The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-04
COUNCILS or the CATHOLIC CHURCH.


Isaportant Sermon Of the Archbishop Of BAL.
timorc.
The following sermon on the approaching Convention
cf the Catholic Hierarchy in Baltimore delivered
that city On Sunday last by his Grace the Mos, Rev.
Archbishop spaiding:-
Councils In tho Catholic Church are old as the Church
ITSELF ani tho Church old Christ; because she
the spouse Of Christ without spot wrinkle and lie the
order Of His covenant for tho welfare or His people
Councils by thcoloesns CONSIDERED necessary
the welfare Of tho Church. hut only cncny useful for
purpose Of discipline ard Ia Of sudden emercn
cy In It's normal state Of spcnsason the Church fully
able N deal with oil errors and sbuses II " like nm
army In battle array II has ~ bishops governors Of
doosses il chief bishop executive bishop ruling ALL
IN condemn hcresy, 70 warn from danger, and TO
establish discipline Councils arc however very great
antiquity Al the very Mt OF tho Christian
era controversy sprung mp concerning the converts
from among the GentIles Acss XVI The bishops and
elders convened council At Jerusalem mt which It.
Peter prince Of the Apostles and vtceecrent or Christ
presided Jaincs Bishop Of Jerusaen, proposed, and
the decree wes pussed, that the Gentle converts
not bound undergo circumcision, 70 conform TO
tho 9th mersly ceremon al portions OF tho law The
synsgoie was prepsrsory institution, ana gave way
70 moro perfect dspensatiou During its existence tho
synagogue was conducted with honor and fulfilled i,s
n iss,en From thai time there have been numerous
general councils When the sword Of persecution
raised and Christians had 10 hide themselves 10
mpossible 70 convene general counc but many local
councils were held. When the glorious Cross
appeared to Constantine as hnrbnger OF his victory
over Maxcnur when the Croes gained the ascend.
ency, when the church eoud O me forth clothed IN the
vessrnepts Of holnss aud beauty, she assembled her
bishcps 20 The number Of three hundred and eighteen,
Nioc 70 CONSIDER the heresy which bad been creeping
about among tho pcopc OF Alex.ndria and Of sgyp'
Iha was the infamous hcresy Of Arius DENYING the
divinity OF Jesus Chris that divinity bad not boon
proclaimed BY the triumph OF the church over ne
Roman empire man had dared 10 deny the divinity
Of shc Founder Of the Church. and forthwith three h
drcd AID eighteen bishop, from every rart q Ch,cn,
sons.w v"a s,,s nal error q Arns, and pro.
claimed that Christ Was Cod From that tune
until .hs Council q Tren, oishtcen gose.si councils
in the portion o. tho Christian world They
convened to condemn teachings which had attempt
"a 10 Obscure truth To an OF hen n there no, en-
Are ruanimty on matters OF discipline, there per-
rsct accord upon Gil matters Of faitL ono Of the most
rrktpg evidence Of the d character OF the Catholic
Uhuruk v foInd 10 the history eighteen
rs The irgeuuity Of the learned toIroted 20 the
Uhurch) bocn sci 10 work 90 fnd Inconsistencies IN
Tho history OF thea councils but without success FOR
on doctrnn ports-ror she cornell Of Nice To ,ha 81
rrcns-aficr cigh cen centuries have rolled over se
may dmy tue oppontrs o tbs Catholic Church u posnt
pat . stnss iucsusisteucy N iis decisions Some.
times the cry has baen "a sed that the
Church has promulgated a new doctrine,
said sa ling to doctrine of tho Imsuacalhto Con.
eep.iob whereas she has bst prooiarn.t doctrine
which v Nc ae, and VS. onv io prccisned formerly
in The divinity OF Cbrs ard theief0ss tho doctrine
NOT deGnod until opposition bad been SnadA Thus,
regards genera councils they arr convened Tor the de-
fckcs Of clcs &C fan end 10 establish PRINCIPLES of
dsc.rlno; convened In The Of Tho Council "
Trsn. when The ssoard u re- ot vas rsitce d Car
many by fr0nk who world fever have su'cesdsd IN
aitractin. notco bod be NOT been upheld Nv German
pflnccs. hirsnf ios Tho riches Of lhe Uhurc5 Nhio.
their support We rext come 70 sreaA " pari.r' 'w
ConDci. Thcss are Of three klnds-ppcesar, lrus'n-
diocese, and COMPOSED 81 iif bishop md clergy.
Provincial Ccuncii presided over BY IN archbishop
and "a composed Of bin and hs suiifsgan clspps me
usual number Of whom tnder each archbishop y fouror
Ase but In this country seven or ezh except IN the