r H E T A
A Weekly Newspaper and Review
W I T H S U P P L E M E N T .
Vol. 35- No. 1571. L ondon, May 21, 1870.
Price sd. Stamped 6d. [Registered for T ransmission Abroad.
C hronicle of the Week : The
Council— English Catholics and the Definition — The Irish Clergy— “ American News from Rome”— Piussia and the Council—The Irish 'Land Debate— Rating of Schools and Charities— The New Zealand Guarantee—The Fenians and the Red River — The New French Ministers—The Irish College at Paris— The Crown of Spain—The Cavour Despatches — Another Polish Confessor— The Anglican Bible—&c., &c................................. 637 ¡Leaders :
The Council on Creation . . 641 The Anglo-Saxon .... 642 Meddling and Muddling . . 643 Mr. Alderman Carter . . . 644
C O N T E N T S . Reviews :
Vie de Madame de Gerlache . 644 The Countess o f Glosswood . . 645 Stanhope’s History of England . 646 Short N otices : Dr. Barry’s Life of Christopher Columbus— Mr. Diprose on S. Clement Danes— Irish Ecclesiastical Record—The Messenger of the Sacred Heart— Mr. Cashel Hoey and the Hon. Gavan Duffy on Ireland— Convents and their Protection . . 647 Correspondence
A Common Cause for the Nations of Christendom ; or, the Peaceful Crusade of the Nineteenth C e n t u r y ................................... 647
IC orrespondence (continued) :
The Refuge, Eagle House, Brook-
green ...... 648 The Tomb o f Cardinal Wiseman . 648 The Westminster Dispensary . 648
j D iocesan N ews (continued) :
Southwark Beverley. Northampton. Salford ....
Fr Dalgairns and the “ Univers ” . 649 Parliamentary Summary Ireland .
• 65° IMemoranda :
Letters from Rome ; The Revo
lution— Finance in Rome and Florence—A Slight Mistake— Brigandage in Italy— The “ Pall Mall Gazette ” and the “ Nazione” — Catanzaro — The Pope — The Council— Poland— Latest . . 652 Diocesan N ews : Westminster ..... 654
Religious:
Ministers Educational Prison and Prison . ( The Education 656
Question. Meeting of Yor Catholics Literary Scientific Weather. Cricket . General N ews
. 654 • 655 • 655 • 655 • 655
shire
656 659 659 660 660 660
CHRONICLE OF THE W EEK.
THE COUNCIL. I T is understood that the Schema, distributed to the Fathers o f the Council under sealed envelopes on the 10th, contained four •chapters, namely, three on the Primacy and one on the Infallibility o f the Supreme Pontiff. AVe need scarcely say that we intentionally abstain from publishing any o f the versions o f the projected decree on the Infallibility of the Roman Pontiff which have appeared in some o f our Protestant contemporaries. AAre will only observe that the one given by the P a l l M a l l Gazette differs essentially from the version of the Augsburg Gazette, and that there is no sufficient reason for believing that either o f the two is authentic. Meanwhile, we have reason to know that within the Council all is proceeding with the greatest dignity and calm. The discussion o f the great decree began upon Saturday last, the day after our Holy Father the Pope had entered upon his seventy-ninth year, and at the same time by a curious coincidence reached the term of the two longest Pontificates after those o f S. Peter and o f Pius V I . O f the spirit which characterizes the debate, those who know anything about it give but one account. The Bishops treat each other with a respect and forbearance which is scarcely approached even in our House of Lords. The tone and attitude with which we are familliar in the House o f Commons is quite unknown in the Council Hall ; and a liberty and patience which could hardly be greater than it is, reigns throughout the meetings of the Fathers.
The question has been asked why English En g l i s h Catholics do not come forward and petition for a n d t h e t^le definition as the people o f other nations d e f i n i t i o n , have done and are doing ? T o find a satisfac
tory answer would be a matter of some little difficulty, for the great mass o f English Catholics accept the doctrine already, without a definition ; and when the definition is made, with the exception o f half-a-dozen men who have no business to be in the Church at all, all will accept, and hold it without a word. The fact, however, is that nations have their peculiarities like individuals, and England .as a nation is supremely indifferent about religious truth. We make splendid conquests in the material order, and in the sciences which tend to its improvement and development ; we know how to get and to give ; we are a dominant race, and never forget our own temporal interests. For three centuries we have been mixing and supping on the mess of pottage which we exchanged for what seemed, at least before the Conquest, to have been our very birth-right. A t all events it is manifest that England with all her love o f respectability and religiosity cares no more for religious truth in itself than for the amount o f convenience or gain its acceptance may bring to her in this present palpable world. O f course English Catholics are not in this category, for they are by choice the followers o f a religion which is a constant
N e w S e k i e s . N o , 8o.
rebuke to this English habit of mind. Nevertheless, we fear it must be admitted that English Catholics are somewhat lukewarm in regard to abstract truth as compared with the Irish and other Catholic nations. When truth is set before them in the concrete, in our own flesh and blood, as for instance in our Religious Orders, English Catholics no doubt are not behindhand in faith, zeal, and energy as we have seen of late. But it is different in regard to other truths. Living in a Protestant country, we are sometimes ashamed and apologetic for the truth : sometimes we treat it as an inconvenient commodity and desire to relieve ourselves o f as much o f it as possible. AVe are apt to pare it down lest it should be seen ; to barter it away for men’s goodwill, and to hide it down a well. In a word, the English people value many things more highly than mere abstract religious truth, and a man who esteems it above gold and silver, and position and race, and good fellowship, is but a poor simple creature indeed. Such is the great mass o f the English people. It considers that it has common sense on its side, that it is not extreme like some fanatics that it hears o f ; but that its true wisdom is in its moderation, and it is thoroughly well satisfied with itself. This state of mind is catching, and when people ask why petitions do not flow in from England, we not unnaturally look to these characteristics as a partial explanation o f the silence. AVe live in a bad atmosphere. But another plea is sometimes raised by devout English Catholics. They put forward a delicacy in petitioning the Pope or Council. However specious the plea it is not one which seems to be recognized by the Pope, who rejoices when the clergy and faithful come forward holding the truth in their hands and begging for its definition. Foreigners laugh exceedingly at this plea o f respect for the Council put forward by Englishmen ; and ask whether we have not the habit of petitioning Parliament, and whether our so doing implies any absence of respect for its authority. Some such thoughts as these are inevitably suggested by the hearty petition to the Sovereign Pontiff from the Dean and Clergy o f Limerick. AVe understand, however, that one English D iocese at least has taken a similar step. AVe have reason to believe that the clergy o f the Diocese o f Birmingham, assembled in their annual meeting, have sent through the Provost of the Chapter a letter to their Bishop in Rome, expressing their belief in the doctrine of the Infallibility of the Pope, and their anxiety that it may be defined as a dogma o f faith by the Council.
The clergy o f the Diocese o f Limerick de- t h e i r i s h serve the praise and gratitude o f all good Ca
tholics, especially in these islands, for they have been the first diocese in either country that has addressed a petition to the Holy See praying fervently and humbly for a definition on Papal Infallibility. The petition was drawn up and signed when the clergy met together in the Limerick for the distribution o f the holy oils. It signatures of the Dean, the Archdeacon, the Vicars-
N E W S P A P E R
