The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-07

subject was reopened, ana decree was punllsnsd
that the cross the images Of Christ the Virgin. the
devorlon, but not to Divine worship. Thus ended
the conflict with the defeat OF the lcOnocas but 70
thus day the subject remains an element OF divlson
between the Greek and Roman Oath0llc cnurcnos.
THE COUNCIL OF BAsLE.
During the centuries following the decline and
dismem0erment OF the Greek empire Europe had
sunk 50 low in civilization that lt was impossible
thai regon snonid noG snare In the general degra.
aaton. what little OF light renamed, It u true, was
stlon had usurped the place OF reason, and every
thing was co!ored by the prevailing gloom.
again into the hight OF modern civilization
mat the minds OF men bacame open to the discovery
Of new truths, aud we shall not t,smpt 70 truce the
religious opinions OF the ieudal ages But at the
Council OF Basle. convened in l43J, we began to
che operation OF modern theological IDEAS and will
90 wei 20 give snort account OF its prolonged, but
futile sessions. Tnis convention, which pro-
perry, perhaps termed The Council of Eloreuce, was
called originally by Pope Martn ". tor the purpose
Of affecting union between tle Greek ana Roman
Catholic Churches; bat upon the death OF
that Pontir, which occurred at tue moment
when the members were gathering together it
was continued by the authority OF his successor
Pope Eugenius ~. From the beginning It's action
was schlSmatical and in3upor,iinate Tho POpe'S
legate, Cardinal julian, under whose presidency 1t
was he'd seems 10 have been more soiictous 10 con-
ciliate the II usstes IN Bone;na taan or Affecting
union between the two great branches OF the Church.
and preferred rather that It's should be held
the Pope desired Its removal A double council was
tue result, anu from this beginning tle proceedings
o OF inc hsssmbags az gasle broke out into
charge OF provosiny scnism, was cautious
aud temporzing IN ms measures but the Council
itself was not so considerate. declaration Of tho
superiority OF general council to the Pope was
made and Amadeus VIII. formerly Duke OF Savoy
had abandoned his estate and was living with some
gentlemen OF similar tastes In haf monkish
seclusion Upon MS accession to his new &C.
clesastlcal honors ne took the name of Felix
Y. and accepted the SITUATION IN the true
temper OF 2 legitimate .pontiG The spirit
0bsrinacy, and productive OF no results, could
not De very permanent and alter few years OF d.
vlded authority tue new Pope aodicated IN favor OF
Nicholas v, the then reigning P0nti, and the re-
mains OF the Council submitted Itself TO ancient
authority IL Is claimed Ny Catholic writer's that the
proceedings OF The true council at Florence were pro-
ductive OF an arrangement for union with tho
Greek Church. but since the bond not lasting It
Is TO DO presumed thai the difficulties were found to
be lnsurmountaDle.
THE COUNCIL OF TRENT.
More distinguished than any other In history, an
account oil It's connection with the reformation, tho
last OF the ecnmencal councils previous to the great
gathering OF the present year was ofened at Trent
with the object OF q reformation III the Church, and
to induce Prosestants, possible, TO return their
Of date ana
counts OF ITS deliberations than OF any previous
council, and we find that the discussion
the entire field OF religious belief Several
new new, dog I were also promulgated and old
articles or faith renewed. Tue Nicene creed was
again brought forward and readopted. Tradition
as rule OF faith was pronounced equally with the
Bl0e. reliable guilo, ana apocryphal books OF
the Old Testament admitted The Vuleate was pro-
claimed the only authenthic version OF the Bible and
the Church tho only true interpreter The Catholic
doctrine OF original sim Justification and tho sacIa-
ments was defined and anathemas pronounced
against all opponedts. The doctrines OF the cucha-
rist, OF confession and extreme JUNCTION were also
promulgated. Taerc were many adherents OF the
Catholic Church at the period OF this Council who
demanded more complete reformation than the
assemble prelntes were willing to grant. France,
for instance and the Emperor OF Germany asked
the concession OF the cup to the itY and the ab0u
ton OF all fasts and ceiDacy; but the propositions
were rejected. The Council lasted. with several
termlssions, through period OF about eighteen
years, and was finally brought to close IN the year
1863. The DEGREES were signed by 255 members.
This, IN brief, Is history OF the various Ecumen-
zeal Councils which have marked the career OF the
Roman Catholic Church from the beginning OF the
Christian era TO the present period. " VIII be OBJ
served that the proceedings OF the first few councils
are the common properly OF all Christian sects aud
It Is only az later period when these divisions
began which have separated Chrstendom into Greek,
Roman Catholic and Protestant bodies. Whether
the new Council will endeavor to soften down tho
asperities OF religious belief or to draw still more
sharper the lines Of separation Is question which
time only solve but II is easy to conjecture that
doctrnai points arc yet too rugged 70 permit any
thing ike general union OF religious societies. Ia
time, perhaps-bu. It Will be IN the days when the
millennium draws near-all theological bodies may
We induced to worship around Q common altar.