CHAPTER XLVII.
The Council of London, a.d. 1900.
It was a foregone conclusion. Perish Christianity, but live the Church! our heroine’s dictum to the cardinal, had prevailed, the papacy had comprehended the situation, which, indeed, had become even more formidable for Catholicism than on the day of departure from Rome. For the French Chamber, partly because the exile from Italy looked like the coup de grâce, but partly also because it was influenced by the clever intrigues of Madame Pisa-Vitri, who had brought her talents and her rancour to Paris, suppressed the Budget of Public Worship by a heavy majority; thus the whole clergy of France were thrown at a stroke upon voluntary support for their livelihood, which support, however, flowed in so ungrudgingly that it was doubtful whether the clergy were not in some respects better off than before. Still, their position was now dependent upon their popularity, and the moral effect of the change could not be otherwise than far-reaching.
The Æcumenical Council held in London had lasted nearly a week, and various dignitaries of the Church summoned from the principal Catholic communities of the world, had spoken on the proposed Definition; but it will suffice to translate two of the shorter speeches, one from each side.
