New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-22
THE GCUMENICAL COUNCIL.
ARCHBISHOP MANNING AT THE ENGLISH COL
LEGE-HIs DOCTRINE OF PAPAL INFALLl-
BILITY-DEATH OF CARDINAL RElSACH.

IPRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


LEGE-HIs DOCTRINE OF PAPAL INFALLl-
BILITY-DEATH OF CARDINAL REIsAcH'
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
ROME, Dec 9O.-The Feast of st. Thomas of Can
terbury, as the celebrated Archbishop Thomas
Beckek is styled in the Roman calendar, was ceie-
.brated yesterday in the chapel of the English Col
lege. After the vesper service, discourse was
preached on the occasion by Archbishop Manning,
who now holds prominent place before the Catholic
public, on account of his having been selected by
His Holiness as the official promoter" of the dogma
Of Papal Infallibility in the Council DR.. Manning,
as is well known is distinguished among the English
converts to the Roman Church by his extreme Ultra
montana views, and his strenuous advocacy of the
supremacy of the spiritual power over the civil gov
ernments of Europe For this reason, the announce
men of his intention to preach the anniversary of
Thomas Beckett awakened no little interest among
the English circles IN Rome. For myself was glad
of the opportunity both to celebrated divine
in the pulpit and to listen to the exposition OF his
political creed, which had no doubt he would take
the occasion to set forth 1t rather late in the
afternoon when arrived at the College. The rain
poured in torrents and crowd of carriages almost
entirely blocked up the narrow street. Enghsh ser
wants in livery who stood around the door ard the
familiar sounds of the mother tongue presented a
strange contrast to the Roman aspect of the environ
ment. With some difficulty, forced my way to the
entrance but band of priests on their knees, and
the press of other worshipers prevented access to
the Chapel. Making a slight retreat in order TO
renew the assault to advantage, and proftng by the
friendly services of one of the officials. to whom
appealed in the only language that Is UNDERSTOOD
without grammar or dictionary, was conducted to
an excellent standng-place not far from the preacher
and. for once found myself entirely at home in
81 18th in the LITTLE
chapel was filed. The sides were occupied by the
students of the College, about thrty-iye in number
whose rosy complexion and robust forms afforded
favorable specimen of English youth. They had evil
IDENTIFY not been exhausted by studious yiglls, pro-
tracted fastngs or wearisome prayers was sur
prised at their appearance of ruddy heath-nota too
common sight in ROme,-and at an exhibition OF
muscle that would not have disgraced juvenile
rover on the Thames. They were dressed IN a com
plee suit of black with short white tuncs reaching
to lust below the waist and their heads covered with
small academic caps. With their intelligent ana
manly expression of countenance, and their athletic
figures, they were really fine set OF fellows ana
looked as if they might have found more c0ngenlal
position in the British army than as soldiers in the
Roman Church militant The audience, with the eX-
cepton of the few, who like myself, stood IN the
aisle were principally women, doubtless members OF
the English and American colonies of converts to the
Roman faith. who form strong guerrilla force in
the service of the Jesuits, and are nimbe-tongued
and enticing advocates of the preten5ions OF the
Pope The ceremonies of the occasion were con-
Quoted with the utmost simplicity. number OF
burning candles before the altar and faint sus-
nicion of incense were all that reminded you that
Won were in Roman chapel, instead of Protestant
| Church. There were no solemn professions, no
gorgeous vestments ponderous with jewels and god'
no bowings, and curtseyings, and bendlngs OF the
| head no pompous exhibitions of any kind sayorlng
| less of worship than of the theater. 1t was posi-
tive rereshment again to be brought into the sphere
of good honest English, where the intellect was adj
dressed as well as the imagination, and artculatc
words took the place of symbols more mysterious
than the Egyptian hierogyphics.
DIR. Manning took his stand on the low platform III
front of the altar, his looks and manner betrayine
grave earnestness, but promising no exhibitions OF
loratorcal skill He was dressed in the planest
ecclesiastical costume an unpretendlng black rooe
relieved with white, but with nothing to my eye, tC
designate dignitary of the Church He is a little
above the middle hight his form is slender, giving
the impression of great fraglity his forehead high
and TRANQUIL and his pale intellectual face bears the
marks of profound thought and study. You would
not take him for man of unusual practical energy
or disposition to engage in the management of mo
mentous affairs He has not the features of states
man, much less of o politician, and You do not at
once detect the secret of his influence in the Church
which is said to be scarcely less potent than that OF
Cardinal or Pope. But the moment that he begins to
speak, you discover in the tones OF his voice depth
and sincerity of conviction, almost amounting to
the faith which removes mountains. lie has IN hin
the stuff of which the sernest fanatcism is made
! With no outward display, no visible signs OF emo
ton it is only by casual gimpses that you perceive
the action of an inward fire. His voice is low never
rising above the level of familiar conversation, but
singuarly clear and deliberate every syllable adding
to the force of his words not accent lost to the
ear of the listener who is strangely drawn into al
most breathless attention, and charmed into the sur
render Of his sympathies, even under the protest Of
his intellect. In the manner of the preacher, there
was not a trace of oratory, at least in the popular
acceptation of that term. His delivery is as quiet
and simple as the voice of mother in relating to
her children the story Of the babes in the wood
In his enunciation he has little emphasis. little va
riety of infection, and approach to rhetorical
effect the very repose of bis utterance has some
thing preternatural; have seldom witnessed any
| thing like its power over the audience that day,
whom he held on his lips with the weird fascination
of the Ancient Mariner over the Wedding Guest
His STYLE of composition is no less simple than his
delivery He puts forth no labored arguments, pre-
sents no pathetic appeals, indnlges in no flights OF
fancy his discourse almost entirely confined TO
statement, TO lucid expression of thought; but
with such apparent artlessncss, such freedom from
all des gns upon his hearers such absorption in the
truth of his words with carefulness to the form
of their utterance as 70 give them certain oracular
force But he has not spoken long before you are
persuaded that beneath the gentle dignity of his
terror, there is concealed the heart of volcano.
The flame is raised to such intensity of heat that
its pure white rays scarcely visible to the eye