The Portland daily press., 1870-01-03
DAILY PRESS.
ND
Monday Morning, sJsn1 ary 8. 1870
Opening of the Ecumenical Council.
PORTLAND


Correspondence OF the New York Evening Post
The first thing to remark with
regard to the day is that it was about the
most spashing, driving rain-storm that could
pe got up on short notice. If anything
IN tne weathers own peculiar department
could have damped an audience the thing
would have been accomplished, and ST Peters
entirely empty But it has probablv naver
been so full since it was first built. A crowd
began to assemble long before the d,u
dawned and before the gates were opened
the queue leached TO the piazza. After
they were let into the vestibue. it was long
before the doors were opened. But they
were opened, and the grand empty church lay
ready to be taken prisoner by its assailants.
In wonderfully short space of time the nom
reserved tribunes were filled; eager people of
short breath, who had arrived after their
long -winded competitors, climbing over the
balustrade in their haste. And then there
were long hours to be got through with as
patiently as might be before the procession
should arrive.
At last the welcome guns of st. Angelo
and the ringing of the bells of st. Peter gave
notice that the procession had formed. They
started from the atrium of the Vatican.
where the supper takes place on Ho,y Thurs
day, the Pope having Joined the bishops from
the Pauline Chapel. First entered the great
door the cross-bearer. The splendid cruciflx
which he bore is OF solid silver studded with
gems, and is the gilt OF the Marquis de Butte.
The bussolante or doorkeepers preceded the
chapains. Then came The advocates in viz
let soutanes and fur capes, and after them the
chamberlains. Next followed the choir. whose
voices we had heard in the distance before the
procession entered the church, and who from
time to time sang verse of the "Veni Gre
ator." And now commenced the long pro-
cession OF mitred abbots, bishops, archbish-
ops, patriarchs and primates. Slowly they
passed up the nave, six hundred and fifty in
number. Occasionally the line was broken
by the cross and taper bearers. At last they
were followed by the cardinals, and the
officers, senators and members of the court
who surrounded the papal chair
The Pope was borne from the asrium down
the Scala Regia to the middle of the first
grand arch separating the nave from the side
aisle, whence he walked to the high altar.
The services here were very short, the bishops
almost Immediately passing into the council
chamber, followed by the higher dignitaries.
and last by the Pope. The bishops on enter,
ing the church had taken off their mitres.-
The Pope had laid his tiara, the richest in the
papal treasury, upon the altar; but all heads
were covered in the council hall. 1t was an
imposing scene; the Pope on his throne placed
under the fresco of the Miracle of the Gift OF
Tongues, the first council; and opposite fres-
co in the tympanum OF the wall separating
the hall from the Basil.cs, representing the
Madonna. On either side of him was a cardi-
nal deacon. The College of Cardinals was
gathered together at his feet. At either side
were the long rows of bishops. In front was
the altar, hung with splendid white and gold
gauze, an offering from the bishops of Walla-
CHA. Upon the altar in addition to the mas
sive cruicfix and candlesticks, were the gold
en- statues of st. Peter and st. Paul.
In the galleries were the diplomatic corps,
the princes and princesses, the Dukes and
ex-Dukes of Tuscany and Parma, Francis H.,
the Empress of Austria, and the Queen of
Wurtemberg. To these latter were given the
honors OF royalty-a guard, and attendant
chamberlains. As soon as the assembly was
seated, mass was said by Cardinal Patrizi, af-
ter which the Pope received the obedience of
the cardinals. The preacher, Monsisnore
Paparelli, then asked and received the pspa
benediction, and delivered a sermon. This
was followed by the benediction of the mass.
The Pope was invested with the pallium, dur
ing which ceremony he intoned certain verses
ofthe Psalms. He then pronounced Latin
allocuflon. and. .rSfs"tsd- -ceftain prayeIs.-I
must not forget ceremony which was very
wearying to the audience-the "obedience''
OF the fathers of the Council. Each one pro-
ceeded to the foot of the throne, and kissed
the hand, knee, or foot of the Pope. The
secular clergy pay the latter tribute of re-
spect. This ceremony occupied two hours
and half; more than a third of the time
spent in the council chamber.
The most interesting part of the exercises
was the litany of the saints. Think of con-
gregaJionai singing IN the Basilica of ST. re-
ters! Starting with the two voices in the
| choir OF the Council, the chorus came softly
out into the nave, whence it was caught up
by the great congregation, and repeated again
and again, swaying and surging from aisle to
transept, and back again up the long nave
reaching to the great vault of the roof, to roll
| into the council hall once more, and thence
again repeat its wonderful vibrations. The
concluding Tie Deum was performed with the
| same extraordinary effect.
AT certain part of the opening exercises
OF the Council, lectern in the form of a
throne was raised upon the altar, and a COPY
OF the scriptures was placed upon it, One
more striking feature of the opening of the
| Council was the blessing which the Pope pro-
nounced "super synodum." The papal bene-
diction is always given with three extended
fingers of the right hand, symbolical of the
| Trinity. On this occasion he held in the lef
the pastoral staff surmounted with the cross
the emblem of his pastoral jurisdiction wher
ever the doctrines of the cross are preached
Just before the closing TIE Deum the Coun
Gil is supposed to go into secret session. A
clerk orders all who have no right to take par
in the Councilto leave the hall, and then tn,
votes are take I. These votes are upon thu
DEGREES by which the meetings of the Coun
Gil shall be governed. Of course they are al
affirmative. The Council of 1869 and 1870 i
now fairly inaugurated. or what matters i
will treat we shall know remarkably littl,
just at present. The bishops are forbidden tt
during its private sessions. OF course specu
lations will be rife, but hardly as much so now
as before its first assembly.