The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-09-19
A King Of Men.
Liverpool Catholic Timss.I

Men. The King of Men may be an hum ole
individual of little note outside his own
circle, he may be a Prince OF high degree,
he may be nj lightly mooarch, but whatever
is his social position, the source of his pow
er is to he 'Ound in.tbe same piace-in the
hearts of the popu'ace. Yet is popularity
oce of the most elusive shadows at which
worldlings grasp. It is here, We think we
have it fast, bur, 10 you it is gone. Those
who seek after it most rarely find 1t in its
true form. They work it to themselves
tor time, then it evades them, it vanish
ca, and all Is darkness, and bitterness, and
the gOawiug of heart which will not be sat
is6ed. Real popularlty-the popularity OF
a King of Men, the substance without the
shadow-only cumes to those who seek 1t
not, only to those who rather avoid 1t than
court it, only to those whose noble qualities
attract it in spite of their very selves.
Then it lasts then is it a garment for
eternal wear then is it crown which
never fades into nothingness.
OF such is q man now in the North of
England q man, yet Prince; Prince
yet King of Men-ofsuch is HIS Eminence
the Cardin al Archbishop of Westminster.
The secret of his uusought popularity ls
not difficult of discovery. He lives amongst
his people, he lives for his people, he is of
his people, and therefore he abides in their
hearts. There is no righteous cause how
ever lowly but finds in him-only provided
lt - rlgnteOuS-nOL only d ueienucE ou9 nu
advocate. There is no movement, be 1t
low or be it high, for the amelioration of
his fellow wCatholics-nay, of his fellow
coQntrymen in their entirety-tbat he does
not earnestly espouse, that he does not
throw himself into with all the vlSour OF
his vigorous nature, that he does not light
out to the legitimate end. OF his public
labours in connection with the great gener-
al questions OF the day we need not speak :
sutti ce'it to say that he Is the one great
Catholic of Eogaud who commands
respectful hearing on any public Platform
from London to Leeds, and that even those
who differ most from his religious opinions,
who would battle with him Co the death on
a question of creed, never fail tG accord
hun a cordial welcome when he speaks to
them on topics that are common to all.
Such is his popularity amongst Sectarians,
but when We come to speak of the same at
tribute in connection with Catholics, we
experience failure of words. The latter
we'll know what he has done for them
what lie has done for the poor-what he has
done for the orphans of the streets, and for
the babes of the deStitute-what he has
done in the cause of Education-what he
has done in the cause of Temperance
what he has done to raise the people from
their pain, their misery, their degradation
and their vice-and they cherish him in
their souls as being not only to be ven
Grated and to be loved above all others.
but as one to whom is due vast debt of
gratitude that can never be repaid. 1t is
true popularity, respectful popularity be-
slowed entirely unasked, popularity that
cannot die in this world or the next (for it
will follow him with il. prayers hey cud the
tomb), and he reigus in the hearts of his
people, King of Men, Monarch whose
gentle rule of love fascinates while it com
mands.
Bat with this boundless reality of popu-
lality there comes of necessity almost end
less work--work of body as well as the
harder work of brain-and the burden
seems one mercilessly sef-imposed. The
same heaven sent qualities which have
| forced popularity on His Eninence, con
tinue to force on him career of toll simply
marvellous in its expanse. What lie has
done this week in the North of Eugand
what he is still doing, what be has planned
out to do, Is an amount of labour which
most men, half or even third of his age,
would shudder to contemplate in connection
with themselves. He is here, there, and
every where. He breaches at thrs church
in the morning, at that in the evening. He
opens churches, he inaugurates improve
ments, he commences works of Catholic
utility, he travels doing these thinge)
hitber and thither and he undergoes the
ordeal of hot and crowded meetipgs-where
his every word is hung upon By men of all
| parties, and watched with the keenest
scrutiny lest he should fail or contradict
himselt-with patient kindliness, an af
fec tionate solicitude, and mastery of de-
tail that is past all ordinary admiration
He is devoted to his people, he is mingled
up with his people, he tolls for them with :
out rest, he teaches them, and be nurtures
them, he enters into their dearest pro
jects with the sharp zest of II youChfu
entb usiast, and he raises in their hearts 6
furore of love that may not be splled.
| 'This the KING 0f Man who has hPAF
and is amongst US, this is he who draws al
people to him as the ocean draws thing
lying on it's beach, this is the great Cardi
nal-Arch bishop of Westminster-the only
man in all England who can unite where
ever he goes all classes, all ranks, all par
ties, and all nationalities in grea
combination for the good of Mother
Church.
An ERECT GAIT To bend forward or down