New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-30

| OF Butte. Another specimen of gorgeous eccesas-
tcal splendor which called forth great admiration
was the gold gauze "palliotto," or hanging OF the
altar in the Council Hall, present from the Bishops
| of Wallachia. The procession amounted to about
the number mentioned probable in previous letters
between six husslred and seven hundred, and took
about hour TO pass given point The seating of tho
Council Fathers, at the commencement of tho cere-
monies. while the Pope was praying outside in tho
nave, was an impressive sight. One of my friends,
who perhaps always looks out little keenly for
the picturesque, remarked that they looked like SO
many wbiterobed angels in old missal pictures.
| Indeed the whole place. as from my point of
| view through an opera glass, looked moro like some
| half dmmed illumination in an old painted Missal
than reality. The obscure daylight and curous at
mosphere created by the wax-lights added to the
illusion" The act of obedience to the POpe was the
longest part of the ceremony occupying ut least two
hours and half. Long ii was however it was not
without considerable aesthetic effect. The lines of
sparkling white robes moving in different directions,
some mounting the throne, some descending from it;
| some kneeling, some bowling, some taking their
seats, presented an animated scene The singing of
the Ltany of the Saints particularly grand and
effective. The whole immense audience joined in
the responses. presenting display of congregational
singing on large scale. that was hardly surpassed
by the innumerabe choir of the Coliseum in Boston.
| will only add to this long letter that hope it
will reach you in season. It will DO mailed in time
| to come into your hands by Christmas or very soon
after, but with six feet of snow the Mont Gents
railroad, and constant breaks in tho service between
Rome and PARIS, hardly dare natter myself that
you will receive it before New-Year's, If
soon. II.
| ALLOCUTION AT THE OPENING-AMERICAN
| PRELATEs IN THE COUNCIL.
| ROME, Dec. 1.-THE mysterious secrecy IN which
the preparations for the Council were developed con-
tinues toshroud its proceedings Every member of the
Council from the Patrarchs of the East to the most
obscure stenogapher is under the express injunction
of the Pope and is bound by his solemn personal oath
not to reveal single iOta of the dOings in the Hall
to the outside world. The most astringent silence is
preserved. Not a word Of information is vOuchsafed
to the public at large, and whatever you may hear,
| beyond the contents of the official documents that
are issued from time to time, has better founda-
| ton than conjecture. 1t is understood, however,
that thus far the acts of the Council have been merely
preliminary TO the main questions that will
come up for discussion. SO much could
be divulged without any violation OF the
oath 1t will be a week tomorrow since the opening
of the Council and there be no doubt that the
three days in which il has been in session have been
busily employed. The Fathers are evidently pune
tual in attendance. Comparatively few of them are
now to DO seen in tho streets. The city begins to
wear its usual aspect and is somewhat relieved OF
the intense ecclesiastical pressure, which prevented
many of the Protestant visitors from breathing
freely There is a greater crowd of secular travellers
than before the opening of the Council The hotels,
which have been deserted to o certain extent,
through fear of high prices and scany accommodate
tons beginning to fill up, though there IL room
enough yet, and private lodgings-bad at the best
are decidedly at discount. The gloomy streets are
enlvened by the gay equipagos of English and
American ladies' who take the opportunity for cheap
enng Roman scarfs and deftly counterfeited pearls
although the sirocco has been the prevailing wind
for a week and the Sun has shown himself only for
a few minutes at a time Some OF the superstitious
Romans ascribe the bad weather to tho Council.
They say the priests always bring rain or the cholera
and in fact, produce rather worse effects than the
yearly meeting of the Qualers in NewYork or New
port.
The Aocution, or official address of the Pope at
the opening of tho Council, translation OF which
send you 49, in many respects, remarkable pro-
ducton In spite of its technical phraseology it will
reward perusal illustration, or II you please,
foreshadowing Of the spirit of the Council IL takes
the same view of the objects of the presty
ton that have described in previous letter. The
topics, which one might naturally expect would be
treated in such DISCOURSE passed over without
notice 1t is peThaps as significant in its silence as
its speech, Like the first Aocution Of the
Pope, of which / have already given You
translation it dwells the dangers to society from
the progress of radcalism" (although that term is
not usedl but says nothing OF tho Importance OF
strengthening the supremacy of Rome, and the tenn
poral power of the Holy See In it's p0rtralture OF
the enemies of tho established order, it makes an
effective appeal to Conservative prejudice 1t re-
peats the familiar warnings of those who dread the
progress of innovation, and ought consistently to en-
list the sympathies of every Protestant whose eyes
are in his hindhead rather than in 'front.' The pious
JUNCTION which pervades the discourse presents curl
GUS combination Of feryor and sagacity, and the UNI
conscious assurance with which the Immaculate
Mother is raised To an apparent equality with God
shows the strength of the faith with which the
Catholic Church adheres to its own decisions.
ALLocUToN OF THE POPE AT THE orESiNG OF THE
VENERABLE Fathers: IL Ia a subject OF the deepest
inv that nv the high aud peculiar favor OF God IL has
been permitted TO us 10 celebrate tno usseUIs " u to
with 80 many wishes and prayers. Our heart
rejoces In the Lord and Is penetrated win aPad h
consolation that on this ausmcious day sacred 70 inc
immaculate Conception OF the Virgin Mary tue Mother
our socitudes, now present in greater numbers than
ever before In this citadel Of the Catholic religion ana
that We are grauned with the sight OF your pleasant
For You are now Venerable Fathers, met together in
the name of Jesus Christ that you may give testimony
with us 10 tho word OF God aud testimony to Jesus
Christ that you may with us teach the way OF u0u III
truth 10 all men, aud judge with ms under the guidance
OF the Holy Ghost, concerning the Opposons OF sci
ence falsely called For II there ever was tme III
which the earth, devastated by It's Inhabitants, mas
mourned and amented. 1t Is especially now, that Eeal
for tho divine glory, aud the salvation OF t1e ha
we should speak from towers and place our hearts IN
It's strength. ,-,,. ,,..,,.u. nth r,at yio.
lence the ancient enemy OF the human race has as
saulted and still continues 70 assault tnd noIs1 T