The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-23
A Sensible View i'm Brief.

BELIEVER.
A Sensible View i'm BRIEF.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The communications from "Cato, and replies
elected have drawn considerable attention to
subject about which many worthy people enter
tain q SILLY superstition. II they would only do
their own thinking they might succeed In bringing
their nteects from the nursery. Then they would
discover the following axioms:-
FfrSt-''The Absolute Is nscrutable."
N 49, '''O ALEXANDER
Rev. Father Burke-Ec ann niCal Coun-
cils-Protcstant Faith-A Reply to
George Lee.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The HERALD being the great representative news
paper Of America, as well as the most liberal and
impartial, would solicit the favor Of place In
your columns to reply as briefly as possible to sew
eral statements made by George Lee, $50 Kent ave.
nue., In a communication from him addressed to the
NEW YORK HERALD and published In last Sundays
edition OF that poper-statements which may not
be contradicted, and which are calculated to mis-
lead not only those Of the Protestant faith, but also
such thoughtless and unrehecting Catholics as may
have seen and read them-statements unsupported
by facts and totally at variance with the truth.
Commencing with burst OF Indignation at what
he conceves to be the absurdity Of certain asser-
tiOns made by Father Burke, to which his communi-
cation Is intended as reply, he launches out into
very learned disquisition on the subject OF Ecu
menical Councils, but he barely finishes his SEN
fences before 1t becomes apparent to all intelligent
readers that his idea Of the Catholic Church, an
Ecumenlcal Council or dogma of faith is exceed
ingly vague and dubious He makes the won
derful statement that as the Church soemnly
decided In the late Council question which
for time she had permitted q few to deny in
theory
longer infallibie. How convincing, indeedl How
logical AS well might he say that the Church in
the Council of Nice denied herself because she there
affirmed the divinity OF the Son OF God against
those who had previously presumed to deny this
case OF every Ecumencal Council, that whenever
the Church has upheld the faith other divine founder
she has contradicted herself because previously to
each decision vain and presumptuOus men were to
be found who had no hesitation in denying that
divine faith. 1t requires very little study OF his
tory to convince those who are sincere and i'm
partial that in every age the dogmas Of faith de-
cared by the late Ecumenical Council have been be-
lieyed and practised, and, though at times they
they have as constantly been affirmed and re-
affirmed, not only by popes and councils but by
doctors and learned writer's.
But your correspondent cOndescends to add other
proofs to the convincing fact that have just dis
statement, which Is no less a one than that Pope
Gregory the Great denied his authority as success
sor of st. Peter. The same Pope Gregory that many
Professionals, certainly as well qualified as your cor
respondent, declare to have been the first Pope
the first Antchrist-the same Pope Gregory who
has earned for himself the condemnation of all
say, he usurped the authority Of Pope over the
English Church, who rebuked the Patriarch OF Con.
stantinople because he attempted to invest himself
with some OF the dignity OF the Apostolic See. But
let Gregory the Great speak for himself
To all who know the Gospel il Is evident that the Of
a to The %ase Por tie h BY M sa
he has received the Keys Of the kned"m Of heaven the
power 81 binding and o , Is given to h The care of
n s y e, he esd ne The
Council q chalcedon, they glory in being styled The
vans OF the servants Q, God though me ana the
lawful successors thTS are.
or the same patriarch he says, Concerning the
Church Of Constantnople who doubts that 1t is sub
ject to the Apostolic Seer" And writing to the
Emperor he says Hear the words which Jesus
Christ addresses to you by my lps.n
might go on In fitRnitu,n writing down passage
after passage from the writings and acts OF this
great Pontin in which he asserts and exercises his
authority as successor of ST. Peter but always with
humility in keeping with his title OF Servant OF
the Servants OF GOdn
And now we come to the next statement OF your
correspondent, equally convincing with the two
preceding :-.'For over eleven centuries the laity
were permitted to partake OF the sacramental cup;
but this has been changed and now none but the
officiating priest or priests drink OF it, 1t Is true
that for long while the laity were generally al
lowed to communicate under both species, as that
is undoubtedly the more ancient practice, and more
In conformity with the practice as instituted by our
me- Father 's and fed ns
twelve apostles with His body and blood;
but your correspondent does not seem to
distinguish the difference between doctrine OF
the Church as the doctrine Of the real presence
and mere practice or usage as the practice of
communicating under one or two species. The
Church has never ceased to believe in the real
presence OF our Saviour under each species, and
she changed her practice simply to avoid abuses.
Again your correspondent asserts. THE cele-
bacy OF the clergy was first publicly enjoned at the
| first Council OF Lateran, A. ID. 1928, but was es-
peciaIy protested against by the Council Of Nice,
What absurd assertion Every tyro in history
knows that the Lateran Council simply endeavored
by ecclesiastical penalties to bring back TO their
former state certain ncOntinent cercs who were
living in violation OF the canons. First publicly
joined Has your correspondent never read Of the
great struggle in England, between the ncontinent
secular clergy and those who remained true TO their
ordination vows, In the ninth and tenth centuries
and how hard St Dunstan labored before he could
bling back these scandaous priests to
sense Of their duty9. But let us
see about the Council Of Nice. Eusebus
OF Cesarea, an illustrions prelate VINO lived and
wrote at the time of the Council tells MS, The state
Of confluence Is the proper state OF those who are
devoted to the priesthood and engaged in the min
istry OF divine worship; OF the doctors and the
preachers OF the divine word whose care 1t is to
raise holy and spiritual offspring and to train to
multitude of the faithful.n The Council OF
Elylra DEGREES that .all bishops priests
married state before ordination shah separate
entirely from their wives" The Council of Neoca-
ordination shall be deposed. And the Ecumencal
Council OF Nice, so confidently quoted by your
respondent, forblds all whether bishops, priests,
deaccns, or other cercs to have under the same
roof any woman, save a mother, sister, aunt or
other whose relationship precudes all just ground
OF suspicion.
And now we come 10 another assertion, only ex-
celled In extravaganza by that going before
again, the use of images and relics in public wor-
ship was first publicly sanctioned in The second
Council Of Nice, A. d. 1877; but this was condemned
by the Council of Eibeus, A. ID. 300, and also by
Gregory the Great with regard to the Council OF
Nice, would make him pretty much the same an
swer that | made when speaking OF the Lateran
Council, with the advice, in addition, that IL VIII
proh him considerably To restudy the history OF the
lconoclasts. And as to Pope Gregory, that great
PontiH shall be heard In his own defence.
Writing TO Senus, Bishop of Marseilles,
who rom a mistaken zeal, had broken the
images ol our Lord III His churches, he says:--'If
You had forbidden them TO be adored we should
only have TO praise you; but we blame you for hav
ing broken them. Tell me, my brother have you
ever heard that any priest ever did what you have
done2 if by nothing else, you ought at least TO
have been restrained by the consideration that you
were not the only saint the only prudent person
among your brethren II Is one thing to adore the