The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-07-18

| Rome q peculiar character. UnLll tHal
day, men like to say in skeptical circles
that the idea of union was only a beauti-
| full dream, beautiful chin1era OF Leo
kits. When they saw the great Eng
i l!sh Liberal hail with conviction the at
.empts at pacitication of the PontiH, a
! change took place. And even tday 1t
may be admitted that all the enGghten-
! ment and generosity in the Sacred Col
! lege follows with friendly eye the new
| current The idea of unity is no longer
the solitary thought of Leo XIII; it has
become the patrimony of the Sacred
College, the Holy See, of the Court Of
Rome. -
This result has been strengthened by
| the efforts in Rome itself of several au-
thorized representatives of the English
Church. On hearing the news that the
Pope had established a. commission Of
theologians to examine the validity Of
Anglican orders Able Portal, the French
promoter OF the union, and several Angli-
can priests went to Rome to be present
at the deliberations, or at least to exer-
else moral influence upon it. I will
name above al the Rev. Mr.. Lacey and
the Rev. Mr.. Fuller, two theologians Of
note. 1t is they who have submitted to
the commission aforesaid unpublished
documents which cast new and more
abundant light on the question OF orders.
Two documents especially have been care
fully edited: ode Hierarchia Anglicana,
dissertatio apologetica,' by NM. Denny,
Lacey and Gondini Of the University of
Cambridge, and Ode Hierarchia Angli-.
cana Supplementary" These writings.
these hitherto unknown documents, have
II n,
the commission. The members of the.
commission have each drawn up his vote.
as the technical term is, and these .opinv
ions in writing, and with the reasons for
them, have been submitted to the congre-t
liberate on it. secretly, and it's con clusion
Will inspire the answer of the Holy E,a-
Their.
This influence Of historical doctrinal
investigation seems to be a. deep and
sympathetic one There seems to benz
question, even now, of the Holy Sees
condemning Anglican orders. AS for the
mode Of procedure and the form Of the:
Papal declaration, it would be rash to.
risk even an approximate guess. The:
Anglicans attach extraordinary import,
ance to a sympathetic reply from Rome
in order that the idea OF unity may spread
and increase Be sure that Leo y III
will take no step, will do nosact that viii
stop the fruitful and gradual develop.
ment of this episode. TIL '1@
What has increased confidence /: and.
made a good impression in Rome have
been the personal visits and the conversa-.
tons Of Able Portal 1.-THE Rev. Mr.. Lacey:
and the Rev. Mr.. Fuller. Their spirit Of
faith, their thorough uprig hteotl5ness,.
their thorough scientific attainments.5
and their desire for 4. qualification, have.
made the very best impr sssion4 here. The
influential Cardinals Rampol1a, Steinhu
Der, Segna, ParoceIi, Sera ino and Y::cenrs
20 Vannutelli are inclined to the idea Of
union and will do all that they can to-
serve this evangelical cause This .exl-
change. Of views and hopes has caused:
the question to make an immense moral
advance. Well, s.5. would it not ~ f.
possible to grant TO- England
what the council OF 4 Florence ana
Leo * r.. are read to yield I'd the East
ern church b Ilhat list he knot in the Quess
ton, and, however great may bas
competence in so di fhcult d ma s4seses
no ether issue 70 the, present contspYersy,
Neither Rome nor En- gland cam iii ke,
,any Obi iolas toy. his means o agres.s
ssS