Papal Council by J. H. W.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 6, 1868

Papal Council.

By J. H. W.

THE Pope has ordered a general council for the fall of 1869, with a peremptory order that all summoned must appear in person or by proxy. There has been no general council since 1545, that of Trent, which was called only at the earnest solicitations of the States, and not by the wish of the Pope. The next preceding that was at Bale, 1431, and preceding that was at Constance, 1414, considered one of the most important of all the councils, by which John Huss, and Jerome of Prague were condemned. The council of Pisa in 1409, declared that the Popes were subordinate to the general councils, and much of the infallibility of the Roman church has always been claimed for these councils. By this will be perceived the importance of the present order. They are not called for slight reasons. Numerous national councils have been held in addition to the general councils. J. H. W.