The New York herald., 1879-03-06
CARDINAL JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

The official list of the cardinals be created at the
next Colsstory includes informed by a
telegram from Rome dated March s. the name OF DR..
Newman. The elevation of Father Newman to the
rank of prince of the Roman Catholic Church
is an event which has long been expected.
1t is deserved tribute to rare personal
merit and exquisite literary attainments BY
this step POPE Leo MIL has proved him
self superior to the trammels which the
uitramontanes have sought to impose upon him
and England has gained second resident cardinal.
who, like his colleague, Cardinal Manning belongs
to the highest type the aristocracy of worth and
intellect.
Father Newman is the elder brother of the disin-
guished Professor Francis William Newman, late OF
University College, who, after long secession from
Christianity any form, has lately become y devout
member of the Unitarian Church. They are the
of John Newman, member of the banking
firm of Ramsbottom, Newman & Co.. of Lombard
street, their mother being OF French Huguenot de-
scent. They were born in London, the elder Oh Feb
ruary 21 1901, the younger in 1905. They edu-
Gated together at Ealing school, and were both grad
mates of Oxford University. though not at the same
time nor at the college. John Henry Newman
graduated with classical honors at Trinity in 1920
having gained competitive scholarship in 1873 He
was elected fellow of Oriel in 1922 and having
taken orders in the Church of England IN 1924,
chosen the following year vice principal OF st.
Adams Hail. Oxford, the principal being DR.. Richard
Whately, aftcrward Archbishop of Dublin. Mr.. New
man much influenced by Dr. whatey whom he
aided in preparing for the press his Dialogues
Logic From 1926 to 1881 Newman was active and
efficient tutor Of Trinity College, and in 1928 he be-
came incumbent OF ST. Marys Church, Oxford, where
his preaching soon excrted powerful influence upon
tho younger members OF the University aud is still
remembered the principal factor i'll the rise of the
..Tractaran' or ..English Catholic" movement
which is usually dated from the year 1888, though
the same influences had been at work for several years
before. 1t was in December, 1882, that MIR. Newman.
beng ut Rome with his friend Hurrel Froude,
forciby impressed with the idea that the great mis-
sion OF his life to combat sccpticism in religion
and it was his journey homeward that he wrote
january 49, 1893, his beautiful hymn.
Lead kindly light, amid the encircling gloom
which is highly priced by Christians of every
denomination. On his return to Oxford Mr.. New
man became actively engaged with Hugh Rose, Keble
+. b. Pusey and the late Hurrell Froude (eder
brother of the historian III well concerted anglo
Catholic movement, OF which he the real head.
The celebrated Tracts for the Times" " commenced in
1888. We're due to his suggestion. and the most
effective of the series, including the last and most
famous, Tract No. 9O," were written by him. At
the request OF Hugh Rose, Mr.. Newman undertook
to write IA history of the Catholic Church Councils,
rs the first volumes of projected theological
library. and the first part of this work
the Fourth Century" In 1884 his theological opin-
ions led to rupture of his long friendship and
association with DR.. Whately. In the succeeding
years Dr. Newman's pen very active. lie pub
lished. among other works, Lectures on Romanism
and Popular Professionalism 1s37). "Thc Church of
the Fathers Qs40 eight volumes OF "Parochai
Sermons Qs3S-i4 an Essay on the Miracles of
the Middle Ages (lS43). an "Annotated Translation
Theory of Religious Belief (ls44 In 1912 his di-
vcrgenccs from his associates i'll the AngoCatholic
movement became so marked that lie quit Oxford
and established ut I.ttlemore ascetic community
medieval model, and thenceforth he tended
rapidly toward Catholicism.
This is not the place 10 give the history of DR..
Newman's conversion to tho Roman Catholic COM
munion, which was cons,tmmated in October 1Si5,
when he was ordained a priest and appointed the
head OF tho Oratory OF st. Philip Ner at Birming-
ham. In 1854 he was appointed rector of the newly
founded Catholic university at Dublin. but resigned
that post in 1858. Subsequently he established a
school for the children Catholic gentry at Edg-
baston. near birmingham. where he has since resided
In December. 1877. Father Newman
honorary fellow OF Oriel College. oxford. Among his
many works of latcr years the celebrated Devcl
opmcnt of Christian Doctrine (ls46); two novels
Loss and Gain and ''Callista;" Lectures and
ESSAYS University Subjects Qs59): "Apologia
probita Sua'' tiS6t, being autobiographical his
tory OF his religious opinions; ayolume of poems
to the Duke OF Norfolk on Mr. Gladstone's Expostu-
lation" Qs75). a work which produced profound
effect. 1t is understood that Dr. Newman more than
once declined promotion in the Church of Rome
when offered by the late Ponti1.
THE ''sArURpAY' NEWMAN.
The first intmation of DIR. Newman probable ele-
vation to the Cardinalate warmly welcomed by
the leading English journals few weeks ago. The
refusal 20 accept tho honor conferred upon HIM
at has been left for the of Plus IX. TO show
at his just appreciation of merit by making
ardy rcparation for long neglect and Offering DR..
Newman the purple. That ut his and with his
firing disposition he should have declined IL is matter
rather for regret than for surprise; but it is dis
tincty matter for regret. IL pity that the great
est Englishman since the Reformation who has
shared the faith OF Woscy, Fisher and Pole should
not inherit their mantle. No doubt the Sacred Col
lcge would have gained far more honor than it
could give by receiving hun among its
members; and this circumstance, of course,
must make his decision doublv rcgrettable
to those who are jealous tor the credit of body
which found room for the intellect OF Cullen and
the pcty of an Antonelli. while Rosmin, Dupanloup
and Darboy were studiously excluded from the
charmed circle. There would have been something
congruous in seeing the man whose old college at
Oxford has unanimously enrolled his name. though
an alien from his former creed. among
her honorary fellows, also enrolled in that
held the highest rank in the communion to
which lie has transferred his brilliant services. And
when think of other names inscribed where his
Is omitted 1t is difficult 10 reflect without smile
"a sigh the capricious distribution of human
titles and dignitics. Dr. Newman's fame. indeed.
needs no tinsc gliding, AMI to himself personally
such external adjuncts will be matter of less than
Indifference But IL is well at least that he should
not have been suffered to pass away without offer
of the highest distinction his Church had to bestow
and well that Leo Kill. should have had the wisdom
and the courage to offer it,
THE SCHNETZER HOMICIDE.