The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-03-06
The Council.


baptizing them in the name Of the Father and
OF the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching
tnem TO observe all things whatsoever I have
1 aoll you and behold am with you all
u"ys, even TO the contamination of the world::'
The Ecumenical Council has now been
sitting for more than two months, and it's
sessions have been, and still continue to be
held with quiet dignity, and an appear
ance OF general unanimity that could not
be found in any political assembly at the
present day. The discussions are private,
and even the subjects which give rise to
side. Yet the world is troubled and uneasy,
full of anxiety, curiosity and fear, in antici-
patton of what, at its close, it may posi-
bly, say. The world with it's powerful gov
-ernments, its mighty armies, it's rich trea-
suries, and it's active and not over scrupu-
lous press, seems to look forward with fear
and trembling to the decision to which that
Council may come.
The interest felt, and the desire to pry
into its proceedings are SO great, that "Our
Correspondents" are almost numerous
enough to make up an army in Rome.
N@ASSS
do something in return, SO we have plenty
of exceedingly interesting letters full of
information as to what the Council has
done, is doing, and is>going to do. Not
that these correspondents really know any
thing that is said or done during the ses-
sions, but they have to write something,
and, knowing full we'll the prejudices and
wi al mo nj flnxy str co.
manage to manufacture from the gossip of
the streets and the coffee houses what their
literary skill enables them to dress up in
plausible and interesting letters to their
employers. If, however, that gossip should
happen to become stale, fiat and uninter-
esting, why then they have to invent, or
borrow the inventions of others. This
gives them sometimes a double advantage.
1t affords the subject for an interesting
letter, ut the time, which he knows will ac-
cord with the wishes of his readers, and
the subject of another in the future, when
it may be found necessary to contradict it.
1t is singular that those letters from "Our
Correspondent" are paraded in the columns
of the secular press, how editorials are writ
ten calling the attention of their readers
to them as containing information from re-
liable authority. 1t is singular also with
what ready credulity and implicit faith
those worthless and often contradictory let
tiers are received and read by many who &C
tually have no faith in anything else.
From the time that the call for the Coun-
Gil was announced, the secular press seemed
to put the same anxious interest, and to
adopt the same tactics with regard to it.
At first they asked what was the use of Il
Council, what could men, who had no pow
er and no influence, do in the present en-
lightened stage of the world. But this
view of the case soon gave way for an en-
tirely different one. 1t appeared that the
great powers of Europe began to think
that the Council might do something, and
they were going to protest against it. But,
as they did not, it became necessary to sug-
prevented. Louis Napoleon was to with
draw the French army from Civita Vecchia,
Garibaldi was to march on Rome, and Plus
TX. was to be nowhere. But time passed
on and the French army remained, and
though Garibaldi came and did march up
the hill, he marched down again in very
great hurry. All these prophecies having
failed fresh ones had to be invented. II
was admitted that the Council would meet,
but it was said, as soon as it did. it would
necessarily burst up of itself. The Ameri-
can, French, and German Bishops could not
agree with the others, and, of course, the
Council would be a failure. Various other
prophecies were added. The Pope was to
fix everything beforehand, and would al
low no discussion at all, but that there
were certain bishops who would resist his
authority, and by their influence would
carry majority with them sufficient to
checkmate him. All these prophecies have
been falsified. The Council has met and
the American, French and German bishops
seem to get along quietly together, and we
have no evidence, whatever, that there are
any bishops in it that could be influenced
by any motive other than strong sense of
duty to the Church and to Him who prom
ised "that the gates of hell shall not pre-
vail against it."
From the reckless disregard of truth in
every thing relating to the Council now sit
ting in Rome, and the industry and ingenu-
uy exhibited in the manufacture of false
hoods, one would be led to think that the
Father of inc 10 l,uc;l,, o,,r,uol