New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-17
The Later Years in the Life OF
Cardinal Newman.

frId Ward With Is Portraits and other
Illustrations In two volumes Svo, po'
634 and 627 Longmans, Green & co.
The Newman Of the late thirties at
oxford, whose legend is to this day po-
tent throughout the English speaking
world. stands forth so clearly IN the
writings OF contemporaries like Dean
Church and r H. Hutton. in the Letters
and Correspondence" edited by MISS
Anne Motley, and most directly of all In
the classic self-revealings made by New
man in the Apologize pro Vita Sua' that
no explanation is needed for the Cardl-
nails expressed desire that the present
biosrapher should not add 10 the author
itative record already given. Since II
was within the Catholic Church that the
greater part of his working life was
spent, 1t is with those forty-odd years OF
Newman's career as Oratorian that Mr.
Wards narrative has chiefly TO do
II to the end of his days the convert
turned wistfully to the associations or
nigh thirty years at oxford, there was
neysr the culver of a misgiving as TO inc
course he had taken in seeking admls-
sion TO the lone true fold of the Ike
deemer"; nor were consultations wanting
when once within the pale. Not Few
ANGLICAN comrades Joined him in the
new life. and, as in answer to prayer.
the ranks were extended from time to
time Although in the eyes of critics X
seemed plain proselytism Newmans
zeal for conversions was at least
charged with an intensity that ennobied
A. Then there was the absorbing occu-
patton Of learning the ways Of the new
country and the question 10 be met as to
where most usefully Newman and me
men of his circle could he put to work.
Catholic centres in England were visited
under the cordial oversight of Cardinal
wiseman, and this was followed by
years sojourn in Rome, where the COM
pany served the novitiate as Oratorians.
In January of 1S4S the English Oratory
was, by brief Of Pope Plus IN, esao-
l,shed In Birmingham. Newman was
superior of the community. which In
c,uded Ambrose st. John, Dalgairrs,
Penny, Stanton and Coffin. month
later Frederick w. Faber Joined them.
with some Wilfridian proteges from
Cheadle.
St. Philip Neri, under whose patronage
the Birmingham Oratory was begun
was venerated in Newman's eyes for en-
unworldly scorn Of scorn. Neglect ne
said in an early sermon. was the badge
which ST. Philip desired for himself and
for his own" The prayer for neglect
was to be answered in most literal fash
ion in Newman's case. and MIR. Ward as
sures us the answer was hard TO bear
Coming from the chief homo of English
Intellectual life, aware Of the many
Anglicans conceivably open TO such
method of approach as had brought him
to consider the claims of the Catholic
Church. the Oratorian's heart was set
on having those claims clothed with the
best philosophical sanctions. Due to
what he deemed a certain inelasticity Of
mind in influential quarters. young
Catholic life in England was being suf-
fered TO rest on foundations which, IN
W. G. Wards phrase, were arguments
lively rotten" Openings for the doing
Of the cherished work offered encour-
agingly. but they proved dismal In the
event. The story for many years was to
Be of tasks undertaken only to be
thwarted, a story which, as Mr.. Wilfrid
Ward Is now permitted 70 relate 1t TO
generation from which no Victorian
secrets are hid, meets fully the Aris-
totelian specifications for the dramatic
Invited by the Archbishop Of Armagh,
posed Catholic university in Dublin,
Newman might we'll feel that an active
battlefield was in sight and welcome
challenge to his powers. Into the under
taking he put seven years of his strength.
having 10 acknowledge failure IN the
end, and discovering by slow degrees
that 1t was his fgurative significance,
an Oxford scholar founding a university
In opposition TO the mixed" educational
idea Of Queens College. that had given
him temporary worth in the sight Of the
Irish episcopate. AS for the Catholic
University, there was no objection TO It's
being pushed forward provided IT was
kept unspotted from modern thought.
During the rectorship Newman delivered
the lectures on university ideals, which
had had deep influence since, and In this
way. as the biographer believes, the
Dublin experience was fuller in fruit
age than could be seen at the time. AS
an aid to the rector in dealing with re-
calcitrant ecclesiastics, IL had been pro-
posed to make him a bishop, a piece Of
news which was sent him by Cardinal
sWiseman fresh from audience with the
Pope. In public gathering Bishop
Ullathorne alluded TO the prospective
honor. Friends sent gifts in anticipa-
tion-a morse for a cope, a cross and
chain of Maltese fllagree work-and the
Duke OF Norfolk sent a massive gold
chain. These gifts Newman could ex-
hibit to visiting friends in years much
later. but he was not made bishop.
The budding morrow in midnight was
betokened for Newman in the reception
accorded by the nation at large 10 his
Apologize in 1864. Thanks to the head
long and random remarks OF Charles
Kingsley. Newman. finding his honesty
assailed, laid aside the verdict he had
previously passed upon himself, grey
grasshopper. an evaporatins mist Of the
morning." and told the world his plain
story of the processes by which at Ok