Pope'sSuggestionfor ChurchCouncil
ATTRACTINGWORLD-WIDEATTENTION.
ThesugestiouelPepePiusXl.in hisencyclicaloutliningtheprogramme ofhisPontificatethathemaycallan EcumenicalCounciltoconvenein1925 hasthrilledtheCatholicworldwith interest. "Ageneralmeetingofthewhole worldepiscopacyinthecentreofCatholicism,"saidtheencyclical,"would bemostsuitabletothecomingjubilee year,whenceimmenseadvantagemight cometothecauseofpeaceafterso longandsoprofoundanupheaval. Butthere-assemblingoftheEcumenicalCouncilattheVaticanwouldbe suchagraveeventthatitisnecessary towaitandpray.asdidthepious leaderofGod'selectpeople.untilGod givesaclearersignofHiswishes." Naturallytherewillbemuchspeculationabouttheprogrammeofthe CouncilevenbeforethedefinitedecisionbythePopetocallithasbeen announced.Inthepastmostgreat EcumenicalCouncilsoftheChurch havebeenassembledfortheconsiderationofgreatdoctrinalquestions.Many oftheearlyCouncilsoftheChurch hadtodowiththepoliticalstatusof theChurchanditsrelationto'he State.LaterCouncilsweregreatly concernedwiththesocialquestionof thestatusofmanandthestruggle againstslavery.Withnogravedoctrinalquestionnowconfrontingthe Church,itwouldseemprobablethat theCouncilprojectedfor1925would giveseriousattentiontothebasic' economicproblemsthataffectthe world'speaceandarecausingsomuch individualunrest. TheRev.P.J.Healy,S.T.D..professorofChurchHistoryattheCatholicUniversity,Washington,writes: Duringthelastthirtyorfortyyears theworldhasbecomefairlyfamiliar with"Internationalism"intheoryand practice.Ithasbeensuggestedasa substituteandcureforNationalism andvariousotherillsinthebodypolitic,andhasreceivedconcreteexpressionintheformofnumerousinternetionalorganisations,whichhaveheld congressestodealwithsubjectsrangingallthewayframsporttoscience andSocialism.WehavehadaWorld ParliamentofReligions.:inInter-ParliamentaryUnion.aWorldCourtof Arbitration,andso,neacuteobservers havedetectedtheexistenceof"theinternationalmind."TheWorldWar wasfollowedbytheWorldPeiseeConference,whichreacneltheheightof internationalineptitudeinthefutile LeagueofNations. Theseeffortsatinternationalaction andcontrolhavesofarfailedtoachievewhatwaspromisedforthem thatmankindhasgrownsceptical aboutinternationalismasatheoryand anactuality.Theneedofsomemethodofdealingwiththeillsofcivilisationwasnevermorekeenlyfelt,however,thanatthepresent,andthe hopeofeffectiveactionwasimmediatelyrevivedwhentheannouncementcamefromRomeafewdays agothatanEcumenicalCouncilmight becalledinthenearfuture.Witha thoroughunderstandingofthedifficultiesthatlieinthewayofsucha consummation,thedispatchesfrom Romecontainedthestatementthat theHolyFatherqualifiedhisannouncementbysaying:"Thereassembling oftheEcumenicalCouncilatthe Vaticanwouldbesuchagraveevent. thatitisnecessarytowaitandpray. asdidthepiousleaderofGod'select people,untilGodgivesaclearersign ofHiswill."TheSupremePontiff alonecandecidewhensuchasignhas beengiven. CouncilsofChurchOldestParliaments.
TheGeneralCouncilsoftheChurch arctheoldestoftheparliamentsof man.Whiletheyarenotunderany legalcompulsiontomeetatstated intervals,asarethecongressesinour moderndemocracies,theyare,nevertheless,greatdeliberativeassemblies, andtheirproceedingsarcconductedin amannerbestcalculatedtopromote freediscussionandtoarriveatuntrammelleddecisions.Theprocedure whichisfollowedduringthesessions ofthecouncils,istheresultoflongexperienceandtradition.andisintendedtobringabouttherapidandefficientexecutionof.business..Among allthegreatcongressesandassemblies andsenatesoftheworldnonehasever exhibitedthedignityandthesolemnitywhichmaketheworkofanEcumencialCouncil.Noothergatherings areeverconfrontedwithissuesofsuch gravityanddelicacy;butinspiteof thedifficultieswithwhichtheyare confronted,andthemyriadinfluences whicharealwaysatworkduringthe progressofaCouncil,thesegreatecclesiasticalassemblieshavealwaysaccomplishedtheirworkwithadefinitenessandfinalitythatcannotbefound elsewhere.
NeedofLongPreparation.
Thetimebetweenthepresentand thetentativeopeningdateofthe Councilin1925isnottoolongforthe enormousmassofdetailthatmustbe attendedtobeforethefirstsessions cantakeplace.Itwouldbefutile andpresumptuoustoattempttoforecastwhatsubjectswillbepresentedto theCouncil;butunlessunforeseendifficultiesariseitiscertainthatsufficienttimewillbeallowedtocarryout theentireprogramme.FormerCouncilsweresometimesinterruptedby war,pestilenceorsomeothergreat publiccalamity;somewerecompelled toadjournortochangetheirmeetingplace,buttheCouncilendsonly whentheworkforwhichithasbeen summonedhasbeenfinished.
Therearemanyreasonsforthinking thatthenextCouncilwillbethemost imposingandrepresentativeofall. Safetyandcelerityintravelwillmake itpossibleforbishopstobepresent fromallpartsoftheworld.Every continentwillhaveitscontingent.
Therewillberepresentativesofthe oldworldandthenew.TheCouncil willhavemorethananInternational character,itwillbeCatholic,forCatholicandinternationalerebyno meanssynonymous.Themenwho willcomposeitwillhaveinfluence. notbecauseofthewealthorpowerof theStatesfromwhich&s,come.not becauseofgreatnaviesorarmies.but becauseoftheircharacterasdivinely
appointedshepherdsoftheflockof Christ.Thepoorestandhumblest missionarybishopwillbeonaparwith thegreatprelatesfromthemust portantseesinChristendom.Itwill notbeagatheringofnations,butof men,andtherejectionofthedevice attemptedatConstanceinthefifteenth century,ofvotingbynations,will savethedeliberationsoftheCouncil fromdegeneratingintothemachinationsofafewoldmen,astitParis.
DignityoftheCouncils.
Thoughwidelyseparatedintime, thegreatCouncilsoftheChurchhave invariablypresentedthesamecharacterofimposingstrengthanddignity, andhavealwaysexercisedaprofound influenceontheaffairsofmankindin general.ThefirstCouncil.thatof Nicaea,wasassembledatatimewhen theChurchwasbindingupitswounds afterthepersecutionofDiocletian.It metinacityofWesternAsiaMinor (nowamiserableTurkishvillage,IsNik.withscarcelyathousandinhabitants),whichwasnotfarremoved fromtheimperialresidenceatNicomedia.andwhichwaseasilyaccessiblebylandandseafromallparts oftheEmpire.TheEmperorConstantinethrewaroundthegathering allthemajestyanddignitywhichthe resourcesoftheEmpiremadepossible. Heplacedthepublicpostingserviceat thedisposalofthebishops,heattendedtheCouncilandaddressedit.When thedeliberationsoftheCouncilhad endedandwhentheheresyofArius hadbeencondemned,thememoryof theCouncilremainedasagreatsymbolofChristianunityandanevidenceofthepowerandauthorityof theChurch.
AllthesucceedingCouncilshaveec hibitedthesamecharacteristicsas thatofNicaea.Whetherheldinthe EastorintheWest.theyhavedrawn tothemselvestheattentionofrulers andpeople.andtheresultoftheirde-. liberationshasbeenawaitedasafresh impulsetoprogressandeffort.Sterne ofthem.likeConstance,wereveritable parliamentsofnations.Thoughcalled toputanend-totheGreatWestern Schism,thisCouncildrewtoitselfall thestatesmenandscholarsofEurope.
PracticallyeveryprinceinChristendomwasrepresentedthere,andthe aiscussionswhichtookplacepriorto andduringtheCouncil,afford,pet haps.themostprofoundanalysisoft.17, problemsofpoliticalphilosophythat anyagehasproduced.
ThoroughnessofCouncilofTrent.
OtherCouncilswerebroughttogetherinthemidstofdangersand alarms.ThePopesplannedtohold aCouneflinthesixteenthcenturyat thetimewhenProtestantismwas menacingtheChurchfromwithinand Mohammedanismfromwithout,andit wasnotuntilafteryearshadelapsed thattheCouncilofTrentcouldbe assembled.Itmetinthemidstof difficulties.itsdeliberationswerefrequentlyinterrupted,butiteffectedits purposeswithathoroughnessthat madeitunnecessarytocallanother Councilforcenturies. WhenthecallforthelastCouncil. thatoftheVatican,wasissued,itwas foreseenthatwaswasimminent,but PiusIX.setprincipleaboveexpediency.andthoughwardidinterruptthe sessionsoftheCounciltheworkfor whichithadbeenprincipallycalled wasfinishedbeforeitwasadjourned.
Inthefutureasinthepast,much willbeexpectedfromthenewCom, cil.Thattheseexpectationswillbe fullyrealisedcanbeconfidentlypredictedfromthehistoryoftheBete InenicalCouncils,fromtheconciliar traditionsandfromtheclearvision andthesuperbcourageofthepresent reigningPontiff.
PrinceofWalesTheatre.
"DreamStreet."whichformsthe principalpartofanotherbigprogrammetobepresentedatthePrince ofWalesTheatrenextSaturday,isthe lastestscreenefforttocomefrontD. W.Griffith.Itisataleofromance loveandlaughter,symbolisedwith goodandevilinfluencesleadinganenchantmentrarelyseeninsuchcinema productions.TheideasareGriffith, whilethecharactersaretaken'rein twostoriesofThomasBurke,knownas "GinaofChinatown"and"TheSignof theLamp."Thelocaleissetin Limehouee,London.Althoughit mightbesaidtoencompasstheworld whenit'comestqthefinalanalysisof thehumanswhotripgailythroughthe sevrealscenesofdramaticeffectsdirectedbyGriffith.
Forthefirsttimeinmotionpicturesthegreateveningstarhasbeen photographed.appearingwithaclear, luminousgrandeurinD.W.Grittith's newestproduction,"DreamStreet," whichistobeshownatthePrinceof WalesTheatrenextSaturday.The mannerbywhichthisphotographwas takenistoocomplexwithtechnical andscientificdetailtobeinteresting. butitlonghasbeentheambitionof themotionpicturemakerstobringthe heavensatnighttoanintimateclosenessonthescreen.Thestarappears inthestoryasthenobleandsilent sentinelwhichlooksdownuponall theworld'sevilandgood,absurdand divine,bigandlittle,alwaysserene, certainandstimulating. Bythes.s.Karoola,whicharrived onWednesday.Mr.T.M.Coombereturnedtothiscity,afteranextended triptotheEasternStates.Allthe objectsofhismissionweresuccessfully accomplished,and
intenseindignation.The"Boston Advertiser"says:"Itisreallybeneath thecontemptuousconsiderationofsensiblemenandwomen. However, itsbigotedobjectanditssillymethodsmakeitajustobjectofattack fromanybody,anywhereandany time."
Thefollowingversesarefromthe penofabrilliantAmericanwriter: AuKb=Klan.
IwanttojointheKuKluxKlan Orsomethingofthatspecialkind, BecauseIthinkmyfellowman Shouldgetsomejolts1 havein mind; Iwishtopunishthosewhofail TodrinkthekindofmilkIdrink; I'meagertobeonhistrail WhoisntthinkingasIthink.
Iwanttomaskmyselfandride Withothersofmykindatnight; Iwanttohelpwhentar'sapplied Tothosewhohavestirredupmy spite.
Ilackthenervetostartalone
Tolaychastisementonmyfoe, But,withamaskedmobandunknown, Mycouragewouldbegreat.Iknow.
I'mkeentohelptoregulate ThelivesofmenwhomIcould name; Theyhaven'tharmedme,butIhate Themmostintensely,justthesame. TheyhaveenjoymentsuchasI've Decidedthatoughttoshun; Withhelp.thinkthatIcoulddrive Themoutoftownandspoiltheir fun.
Thefreedompeopletalkabout. Growsmorealarmingeveryday; Thetimehascometostampitout, Theworldisgettingmuchtoogay. EachprejudiceIhaveshouldbe Imposeduponmyfellowman; Ileoughttolikewhatpleasesme; IwanttojointheKuKluxKlan.
MattersRomanandItalian MussolinionCatholicity.
UnderdateJanuary1.theRome correspondentofthe"CatholicHerald"writes: ThePope'sEncyclicalhasbeenmost favourablycommentedoninpracticallyeverysphere.TheprincipaldissentientnotecamefromtheFrench paperthe"Temps,"whichdidnotrelishthePope'sdenunciationofa"fictitiouspeace."Nevertheless,thegeneralimpressionisthatthePope's wordsonlytoowelldescribeEurope's conditionto-day. InItaly,particulargratificationhas beenfeltatthedelicateandconsideratewayinwhichItalyhasbeenmentionedintheEncyclical. TheChigiLibrary. Asthoughtofurtheraccentuate theriseofanunderstandingbetween theHolySeeandtheItalianGovernment,theCouncilofMinistersofItaly tookamostimportantdecisionon Thursday,whenitwasdecidedtoadd theChigiLibrarytotheBiblioteca Vatican.Thislibrary,whichcontainsmostvaluabledocumentsconcerningthe"ChigiPope,"Alexander VII..wasboughtbytheItalianGovernmentfromPrinceChigiin1918. Thelibrarycontinuedtobehousedin thePalazzoChigi,whitherSignorMussolinihasjusttransferredtheForeign Office. VaticanandGovernment. NegotiationshavejustbeenterminatedbywhichtheHolySee-having consentedtoashorteningofthesum' merclosingoftheVaticanLibrary, andtheabolitionofspecialauthorisationsforhistoricalresearchuptothe timeofPiusIX.,andafacilitationfor studentsdesiringtostudymorerecentdocuments,fromPiusIX.downwards.theItalianGovernmenthas consentedtotheannexationofthe ChigiLibrarytothatoftheVatican, andhasauthorisedtheMinisterof PublicInstructiontoproceedwiththe necessarywork.
DomPotosi
Another"signofthetimes"istobe notedthisweek,althoughitmakesit necessarytotouchthesadthemeof thementalmaladyofDomPerosi.The lattersoughtandobtainedaninterviewwithSignorMussoliniafewdays ago.hisobjectbeingtoobtainapass portforEnglandwhitherhedesired togotostudytheAnglicanChurch. Thepoor,diseasedmindoftheunfor-
tunatepriestturnedfromtheformer 1Valdensianidea,hadattacheditself totheideaofanecclesiasticalreform onAnglicanlinesinItaly;andsuch ideadidthepoor"maestro"expound toSignorMussolini,intheinterview whichhadbeenobtainedforhimin thehopesthatitmightquiethismentaltrouble.
IndependentReligion, SignorMussolini'sreplytoDomPerosihasbeengiventothePressbythe lawyerwhowaspresentattheinterview,anditisworthyofnote.Said
SignorMussolini; "Catholicityisuniversal,andthe Italianpeople,byitsverynature, mustandswillremainCatholic.Iam aCatholic,andIbelievethatforthe goodofthenationandoftheChurch. Catholicity(here)oughttoremainas itisandnotberestrictedtoamere Statereligion.Italywillbereformedpolitically,yes.butnotreligiously." IntheSchools. Hut,ifallthisisconsoling.and morethanconsoling,toallrightthinkingmen,thereismoreandbetterto follow.Thisweekagreatnoticehas madegladtheheartsofallCatholicsanoticesuchasfewpeopledaredhope for,leasstillventuredtoexpect,and certainly.noonecouldhaveforeseen tenyearsago.Thisnoticeisnothing lessthanthat"religiousinstructionis toberestoredintheStateschoolsof Italy."ReligiousFoundation. LestIshouldbetemptedtoexaggerateortoenthuse,limitmyselfto givingthecomunicItionofthe"Stefani"Agencyasitcamethroughthe PressAssociationonWednesday: "Aproposofthequestionofreligiousinstructionintheelementary. schools,itisnowknownthatasa matteroffacttheHon.GiovanniGentile.MinisterofPublicInstruction,intendstoapplyaradicalreformtothe regulationsactuallyinforceastothis matter,andwillmakereligiousinstructiontheprincipalfoundationof thesystemofpublicinstructionand ofthewholemoralrestorationofthe Italianspirit."
PersonalitiesoftheChurch
Fewgreatartistsweresodeeplyinspiredintheirworkbythepurelove ofGodasLuisdeVargas,whowas notedasmuchfortheholinessofhis lifeasfortheexcellenceofhispaintings. Itisdeclaredtohavebeenhishabit, beforepaintingoneofhisgreataltar pieces.invariablytogotoconfession andtoreceiveHolyCommunion.His lifewassimple,likethatofahermit, andmarkedbyextremegenerosityto thepoor.Inhisroomhekeptacoffin toremindhimconstantlyoftheapproachofdeath. DeVargaslivedinthegoldenageof Spain.HewasbornatSeville.in 1502.duringthereignofIsabellathe Catholic,andwasheirtothegreattraditionofthefaiththatmarkedthat period. Hisfirstpaintingsweredoneon roughcanvascurtainsusedtocover uppicturesonthealtarduringHoly Week.andsosuccessfulwasheinthis workthatthegenerosityofafriend enabledhimtostudyinItaly.where hecameintocontactwithGiorgio Vasari,thegreatpainterandarchitectofFlorence.andstudiedclosely theworksofPerinodelVaga,oneof Raphael'sfavouritepupils. DeVargasspenttwenty-eightyears inItaly,andreturnedtoSpainanaccomplishedartist.Hewitsoneofthe fewSpanishpaintersreallyeminentin hisdraughtsmanship.Oneofthe greatestofhispictures.the"Temporal GenerationofOurLord,"anallegoricalcompositionshowingtheBlessed VirginholdingtheInfantChrist,and AdamandEveadoringHim,isremarkableforitswonderfulforeshorteningofthelegofAdam,andforthat reasonissometimesknownas"La Gamba. OfDeVargas'frescoworkverylittle remains,butacontemporaryhaswrittenofoneofhisfrescoes."Christ RearingtheCross,"thatitwassopotableinSevillethatcondemnedcriminalswerebroughtto"LaCalledela Amargura"(theStreetofBitterness. inorderthattheymight.maketheir devotionsbeforeitandreceivethe lastofficesoftheChurchbeforebeing takentothesceneoftheirexecution.
Alf.Lee
LADIES'ANDGENT'S.TAILOR.
LATESTCUT.BESTWORKNI SHIP.
121MURRAY-STREET.PERTH.