Page:The True Story of the Vatican Council.djvu/85

Rh give rise to questions as to the œcumenicity of the Council. The principle of this decision was that the Bulls by which councils have been convoked call together "archbishops, bishops, &c.;" therefore the axiom, "Ubi lex non distinguit, nec nos distinguere debemus," takes effect.

A letter of earnest and affectionate invitation was then written "to all bishops of the Churches of the Oriental Rite who are not in communion with the Apostolic See." This letter was presented to the patriarch of the Orthodox Greek Church, but he did not see fit so much as to open it. It was on that day, we are told, that four millions of Bulgarians notified to the same patriarch their withdrawal from his jurisdiction.

A letter was also written to all Protestants and other non-Catholics.

At the Council of Trent the same invitation was given, but with no happier result. Julius the Second published the condition on which they were invited—namely, a recognition of the divine authority of the Church. On no other condition could the Church invite them without abdicating its divine commission.

2. It will be hereafter seen of how great importance was also another question decided at this time by the Commission of Direction—that is, to whom it belongs to form the order or method by which, the proceed-