The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-01-17
THE pLENARY GOUNCll

UNITED STATES AT BALTl1loHE'
On Sunday, Nov. 9th, ult., the
largest council of the Catholic Church 7
ever held in the Western Hemisphere
convened at the cathedral of Balti-
more, which had already witnessed |
several councils, the very first of
which was held in 1899. 1t has been
rs years since the cathedral corner
stone was laid by Bishop Carroll, the
very first Bishop of Baltimore, and
G3 years since the complete building
was consecrated by Archbishop |
Mareschal. Even alongside the new
cathedral of New York city, its vene-
rable dignity would in no wise be
diminished by the grandeur and opu-
lence of the new structure.
The streets between the Archbis-
hops house and the cathedral were
thronged with thousands of people
anxious to witness the grand process
sion of all the members of the Coun-
Gil. Some streets were almost i'm
passablc. First came about 130
theologians wearing surplice, amiet,
red and gold cope and berretta.
Next came 25 chanters, and then
the regular and secular clergy, about
20 in number. dressed like the theo-
logians, and about 200 seminarians
wearing surplice and berretta. Next
came all the prclates of the Council.
The monsignori, dressed like the
theologians; were marching ahead OF
the prelates, and then the abbots,
ten in number, most OF them benc
dictines, many wearing long boards,
and all of them having white mitres,
and copes OF red color. Next came
the bishops, numbering over fifty
and wearing rich red and golden
copes, amice and plain gold mitres.
Next came the twelve Archbishops
and finally the Apostolic Delegate,
Archbishop Gibbons, wearing amice,
alb, cincture, red stole and red cope,
on his head white mitre ornamented
with gold, and in his hand his cIpsicr
or pastoral staff. On the way to
the church the chanters sang "Veni
Creator Spiritus" and "Ave Maria
Stella" When the procession had
entered the church, and the clergy
men and prelates taken their respec-
tive seats, Archbishop Kenrick, of
st. Louis, began the celebration of n
pontifical high mass in the presence
of the apostolic delegate. The
music, which was of the Cccilian
and Palestrina Schools, in strict har-
mony with the rules of the Catholic
liturgy, was rendered by two choirs,
one composed of the official chanters
of the council, assisted by 40 semi
narians from st. Sulpice, and the
other composed of so voices, the
regular chorus of the cathedral and
st. James Church.
At the conclusion of the mass the
pulpit was occupied by Archbishop
Ryan. His sermon was on "Thc
church in her council" Is years
ago. Said hc:-
"Some of us here present beheld
similar spectacle in this cathedral
The contrast in the number of pre-,
latcs present is a fair index to tho
progress of the Catholic Church
Forty-siX then represented the Ca
tholic Church Of the United States
and. now the church numbers then
over 20 with a proportional advance
in the religious orders and th,
clergy. The foundation Of the socia
edifice seems most shaken, and mel
, are looking for stronger and NOR
, permanent basis for morality. The.
+ feel that the tendency is towar'
greater license still. | believe tha
the eyes of many thoughtful men o
different denominations and OF III
t denomination at all, are directed
. towards this council, and they ar
. disposed to say to us, Can you, Ca
tholic bishop and priests, do an.
thing to help to stem the torren
h already so threatening" We canno
S trust men as we formerly did
d Honor, honesty, and purity seem o
h the wane. The church of the Ii
century was the church of the 2nd
and SO until the present century
Her bishops meet in council, pre-
serving the chain Of Testimony ur