The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-10

80
Chinese bishop. The expression OF ma
pale and thoughtful countenance, with u
blending OF melancholy and sweetness,
shall never be- ef[nced from my memory.
HlS was Il face that told you nj once OF
sufteriugs prlvatioHs and fortiiude. He
Remarked 10 me on The steamer am
glad that my Journey 10 near IFS end, Tor
when reach Rome shall have travelled
$4,000 miles" lie had worked MS way
for WEEKS In n zIE2ag direction through
the Interior of China tlll he arrived at the
YnnR- s-Kiang down which h. sailed
10 the mouth, thcnce made olrcultdns
voyage 10 French port. and finally pru-
ceeded from Marsellle9 10 Rome
Another bishop, MOnslgneur Ridel
was also an object OF sympathetlc m
tercst, Three OF his predecessors IN the
euiscOpnte. besides several missionary
priests, had died martyrs 10 Christian
ity in COTen, two other bishops OF thht
country persisted from hunger ana eN-
posture, and the bishop himself, after
returning to COrea, was confined In an
Injected prison for Ave months, and was
saved from cruel death only by the
intervention OF the French minister
Whatever may be mans religious
faith his heart win swell with emo
tlon when lie contemplAtes young L.
vito leaving his native land, his family
md kindred. and voluntarily exiting
himself In n distant country 10 prencn
the Gospel To an unfriendiy anu nos
tile people, adapting himself % thtiF
habits and diet, daily carrying ms NE
In his hands. and finally succuIhDihE 10
disease. or 10 the stroke OF the eXGcu-
tIOner with very few exceptions, these
priests, after touching Chinese or CO.
rean soil. never return to their native
country, The words OF Dante may wen
be applied to them-"All hope abandon
We who enter here"
What heruism II more sublime thah
this? II is II herOIsm not culIed from
the musty pages OF ancient hnSioIpGy'
but occurring In our own days, Il hero
ism not aroused by the sound or mar
tIaI music, or the clash OF arms in the
battle-tleld. or by the emulation OF com.
radcs. or the lust for fame or territory;
but n herolsm inspired by their love Tor
God and their fellow-betngS,
In the Connect Chamber.
Let us now enter the council-chamhcr
for n few moments and observe the
bearIng of the Fathers toward each
other. as wen as the leading features
Of the debates, and then let uS note u
few OF the prominent speakers who
took part In the discussions. The con-
due: OF the bishops toward each other
was marked by mutual esteem and by
good temper thas was rarely ruIIed,
even when the most burning questions
We're delIberated. The most ample lib
erty OF disCussiOa prevailed In the
council. This freedom the Holy Father
pledged nj the opening OF the SYNOD,
and the pledge was reliEiously Kept. l
can safei- say that neither in the Brit
ish house OF commons nor In the French
chambers, nor IN the German relch2tag,
nor IN our American Congress would
wider liberty OF debate be tolerated
than was granted in the Vatican Coun-
ell, The presiding cardinal exhibited
u courtesy OF manner and forbearAncc
even in the heat OF debate WAS worthy
OF all praise ! do not think that he
called a speaker to order more than
dozen times during the eighty mine ses-
sIons, and then only In Difference to the
dissenting murmuTs or demands OF
some bishops. A prelate representing
the smallest diocese had the same
rights that We're accorded the highest
dlEuitary in the chamber. There was
no limit prescribed as TO the length of
fhe speeches. We may judge OF the
wide scope OF discussion from the sin
gle fac. that the debate en- the infnllt-
bility Of the pope lasted two months
Occupying twenty-five sessions, and was
participated In by one hundred and
twenty-five prelates. not counting one
hundred others who handed in written
observations. No stone WAS letc un-
turned. no text OF Sacred Scripture, no
passage in the writings OF the FutherS.
no page of Ecclesiastical history bear
ing on the subject, escaped the Ntgilnnt
Investigations Of the bishops, SO that
the whole truth OF God might be
brought 10 light.
II Is true that. toward the end OF the
council, with the view OF saving much
precious time without prejudice to the
freedom OF discussion, the original rules
we're so modified that, on petition OF
ten Fathers. the president could pro-
pose and the majority could decide TO
close the debate.
/ well remember how, during and al
ter the council, good many writer's In
the public press affected 10 be shocked
and filed with virtuOus Indignation
that there should be any Outburst of
feeling or even any display OF partta-
mentury contention In a council OF
Catholic bishops With the MantuRn
poet. they exclaimed: "TantRene animis
cOelesiibus irae?"
Men with Human Feelings.
Had the deliberations been carried on
In the humdrum style. without criticism
or opposition on the part OF the minor
lily. the cutlery against the council
would have been all the louder, Then
II would be charged, with a fair show
OF reason. that there was no spirit or
manhood among the Fathers; that they
were so many fGureheadS ready to bow
ut the nod OF the pope The bishops
were men with human feelings They
were frcemen fetteTcd by no compact.
bound by no caucus, filled with n pro-
found sense Of responsibility To God ana
their conscience They were discussing
questions. not Of political or transit
tory nature. but question: o. fRIfh md
morals, which would no. only influence
the external conduct. but control the
Internal assent OF themselves ana OF the
faithful committed 10 their charge. As
Judges OF faith. II was their right. as
well az their duty, 20 examine the sa-
cred records before registering their
vote lust as the Judges OF the supreme
court examine the statute ana common
law before rendering decision. II they
had unanimously agreed an all the
great questions under consideration
without any diversity OF sentiment or
conflict Of words they would have e&-
hIblted a spectacle unparalleled In the
annals OF civil or ecclesiastical lcHlsla-
tlon. The history OF every great COun-
ell Of the church has been marked by
Intense enrneStneSs OF debate. There
was not only discussion, but much dis
putting" In the apostolic council Of Jeru-
salem. There we're scenes Of controver-
gy. not to say OF commotion. in the
ecumenlcal councils Of Nice, Ephcsus,
Chnlcedon. Constanttnopie and Trent,
Yet such incidents Of verbal strife did
not impair the dignity nor lessen the
authority Of these memorable convcn-
lions.
The most important debate In the
cnuncu was on the Infanlblity Of the
none II may be proper to observe here
mat the discussion was rather on the
expedIency or opportuncncss OF dcIin-