Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-16
OUR LONDON LETTER.
SOMETHING OF MoNsIGNoR CAPEL AS
REGARDED AT home.
Roman Catholicism In England - Its
Growth in Forty Reinstatement
Of Present strength-Etc.
LoNpoN. January 26. 1854,

midst, and his presence and labors will no
doubt have awakened curiosity as to the
position occupied by his church in the
country whence he hails-this Protestant
nation of England. Capeps personal ca
reer here has been one of extraordinary
brilliancy, but the bright star has had its
periods of observation, and has passed
through many storms. The circumstances
of his birth were not favorable in such a
country as this to the highest success. His
father, understand, was a coast-guards-
man. His mother is still living and pre-
sides over fashionable boarding house at
Hastings, one of the popular seaside re-
sorts. Sterling people, but with no blue
blood in their veins. That they managed
TO afford their son thorough education,
and that he, from such humble beginnings,
has pushed his way into the highest circles
of English society, are two facts which are
highly
CREDITABLE TO ALL CONCERNED.
He started in public life as schoolmaster
at Hammersmith, but his great aptitude in
teaching, together with his fine character
and gentIemanly bearing, marked him out
very shortly as being destined for higher
things. Ordained to the priesthood, he
developed at once into a popular orator.
For some years his winters were spent IN
Pau, in the south of France, and his preach
ing there was all the rage, particularly
among the upper classes. 1t was here that
Capel found his way into the confidence
and affections of those prominent members
of the British aristocracy, such as the Mar
ouis of Butte and others, with whom, ever
since, his name has been 80 intimately as
ISOLATED in the public mind. His polite
manners. fine culture and broad liberality
IA rare thing then in Catholic divinesl were
the passports to this high social circle, and
while these personal qualities inspired re-
spect, his eloquence enabled him to both
CHARM HIS NEW FRIENDS
And win them over. When Butte entered
the Catholic Church, Capel's fortune was
made. alike in social and in a churchly
sense, for, whether rightly or wrongly,
everybody gave him the credit of this con-
version, and it was not likely either that
Rome would fail to reward such signal
service, OF that the man who was supposed
to have done such wonderful thing could
be other than great character in the estl-
nation of the people of England. Capel
became private chaplain to the Marquis of
Butte, and was handsomely recompensed.
But the shining talents Of this great
Roman diplomat were not to be buried in a
private chaplaincy. Capels own ambition
forbade this, and, moreover, the way to a
wider field of usefulness and renown
seemed to be pointed out By circumstances.
The Catholic Bishops had issued a protest
against the attendance of Catholic young
men at Oxford and Cambridge, and there
appeared to be an opening for a great
Catholic university. Lord Braye and other
Catholic noblemen objected, but the Bish-
ops were incorrigible, and Capel seemed
just
THE MAN TO LEAD THIS MOVEMENT.
The institution was started, and, as
everyone knows, it came to a speedy and
ignominious end. Cspel lost everything,
and became bankrupt-everything. that
IL, in the way of means. But he still re-
tanned the confidence Of Rome and was
still the pet of the Catholic and of many of
the Protestant aristocracy. Butte Is his
fast friend to-day, and would not hesitate
to again, if necessary, help him out OF his
difficulty. Mons. Capel knows we'll from
experience that troubles do not come
singly, fol at about the time OF his financial
embarrassment Cardinal Manning showed
dislike for him. The bona tide facts in
the case will probably never get beyond a
privileged few, but there were secret meet
ings of the Bishops at the Cardinals house,
and Capel was supposed to be the subject
of conversation. The career of such a
man was certain to set enyious tongues to
wagging. Drawing to his ministrations
immense crowds of the best people in Lon.
followed and almost iiolized by lot
of women belonging to the first rank in the
social world, it was inevitable that some
body would become
JEALOUS OF HIS INFLUENCE.
This, am assured, was the secret of the
trouble between Capel and the Cardinal,
for Manning with all his real greatness of
character, has the small failing of not
liking to be overshadowed. For several
years Capel did not preach in London.
But the Pope, am told, has always sus-
tanned the great preacher, and Capel had
a habit, whenever anything unpleasant
arose, of proceeding to Rome and taking
his Holiness into his confidence. The last
time he went he said so much as to make
it necessary for Cardinal Manning to fol-
low. There are thus few Catholics in
England who are not sorry to learn that
Capels visit to China has been a compar-
alive failure. / am sure this fact causes
no regret at the palace OF the Cardinal.
Many more, however, would be glad if his
lecturing tJur should even yet prove a
success, particularly in a financial sense,
for the money realized would be relief to
the great propaganda. There are rumors
that, upon his return, your brilliant and
distinguished guest will settle down to the
quiet exercise OF his priestly functions
somewhere in Italy, country he greatly
loves.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IL ENGLAND
Had a hard struggle for several centuries,
but inch by inch it gained ground, even
while it vas enduring the severest peTse-
cutions, and since the letters have been
broken and fair chance has been given it,
the progress made has been simply marvel
Gus. That this country should look upon
it with distrust Tor a long time after the
Reformation was perfectly natural; and
Just as natural was it that eventually dis
trust should give place to the broadest toll.
GRAFTON. The traditions OF the country are
Catholic a long and glorious part OF its
history was made under Catholic domino.
ton the priesthood Of its Established
Church traces its succession through Catho.
lie lines, and the grandes. Of its church edi-
fees are monuments alike of Catholic art
and Of Catholic hberalisy. The influence
of these things was sure to assert itself Of.
ter season. Meanwhile, with ind siatiga.
BILE zeal, with consummate diplomacy and
with that active benevolence which always
distinguishes its operations, the Church it.
self has gone steadily forward, doing It's
work, pressing its claims to recognition.
ministering to the wants Of It's own people
and making converts from the outside.
Such policy could not fail to succeed. ard
It has succeeded, l should say, beyond the
expectations of the most ssnguine In its
latest triumphs it has been helped not :
little by the Ritualistic party. With so
many Protestant Churches
FLAJNTING d Ceremonial
So nearly akin to that of Rome, and so
many Protestant clergymen declaring the
Reformation to have been blunder, how
could the people do otherwise than begin
to look with favor on the old faith and
forns? A fact worthy of note is that the
chief clerical strength of the Remain
hierarchy hiss been won over from the Ma