The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-10-09
The Second Plenary Catholic COun.
al

In the Catholic Church there are recog-
nized two Councils, the General or -Ecume-
meal Council, held by the Pope, and con-
sisting of all the bishops in the world; and
the Particular Council, the latter being sub
divided as follows: LIST. The National Coun-
ell, composed OF all the bishops of nation;
I'd. The Provincial Council, composed of
the archbish'p of a province and his sui.
fragan bishop; Sd. A Diocesan Synod which
is convention of the clergy of diocese,
presided over by a bishop. The authority
of General Councils" is universal, while the
authority of the Particular Councils extend
only to the limits of the nation which il rep
rcscnts, and its DEGREES must be submitted
to the Pope before made public.
In this country there have been, including
the present one, two National Councils and
eight provincial. The first national Council
was held in this city in 1882, presided over
by the Most Rev. Archbishop Francis Pat
rick kenrick, apostolic delegate, there being
present six archbishops and twenty-six bish-
ops. The first Provincial Councils was held
in this city in 1929 by Archbishop Whit
field and consisted of six prelatcs; the sec
ond was convened under. the same prelate
in 1888; the third in 1887, under Archbishop
Eccleston: the fourth in 1910 by the same
prelate; the fifth in 1913, and the sixth in
1876, and the seventh in lS49, all by Arch
bishop Eccleston.
These Councils, by their actions, suggested
great changes in the diocesan government Of
this country, resulting in the erection of six
archhishoprics and some forty bishoprics.
In 1852 the authority of apostolic delegate
was conferred on the Archbishop of Balt-
more, thus making him Premate of the Uni
ted States.
DIRECTS or THIS Council.
The objects of the present Council ,as stated
recently III sermon by Archbishop Spaldng,
are the following: The securing of greater
uniformity of discipline by bringing local
variations back to the standard of general
usage, SO fur as circumstances will allow; the
proclaming of the faith as already settled
and defined, with the condemnation Of all
opposing, especially the current errors of the
day, the recommendation Of new Sees to be
erected, and the presentation to the Holy See
Of new candidates for the cpiscOpacy so us to
widen the sphere of normal church action, in
accordance with their rapid territorial extern
sion, to adopt such practical means as NAV
seem best calculated to increase the feryer
be quckening the zeal of the people; to save
ii'ii b'HE i'' hiih W NbHNtTl lHDht
unhuppily wandering outside the pale Of the
Church, and to provide for the religious in.
struction and training of the colored race, so
greatly needing pastoral care.
The Council comprises representatives of
the provinces Of Baltimore, New York, Gin
cinnati, st. Louis, New Orleans, Portland,
(Oregon,) and San Francisco, represented by
the following archbishOps Most Rev. NJ. j.
Spalding, ID. d., Most Rev. John McC lOskey,
Most Rev. John Il. Purcell. Most Rev Peter
r. Kenrick, Most Rev. J. NJ. Odin, Most Rev.
Francis n Blanchet, and Most Rev. Jos. s.
Alemany. In each Of these provinces there
are dioceses governed by bishops, who are
the sufiragans of the provincial archbishops,
all of whom, to the number of thirty-eight,
were present yesterday.
OFFICERS OF THE CoUNCII.
At a preliminary meeting of the prelatcs,
held on Saturday evening the following Off.
GERS of the Council were chosen
Promoter. - Right Rev. p. y. Lynch
D. D., Bishop OF Charleston,
Assistant Promoter.-Nery Rev. William
OHara, d. D., V. g., Philadelphia.
Chancellor.-Rev Thomas Foley d. d.,
Baltimore.
Assistant Chancellor-R James Glib
bons A. ~ Baltimore,
Secretarles.-Ne cry ReV. james a. tOrcO,
ran, d. D., V. G., Charleston, s. G.; Rev.
James Keogh, D, d., Philadelphia, Pal
Rev. Thomas A. Becker, d. d., Richmond,
| Va.
Notaries. Rev. F, j. Pebesch D.
D., Cincinnati; Very Rev. +. S. Vllarasa,
o. 3. d., California Very Rev. M. Heiss
D, D., Milwaukee; Rev, VI. Accolli, $. ].
California Rev. w. Wayrich, c. S. s. r.,
Baltimore Rev J. S. Foley, ID. D., Bati-
more; Rev. p. J. Ryan, st. Louis; Rev. A.
Sherwood Healey, Boston.
Masters Of Ceremonies. - Rev. Francis
McNierny. New York Rev. s. Ferte, Bal
timore.-BaH, Sun.