New-York tribune., 1870-01-07
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE GCUMENICAL COUNCIL
THE SECOND CONGREGATION OF THE COUNCIL
CEREMONY OF THE PROFESSION or PATH,
ROVE. WednoshaY. Ian q fs-n


cal Council commenced this morning. The first was
on the occasion of the Inauguration of the Council
The ceremonies to-day were not on so grand a scale
as those Of the opening day. and the number Of spec
tators was much smaller. The Pope was present,
but there was no procession TO the ball OF the Coun
| cil and no opening address was delivered Mass
was celebrated after which each father delivered to
the Pope his profession of faith. according 10 the
formula of Plus IV. Though its organization is
pleted. the Council cannot yet promU gate dccrces.
| The Holy Father continues in fine health.
| CODE OF PROCEDURE IN THE COUNCIL.
| IFR0M OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
ROME, Dec. 16.-The document of which send
you translation to-day. containing the decrees Of
the Pope for the regulation of the Council will re-
ward perusa n spite of the technical and unattrac
tive terms in which it is couched. IL presents an in
structive illustration of the spirit aud character Of
the Papal policy, or rather of the College of Card.
| mails, in whose shrewd brains it doubtless had its
origin. You will perceyehow implicitly il takes for
| granted the Supremacy of the Pope, although the
dogma is not alluded 10 in express words. The
whole organization of the Council rs most skilfully
arranged in order TO throw power into the hands Of
the Pope. The Constitution Of the French Senate is
not more cunningy devised to favor the pretcnsion,
of the Imperial autOcrat, than are these
provisions to place the management OF the Conn
ell under the authority of His Holiness. The
Fathers. indeed have the privilege of suffrage bnt
under the restrictions and limitations laId down by
the Supreme POntih what a shadow it becomes!
The officers of the Council are the creations will
not say the creatures, of the Pope The breath Of
their life is in his nostrils No topics of discussion
can come before the Council without his previous
sanction, If he finds that things are going wrong,
he can at once block the wheels. The stringent for
maties for the preservation of order, which de-
scribed with the mnuteness of physicians pre-
scription leaves but small scope for the exercise of
freedom, even if there should be found IN tho
Council person so much out Of place as TO have
mind of his own. Still all exuberance, all vitality
on the part of tho sacred Fathers jealousy effect
ually guarded against ! do not imagine that any of
the venerable prelates will be so rampant as to
place themselves athwart the policy Of the Cardi.
mails. But if any should be brave enough to beard
the lion in his den, it will be hard fight At pres
ent, we know nothing definite or certain
of the temper of the Council / have be-
fore mentioned the solemn pledge OF secrecy.
To-day l give you the provisions Of tho oath IN
full. have not the slightest doubt that it viii be
faithfully observed by every member Of the Council.
The practice of the confessional gives the habit Of re-
lance and not priest Of the church but knows how
TO keep secret 1t is curious TO observe how few
details of the Council find their way into the Roman
| newspapers. Even the ceremonies Of the great and
solemn day of opening are dispatched IN some
brief and inexpensive paragraphs, which no Amerl-
| can journal would deem worthy of its columns. But
as am to tax your space so largely with docnmen-
| tary papers, will waste no more Of it with fruitlcSs
moralizngs. Here is the Code of Procedure:
| LETTERS APOSTOLIC or HIS HOLINESS POPE PITS ".
Establishing he general 0rder Of obSerrHces W he e'
ton Of Tie Holy d2cunenieai Council Of he Tat'ca'
Among the mary adxetlcsHdF AcH "t g. 80 n n i
| nVpT psu l.
Clemency, which consoles Us IN all our finlton 'l
aided by its favor, permtedt TO happily behold te
| Holy General and Gcumenca Vatican tonhcli ~hlcD
we have VOked 10y it, inspiration We HlB IJoCe ~
the Lord that tocOmmence the sauiary mcctng'
of h Council on solemn day sacred 20 tue conception
of the Ever Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Mother oi "u
and thus under her potent ana maternal HusllTss' n
because we are 10 assemble ia our NatlsAh Bash,''
before the ashes o; t Inc o1mses. mSss ~ Ro
has not abandoned the government o, tIe 'nI'St 'i,
which was as eTleof of al tbd nnsor and the care u
the focks committed to him. Mindful at TINS ume V"'
mat the endeavors of the Sacred Chiefs OF the Church
might be united with Tor the eNiIldoh "i '"c
errors which S e'PsGay Shg the evils VITA Which tie
Church is afflicted, improving the chaidc'f anu t.e
eaTnastpess and profSnnd solicitude with which We
should labor, TO the end that az things W io
ino fleet so salutary business should bs established
in accordance with the sacred discipline ana uslatlos
| OF our predecessors, therefore, ny cls hloetuhc
authority do ordail the following order which we COM
mand to be observed by all IN this Vatican Coune"'
OF THE MODE OF LIFE IN THE CouSCIi-
Considering that every good aud every prIcI gu J.,
from above, and cOmeth down from the Father oi lghi
aud that nothing agreeable 10 tEc bengniy ot
our Heavenly Father than that lie should give the Good
Spirit 10 those that OF Him, we have already ~ our
Letters Apostolic Of the lth OF April OF the
opened to the faithful the treasures OI te ChuIen on
cason Of this Holy Council and have not only earnestly
exhOrted them that, cleansing their cOhscehct from
dead works 10 serve the living GOd,' they should dI-
gently devote themselves to prayer ana snrplc3on 20
fasting anC other acts OF petyj but we nave also
manGed that every day throughout the Catholic world:
no liCh
m celebrating the solemn sacrifice OF the man ~ order 10
obtain the prosperous ssue Of tins Council and sanitary
, fruits to the Holy Church from Its Influence .
| While we now renew and confirm these eAhortatons
and prescriptions also command that IN me ehughrs
OF this our fair city during the continuance of tue Hoy
Council the LitauS and erprayers piescIDed lot Ve
OCCASION shall BE- reoted every SUNDAY at sSl ~ Alo"'
as may appear convenient Tor the tailhiu people
But something lar greater aIu nioiO ,.m ~ 81
Orders take part in this Council whom II BECOMES
as ministers OF Sh,ist anu S'e@wsrus @ 81 % @ R %orss in
doctrine in purity gravity using sound speech thdt
cannot be condemned, that those OF The contrary part
may be in fear having ey TO say OF u.s. Wherefore
following the steps Of the ancient Councils and especially
h s TGa by ge S themselves i've easy to prayer to
reading 70 meditation on divine thInss actoi Ghg 10 "e
celebrate holy sacrifice OF the Macs, As frequently as
possible that they preserve their minds aud heats ire
from all worldly cares; keeping modesy III their man
Is n & e ,S mn be m dscnrd of mind a unworthy emu
lation and strife but let AL be governed Oy that ehaly.
which excels among the other virtues, sotat IN kctp
.SbIy Of Bishops Of the Church. Behold
good and how pleasant for brethren 10 dwell together
In unity Finally, let the,F carefully watch over
the conduct OF their domescs, enJOnng upon them e
rules of a Christian aud holy life. remembering WIN
what weghty words the Apostle Paul commented lhs
| Bishops 10 rule well over their households
| III.
or THE RIGHT AND MANNER OF PROPOSING.
Although the right and function Of proposing the mat
tiers 10 be treated the Holy Geumenlcdi Council and
of demanding the opinions OF the Fathers concerning
tbem belongs only aud 10 this Apostolic See, new
erteless we not only deshe but also eNhor That any
among the Fathers OF the Council have anything ID pro
pose which In their opinion contribute 10 the puoo
uuty they shall freely express IT, But since We see
plainly that this unless Il Is done In suitable iine Ahd
nanuer may not little interfere with the orderly Trans