The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-17
A GREAT CONFERENCE.
Dignitaries Of the Catholic Church
Meet in New York.
TIE PoPEs MESSENGER PRESENT.

A Discussion of the Best Methods of
Obtaining Uniform Diocesan Reg-
uIations-The School Question VIII
Not be Discussed.
NEW York, Nov. 17.-The annual con-
ference of the archbishops of the Roman
Catholic church of the United States
met at the house of the archbishop in
this city yesterday. There were present
eleven of the thirteen archbishops, the
absentees being Archbishop Kendrick, of
st. Louis, and Salpointe, of Santa Fe, N.
NJ. The former was represented by his
vicar general, the Very Rev. Philip 9.
Brady, and the latter by his coadjutor,
the Right Rev. P. L. Chappelle. Arch
bishop Satolh, from Rome, was also
present.
The members of the council were re-
ceived by Archbishop Al. A. Corrigan, of
New York. The Italian prelate, Arch
bishop Satolli, accompanied by Arch
bishop Katzer, of Milwaukee,, came in
carriage from the house of the Paulist
Fathers, where that community had en-
tertained them at breakfast.
After the "veni sanctus" his en-
inence, Cardinal Gibbons, archbishop of
Baltimore, by virtue of his rank, took
his seat as the presiding officer and for
mally opened the conference. Arch
bishop COrrigan, of New York, acted as
the secretary of the council.
The Pope's Message.
When the formal preliminaries attend
ing the organization of the deliberative
body had been completed the cardinal
introduced to his brother archbishops
Archbishop Satolli, as pontifcial repre-
sentative from the Holy See, who had
some instructions to communicate from
his holiness, the pope. He delivered an
address in Latin embodying these in
structions. In this address Mgr. Satolli
explained to the assembled prelates the
exact duties with which he wasintrusted,
and the exact scope of his mission with
relation to the present council.
The tenor of his remarks demonstrated
the fact that he WIS simply the bearer of
q letter of counsel from the pope to the
American archiepiscopate, and was in
no sense clothed with extraordinary and
plenary powers.
Having finished his address Arch
bishop Satolh took his seat and general
discussion on the chief topic before the
conference wHs begun. This consisted
of q debate as to the best methods to be
pursued in obtaining complete uni
formity in the matter of diocesan regu-
lations and discipline. Lack of uni
formity in diocesan regulations isa ques-
tion that has caused considerable uncer-
tainty.
Powers OF the Bishops.
Every bishop has the inherent right to
make his own regulations within his
own jurisdiction, but at the same time
the fact of different rules existing in
| different dioceses has its effect on the
general discipline in the body polite of
| the church in this country. Although il
| is not desired to circumscribe the pre-
negatives of each bishop, the necessity
| for uniformity in discipline has become
more apparent each year, and the days
discussion and mutual exchange of opin-
ion was confined to that subject. This
was one of the questions which the Holy
! See wished definitely, yet harmoniously
determined
The sessions of the conference are Sc
cret, but, In addition to the foregoing
facts, it was learned that the much
mooted school question was not touched
upon, and in all probability will not be
the subject of any debate during the
continuance of the council.
| BanquetinE the Bishops.
The Catholic club, under the auspices
of Archbishop Corrigan, gave a reception
last night to Mgr. Satolli, the papal
delegate, and the archbishops who are
taking part i'll the archbishops' con-
fcrcnce. The rooms of the Catholic
clubs house were thronged with promi-
nent men and beautiful women Car
dinal Gibbons, in his pontifcal robes,
occupied the place Of honor on dnis at
one end Of the big assembly room. On
his right waa Mgr. Satolli and at his left
Archbishop Riordan. Mgr. Satolli was
arrayed in purple. All the archbishops
wore their episcopal robes, black cas-.
socks and red sashes.
The assemblRge included most of the
priests of the dioceses in and around
New York, officers of the city and state
government, and hundreds OF prominent
citizens. Those present included Gov.
ernor Flower. Lieutenant Governor
Sheehan, ex-S Secretary Whitney and hrs
Whitney, Mayor Grant, Chairman
Harrity, Chauncey NJ. Depew, Baron dc
Fava, DAME, S. Lamont, Governor Alb
bett, Ex-Governor Waller, Rabbi Gott.
hiel, w. Bourke Cochran, Congressman
Cummings, Richard Croker and many
| others.