The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-15
The Approaching E,ameuica, Convention.

1
Ia yes erday's HERALD we printed piece OF
news, furnished by ihe Atlantic cable, which is
| peculiar IN is way. We were informed that
his 10 mess Pope Plus TX has resolved to call
| together general council OF lie Rom Catho-
lie church, hal primal, archhzhops, bishops,
| cardinals, heads of RELIGIOUS orders and other
| d eniiaries of the Church, are TO be summoned
TO attend from all parts Of the world and that
the Pope HIS named congregation of seven
cardinals, TO whom he has entrusted the duty
OF arranging preiiminaries.
An this intelligence, and lltle more, so far
hack as last June, We fnTniahel 4, cur own ex-
psuse Our inform to- bad about It the pecu-
liar excellence tha il WAS from headquarters.
Web'd It street from the tican His Holiness
never !o7gess that w have in our possession
parchment doc m n, in his own han gri ing
aud signed wi h his official seal granlng unto
us and ous pienary indulgence for all The
political and other offences Of tais life, with
promise o. he b. ngs OF the hereafter. II is
unnesca airy to say that We value this locu-
ment and the friendship OF which 1t is he proof.
As it is our good fortune nj times to obtain
Ittle precious information irom the chief Of the
american republic, SO is /. our good fortune
nom time to me to obtain information IRON
tue head of the Catholic Church. Important
truth, however, is none the worse for being re-
peated. In this instance, therefore, although
tue news is not new, we DO not greatly COM
plain OF the Associated Press.
Il might have added to the value of the in
formation had we been told for what purpose
he council was to be convened. In former times
&c leslastical councils played an important
part in the history OF the Church and the world.
Councils are distinguished as provincial,
are convened and presided over BY the metro
politan bishop. Their object is disciplinary
ohieiy. They are not denied the liberty of dis
cussing questions of faith, but their decisions
,hereon are not authoritative. National
councils have hitherto been convened by
princes only, and are presid d over by the pri-
nate or legate Of the Holy See. They
differ from the provincial councils chiefly
in his, that their supervision is larger. In
matters of faith their decisions are equally un-
authoritative. The general councils are also
called ecumenical The range OF their super
vision ls coextensive viii the bounds Of the
Church, or, to speak more correctly, with the
bounds of earth and they are composed Of all
tie bishops of Christendom. The right to con-
vene such councils is supposed to be vested in
the Pope. l! is admitted, however, even by
Roman Catholic writer's that the first eight
general councils were convoked by the Chris
tan emperors. AS the empire in these times
was coexensive with the Church, such councils
may be included In the category OF national,
tuus leaving the superior right Of the Pope I'M
questioned Hitherto il has always been the
business Of these councils to occupy themselves
with questions Of schism and heresy. belief and
discipline, which may be affecting the univ ersal
Church. The first general council was held by
the Apostles in Jerusalem. about the year 80.
The last was held at Trent, in the year l545, and
lasted till 1868, o period of eighteen years. The
whole number Of general councils, accor ling
to the Roman Catholic Church, is nineteen,
the first being that at Jerusalem AMI the last
that OF Trent. The Greek Church recognizes as
authoritative the decisions of only the first seven
general councils. The Protestant Churches
admit the full authority of none of them but
the Apostolic council at Jerusalem. and regard
as Ecumenical only the six which directly
followed.
La ge and important conferences have some.
times been held under the presidency Of the
Pope, and have given decisions on matters
affecting the faith of the universal Church
Their decisions, however, are IN no sense au-
thoritative. OF such character was the con-
ference of one hundred and ninet 1.-TWO prelates
which sat in Rome in 1854. and proclaimed the
dogma Of The Immaculate Conception. 1t will
be well for the forthcoming council to recon-
slider this question. II will 40! be well for
the Roman Catholic Church. if, no. only failing
to remove this last and greatest absurdity, they
add to the absurdities which exist, and which are
numerous enough in all conscience, by pro-
claiming the personal infallibilty of the Pope.
Much as we respect and esteem his Holiness,
We have no desire to see him burdened with
such ridiculous honors.