Year: 1866

Z


Fronl .sie Philadelphia Age.l


I The convocation Of archbishOps and bish
OBS Of the Catholic Church in the Unite,


States now assembled at Baltimore is a sub
I iect Of much interest The position, learn
I ing and influence Of the eminent theologian
who constitute the National Council, th'


weight of their suggestions and recommend
ations in fashioning the opinions and con
I trolling the actions Of that large class Ofcit
liens who acknowledge spiritual allegiance


70 the Church Of which they arc ministers


ali combine 10 make their present actor


most important. The increase OF Catholic


churches and communicants in the United


States within the las1 half century is also q


reason why the c0nvOcation Of Its leading


representatives. should attract morethan Ordi


nary attention.


Since the birth Of this nation the number


Of Catholic bishops has increased from one


to foriy-seven, lamong whom are seven arch


bishops,) and the number Of priests from
about thirty TO two thousand and seven


hundred. The population connected with
the Church is estimated at at least four mil
lions, anumber exceeding that of any other
particular sect, except the combined denOmi-





assembled in Baltimore represent, not some
thing foreign TO our land, but considerable
portion Of our own nation. IL adds TO the
interest Of the Baltimore Council that the
Roman Catholics are more numerous than
all the other religious denominations in the
civilized world; taken together, the total
population nominaily connected with it
counting about one hundred and ninety mil
lions, while the population nominally con-
nected with the Protestant seets, numbers
only ninety-fye millions, and that Of the
Greek Church about seventy millions.


The people Of Europe will also look upon
this National Council Of the Catholic Church
in the New World with feelings Of intense
interest. In the growth Of the Church, and
the wonderful increase of its membership,
they will see and recognize the amazing pro-
gress Of this country in population, and
accept that fact as an indication CT what the
future will be, if it is not Obseared by the
clouds Of civil strife and contention. In
manifesto recently issued by that far-sighted
politician, the Emperor of France, it is sta
ted that the time must soon come when the
United States win count population of
more than one hundred millions of people.
When that point is reached, it is probable
that this country will contain much larger
body Of adherents 10 the Catholic church
and a greater number. of bishops than any
country in the world.


This will give the Catholics of the United
States voice potential in all affairs which
are referred to conventions of the whole
Church for settlement and adjustment. In
general councils and in bodies made up Of
from all the nations, the in
huence Of the Catholic delegates from this
country will be immense. They will speak
for an empire more grand in all the ele-
ments of true worth and progress than i'm
perial Rome when at the zenith of her
pomp and power. They will represent the
future, big with events of startling import
ance, and not the dead past. They will
point 10 the field ripe for the husbandmen,
and urge the faithful to renewed exertions
in order to keep pace with the movements
Of events in the New World, The Catholic
from the United States will
be the motive power, the fresh, young life
Of the Church, and hence the Christian world
is profoundly agitated by this meeting of
the leaders Of that religious organization at
Baltimore.


The freedom with which such an assem-
blage of archbishops and bishops can meet
in this country and discuss matters pertain
ing to the interests, growth and development
Of the Church, cannot fail TO have happy
upon the minds Of the Catholic cler-
gy in other lands. In France, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, no
national council could meet without the
previous permission Of the government.
Most Of the governments would absolutely
refuse the permission, if asked, as is suffi-
riently proved by the fact that, much as the
Pope and bishops desire that synods Of
bishops Provincial which embrace the
bishops of Ecclesiastical Province, and
National, which embrace all the bishops Of
a country-should meet at stated intervals;
these meetings, especially the National
Councils, are exceptional occurrences.


In fact the only notable council of this
class in modern times was that held by the
German bishops at Wurzburg, in lS49,
when the victorious revolution had pro-
claimed a separation Of Church and State,
lnd, The re-establishment of a GermaR En-
pire. When, therefore, the representatives.
from the United States in the Councils of
the Church can point to the fact, that here
no national or State permission is necessary
lc enable them to hold either general or
special convocations, that here such bodies
can pass what resolutions they please, not
contrary to public order and morality, and
can enforce them by such ordinances and
appeals as the Church may direct; the re-
suit must be in favor of greater freedom in
the Old World, and gradual relaxation of
those bonds which are there imposed, rather
from want Of correct information than from
a desire 70 fetter the free action Of the hu-
man mind upon all matters appertaining to
morals and religion.


The proceedings Of the Council, so far as
they relate 10 matters strictly ecclesiastical,
will command the attention of one class of
our people, but another view will be taken
of them by the statesmen of the Old and
the New World As an efficient means or
agency to SOW the seeds of American liberal
ism in Europe, the gathering Of such men
as those participating in the Baltimore
Council Of the Catholic Church cannot be
over estimated. Their voices will be heard
in all parts of the Christian world. From
the Vatican it will reach alike the purple
vestured aTchbishops, and the bareiooted
monk, the empress on the throne, and the
nun bending over the sick and
patient in the hospital. 1t will
plead for liberty such as is enjoyed in this
land-liberty 10 worship GoDin accordance
with the dictates Of individual conscience,
liberty TO hold councils, liberty for all re-
ligious matters This will be the effect Of
such a gathering as the one mentioned, and
hence it has an interest to all men who are
in favor Of liberty Of conscience in all parts
of the world.