The morning call., 1893-12-03
An Episcopal Delegation Greets
Archbishop Latas.
WHY HE VISITS SAN FRANCISCO.
Will Lecture on the Relation of Greek
Literature and Philosophy to
Christianity.

R.Rnt heV. w. r. NICHOLS, Protestant
3 Episcopal Bishop of California, deputed
Rev. Hobart Chetwood. editor of the Pa
cifc Churchman. and Rev. John Emery,
rector of ST. Peters Church. to wait on
Right Rev. Dionysius Latas, Archbishop
of ZaDte, and welcome him TO California
Bishop Nichols regretted that his vista
tion TO the south prevented his personally
calling on the Greek preIate, especially as
in the East the Protestant Episcopal
churches had welcomed him heartily ana
had opened their pupits to him. Bishop
Nichols. however. hoped to meet the
Archbishop of Zante on his return to San
Francisco.
a CALL reporter asked the Greek Arch
bishop his views in regard to MonsiGnor
Satollfs statements about the reunion of
the Latin and Greek churches.
1.-The question of the union of the ORR
ntal Greek Church and the Latin Cath Ollie
Church" said the Archbishop, NATURALLY
falls under two heads. First, in order that
such union may become possible. the
Pope must renounce his claim to suprem-
acy and infallibility. claims which have
been developed since the ninth century.
The Roman Catholic Church has changed,
but the Greek Church remains to-day as 1t
was in the ninth century. The Pope
must: not claim that he is the
visible head of the church, because
the head Of the church. according to our
teaching. is our Savior the Lord Jesus
Christ. AS long as this claim is made the
POpe's recognition by the Greek Church
is out of the question. The Oriental
church recognizes he Pope officially as the
first Bishop of the Christian church. or
rather: it recognizes him as the first
Patriarch of Christianity. There are five
Patriarchs. according to the canon of the
Fifth Acumenical Synod. namely, first,
the Bishop of Rome; second. the Bishop
OF Constantinople; third. the Bishop of
Alexandrla; fourth, the Bishop of
Antioch, and last, the Bishop of Jeru-
salem. Ii the Pope would accept this
position as Primus inter pares the
Greek church would Immediately open its
arms and accept him as the First Patriarch
and. the Holy Father of the Christian
Church. But should the Pope cling TO
his claims of supremacy and infallbility
which, according to the opinion of the
Oriental church, are contrary 10 the spirit
of Christianity, Go not think the union
OF the Roman Catholic and the Greek
clutches will be possible.
Secondly, there are some differences,
too, in dogma which have crept in since
the ninth century. In the creed of the
Church compiled iH the Council of Nice,
foll0Wlng-1n holy gospel OF John, the
words mi oque' are not found; they
We're added centuries after. Besides this,
there are other variations in dogma which
would have to be settled by a council
gathered together to discuss the posi-
biily of the union of the church.
: In my opinion. and il is the opinion of
Rclrgymen and learned laymen with whom
/ nave; discussed this question. the union
of the Oriental Greek Church and the Oe-
cldentai Latin Church is at present imp0s-
:sible or at least will not take place in our
sdav, because the Pope will not give up his
ciams, and consequently the formation Of
council TO consider the question is far
d: from the realms of possibility"
:. In conclusion Archbishop Latas said
that he was sorry that the hope for re-
union seemed remote. he stated th al on
his first visit to Rome. In 1869. he had had
the pleasure of calling on Plus TX, and
that he hoped on his return to Zante from
the United States to be able again to see
: the Eternal City and visit the Primate of
the great Catholic church. Leo Kill
Archbishop Latas will lecture next Sat-
urday at the Metropolitan Temple to raise
/. funds TO help the sufferers from the EARTH
quake in his diocese of Zante. His subject
will be. Ancient Greece. by her litera-
. ture and philosophy, prepared the human
mind to understand and accept Christian
=: :ity.u upon which are securely based the
salvation of man, civilization and all
progress" The Arch bishop hopes that
; San Francisco will generously aid his peo-
pie, whose homes have been destroyed and
whose sufferings have been excessive in
consequence of the earthquake.