The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-07

man. one OF the most fascinating per
sonalities of our generation disappears
from the life of England. Living as
recluse he was known wherever the
! English speech is heard. The leader in
the most reactiOnary movement Of our
century IN the Church Of England. he
was loved with an almost sacred eu-
thuslam by Broad Churchman aud Ag-
nostic. A 'pervert to Rome-that thing
! accursed 30 the British Philharmonic
was saint 20 the blatant No PCpery
! Evangelical. 4 me1iayal Churchman.
writing fOndly Of The Arians Of the
Fourth Century. and dwelling sympa-
thetically on The Lives of the Saints.
his spell was curiously LAID upon the
practical man Of the nineteenth centu-
! ry. His h4bitual companions were the
books of monkish Latin which embalm
the spiritual life of Catholicism. yet his
pen was ever dipped 10 the well Of
/ English undctiCd. 80 that his writings
are acknowledged as the masterpieces
of literary style in generation Of the
immorials.
His career was a failure, rs men
Judge. yet who ever thinks Of pitying
him, His youthful effort TO lead back
the Church of England 10 the Mother
Church proved only that logic does not
carry the Briton eff his feet, and that
no most splendid leadership can stem
the current Of the centuries. Bitter.
indeed, must have been the disappoint-
ment % that great soul in the spiritual
solitudes of the OntOry. when his en-
thusiastlc following paused at the chasm
which he had taken So firmly, and drow
back to the illogical shelter OF the Via
Media. Within the Church of Rome.
the foremost churchman OF his day
held no position Of power. and knew no
dignity of title until the ordinary term
OF human life had been passed.
Wonderful as "a cOutrONersiOnalist he
IT, 10 the greater hosts ~ hO knew HIM.
only the author of the finest hymn of
our generation. Those who seem 10 be-
walking Ia opposite directions from
him liz their lol,ost aspirations and
their most sacred sorrows in his cry for
the leadings OF the Kindly Light. The
fascination of his style holds the secret
OF his subtle personal p0wor-a massive
intellectual strength. finely di,ciDlned
attempercd through rich culture. dig
niiled with the majesty OF "A royal soul.
breathing through our inner being that
mystic aiilltus which steals upon Its
from the pages of Plato and Marcus
Aureius.
IL IS too early To estimate Cardinal
Newman contribution To- the thought
aud life OF hrs generation. Despite his
splendid intellectual qualities, his
thought made not for. but agaiast
mental progress. The callOw Evaugel-
icalness Of his boyhood aud the surface
drift Of his young manhood towards
Liberalism were fOreordained 70 pass
on into the Catholicism Of his ripened
years. His Apologize pro Vita Sua"
disclOses the character of his mental
make-up-his suspicion of reason in.
matters of faith, his fear of freedom.
the necessity OF his falling back upon
authority in order 20 strenuOusness Of
living. 1t was inevitable that he should
seek the one Church which. ia the
Western world. can logically claim
authority. In bis magnificent man
hood, he stands as the rebuke OF all
light slurring OF the natures which
turn To the Church Of Rome for mem
tai peace, in order that they may live
nobly.
But, none the less, snch natures are
5uryivals from the past. They belong TO-
the cullahOod Of the race. Manhood,
true word is that the seal of L.ucretia
slott-Truth for authority, not autbor..
iy for truth. The faith that Is IA be
must rest on reason. 50 this lofty
woman 3 lite work cannot bur be called
'eactionary. Perhaps his truest life
work was not Intellectual but spiritual
lne movement which, intellectually.
was a reaction, has cleared and deep.
5ned the inner springs OF spiritual life.
Z has been, like its Contemporary
evangelical movement, religious re-
'ival. To the fascinating personality of
ne great leader Of that movement orr
selfish, secular, nineteenth century So
'iety owes the most impressive illustra-
ton that man 5 life consistent not in
toe abundance OF things which .e pos
'esseth; that tho true honor OF man
nood is TO walk as seeing the things
which are invisible; that still, Is of old
.as answer which Carly 10 80 loved "a
that searching question of the archaic
Catechism holds true, aud man chief
end Is 10 glorify God and enjoy nm for
ever. The real apology for bis life lay
IN that inner necessity OF living with
strenuous earDestness. Thanks 10 the
finest writer OF our day, We know that
.hc age OF the saiuis Is not past. Critic.