Year: 1870

Lccturc by the Right Rev. p. III. Lynch mt Sc.


stephens Roman Catholic Church-rhc vafi-


can Council, Its Object, Purpose, Mode IT


Procedure, What II Has Done and shall Do


The Occupation of Rome by the Italian


Troops.


The Right Rev. r. II. Lynch, Bishop OF Charleston,
delivered lecture In st. stephens Roman Catholic
church last evening on "The Vatican Council, )" the
proceeds to be devoted to the benefit OF the poor OF
the parish under the OF the Society OF ST. Vim.
cent de Paul. The church was crowded TO over
flowing In nave. asles ana galleries.


Bishop Lynch sad:-Two sounds had come TO us
in these latter times widely different in their origin
character and effects. One spoke or devotion and
the union OF man with heaven, the other OF aroused
passions and the desoatOns OF armed hosts. On
the one hand could be seen venerable men passing
norJh ana south, east ami west 10 all parts OF the
eartn, and each reached his home he was greeted
with words or cOngratuatOn and welcome, and
from many church rung out IN gladness the 1e
Deune az their safe return Here religion spoke,
here was the union or earth with heaven, for the
people believed that there had been revelation
from God. on the other side we near the
trampng OF hundreds OF thousands OF armed men
and or tens OF thousands slain and wounded. Here
spoke the passions OF men.


TWO GREAT EVENTS


would mark the present century-the Council OF the
Vatican and the war between the two most powerful
nations OF Europe. Shall these two great events
nave any connection What eject can the assem-
bling OF a few hundred venerable men in the Vati-
can nave upon the world compared with the results
OF this mighty contestp lie remembered That In
his childhood, while there was no sound
to compare with the thunder. Its effects were soon
forgotten, whie the quiet and almost unnoticed
work OIL tne preceptor remained and had sway upon
his youthful mnd ever after. There have been
conncls before ana there have also been wars, too
many wars, and whiie the effects OF the councils
have continued TO be felt In after generations the
memories of the wars nave been almost lost. The
world mas never seen u council assembled that has
not been marked event In the worlds history.
To-day the memory OF Nice, Ephesus and the rest
is as powerful as ever.


The war may so on he over, and God grant that lt
may, and that all the bleeding wounds 1t mas cause
may soon be healed. Not 10" occupy their time too
long he would divide his references TO the Council
into hat he regarded Its object its purpose Its
mode OF procedure, what II has done, and what 1t
shall do.


WHY WAS THE COUNCIL CALLED?


That they may proclaim 10 the world that, con.
trary to the teachings of false philosophers and
snow that man can be great without God,
that there was divinely revealed religion,
and that though man may achieve great
physical results he could not when LETT to HIM
self be guided with certainty TO his eternal home
This religion has stood for eighteen centuries, and
as occasions called Tor greater efforts to combat
wickedness 1t had always been equal to the emer-
gency. That spirit OF naturailsm, OF which nothing
was known few years ago, is now so spreading
the nations that its promoters hope to claim
this entire Conunent Tor 1t ere long, 1t was against
this


SYSTEM OF FALSE PHILOSOPHY


that the Church stood forth. little more than
three years ago, the first announcement OF the call
a
Overspread the faces OF many outside the Church,
and even some Of its lukewarm children believed
with them that Garbaldi would be in Rome aud the
Pope an exile before they would have assembled.
Contrary, however, TO the expectations of those
doubtful ones, the Council did assemble and 1t was
such grand assemblage the world had never SEEN
and which no other potentate cOuld summon. He
then gave glowing description OF the opening pro-
cession which was witnessed by thousands OF spec
!ators The chants the glittering mltres, the bright
tiaras OF the Oriental prelates, ana the gttering
pageant participated in by priests, mitred abbots.
beards cardinals-the wisdom Of the Church, anu
last OF all, the Sovereign P0ntif himself were ali
faithfully depicted.


He also entered into minute details OF the careful
manner in which the Council discharged It's duties
10 relation to the questions coming up for discussion
this portion OF his discourse he asked what would
be the effect on


THE FUTURE OF THE COUNCIL
OF the occupation OF Rome Dy the Italian troops.
AS he spoke they stood at the portal OF the Vatican
and the Pope could not pass except at their will.
come into his possession not by force of arms,
but because Its inhabitants sought the protection
OF the Church. For eleven hundred years Its bound
aries had renamed the same and no aggression or
rapacity had marked the ADMINISTRATION OF any OF
the pontiiis. What we knew as reverence for the
Old common law OF England prevailed with them in
relation to old time customs. The reverend lecturer
here spoke OF the gradual changes which have come
over The estates OF the Church, and severely CEN
sured the government of Victor Emanuel which,
instead Of respecting the ecclesiastical pro,
seized and sold for the beneit Of private private
individuals the property Of the Church.
The temporal power of the Pope he said was OF
vital importance to the interest of Catholiccy
throughout the world. Would they say that Italy
was morally bound 10 protect him? SO were all men
bound morally 10 respect the rights and property of
their fellows. But these moral obligations never
suggested TO sane minds the disbandlng OF the police
Whiie thieves infested their neighbOrhOods. by q
power such as no sceptre could WELD


THE CHURCH RULED MIGHTY MULTITUDE.


And he were no statesman who would calculate
on her downfall. should any such power have It's
head controlled by any civil authorityg However
they prayed Tor peace, and though the Pope may be
prisoner and In chains his authority will ever stand
the same.


JUST LITTLE BIT OF TERRITORY.


The bishop concluded his lecture by reterating
his assertion that the interests OF the Church
manded that the Pope should be the independent
sovereign OF some little territory SO small as to
casc no jealousy or give umbrage to none Tor, said
he, in case OF q war arising between two nations
which he may have an equal lnterest-how could he
preserve an Impartial attitude If he were controlled
by the sovereign or one, and expressing the firm
mat though ne was driven IRON his DOS.
sessions as were his predecessors, he would return
again to preside over the concluding labors of the
Council.