The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-01

Formal Opening CO the Gculnenical
Council - Icclig Ceremonies anu
Accompanying In-ideats-Thc Innu-
aural kllocusion.
IEonle ,Deeembcr ~ Correspondence OF The Lon
don News
1t must be admitted that, weak as is the
temporal power of the Pope, 10 other I'riRce
could have assembled such body as met yes.
terday in the council hall Of st. Peters, ana
no other could have provided them win such
bishops from Ir Gland, about sixteen from Eng
land, and no fewer than 1ity-two from Tie
United States Of America. Altogether there
arc but siXty-tlree doceses In the United states
and four Of these are vacant, so ihat IL may,
without much cXaggcrati0n, ue salu tnas
| the whole Roman Catholic Episc0pacy ol the
| United States have 0Jeycd the Pope's man
date. The Canadian, and other colonial bishops,
have also come over in great numbers. How
many have come from Australia, am hoL aole 10
say. France and Spain have contributed largely,
but the Italian bishops, of whom there are ao9.
form the majority OF The members or ihe Council;
Night before last the city was Illuminated, anu
everything gave promise Of an ausplei0us morn
ing When the Romans went to bed. Wien lhey
awoke, however, Which they dlu at inc carry hour
OF five or soon after. rain was falling In torrents
The streets were some Of them Hooded ana pas
sage to ST. Peters was all but impracticaolc ny
some routes except by carriages, which were III
immense demand. The bishops were TO meet NJ
$3.50 O'Clock in meeting hull, where they were TO
robe aud form in procession, entering by inc
great door beneath the poriico. II was nearly, IL
hot quite Q:30, however, before the procession
moved. The fact was announced by the liScharGe
OF cannon from the Castle OF St. Angelo. A file
OF priests in their abs formed the lrst lihe;
These apprehcnd, were the clergy connected
with the church. At some distance behind lhcSe
was d line OF Papal Zouaves; aud then tile gene
ra public. The strains of the hymn, "fcni, Gre
ator Spiritus,n announced that the head OF the
procession had entered the church, and the ron.
tihcal CruclfX, preceded by the singers and
the Pope'S prelateS in their appropriate roOcs,
was seen in the distance. Then followed the
Abbots Bishops, Archoishops, Primates, Patrl-
archs and Cardinals, the Senator, with Inc Con,
servators of Rome the Vice-Cham0erialn, anu
OF the Congregations and regular orders anu the
Onlcials OF the Council. The members OF the
Council walked In pairs, having On each side
clergyman, who may be regaraeo as snelr asses
pied about au hour, or near 1t. For the most
part, the ishops, &c, were dressed In white
watered1 silk, with gold fringe, but III some
half.dozen cases the shade was varied by blue
or pink, or an intermiXture Of different colors.
it was in the case Of the Eastern bishops
that the color seemed to be varied They pre-
sented the most various types. some were men
of commanding presence, tall, handsome, and
prepossessing. Others, on the contrary, were
SO diminutive that they could scarcely be recog-
nized in the procession. Most were without
boards, but few, and they also, seemea 10 De
from the East, wore hairy appendages OF enor-
nous proportions, should say that seven-tenths
had their hair silvered by years. On the whole,
they seemed venerable and thoughtful body OF
men, The Pope himself looked the same benign,
Kind and affable man which his photographs rep
resent. Some knelt while he was passing The
hymn, ''Veni, Creator Spiritus," was sung at In
tervals during the procession: me . htst verse c
came to the chief altar, on which the sacrament
was exposed.
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.
The religious ceremony preceding the opening
of the Council now began. His Holiness having
invoked the protection OF God and the presence
OF the Holy Spirit offered prayer. The members
Of the Council then proceeded to the Council Hall,
and occupied their respective seats-hs Holiness
making confession to the Cardinal-Deacon OF the
JIoly College, who was celebrate the mass OF
The Immaculate Conception, with the addition OF
the prayer "De Sancto Scrlptu." When the mass
proper was over, the sermon having been delir.
cred, not at the usual time but near the end OF
the ceremony, the Pope took his seat, and was
dressed in the Ponti1cal vestMents, as though lie
were about TO say mass. The members oi the
Council then, one by one, each carrying his mitrc
In his hand made their obeisance; the cardinals
kissing the POpes hand, the patriarchs, arch-
bishops and bishops his right knee, anu lhe ao-
bots his Ioot. lis Holiness then rising, while all
the others knels down, made another prayer to
which The preates answered "amen." Alter tile
chanting OF the Ltany and some other prayers,
in which the presence and aid or the Holy Spirit
cried out in loud voice. "E'reaft on,nes locum
non haoentes IL. Concio'-that is to say .Let all
who have no right to be here retire" +
THE PRELIMINARY MEETING.
It is not at all surprising after the fatigue OF
Yesterday that this should be q comparative day
OF rest. When is stated that most of the 1atli-
ers rose as early as O'Clock yesterday morning,
that they had to say mass, to prepare Tor the
preliminary meeting, to attend the long religious
service that preceded lie opening OF the Council,
and that the Council did not 1reaS Up tlL a9ous
O'Clock, and when " Is added IN many Of the
bishops are very old, and SOME very intirm, the
interposition OF day OF rest was almost indis.
pensablc. The meeting OF yesterday was, as
conjectured, one OF form. The only questions
Gil shonld be declared to be now opened, or
whether that declaration should be postponed
till the Epiphany. A translation OF the allocuton
which the Pope addressed 10 inc council Is as !ol>
lows. understand that at some parts OF 1t the
Pontitr was moved even to tears:
THE ALLoCUrIoN.
Venerable B7ethren-What We asked OF God
by many supplicatiOns and prayers-that We
may be able to inauguratc the Ecumenical Coun-
Gil appointed by us-this has been granted, 10 our
great 10y, by the remarkable and singular grace
or God. Our heart. therefore, eXultS In the Lord
and is sufused with innconceivablc consolation,
because on this most auSpicious anniversary or
the festival Of the Immaculate Conception oi the
Virgin Mary, Mother Of Qod you who have been
called to participate In our solcltude have assem-
bled in greater numbers than formerly In this
citadel OF the Catholic religion, aud we thorough
ly rejoice in your presence. Now, venerable
brethren, you are assembled here in the name OF
Christ, that with Us you may bear testimony 10
the Word OF God and Jesus Christ; that you may
teach the way CT God in truth TO all men with Us,
and that you may judge with us, under the guild
auce ST tile Holy Ghost, Of the opposition OF sci
euce. falsely SO called. For If ever there was
lime when zeal for the Divine glory and The saliva.
tion of the Lords mock demanded Of us to sur
surround and defend Zion, 1t is now. For
you see, venerable brethren, with what violence
The old enemy OF the human race has attacked,
aud still attacks The House OF God. Under his guid
ance that wicked conspiracy OF the impiOus is
widely diirused. Strong In union, powerful IN
wealth, protected by institutions, and wearing
the liberal veil OF malice and full of weakness, II
does not cease its most bitter war against the sa
cred Church OF Christ. You know the nature Of
that warts power, its arms, its progress, It's
councils. You lave continually before your eyes
the trouble AMI confusion. the Gricvous perVerson
oil all right, The various arts VI hoiu lyiug and
corruption by which the wholesome bonds Of jus.
tice Integrity and authority are l0osencll, the
wurs; passions are ia!:aMed. Tic Christian Iailn
rooted OUT from souls, so that the end of Gods
Church might we'll be feared now, If il were posi-
BILE for it to be destroyed by any Vaccinations or
endeavurs or man. Bit, as ST. John ChrysoStom
Ia Jnshj 4. ntn ,,ns