The New York herald., 1869-12-27
ROME.

NOter-D1ucrencce 0i Opbn!ous
ROME Dec. 10 1869.
Although II ts expected that UPWARDS OF 60U pre-
lates viii take their places In the Council before 1t
closes they win not all be par only 10 rank
but also as to the right OF voting And here The ques
ton arises OF what persons an Ecumencal Council
ought strictly TO be composed Certainly only OF
those invested with episcopal character and Jurls.
dicton. But, Notwithstanding, cardinals, wno are
not bishops, are admitted to these assemblies by
poDtidcal privilege granted them, with the same pow
as bishops BY the same privilege mitred or not
mitreG generals OF mopastc orders are admitted,
al having deliberative voices. Az regards bishops
n. payfio.s. the Court Of Rome has decided that
they shall only be admitted after having applied for
permission. The same condition has been imposed
on chapter Wears who are not bishops The proxies
OF absent bishops win only have consultative voices.
Eccesastics the sacerdOtal order are never sum-
moned 10 the Council except as consultors. Laymen
are never convosed 10 such an assembly az
al. The sacerdotal and lay elements OF the
Church have been gradually excluded from many
privileges such the election OF parish priests OF
bishops and OF the Pope himself. In proportion as
the Church centralized itself in Rome and became
monsrcnica. 1t would be too long DEPRESSION
from my present subject to trace the course OF such
changes in the history OF the Catholic Church. OF
when have given several instances in preceding
letters on the same topics but it WIN be important to
whether in the Council the evident tendency
70 stl further Capitalization on the part OF the
Court OF Rome will meet with opposition from The
majority OF the bishops or not.
After the solemn Inauguration OF the Council the
bishops invited to divide their labor among the
prep aratory commissions These commissions meet,
each under the presidency OF Its cardinal as hereto
FORE and at different hours, 30 that the same bishop
may take part in two or more commissions If equal
to the exertion. In these meetings, which VIII be,
say familiar, without formal speeches, steno-
graphers or voting and unshackled by the presence
OF the Pope or his legates the bishops VIII study and
discuss as much as possible In Latin, the questions
especially belonging to each commission. The
bishops win not put forth mere cOtd or opinions,
ike the consnltors who have been working for the
last eighteen months on the themes to be
decided fsey ave he ou1e a neither re w
that single bishop has not the right OF
disputing the 6tness Of submitting to the Council
question placed IN the programme by the Pope's
order. But II notable number OF bishops are of
opinion that II any proposed canon should be modi
ned in any particular sense the cardinal president
OF the commission Will report their opinion TO
the directing congregation OF cardinals, VINO will
decide the question with the Pope. The same
routine Will be observed If considerable number OF
bishops propose an entirely new canon.
The particular congregatlons-such Ia the name
given to the sessions Of the commissions held sepa
raely-will be secret as well the general congre
cations, which are the sessions held by Oil the CON-
missions united in the council halls These general
congregations Will take place only when each CON-
mission shall have studied and discussed certain
number OF questions The Pope Will be represented
IN them by his legates q tdtele. The canons which
have previously passed through the commissions
VIII be read ana the bishops may then put forth
their opinions Ia etepOre or written dscourses IN
Latin, which Will be taken down by the shorthand
writers. Then Will take place the preliminary vote.
The sc1ttdtores Will pass before each prelate, who
M Mlli vote aloud, saylng ptacet or non p!acet
moral unalImlty-that is 10 say, Iour.
nlths VIII be iavorable-in which case the
Will be submitted TO the definite vote in the
next session, they viii De unfavorabe, in which
case the Pope II not Inclined to yield, will send the
eXnorting the bishops to pray and mediate agGin
From time TO time, when the preliminary voting has
been successful with sufficient number OF canons
session VIII be held In the Council Hal. On these
occasions the Pope viii be present The preates
appear In all the spendor fitting their dgnided rank,
and the assembly Will be complete.
There will De no speeches. The canons In ques-
ton Will be read with closed doors, after which the
scfutators VIII gather the votes, which Will then be
consldered denitve. The doors OF the Council Hall
viii then be reopened, and The Pope Will proclaim
the cathedral. Ii Is thought that there
Will not be than eight ten OF these
during the whole Council. AT the dennltive voting
the votes are TO be morally unanimous" and they
viii be SO OF necessity, since the result Will have
been insured In the preceding general congregation.
The Pope has named Cardinals PatrlZ, De Reisach
(Capati acting for him until his health is restored
Blo, BZlarr and DE Luca as his leYates TO pre-.
side over the congregations.
add some more details to the programme OF the
opening ceremonies which sent you In my last let
ter After the Fathers assembled In the hall and The
Pontin had given his benediction aud allowed the
publication Of his indulgence by the Episcopal
ae me rs % Ss
which are also ranged the Pontfical ornaments
The Pope having assumed the Dditf,tn and next
received homage rom all the Fathers Of the Council,
who holding their mitres in their hands, assembled
the steps Of his throae, the cardinals to kiss his
right knee and appois his foot. Tnis act OF obedi.
completed, all the Fathers knelt their places
towards the altar, while the Pope standing, pro-
nounced Latin prayer, imploring Divine aid and
inspiration for the Council. AT the command OF two
cardinals, deacoDs, Orate and erigite U0s the Faith
ers twice PRAYED In silence afterwards rising while
the Pope uttered another shorter prayer aloud. The
choir and assembly then sang the "Lltany OF the
SAINTS after which the Pontf with hts mitre on,
and holding cross In his left hand solemnly con-
ferred his blessing super sv,s0dun.
The Gospel was next chanted and the Pope, kiss
ing the book was incensed in the usual way
All the Fathers, then sitting, with their mtres on,
were exhorted 10 their duties by the Pope who after
wards, kneeling again, intoned the pent creator.
Other prayers and responses followed until the
project OF the ceremonies called out E1ednt onnes
tocuDa non haberites IN Cotcftof Then BY CON-
mand OF the Holy Father the opening DEGREES were
read and put TO the vote, which was given by the
Fathers sitting ana wearing their mltres except the
abDotts and generals OF orders, who voted stand
Ing and uncovered The Scrut0tOreS having COL
lected votes referred the result to the Pope
stated his own opinion and promulgatedit IL with the
following "Decretd n,odo tectd p'dcueyurt
omnibus Pdtrfb,ts. nentine dtssenttente or there
shall be dissenting voices) tot tunlerO eLceDtls,
Mosque sdcro approximate Concilto nd TIA decer.
MINUS statusntus dtQH sanciDtus ut lectd sttnln
The apostolic pronotarcs then duly registered the
acts with Official seals and witnesses Finally his
Holiness entoned the 7e Deum. After this hymn and
another prayer tine Pontin was relieved OF bis
sacred vestements, and IN stOte and no<zetto,
prayed In silence at the altar, rising from which he
blessed the Synod and departed from the church.
The Pope received the bishops at the Vatican as
fast as they arrived in patches OF five or six, or even
more at time, as TO see so many separately would
occupy his whole time. An anecdote dpropos OF thus
Is related OF Archbishop Manning OF Westminster,
and Bishop MermiIlod, OF Geneva, who were pre-
sented together The Pope rejoiced to zee TWO pre-
iates ruling souls, one In the great rebel city OF
London and the other IN the protestant Rome, y
az Geneva has always been called.
His Holiness having announced In letter 10 Arch
bishop Manning, written the 30th OF October, tnat
commission OF Catholic theologians will be ready
70 dispute with any Protestants who may come 10
Rome Tor THAT purpose, three Church OF England
mlnsters nave been deputed TO take up the gauntlet
ana Dearu Tue eeclestastica lion in his den.
some schisnatlc Greek prelates are also said TO
nave determined TO brave the preJudices OF their
countrymen by coming 10 Rome for the Council
SUanISh Gard