The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-02 00:00:00

TIM SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 2, 1867.

objects of the present imposing assembly of prelates I
at Rome is to give the Pope the opportunity of
announcing the assembly of a General Council in
the course of next year. According to St. Vincent
de Lerins and other ecclesiastical authorities a
Council is an assembly of ecclesiastical prelates, the
object of which is to regulate everything which
appertains to the faith and the discipline of the
Church. There are provincial, national, and gene-
ral councils, or representing a province, or a State,
or of all Christianity, and their decisions have the
force of law according to the extent of their juris-
diction. The first instance of these councils was
that of Jerusalem, held in the year 50 by the
Apostles for the abrogation of the ceremonies of the
Mosaic law. There were some others in the second
century to regulate the celebration of Easter ; but
it was only when the Church could assemble in
peace that such councils became more frequent
and more numerou3. The general councils,
which are also called CEcumenical Councils (from
the Greek oikounine, the habitable earth), summon
ecclesiastics from all parts of the world to discuss
heresy or schism which menaces the whole Church,
and to propose measures of general discipline, to
decide upon some points of doctrine, and to regu-
late others. It is the Pope in his qualty of the

Ilead of the Church who convokes the General
Councils, b.:cause no other than he has power over •
all the Bishops at once. Nevertheless, the presence
of the powers of the Church is required to give the
assembly the necessary authority over the votes,
and to prevent any opposition which might paralyse
the powers of the Council. No Council is oecume-
nical unless it be in communion with the Pope,
who by himself or his kgates presides, proposes
the questions, and confirms the decision. To
the Bishops alone, in their quality of Pastors
of the Church, belong the right of judging
and speaking at such Councils. These Councils
only transmit to posterity, in writing, what the
• Church has received from antiquity by tradi-
tion. The twenty (Ecumenical Councils were held
in the following order :
1. The Council of Nice (325) against the Arians.
2. The Council of Constantinople (381) against
the Macedonians.
3. The Council of Ephesus (431) against Nes-
torius and the Pelagians.
4. The Council of Chalcedonia (451)
against
Eutyches.
5. The second Council of Constantinople against
the three Chapters.
6. The third Council of Constantinople (680)
against the Monothelites.
7. The second Council of Nice
(787) against the
Iconoclastes.
8. The fourth Council of Constantinople (869)
against Photi us.
9. The Council of Latran (1123), to regulate
various matters of discipline.
10. The second Council of Latran (1139),
against Arnaud de Brescia.
11. The third Council of Latran
(t 170), respect-
ing
12. The fourth Council of Latran, against the

was lost.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

-4,

MILIAN.

ITALY.

Albigeois.
13. The Council of Lyons (1245), against the
Emperor Frederic the Second, the author of a
famous book—" De Tribes Impostoribus"
(Moses,
Jesus, Mahomet).
14. The second Council of Lyons (1274).
• 15. The Council of Vienne, in Dauphiny (1311),
against the Templars.
16. The Council of Pisa (1409),
against the
great schism in the West.
17. The Council of Constance (1414), against
the Hussites and three anti-Popes.
18. The Council of Florence (1429).
19. The Council of Bale (1431), which, after
twelve years of discussion, ended in schism.
20. The last, the twentieth Council, was the
famous Council of Trent (1545-1563), which under-
went even more vicissitudes than that of Bale. It
was opened on the 17th December, 1545, and trans-
ferred to Bologna on the 2d of April, 1547. In-
terrupted and then again opened at Trent on the
Ist of September, 1551. Suspended on the 18th
April, 1552. The Council was then resumed for
the third time on the 18th of January, 1562, and
definitively closed on the 3d December, 1563. At
its last meeting 1200 prelates were present.
The meeting now being held at Rome is in pur-
suance of a circular letter from the Sovereign Pon-
tiff, Pius IX., dated the 9th of December last, ad-
dressed to all the prelates of the Catholic world, in-
viting them to coma to Rome to celebrate with
him on the 29th of June, 1867, the fete of the Lien
heureux Apostles Peter and Paul. The Pope an-
nounced also that at the same time it was his in-
tention to inscribe upon the list of Saints a certain
number of martyrs, virgins, and confessors, among
others the frienheureux Germaine Cousin, shep-
herdess of the environs of Toulouse, Francoise des
eiligbuPelsa,
ies'and the bienheureux martyr Pierre
d'Arbues, Spanish Inquisitor ; also, Leonard de
Port Maurice, the martyr Josephat, Bishop of
Polotz in Lithuania, the martyrs of Gorcum in
Holland, and no less than 205 Japanese martyrs.
Among the latter are Alphonse, Narvarette, Domi-
nican, Pierre d'Arila, Franciscan, Pierre de Zaniga,
Augustin, Charles Spinola, Jesuit, and his com-
panions. Also the Laico Joahin, Firomaga, and
Lucie Preitery.
On the occasion of the centenary of St. Peter the
different cities of Italy have just sent to the Holy
Father, through the medium of Menseigneur Balma,
Bishop of Ptolemais, a sum of 300,000 f.
Soon after the arrival of M. Darboy, the Arch-
bishop of. Paris, at Rome, he had an interview with
the Pope, and presented a letter from the Empress
and a letter from the Imperial Prince, conveying an
invitation to visit their Majesties at Paris; but as I
have already stated, his Holiness, with thanks, de-
clined to accept the invitation on the ground of ill
health, and increasing infirmity. I am informed
that the Archbishop of Paris has sent a letter to the
Empress with this intimation. ,
Magnificent weather has favoured the grand cere-
mony of the award of the prizes to-day. The cere-
monial took place in conformity with the programme
I sent, but it concluded at so late an hour that it is
impossible to give details to-day. The cortege of the
Sultan was very splendid.

RUSSIA.

LATEST IITTELLIGENOF,

EXECUTION OF THE EMPEROR MAXI-

NEW YORK, July 1.

The captain of an Austrian frigate has tele-
graphed from. New Orleans to the Austrian Minister
at Washington that the Emperor Maximilian has
been executed, and that Juarez refuses to deliver up
the body.

HIS HOLINESS THE POPE.
ROME, JULY 1.

The I've received au address this morning from
L9O bishops, to which his Holiness replied, thank-
ug the prelates, and expressing his satisfaction at
he address.

halted, showing that 45 millions of dollars of out-
standing Treasury Bills exist, and that a draw of
2,200,000 dollars has taken place monthly above
the receipts. He calls upon the Assembly to reduce
the floating debt, but brings forward measures of his
own. No foreign loans are contemplated.
Intelligence from the seat of war was unim-
portant. No active measures had been taken.
Cholera was nearly subdued among the troops.
It is reported that the Paraguayan lines are so
strong that the army would be removed to enter
Paraguay at once at a vulnerable point.
Cholera had disappeared on the Parana.
Buenos Ayres and Monte Video were healthy,
and busiLeas had been renewed. The sales of
coffee for the month were 200,000 bags, at a de-
cline from 200 to 300 reis.

The Pope also received at St. Peter's a depu-
tation from 100 Italian towns. Count Boschetti
read a speech, to which the Pope replied in touch-
ing terms.

A grand fete was given to-day at the Villa
Borghese, at which an immense number of guests
were present. Perfect tranquillity prevails in the

FLORENCE, July 2.

In yesterday's sittings of the Chamber of Depu-
ties the discussion of the Ecclesiastical Property
Bill was fixed for Wednesday next. The commer-
cial treaty between Italy and Austria then came on
for discussion. A motion was brought forward by
some of the members proposing the postponement
of the debate until the question of the settlement of
the frontiers had been decided. Signor Bixio said
he knew that Austria and other Powers were pre-
paring a treaty containing clauses hostile to the
policy of Italy, to which the President of the Coun-
cil replied that he was in total ignorance of
the fact. Nevertheless, be was aware that
some time ago one Power had attempted
to induce Austria, France, and Prussia to
conclude a treaty unfavourable to Italy, but
the attempt had failed, and it was improbable that
the aforesaid Power would soon renew the attempt.
He also maintained that the commercial treaty with
Austria was advantageous to Italian interests. In
reference to the revision of the frontiers he hoped
that by the establishment of friendly relations
with Austria a boundary settlement favourable to
both States should be obtained.

The motion for the postponement of the debate

THE GREEK STEAMER ARKADI.

MARSEILLES, July 2.

£280,000 sterling has been drawn on London
at 22i to 221. Exchange on Paris, 412 to 423.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, July 2.

Intelligence received here from Athens to the 27th
ult. states that the Arkadi has accomplished her
14th voyage to Candia. She landed 500 volunteers,
2,000 muskets, and a quantity of military supplies,
provisions, and clothes. Four Turkish steamers
attempted to cut her off, but she escaped, returned
to Caudia, and finished landing her cargo. Upon
the Arkadi quitting the island, she was pursued by
eight Turkish ships, which she succeeded in evad-
ing, and returned to Syra. She was again about to
leave for Caudia.
Accounts from the island state that Omar Paella
was preparing to attack the district of Sphakia.

A general ministerial ordinance has been des-
patched to Baron Scheel-Plessen, the Governor of
the Duchy of Schleswig, recommending him to
adopt a conciliatory policy towards the inhabi-
tants of that Duchy.

ST. PETERSBURG, July 1, 11 a•m

The Emperor arrived last evening, at 6 p.m., at
Zarstro-Selo, and made his grand entry here. this

morning.
The Czar was present at the church of Karsan,
where a thanksgiving service was performed for his
Majesty's ezca,pe from the late attempted assassina-

tion.
The streets of the town are decorated with flags,
and general preparations are being nude for
illnnii
nations this evening•

'TIE NEW RUSSIAN TARIFF.
Sr. PETERSBURG, July 2.

A new tariff scheme, based upon the experience
of the last ten years, has been prepared, and sub-
mitted to experts for examination and report.
A special committee, under the presidency of M.
Nebolsin, will then draw up a bill containing the
necessary provisions.