Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-12-01
How a Cardinals Hat was Lost.

| As Is mentioned above, but for the fac
| that the venerable prelate opposed the
| dogma of infallibiiity, he whouId now be
! wearing a cardinals hat.
| AS early as 1861 Pope Plus N. announced
| his intention OF Summoning 4 general cOun-
! ell, ana the prelaJes With whom he advised
| encouraged him to do so at an early day
| Some time after circular was sent out to
| all bishops, containing schedule of seven
| teen points of morality and discipline. to
! which an answer was requested within
| four months. These points regarded prin-
| cipally the sacredDess of the marriage re-
| lation, the character Of pulpit utterances.
| the Importance OF paying attention to the
| education of children, the necessity OF
higher training in seminaries, the multi
plicatiOn OF religious orders and assocla-
tiOns, the filling of vacant benefice, and the
regulation of episcopal authority. This
document was, by the bishops, communica-
ted to the clergy generally, anu thus the
points which it was supposed would be dis
cussed by the council received thorough at
tention both from clergy and people. This
preparatory step having been taken,
the bull <Eterni PATHS was issued June
IS, 1865, appointing December S,
1863, as the time and the
Vatican Basilica as the place for the TWEEN
tleth commercial council as these meetings
are designated and numbered by the church
of Rome. In September, 1868, letters were
sent out to the bishops of oriental churches
not in official connection with Rome invit-
ing their attendance, and few days later 4
letter apostolic was addressed to all Protes-
tants and nOn-CathOlicS eXhOrting them 40
consider whether they were walking in the
way commanded by Christ. Considering
this as an invitation, DR.. Cumming, speak
ing for the church of Scotland, inquired
whether liberty Of debate would be allowed
Protestant divineS should they attend. To
liberty would be granted, but that the pom
tiT would be glad to see them, and If they
had questions these would be submitted 10
theolOgians selected for learning and ability.
The irOtestants decided not to go; most of
the oriental bishops staid away, aud the
Russian bishops were not permitted by their
government 10 attend. No invitation was
extended to the Jewish clergy, though a
petition, by concerted Hebrews, was pre-
sented, requesting that they might be in
vited nor was any invitation rendered to
the European governments, as had fire.
Quently been done in previous general
councils.
PREPARING FOR THE DOGMA.
The circular preparing the Roman Cath
Ole world for the council had given no in
timation that the matter of papal iufalli-
bility was to receive The attention of the
council, nor up to the meeting of the coun-
Gil had any public announcement been
made of an intention to bring it forward,
but general impression having got abroad
that an attempt would be made to pass it as
an act of the council, discussion began in
the press OF Europe as to the propriety, at
that time, of the enunciation of such
dogma The governments took an interest
in the matter; the French ministry opposed
it, SO did the Austrian and Bavarian gov
ernments, and that to such an extent that
efforts were made, as last resort, to pre-
vent the assembling of the council as the
easiest means of sitting the dogma.
Staunch Catholics began to take sides, and
in an address which purported to emanate
from German members of the Catholic
faith, demands were made that the council
give attention to the separation of the
church from the state, to the localization of
ecclesiastical authority and kindred mat
tiers and let the dogma of infalibility alone.
Such was the warmth OF public feeling that
ever the bishops found it impossible to hold
aloof from the discussion, and on the eve of
the council a press correspondence of
some acrimony took place between
Bishop Dupanloup of Orleans and
Archbishop Manning of Westminster,
which, before its close, involved numerous
others. In the midst Of this diversity Of