The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-28
The EcumenicaI Council-Tho Prospect.

During the course of this year we have had
great deal of excitement resulting purely
from the material triumphs of the time. 1t is
safe, perhaps, to say that the world, so far as
material progress is concerned, has made more
substantial success in the last thirty or forty
before. The printing press did much to quicken
the thoughts and habits of men; but it was
not until the steam engine had been invented
and perfected and the needed impulse was
given to the forces which owed their existence
to the printing press that the new era was
fairly inaugurated Since then, but particu-
larly during the last thirty or forty years, the
passing weeks and days have been brimful of
action. The newspapers felt and yielded to
the popular necessities The railroad and the
steamboat rushed in to lend helping hand
But much was still wanted until the telegraph
gave to modern society the lightning's help
and the lightning's speed. With the printing
press, the daily newspaper, the railroad, the
steamboat, the telegraph, we have been making
big strides and winning great triumphs.
Strange as it may seem to some the rapid
rush which the world is making towards
higher and nobler goal than it has yet known
is the real parent of the Ecumenical Council.
The Churches have long been feeling that out
side Of them the forces were much stronger
than they were within. In spite of the
Churches the world was marching on, and,
much as the marching on was condemned or
dreaded, they felt that whereas they could not
resist it. it was worth while to try to control
and, if possible, benefit by it. The Ecumeni-
cal Council, so-called, is one specimen Of
the fruit Of this feeling. 1t is not the only
fruit but, for the present, it is the most
prominent and the most important OF all the
Churches the Catholic Church is the most con-
cerned about the religious government of the
nations and about religious, or, which is the
same thing, Christian unity. From the point
Of view of the Catholic Church an Ecumcnical
Council was at once natural and proper. 1t
was not wholly unreasonable to conclude that
an Ecumenical or a General Council Of the
! Church-such a Council, though not without
some fame IN ass9-y pelns the nrss slrs :!
/ the kind in three hundred years-might be Of
some service not only TO religion generally,
but particularly to the Catholic Church and to
the ancient power and pretensions of Rome.
All the world now knows the fact that such a
Council is to be held on the 9Th day OF
December, under the dome Of st. Peters and
under the patronage Of one who lays claim
to the proud title Of Vicar Of Christ.
| Now that we have got over the excitement
not only of second Atlantic cable and of q
Pacific Railroad, but also of Suez Canal,
the Ecumeneal Council becomes really and
pre-eminently the question of the hour. The
attention of all thinking men, inside as well
as outside the Catholic Church, is turned to It,
What does II mean TO do? What can il do !?
What will 1t not be able to do2 How much good
or bow much harm may it accomplish These
are the questions which every one everywhere
hears. II is on all hands admitted that the
Council might do much, at once for the good OF
religion, for the good Of Christianity and for
the good of the Catholic Church. II Is
equally, on all hands. admitted that the