from a stato in w bleb they cannot bo sure of their salvation. If, by the inspiration of Divine grace, they shall seek God with their wholo heart, they will easily eiiht away nil preconceived and adverse opinions; and. laying aside all desire of disputa tion, they will return to tint Father from whom they have long unhappily gono astray. We, on our part, will joyfully run to moet them; nnd embracing them with a father's clujrlly, we shall rejoice, und the Church will rejoice with us that our children who were dead havo come to lite again, and that they who wero lost have been found. This, indeed, we earnestly ask of (iod; nnd do you, venerable brother, join your prayers to ours. In tho meanwhile, as a token of tho Divino favor and of our owu especial benovoleneo, wo most lovingly ghe to you uud to your dloeeso our Aposiolie blessing. Given at St. Peter's, in Homo, this fourth day of September, IStlO, iu tho illlh year vmr Pon tificate. Porn i"(s IX. Views or tlio Archbishop of 'iirl-oii the Council. m The following selection is from tho pastoral letter of the Archbishop of Paws, dated Nov. 7, IStiO. It is supposed to have been inspired by the Emperor: "Flnullv, my dear brethren, tho statement re specting tho ardor with which certain dogmas w ould in carried by acclamation iv the majoritv of tho bishops, thus suppressing the liberty of tucir colleagues whoso conscience may not ho penetrated with the samo irresistible light, hardly merit stopping to rofuto it. Good smiso and history protest against these evil aud idle Insinuations. If for tho gravest reasons tho Church judges it necessary to impose under the) pain ol eternal damnation an obligation to believe iu the future what she has uot asked you to believe up to tho present, she will not, in a manner, bring her act into disrepute bv depriv ing it of the conditions which will recommend it to your favor. She will not pronounce, from enthusiasm, a penalty so terrible as anathema, nor would it be proper for five or six hundred hisitops assembled to deliberate on sueu grave Interests, to decide by force ot numbers, dis daining to hear aud s'atlsfy scruples modestly presented, if there should bo anv entertained. 'l i.. j i. ..-... 1 ........ ...I I. 1 . I. : . - .. iuu viiuicu lias never ucaicu noma 111 Mil man lier, and will she cftiiimeneo to do so now? 'In the Council of Jerusalem, which was tho fir jt and has served as a model, deliberations were held, although ull the members of that august assembly were personally Infallible, and could decide from their opinion based upon tho highest authority. Au (Ecumenical Council Is held three centuries later to detiue and formally specify Iho faith of the Church respecting; the Incarnation of the Word, or, iu other terms, the Divinity of Jcus Christ the. fundamental dogma of Christianity, for which millions of martyrs hud died, and which had overturned all ancient religious and conquered tho world, de rpite tho Roman legions and laws of the empire. Certainly, if any dogma could escape delibera tion, it was tli is; if there was over an error glaring and absurd, from a Christian point of view, it was that of Arius: yet it was upon such matters the Council of Nice deliberated, and heard, weak as they were, tho reasons of the op ponents they did not vote by acclamation. This precedent not to speak "of tho other ought, dear brethren, to reassure you; there will not be leiis freedom ut Rome than lifteeu cen turies ago at Nice; and the approaching council will not tarnish its labors by suppressing dis cussion. You see. therefore, there is nothing serious nor reliable in the alarms which you have con ceived on the subject of the council from the wonl.s of speculative or irrcilectivo and evil minded pernons. The object of this assembly is elevated und of supreme importance; its labors will bo conducted with the wisdom which tho presidency of the J lory rather guarantees; tho bishops will carry thero an equal anxiety for their dicnily and your Interests and rights. Let von flhl l.hein hv omvcrA iuul mnrl woi-fc Anil III order that they be 'mora meritorious uud effi cacious, prolit by the grace which tho Sove- ic gn Pou tin accords under the form of plenary indulgence." TIih ;InnllVsio of tlio Gci'imm lilstmitii. The Romish bishops of Germany have united in issuing a manifesto against tho now dogmas which are to be submitted to the council for approval. A writer in "the Augstmr'jvr AUijt iminfi ZcUunij thus congratulates the German prelates on the stand they havo takeu: "Although the German bishops arc too few in number to exercise a preponderating inlhieiiee in the council (thero being but Mi iu all), still. should these 2t orclates remain firm In their resolution, the fact that they are the religious representatives of a irrcat nation, with a popula tion comprising nearly l,00o,000of Catholics, is a sufficient guarantee that none of the obnoxious dogmas will bo curried triumphantly through. the council, the more especially us 4t is confi dently believed that a considerable number both of the French und Austrian episcopacy present ut the council will unite with their German brethren in resisting to the utmost the Introduction of any new doctrines into the Ro man Catholic religion.'' The Austrian Manifesto. Directly opposed in spirit to the manifesto of the German bishops, to which it is partly an nn-wer. Is the manifesto f the Austrian bishops nt Fulda. counselling faith In the inspiration of the (Ecumenical Council, showing the German brethren that no help can be had from this quarter. 'Iho following is an extract: "We cannot, however, conceal from ourselves the fact that many earnest and devoted mem bers of the Church "entertain misgivings regard ing the approaching council which arc calcu lated to weaken the faith of the multitude. These misgivings have arisen from the accusa tions of the enemies of the Church, who havo attempted both to excite Me picion against and dislike to the council, and even to uwakcti tho dittrust of existing governments. Fears have been entertained by some that the council is about to promulgate, new doetines contrary to the revelation of (iod and the tenets of tho Church opposed lo the rights of government, civilization, uud science;, and subversive of liberty and the happiness of the people. Others co still further and maintain that the Holy Father himself, under the influence of party, has the hitciiti".n of employing the council as a means ot Increasing, out of all measure, tho power of the Apo-tolie Chair, nnd of establish ing a religious sovereignty incompatible wiih all ( hristiaii liberty. "Again, many have expressed the fear that the bishops themselves will be found wanting in the requisite llriuncss uud requirements neces sary to the complete . fulfilment of tke.lr duty in the council. Whatever may have given rise to there rumors, most assuredly they do uot spring from tt fervent love for the Church, nor do they beto Ken that Keudlast reliance on the support which the Almighty has never faued to vouch safe II is Church. But we would beseech you neither to be led astray by such idle rumor, nor to be rliakcn in your firm belief and faith in our holy religion. Arrer can a council such as this .rtiiuilgaie doctrines contrary to Holy Writ or lo the teachings of tho apostles; ni't'ir can it attempt to lay down principles contrary to jus tice and .the "rights of government, and which conflict w ith true liberty ai.d tho well-being of nations. "Be well insured, therefore, that tho council will countenance vo doctrines oilier than thoso that have been lield sncrei'. for centuries through out Christendom, uud upon which depend tha prosperity of States, tho authority of the laws, nnd the liccdoni of the people Even to doubt that Iho council would fail in its duty, would n ek In any respect to alter tho doctrines gov i ruin"' the Church, shows a want of faith both in ibe pn mis,! of the Almighty and in His hea venly aid." The Bishop of Orleans has issued a pastoral letter el reusing bis approval of the Fulda Con fimice, but ikibuii'g in advance that ho will abide, by the decision of th' (Ecumenical Coun cil, whatever ll u" be Menllmentn ot tlie ITnnvnrlnn nail rnrtoftamia ''nli-oiiitt-a. It hi said that tho Hungarian Government It firmly resolved, iu case tho Court of ltomo Is unable or unwilling to furiilxh rcrttin guaran tees required as to tho spirit and tendency of tho approaching council, lo strictly and abso lutely forbid tho members of tho Hungarian Episcopato to attend It. It is self-ovldent that if such a resolution bo taken In Hungary, it may be Imitated in the other half of tho mon archy. 1 ho Fortnguoso Episcopato openly opposss Itself to the designs of tho Court of Rome, and nearly all its members havo refused to attend the council. A largo number of bishops in dif ferent countries liavo expressed disapprobation of the modo in which the preparative cominls- ' sions have drawn up a priori digests of tho de crees and questions to bo brought beforo tho council, declaring that this proceeding is an In fringement of their rights, and -un attempt of th Roman Curia to impose Its Ideas and principles on an assembly which should bo left to orlglnato Its own resolutions. Tho Belgian bishops aro . leagued on a very small point. During the reli gious wars hi. that country tho Holy Sacrament was kept for safety lu a sort of tower, and tho custom has been banded dowu to the present lime. Lately thr became known t3 Monslgnor Bartolini, sacristan to tho congregation of tho Rota, who reported it to tho l'ope, and the Bel gian bishops were ordered to abandon tho usage, and keep the Host, according to tho universal practice, in a pyx. Tho order was follovvod by adecrec from the Rota.but neither order nor de cree has been obeyed, and tho bishops havo de t:rmined lo bring tho matter before tho Church. A Proponed Anti-Council. Cardinal Riano-Sforza, from Naples, was ex pected la Rome last August to tako advico as to his attitude towards an anti-couneil to bo hold within his jurisdiction, proposed by tho Deputy Kieelardl. At first thero was no wish to attach importance to tho movement, but information has been received that the anti-couneil will be attended by a number of authors and savants from Germany aud England, uud tho Holy Seo now recommends tho Cardinal to publish a man date, eoniinunding his flock to hold aloof from ' it uuder pain of excommunication. Still the movement Inspires no uneasiness at the Vatican, and the Pope will not Interfere personally unless it extend its proportions. Pi-fpnrutfon Tor the Invent. The preparations, which, as already stated, were begun in 1807, soon after the announce ment of tho Popo's Intention to convoke tho council, have been actively continued ever since. The Supreme Directive Congregation is com posed of seven cardinals, six of whom are Italians and one .a German. To thorn are joined, flScoiibultor?,sveral bishops and luarnod priests, among whom arc four Italians, one Englisnman (Mgr. Talbot), ono Professor of tho University of Louvaiu iu Belgium, und Professor Hofelo, of the University of Tubingen, in Germany. The latter is the author of by far tho best history of the "Council:; of tho Christian Church," a work of solid and profound learning, and valued by Protestants as highly as by Catholics. Under the direction ot this congregation, special coin- -missions prepare the matters to be discussed and decided upon by the bishops. Thero is a com mission of ceremonies, a politico-ecclesiastical commission, a commission for Eastern affairs, one on the religious orders and congregations, one of dogmatic theology, one of ecclesiastical discipline. Italy bus, of course, a larger sharo in the .vdcUon of tho members of theso com missions than any other nation; next to Italy, Culholie Germany lias furnished tho largest number. Tho United Slates aro represented by Dr. Corcoran, of Charleston; England, by Mgr. Talbot and Mgr. Howard. Dr. Newman was In vited to assist, but declined on account of infirm health. Dr. Dollingcr, tho great church his torian of Munich, has uko been iuvitcd, but has" deciiced the invitation. For tho first Umo in the history of .the (Ecumenical Councils, thanks to the art of stenography, u literal account of the entire proceedings will bo taken, and tha provisions of this kiud have been completed. An Austrian bishop of note, Dr. Fcssler, of St. Polteu, has received tho appointment of Secret-try of tho Couucil. The Popo has decided that tho bishops shal 1 be received at tho Vatlcau with extraordinary honors suited to their character of supremo judges In the Church and organs of tho Holy Spirit. As it will bo impossible to enact these ceremonies for each individual, the bishops will be received in collective audiences, to which they will bo introduced by categories, accom panied, like royal princes, by tho maestro dl camera and the muggiordomo, and surrounded by a guard of honor and chamberlains. Tha audiences w ill take place in tho saloon of the throne, w here tho Pope, seated on tho throne und surrounded by his court, will award tho bishops the tame attention as ho pays to princes of the blood. The council is to be ul lowed complete liberty ' of discussion, but no discussion is to be carried ' on in the enclosure in tLo basilica of St. Peter. That resort is to bo appropriated solely to pub lie sittings and to the solemn promulgation of decrees. The count il will hold its debates in the saloon of the Supper of Holy Thursday, above the atrium of tha cathedral. In the inclosuro wltMn tho basilica the Chris tian princes und representatives of foreign powers, w ho aro excluded from the saloon of , the supper, will occupy tribunes round the Pon tilleal throne. The architect forgot to erect tribune for the patriarchs, but the omlssiou has been rectified, aad by order of Mousiguor For- frari, prefect of ceremonies, they are ussigued a ' placo under the tribune of tho cardinals. The archbishops and bishops in parUlux aro to enjoy all the rights and privileges of diocesans. It It decided also to extend this rule to abbots nullius, but the Pope has not yot niado up his mind about the generals of the orders. His hesitation Is much resented by Father Beckz, tho general of the Jesuit, w ho, making sure of a seat At tho council, called from Belgium the most subtle theologian of tho order to be his prompter In this duty, uud is very mortified to havo to send him back untapped. There is even a rumor that the theologian was found tainted, aud ho refuses . to leave a Belgian bishop, to whom ho is secretary, and who U distinguished for hi liberal views. Mousignor Dnpanloiip, lib hop of Orleans, to whom Prince llorghorc appropriate a part of his palace, will give weekly cntertainiiioiiW -tu thei.ibcial bishops. Theso assemblies aro ex pected to he attended by the majority of the German bishops. A ItnilnesH Order. An aWtract of all the separate matters treated by the commissions will be submitted to all the .libhopa for luspcctlon, who may then exaiuiao the v.tih us questions. At the same timo thoy will it i l ive a draft of the resolution. propound, that tin y limy aUo cxamino them beforo thoy j an: Mil luillcj to lliC' council for dicusMim. By . this iiicuiife unnecessary spcecli-ti will be spaixid, Ctiit.tU'd vn (.' KintMh fug-: A
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