The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-10
AMERICAN RIFRACHY

ofthc Catholic Church The Plenary
Council That Is Held Every Twenty
Years-aAmerlcanIsm" is Settled.
WASHINGTON. D. c., July an d
said at the residence of the apostolic
delegate that the reports emahAting IN
the west that plenary council Of tho
Catholic church in America would be
held two years hence. are doubtless the
outgrowth Of the well known fact that
these councils are held about every
twenty years, and that two yeara
hence Will mark the twenty year period
from the time OF the plenary council Of
Baltimore held In 1852.
The assembling Of such a council d
an event Of unusual Importance 70 the
church as Il brings together the entire
hierarchy OF RrchblshopS and bishops
to frame the legislation Of the church
applicable to this country. Before Il
can be held, however, there must be Q.
due determination by the authorities IN
the country, and then direction from
Rome for the assembling OF the council.
Prior to the council Of Baltimore the
American archblshops made visit 70
Rome and petitiOned the Patican for
the assembling OF the council. This
procedure IS not essential, yet some
such formal action Is required and IN
case a council Is to be held In 1902, II -
thought the coming meeting OF the
American archbishopB, which lg 70 be
held in Washington next October,
might consider the matter and frame .
petition to tho vatican. 1t is not
known. however, whether such plan
is being seriously considered by the
prelates. and the report from the west
Is said to be conjecture which may or
may not prove true. Except that pien-
ary. councils are held every twenty
years and there IL q desire to make this
the established period for their asSem-
bling there Is said to be no special oe-
cRsion for such an important conVoca-
ton OF church authorities,
The question OF 'Amerlcanism,"
which has excited much attention, has
been disposed OF finally by the letter OF
the Pope, and 1t is said this Is not q
subject which could come before q ple-
nary council. The condition Of the
church in Cuba and other Spanish
American countries is working out sat
isfactorily, and 1t Is said this would not
require attention from a council, par
IlCulhTly u2 lHe SuUdhI NV SsaNiss.ee
and Philippine churches are stlll out
side the American hierarchy. For this
reason, the new archbishop Of SANTA
20 win not be present at the coming
meeting Of American arGhbishops, nor
will other branches OF the Spanish
American church be represented.
Thus far the American church au-
thoritles have been given no duties in
connection with the church In Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines. the af-
fairs there being directed through apos-
tollc delegates reporting directly to
Rome.
The new apostolic delegate to Cana
dn, Archbishop Franconia, is wen
known to the church authorities here,
and the appointment Is regarded % an
important one, owing to the position Of
the church in public affairs in Canada,
particularly in the province Of Quebec.
Archbishop Franconia was brought up
In Allegheny, Pa, and for some time
was connected with the Franciscan m
ternity there. Later he was vicar gems
eral at st. John, New BrunswicS
thence going 70 Rome and being Ad-
vanced 70 a high place near the pope.
HIS former residence In this country =
relied upon to make his Administr
in CanadR an auspiciouB one.
ArchblShop Keane has started from
Rome for this country. but he will pro-
i6eed slowly. making frequent visits on
the continent, and not reaching Waen-
ington before october.
Monslgnor Martinelli, the apostolic
delegate, will 80 to the summer school
at Madison, Wis, the latter part Of this
month, and win make several other
visits in the west.