The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-09
KEEPING An EYE ON EN-

KEEPING An EYE ON EN-
ENGLISH theologians of all shades of opinion
have been exercised about the performances
of the Gcumenical Council to an extent that
can scarcely be appreciated in this country.
If Professionalism has a firm foothold any
where it apparently has in England and yet
large portion of the population are thrown
into state of alarm and excitement whenever
the Pope or his counsellors make any move
ment outside of the ordinary routine, aud
even when they are perfectly quiescent the
average John Bull esteems their silence to be
a suspicious circumstance, and considers it in
dicative of tremendous plots in process of in
cubation. AS soon as the announcement
was made of the Pope's intention
to call an Gcumenical Council,
the British ecclesiastics Immediately began to
wonder whether or not an invitation would
be extended to them to attend, although it is
difficult for lay American to understand how
such an idea could have even suggested ITSELF
The Pope not only did not invite them, but
he entirely ignored their existence, consider
ing them as no more entitled to special atten-
tion than the common herd of lost sheep who
are outside of the pale of salvation. When
they found themselves not only not invited to
participate in the grand theological pow-wow
at the Vatican, but ignored altogether,
some of the British clergy took the pains to
Jog the memory of the Holy Father, and
to intimate that it would be graft
ication for them to discuss the differences
of Professionalism and Remanism with the as
sembled fathers; and DR.. Cumming, the
celebrated interpreter-to his own satisfac-
tion-of the prophecies of Daniel and John,
volunteered to engage the entire council
single-handed. The Pope, like a polite old
gentleman and a good Christian, replied to
these advances by informing the British
clergy that it would give him infinite plea
sure if they would all come to Rome and be
received into the bosom of the true Church,
after being instructed in sound doctrines by
learned persons whom he would appoint for
this purpose. There was gentle sarcasm
about this that excited laugh at the expense
of the British theologians, who did not desire
to be converted, but who burned with an ar
dent desire to controvert if not to convert
the entire council, with the Pope at its head
in the very stronghold of papacy. DIR.
Cumming, for instance, pictured to himself
the immense moral, not to say dramatic,
effect of his defying the thunders of the
Vatican in the Vatican itself, and was con-
vinced that nothing less than the final down
fall of the Church of Rome was to be ex-
pected if he should succeed in convincing
the Pope of the error of his ways and inspir-
ing him with sound Oalvinistic principles.
Being convinced however, that the Roman
ecclesiastics were determined to decide upon
the infallibility dogma without their assist
ance the British clergy began to tremble for
the fate of Professionalism, and they have been
shaking in their boots ever since. Not long
ago they inquired of the Government what
action it proposed to take in the matter, and
Mr.. Gladstone, who was apparently unable to
see what the Gcumenical Council had to do
with the English Church anyhow, was obliged
to state that the case was one that scarcely
called for any interference on his part. This
rebuff appears to have driven to
despair some, at least, of the British
clergy, and the Convocation of Canterbury,
probably impressed with the idea that the
price of religious liberty is eternal vigilance,
now proposes to appoint a permanent COM
mittee to watch the proceedings Of the Vati-
can. Exactly what the committee will do in
case the dogma of infallibility is promulgated,
or anything else unpleasant attempted, it is
difficult to imagine. 1t may, however, give
comfort and certain amount of assurance of
safety to the English Church to know that
this committee has an eye on the Vatican,
even if the Vatican refuses TO be impressed
! by the fact that it is under surveillance, while
the reverend gentlemen composing the COM
mittee will have the great satisfaction of con-
sidering themselves as the advanced picket
! guard of Professionalism, with the world watch
ing them while they watch the Vatican.
! The last words we find in the last number