Church. Since the Holy Spirit presided in the first council of
Jerusalem, faithful souls have looked with deep interest to the
deliberations of those whom Christ has made the shepherds of His flock,
and to whom he gave His promise, "Lo, I am with you always to the end of
the world." The responsibility is greater when division has marred the
beauty of the Lamb's Bride. Our words and acts will surely hasten or
(which God forbid) retard the reunion of Christendom. Feeling the grave
responsibility which is imposed on me to-day, my heart cries out as did
the prophet's, "I am a child and cannot speak." Pray for me, venerable
brethren, that God may help me to obey His word--"Whatsoever I command,
that shalt thou speak." I would kneel with you at our Master's feet and
pray that "the Holy Spirit may guide us into all truth." We meet as the
representatives of national Churches; each with its own peculiar
responsibility to God for the souls intrusted to its care; each with all
the rights of a national Church, to adapt itself to the varying
conditions of human society; and each bound to preserve the order, the
faith, the sacraments, and the worship of the Catholic Church, for which
it is a trustee. As we kneel by the table of our common Lord we
remember separated brothers. Division has multiplied division until
infidelity sneers at Christianity as an effete superstition, and the
modern Sadducee, more bold than his Jewish brother, denies the existence
of God. Millions for whom Christ died have not so much as heard that
there is a Saviour. It will heal no divisions to say, Who is at fault?
The sin of schism does not lie at one door. If one has sinned by self-
will, the other has sinned as deeply by lack of charity and love. The
way to reunion looks difficult. To man it is impossible. No human
/eirenicon/ can bridge the gulf of separation. There are unkind words to
be taken back, alienations to be healed, and heartburnings to be
forgiven. Where we are blind, God can make a way. When "the God of
Peace" rules in all Christian hearts, our Lord's prayer will be