The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-15

condemn which would require tine authority of the
Supreme Head surrounded by all the bishops OF the
Church. But no such cause was verified.
A lapse Of two years confirmed the doubtful
rumor. On the 9Th Of June 1867, about hall the
bishops OF Christendom, being congregated in Rome
for the centenary OF st. Peter received syllabus OF
seventeen questions, chiefly dsciplinanan, with
letter from Cardinal Caterini. requesting them to
mediate thereon and give their opinions IN writing
on the subject Ia three or four months. Similar
letters and copies Of the syllabus forwarded to
the absent bishops but no allusion was made TO the
Council, although clerical journals limited that the
syllabus was as 1t were a sketch OF the matters to
be treated Of In that assembly. But on the 18th OIL
the same month the Pope replying TO the address Of
council ID Rome on the sth OF December the festival
OF the Immaculate Conception, but without
1868, Plus TX. published his bull 4Eternt
f'dris convokng the Vatican Council for the
9Th Of Dscemoer 1852 ana touched On tns pro
OF the faith. the dignity OF divine worship, the sal
walton of souls, the discipline OF the secular and
regular clergy. the instruction OF the clergy, the
Observation Of ecclesiastical laws the cOrrecnon OF
manners, the Christian education OF youth" &c.
The ultramontanes OF course acquiesced imme-
dlately IN whatever emanated from the wise and
prOvident decisions OF the supreme POntin, ana pro-
claimed the Council as measure OF the utmost in-
pOrtance for the faithful.
Tie observation-disclosures and secular governments,
however, suspected that the court OF Rome, IN SUM-
the mere confirmation OF the questions proposed IN
the syllabus and the ball Eternt PATHS. the Pope nav
Ing previously taken upon himself the much graver
responsibility OF defining dogma OF tue Cnurch
witnOut any such aid. The neutrality-suspicious.
suspected the pontiff OF aiming at obtaining from
the Council "a decree establishing his personal in
Ialltbilltg-a privilege which In practice already
belongs 10 hin. but which would only be In
conestable after the solemn confirmation OF an
Ecumenlca Council. 1t is useless to demonstrate
what revolution such an innovation would pro-
uuce IN Church government anu now supefhuous
untl rtxttlx hao aUlAf a
Secular governments were more suspicious that
the Court OF Rome was about to eXt0rt from the as
sem0led bishops new affirmation OF the necessity
OF the ropes temporal power, ana IuD approba'
ton OF the condemnation OF all the modern prlnc-
pies OF social relations contained In the famous sy
laDus accompanying the encyclica, "Qudatd cura'
OF the 9Th Of pecember 1864. This condemnation, as
yet eInanatng from the Pope only would acquire
more authority II sanctioned by the Church UNIVERSAL
Hence The GOODNESS with which the n0n-ultraIn0n-
tanes and secular governments received the official
announcements Of the approaching Council. Mean
out III Rome without the concurrence OF the bishops
OF the Catholic world, VINO Will only be informed OF
the programme when they arrive In Rome. The
Pope reserves to himself the initiative OF the ques
tlons and forms them in concert with the cOngrega-
ton Of cardinals directing the Council, who then
submit them to the examination OF the various pre-
paratory committees who give Iler votes or rather
Opinions as to the opportunity OF treating such ques
tlons and the solutions to give them. Such discus
siOns are to be held secret under pam OF exc0mmu
nlcation, and the printers employed at the Qurina
Typography are bound to silence under the heaviest
penalties
Perhaps the governments most Interested might
obtain IRON the Court Of Rome more precise
Information as 10 the proposed operations OF the
Councu, before taking part decidedly Tor or against
IT, But hitherto the replies OF Cardinal AntonellI TO
Foreign Ministers nave been too cautious 10 lead TO
inopportune revelations. His Eminence justly attyi-
butes all future decisions OF the EcumenIcal Council
to the direct inspiration OF the Holy Ghost OF whose
Intentions he equally reasonably processes himself
10 have no previous knowledge. Generally speaking
such inspirations have been held to be cOlncident
with the wishes OF the Court OF Rome and in the
approaching Council they Will be doubtless equally
SO. Your readers will thus realize the uncertainty
which hangs over the programme and the decisions
OF the vatican Council, and the difficulties which
diplomatlsts and special correspondents have 10
encounter Above all, give no credit to current
reports tnat the Council viii not be held at ALL or at
least that IL will be adjourned.
It is not probable that the Court Of Rome will re-
nounce project on which 1t has evidently founded
great hopes nor Is 1t likely that secular governments
IN me present day VIII consider 1t necessary to
hinder an ecclesiastical assembly from meeting. dis
Guessing and possibly c0ndemning the most liberal
principles Of modern society.
M. de Beust himself, In replying to Prince Hohen-
lohe has declared that Austria is strong enough not
to require c0erclve measures against the Council
and Will make use OF the power conferred by the
infrlnged upon by 1t. Similar moderation may be
expected from other governments.
Al TO An adjournment can think OF only three
contingencies which would render such step neces
sary or even probabe-a European war, q pest :
lence III Rome or fresh Garbaldian invasion, none
OF which, 1t Is to be devoutly hoped VIII take place.
1t Is TO be recOliected that Pho Mono clings To
| realization OF his plan with as much amour propre
as Is autnlssDe III aclaiacter SO sincerely ana un"
d0nbtediy piOus as MS. He wishes TO hold forth
with ectot the moral power OF the Church in this
positive age Of material interests and to add the
| glory OF such important ana unusual event as
the cOnvocatonof general council 10 his P0ntih.
cate, already rife with such materials for the hsto-
rian, beginning with the granting Of general am
nesGy and Tree constitution In lS47, and passing
through the various phases Of revolution, flight ana
restoration to the PIedmOntese and GarDaldlan in
vasOns Ia potlcai events, the Introduction of rail-
ways and telegraphs, with many other social im-
provements the interior OF his States, and the
definition OF the dogma OF the immaculate COncep-
ton, the reeslabilshment OF Catholic hierarches
England and Holland, and the numerous other lnl-
p0rant achievements IN ecclesiastical affairs.