The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-15

Re,Ipious Services To.Dsy.

! scierisrc sermons this morning In ;he Eleventh.
| street Presbyterian chgrch. between second ana
| Third avenues
Al the Presbyterian church IN Forty second
street. w. A. Scott, ID. d. pastor, services VIII
be held at halfpast ten A. NJ and at half past seven
Pm.
Rev. DR.. r. s. Foster VIII preach in st. Luke's
Methodist Episcopal church At ha!i-past ten O'Clock
A. NJ. and al quarter OF eight p. NJ.
At the Church o! the Reformation protestant
EPISCOPAL, in fftietb street. services viii be held at
quarter TO eleven A. NJ.
Rev. J. V. n. ScnencK VIII preach in the Thirty
fourth street reformed church this morning at half
past ten O'Clock and his evening a. ha.past seven
O'Clock.
The American Bishops and the Ecumencal
Council.
1t Is rumored, with what degree OF truth it is i'm.
possible to say, that since the calling OF the Ecu
menical Council by Pope Pic Mono quite busy cor
respondnce had been carried with regard TO 1t
between the archbishops and bishops Of the Roman
Catholic Church In this country The object OF this,
1t Is said, was 10 come to some understanding be-
tween themselves In order to act, lar was pos
sibe, In full cooperation during the deliberations OF
the Council. Que point upon which these rumors have
1t that an agreement was arrived at Is mentioned
as beng the relation Of the state and the Church.
and that this agreement was TO the effect that the
representatives in the Council Of their Church in this
country will urge for general adoption the American
| system OF complete severance OF the Church from
the State restoring to 1t full liberty Of motlon I'M
trammelled by the political power of the country
and baslng 1t upon the voluntary adhesion OF its
| followers, at the same time renouncng all active
| interference with the political administration OF
| government. Should these rumors be founded In
fact the American prelates may exercise healthy
influence upon the future Of the Catholic world.
The German Liberals and the Ecnmenicai
Council.
, meeting OF German Catholic liberals took place
July % at Gratz, under the presidency Of Profess
scr Davidowsky. After an address from NJ Uhiich,
speaker OF high reputation, the assembly voted the
following notion
Considering that the Ecumenica Council which is
to meet December has been imposed the Papal
government by the party OF the JesulLs BY which
II Is and Will continue TO be controlled; considering
that the resolutions likely 10 be passed by that
sembly will thus be directed against intellectual
moral progress this body accepts with extreme sat-
isfacOn the invitation addressed by Independent
thinkers Of Italy to those who share their opinions
to take part In the meeting they cOnvOke at Naples
the object Of which IS 10 encourage civilization and
charity and to cOuntefbaiance the intellectual and
moral degradation humanity whIca Jesatlsn sys-
tematicay seeks to produce.
The assembly, composed Of 1000 persons, then
OF Gratz, to represent 1t at Naples.
The Ecumenical Council-Tbe Catholic ChurcI,
Interchangeable.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
A response to my letter OF the LIST inst. appeared
in your issue OF the Sth. 1t makes issue the
sertion that the Catholic Church is Interchangeable In
its taith and Sefutes the fact by stating that the
Church has changed its faith at different periods OF
founder. In support Of this assertion it quotes
erai dates on which councils were held by the
Church, confirming certain dogmas which, suppose
he intends as proof Of innovation on the fixed faith
Of the Church. I cannot reconcile the inference.
Confirming a certain principle is certainly not
an innovation change, and the articles Of
faith to which he refers had been taught anu
promulgated by the Church from the earliest periods
Of It's history as can be amply testified by the
Hest writers and historians and by the writings
Of Luther and Calvin, who could deny, in all their
heated antagOnism, the traditions and teachings Of
| the early Church. l scarcely expected the writer
| would come early and opportunity to my support
the .S hass 81 nu "a &
anu principles OF the Catholic Church, for certainly
when Protestant layman asserts that roman Cath.
Ollcs worship images he betrays amentaDle state
OF ignorance Of the Catholic faith, from which 1t
would require the aid OF catholic priest to rescue
him, point which l, an ignorant iayman would not
attempt. The poorest most iiterate Catholic will
tell MIN that when he knees before the
adare or worshn tne aae nut nc he adoes
and worships Him whom the image represents and
Who IS brought more wildly anu more directly TO
his mind by the reflection OF His bleeding wounds or
the radiant smile Of His benign countenance or the
submissive aspect under the crown OF thorns or the
bleeding and sacred body under the scourge, the
divine head meekiy yielding under the accumulated
sunerings and agony, the soul temporarily resigning
the body to DO soon reunited and resurrected. or
does the Catholic IN his humility before God when
he kneeis before the image Of the Sacred Virgin,
Mother OF Chrlst hence Mother OF God, lie
erencei the image or her whom the image repre-
sents and who was so much honored by God Him.
self when He sent HIS angel from heaven to honor
her, as II to impress upon man the reverence He
would have him pay her whom he SO much dlstin-
guished above all His creatures. l-7
For the zeal and anxiety manifested to eniighten
my benighted mind l cannot hut feel grateful for
the good intentions OF the writer, however far
short he may fan OF attaining his object and while
to doubt the efficacy Of dsputatiou. parsculariy in
theological matters, 10 producing any permanent
results, and If the mind sincerely seeks the truth 1t
VIII appeal by humble prayer TO God the Giyer Of
all light Tor guidance and instruction and believe
the spirit OF God Will lead him to the proper source
The writer asserts that Proestants are enjoned to
read the works Of Catholic wrters-a very happy
provision for the Catholic Church. but very unwise
Tor the Protestant ditto If the command Obeye
for perhaps TO tins circumstance may be attributed
all the cOmmotiDn aud division aud the breaking
up into 80 many sects, and the constant conflict be-
tween so many OF It's members, between pride anu
The desire to approach and re-enter the sacred por
tals OF the old Church, aud, more than all perhaps
10 Is que the Immense number OF conversions that
yearly take place, embracing some OF. the most ex-
allied and learned dignitaries Of the Protestant
Church.
But once deny the prerogative of the Catholic
Church, ana whence will you nee Where, OH
where, will you take up your abode9 Where can
you rest In undisturDed peace not liable to be tossed
about by every wind OF docrineS 1t is evident. and
becoming more every day, that tins end Is not to
be attained In the Protestant Church, any branch
thereof Where Is your helm VINO has the COM
mandS From whence does 1t originator In Eng.
land the Queen is the head. Does her control eX
t.A hnr In 18th
who is the mead IN this country. or Is there sepa
rate head for each country Where your unity OF
faithf How can there be unity OF iath where each
member full or his conceit and pride can take no
che Bible and expound each sentence or verse to SUIT
hisown selfish or perhaps corrupt endf How can he
do otherwise He has head, Church to exponnd
1t for him. The Protestant Church has no confidence
IN itself II feels conscious that the power and the
promise delivered 70 Peter and his successors 40
hot extend to II. The sacred badge of AUTHORITY
which commands all men to obey is not vested Ia
1t. The divine spirit, which inspires the Catholic
| In nd Il Daaip i.iou-