The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-08
THE PLENhRY COUNCIL.
Ehe Closing Session-A Grand Procession
Summary of the Work Performed.


BALTIMORE, Dec THE closing session Of
khe plenary council was marked by great pomp
and ceremony. AS on the opening day, there
was street procession from the the archiepis
eopal residence to the Cathedral, which was wit
messed by large crowd The procession was
beaded by the seminarans of St Sulpice, chant
ng psalms; tn ese were followed in regular order
by the regular and secular clergy, the theo-
)ogians superiors of religious orders, rectors of
theological seminaries, monsignori mitred alb
bots, bishops, archbishops, and an archiepisco-
pal crossb bearer between two acolytes and pre-
ceding Archbishop Gibbons, the apostolic dele
gate, accompanied by his deacons of honor. At
the Cathedral potnifcal mass was celebrated
by the Most Reverend Michael Corrigan. On
Rccount of the sickness of Rev. P w. Riordan,
coadjutor Archbishop of San Francisco, Bishop
Spaulding, of Peoria, preached the sermon,
which was devoted chiefly to a review Of the
work of the council. The ques tons which were
discussed, he said, had direct bearing on the
social moral, religious and intellectual welfare
of the people and of the country at large. The
preates in the DEGREES that had been formulat-
ed, have laid the foundations of what will yet be
great American Catholic college, thus inspir-
ing all with a love for intellectual progress;
have treated of education in general and of
the rights of religion and of gov
ernment They have dealt also, with
questions affecting the family, which is the
basis of the church. They want to inspire
holier reverence for the sacrament of marriage;
marriage must be a perpetual union. lasting as
long as life lasts, with cause for divorce but
death. They have pleaded for the cause of
robriuty oui t1npertilse; thoy stand on tho side
of good laws and customs, and wish to make the
world so that man may be truly free, and grow
in moral purity and intellectual worth. They
have tried to stimulate the Catholic press and
Catholic literature, so that men may be led to
take greater interest in matters affecting them
as Catholics and American citizens. They have
laid down laws for the guidance of society, in
order that it may cooperate with the church.
and have sought to know what is for good and
what for harm in the church. Their delibera
tions have been conducted with dignity and
full thought has been spoken without resi- trio
tion.
After the sermon the vestments of the pre-
1ates and priests were changed from white to
red and the theologians and other clergy out
side the sanctuary went into the sacristy and
changed their vestments the preates changed
vestments in the sanctuary. Two semieirces
of seminarians were formed, each seminarian
holding up a red cape; the archbishop and
senior bishops took places in front
Of the seminarians and i'll moment the
change from white to red made
The vestmeEts of the other preates were
changed at their seats The vestments of the
apostolic delegate and the attendants were not
changed. The apostolic delegate, attended by
his deacons of honor, took seat at the entrance
Of the sanctuary when the change of robes
made and q number of hv mns and psalms were
sung, and prayers intoned At the conclusion
of these, the apostolic delegate took his seat at
the altar steps, with Bishop Kain, Of Wheeling,
at his right, and Bishop Janssens of
Natchez, at his left and the session of the coun-
ell was opened. Major Corcoran read the chap
ters of the DEGREES passed last week, and they
were formally adopted. Hardly more than five
minutes Was occupied in reading When this
was over, pens and ink with which the bishops
and officers were to sign their names in testi-
mony of the genuineness of the DEGREES
placed on the altar The apostolic delegate was
the first to sign his name, and
was followed by Arcbshops Kenrick of ST.
Louis, and Alemany, of San Francisco, and the
other archbishops in order of priority, fol-
lowed. Archbishop Riordan was absent, owing
to sickness. Then came the bishops and abbots
each in the order of priority, and lastly the Off
GERS of the council
After all the prelates were again seated,
Archbishop Kenrick went to the apostolic del
eeate, and they exchanged the kiss of peace
Archbishop Alemany similarly saluted the
apostolic delegate The veteran archbshops
then stood at the right and left of the apostolic
delegate, and each succeeding prelate saluted
The apostolic delegate with kiss, and, passing
along the line sauted each of the preceding
prelates When the prelates, after this cermony,
had resumed their places, Archbishop Kenrick
broken voice, said
ut has fallen to my lot to be the Oldest bishop
in this council, the arrangements and prepara
tions for which, it is needless to say, caused
great care and labor for the apostolic
delegate, who presided over its deliberations;
therefore return him thanks on behalf of its
members. 1t is many years since l stood in this
edihce as a spectator at the opening OF the first
plenary council. What struck me most then
was that in the comparatively small number
o of ecclesastics present. thirteen different ma
honalities were represented. all united together
for one purpose" He then, in contrasting this
council with that just closed, spoke at length of
the progress of the church in the past and her
bright prospects for the future Turning to the
apostolic delegate, be said:
AT the next penary council, should God pro
long your days, you will miss many Of those
who are with you now. and you will think of
them as we now think Of those who have passed
away since the second penary council"
The feeble old Archbishop was obliged to stop
frequently in delivering his short address. be
cause of the iniirmities of age. and at its close
went with uncertain steps back TO his seat
among the arehbshops. The TIE Deum was sung
by the choir, the closing prayer recited, the
papal benedction pronounced by the most rey-
erend apostolic delegate, and the third plcnary
eoancil was ended