The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-28
POPE WILL CALL
PLEN.ARY COUNCIL
Many Important MATTERS for Disc US
sior wal Arise.
CHINA AND The MISSIONARIES
Plain style OF Church Architecture
is Gradually Disappearing.
Anon. the Other Churches
OF the Land.
written for The Times.)

(Written for The Times)
NEW YORK. August 25.-The Roman
Catholic Church in America is looking
10 Rome Tor decree converting another
Plenary Council, and those best inioriheu
concerning afinirs of that ecclcs'as,.cai
body would not be surprised TO receive
the same at any moment. Pilgrims re-
turning from Rome report the Pope as
being impressed with the many import
ant questions pressing for solution, ana
upon which he desires the advice OF such
q council. The most important o. these
matters are !n the four which foiio":
The Edmixture of many peoples, Win
their racial, national and language III
ferences, gave to the Roman Ca'hoi-c
Church in America a problem which no
other religious body, and which the Snth-
Ollie Church nowhere else. has been cali
ed upon To solve. AS a question IN eccies-
isStcal economy, il is new and therefore
an experiment. Nine in ten of the men
appropriate all of the best Church places.
The truth is that the Church has itse!t
chosen E:shmen from necessity, first be
Iuse its duty was TO select the best.
and second, because others of frst-grade
ability were not available. There is not
Catholic archbishop in America who has
not appenled to Rome. to brother arch
bishops in Europe, even to individuals
in Europe, in the attempt to secure priests
of various nationait:es to lead and serve
congregations of their respective nation
alities in this country.
Ii is extremely difficult 10 get Italian
priests to come to Americn to care for
Italian enlgrants. The same is true of
Poles of Frenchmen, and even of Ger
mans. Catholic prelates of almost all
grades here have tried and fniled. But
the 9aity of these varying races continual
~ demand priests of their own language.
-,
grant these pleas. but ask with reason
how they are to do so.
IN AMERICAN POSSESSIONS.
A second question IS that Of the Roman
Catholic Church in islands that have
lately become American 1t is true that
the Catholic Church in America is still
looked upon as missionary. and funds are
even coming here while little is expected
for Propaganda Eide or Order treasures
plays a large part in Catholic affairs, and
is destined to play a larger one I'm
mense prob EN- are to be solved in the
Philippines and in Cuba. Most Of these
problems belong to the administrative
Curia in Rome. and vet 1t IS felt that the
advice Of the Church in America is needed
at this time. Archbishop Chnpneie is to
reach Rene in November and will there
make a detailed resort upon conditions
in tha Philippines. Things are in an I'M
satisfactory shape in Cuba, and even
little Porto Rico needs attention if the
Church there is to hold its ground. Rome
Is reported to feel that a united Catholic
sentiment in the United States can. do
much in all these directions.
The missionary character of the Church
in 3tnterica issa third mailer to come be-
fore i'ic1lary Council. Il WIS not brought
up in the last one, save in general way,
but it is felt by C&thcl lies in Europe, and
even, it is said, by Catolics here that
the Church III america has passed its
missionary stage Its period of thurct1-
building, while by no means passed, IS
beyond its pressing necessities. Now it
ought 20 begin missionary work elsewhere:
ougat- tn unite with France, the chief
:.iver to Catholic propaganda in extending
the church in the newly opened regions
o. Africa: in the new China that is to be-
in the Pacific Islands, throughout meath
en- Asia. In owp Southern States much
is doing by the Catholic Missionary Union.
which vas organized at the suggestion
Of the Paulists, but which has upon its
board of control Archbishop Corrigln
rchibiSh0p Ryan and others of that
school, so that it cannot he charged with
beng urrep-esentative. This whole mis-
Siorary question. and the relation OF
the Catholics in tie United States to It,
presses for solution.
The fourth problem of the more impor
tant ones that are bringing on Penary
Coirncil. is that Of educalioH The Charge
i ms le in r'lsny quarters that i'aroGllai
schools are not equal 10 public ones. Ibis
NAV we'll be believed. when it is remem-
be-ed how much the parish priest has ha
to accomplish. N-lliie the public funds pro-
Nidcd the public school building. the Cath
Ole p:1est has Tad to erect his cwn. No
wonder ne has not always been aoi:e
II command teachers equal in ability ana
funds. Catholic parents N America ask fo-
SCHOOLS equal TO those afforded from pub
lie funds, ht>wever, and withdraw tn"H
children in many cases when they do not
lind them Christian Brothers. the Sisters
of No:re Dame. the congregation of the
Holy Cross and many other teachtns
organizations suffer aS does the parish
priest Free parochial schools IS the cry.
and the Council VII be asked TO take up
the matter of how to get them. Ihen
tn re is the question Of missionary schools
Ter example the Indian schools, and the
whole detail of Catholic education
AS TO -AMERIcANISM.
The inference has already been drawn
that the proposed Council will have some
thing 10 say upon the matter of 'An,eri-
canism,'' Sn-calied. There is not much OF
that question letr. if indeed there ever
was much of il. And & there was any OF
1t left, its disposition belongs 70 Rome,
not 10 a PlenarN Council IN America MI
is there anything in the question of cath-
Ole federation to come before Council.
That is 4 detail with which SO universal
body as a Plenary Council has not tim.
To deal. The questions before the Couhcll
are, matter o. fact, those that nave IN
them almost nothing of the explosive Con-
s!6erias the many elements that go 20
make up the Church in America. It is
matter of hardly anything short OF sur
prise that so few FRACTIONAL cSuses exist
Pienary Councils in the Roman Catho
lie Church hold whenever the Pope de-
crees them. Thee nave been held in Amer
lea; the last in Baltimore in 1854. II IS SAID
10 be not unlikely that the fourth enc
VIII be held N Washington, which Is
steadily sup2lanting Baltimore as the
Catholic centre in America The counci
will have as members. not delegates eject
ed 10 attend it, but preiates OF certain
ranks who arr commanded to attend be.
cause OF tllei. rank. Archipishops. bisa-
ops and 2hbots only vote, but monstsnors
supeTiors OF religious orders rectors OF
sam:naries, Wears general and certain
.1E.z# At l.