The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-16
CHRISTIAN UNITY.
THE VhTICAN AND THE EASTERN
CHURCHES.

| INC EOnt hnu n EANNtFnN hufHheS-Nh ne
MeIchite Patriarch n Valuable Recruit TO
tue Papni T~heory-The Pope's Rescript.
ROME, Nov. 2s.-The great assize OF the vati-
can to unite the Roman and the Eastern
churches has just come to an end, We seemed
TO sec once more the times when Cardinal Bes.
sarion. exiled from Byzantium. was the guest
OF the Popes, and was consecrated the Peter the
Hermit Of the crusade for the rebuilding Of re-
ligious unity. In the soul OF Leo Nil. throbs
that thought Of religious union which was the
essence and the ideal Of the middle ages. The
apostolic letter TO princes and peoples was mere
ly tho brilliant artificial fire intended to light
up the approach to this historical event.
That is why the chosen spirits of all
countries have listened at tho doors OF the
Vatican, where nm organ OF internal life seems
TO be in process OF formation, a sort Of unity of
human conscience, in order to discover the
secret. This problem Is so intimately connected
with cosmopolitan and European affairs. is SO
attractive to minds busted with the social and
religious development of the human race. II is
bound up so closely and so deeply with tho idea
of a drawing together OF all churches, that 1t
has occupied and still occupies the thoughts of
all in Rome and is one Of the most fascinating
phenomena of our end OF the century.
the Sun, whose readers are intelligent be-
yond Tho common. will offer me its hospitable
columns In which to relate this fact all the more
readily, because American intelligence will I'M
dcrstand better than that of ancient Euhope the
important bearings OF this religious episode.
On mounting the chair OF Peter, Leo XIII. pos
scssol two characteristics which seem insom-
patible, ami which do not generally together
adorn the greatest minds. lie had perfect cul-
ture. and at the same time the knowledge OF
the management Of human affairs. lie was Mt
once IA leader and u thinker. Accordingly. from
the very iirst glance which he cast on the world
from the summit Df the sacred mount, where
dwclls the ideality and cosmopolitan thought,
Leo NH. ycarncd for union and unity. Face TO
face with a democracy breaking over all bounds,
when social disintcgration seemed TO he taking
the place of thu older organism, he looked on
tho papacy rs II fixed point in the midst Of the
general dissolution, a germ OF life amid atoms
that were breaking away, II sCnSOriuIn commune
where all that is great and noble could seek
a standard and direction.
Tho idea of union inspired the peaceful con-
queror. But rs he had CONT into power at n
moment when the Papacy could almost no
longer secure a hearing In the world. the Holy
Father was forced to mako a modest beginning.
In order not to frighton nor to rcpcl. II was nee
essary to stoop, 30 low were the gates leading
into the age. He was advanced. as it were, by
stages. His mastery OF the art of divine strategy,
his perseverance, his gaze intent on all horizons,
are well knOWn. At lue Dtpllulnk ne ndTuly
dared TO appeal to the Orientals. 1t was In 1887
only, in the letter outlining his policy, addressed
to Cardinal Itampolla, who had latoly taken Car
dinal Jacobini's place, that he invites schisma-
tics to union. lIo barely marks the general lines
OF his plan: respect for privileges, preservation
OF individual rites, universal character of the
PapRcy. Last year. in the light Of the splendor
Of Tie jubilee, he has the congress Of Jerusalem
called. the first stroke of the bell, the first APP
peal for unity. Last spring. ut the audience
churches he permits the ardent desire OF his
soul to pass through his quivering lips. But he
DID not elbow that stirring speech to be pub;
his programme for the apostolic letter PrIclrrd.
In. this charter, Of unity, which sounds. like an
epistle of 1T. Paul. Leo Nil. defines his ideal.
He accepts the churches with their rich diver
sity. their disciplines, their rituals. their privi-
lcges. their customs,on condition that they accept
the primacy OF Peter, once proclaimed by the
doctors Of the Orient. Never had Pope, never
had apostle opened SO wide the gates Of the
fold. The commotion, the sensation were i'm
mcnse. AdvcrsaricS among. tho men OF the
immOvablc. As the current Of sympathy he
came marked in the East, as the reports 3f tho
promised that the Jacobitcs would return TO
Rome, tho Pope for the first time in history
Vatican presided over by Himself.
II was then thnt the, opposition. M TO that
GUS. opened lire. TIC Triple Alliance. alarmed
at "A project which ran counter to its selfish
ness, used It's influence Rt OnstattlNOnlc. AT
the same time Mgr. Azarinn. tho Armenian
Catholic patriarch, procured the prohibition To
toritc in the East, displcased with the presence
Of Cardinal IangCnioux in the cOunscl5 VI the
Pope. Turkey looks askance az the approach ut
a reunion OF the churches. At Rome, Cardinal
LchOChowski seemed To become the centre, the
mOuthpiece, OF this many-shaped opposition.
In spite of all hindrnnces and of all i~ntrigues
the conferences took place. The assembly under
the Direction of the holy father consisted OF
Mgr. loussef, tho NIelGhite patriarch; Mgr.
BgIIul, the Syrlag patriarch. Cardinals Ram
pOliG, GHlimhCrti, LedOChowski, VinCenZO, Van
nuteili. and Lanr6nieux, Archbishop OF Rheims.
To establish a new Commission OF Cardinals,
distinct from the Propaganda; tostndy the ways
aud means; TO seek financial resources, for
the cities of'tho East; to discuss tho encyclical
70 the Orientals, which will appear at the end OF
The Propaganda, represented by Cardinals
Ledochowski and Nincenlo Vannulelli, the lat
posed tho. pan; Tor II lniplir, me d"'ipitall9ho t
The. Propaganda, iu,t. a. Mgr. .Satollls dele
Cardinal Le,ioch"w-ki. more favorable 10
Austria than TO France and Ia Cardinal Lang5-
n!eux, became the determined aud powerful OPP
The discussion turned upon the financial ,ques-
scGc"ic: To transiort to Rome the "Propa'
cation de Ia Fol- established AT, Lyons, in order
and make, a division Of. the Roman Prom;
aglnda. lie. asked for this radical
stirred by this blow struck AT France nd NJ its
ancient privilege, Cardinal LanGtnicaA hrpu III
out figures. Hc showed that since lai Ao
Lyons Propagation de IA Fol has received 225
million francs, q which ~ millions came from
France, 20 millions from Belgium. and only
aul.uu0 from Austria. These crushing figures
upset the argument NJ Cardinal LrdCchowski,
and the opposite Wow prevailed. IN, the course
OF the hftl cuuferrnce, the Pope au'huritRtivcly
imposed III, programme. IL was decided in con-
-" uence, thar The Pope should send out 10 the
world a letter Of appeal 10 recon-
m,nd the work OF the Propagation de In
tui. thus 10 bring into existence the
funds Tor the realization uf the union; that an
autonomous commission ~ Cardinals should 10
established todeal with tho Eastern questions,
WIKI a return a. unity as is object; that schools
should be established in the East, by placing at
the disposal Of the FRtTiarchs the sums neCes-
slry for their new needs, and that "a special en-
Cycllcal should be sent 10 the Eastern churches.
The most important fact that has come out of
these meetings Is the absolute identity Of views !
held hy Leo Nlll. and the Eastern patriarChs.
The agreement ~ the Pope with Mgr, NOussef,
the MelChite Patriarch. was especially cordial
aud close. A missionary and organizer, the
COZ Ycrter Of thousands Of schismatiCs to the
Church of Rome, but suspicious % the PrOpa-