The New York herald., 1869-04-19
REL.mcgS sl:sv-g1s III Ta;s CITY
TIE EcuMSaic / COUNCIL.

Iar EtUMfW0 l tooo,ils
Lecture by ,he Rev. Father O'Counor, 8. j., ai
tiss Csi.eEc of 81. Francis Xavier.
Lost evening lecture delivered In the hall of
ST. Francis xavers College by the Rev. Father M.
O'Connor, S. j., the subject being "The Coming
Genera! Council.n There was a large and apprecia-
tive assemblage present, and throughout very
heightened and eloquent discourse the greatest
interest and devout attention appeared to be mani
tested. Nearly all the faculty Of the college
s,G seats IN front of the platform. Tie reverend
lecturer commenced by observing that the call for
the Ecumepica Council TO be assembled in Rome,
and to be presided over by the highest In chief OF
the Catholic world had already been heard through
out the land. The pastors OF the Church every
where preparing to answer the summons. The feel
lngs of the Catholic people were deeply enlisted In
the event, and although many knew little of
the precise nature of the meeting they could
not but feel convinced 1t must have impor-
tant re- = - I'D not claim to have any knowl-
edge Of the subject beyond what was within the
reach OF oil. but, in view Of what was passing
around, it was proper to do their part on an occa.
sion Of such Importance. The Ecumenical
Council might be said to be the highest display
% powers @ which Which God 10 gave the H , Church % would
there be united and FOR the noblest purposes,
teaching the truths Ut ,s1 to them
the laws which the spirit OF God has pointed out as
necessary for meu's supernatural welfare. The body
be there, and headed by the immortal soul which
he breathed into IT, and united by the links
It the representative Of the world. Such
body was In the highest and best sense representa-
i've. as rs was 1 not derived from
right to teach and direct. After auding to the
words Of ST. Paul upon representation by spiritual
teachers, he went on to state that the representation
ssrvsd from Sslssatons fne ShaTsS sS 'Ss Of Cod
sens look To the Church as the
source whence their ranks were recruited. God Him.
s looked to 1t as the yS IN @ Of His glory IN
to carry out the work for which He came to earth.
Hell looked to it as the greatest adversary by whom
the soul, which 1t would fain swallow up, was
snatched from it. Some might be anxious to know
the details of the organization and Its mode Of
iasions There was no election for president or
speaker. The president and the head was provided by
the about s reae mSS Be
said to be involved in absurdity. No number Of
persons, however resp respectable for learning OF
upon Peter the Church itself having been made BY
cise the functions entrusted to the pastors and
teachers of the Church. who were the representa-
his disciples The spirit Of God would prevail at
that council The reverend gentleman then pro-
deliberations Of the Fathers and the important re-
suits Of their deliberations In dspelllng the iheeca
views which prevailed In many portions Of the earth
been sent to teach the Apostles, would be present
prompting and controlling the movements, and
be also HIS, for they would be His Instruments
There was great reason to hope for tmpor-
Of the great Pontir who called the Council together
and who would preside over It's deliberations. IL
would send down his name to postery as one Of the
greatest OF the many great men that had adorned
his seat. Although greater members could be
pointed out as existing I'm other days as
sGfns So period ofS Of Se history sps ~as ds
In which she could boast Of nober
ss sn a. gfaS n Which %
and from their presence at the council there was
would come from far OF regions, they would come
from the ancient seats Of Europe, from the praires
q the New World, and from the islands of
largest T asse@Siage Of bishops pSA' that " ever ses
met In the church. The spirit Of God would
turned into awe and our confidence into faith.
Many were anxious TO know what The object TO
be accomplished by this meeting but as he mad al
ready stated he did not profess to have any informa
tion other that that which was accessible to every
one, but he thought to look abroad upon the world
church 1t was not hard to divine the main oh
1ects that would engage It's attention. Society
might be said 10 be diseased TO It's CORE In many
respects Its condition .esembled that Of the pagan
world when Christianity was first established. The
law OF God had lost IN great measure Its hold on
vast numbers, aud especially upon many who con-
troied the movements OF the social body.
Gods institutions were ignored and perverted
Material views and interests the only ones,
or at least we're the cnlei ones that were
followed and obcyed, aud were promoted with
zeal and success never reached nj any former Pc
Rod. The reverend gentleman then animadverted
with much force upon the present condition OF
society, which he considered very unsettled He
c0ntended that the history OF The Church was but
record Of her struggles TO carry out the great princ
pies for which she was established. She mad had
kefce battles with those who would fain
have drowned her IN The blood OF her
children. Her greatest triumph had been IN her ef-
forts to resist the tendency TO dissolution arising
from the gradual approach Of eyl tendency to cor.
fUpt her Inenbers. He then alluded TO the several
nssss1 sought % ss Ana BsS x
its day afiicted the Church. The EcumenicM C3ln:
Gil would draw clear line between what Mas 85od
tn the efforts OF modern society and what
was subversive to the spiritual Interests
Of mankind, subversive Of mems true welfare even
n this world. Every act OF final teacning Of the
vnurcn vsc OF Goo was . Landmark that would remain
forever monumens OF truth, and truth everlast-
ing. He drew q distinction between the difrerent
features which liberty presented, and advocated
WIN consderaole power liberty In the fullest sense
L0r the church Of God In all parts OF the world After
ollaung upon ehe enemies OF the Church and their
nuence he went on to state that though now almost
stripped however unustly OF everything temporai
the Church would be occupied with the n)ur,s h,ent
oi Christian liie In her poverty she would have
more liberty and consequently more power ana free.
dom. Her deep penetration into faith and EnoWl
council by the four winds of heaven, aud the master
hand that dissipated the storm would reducs 10
naught the evils Of the present day. The reverend
gentleman concluded an eloquent and very theo
logical discourse amid loud applause.