Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-10

died martyrs to Christianity in Corea, two
other Bishops Of that country periSned
from hunger and exposure. and the Bishop
himself. after returning 10 Corea. was con-
fined in an infected prison for five months
and was saved from "a cruel death only by
the intervention Of the French minister.
Whatever may be a mans religious faith,
his heart will swell with emotion when he
contemp,ates a young levite leaving his
native land, his family and kindred, and
voluntarily exiting himself 10 distant
country 10 preach the Gospel TO an un-
friendly and hostile people adapting him.
self 10 their habits and diet. daily carry
ing his life in his hands, and finally sue
cumbing to disease, or to the stroke OF the
executioner With very few exceptions
these priests. after touching Chinese or
Corean soil. never return TO their native
country. The words of Dante may we'll be
applied to them: "All hope abandon ye
who enter here"
What heroism is more sublime than
this? II is a heroism not culled from the
musty pages of ancient hagiology, but
occurring in our own days, heroism not
aroused by the sound of martial music, or
the clash of arms in the battle field. or by
the emulation Of comrades. or the lust for
fame or territory: but d heroism inspired
by their love for God and their fellow be-
ings.
Let us now enter the council chamber
for few moments and observe the bear
ing of the Fathers toward each other, as
we'll as the leading features Of the de-
bates. and then let us note few Of the
prominent speakers who took part in the
discussions. The conduct of the Bishops
toward each other was marked by mutual
esteem and by good temper that was rare
" rufled even when the most burning
puestfons were deliberated. The most am
ple liberty of discussion prevailed in the
Council. This freedom the Holy Father
nledged at the opening Of the synod, and
the pledge was religiously kept can
safely say that neither in the British
House of Commons. nor in the French
Chamber. nor in the German Reichstag'
nor in our American Congress. would
wider liberty of debate be tolerated than
was granted in the Vatican Coun-
ell. The presiding Cardinal eN-
,ibi+e9 courtesy of manner and
q forbeararce even in the heat OF
debate that was worthy OF all praise. /
do not think that he called speaker TO
order more than a dozen times during the
,i,-i,+,--nira sessions and then only IN del
s~s,ce 70 the dissenting murmurs or de-
rosrss of some Bishops. \ pre.ate repre-
sentinr the smallest diocese had the same
rirbte that were accorded to the highest
dirnitarv IN the Chamber There was no
limit prescribed as TO the length Of the
soeeches We may judge Of the wide
scope Of discussion from the single fact
that the debate on the lnfallibility OF the
Pore lasted two months, occupying TWEEN
tv-fve sessions. and was participated in by
on, hundred and twenty-five prelates' not
counting one hundred others who handed
IN written observations. No stone was
left urturned. no text Of Sacred Scripture
no massage i'm the writing of the Fathers.
no page of ecclesiastical history bearing
on the subject. escaped the vIgilant lnVes-
LEGATIONS of the Bishops. 50 thar the whole
-rutb az God might be brought 10 light.
II Is true that. toward the end of the
Council with the view of saving much
precious time withou, prejudice 10 the
freedom of discussion. the original rules
we're so modified that OF "A petition of ten
Fa+bers the president could propose and
the majority could decide to close tie
debate.
well remember how, during and after
he Council. a good many writer's in the