New-York tribune., 1884-11-16
TIE THIRD pLEN1RY COUKCTL.

IUE IHIHD fLENHNI tOONCfL.
The third Plenary Council of the Roman
Catholic Church in the United States, which
began its sessions in Baltimore last Sunday,
must not be confounded with other synodcal
bodies of the Church. A Plenary Council repre-
sens the Church in the Nation in cOntradistinc-
ton to an Gcumenical Council, which represents
the Church throughout the world, Provincial
Council, which represents the Church of a
Province or Diocesan Council, which represents
simply diocese. This great council then,
speaking for Catholicism thgoug ghOut the United
States, is justly entitled to the respectful con-
sideratiOn of all who are Interested III the moral
and religious progress OF the country.
The day is happily past when the assembling of
such an imposing body of eminent ccclesiastics
acknowledging the authority of the Roman
Pontifl would be looked upon with suspicion
and dstrust The old fires of religious intoer-
ance and hatred are not, unfortunately. wholly
dead, but they are slowly dying. Underneath
the variations Of dogml, the claims of warning
schools ard the contradict Lions of theory there
flows alike in all the many-hued forms of
Christianity the mighty current of power
that makes for righteousness, and at last leads
to holiness.
This present Plenary Council is charged
with interests that are particularly important at
this time to the Roman communion in the
United States. 1t is the general impression that
among the topics to be discussed by the council
will be the question whether or not the Church
in this country should not cease to be IA mis-
sionary Church. Thus far the body of canon
law that governs the Church in its normal con
dition has not been in full force in the United
States. \ parish priest, for instance, could be
absolutely removed by his bishop; and al
though If unjustly removed, lie could appeal
directly to Rome. the process was difficult and
slow one. A large number of eminent Church
| men think that the time has now come when
the Catholic Church of America is strong
enough and great enough To take her place
among the other great National Churches OF the
world.
As an indication of the wonderful growth of
the Church i'm this country in recont years few
suggestive facts may be stated. In l79l Bishop
Carroll, whose jurisdiction extended over the
| whole of the United States assembled council
consisting of but twenty priests. On the
second of May 1882, the first Plenary Council
| met Mt Baltimore. and was composed of six
archbishops. twenty-five bishops, one mitrcd
abbot, eleven supeliors of religious orders and
seminaries and twelve Wears general. The
second Plenary Council met in Baltimore on the
7th of October, 1866, and included seven arch
lishops. thirty-nine bishops, two mltred aGbots,
J twenty-four vicars-general, and twenty six
superiors of religious orders and seminaries.
At the present council there are in attendance
thirteen arch5shops. sixty American bishops,
five visiting bishops from Canada, and one from
Japan. seven mitred abbots, one project apos-
tolic, eleven monsgnori, eighteen vicars-gen-
eral, twenty three superors of religions orders
| twelve rectoIs of seminareS, and ninety
theoogans, constituting one of the greatest
synods held since the Council Of Trent. The
DEGREES of this body, after receiving the ap-
proval of the Holy See, will be binding on
all the Catholics of the United States, and Will
no doubt represent the genius of Catholicism at
| It's hest