The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-29
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
The Approaching Gcumenfcal Coun'
ctI-Interesting Particulars.

The Approaching Gcumenica1 Coun-
ctl-Interesting Particulars.
The Archbishop Of Baltimore, having ed
dressed letters OF inquiry to Rome in regard to
certain points interesting to the Bishops Of the
United States who propose to attend the ap-
proachiuc General Council Of the Vatican, has
been favored with replies, containing all that Is
Of practical importance, chiefly fer the inf rm-
alion OF those Prelates Of the Province who
EXPRESSED to him an interest in the subject and
asked his opinion. It may be added that from
q nr;yate letter received from what is regarded
Az reliable source in Rome, 1t is probable that
each Archbishop and Bishop will be allowed to
bring or appoint one theologian to the Council,
whose name will appear on the conciliary re-
cord.
WHO ARE INVITED TO THE COUNCIL THE cATHo-
Lie HIERARCHY.
Entitled to seat in the Council, and there
fore included IN the Papal nyii alton, are the
cardinals, bishops, abbots and generals OF re-
lIgious orders. Bishops are entitled 10 sent
by Divine right; cardinals, in case they are not
at the same time bishops, abbots and generals
Of religious orders, by ecclesiastical law or
privilege. The number OF those who have
been invited is considerable. According to the
Annuario Pontificio for 1868, the Official Papai
Almanac, the Roman Cathollc Cburch had at
Inc beginning Of the year 1853, 12 2Patriarchates,
1S2 Archbishoprlcs OF the Latin rite, and
Archbishoprics OF Oriental rites; 65l Bishop.
RIGS of the Latin rite, and 6S Bishoprics Of Orien
tal rites: giving q total Of 665 dioceses. Ut
these about 100 are vacant, leaving $50 prelates
who have beel invited to the Council. The
College of Cardinals bad in 1858 Is members
who were not bishops. The number OF gene
rails of religious orders, according to the Papa1
Almanac. is about so. The number Of mitred
abbots is also considerable. In Holland there
ls a small sect Of Catholics called the Jansen
ets. the descendants Of those who refused 10
submit to the decree OF the Popes against the
writings Of Bishop Jansenius, who lived in the
seventeenth century. They deny the infallibili-
ty of the Pope, but are willing to submit to an
Ecumenlcai Council. They have one arch
blehop. two bishops, and population OF about
5000 souls, all OF whom, 1t may be regarded as
certain. win on this occasion unite with The
church.
PREPARATIONS FOB THE COUNCIL.
The prepara lions which, as already; stated,
were begun IN 1867, soon after the announce
ment OF the Pope's intention to convoke the
Council, have been actively continued ever
sinea. The Supreme Directive Congregation
is composed of seven Cardinals, six OF whom
ara Italians, and one GermaDo To them are
ioined. ,as consult0rs, several bishops aud
learned priests, among whom are four Italians,
one Eueishman. tMgr. ralbot,) one Profes
sor OF the University OF Lautain, In Belgium,
and Professor Hetele, Of the University OF Iu-
bngen, in Germany. The latter is the author
Christian Church, q work Of solid and pro-
found learning, and valued by Protestants as
highly as by Catholics. Under the direction Of
this Congregation, special commissions prepare
the matters to be discussed and decided upon
by the bishops. There is commission OF cere-
monies. politico- commission,
a commission for Eastern Affairs, one on the re-
iisious orders and congregations. one OF
dogmatic theology, one OF ecclesiastical disoi-
pllne Italy has, Of course, larger share in
the selection OF the members OF these commits
sions than any other nation next 10 Italy,
Catholic Germany has furnished the largest
number. The United States are represented
by DR.. Corcoran. Of Charleston England, by
Mgr. Talbot and Mkr. Howard. DR.. Newman
was iny1ted to assist but declined on account
OF infrm health. DR.. Dolinger, the great
church historian OF Munich, has also been in
vited, but has declined the invitation. For the
first time in the history Of the G,umenical
Councils, thanks to the art OF stenoRraphy,
literal account Vt the entire proceedings will be
taken, and the provislons OF this kind have
beer completed: An Austrian bishop OF note,
pointment Of Secretary Of the Council. The
sessions OF the Council will be held in one OF
the large chapels Of st. Peters Church, and
the principal architects Of Rome are actively
engaged in making the necessary accommoda-
tions.
THE TOPICS To BE DISCUSSED.
The names OF the special commission which
We have mentioned before, indicate that the
Council, like it's predecessors, will extend its
discussions aud decisions over large varlety
of subjects, embracing points OF Christian
doctrine, ecclesiastical discipline, and poitico-
eccleslastical polity. 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
question of public instruction; the position OF
monastIc orders, In the thorough reformation
OF which the present Pope has always taken
especial interest. Many absurd and sensation
al reports have been published on this subject
by the Roman correspondents Of the political
press, especially that Of England. 1t Is Datu-
ral to suppose that hardly any trustworthy in
formation will ind it way to the public, except
through the channel OF the Roman papers.
HOW LONG THE COUNCIL IS LIKELY TO Last.
With regard to this question, which is Ire
uuently asked, the Paris Monde, one OF the
most influential papers OF the Catholic world,
remarks: 1.-The Council OF Trent lasted elgn-
teen years; but 1t was the longest Of any OF the
Councils, and its real labols only lasted for
about five years." The .donde expects that,
unless unforeseen events intervene, the delib
eratlons can be finished by the end OF the year
1870. Should new questions present them
selves, the summer OF 1870 would be employed
for preparatory work, and the final session
would take place in the winter OF 1870 to 1871.
The German Protestant Demonstrati tion
mt Worms.
The gathering Of German Protestants at
Worms, Germany, on the S1st of May, to re-
spond to the invitation of the Pope to return
to the Catholic Church, WAS an imposing affair.
The occasion lie described at length by a cor
respondent of the New York Post. At six
o'clo.k in the morning the bells Of the Trinity
Church aroused the sieepers. The streets
were rapidly filled, flags were displayed from
roof and window and steepie, and wreaths OF
flowers and green branches almost covered the
fronts of many OF the houses. The cars
brought in immense loads Of visitors during
the morning. and by ten o'clock at least
TWENTY-FIVE thousand strangers we're in the
city. and the number continually increased
during the day.
At ten o'clock about eight hundred eccle-
siastical delegates had arrived, aud subse-
ouently went in procession to Trinity Church;
The ed6ce will hold but five or Six thousand
persons at the utmost, and many thousands OF
course could not find entrance After religious
EXERCISES an address was delivered by DIR.