The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-30
Tho Great CoBvocatton mt Rome and On
Church Of the Future.

| III Church Of the Future.
To-day, as will be seen by ON extended
report in our columns, will be great
dsy in tho Holy City. The tribes have
gene up in numbers and with costly
offerings to the modern Jerusalem, as they
,ever went up to the Jerusalem Of old;
and tonight the greatest religious temple
which the sun has yet shone upon will present
scene Of splendor and attractiveness-as scene
in which the gorgeousness Of wealth, the gran
deur Of genius and the solemn mysteries OF
religion will be seen united in manner such
as was never surpassed, If ever equalled, by
the famous temple of Solomon, in the days Of
its greatest glory. 'The earth is the Lords
and the fulness thereof Is an old and well
known saying; but it must be said, to the credit
and praise Of the Catholic Church, that it
has during the course of its history given
point and . meaning to these words such as
have been given them by none Of the other
sections Of Christendom, and that on this latest
occasion it promises to surpass all that 1t has
ever done before. There is something about
this Convocaton which beautifully harmonizes
with the new era of prOgress--an era the
grandness of which we can as yet but family
conceive on the threshold Of which the world
now stands.
The truth which we have all along stated,
that the present assembly of ecclesiastical
dignitaries. though convened for another and
more immediate purpose, is certain to resolve
itself ultimately into grand ecumenical
council, is now becoming more and more ap-
parent. In one of tao special kilograms which
we printed in yesterdays HERALD the Holy
Father is reported to have expressed "his
desire to convoke, at an early day, General
Council Of the bishops, with view to DELHI
crate on the best means Of repairing the evils
which now Cypress the Church" Never did
Pho Mono express more becoming desire or
reveal purpose moro in harmony with the
exigencies Of the times. The evils which
Cypress the Church are doubtless numerous,
but, if heartily and Immediately grappled with,
they are by no means incurable. There are
evils without and there are evils within the
Church, all Of which rest upon her as q crush
ing incubus and all of which it Is desirable to
have removed as speedily as possible; but the
removing the former is to proceed without
delay to eradicate the latter. The Catholic
Church, as tho present Convocation in
variety Of ways very clearly shows, has
firm hold on the intellect and affections of
many millions Of the human family 10 both
hemispheres and in almost every clime Nor
are the votaries of that Church confined to any
one section or class. They are to be found in
all sections and In all classes. The peer Is not
less devoted than the peasant, and in advancing
the cause which she represents the greatest
philosopher is not unwilling to rank himself
with the humblest disciple. Such state Of
things would not be Popish II the Catholic
Church were not In many very important and
essential particulars living embodiment Of
the truth Of Christianity. Whatever be the fa-
ture which is in store for her. one thing at least
it is safe to conclude-her mission, as yet Is by
no means concluded.
After all this has been said, however, i'm
provement Is possible and needed. There is q
great deal too much of the rust and crust Of the
Middle Ages about the Catholic Church. Much
washing and ironing, and long stride besides
are requisite to bring her up to the necessities
of the present time. There is no lack of
clothes; but it is not clothes we want; il is
life, the living soul beneath them, that we wish
to see and feel, and love and obey. Externals
certainly are not wanting; but we desiderate
the spirit It is because of the real vitality
which the Church Is even now manifesing that
we look with hope to this Convention, and hail
as . promise Of good tidings to come this de-
termination Of the Holy Father to convoke q
General Council for the purpose indicated. We
cannot doubt thai the collective wisdom of the
Church's representatives, will be turned TO
some practical account The Church and State
question may be considered as practically
settled. What with the two hundred thousand
dollars and the silver yacht richly freighted
with gold-both presents from this land of vol
untaryism-the Holy Father must be tolerably
well convinced that the Church can live, and
prosper, too, without the emoluments of the
State, and that It is no longer desirable to pro-
long struggle which must in the end be de-
cidcd against him. 1t is fair, then, to infer that
the attention OF the council will be directed to
other and more important matters. 1t will be
their duty TO devise measures by which the
Church may be adapted to the exigencies of
the times We repeat to them what we
have said before: one of the great
wants OF the Church in our day Is
simplicity-simplicity in matters of doctrine
aud worship. We need to be brought back TO
first principles We want to zee the pure
stream as 1t flows untainted from Its source.
We wish to get from beneath the burdsnsome
garments which stiHe a. well a. conceal the
Churcfs life. Much is requires to be done
before that point Is reached; but II can be done,
and II will prove the Church's salvation II II be
done vigorously and at once. We commend
again u the attention Of tho chief of Catholic