The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-03
ENGLAND.

The Ecumenical Council and Whnt is
Said of It-Papal Personal Infallibnity-
Critics and Criticism-FreedOm and Abso.
lutism in Civil Government aud How They
React in the Church--The French PreIates
and Their Observation-Disclosures ism-The
Archbishop Of Westminster-What COnsti.
tutes an Ecumenicnl Councii-Secuiar Edu.
cation-Arrivai of Bishops in Rome.
LONDON, Nov. 20, 1860.
In reading over, as have done during the last few
weeks, mass OF manuscripts books, pamphlets,
newspapers and otner records-printed as well az
written, new as well as oid-reiattng to the coming
Council ut Rome, there is curious fact that has
met me at every turn and made a considerable i'm
preston on me. 1t Is this: There can be no doubt
but that las have endeavored to show you In my
previous letters the Bishops OF the Catholic Church
throughout the world are divided upon the question
OF the personal lnfallibility OF the Pope, large
party being antagonistic to this that is now OPT
MON being declared to be a dogma OF faith; but q
larger may say much larger, party being favor
able to this action being taken by the
Council Now 1t must be conceded that
as one OF these opinions or lines OF thought has de-
cided tendency to absolutlsm and the other to
liberty, 1t would be but natural II the bishops OF
countries where aboutsm In the secular govern.
meDt prevails were In favor OF the inlallibty doc
trine, and those from free countries sided against
its PRONUNCIATION. But, curlously enough the exact
contrary Is the case. am not going 10 fill your
columns with quotations from mnsty old Latin
works which have for the last three hundred years
treated Of this subject; but Will give you the re.
suits OF my observations IN as few words possible
From the time OF the last Ecumenica Council down
to the present day the writers and speakers in favor
OF the personal infabity Of the Pope have been all
subjects OF countries more or less free; whereas
those who are against 1t are nearly to natives
OF LANDS ruled over by despOtic governments. And
passing down TO the year OF grace 1859 find the
American the English the Swiss and the South
American bishops oil In favor OF Its PRONUNCIATION,
ana the chief leaders on the other side being all
from France, Germany and the Russian provinces
that are peopled by Catholics
VIII only cite two personal instances OF what
here advance, but from these, as | firmly believe,
many others may be instanced In the respective fol-
lowings Take, for instance France The leading
mind among the prelates OF that country who are
opposed TO the lnfaliby OF the Ponti Is the Arch
bishop OF Paris, Monslgnor Darboy, personal friend
OF the emperor ana one OF the strongest partsans
OF personal government ana OF Bonapartlsm now
living On the other hand, there Is no more Jealous
advocate OF the PRONUNCIATION OF the dogma than DR..
Manning, the Archbishop of Westminster. an earnest
liberal IN pontcs q personal friend Of Mr. Glad.
stone ana gentleman VINO has never in mis- life
are we To infer from this fact2 may be wrong but
II seems TO me that the greatest liberty and freedom
from state interference may be looked for II the
Pope Is declared infaibe, and that this opinion IS
fixed In the minds OF those prelates who are them.
selves liberal In their secular politics. And here,
before leaving this part OF my subject may be ex.
cused III give another extract from Archbishop
Manning's "pastoraf' to his clergy-a work which Is
attracting every day moro and more attention from
the English newspapers. In summing up the doc
trine winch ne advocates the Archbishop says
II understand the doctrine, which suppose now
call Uitratnonanc but would rather cali all schools
Of cSristendom DO Catholic II Is tnksbs, The supreme and