New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
I'VE OXFORD MOVEMENT.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ISAAC WILLIAMS. b. d.
Edited by his Br0thernLaw the Ven sir , Ge9Tge
OF the oxford Movement. 12mo, PIP. 156. Long
mans, Grecu d Co.
Isaac Williams, fellow and tutor Of Trinity
College, Oxford, was one of the authors of the
far =" Tracts for the Times" and prominent
part, INT in the Oxford movement. lie was
closely associated with such men as Newman, the
Kebles, yflurrcl Froudc, Pussy. the Wilbcrforces.
Sir George Provost later his brOthern-law). and
many others whose names have been heard OF to
good purpose since. A particularly interesting
portion of the autobiography which. it may be
said at once deals solely with intellectual ana
spiritual expercnces-is that which illustrates the
long hesitation OF Newman before taking the hnal
plunge. Isaac Williams like all who were familiar,
with Newman at the University, passed under the
spell of his charming manner and his lntchcc'uai
briliancy; but, unlike many others, Williams
recovered from the enchantment when once ne was
out of Newmans presence. and he retained SUI
fcient sclfcontro and GOODNESS TO anayze the talk
ot his friend, and to perceive wherein ana 10
what extent il seemed TO trench upon perllous
tendencies. For time he acted as Newman
curatc but as the Tractarian movement developer
thcrr came the inevitable breach between those
of its supporters who purposed only the rehaDl'a-
ton of the Church of England and those whose
inquest into the ecclesiastical and polemc ht'ra
ture Of the past had led them very near TO the
conclusion that the only true Church was tnot
Of Home
There is nothing 10 show that Williams. at
any time favored the extremists Moderation
was natural to him. though he could be enthusl-
ostic So MS the movement gathered strength
and aroused opposition, he was quick to take
alarr, If Newman's Romish drift. The question
why Newman did what he did has received various
answers Mr. Williams, the Kebes. and other
close Observers while cautious in their discussion
of the subject evidently leaned toward the view
that the future Cardinal was in measure driven
70 Rome by the harshness. almoSt amounting 10
ncrsecution, which he experienced at the hands
Of his native Church. lie was very sensitive, ana
felt cruelty the charges preferred against nm ana
the humiliations pat upon him. Still. 1t cannot
be forgotten that for several years before nc
nassed over to Rome his nearest friends had been
more and more anxious and uneasy as TO his
course. and that they feared much, If
not, perhaps. what to them appeared the
worst. On Newman's character some carions side
1irhts are thrown For instance. Williams,
writing in 1859. observes in note: Bishop
Forbes was mentioning that friend OF his had
heen lately with Newman at the Oratory at EgDas-
ton. and was giving a curious account OF DIS
life: but what struck me was, how Ike Newman
il all WAS though the Bishop did not know this
mean Newman's living with persons younger 'Ilah
himself, a party rejecting his own opinions his
constraint in public. his entirely throwing IL OH
with friends in private aftcrward'
Another note preserves a remark of Newmans
which however paad0Xical it may appear wleh
contrasted with his actions is nevertheless COM
nrebcnsible The author writes: Yet a ntue
before Henry (Wibcrforce Joined the Church OF
Rome Newman said to him: My temptation Is
IN scepticsm' very remarkable coniessloh'
which the Bishop mentioned TO me Not so very
remarkable. however. when one remembers no"
LARGE a part the intellect had IN convincing
Ncymon as clearly evidenced in his books ana
not so remarkable when consider that some
NJ his best friends thought there was little OF 'c
.Icsuit in Lin by nature. Isaac Williams was a
loyal friend, and perhaps the only one OF Newman
University friends who did not forsake MN wreh
he took the final step. He was deeply dsap-
nointed at the failure of the OXFORD Move
ment but rejoiced that only one member OF the
Tractarian party had gone TO Rome lie CORE
sponded with Newman TO the end of his lie, anu
his friendship was warmly appreciated ana re-
snonded TO- as is evident from the Cardinals leu
for mon hearing the news of his Old friends oea'h
The autobiography. though simple in form ana re-
stricted as to subjects, is certainly Contribution
of value 10 the history of the Tractarlan Move