The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-27
BISHOP LYNCH's LECTURE.
The Vatican Council and the Dogma of
Papal Infallibility.

ious. was .by no means Indifferent. Religious
truth had to encounter hostility and hatred on
all sides, and there was no lack OF earnestness
on the part OF its enemies. On the other hand
there was equal earnestness on the part Of
those who supported the truths of Divine rev:
elation. In proof of the interest with which re-
ligious topics were now discussed, he cited the
immense number of controversial books ano
pamphlets with which the presses OF the world
were teeming. Al Intense, worldwide battle
terial war, central struggle often oc
ours which attracts the attention of the
whole line, so that the combatants else
where pause for awhile to behold the
result of this particular contest, so on the
field of religious war combat was now going
on at which the whole world was gazing. He
alluded to the opening Of the Vatican Council
some months ago, which had assembled at the
appointed time and place, without one hours
delay. It had been computed that more than
loo, 900 visitors had focked to Rome since that
event, and correspondents from every leading
journal in Europe had fastened to chronicle
| more or less accurately, what was done. All
religious issues with the Catholic Church had
been suddenly merged In the interest excited
by the questions before the Gcumenical Cour-
| ell. The presence Of 80 large congregation
as he was then addressing, showed that this
feeling was alive here, as elsewhere over the
whole world. Indeed. the church was grand
fact in the world, and it was not to be won
dered at that her nineteenth general Council,
through which she speaks to mankind, should
have excited the attention Of the nations. II
her claim to be the sole teacher of Divine
| truth were false, then would the Council be a
great crime. But if her powers were from
Christ himself, what reply would the Christian
soul be able to make at the last day to the
awful question, Hast thou heard Ny Church !?
The Vatican Council was the grand parliament
of the church in which she took cognizance of
all things relating to the faith and morals OF
her children; in which she decides doubtful
points, sets forth contested truths, and
acts In fulHlment of the mission, and in
virtue of the authority which Christ has given
her. He did not mean on this occasion, how
ever, to speak at length of the authority of the
church. He would consider the church his
torically rather than deglnatically. In any
point of view, the Vatican Council yields not to
any previous Council of the church-neither In
the number of the assembled prelates; nor In
their vast ecclesiastical erudition; nor In the
fulness of their secular knowledge; nor In the
holiness oftheir lives and their devotion to the
cause of Christ, which many Of them have
proved by tortures, chains and imprisonment.
He dwelt on their vast and varied experience
In the ministry, which gave them an intimate
knowledge OF all that Is of good or Of evil In
the world, and of the remedies best adapted 10
check the sinful tendencies Of the times. He
ages of the Council, and gave an interesting
description of the manner Of dispatching the
business before that body.
The infallibility of the church, he observed,
did not mean such inspiration as God had
given the prophets of old, and as had illumined
the minds of those who wrote the books OF
sacred scripture; nor did 1t mean light from
above teaching new revelation. Intallibility
was the divine assistance guarding the church
from error, and promised by Christ who had
said, " am with you all days, even unto the
consummation of the world" When Moses ap-
preached the burning bush in the desert he
received q revelation and went before Pha-
raoh. God was, indeed, with him In his mis-
sion, but this did not imply that each time he
spoke to Pharaoh there was renewal OF the
revelation. Tile assistance of God gave him
courage to speak and TO overcome all obstacles,
and finally led him to the successful accom-
plishment of his great work. So the church.
having received the sacred deposit Of
revealed truth, and having been made
to understand lt by the holy Ghost. Is always
sustained by the Divine power and inspired
with the courage TO overcome all obstacles
and to fulfil successfully her mission on earth.
Hence, in her councils, the church examines
sedulously what has been the doctrine always
held upon any mooted point, and makes use Of
all human means to ascertain certainly, and
set forth clearly, the truth. The result of this
examination is infallible; because In arriving
at IL She is sustained by that assistance prom
ised by Christ himself, and which He never
falls to give. Itswas important, then, that the
distinction between inspiration and intallibili-
ty should be clearly fixed In our minds, If We
would comprehend the course OF proceeding
of the Council.
After describing the opening and organization
of the CouhciL the Bishop spoke at length of
the matureness with which the questions
brought up before it were examined. First ofall,
he said, distinguished theologtans from every
country in the world had BEEN summoned to
Rome, twelve months before Its meeting, to
study and prepare the business for the Coun-
Gil. By these, draft, or schema, of each sub
ject to be considered was drawn up. This
draft was submitted to each of the bishops
present for his criticism in writing. These
criticisms were referred to standing commit
tee, who drew up new draft, which was dis
cussed In the Council, and amendments pro-
posed. The discussion, carefully reported by
stenOgrapherS as well as the amendments,
was referred back to the standing committee,
who reported on the amendments, and the
schema thus amended was voted on by the ia
theirs, one by one. Subsequent to this vote, the
schema was considered for the third time by
the committee, In view of the vote, and 1t was
then again reported to be voted on UiuG uOce
by one of the three formulas-Pldcet Il ap-
prove!) Non placet II disapprove y Plocet
3urt0 n,odunl II approve conditiOnally y The
votes recorded according to the last formula
must be accompanied In writing by the condi-
ton attached to the vote. The schema was
then taken in charge by the committee, In con-
junction with the conditional votes, and was
BY them afterwards submitted for the final
vote; after which the result was kept back for
q formal vote and PRONUNCIATION In the next
public session of the Council. 1t would thus
be seen that the progress of the Council in dis
patching business was necessarily slow.
Of the unfinished business which had been
considered during the five months that he was
present at the Council, he could not speak,
but he could speak of the subject Of Papal In
fallibility, because 1t had not come up for con-
sideratiOn at the time he had quilted Rome.
The misconceptions that prevailed on this
subject were very great. The church is infalli-
Bile. It is her duty to teach the world, to de-
clare the truth, and to reject error. All Cath
olics acknowledge that the bishops OF the
church, In Council assembled, speak with the
infallible voice of the church. The Councils,
however, are held at very rare intervals.
During these intervals, the church does not
lose her power of teaching infalllbly. Christ
established centre Of unity for His church,
and through all her history st. Peter and his
successors, the bishops of Rome, were ever
acknowledged as such. Now, the prerogative
of infalllbility stands In chs, that, according
to His promise, Christ will ever so guard and
and guide and control the church that. in de-
filming what He has taught in matters of faith
and morals, she shall never err. Moreover,
the Pope, in virtue of his office, has the right
Il fha1o Il nf,sn: of flif