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