45 French =Famena. Sau the Greek Oikou The Te Imel s prevent & comel asserted from all parts

Pure. È MILI Cobile view, a diocesan com lar smås como sei of the thergy of a particular dioBÉ THE COVOARE of Extiri viith comprises Connecticut and En de Isunt „vich the bishop of the diocese at their head; a je ravni e mergina comel is omposed of the bishops of an endlesastel peorace is of the province of New York wilt bedades the Bosses of New York. Albany, Boston, Brook32. Bafil. Beringie Harfied Newark, Portland, Rochester and Springfeld; and comprehends New England. New York, and New Jersey, with the andhishop at their head; while the national or plenary" exencils of Baltimore held in 1852 and 1866 were composed of the archbishops and bishops of all the provinces (now seven) in the United States

"The Illustrated Catholic Family Almanac," published by "The Catholic Publication Society" in New York, gives, in its issue for 1870, the following definitions and rules, which may be received as of high authority among Roman Catholics of the present day:

“An Ecclesiastical Council or Synod may be defined as 'a legitimate assembly of prelates of the church, convened for the regulation of its public affairs.' Councils are ecumenical, general, or particular.

"An Ecumenical Council is one which represents the whole Catholic church. For such a council it suffices that the chief part of the Church should have assembled, in agreement with the Sovereign Pontiff.

"A General Council is one which is conspicuous for the number of prelates, but which, through its not being confirmed by the Sovereign Pontiff, or for some other reason is not held to represent the Universal Church.

"A Particular Council is one which represents only a portion of the Church. Such councils are- 1. National, or primatial; 2. Proriacial, or metropolitan; 3. Diocesan, which are called simply synods.

Rule I. The definitions of an Ecumenical Council, in matters of faith or morals (but not if they merely regard discipline), are, when approved by the Sovereign Pontiff, certain and infallible.

"Rule II. Other councils, whether General or Particular, have only as much authority as have the churches which they represent. Their authority may be great; but it cannot be infallible, unless it be solemaly confirmed by the approbation of the Holy See."

Roman Catholics differ among themselves as to the number of ecumenical councils that have been held. Thus the Catholic Almanac" reckons among the number the council of Constance held in 1417, saying of it, "This couneil, schismatic in its commencement, afterwards submitted to Pope Gregory XII., and its acts were partially ratified by Pope Martin V.;" while the Catholic World, also published by "The Catholic Publication Society," in giving a list of the councils, omits this council, but says in a foot-note that some reckon it as ecumenical. There is also a division of opinion in regard to several other councils, as is noticed in the following account of them. The following are the ecumenical councils given in the Catholic Almanac with corrections as to dates.

1This distinction between "ecumenical" and "general" councils is by no as universally observed or accepted. The two terms are often loosely used as Synonymous; though, strictly speaking, "ecumenical," like "universal," denotes represents the whole, while “general” might be used if only the greater part or a very large part were represented.

The Greek and Bassian Christians recognize the first 7 of these coumist and evasider the Trullan council (so called from its assemding in the 7 Tak a hall of the imperial palace in Constantinogue, 1.2. 62) an appendix to the sixth council. This Trillas eventi consisted of more than 200 bishops, and enact ed 1/2 canons, which were subscribed by the pope's representatives at the imperial court, but, though afterwards approved by pope Adrian, displeased pope Sergius. The Roman church rejects its canons allowing priests to live in wedlock, condemning fasting on Saturdays, and three or four others.

Says Rev. Philip Schaff, D. D., of the German Reformed church, "The first four of these councils command high theological regard in the orthodox evangelical churches, while the last three are less important, and are far more rarely mentioned."

The first ecumenical council, held at Nice in Asia Minor, A. D. 325, was summoned by the emperor Constantine, who presided at the opening of the council and gave to its decrees (against Arianism, &c.) the force of imperial law. The Catholic Almanac, and Roman Catholic writers generally, authority of Gelasius of Cyzicus, a worthless witness who wrote

on the

about 150 years afterwards, claim that Hosius, bishop of Corduba (now Cordova in Spain) presided as pope Sylvester's legate; but Eusebius represents Constantine as introducing the principal matters of business with a solemn discourse and taking the place of honor in the assembly, and the Roman presbyters as acting for the Roman prelate; and even pope Stephen V., in A. D. 817, wrote that Constantine presided in this council. Eusebius gives the number of bishops in this council as more than 250; others have reckoned the number at 318. This council gives its name to the Nicene creed.

The second ecumenical council, held at Constantinople, A. D. 31, was summoned by the emperor Theodosius, who did not, however, attend it, though, like Constantine, he ratified its deerees. Meletius, bishop of Antioch, presided till his death; then, Gregory Nazianzen, bishop or patriarch of Constantinople, presided; and after his resignation, his successor as patriarch, Nektarius, was also his successor in presiding. There were present in this council 150 bishops. This council enlarged the Nicene creed and gave to it its present form, except that a phrase (filioque and from the Son), which represents the Holy Ghost as proceeding from the Son as well as from the Father, was subsequently added in the Western churches.

The third ecumenical council, held at Ephesus in A.D. 431, was called by the emperor Theodosius II. Cyril, bishop or patriarch of Alexandria, presided, and under his lead (with the assistance of Celestine of Rome, who was represented in the council, though not present) Nestorianism and Pelagianism were both condemned, and Nestorius, who was bishop of Constantinople, was banished; but, after the arrival of John, bishop of Antioch, and other Eastern prelates, Cyril was also condemned, and a violent and protracted controversy ensued. There were, at first, 150, but afterwards 198, bishops in this council.

The fourth ecumenical council, held at Chalcedon, A.D. 451, was summoned by the emperor Marcian, and fixed the doctrine respecting Christ's person in opposition to Nestorianism and Eutychianism. The legates of Leo, the Roman bishop, were

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Tema i li dire articles or chapters" decreed be me suni of Choson had made respecting religion. wreel de lesions of this council the next year; bat te arrini a nem jy die peces led to a tedious schism krg de mi se and several Western churches.

The sura ecumenici sundi, beld at Constantinople A. D. $80, wis suwenei 17 the Eastern emperor Constantine PogoJacis, vitu persied & himsel In this council all the great parrards were present personally or by representatives, pope Arich Ning sted (y leases: and the number of bishCUS, SILLE. & ist, increased to near 200. This council condemned the Macclelizes, who held that Christ had but one villanderolemned by name the deceased pope Honorius and echers as berens The emperor confirmed the decrees of the connell and enforced them with penalties. The condemnation of pope Honorius was also approved by pope Agatho, and likewise in express terms by his successor pope Leo II., and still later by pope Hadrian II., and was mentioned in all the copies of the Roman breviary up to the 16th century.

The seventh ecumenical council, held at Nice, A. D. 787, was called by the empress Irene, in conjunction with Tarasius patriarch of Constantinople, who directed the whole proceedings. The council was summoned to meet in 786 at Constan