The New York herald., 1870-04-17
Tho Ecumenical Councii-Infa"aen'y anu
Eastcr Monday.

twofold purpose-to endorse the Syllabus ana
to proclaim the personal infallibilty OF the
Pope. II has been in session now for some
months, and although it has done some work
we cannot say that 1t has done what it meant
to do. 1t has, however, been gradually COM
ing to the point when the opposing forces on
the two great dividing questions must come
into conflict, and when it must either do what
it was convened to do or proclaim itself to all
the world failure.
To-day is Easter Sunday-the day on which
the Christ rose from the dead, the day which
really stands associated with the commence
ment of the Christian religion. Tomorrow is
East Monday, and if we are to Judge from the
appearance of things at Rome it is not i'm
probable that that portion of the Christian
Church which calls itself Catholic will, in
consequence of the proclamation Of the dogma
of infallibility, take a new point OF departure
The work in the Council progresses; the pur-
pose becomes stronger the opposition has
spent itself, and, in spite of Dupanloup and
Maret and Gratz and Strossmayer and
Rauscher and Ketteler and Newman, and the
civil governments, the vote which may be taken
tomorrow will proclaim to the world that the
Catholic bishops now assembled in Rome do
really believe that the voice of man is the
voice of God. AS we have all along seen, and
as we have again and again repeated, the
Council is on the side of the Pope; and as the
Pope believes he is more than mere man, the
kocC C~l :,~ e., or1 ha iu dacir
GUS that the flock should believe he is an infal-
lible guide, we have now no choice bat admit
that a few days more will give the world, or a
portion of the world, new God. In other
words, it must now be admitted that the dogma
of infallibility is about to be proclaimed. The
Pope demands it, The majority in the Coun-
Gil are on the Popes side. The new era of
genuine dogmatic theology is, therefore, just
about to begin.
In one sense it is well that it should be so.
We have had so much of doubt and uncertainty,
so much of open rebellion against ecclesiastical
authority the sheep have 80 long been running
astray; the world, in truth, has been falling
into such stupid ways, that it is well resting
point, refuge, rock should at last be found.
II the proclamation of the dogma Of infalli-
bility shall give the world peace, shall settle
all religious questions, shall make an end of
Professionalism and its numerous progeny
Shakerism, Quakerism, Free-lovism, Mormon
ism and the rest-if it shall uproot Pagan su
perstition and Mohammedan delusion, as the
preachers say; if it shall make all mankind
good, happy aud united if, in short, it shall
hasten on the millennium, the age of universal
brotherhood, the glorious golden period, where
is the man who will not bless the Ecumenical
Council, who will not honor Plus the Ninth,
who will not bow down before Infallibility?
The consummation is SO devoutly wished that
men everywhere and in all time to come will
look to Rome, will think of Easter Monday,
1870, and with full knowledge of the agonies
of the period will do homage to Pho Mono as
another saviour of mankind.
But what is the actual prospect? We can
not call it cheering. We cannot say it is full
of promise. Religiously the times are full of
trouble, and the trouble affects all the
Churches. The newspaper, aided by the rail-
road, the telegraph and the numerous other
agencies which give impulse to the thoughts Of
men, has become more potent than the pulpit.
It speaks every day. 1t has seven chances
against one so far as the week is concerned.
1t has million chances to one so far as actual
force is concerned. AS every preacher whose
name is worthy of mention in these columns
must be measured so must the Pope be mea-
sured. AS every convention must be judged
so must the Ecumenical Council be judged
AS every new judgment Of every synod and
every presbytery and every convention must
be judged so must we look at this new dogma
of infallibility. If it is proclaimed, as we
think it must be, it must convince many
doubters that faith has not yet left the
earth, and that many millions of men
are yet prepared to follow ''where they cannot
see." Suppose this new dogma proclaimed
Tomorrow, what will follow? The question
is somewhat alarming. We could not answer
it in fifty articles. We certainly cannot
answer it in one. 1t will satisfy a certain
section of the Roman Church. 1t will seri-
ously offend, it may ALLEVIATE, another. 1t will
make Protestants more protesting than ever.
But this is not all. The proclamation of the
dogma of infallibility will frighten every civil
government which since the Reformation, and
in spite of all the forces to which the Reforma-
ton has given birth, has clung to Rome and
been willing to make concordats. Already
we know how Austria and Bavaria and
France and Italy and Spain feel in regard to
this matter Each and all of those govern
ments say Define infallibility as you may,
limit it as you may, by admitting it you
admit the existence of power that is
mightier than we. And they very properly
ask the question, Is infallibility compatible
with the independent action Of civil gov
ernment? When we take into account
all that has been said and done