Year: 1869

utmost activity prevails in the Holy City in
view of the approaching Ecumenical Council
In December. There is so much novelty about
this affair that-considerin the characteristic
of our race, which is older than even the
Athenians, who were ever in quest OF some
! new thing-it is not much to be wondered at
that it should be subject of interest far be-
yond the limits of the Catholic Church. We
have had nothing like it for three hundred
years-nothing at all approaching it in the
worldwide reach of its attractiveness since
1851. The London Exhibition of 1851, how
ever, though novelty in the highest sense,
and in its gorgeous magnifcence unparalleled
in the previous history of the world, was
cold and secular affair. 1t was the deification
of materialism-a setting up of dumb, o
blind and deaf god, who was quite as impo-
tent and in every respect as unkind as Baal Of
old. The world was delighted, dazzled, as
| tonished; but the heart of man was not
touched, the sympathies of man were not
| drawn out, and all the higher and nobler
instincts and wants Of humanity were crossed
and disappointed. The ''good" Albert realized





bodied forth and adorned with all the achieve
ments of art and science, was cold and
lifeless as a Grecian statue, and the ma
tions, though pleased, refused to worship.
Materialism gained it's greatest triumph, and
although the experiment has ON several occa-
sions been repeated there has not been and
there will not be for many generations similar
success. Grand expostions have been tried
and they have failed. The unsatisfed heart
of man cries for something truer, grander,
nobler. The Bishop of Rome is moved by the
cry, and the result is the Ecumenical Council.
The pendulum has oscilated, and we are back
again in the middle ages among popes and
cardinals, conclaves and councils, canons and
DEGREES.


On the 9th day Of December the Grand
Council will hold it's first session under the
dome of st. Peters. he represe natives of the
Catholic Church, gathered from every nation
under heaven, and numbering scarcely less
than one thousand, will take the places as
signed them. On the evening of the first day
St. Peters will be gorgeously Illuminated,
thousands upon thousands will throng the sa-
cred edifice, and there will be presented
spectacle which for bulk, grandeur and solem-
nifty has, perhaps, never been equalled in the
past history of the world. Rome is the Mecca
of the Christian world, and this year Chris
tian pilgrims from all the ends of the earth
will crowd the sacred city. 1t will not be
st. Peters alone that will put on its best
attire. Every temple and every shrine, every
spot made sacred by religion and every scene
hallowed by ancient memories will be clothed
with attractions which art might mar but
could scarcely improve. The memories of
London and Paris in their gorgeous exhibi-
ton adornments will fade away and vanish
before the living and ennobling realities of this
greatest OF world spectacles. The triumph of
Pic Mono and the Christian religion will in
some important particulars be far grander
triumph than that of Albert the ''Good" and
German materialism. AS, however, we are
little likely for long time to come to have a
great exhibition, SO also, many think, we shall
have no more ecumenical councils. This one
will, no doubt, be the grandest; but it is
almost certain to be the last.


What does the Council intend TO do? This
is the question which many are asking,
but which no one seems to be able
satisfactorily to answer. We are all well
aware that the times are out Of joint; that
though there is large amount of nominal
Christianity there is more Of it nominal thau
real that the love of individual liberty all over
the world is proving destructive to Christian
unity; that the Church is not in perfect
or even in growing harmony with the times.
All this we know, and more than this,
that the Church must make some great effort
if she would maintain even shadow of her
authority. Men are not opposed to Christian
doctrine, but they are everywhere in an atti-
tnde Of hostility to church dogmas. They
are not opposed to the freedom of the Gospel,
but they are bitterly opposed to the tyranny of
ecclesiasticism. What does the Council mean
to do in the matter? How does It intend to
grapple with and to solve these difficulties? Is
the Church able to solve them and yet maintain
her position and her power? We have seen
nothing to convince US that the members of the
approaching Council will not prove themselves
far behind tho age; nor have we any evidence
that their decisions will not be reactionary
rather than progressive. II will not be diff
cult for them, considering the ultramontane
tendencies that now prevail ut headquarters. to
confirm the decision already given by the Pope
in regard to the immaculate conception, to
declare the Pope himself infalible, to make
suitable arrangements for the next Papal cleo
tion and to denounce any and every attempt that
may be made to put an end to the forced celibacy
: of the clergy. But this is not enough. Some
thing more is wanted. If they do not accom-
plish higher things than these the Ecumenical
Council of 1869 will be grand spectacular