New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-17
yEUv1y AND PROTESTAN7ISM.

NFVU1N AND PEOTESTAN1IoM'
The career of Cardinal Newman luri''s"c'
an impressive theme for nearly all 'he rc'bio"'
journals of the week The spirit OF toiera"o0
and Justice in which Protestant wfiterS uiSou>'
the tendencies of that cventtul HE anu Wv
strong and beautiful traits of his character Is
= significant proof of the development OF Chr's
tan charity in this practical age Dr' Nov
man repudiated Professionalism ana Ahs,i''"
ism and sought refuge in the Ronah C"oi0"
~ tho only historic communion in continuous
and unbrOken relations with the AposuN
order and the only stronghold Oh lhia'''pio
faith. II protestlnts can be just III their es'i-
mates of his character and career, II IS Sis.
of the increasing llexiblity OF the haOi'S Oh
current religious thought. Yet from one POM
of Wow such a level of tolerance Is easily anu
naturally reached in this instance. While Dr
Newman after the whirl and drift OF the Ox-
ford movement landed in the Roman Church
his conversion was effected by methods dis
tiuctiyelv evangelical. As he described inc
final process. it was by special Inspiration
that he received submission of heart ana hiihu
70 Rome lie waited patiently at Llttleihore
for call that would be binding upon his con-
science and superior TO his own feasollinE
mowers and volitions. Such conversion ala
NOT differ essentially from the spiritual pro-
cosses recognized under the form of "a change
of heart" by ultra-Protcstantists.
The importance of this means OF conversion
in DIR. Newmans case seems to nave escaPcu
the observation of those who have been coiil-
mcntng upon the fortunes OF the OXFORD Ieau-
ors The manner in which he was led to an
iure Professionalism limited the number oil CON
| vorts who left the English Church with Dlin
| He insisted upon the necessity OF receiving
spccia inspiration before going 10 Rome
Some of his followers were satisfied that the
call had come 10 them, and they went with
him But many more who had been powerfully
influenced by him in tho Tractarian contro-
vcrsv waited in vain for manifestations OF n
will superior 10 their own. Canon MozIeY' III
| his "Reminiscences" has given straight
| forward account Of his own state OF nina when
the signal for secession was raised ny the
Troctorian leader. and Of the counsel which he
received 10 wait until the light should come.
| He WAS one among many who were excluded
from following DR.. Newman by the conditions
of a special inspiration. They waited but the
call never came. If Cardinal Newman had
attributed his conversion solely to the logical
DEVELOPMENT Of his convictions. based upon a
profound study Of the conditions ot primitive
Christianity. the stampede to Rome would nave
been enormously increased. The method OF
his own conversion. rs explained in confidence
to his friends and afterward recorded IN the
NpoIooia. restricted the movement and mar
rowed the results.
DR. Ncwman's career opened with the cen
fury which has witnessed u decline III Sepa-
ratiSt tendencies in the churches. In the SIX
| teenth seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
* many ~ twenty-five powerful religious or
conizations were founded During the last
Gftv wears only one has been formed in Eu-
rome and another in the United states ana
neither Of these new religious bodies Is Hour-
| ishing. ScMiatist movements have pIa'u'al'
~ ceased There are no fresh lines OF clcav-
aoa in thc churches Christian bodies are con
worrying rather than divergng rs they did
after the Reformation. The Apostles Creed
has become the basis of the common faith ol
Chrstendom. In faith. discipline, and even
ritual there is an approach, remote and grad
nal brit still an approach, - unity among III,
churches Cardinal Ncwman'S attitude toward
Professionalism for fifty years was markedly nos
tile. vet the method of the supreme act oil con
version which determined his relations to the
Christian world was one which the sturdle''
rvonpelical believer could comprehend and re
snect. The Cardinal and the Protestant were
never ~ widely separated a they seemed L
b. This is the plain moral OF Protestant t"i
crancc in passing judgment upon his character
! and career.