The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-08-23

Manning, but also one of its most be-
loved men.
Ia a recent issue of the Contemporary
Review Mr.. Richard III. Hutton gave an
elaborate estimate of the literary char
acter and abilities of Cardinal Newman
He said:
"Even in his oxford sermons. even in
his theological poems, even IN his con-
trovers1al lectures. you have the keenest
sense of the literary fexibiiity of his
mind-of the humcr. the v1vacity, the
sympathy with what is essentially due
to the structure of our nature, as we'll
as with what is due to the struggles of
our Wills. by which his predominant
theologicalinteres are relieved. This
is why have been so fascinated by his
writings since was q lad Of 10 or 20.
This is why have often said that if it
were ever my hard lot to suffer solitary
confinement, and were given my choice
Of books, but were limited to one or
two, I should prefer DR.. Newman to
Shakespeare himself. Not, Of course.
that there 10 any comparison possible
! between The two. but while Shake
speare's vitality would undoubtedly in
fame the natural residences OF captivity,
DR.. Newman's influeace would help me,
as none other of equal richness, variety
and plav Of mind would help me. to
realize the comparative Indifference of
outward circumstances in world ruled
by God.
':Let anyone who doubts DR.. New
mans power of satire read the closing
chapters of Loss and GAIN where crazy
founders Of sects, in rapid succession,
seek to make prize of the man who is
known to be severing himself from the
church of England. before he unites
himself with the church OF Rome.
There are passages in these chapters
containing comedy as effective as any
thing written in our time. Indeed, in
earlier portions of the same book, the
evangelical tea party at Oxford, the ac-
count of the hero's interview with the
! vice principal when he is first suspected
of Romanizing, aud by the farewell
taken of him bv the old principal of his
college ON the same occasion, illustrate
| amply DR.. Newman's turn for that real
ism which Is the most effective satire,
and that satire which is nothing but
reason thrown up against background
Of society and good sense.
''It would be impossible within the
limits of an article to give any impress
sion of the many sides Of Cardinal
Newman's flexible and subtle, and above
all luminous and lucid intellect. His
greatest efforts are never ambitious;
and whether you 60 with him or not, he
is sure to interest you more than you
anticipated, and to leave you with a
sense of wider horizon and of closer
spiritual ties. If anyone asks how one
who is not Roman Catholic can think
the upshot of DR.. Nawman's career an
immense gain to the world, when he.
more than any living Englishman, has
done so much to make men Roman
Catholics. / should reply that, in our
age. at least, it is no small gain to have
made the Roman church interesting and
! intellig,ble to so many Professionals, and
to have made at the same time q con-
siderable number OF Protestant convic
tions interesting and Ineligible to SO
manv Roman Catholics. Aud this, at
least. DR.. Newman has done. though
this is the least part Of his work. The
greatest OF his claims on our gratitude
is that he has added 50 much to our
knowledge Of human nature, and, es
peciallv to our knowledge Of the links
which connect human nature with the
supernatural life above us. If it has
been the special philosophical work OF
the last generation to show us how
much Of almost mechanical intelligence
there is In the very structure of our
bodies, to say nothing Of the habits OF
our minds, il has been Cardinal New
man specia! work to explain the opera
ton Of implicit and unconscious. as dis
tinguished from explicit and conscious,
reasoning. on the higher life Of men.
and to vindicate the trustworthiness Of
that implicit reasoning wherever 1t is
made the instrument OF a constant and
earnest purpose. But he has done much
more than enlarge the philosophy of
religious belief. Alike for Roman Cath
olics and for Professionals, he. has invest
ed religious subjects with q new and