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interchange of more and more important and confidential
communications。 Soon poor Mr。 Russell was little better than a
fly
buzzing in gossamer。 And Manning was careful to see that he
buzzed on the right note。 In his dispatches to the Foreign
Secretary； Lord Clarendon； Mr。 Russell explained in detail the
true nature of the Council； that it was merely a meeting of a
few Roman Catholic prelates to discuss some internal matters of
Church discipline； that it had no political significance
whatever； that the question of Infallibility； about which there
had been so much random talk； was a purely theological question；
and that； whatever decision might be come to on the subject； the
position of Roman Catholics throughout the world would remain
unchanged。
Whether the effect of these affirmations upon Lord Clarendon was
as great as Manning supposed is somewhat doubtful； but it is at
any rate certain that Mr。 Gladstone failed to carry the Cabinet
with
him； and； when at last a proposal was definitely made that the
English
Government should invite the Powers of Europe to intervene at the
Vatican；
it was rejected。 Manning always believed that this was the direct
result
of Mr。 Russell's dispatches； which had acted as an antidote to
the poison
of Lord Acton's letters； and thus carried the day。 If that was
so； the
discretion of biographers has not yet entirely lifted the veil
from these proceedings Manning had assuredly performed no small
service for his cause。 Yet his modesty would not allow him to
assume for himself a credit which； after all； was due elsewhere；
and when he told the story of those days； he would add； with more
than wonted seriousness； 'It was by the Divine Will that the
designs of His enemies were frustrated'。
Meanwhile； in the North Transept of St。 Peter's a certain amount
of preliminary business had been carried through。 Various
miscellaneous points in Christian doctrine had been
satisfactorily determined。 Among others； the following Canons
were laid down by the Fathers： 'If anyone does not accept for
sacred and canonical the whole and every part of the Books of
Holy Scripture； or deny that they are divinely inspired； let him
be anathema。' 'If anyone says that miracles cannot be； and
therefore； the accounts of them； even those in Holy Scriptures
must be assigned a place among fables and myths； or that the
divine origin of the Christian religion cannot rightly be proved
from them； let him be anathema。' 'If anyone says that the
doctrines of the Church can ever receive a sense in accordance
with the progress of science； other than that sense which the
Church has understood and still understands； let him be
anathema。'
'If anyone says that it is not possible； by the natural light of
human reason； to acquire a certain knowledge of the One and True
God； let him be anathema。' In other words； it became an article
of Faith that Faith was not necessary for a true knowledge of
God。 Having disposed of these minor matters； the Fathers found
themselves at last approaching the great question of
Infallibility。
Two main issues； it soon appeared； were before them： the。 Pope's
infallibility was admitted； ostensibly at least； by all； what
remained
to be determined was： （1） whether the definition of the Pope's
Infallibility
was opportune； and （2） what the definition of the Pope's
Infallibility was。
（1） It soon became clear that the sense of the Council was
overwhelmingly
in favour of a definition。 The Inopportunists were a small
minority；
they were outvoted； and they were obliged to give way。 It only
remained； therefore； to come to a decision upon the second
question what the definition should actually be。
（2） It now became the object of the Inopportunists to limit the
scope
of the definition as much as possible； while the Infallibilists
were
no less eager to extend it。 Now everyone； or nearly everyone； was
ready
to limit the Papal Infallibility to pronouncements ex
cathedrathat is
to say； to those made by the Pope in his capacity of Universal
Doctor；
but this only served to raise the ulterior； the portentous； and
indeed
the really crucial questionto WHICH of the Papal pronouncements
ex cathedra
did Infallibility adhere？
The discussions which followed were； naturally enough； numerous；
complicated；
and embittered； and in all of them Manning played a conspicuous
part。 For
two months the Fathers deliberated； through fifty sessions they
sought the
guidance of the Holy Ghost。 The wooden seats； covered though they
were with Brussels carpet； grew harder and harder； and still the
mitred Councillors sat on。 The Pope himself began to grow
impatient； for one thing； he declared； he was being ruined by the
mere expense of lodging and keeping the multitude of his
adherents。 'Questi infallibilisti mi faranno fallire'； said his
Holiness。 At length it appeared that the Inopportunists were
dragging out the proceedings in the hope of obtaining an
indefinite postponement。 Then the authorities began to act； a
bishop was shouted down； and the closure was brought into
operation。 At this point the French Government； after long
hesitation； finally decided to intervene； and Cardinal Antonelli
was informed that if the Definition was proceeded with； the
French
troops would be withdrawn from Rome。 But the astute Cardinal
judged that he could safely ignore the threat。 He saw that
Napoleon III was tottering to his fall and would never risk an
open rupture with the Vatican。 Accordingly； it was determined to
bring the proceedings to a close by a final vote。 Already the
Inopportunists； seeing that the game was up； had shaken the dust
of Rome from their feet。 On July 18th； 1870； the Council met for
the last time。 As the first of the Fathers stepped forward to
declare his vote； a storm of thunder and lightning suddenly burst
over St。 Peter's。 All through the morning the voting continued；
and every vote was accompanied by a flash and a roar from heaven。
Both sides； with equal justice； claimed the portent as a
manifestation of the Divine Opinion。 When the votes were
examined； it was found that 533 were in favour of the proposed
definition and two against it。 Next day； war was declared between
France and Germany； and a few weeks later the French troops were
withdrawn from Rome。 Almost in the same moment； the successor of
St。 Peter had lost his Temporal Power； and gained Infallibility。
What the Council had done was merely to assent to a definition of
the dogma of the Infallibility of the Roman Pontiff which Pius IX
had issued； proprio motu； a few days before。 The definition
itself was perhaps somewhat less extreme than might have been
expected。 The Pope； it declared； is possessed； when he speaks ex
cathedra； of 'that infallibility with which the Redeemer willed
that His Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding
faith or morals'。 Thus it became a dogma of fai