The New York herald., 1870-04-09
LECTURES LAST NIGHT.
PApAl INFALlIBILlIY.
lecture by the Rev. Or. Dix.

Lecture ny the kcv. DIR. DIX.
The Rev. DIR. Dix delivered his concluding lecture
on the "Fffth and Sixth Councils OF the Catholic
Churchn last night before large and fashionable
congregation at St Paul's church, opposite the
HERALD building.
The reverend lecturer sald:-The nth aud sixth
councils OF the Catholic Church were held In the
city OF Constantinope, the former In the year 3sl
and the latter In the year $780, Since then there have
been no councils, properly so-caiied, but number
OF conventions. Between the dates or these two
counolls dark ana troublOus time intervened for
the Churcn. The Emperor Constance published
a decree f0rbidding free discussion In matters
or religion and doctrine. MarOn a bishop OF
Rome, opposed this decree and the result may
be easily guessed He was seized ana sent into
exile III which he died. Other bishops suffered
much also, some having their tongues cut out and
Others being mutllated in various ways.
The sixth council Is particularly important, as it
bears directly upon the question OF nafilbiiity. At
that council Honorius, who was pope rom 626 to
$685. was condemned and mathematical for heresy
together with six bishops VITO had joined him. The
new doctrines winch he held aud taught were
characterized as 'damnable heresyn by the council
Ana now u Is urged upon the Council assem-
bled IN the Vatican at Rome TO decree and
Of Of an an an ha tne
tanning to Catholic doctrine. And even the personal
nfafbtity OF the Pope Is demanded to be made
matter OF faith But those demands are strenuously
resisted by the most learned OF the Catnoc bishops
from all the countries represented at the Council
ana 1t IL to be hoped that tneir opposition will be
But some affect to believe that Honorlus was not
anathematzed and Others that he wrote hurriedly
Lnus trying TO bring him cut Clear But that
HonOrins was condemned for heresy Is PLAIN
historical fact. He was mathematical for heretical
doctrines by three different councils and by num-
Der OF popes among whom were Leo XJ. and Adrian
NJ. III HOnorus was q hereto what, then, became
or papal nfaiitOilityg Or II he not, how does
1t, then, stana with the popes and bishops VINO con-
demned hlm2 They must have been ralble and
have erred, II he had not. Tnus the history OF the
p0pes would appeal against the decreelng of the
proposed dogma OF infahbilCy. To tell US that HIS
tory warrants the declaration OF this dogma by the
Ecumencal council Is TO take us for fools and treat
be settled by the Council favorably TO the
wishes OF the Ultramontanes 1t Will prevent all
Catholics from looking any more to the Vatican for
ilstruct9ns. or regarding tile papacy as the centre
Of Catholic unity. And this would do an Infinite
amount OF good. IL would c0nduce to the union OF
all Catholic sects upon the broad platform OF CON-
now at Rome was n6t council, aud nad
no power to proclaim dogmas Of faith. When
the sixth council closed at Constantinople
ecumenical councils came to an end.
Faith and doctrine were then made full
and perfect. In that age councils were
truly powerful because bishops sat there equals.
Bul since these days there have been no bishops,
because the Pope said to rule and hold jurisdiction
IN every diocese, WHAT Is now sitting ut Rome Is
brace the whole Of the Catholic Church. And re-
garding the question OF infalblity, history looks
upon lt as altogether novel, and reason rejects 1t
ABSURD. What we want is full council OF the whole
entire Church. ana 10 Its DEGREES will give humble
obedience. l fr