New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-18
THE GCUMENICAL COUNCIL.

ils
t,ho po,o vesterday She received the communion
e., hin, Over three hundred of the fathers nave
,ef.sed 70 sn the petition IN favor OF lhlaiilolS'
MANY others have returned evasive answers Inc
oDnosers Of the project intend getting up counter
et,ion and assert they sure OF adhesons enough
70 defeat infallibility.
IoxnoN. Jan. l7-The TABLET Catholic organ saws
The majority in the Gcumenical Council IN FAVOR Vi
the proposition of infallibihty Will De enormous
The Timcs thinks that the presence OF inc rIeuTn
troops may encourage the Pope TO insist on lni"i
bhty and the Syllabus NOTWITHSTANDING w."
ancc Of the Council. ~
,,c,r,o,, ~ THE COUNCII-THE POPES SPECIAL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF PARTIES-THE
SPANISH MovEMENT-NUMBER OF THE CoCN-
''i' lFRoN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
ROME Dec 24.--The third General Congregation
Was held bv the Fathers OF the Council on Monday
last The sessions which are thus named, as you arc
aware are preliminary 20 the public sessions OF INC
Council they are presided over by five Cardinals
appointed by the Pope and take cognlzhhco VI "i'
matters that are submitted TO the Fathers for discus
SION and adjudication. In case OF genera agree
ment of opinion the question put without luIInoI
delay and the proposed decree or canon is adopIeu
no tho sufTfaces Of the Fathers otherwise the mat
Ter is submitted to a special Deputation' chosen by
the method that have described in previous let
TO the decision by vote. At the meeting on Monday
the names Of the Special DeputatOn zone OF the four
that are provided for the above mentioned emeI-
ren,vl CHARGED with the consideration OF matters
relating to Faith. were announced to the Generai
CONGREGATION. This DepItatiOn which had Deeh
chosen by secret ballot 20 the previous meeting
of the General Congregation consists OF
twcnty-four fathers, the most widely known
of whom. and probably the most important
member is Archbishop Manning Of England, whose
presence in the Deputatiou IS justly regarded as
triumph of the UltramoHtaue party. and Significant
expression of the feeling Of the Council IN favor OF
the Popes Infallihty. Another influential pTeate,
whose name is on the DeputatiOn, is Monseigneur
Dechamps. Archbishop OF Malines, who Is equally
decided with Archbishop Manning for declaring the
Infallibty of the Pope article of faith. The
American Archbishors, Spalding Of Baltimore, and
St Alemany of san Francisco are on the list; their
tendencies are supposed to he Ultramontane; but
their probable course in the Council IS a subject OF
considerable speculation among those who are iond
of conjecture when knowledge IS at fault. The Pa
trarch Of CIlica is member of the DeputatiOn; the
other tweny-three are bishops and archbishops
representing Spain, France. Germany. Belgium Hol-
land Italy, Switzerland North and South America,
and few Oriental localities.
At the same meeting OF the General Congregation
Fathers appointed by the Pope to receive and examine
the propositions Of the Fathers Tor the action OF the
Council. In many respects this is stin more
important commission than the one just mentioned,
as it forms the only medium through which any
business in addition to the and dried programme
Concocted by the appOiu:ees of the Pope can be
brought before the Council The reports of this Com
mission, you viii remember are subject to the veto
of His Holiness, who thus nip in the bud what
ever thIea ems to thwart the purposes and interests
of his party. The most powerful members OF the
Commission which is made up OF twelve Cardinals
and fourteen prelates, probably Cardinals Anto-
nei and Patrizi, ana Archbishops Manning and De
champs whose names are a guarantee that the views
Of the Pope and the Ultramontare zeaots VIII not
fail Of unnisakable representation and strenuous add
vocacy.
mentioned in nv last letter that the difference of
languages among the members of the Council was
found 10 impede the facility Of discussion. THIS has
now proved a source of so great Inconvenience that
it is proposed TO remedy II by an arrangement not
contemplated in the original programme. The
Fathers are TO be divided into groups, according TO
their uatioualiticS, in which they will discuss In
their respective vemaculaTs. the subjects proposed
for the decision Of the Council. At the close Of the
debate each group VIII select two members repre-
sentup the affirmative and negative sides of the
ton Withthe materials thus furnished, the latter
body il IS thought. viii be prepared TO carry
on the discussion. without the manifold obstacles
that have embarrassed the previous deliberations.
This. Of course is a matter Of eXpedency, and not Of
inspiration: but il shows that the unity of mind,
which Is the vital attribute Of General Council. IS
not 70 be attained by the ordinary method Of debate
Miracles 10 be sure are very unusual things
under the Paual administration. but believe no one
expects q repetition of the miracle of IcntecOst on
the present occasion. The presence of the Holy
Ghost IS indeed matter of faith. and essential TO
the efficacy Of the Councils DEGREES but 1t IS lar
from certain that he viii descend either IL the form
Of dove OF of cloyen tongues of fame. How far
the unity Of counsel is impaired by the confusion of
speech is problem for CathoictheOocians, Of whom
several are attendant upon the Council in ther Off
ciai capacity although not entitled TO seat IN that
body
In spite Of the stringent rules for the preservation
Of secrecy IL regard to tie Council, and the grim
silence 10 which the lips OF the members are sealed
the air is flled with Tumors and prophesies specu-
latous abound in every circle; some knowing ones
profess TO have obtained information which has not
yet been made public others draw upon a lively
fancy for the materials both Of graphic description
and shrewd vatIcuauon many OF the picturesque
sketches which have touched the Imagination Of
newspaper readers rest on the slendeTest basis Of
truth but amid all the contradictory statements
that You may hear IN the course ot day thus much
/ think, is certain that the lines which divide
the Re-I0gades and ProWessiyes are becOm
ing more closely drawn, and that the de-
signs Of the Josuts, however skilliuliy Unanswered
will meet with an opposition that Will require their
cummings. strategy 20 overcome. il is well under
stood tna many of the Bishops Eld great fault vii