The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-02-20
LAWLOR'S MORATORIUM SEEN AS CIVIC AID
REILLY GAVE
 NEWMAN LECTURE
Eminent Authority on John Henry Newman and the
 Oxford Movement
BIG AUDIENCE ATTENDED

olic church, was the subject of a lecture by pr Joseph J. Reilly. pro- lessor of English at Hunter Col lege in New York, yesterday after noon at the Waterbury Catholic high school. A large audience of clergy, sisters from every convent in the city and hundreds of lay- men and women were present to hear this acknowledged authority On Newman. Holy Cross College, of which Dr Reilly is graduate. was well represented at the lec- ture. Dr Reilly was introduced by William T. Walsh, Jr, an instruc- tor of English at Roxbury school in Cheshire.
 In a talk that lasted a little over an hour Dr Reilly discussed New man and the oxford Movement as only one could who has made an intensive and extensive study of this great prose writer and church. man. He sketched the outstanding periods in the life of Newman. told of his happy days at Oxford, his ultimate conversion after many years of uncertainty, his founding of the "oratorian" order, his eleva- ton to the cardinalate, his writings and preachings, his separation and ostracism by his associates after he had embraced Catholicism, and the many other incidents that were crowded into the life of John Henry Newman after the year 1845 the year of his alliance with the Catholic church. As an intense ad- mirer of Newman, Dr Reilly pre- scented to the audience an intim- ate account of Newman, the man and the writer. Tn brief biograph- : ical sketch he stated that Newman was part English and part French. He told of the cardinals associa- ton with John Keble at Oxford, going on to say that the birthday of the Oxford Movement dated from the Sunday, July IA, 1883, when Keble preached the assizc sermon on National Apostasy."
 Dr Reilly spoke of the years that elapsed before Newman finally took the step that separated him from his oxford friends. He spoke of the nature of Newman and of his slowness in joining the Catholic church, because he would not be accused of taking such q step for a feeling of sentiment and he would not tolerate interference. The speaker detailed an important event in the life of Newman when he was on a Mediterranean trip: taken i'll one night he assigned all his belongings to q valet attendant but left instructions that his body be sent back to England. During the night Newman had vision of God in which he was told that he should dedicate his life to His service.
 Tn describing the marvellous ser mons delivered every sunday aft ernoon by Newman at the little church ut oxford, Dr Reilly told how tho students returned Sunday after Sunday to hear this magnetic voice, though it meant the loss ol supper. He told of NeWman's great
 Unhappiness over motives ascribed to him in his utterances, and the occasion of his writing the "Apolo. gIa," which was not an apology for his adoption of tho Catholic reli- zion, but q defense of his own life nnd one of the most famous writ ings of this kind ever written. The actual writings of Newman werc far superior to his titles, explained Dr Reilly, who considered them heavy and not always conducive to further perusal of the subject mat ter. Dr Reilly spoke of Newman's s devotion to St Philip Neri, his (Newman's) founding of the ora torian order, and the series of lec- lures outlined by him in which he sought to break down the Protes- tant hatred of Catholics.
 Relative to the nature and char acter of John Henry Newman. Dr Reilly stated that he was not the cold ascetic that so many consid- cred him. He was. on the contrary, stated the speaker, q man of very deep feelings and passionl he had a great fund of humor, and was not altogether meek SIS so many suppose, his lack of meekness ex- ampled in the famous Achilli-New- man trial, one of the most bitter and unfortunate ever appearing in the English court annals. In this respect, Dr Reilly remarked, that Eewman's life was q succession or very great trials and unhappiness, but for every trial. great good Tor tune followed in the wake of the former.
 In suggesting what to read of Newman, Dr Reilly said that lack of time prevented him from going into great detail in discussion Of his writings. He said, however, that he would suggest the Present Position of Catholics in England, and "The Idea of q University, part or all of same.
 Tn speaking of tho oratoricnl delivery of John Henry Newman Dr Reilly said that he had no ges- lures but that his voice captivated people, 1t being Tow, subtle and musical" He read from Q manu- script, and with no particular ges. lures or manner, merely by ms voice, held his listeners. In his early remarks about Newman. the speaker said that the Happiest day of Newmarl's life, from q human standpoint, was the day he was made q fellow at Oriel College at oxford.
 In conclusion pr Reilly spoke of
 John Henry Newman's influence today which is embodied in his preaching that education should not merely be for the purpose of mans making q living but also to make him cultured gentleman: second, he preached tolerance, third duty and fourth that the un- seen realities were the great ones.
 Previous to pr Reilly's talk there was q brief musical program, the Notre Dame Choral Club, directed by Isaac Beecher Clark, singing "Praisc to the Holiest" from New mans "Dream of Girontius and the arrangement of the famous hymn written by Cardinal New man, Lead Kindly Light. The lecture yesterday was in charge of Q committee of which Mrs Frank McEvov was chairman.