The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-04
The Approaching Ecumcnical Council a
Rome.


Rome.
When the bull of Plus the Ninth convoking
a General Cor EcumenicaD Council for the 9Th
of December, 1869, was made public some
months ago it was felt by all that a great
novelty was in store for those who should have
the good fortune to see the closing days Of
1869. For more than three hundred years
Ecumenical Councils have been things of the
past, known only to the student of history and
forming no part Of the living, actual present.
While, however, it was the general opinion
that an Ecumenical Council would be start
ling and magnificent novelty it was doubted by
many both within and without the Catholic
Church whether an Ecumenical Council in the
proper sense of the phrase was a possibility.
Time was when a General Council, con-
vened by Roman emperor, who was vir-
tually the ruler Of the then Roman world, was
fairly entitled to the name Ecumenical If any
of the habitable earth lay beyond the confines
of the empire, it was at least certain that
Christendom lay within the confines of the
empire. For the first ten centuries Of the
Church's history General Councils were within
the region of the possible and it is only fair to
admit that the first seven Councils, beginning
with the first of Nice and ending with the
second of Nice, were fairly representative Of
the Christian Church, although an Ecumenical
Council is convenient fiction which usage
only has made tolerable. II is undeniable that
since the second Council of Nice, which
sat in 7S7, the Greek or Eastern Church has
never been represented in the decisions of any
General Council. The Council which met at
Constantinople in 500 and which failed to
heal existing divisions is not consid-
cred OF any authority by any section of
the Eastern Church; and in the nine
General Councils which followed, begin
ming with the first Lateran and ending with
that of Trent, the Eastern Church has taken
no part. The great religious revolution Of the
sixteenth century which severed Western
Christendom in two seems to have put an end
to the idea Of General Councils; for since the
Council of Trent, which was convened to heal
the disorders Of the Church and which misera-
bly, failed of its purpose, no Council Of the
kind has been attempted. No Council could
be general in the proper ecclesiastical sense
Of the term which ignored the existence OF
which did not include the representatives
either of the Churches Of the East or the
| Churches of the Reformation.
A General Cor to recognize the term, Ecu
menical) Council has thus for three hundred
years and for the very best Of. reasons been
deemed an impossiblity. II was reserved for
he present occupant Of the Holy Chair to
grapple with this difficulty. All the difficulties
were felt by the religious public when the
bull convoking the Council Of 1869 was FIRST
published. How, it was asked can Council
be general which Is representative only Of q
section of the Christian Church? II was
rumored at the time, although authoritative
information on the point was desiderated, that
this difficulty had not been wholly overlooked
1t now appears from telegram received within
the last two days from Rome that, so far as in
vitation goes, nothing will be left undone Il
make the Council Of Rome of 1869 general In
the full meaning of the word. According t.
this telegram an apostolic letter has been ad-
urcepou W VIC hoiy ratner 10 al HOH-JhtuVhe
religious bodies, announcing the forthcoming
Ecumenical Council and urging them to seize
the occasion thus offered them Of rejoining the
Church." This Is unquestionably the right
thing to do. Nothing could be more wise
nothing could be more polite. II is as gene
rous as it is polite and wise. We
may now take It Tor granted that cir.
culars have been addressed to the Patri
archs Of Constantinople, Of Alexandria, o
Antioch, Of Athens, Of Moscow; TO th,