told upon those without, and a change of tone is perceptible since that date. Next came the Encyclical and Syllabus, which summed up in one act the declarations of so many years, giving them a new promulgation and a sensible accession of power over the minds, not only of the faithful, but even of opponents, by the concentrated force and weight of their application. This, again, prepared for the declaration of the bishops at this Centenary of S. Peter's Day. Every bishop in the world had the Encyclical and Syllabus in his hands. Upon that summary of the acts of this whole Pontificate five hundred bishops proclaim their adhesion to every declaration and every condemnation therein contained, and to every other act of doctrinal authority since their last assembly in Rome. It is the Encyclical and Syllabus which gives such force and import to the words of the episcopate the other day. It is the basis of their Salutation, as they style the address. It will be also the basis and the guide of the General Council, prescribing and directing its deliberations and decrees. That it should be 'perplexing' to those who refuse to learn of the Church throughout the world is not wonderful. Light is perplexing to eyes that are only half open, or, from disease, are again half shut. The greatest blunder in the world's eyes is Catholicism: the next greatest is Christianity. Ultramontanism is Catholic Christianity.
I will make but one more remark on these popular errors, on which already I have said more than their intrinsic worth demands. We are told: 'In one Roman
