The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-05-26
A WONDERFUL MAN.
HENRY AUSTIN ADAMS LECTURES
ON CARDINAL NEWMAN.
THE MAN WITH THE FIXED IDEA
ST. James Church is Well Filled to Hear
the Noted Catholic Orator, Who
Was Formerly Minister in
the English Church.

Henry AUSTIN ADAMS, the famous
Catholic orator, made his first appear.
ance in Kenosha at St. James church
Friday evening before an audience O.
over 500 people. He chose as subjecl
Cardinal Newman, and for nearly two
hours he held his audience spellbounO
by his eloquence. With great subject
and handling it in a most mastery
manner it is rare that Kenosha has 4
chance to hear such a lecture as The
one given last night by the distin
guished Catholic. Dr. Adams has 9
history behind him very similar to the
history of the silent cardinal, and fol
this reason he displayed great feeling
in describing the life and influence
of Cardinal Newman. DR.. Adams
said in part that there was universe
desire to hear of Cardinal Newman
which he could not explain. Because
Newman was not man of the world
but the most spiritual, lofty, strange
and unearthly man that had ever
welded an influence over the lives and
history of the peoples of the world
The speaker at this point drew COM
parison between Manning and New
man. Manning was man of action,
always jumping into the great move
ments in politicc and religion, and ever
standing as moderator between capt.
tai and labor. On the other hand
Newman was the silent cardinal, who
had lived for the greater part of hun
dred years without every coming out
of his shell. Newman cared nothing
about the present but turned back to
study the truth buried in the temples
and monasteries of the middle ages.
1t was wonderful how Americans, with
their material, hardheaded. temporal.
money seeking eyes, could look with
favor upon the man who stands as a
witpess of the spiritual side of life.
DR.. Adams here spoke on influence
and the power of influence. He said
the influence of Newman was felt
throughout the entire world. He took
hold of the self satisfied, frivolous
nation known as England and caused
them to give serious thought to the
deepest spiritual affairs. Nay. be
made them do more, for he made them
consider these things with the mind OF
John Henry Newman. He turned the
great search light of conscience on the
people of bis native land and the en-
tire religion of England bears the
brand of his great opinions.
The secret Of Newman's success was
the fact that he had fixed idea. The
men with fixed ideas are the mer
which rule the world. He is the mar
that cannot be bought, bribed, cajoled
threatened or forced to do anything
but must be convinced. With his fixed
idea as lode star he goes straight
ahead to certain victory in the end
Carlyle says of the man with the fixed
idea that ''if you see him coming
dodge him, but if you meet a woman
with the fixed idea pray for salvation. .
The man with the fixed idea is the
man who defeats the better element in
politics, for while he works the year
round for his end desired the " better
element" are only willing to work a
few short weeks. The fixed idea
always wins.
Cardinal Newmans fixed idea was
not one of self ggrandizement, not
one of self enrichment, but one of con-
tinual self sacrifice. His fixed idea
was to find the truth in whatever man
ner it may be found. Truth, declared
the speaker, is tyrant. 1t breaks the
ties of family and of home. 1t sewers
the tender sendrils of the heart. 1t
filings ambition to the winds, and the
man who becomes her slave must bear
the ign miny which the world will
heap upon him. He must be called a
fool, must spend his money, but in the
end he must win. Cardinal Newman
was restless man and restless men
have been the primate movers in the
progress of the world. The restless
man is the man of the nineteenth
century. Gladstone was a restless
man, always changing, but ever with a
fixed idea. Like Gladstone, Newman
was one of Gods " warriors" always
bothering himself with the best spirit
ual interests of humanity.
In conclusion the speaker reviewed
highly the life of Newman, his child
hood and desire for learning, his en-
trance and triumphs at Oxford. Ever
seeking the unseen Newman became q
dreamer, and from his earliest days
showed great religious feeling.
/ The crisis of his life came when be
changed from the Reformed English