The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-04


council itself is to be named Concilium yati-
eaRum.
AccOmm Odntions Scarce.
AS carly as the 2lst of October four prclates
went to knock at the door Of the Santa Dorotoa
convent, near the Farncsinn palace, and were
not very we'll satisfied with their reception, as
the monks told them that they had not vacant
corner left. This seems to indicate that there
will be some confusion in the distribution of the
lodgings prepared by the care of the Holy
Father The demands for lodging and board
are much more numerous than was expected, ..
and that circumstance creates embarrassment
and expostulations which somewhat disturb the
equanimity of the Pontifcal intendants. As
Plus TX has determined that apartments with
the table shall be reserved for the bishops of
Italy and their missions, being those in whose
financial situation he takes the greatest interest
his decision will uuquestionobly be obcyed; but
in this case the prelates who counted on having
both bed and board, and who will have to be con-
tented with rooms only, will certainly be disap-
pointed
The Cost.
According to the most positive data the
council will not cost the Sovereign Pontiff a
penny; that is to say that all the expenses occa-
stoned by tho solemn assembly, including both
the entertainment of the fathers and the fitting
up of the hall. etc, will be abundantly covered
by the offerings to be brought by the bishops or
to be sent by the laity. The total amount of
those contributions is estimated at 2,500,O ,OOOf.,
out of which his Holiness has already received
COO, ,O00f.; and, as the council is not likely to
cost more than 2O00000f., there will remain
0O000f., which will be Of some service to the
Papal treasury.
How Long the Council Is Likely to Lnst.
No one seems able to give any guess at the
duration of the council. Different persons with
equal means Of information, have estimated it
at from five years to six months. The truth Is,
nothing can be known till it meets, even by the
bishops themselves as the work before it may
be much abbreviated or augmented by circum-
stances occurring during its sittings.
With regard to this question, which is fire.
auently asked the Paris Monde, one of the most
influential papers of the Catholic world, remarks:
-"The Council of Trent lasted eighteen years;
but il was tho longest of any of the councils and
its real labors only lasted for about five years
The Monde expects that, unless unforeseen
events intervene, the deliberations can be fin
lshed by the end Of the year 1870. Should new
questions present themselves, the summer of
1870 would be employed for preparatory work,
and the final session would take place in the
winter OF 1870 and 1871.
The Topics to he Discussed.
The names of the special commission, which
we have mentioned before, indicate that the
council like its predecessors, will extend its
discussions and decisions over large variety of
subjects, embracing points of Christian doc
trine, ecclesiastical discipline and polticO-
ecclesiastical poty. Among the subjects which
are likely to attract prominent attention are
mentioned the reunion Of the Eastern Churches
with Rome the relation of the Church to the
modern State especially with regard to the
questions OF public instruction; the position of
monastic orders, in the thorough reformation of
which the present Pope has always taken espe-
eial interest.
The Pupai Syllabus,
which We print entire, will give correct idea
Of the nature of the subjects which will occupy
the attention of the council;--
THE SYLLABUS or THE PRINCIPAL ERRORS or
OUR TIME, WHICH ARE STlGMATIZED IN THE
coNsIsToRIAL ALocUTIoSs, ENcYcLIcAL
AND OTHER APOSTOLIC LETTERS OF PoPE
Plus IX.
I. Panthcis,n, Natwaltsm, and absolute Ra-
tiOnatsm.
l. There exists no Divine Power Supreme
Being, Wisdom, and Providence distinct from
the universe and God is none other than nature
and therefore immutable. In effect, God is pro
duced in mau and in the world, and all things
are God and have the very substance of God
God is therefore one and the same thing with
the world and thence spirit is the same thing
with matter, necessity with liberty, true with
false, good with evil, justice with injustice.
g. All action of God upon man and the world
is to be denied. ,
g. Human reason, without any regard to God
Is the sole arbter of truth and falsehood o.
good and evil; it is its own law TO itself, ant
suices by its natural force to secure the welfare
Of men and of nations.
A. All the truths of religion are derived from
the native strength of human reasons; whence
reason is the master rule by which man can ant
ought to arrive at the knowledge of all truths o
. every kind.
s. Divine revelation is imperfect, and there
fore subject to q continual and indefinite pro
gress, which corresponds with the progress o
human reason.
6. Christian faith is in opposition to humal
reason, and divine revelation not only does no
benefit but even Injuries the perfection Of man
T. The prophecies and miracles uttered an
narrated in the Sacred Scriptures arc the fiction
of poets, and the mysteries OF Christian fdith tn
result of philosophical Investigations. In tn
books OF the two Testament there are containe
mythical inventions, and jesus Christ is Himsel
o mythical fiction.
IT. Moderate Rdtt0nGlsm.
3. AS human reason is placed on a level wit
religion SO theological matters must be treate
in the same manner rs philosophical ones.
g. All the dogmas of the Christian religlo
are, without exception, the object of nature
science or philosophy, and human reason, il
structed solely by history, is able, by its ow
natural strength and principles, TO arrive at tn
-, true knowledge of even the most abstruse dos
mas; provided, such dogmas be proposed rs sui
iect matter for human reason.
TO- AS the philosopher is one thing and phi
losophy another, SO il Is the right and duty
the philosopher to submit himself to the authC
rity which he shall have recognized as trut
but philosopher neither can nor ought TO subm
to any authority
....al,