The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-14
DR.. Newman.

DR.. Newman.
A correspondent of the Boston Pilot
thus writes from Birmingham
Next to the important business of a per. .
sorai nature which called me to this city,
the subject that awakened the greatest in
terest and the most pleasing authorizations
the in prospect, was the seeing and hearing
great Dr. Newman, who, rs is we'll known,
was the founder, and for a long time past
has been the Superior of the Birmingham
Oratory. To those who, like myself pre-
vious to my visit to England, had very
vague ideas as to the locality, the sur
roundipgs and the nature of their Institute,
it may not be out of place to say that of
the distinguished converts from Anglican
ism who came over to the Church, during
the great Catholic revival in Oxford some
thirty years ego, two religious houses
or foundations were formed under the rule
of St. Philip de Neri. These establish
One of these Oratories was located in
the then new suburb of Kensington, Lon
don, and was called the Brompton Oratory.
1t was presided over, during his life, by
the late Very Rev. Frederick William
whole Catholic world for the numerous
beautiful and edifying books of devotion
al and practical character, of which he
was the author, and which have been
translated and published in nearly every
European language.
The other Oratory was established in
the great manufacturing city of Birming-
ham days ride from London by rail, an d
has since been presided over by the Very
Rev. DR.. Newman.
The Brompton Oratory, which I listed
when in London, is somewhat larger and
much finer than the Birmingham, especial
ly tie chapel, which is really gem in it's
way, and bears striking testimony to the
exquisite taste of Father Faber. The pro-
ximity of the establishment to the Ken
siugton Gardens, Remington Museum,
aud other government buildings erected
since the oratory was built, adds immense
ly to its value, and makes 1t most desira-
BILE situation.
The Birmingham Oratory stands near
the corner where two streets form an an
gle of about so or 60 degrees, and fronts on
both streets except that the extreme cor
ner is occupied by the house and Office of
the agent Of Lord Colthorpe, from whom
their land was purchased.
On Sunday the correspondent attended
Mass, and there at the Oratory, at the
usual time, the venerable man who for so
many years has occupied so large space
in the religious world, and around whom
still clusters 80 much of interest, curiosity,
affection and expectation, arose from his
seat IN a retired part of the sanctuary, and
making the accustomed act of reverence,
stepped down to the second step on which
was q email pedestal, scarcely large enough
to hold his handkerchief and small TESLA
ment, and there stood, and after reading
the Epistle and Gospel for the day,
announced the subject OF his discourse.
Shall try to describe the Doctors ap-
pearance He is, then, scarcely above
medium height, quite thin and spare, with
that same ascetic look which characterizes
the iIlustrious DR.. Manning, whom in gen-
e,a appearance, he somewhat resembles !;
ha,r quite gray, in fact almost white, and
LAYING upon his forehead in manner in
dtcating either negligement or an unusually
way ward disposition, prominent nose, eye
uudimmed, of a decidedly intellectual cast
Of cuunte nance, a slight stoop indicating
the approach of age (he is now ny, yet the
moment he begins to speak you see that he
has lost none of that clearuess and vigor of
mind, that deep Intellectual insight aud
comprenhensiveness of genius, that intui-
tive perception and grasp of philosophic
thought tor which he has always been dis
tiDGuished.
His voice is soft and low, almost femi-
nine, in fact, except in the lower register,
as ia giving expression to some pathetic
passage, when it is deep aud full of feeling.
His manner is quiet and rehued, his style
conversational without effort at eloquence,
aud with no action except slight motion
of the right hand in giving utterance to an
unusually stirring and eloquent thought.
Evidently the Doctor was not cut out for a
sensational, or even for what is ordinarily
termed popular preacher. He utterly
eschews the tricks of Oratory. Yet there
is an eloquence of it's own, even in his mo-
desty and humility, which speaks to the
heart of his hearers and prepossesses them
in his favor, while any defect of manner ID
more than compensated by the eloeuence
of thought, the strength of reasoning, the
beauty of language and chasteness ofillus-
tration, which characterize all his public
addresses. ought, in Justice to the Doc
tor, to remark before closing, that, though
not by any means handsome a9 son man, he is
make him. The frst that saw 10 the
States were, l must say, mere carrcatures.
Lately, am happy to say, they have sue.
ceeded in securing at least two very good
photographs, representing him in a sitting
posture, 10 the act of reading or studying.