New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-09

quotes few of the contemporary complaints aoou'
clerical idlencss, ignorance. luxury aud hccbs" NJ
stream can rise no higher than its source 1t ID not
surprising that the cry for publication OF the
Church was not answered by such an assembly,.
The Council before electng Pope did apply ITSELF
With great zeal to tho suppression vi heresy VI
Bohemia, aud it burned John Hus ana Jerome of
Prague; but in the work Of reform 1t never got DO
yond the question Of revenues and appointments
Still worse was the Council which met ut Basel II
few years later under The reign of Eugenius w. In
this body for the first time we find distinct as
serton of the conciliar principle" OF the superior
ity OF a council 10 o legitimate and universally
recognized Pope. When EugeDius attempted 10 dis-
solve il. Sgsmund forced him TO Withdraw the ouh
of dissc luton and to recognize the validity Oh y"
assembly which arrogsted TO itself even sucn us.
tnotive papa functions as the appointments VI
legates and the granting of indulgences' H"e''
Sylvius Piccolomini is che of several writer's VINO
give striking descriptions offhe composition Vi 'n'
uisordery gathering. 81 saw" ho writes shone
the bishops ana other fathers, COOKS ana staoieo"
Judging the affairs VI the world When 'n'io ""'
q question about removing the Papai SEQ W avg
non the radical French faction dressed up servant"
and other creatures OF its own and introduced 'nei
into The Council to vote. Engenius was engaged al
tbis time in a negotiation for the reunion OF the
Greek and Latin Churches, and just as the arrange
m.nts for healing the great Eastern schlsp were
concluded tho Council saw fit TO create new west
ern schism by suspending the Pope from his ONCE
and taking all the administrative functions 10 u
self. only sixteen bishops were present "nen 'n's
was done Afterward the same faction declared
Eugsnus deposed. aud set up tht Duke OF savoy
M Pooe in his stead. The Duke. who took the name
of Felix w. was a laymaD, and it Is related that onr
OF the earliest and most pressing cares OF his p'ri
sans was to make him shave After thas no LOOK
orders.
Tho conc,liar principle having thus rIpened, the
parallel national principle once more became active
Germany, France and other nations took sides NC
cnrdi~g to their temporary political interests ana
changed sides at The will of tue civil power Polit-
ca intr,Rues and divisions enat led Eugenius To re-
cover himself; the King of France forced Felix %
abdicate: ana the Emperor Frederick ILL., caused the
CITY OF Basel to turn the Council ont OF doors after
all the best tneoogians had fallen away from IT, but
the last chapters Of the narrative now Oeiorn us
show how formidable and lasting were the obstacles
placed IN the way OF peace and reform oy the errors
of Constance anu Basel. Those assemblies started
theories Of Church government and had not tno
ability or the courage the earnestness 10 settle
them. Thus the duty of government was loit WIN
the Pore Int t became the fashion Of the governed
to appeal from his authority TO non-existent
council. An attempt of tho Cardinal Bishop OF
Brixen to reform the 1asteres of his diocese vas
net by an appeal to future coL1ci An attempt
of the Pope 10 settle disputed episcopal election ut
Mainz was met by an appeal TO future council.
An ATTEMPT by the Pope aud the King. to collec'
tithes from the freuch clergy for crusade against
the turks was met by appeal ~ IA future couhci.
A bull forbdding such appeals WAS answered. ny
royal threat to appeal 10 a future council; ana
Lo1s H. ordered his proctor general to appeal To
fnture couhcIl il the Pope published ANY censuros
upon the royal interference with ecclesastcal
affairs
Such was the condition OF tho Church. eaten
by corruption which tue faults ard errors vi lis
pastors MADE il seem almost hopeless To COMBAT
when with revival of letters and arts the Papacy
entered upon era Ut brief and deus've spIen'
dor. Mr. Creighton deals not unwOrthily with this
Interesting period and his account OF Plus ii.
Eneas SyIyius is one of the best parts of his work
But Plus H. WAS a Pore IN whose company II was
not easy TO be dull. lie was in his younger days
choice specimen OF the Italian literary adveDturer'
n travelling wit and scholar not great rascal--HS
rascals ran In those days but tree liver. w.t.
gallant. lie saw much OF foreign countries, al
courts of Councils aud of learned men anu ne 1917
oopious record OF his observations for the del'eht
of o-I er;y. He took orders late In lie ana AFTER
he entered the Church no se.hs " n"'o oo"""''o"
himself with decorum. lie did great deal to re-
store to the Papacy the autoeratlc character "hen
exoerience had proved he essential to Its preser'
walton; out he was hardly tho man to undertake.
a re,otmation OF manners. The world looks upon
him with kind eye - the patron aud friend OF
soholars. n genial, brilliant. ambitious and magma
tive prince who tried 10 I'LL his states with beauty
and gsyety aua at last lett the morals of his clergy
no worse than lie found them. With the end OF his
picturesque reign Mr. Creighton pauscs IN bis
labor.