The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-04


of Trebizond, a man of venerable age, is said to
have raised it to his forehead and pressed II to
his bosom, cxclaiming ut the same time with
emotion, 80 Rome o Romel O st. Peter! o st.
Peterl" The Bishop of Adranoplo returned the
letter, saying, "I wish Grst to reflects / wish to
decide for myself In no instance as far rs we
know, has any promise been given of attend
ance. Nothing, or next TO nothing, Is therefore
now expected from the Greek Church, and late
reports even ascribc TO the Patriarch of Constan-
tinople and the Emperor OF Russia design to
convokc an UGcumcnical Synod of the Greek
Church
The other Eastern Churchcs-lhc Armenian,
HISTORIAN, Jacobitc and Coptic-arc still sup
posed not to be equally unanimous in their OPP
position. The Armenian Patriarch of Constan-
tinople did not reply by direct refusal, but
promised to refer the subject to the Catholcos OF
Etchmiadsin, the first bishop Of the Church. Fer
sOnally he appeared to favor the project, aud was
some months later forced, on that very account,
to resign his position. The Coptic Patriarch,
also, of Alexandria, received the Encyclical with
great respect and many expressions of courtesy
toward the prelate who was the bearer of 1t.
The hope derived from these individual express
sions is strengthened by the fact that all these
small Churches have long been on the road to
dissolution, and their bishops generally have
lost confidence in their further continuance as
Independent communions.
Invitation to the Protestant Churches.
The last OIcumenical Council, that OF Trent,
was held soon after the rise of Professionalism.
The Protestant princes, in accordance with an
invitation addressed to Them sent some theo-
logians as delegates; but the difference in the
theological views of the Old Church and the Re-
formers was too great to allow OF reconcia-
ton. Professionalism became, and has since then
remained, the third great division of the Chris
tian world During the three centuries of its
existence it has considerably expanded. Eng
land most of the German States, the Scandi-
navan Kingdoms, Holland, Switzerland are
still, as they were three hundred years ago,
Protestant countries. To them have since been
added the whole of the North American Cont
ncnt, Australia, and other dependencies of Pro-
tcstant nations, and the population which is
to-day under the influence of Professionalism is
estimated at 100 000 600. While the Eastern
Churches have maintained a great theological
and ecclesiastical similarity with the Roman
Catholic Church, Professionalism was from the
beginning separated from the Old Church by
deep gulf, and in the course of centuries the
breach has widCned. Individuasm has had full
sway within its territory. In every Protestant
country the new form of religious belief has had
q distinct developments and from the original
| stems of the Reformation of the sixteenth CEN
| tury numerous branches have grown, and to-day
more than a hundred Churches, all independent
| Of each other, but all claiming q Protestant
| character constitute the Protestant world.
To the whole of the Protestant world the
Pope, on the 18th Of September 1867, addressed
likewise letter of invitation. ave cannot
forbear," hc says, ION the occasion Of the meet
e
and patcrnal word to all those who, while recog-
nizing the same Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and
rejoicing in the name of Christians, yet do not
profess the true faith of Christ, or follow the
Communion of the Catholic faith" After re-
ferring to the oneness of the true Church of
Christ and The multitude Of the divisions of Pro-
tcstantism, the Papal letter continues
every one can easily comprehend that this
state of things is altogether opposed to the
| Church established by Christ our LOrd--a Church
| in which the truth must always rest unaltered,
| without being the subject of any change, as Il
| charge intrusted to that same Church, in order
that She may preserve it in all its integrity, Il
charge for the care of which the presence of the
Holy Ghost and its aid has been granted forever
to this Church. No one can ignore the fact that
| these differences of doctrine and opinion give
rise to the social schisms and that thCrcfrom
hions which are daily increasing, to the dCtri-
mcnt OF Christian and civil society.
| whoever, in 1act, recognizes religion as the
foundation OF human society, cannot refuse to
admit and avOw the influence exercised over
| civilized society by those divisions and Disagree
ments of principles of that nature, and of reli-
gious societies struggling one with the other
and also with what power the denial of authority
established by God to regulate the convictions oil
| the human intelligence and to direct the actions
of men, both in their social and private life, has
excited, has developed, and has fOmented thosC
most unfortunate troubles those events, and
those disturbances which agitate and alfcc
all nations in most deplorabe manner.
Therefore, in order that all those who are
not instilled with the principles of the unity
and truth Of the Catholic Church should soZt
the occasion offered to them by this council. il
which the Catholic Church, to which their an
, cestors belonged, shows proof of its com
plctc unity, of its YigOr and of its incXtinguish
able vitality, that they should obey the necessi
ties of their hearts; that they should strive Il
: bear themselves away from that state in whicl
| they cannot he assured of their salvation; tina
I they should address without ceasing the mos
, ! ierYent prayers to God that He should dissipat
. the cloud of error, and that lie should brn
them back to the bosom of the Church, our hOl
e mother, where their ancestors received the salu
9 ! tarv nOurishment Of life and alone preserves Il
, its integrity the doctrine Of Jesus Christ, hand
| ing il down, and dispensing the mysteries O
= celestial grace. We, therefore, who ought mos
zealousy to fulfil all the duties of good pastor
D ! in accordance with the charge of our apOstoli
| ministry entrusted TO us by Christ our LOr
| Himself and who ought to embrace all men /
, the world in our paternal charity address thi
l letter to all Christians separated from u5-a let
! ter in which we cXhOrt and supplicatc them t
/ hasten to return to the fold Of Christ
c Replies from The Protestauts.
G While the letter to the Oriental bishops wa
officially transmitted to each of the bishops, tn
T.t.. II. II