Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-04-05
9 s!EuR cATEsBY."
The chsquersd Career Of Ous Of
Disras,i's Heroes.
Moasignore Capsl and His Admirers
cardinal Newman as Prosdytizer---
The Cardinal and the Monsisnoe
mCeaaict---A Mystery That
HAS Yet 10 be Solved.
Bsesr rFmes,

JsAn Thomas Cspei had only reaches ~
climSteris of yeath when. in 1879. Ben
jamin Di9seli ia,rodueed him. under th,
gauzy aieguis OF "catesby." to an audieuce
as wide a. civilization. A young man o
thirtythree, there were no honors tn.
seemed to lie beyond the ambitious hopes Of
the fascinating priest Gifted with rare in
tellect with keen and comprehensive vision
with ready tact with instructive know.
ledge Of human nature in its general out.
lines and special developments, and withal
possessed Of genial, running disposition
and q persuasive manner,h he was already the
idol OF the religious element in London so
cietv. He had been honored with special
tavors by Pope Plus TX. having served as
private Chamberlain in the Papsl house
hold when little over thirty. Through his
persuasive logic distinguished members OF
the English aristocracy had been induced
to Join the Catholic church. and HE active
brain and wide knowledge made him rec
ognized factor in the hidden mechanism Of
European politics. The Catesby Of "Lo-
THAR seemed like study from the era Of
Machiavelh and the supple diplomatists Of
the past, yet there was less, far less than
Disraeli's customary exaggeration in the
picture "Catesby' was study from lite,
drawn by the skillful hand OF kindred
spirit, and one who had raised himself from
a lower depth than Cspel ever sounded to
an eminence that might we'll satisfy even
the dreams of the ambitious ecclesiasts am.
bitiou.
The Monsignor occupied an anomalous
position in the Catholic Church; yes l may
say position as anomalous as that church
itself occupies in England. There is, of
course, as a matter Of fact, the fullest and
! freest tolerance for Catholic worship in Eng
land and the p-elates of that church air their
dignities and exercise their authority as
openly in England as in the United States
OF Spain. But England is fond OF legal
| fctions and she sticks with character
| is,ic persistence TO the fiction that the Cath
Ollie church is not allowed to celebrate its
rights, and that Catholic bishops are not
allowed to wear their titles in Great Brit.
ain. This is only one Of the beautiful and
romantic fctions which are embedded IN
English law like the proverbial fly in the
amber. One Of these Gctions is that the
King or Queen can do no wrong-which to.
day only means that they can do nothing and
that all power is welded by the ministers
another is the kindred fgment that
all the soil is owned by the king and that the
real landlords, who collect the rents and
otherwise enjoy the benefits OF ownership,
only hold revokable grant from his
Majesty. This is why have said that the
Catholic Church holds an anomalous posi-
ton in England. Scarcely less anomalous
was the position held by Monsignor John
Thomas Capel about the time OF Disraeli
celebrated publication. Not even Henry
Edward Manning, Cardinal, Prince
and Archbishop Of Westminster, was
more potent in council or deeper in the
secrets of Rome; yet the Monsignor had no
powers beyond those Of an unattached priest.
This was due in some measure perhaps, to
the delicate health which had compelled DR..
Capel to spend much of his time in South
ern Europe. 1t may have been also due in
part, as current rumor alleged, to
! jealousy on the part OF the high
er dipnitaries Of the church, OF the attain
ments and popularity Of the young priest.
But he had behind him the favor Of the
Vatican, and under the direction Of DR..
Newman, afterwards created Cardinal, he
was entrusted with the supervision OF the
educational Institution at Keningston, which
was intended as the nucleus OF great
Catholic university in England.
| II.
John Henry Newman, now Cardinal
! Deacon and second in authority in England
TO Cardinal Manning, is, like the latter pre-
late n convert from Professionalism, and,
like Manning also he held big Oh rank as
scholar and divine before he relinquished
the honors he had gained to seek
fresh distinction within the pale Of
Rome. He has been especially interested
in the culture Of the clergy, recognizing the
fact that in such country as England an
illiterate clergy could only bring the church
into disrepute and retard, rather than pro-
mote its advances. Strange as it may
seem, the men OF the Manning and
Newman stripe have never relin-
ouished the idea that England, in
spite Of evangelicalism, in spite OF
the spread Of materialistic culture, in
spite Of the traditional jealousy Of the pre-
| tentions of Rome that has become nation
al instinct, can yet be reeonquered for the
Roman Communion. 1t has been custo.
mary to laugh at the extravagant fears OF
Whailey, Newdegate, Sir WiItred lawson
and the other ultra-Protestants who Tor
years kept the House Of Commons amused
by their anxiety last Rome should steal a
march on them, but these gentlemen have
not been go far astray in their instructive
recognition of the plans and purposes ofthe
Roman hierarchy. Of course in the mis-
sionary zeal that inspired Wiseman as it in-
spires Manning and Newman there is moth
inc more discreditabe than the kindred SEN
| tipept that fires the zeal Of the propaganda
lists Of every faith. II men believe that
their doctrine il right, they are justified in
declaring it; if they believe that its recep.
ton is necessary to salvation, as the mis-.
sionaries OF every faith believe, they eannot
aim at anything less than universal con-
guest.
So much by way of DEPRESSION. had in.
tended to speak Of the peculiar personal
qualities of DR.. Newman, under whose d.
rection Monsignor Capel found himself 10
his work at kensington. He IS man oil
undoubted earnestness, naturally gentle,
mild aud placable, but hard as steel when
disciplinary vigor is demanded in the inter
est Of the church. He recognized the per
sonal charm Of Capel and the force OF the
spell exerted by the young priest, but be
was the last man in the world TO be IN
fuenced BY such considerations IN bis oii'
cial capacity.
| Suddenly Monsignor Cspel fell under q
eloud. The Cardinal regarded him. NTH
disfsvor, his functions were suspended, and
he left England for Rome, where be wa,
s,ill remembered With kindly favor. he
met friendly reception, and his story o.
the difficulty that had disturbed hrs
6.;o,dlv relations with his ecclesiasti