Page:William John Sparrow-Simpson - Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility (1909).djvu/290

 270 character of foreign nations, but as credulous as a nun."

Frustrated in that last appeal, the deputation returned to their party. A meeting was held very late on the Saturday night. What should the minority do? The bolder spirits proposed that they should attend the Public Session, and openly repeat their rejection of the doctrine. But the bolder spirits were few. Many shrank from such resolute action. They held it inconsistent with respect for the Pope to pronounce a public protest in his presence at the final Session when the doctrine would be proclaimed. They had misgivings as to the number who had the courage for such a stand. Diminishing numbers added point to this misgiving. Many Bishops had already left the city, others were going. Was it prudent to appear in protest shorn of their real numerical strength? Moreover, there were personal anxieties and fears. What if in the Public Session their protest was over-ruled? The determination of the majority to decree the dogma at any cost was now beyond dispute. Illusion was impossible. The formidable anathema attached to the decree might in another forty-eight hours apply to themselves. They were very uneasy in the papal precincts. They would infinitely prefer to take refuge in the safety of their own cathedral cities, far away from the entanglements, oppressive atmosphere, moral as well as physical, in Rome. Consequently caution prevailed. They composed a letter to the Pope, the last of their many futile protestations, couched in terms of deference, but registering their continued allegiance to their ancient principles. And by Sunday evening most of the seventy Bishops, representatives of some of the most illustrious