New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-08

The assemblage at Rome of Bishops of the
"Catholic Apostolic Church in communion with
the See of Rome and acknowledging the spirit
ual headship of the chief pastor Of that See,
will be formally opened, with most impressive
ceremonies, to-day. All the Bishops of that
Church were summoned to this Universal Coun-
ell. but ONLY about o-thirds of them have been
able to respond to the summons. Some have
been kept away 10y illness; others by troubles
or pressing cares; while those residing within
the Russian Empire have been forbidden TO at
tend by the Emperor. 1t is gratifying circum
stance that, whereas the last previous Council
Chat of Trent, early in the XVIII century, was
largely attended by the representatives of sccu-
lar princes and potentatcs, and was in fact
called at the instance of the Emperor Charles
". this Council was called by the Pope on his
own suggestion or that of his Cardinals, and
that no provision has been made for the admis-
sion of representatives of Catholic Kingdoms
or states and no invitation extended to them.
We trust this is prcmoni,iOn Of that completes
divorce Of Church and State which We have
found so bencfccnt And we trust that Roman
Catholics everywhere arc noting the fact that,
while speculation has been rife as TO the at
tendance Of the French and other Bishops
many believing that these like the Russian,
would bo prevented by the civil powcr-cveTy
Bishop in this country was perfectly free TO go
or stay as he pleased, and that no one ever
suggested that it would be either right or cxpe-
dent to restrain them. If any remain, it is not
because our government, or any nOn-Catholic,
has raised finger to prevent them.
We believe the number Of Archbshops and
Bishops who will DO present at the opening of
the Council will exceed nine hundred, and that
this will be increased during its sessions to
about one thousand. Generally the faithful Of
the several dioceses have been exhorted to de-
fray the expenses Of their respective Bishops
but, where poverty or indifference precluded
this, means have been somehow provided ut
Rome, though the Papal treasury is I'M
derstood to need dixie most other treasuries)
replenishment rather than depletion.
Councils have hitherto been held in various
cities of Asia and Europe-evcry one of them,
we believe, in the basin of the Mediterranean
but none Mt Rome till now. In some instan-
ces the convenience Of the Bishops, in Others,
princely jealousy of sacerdotal influence, have
prevented. This time, SO far as we have OBJ
served, no objection is known to have been
made TO inc assembling Oh Jne AiAIh UcHeIdi
Council in st. Peters itself, or even in his
palace of the Vatican, should the Pope give
that preference.
When the first summons to this Council ap-
peared, it was understood by many to invite
non Catholic Christians to participate in its de-
liberations; and the fact that special notice
to attend was served on the Greek and Arme-
MAN patriarchs residing in or near CONSTANT
nople seemed to couutenance the presumption.
Inquiry and explanation, however, soon devel-
Oped the truth that, while all Christians were
invited to be represented at this Council, they
would be allowed to do so only on condition
that they acknowledged the authority Of the
zone Holy Roman Catholic Apostolic Church"
The invitation only gave them special oppor-
tunity to recant their past errors and be re-
ceived into the fold as penitent Prodigal Sons.
The fact that this Council is held at Rome,
and that political or secular influence has been
carefully excluded, gives color to report,