The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-01


congregations are composed of learned and pious
KY oe IN snss Surc
But notwthsan ding tho authority that these diner-
bodies derive from the Pope they cannot al
spiscopate. While recognizing that the organized
government OF the Church. such as II now exists
auoe Ossn ,S Os1'f osa' beeu oomps,sU. do
good and combat ev-that, even being the only one
possible II was the best-we must express over again
regret that the ideas OF the Council OF Con-
have not been realized that perodicty and
decennum Of councils have not completed tno crown OF
the ordinary institutions OF ecclesiastical government
What has, however. been impossible before may be-
come possible IN our day.
With our century comes the advent oil new era.
We going to relate It's history here we are not
going 10 divide on the portion OF good and evil, de-
piore It's faults and It's errors, nor are we going to
praise It's reforms nor It's usoul Inventions Great
ruin, great transformations, are e,erywhere appa-
rent We believe that the freedom OF the Church
shall be one Of the great results 10 succeed al THIS
commotion. As sign OF this new era We DO not hest
tate airm that periodical and deceDnlal OF coun
cilsg-that Is just as we have shown y to be, VIZ,
tho best form, the best organization, oil &C.
clesiastical government, the reign OF discipline
the most perfect, shall now become possible.
There doubt that the principle OF religious free
freedom obtained important corquesls. Influenced
by these IDEAS and guided by those ncs. the dsrust
OF tho Church By the secular Powers has consider
ably diminished. A general council, which Is simply
the putting into practice OF religious freedom-a gen.
era council which Is SIMPLY the exercise OF that worry
rulers with fear cause them 10 put obstacles in tho
way oil this irecdom. Who could Gnd FAULT with the
bes since she first gave the example, who could lind
fauit II she made these assemblies regular and peri
odicals The samo need OF interchange OF thought Is
where depuialions meet from every quarter Of the
globe. Finally the present existing state OF
TO favor frequent aud rapid communication
among men. Steam and electricity overcome
distance These great discoveries oil tho genius of
hair, n d
aud by frequent meeting OF councils the moral
ameliora,ion Of tho wor goes on. IL must be that
the great Council Of Constance inspired when II
issued ms great Decree Tor cannot think otherwise
II we consider that was at period OF fcudal aDar
chy, Of unceasing war OF nerminaoie political dis
perpetual edct edtco feefo. periodical and de0on-
Mai Of councils WAS decrecd This council had that
divine prescntment that one day the execution OF It's
decroe would be entirely possible, would be easy,
and that that day would bring about most thorough
organ OF ecclesiastical government The Cath
dvi3 The Catholic Church preserves the religion
OF authority In the world This 10 Its glory aud It's
strength but authority never as strong as vencra
bic as amiabie when II admits OF concourse, whom
It accepts counsel when IL bears examination. and II
mission l. ,s TO exercise Inese great functious Tx.
aegeration the truest OF the most vital principles
may followed by most serious inconvenience. From
our observation and experience We apprehend that
tho actual eceesast organization of
the Church. some 81 Tho clergy have Tears. perhaps
exaggerated, perhaps upfounded but anyhow Fears of
a government that might easily be made oppressive.
Such fears while making life sad may readily stihe
spontnnetty OF action impede the march Of religious
science, public instruction and general edihcation.
All the freedom the Church can Afford her children 10
more than necessary 10 view OF the great prob
lens rising from the actual state OF tho world from
tho march OF science and the inward course OF SO.
cicty. Those arc some OF tho reasons requiring an
abundance OF light and full exercise Of canoncal lib
crty in ecclesiastical government. Let the era
OF periodical and decennial councils then
come Thess councils. by combining the
strength OF tho Church, by uniting all tho bishops,
will AFFORD tho Ponsi dis,nterested and inde
counsel abundant light and eflcscous cooperation.
The bishops, from being dispersed over the world,
In relation with all kinds oil CIVILIZATION, living undoP
political ana social systems the most varied, know.
ing wants oil the people, knowing men, acquainted
TOO eSo,us,vo. too local 10 shs mode OF
governm eut and. by this means, the government
might be improved without losing what Is essential
in rs actual organization. Then, Whatever impor-
tant questions may arise may be studied out and
solved under most favorable conditions Evils may
then DO easily remedied, abuses corrected, dIsci.
primary and scientific ameliorat ions bs introduced
Then ecclesiastical government snail receive the i'm
print Of that perfection that ID imperiecton Of our
nature allows. Periodicity In holding councils
will give n saiutary impetus to the entire Churoh.
Some years ago a fcw bishops, inspired by most
bring about the renewal synods provincial coun
oils These efforts not entirely successful,
especially these provincial assemblies did not rally
to the gre central body to general Council nor join
In unison with II. When God, however, shall have
given His Church dccennial councils, then provincial
councils held every three years shall NC but
steps pre- atory to general council Every provn
cisl council may DO precedsd by diocesan synod,
whore The bishops and clergy together may first con-
sider question. Thus f.r period OF nine years tho
eaerpy vi the entire Catholic world, through ITS lawful
MINISTER'S shall be directed In preparing the elements
OF important deliberations. which, under tho authority
and By direction oil supreme Pont,T shall instruct
eddy aud console the world Enjoying political. civil
and religious liberty, tho great Catholic organic ition
will present the most magnificent spectacle OF au-
tnority and liberty ever bchcd by mon.
These great Efforts will, without fail, silence preju-
dice. uring about harmony among mon, greater
hnn no ISL q
bloom TO enhance The beauty OF wcl-doing. We may
add that TO facilitate the work OF decennial councils
the principle Of episcopal rcprcscn taton. stated
above may he accepted IN wider sense and perhaps
deputatiun OF bishops chosen from each eccesiasi
cal province and FURNISHED with power from those
naming at home may then DO deemed sufficient
ACTS OF rHg COUNCIL or BALTIMORE
In 1858 - volume, containing the acts and DEGREES
OF pienary council OF the bishops Of the United
States. held some time previous, was published in
baltimore. The council WAS presided over by Mgr.
.Rs. csSrsn o the S.e" o.
ceaniao aud Of Other interesting works on religion
IN the United States. Forty-six archbishops and
took up the question OF tho rules or The
order regulating thcr deliberations. These American
CLERGY men, never forgetting their citizenship thought
rules In IN the political assemblies OF their coun-
try and known under tho name OF parliamentary
rules Every one knows that these rules allow tue
greatest amount OF freedom 10 discussion. The chief
obJecf Of the Council was TO determine the qucs-
lion OF ecclesiastical discipline ali over tue United
States. In the United Siuies, as II 10 well
known, tho population Is made up OF different
ciasscs OF people from every quarter OF the globe.
differing IN manners, In character. governed by
varied Influences. In TINS heterogeneous crown a
Catholic congregation ~ settlcd-the problem Of
uniformity Is embarrassing enough, modern times
differ much from The olden-privatc ana public IN
stitutions nave undergone such changes that the
application OF canonicaI laws meets ut every step
Nj uiosi insurmoun taple difficulties.
Title No. OF the acts treats OF the hierarchy and
govern uent Of the Church. In conformity with the
Of the Council OF Trent provincial
ellis be held Ia the United States every three
years the bishops being convinced that one OF the
most sAluiary remedies Tor the evils that niict tho
Cnurch found assemblies whore tho pastors
Of dioc.scs givc their views common ADVISE
IN adopting the best means TO procure the salvation
Of sous" A natural corolIary Of provincial coun
cils the Amsricau bishop. recommend the annual
hoding or leaA tue frequent holding, OF docesan
ny mods. They expressed wish that cccicsiasiicul
meetings SHOULD be organized IN every district
rheso meetings ~ DO held our times yenr la tho
citiss and once q year at least In rural districts
looking those things and considering sucn express
s,on oae understands the political ana social atmos
phers. In which the American bishops i've. They
desired WITHIN the limits OF truth, and as far as
possible within the limits granted by the
oil Church, TO apply to pastoral gov
rrnmcnt tho forms OF representative government.
rhe Fathers OF tho Council recognize that, with the
exception OF lev instances, the stand taken by the
eva mower and rs absence In mcddliDg in religious