Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-15
THE CATHOLIC PLENARr COUNCIL.
Its DEGREES ON the Regular Clergy-A
Source Of Scandal-Higher ENlucataou
of the Clergy-The General Eduea.
tiOnal Question.

source OF Scam0a1-HtSheF Education
of the Ciergy-The General Eduea-
tiOnal Question.
From the New York Sun.
AS promised in last Sundays Sam we proceed
to analyze some of the other important DEGREES
OF the late PIenary Council, following an
advance annotated copy Of the Acta now being
considered in Rome by the committees of the
different congregations there, to which their
respective contents pertain. OF course, the
regulation of episcopal and clerical relations
was the chief object of the assemblage; there
were other questions that called for a speedy
solution, and in the discussion of them consid-
cradle divergence of opinion was made man.
ifest in the secret meetings. Indeed, so much
tons were finally dropped, and they are left
as herltages for the next council. A strong
effort was Of made ,Ss for nsancs BY
more stringent disciplinary rules on temper
ance, something approaching to a spiritual pro-
American birth upheld the movement, but the
German bishops developed an unexpectedly
bitter opposition. and the matter was finally
tabled. They even fought any introduction Of
the subject into the pastoral letter OF the coun-
ell: especially that passage which urges liquor
sellers TO engage in a more honorable Occupa-
ton, thus :ntimating that liquor selling was not
an honorable occupation. Indeed, the pastoral
letter passed through the printers hands with
out this passage, and it was marked in on the
proof through the decision of Archbishop Glib
bons, the apostolic delegate, who Justly cOnsid-
cred that he had the right to decide on tie
qutstl0nS-the more so as the letter was issued
over his signature. This Is one instance out of
many. The utmost freedom OF debate was used,
which thinks the Catholic church is q mere ma
chine wound up at Rome, to have beheld the
variety of views advanced
Under tituiuS H.. de Personis Ecclesiasti-
els, occurs a sub-heading caput, ''De Regu-
laribus,' which, as intimated last week, con-
tains matter of the gravest Importance. AS is
n
orders, claim a neutrality-suspicious. of the epis-
copate Especially have the Jesuits been bold
Pope. and owe only an incidental allegiance to
the bishops. whose places are taken by their
proyineials. In this country the trouble began
in the last century. When the order sup
pressed by Pope Clement it owned considerable
lands in Maryland, and they were known as
the White Marsh Lands. The JesIts an
bounced their intention of disbanding at the
command of the Pope. but Bishop Carroll. who
had himself been Jesuit, advised them not to
do so. He told them that the United States
were not under any form Oi canon law, and that
therefore an encyclical did not apply here.
properly o the up b be5
in trust by the bishop in office. When the
order was reorganized Archbishop Whitfield
occupied the see. They asked tor their property
to be restored TO them. This the archbishop re-
fused to do. He held that they could not be
called the heirs of the body that willtully and
under no pressure went out of existence, and
the new organization was an entirely different
concern. The Jesuits appealed to Rome, when
eQ.
with the appreciation of the Pope, that the
archbishop was right. Then, contrary to the
GsaSes of the church, the Jesuits took the case
before the civil courts of Maryland, and after a
tedious law suit the property was restored to
them; 1t is said that the costs were $4,000,
and that the order has failed since then to real,
ize that amount out of the contested property.
y more recent instance OF the conflict between
the Jesutts and the episcopate that fur
ming. whose organ Is the London Ttbfet, and
the order, whose organ is the London .ifont.
The case was taken from England to Rome
and Cardinal Manning triumplIed.
There never has been an open rupture in this
country as in England, but the council evil
IDENTIFY feared that an occasion might arise and
so ii determined TO take time by the forelock
Extended reference is made in the decree men,
toned to the decision of the Westminster
council, which finally put into canonicai shape
the relations between; the regulars and the epis-
copate.
Except in such matters as relate peculiarly to
their orders, the regulars placed upon a foot
ing with the secul;irs. Their superiOrs cannot
remove u pastor, institute Il mission, found u
school, or begin IL sodality without consulting
the bishop of the diocese and first obtaining his
consent. They must report to- the bishop their
administration OF their property, their receipts
and expenditures. and obtain his approval of
the same. Also they shall be subject to episco-
pal visitation and inspection both of the spirit
and they must not attempt any innovation
without the bishops knowledge.
Another subject which was carefully consid-
cred by the council is embraced in titulus w.
" DE tieTicorum Educatme ct Instructime"
Although there are many learned men among
the clergy, ii has long been felt that the major.
ity of them had not that degree of mental train
ing which would enable them successfully to
battle with the errors OF the day and their skill
lili advocates. This state of affairs has been
brought about by the enormous growth of the
Catholic population in the United states for
be provided fast enough. The alternative was
to either leave muititiides spiritually destitute
or else send out priests who had not received
the long, strict, and learned training required
in older countries. 1t is believed now that the
time has arrived for an alteration of this pro
cedure: Priests who are merely fitted to per-
form the church services and to discharge the
pastoral functions in respectable manner
will no longer be ordained and sent forth
TO charges. The period OF study required of
all before being ordained will hence:orth ap-
proSimate the standard OF the JeSuits, who are
noted as the best educators in the church. A
thorough course OF scholastic philosophy in
scientific Latin; of the Scriptures in Greek
Hebrew, Syriac and their dialects; of universal
history, but especially the history OF our coun-
try; OF geography: of mathematics (arithme:ic
algebra, geometry; al physics tine natural
sciences chemistry, natural history, geology,
astronomy and of rhetoric. Besides these
many useful and practical features OF what is
known as business or commercial education
NIL be required; as for instance. bookkeeping
The rules as to the external regulations Of
Semiuarles are Plainly and rigidly laid down:
but the general public would hardly be inter-
ested in these. which are merely the Safeguards
to protect tine wonderful scheme of education
which the council has prescribed.
But u was felt that learning was not sufficient
brilliant thinker and writer Bishop Spaldng
have worked strenuOusly tor the establishment
oi ~ great university. Bishop Spalding spoke
frequently. ana sometimes even bitterly before
the council on the sad lack of refinement i'm
Catholic priests. Most of them he declared by
implication, were not gentlemen in the time
sense oi the word. They are good men, often
learned men, but have not tone and ease OF
bearing which is the polish of more solid uuali-
ties, and enables IL man TO move freely in the
cultured society Oh our country. TO secure this
end Il university WIS needed, for 1t has
been remarked that the clash OF inteilects.
oi different tones Of thought, of differ.
eat standards of manner, produces n
breadth O! mind cosmopolitan in character
and refinement that cannot otherwise
be gained. The story OF the great Catholic uni
versity that Is to he established at Washington
i well known and need not be dwelt upon here
broaden its scope from time to Time until il he
cones Il university like that OF the English OK
lord or Cambridge. with its Summaries and col
lege>, and 10 which the other Seminaries and
colleges will act as feeders.
oT parocIial schools, titulus VI DEGREES.
Every existing church must, within two years
uile. erect a school, ii not impossible. g ANY
priest who refuses To do cont uniaciously will
he subjected To- grave spiritual penalties & All
dren To parochial schools, unless they have a
permit from their bishop to do otherwise
There Was no attempt to draw the line tighter
-<O>- .,
Neither a Fright Nor n Beauty.
From the San Francisco {C,l) Examiner
Mrs. Belva Lockwood is neither fiattered nor
disparaSed by the numerous wOod-cut repren-
tatiUDS her that aDpaa red uring no LOT