The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-07
ECUMENICAL COUNCILS
History Of the Various Councils Of the
Church-Their Work and Its
Effect Upon Christianity.

the English adjudication for tho word ecumentca
the Roman Catholic preates are gathering ut Rome;
and as the session OF general council always marks
important epoch In the history OF the Church. the
eyes OF the various Protestant denominations are
following the movement with only less interest than
those OF the sect which Is to DO directly affected by
the coming deliberations. To the Protestants the
event is one for curiosity and speculation Beiiev-
ing In the progress OF spiritual truth and doubt.
| ful Of the vitality OF the Catholic faith,
they are yet anxious to see how far
the Conservative Church Is willing to conform to
what they regard the spirit OF the age and the polt
col character OF modern institutions, while the Cath.
| ole, devoted to his religion and confident that 1t
contains the Of all spiritual knowledge Is will-
ing either to accept new inspiration to hear again
reiterated the canons OF Nice Trent. But at this
time short historical sketch, giving synopsis OF
the purpose organization and scope OF these coun-
ellis, may not be embarrassing to the general reader
ana we win endeayor In as short space possible
| TO give review OF their origin and history.
ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNCILS.
There ure three kinds Of councils for which the
| Roman Catholic government provides, known re-
i specrvely by the name OF provincial, national and
| general. The first Of these is presided over by a
metropolitan bishop and IL held merely for tho pur-
pose Of local discipline and government but has no
authority In matters OF faith. The second or na-
tional council Ia convened at the behes OF the sover
eigns OF those nations that recognize Catholicism as
the State religion, and the presiding dignl-
tary is either the primate or o legate
from the Pope. These are for the regua-
ton OF ecclesiastical aars In the State and may be
composed OF bishop from each diocese. The cOun-
Gil OF Napoleon, 1t viii be remembered, who desired
the privilege Of appointing cardinals OF his own
choice was composed OF u large number OF mem
bers but as their opinion adverse TO his Wishes
hnf mok i TIN
third and last convOcali0n Of which the present
EcumenicM Council is the representative. rs COM
posed not only OF all bishops from the church unver-
sal, but OF abbots, generals OF m0nastic
orders, and others. who are admitted to
tile right of consultation and discussion. None but
votes alone decide the question In DEBATE. Tue pro-
vince OF this Council ls to regulate subjects OF
schism, heresy and belief, to interpret the Scrip
lures and TO promugate Scriptural dogmas To this
extent 1t is regarded BY Roman Catholics as infal
BILE and lis decisions, known as the canons OF the
Church, are beyond controversy dispute. On
questions OF discipline politics, or science how
ever It is not claimed that its members superior
Since the foundation Of Christianity there have
been called, according to Catholic chronicles, nine
held At jerusalem BY the APOSTLES sy years after ter
the birth Of Christ Following this came the first Of
Nice IN gnynn n A. D. the s Of
another at Chacedon III 45l, the second OF Constan-
tnople IN 5Ss the third Of Constantlnope in $751; the
IN 1913, llas ll7s and i2l5; the first and second Of
Dauphine, in 1ail; at constance in i4la. at
Basic IN 1881 and at Trent in 1916. There
were also three others held at different places
during fifteenth aud sixteenth centuries which
were regarded by many as ecumenlcal. 1t would be
70 say ~ scs 'sas re c hed ~
doctrine OF the immaculate conception, was not
council, and could claim no part Of the authority
which attaches to these general assembages. IL
would be proper to state also that the Protestant
churches, although they do no. admit the claims to
inspiration which the Roman Catholics put forward,
recognize the first six councils as ecumenical, and
embracing the universal Church. But here COM
mences the line Of division. The councils were
originally called by the Roman emperors such as
Constantine. Theodoslus and Justnlan; but after
in the Pope, and the Protestant churches no longer
recognize the simplicity WHICH they prefer attaching
teen general councils held have acquired great
prominence not less from their decisions upon art.
Giles OF latin than for their influence over the events
THE FIRST COUNCIL OF KIcE-ARIAs1sx.
Strictly speaking tals council, held A. D. a2s, was
terence Of the Apostles held at Jerusalem, can
hardly be called a council In the ecclesiastical sense
Of the term, 1t was called an account OF the here
sizes Of Arius, presbyer OF Alexandria; and It was
here that the divinity, as Identified OF essence,
canon OF the Church. Arius who is represented rs
q man OF great learning and eioquence maintained
Father, but only similar. THIS doctrine pro-
duced connection OF the Court OF the Emperor
was assembled az Alexandra to delinersss upon tie
innovation. This body denounced the Allan theory
as blasphemons. and cast the offender out OF the
Church. Bat Notwithstanding this action, the new
BELIEF continued to obtain proselytes and o general
council was finally assembled at Nice to bring tue
subject up Tor authoritative decision. Here the doc
trino OF the enthusiastically OF the Son with the
Father was dcereed the books OF Arus ordered he
burned ana capital punishment denounced against
all those who should have them in possession. The
Emperor himself present at the Council, and
an active part In The deliberations. Arius was de.
posed, accommodated and banishcd into Iiiyr-
cum. But the theological opinions OF Constantine
absence the offender recalled, and having
fed the Emperor with vague confession of iaith,
which really admitted nothing, Atnanarius, Bishop
OF Alexandria WAS ordered 60 receive HIM again
into communion. Upon refusal the bishop was
himself deprived OF his bshoprlc and day axed by
bosom or the Church. The event never happened,
however, as he died in the street while on his way
ne had been posoned his enemies that no had per-
| ished by the Judgment OF God. The doctrines OF
Arus are Substantially those OF modern Unariaaisn.
Tne Ncene creed, us at present used ~ the
Roman Catholic and varlous Protestant CHURCHES, Is
not tue formula as originally adopted 1T vice: but is
an application made aJ the first council OF Con-
stantinopie, In 3Sl.
| THE COUNCIL OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
In theological point of view the Council OF Ephe
sus called by the Emperor Theodosius, In 431, was
also one Of especial significance, since through the
I doctrines OF Nestorious Bishop of Constantinople
| the divinity OF Christ. in accordance with the
Church canons, became subject for frean dispute
ana 1t was thought necessary to convene
ecclesiastical authorities to defend the orthodox
! faith from new heresy. NeStorius maintained
that there was great distinction between Christ
| the Son OF God and Christ as the Son OF Man. He
Taught that tho actions and sensations or the saviour
| In his human character were to be carefully sepa
rated from those OF the supreme Being and that The
| Virgin Mary could not DO called the Mother OF God
bat only the Mother OF Christ Ito reasoned that It
| could only be the human nature OF Christ that was
! born OF her. snee God, being eternal, could
! neither be born or die. AT tie Council Nestorus
! was summoned 10 answer Tor his new theo.
| RES but declining to appear be was condemned
! deprived OF MS eIsnoprc and sent into perpetual
| translucent and in this condition passed the
reullader OF bs life. The Council declared that Ia
| the sense OF the Church Christ consisted OF one
divine person, with two natures not conformed but
Intimately united and forming one IndlvIsble being
Ihls condton Is recognized IN theology as the hypo
staticai union. The controversy, however, was not
destined to end with this decision, but to this day
| there exists largo sect In Asia known
| rs the Cnaldean Christians, who acknowledge