The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-08-30
CARDINA MANS WORKS
"a - .1T4x7 59F51
They Are Admitted By Alto Be By Far
the Grandest Literary Produc- "a
tions Of the Age.

tions Of the Age.
MASTER OF ENGLISH uNDEF Led
Even Gladstone Himself Admitted That TIL
Late Cardinal Was the Most Inter
estlng Writer Of the Age
Whatever difference of opinion men
may entertain regarding the motives
which induced the late Cardinal New
man to forsake the faith Of his fathers
and enter the pale Of the Catholic
Church, and however yariouslY they
NAV judge the arguments he puts for.
ward in his writings in defence Of his
change of creed, all admit that his pen
was well spring Of English undefiled:
and all agree that his writings, judged
solely by their literary value, are en-
titled to rank among the classics of hll
mother tongue. Probably it was be-
cause that great { bserver of events
knew the potency of Newman's pen and
the charm Of his written words that
Disraeli declared, when Newman's con.
version to Cathollcity was announced,
that his detection from Anglicanlsm
was the severest blow that the estab-
lished church had ever received. Mr.
Gladstone is on record as admitting
that the late cardinal was the most
permanently interesting writer of hia
age, and the beauty, force and clearness
of Newman's writings have evoked
lavish praises from the severest of
critics so often that it would be almost
superhuous to adduce their testimonies
here. A writer in one of the leading
American magazines said of him a few
years ago: 'Dr. Newman, secluded pa
has been his life. has always get the
world in his eye; It's unceasing war
sounds in hisear as does the murmur Of
of ocean in the farmland she'll. I'm one
Of his Catholic sermons, the sixth of his
tDiscourses to Mixed Congregations.
there is a gorgeous piece Of rhetoric in
which hes describes the people looking
iii at the shop windows and reading
advertisements in the newspapers.
Many Of his pages glow with light, heat
and color. One is at times reminded
Of Fielding. And all this comparing
and distinguishing, this illustrating
and appealing and describing, is done
with the practised hand of :consum-
mate writer and orator. He as SUBJ
tie as Gladstone and ais moving as
Erskine; but whereas Gladstone is often
clumsy, and Erskine lis sometimes
crude, Newman is never clumsy; New
man isnever crude. but ALWAYS graceful,
always mellowed,
The best way. though, to illustrate
the beauties and charms of the late
cardinals writings. through which a
contemporary very aptIy said last week
that such sweet and solemn music
rings as church bells MAKE on a Sunday
morn. is to cite here some passages
therefr0m, in order that the reader may
judge of their grace for himself. VIVA,
could be finer than the follc wing word
picture of England after its first con.
version from Paganism to Christianity
'.The fair form of christianity rose up,
and grew. and expanded ikea beautiful
pageant from north to south; it was
majestic. it was solemn, IT. was bright,
it was beautiful and pleasant, it was
soothing to the griefs, it was indulgent
to the hopes Of man; it had dogma, a
mystery and a ritual Of it's own; 1t had
an hierarchlai form. A brotherhood Of
holy pastors, with mitre and crosier and
uplifted hand. walked forth and blessed
and ruled q JOYFUL people. The crucifix
headed the procession, and simple
monks were there with hearts in prayer
and sweet chants resounded. and the
holy Latin tongue was heard. and boys
came forth in white. swinging censers,
and the fragrant cloud arose, and mass
was sung, and the saints were invoked.
And day after day, and IN the still
night, and over the woody hills, and in
the quiet plains, as constantly as sun
and moon and stars 20 forth In heaven,
SO regular and solemn was the stately
march Of blessed services on earth, high
festival and gorgeous procession. and
soothing dirge, and passing bell, and
the familiar evening call TO prayer; till
he who recollected the old pagan time
would think II all unreal that he beheld
and heard. and would conclude that he
did but see q vision, 80 marvellousiy
was heaven let down upon earth. so
Griumphantly were chased away the
fends Of darkness to their prison below
When subject called for it, though.
Cardinal Newman could be IS exact
and precise in his logic as he was ex-
uberant and felicitous In his imagery.
and the closeness OF his arguments
often times resembles the rush of swift
" following billOws, each one pressing
fast on its predecessors, until all oppo-
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