The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-26

lniaHibiiIty and the Churches.
ST. PETERSBURG, July !, 1870.
There Is no part OF the Christian world where the
decision OF the Council at Rome concerning the in.
faibilty OF the Pope IL waited for with more int.
rest than In Russia There are, think, few people
In the West who have hitherto understood the posi-.
ton OF the Eastern Churches with regard to Rome.
BY the Protestant world the churches Of the East
were designated by the term Greek Catholic, III con-
tradistinction to Roman Catholic. The consequence
was That In the popular mind the Patriarch OF Con.
stantinoplc vas sort OF oriental Pope and Eastern
Christianity vas looked upon as having the objec-
tlonable characteristics OF the Roman Church, while
deprived OF many of Its redeemIng qualities. In
short the Church OF the East was considered as
presenting the same principles as Rome In less de-
veloped form, and attended with more superstition
and ignorance. This opinion was not, Of course,
shared by the few who knew the history and ten
denotes OF the Eastern Churches. The number of
such men, however was exceedingly small, and had
II not been Tor the present Council the position of
the East toward Rome would have remained for u
long time misunderstood.
ROMAN CATHOLIC DIVISION.
1t Is generally considered and not without reason
that the proclamation OF Papal infallbihty Will
cause division in the Catholic Church. The ques-
ton very naturally arises what course will be pur-
sued by the dissenting Ca,holicss VIII they try to
form an Independent church, or will they join some
OF the churches now existing? meeting held here
few days ago by the Czechs resident IN ST. Peters
burg had for It's object the discussion Of this import
ant question. The conclusion arrived at was that in
case Papal infallibi1ty should be proclaimed the
Catholics of the kingdom OF Bohemia would separate
in o body from Rome and associate themselves to
the orthodox churches OF the East, Judging from
the state OF religious feeling in Bohemia and the po-
sition maintained by Prince Schwartzenberg, the
Primate Of the kingdom. should say that there s
little doubt that this resolution Will be carried out
Catholics at this time will join Professionalism In
any great number-least OF oil VIII they do so In
Eastern Europe. The Croat Bishop Strossmeier-the
most brilliant OF all in the ranks Of the opposition,
and who occupies the foremost place In the esteem
and veneratiOn OF his countrymen-will surely not
submit to doctrine which Is nothing nor less
than an humiliation of the Church. The separation
OF the Croats from Rome and their union with the
Eastern Church, besides its religious significance
would have an Importance in political point OF
view. The Serbs, the Inhabitants or the military
frontier, those OF Herzegovina, Montenegro and
Dalmatia. all belong to the division OF the Sla-
vonic race. They all speak the language with
Croatia and Damata Latin letters used In print.
Ing and writing, while in the other provinces the
| Russian or Slavonic alphabet Is used. The only
thing that esranges the Serbs and Croats Is the DIFF
| terence or religion.
| AUSTRIA ON THE oUI WYE.
This Important TACT mas been kept in view by Aus
tria, and 1t is worthy OF notice showing the
| crooked ways OF politics. that while Austria Is OBJ
posing Cathoiclty with all her might at Rome she
| uses every means TO spread it among the Ortho-
For who has never visited the East il Is dim.
cunt TO understand the importance OF religious unity
GOOD purs Instance psh s1 p s Of sS saw
| pie among the Armenians. Having asked
SaOc ri em %at his nationality was he
Is your religion. but what race do you belong ~
received the same answer as before, that lie was
in Of rdJ uLnI
nian, who belonged 10 the Armenian Church. about
| his nationality. The answer was, II am all Arme-
nian.n
| The anxiety Of Austria and also France with re-
gard to infaliibity may be wen imagined The mo-
me e THIS dogma Is proclaimed Calhollcty viii
cease to be for them political instrument In the
| East The time IS yet distant when religion will
cease to play an important part in Oriental politics.
and 1t Is easy TO understand that politicians cannot
but consider seriously an event which is likely to de-
| prve them OF 30 Important weapon as religious
| influence.
in the case Of the Armenlans referred to religion
| was more important than race and language put
together and this Is the of things among all the
| Armenians. Tie SlavoDians Of Turkey look upon
religion IN much the same way as the Armenans
ch nr catholic or Protestant
missionaries, he finds himself In the position OF
stranger among his own countrynen; he has broken
| with them morally and finds himself obliged
70 return to his national faith or else
ae@ain In 3es. ,ors state r, Of isolation to
iavors conversions TO Catholiciy Professionalism
provided they are not too numerous. Everything
from each other Is naturally looked upon with favor.
DANGER TO THE PORTE GOVERNMENT.
-. ID ny Inls DIVISION ana lhe support OF the West
that the Constaniinope government exists. The
union OF Croatia and Dalmatla IN religious point
OF view would be very fruitful ia results for oil the
south Slayonlans. 1t would bring together all The
Savonlans Of Turkey and a considerable number of
those OF Austria, and tend greatly TO weaken the
| position OF botn these governments. The Czecls
have both political and religious motives for Joining
the Eastern Church. Situated as they are on the
western border or the Slavonlc world, and having
the feeling OF race developed to degree surprising
almost every people In Europe, beng at the same
time not numerous enough to fight their battles
alone, they leave nothing undone to bring about q
feeling unity among all the members or the Sla
yonic race They have to look to the East and not
to the West in order to find kindred blood and
sympathy in their struggle for existence. Tney nave
every worldly motive for taking the step resolved
ginning of thus letter. 1t remains only to he seen
whether the charge could be made with clear con-
science
NATIONAL CHURCH.
Every man who Ii acquainted with Bohemia
knows tat the Catholics OF mat country nave strong
Musse ten ences They are opposed to inlalibllity.
They desire national church, with services IN their
own language In short they want what nnss
time declared by letter that he did not look upon
the Czech reformer as upon heretlc.
The Greeks considered that Huss was but striving
to return to the system of caurch government which
existed IN the early ages, and which to this day ex-
In an account OF a conversation held with the
present Patriarch OF Constantinople and published
IN the HERALD hast fall the position oil the orthodox
Church OF the East stated very clearly and
plainly. The Patriarch said that in the East each
church Is entirely independent in everything relating
to Its local government that II Is only IN questions
relating TO the universal church that each national
church submits TO the decisions Of q general COIN
Gil, made up or delegates from all the churches;
that patriarch or bshop has any authority outside
OF his pariarchate or bshoprc; that this was formerly
the rule In the West as 1t Is now In the East, until
the Bishop OF Rome succeeded III usurpng authority
over all his brother bishops In the West, and sue
ceeded IN making them the instruments OF his Will;
that by this departure from the. Christianity of the
early ages ana the first seven councils he fell away
from true Cathoclty and by his assumption of TEN.
poral power and the Pagan Roman title OF Pontifex
Maximus he reduced the Churcn OF the West to q
sort OF Christian caliphate claiming himself to he
"klng OF kings,n well as "Vlcegerentof God.r In
reply to the question whether the Pope had right
TO supremacy in the Church, the Patriarch answered
That the true position Of the Pope was Bishop OF