第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Eminent Victorians",免费读到尾

  Thecrisispassed,butitwassucceededbyafiercerone。Manningwastakenseriouslyill,andbecameconvincedthathemightdieatanymoment。TheentriesinhisDiarygrewmoreelaboratethanever;hisremorseforthepast,hisresolutionsforthefuture,hisprotestationsofsubmissiontothewillofGod,filledpageafterpageofparallelcolumns,headingsandsub-headings,numberedclauses,andanalyticaltables。’HowdoIfeelaboutDeath?’hewrote。’Certainlygreatfear:

  1。BecauseoftheuncertaintyofourstatebeforeGod。2。Becauseoftheconsciousness-1ofgreatsinspast,2ofgreatsinfulness,3ofmostshallowrepentance。WhatshallIdo?’

  Hedecidedtomortifyhimself,toreadStThomasAquinas,andtomakehis’nightprayersfortyinsteadofthirtyminutes’。HedeterminedduringLent’tousenopleasantbreadexceptonSundaysandfeastssuchascakeandsweetmeat’;butheaddedtheproviso’Idonotincludeplainbiscuits’。Oppositethisentryappearstheword’KEPT’。Andyethisbackslidingsweremany。

  Lookingbackoverasingleweek,hewasobligedtoregister’petulancetwice’and’complacentvisions’。HeheardhiscuratebeingcommendedforbringingsomanysoulstoGodduringLent,andhe’couldnotbearit’;buttheremorsewasterrible:’I

  abhorredmyselfonthespot,andlookedupwardforhelp。’HemadeoutlistuponlistoftheAlmighty’sspecialmerciestowardshim,andtheyincludedhiscreation,hisregeneration,andNo。5

  ’thepreservationofmylifesixtimestomyknowledge:

  1Inillnessattheageofnine。2Inthewater。3ByarunawayhorseatOxford。4Bythesame。5Byfallingnearlythroughtheceilingofachurch。6Againbyafallofahorse。

  AndIknownothowofteninshooting,riding,etc。’

  Atlasthebecameconvalescent;butthespiritualexperiencesofthoseagitatedweeksleftanindeliblemarkuponhismind,andpreparedthewayforthegreatchangewhichwastofollow。Forhehadotherdoubtsbesidesthosewhichheldhimintormentastohisownsalvation;hewasindoubtaboutthewholeframeworkofhisfaith。Newman’sconversion,hefound,hadmeantsomethingmoretohimthanhehadfirstrealised。IthadseemedtocomeasacalltotheredoublingofhisAnglicanactivities;butsupposing,inreality,itwereacalltowardssomethingverydifferent——towardsanabandonmentofthoseactivitiesaltogether?

  Itmightbe’atrial’,oragainitmightbea’leading’;howwashetojudge?Already,beforehisillness,thesedoubtshadbeguntotakepossessionofhismind。’Iamconscioustomyself,’hewroteinhisDiary,’ofanextensivelychangedfeelingtowardstheChurchofRome……TheChurchofEnglandseemstometobediseased:1。ORGANICALLYsixsub-headings。2。FUNCTIONALLY

  sevensubheadings……Whereveritseemshealthy,itapproximatesthesystemofRome。’ThenthoughtsoftheVirginMarysuddenlybegantoassailhim:

  ’1IfJohntheBaptistweresanctifiedfromthewomb,howmuchmoretheB。V。!

  2IfEnochandElijahwereexemptedfromdeath,whynottheB。V。fromsin?

  3ItisastrangewayoflovingtheSontoslightthemother!’

  Theargumentsseemedirresistible,andafewweekslaterthefollowingentryoccurs——’Strangethoughtshavevisitedme:

  1IhavefeltthattheEpiscopateoftheChurchofEnglandissecularisedandbounddownbeyondhope……

  2Ifeelasifalighthadfallenuponme。MyfeelingabouttheRomanChurchisnotintellectual。Ihaveintellectualdifficulties,butthegreatmoraldifficultiesseemmelting。

  3Somethingkeepsrisingandsaying,“YouwillendintheRomanChurch“。’

  Henotedaltogethertwenty-fiveofthese’strangethoughts’。Hismindhoveredanxiouslyround——

  ’1TheIncarnation,2TheRealPresence,i。

  Regeneration,ii。Eucharist,and3TheExaltationofS。M。

  andSaints。’

  Histwenty-secondstrangethoughtwasasfollows:’HowdoIknowwhereImaybetwoyearshence?WherewasNewmanfiveyearsago?’

  Itwassignificant,buthardlysurprising,that,afterhisillness,ManningshouldhavechosentorecuperateinRome。Hespentseveralmonthsthere,andhisDiaryduringthewholeofthatperiodisconcernedentirelywithdetaileddescriptionsofchurches,ceremonies,andrelics,andwithminuteaccountsofconversationswithpriestsandnuns。Thereisnotasinglereferenceeithertotheobjectsofartortotheantiquitiesoftheplace;butanotheromissionwasstillmoreremarkable。

  ManninghadalonginterviewwithPiusIX,andhisonlyrecordofitiscontainedinthebaldstatement:’AudiencetodayattheVatican’。Preciselywhatpassedonthatoccasionnevertranspired;allthatisknownisthatHisHolinessexpressedconsiderablesurpriseonlearningfromtheArchdeaconthatthechalicewasusedintheAnglicanChurchintheadministrationofCommunion。’What!’heexclaimed,isthesamechalicemadeuseofbyeveryone?’’IrememberthepainIfelt,’saidManning,longafterwards,’atseeinghowunknownweweretotheVicarofJesusChrist。Itmademefeelourisolation。’

  OnhisreturntoEngland,hetookuponcemoretheworkinhisArchdeaconrywithwhatappetitehemight。Ravagedbydoubt,distractedbyspeculation,heyetmanagedtomaintainanoutwardpresenceofunshakencalm。HisonlyconfidantwasRobertWilberforce,towhom,forthenexttwoyears,hepouredforthinaseriesofletters,headed’UNDERTHESEAL’toindicatethattheycontainedthesecretsoftheconfessional——thewholehistoryofhisspiritualperturbations。Theironyofhispositionwassingular;for,duringthewholeofthistime,ManningwashimselfholdingbackfromtheChurchofRomeahostofhesitatingpenitentsbymeansofargumentswhichhewasattheverymomentdenouncingasfallacioustohisownconfessor。Butwhatelsecouldhedo?Whenhereceived,forinstance,alettersuchasthefollowingfromanagitatedlady,whatwashetosay?

  ’MYDEARFATHERINCHRIST,’……Iamsureyouwouldpitymeandliketohelpme,ifyouknewtheunhappy,unsettledstatemymindisin,andthemiseryofbeingENTIRELY,WHEREVERIAM,withthosewholookuponjoiningtheChurchofRomeasthemostawful“fall“conceivabletoanyone,andaredevoidofthesmallestcomprehensionofhowanyenlightenedpersoncandoit……MyoldEvangelicalfriends,withallmydeep,deeploveforthem,donotsucceedinshakingmeintheleast……

  ’Mybrotherhasjustpublishedabookcalled“Regeneration“,whichallmyfriendsarereadingandhighlyextolling;ithasaverycontraryeffecttowhathewoulddesireonmymind。Icanreadandunderstanditallinanaltogetherdifferentsense,andthefactswhichhequotesaboutthearticlesasdrawnupin1536,andagainin1552,andoftheIrisharticlesof1615and1634,STARTLEandSHAKEmeabouttheReformedChurchinEnglandfarmorethananythingelse,andhavedonesoeversinceIfirstsawtheminMr。Maskell’spamphletasquotedfromMrDodsworth’s。

  ’Idohopeyouhavesometimeandthoughttoprayformestill。

  Mr。Galton’sletterslongagogrewintoshortformalnotes,whichhurtmeandannoyedmeparticularly,andIneveransweredhislast,so,literally,Ihavenoonetosaythingstoandgethelpfrom,whichinonesenseisacomfortwhenmyconvictionsseemtobeleadingmeonandon,andgainingstrengthinspiteofallthedrearinessofmylot。

  ’DoyouknowIcan’thelpbeingveryanxiousandunhappyaboutpoorSisterHarriet。IamafraidofherGOINGOUTOFHERMIND。

  Shecomfortsherselfbyanoccasionaloutpouringofeverythingtome,andIhadaletterthismorning……ShesaysSisterMayhaspromisedtheVicarnevertotalktoherorallowhertotalkonthesubjectwithher,andIdoubtwhetherthiscanbegoodforher,becausethoughshehaslostherfaith,shesays,intheChurchofEngland,yetsheneverthinksofwhatshecouldhavefaithin,andresolutelywithoutinquiringintothequestiondeterminesriottobeaRomanCatholic,sothatreally,yousee,sheisallowinghermindtorunadriftandyetperfectlypowerless。

  ’Forgivemytroublingyouwiththisletter,andbelievemetobealwaysyourfaithful,gratefulandaffectionatedaughter,’EMMARYLE。

  ’P。S。IwishIcouldseeyouoncemoresoverymuch。’

  HowwasManning,adirectorofsouls,andaclergymanoftheChurchofEngland,toreplythatinsobertruththerewasverylittletochoosebetweenthestateofmindofSisterEmma,orevenofSisterHarriet,andhisown?Thedilemmawasagrievousone:whenasoldierfindshimselffightingforacauseinwhichhehaslostfaith,itistreacherytostop,anditistreacherytogoon。

  Atlast,intheseclusionofhislibrary,ManningturnedinagonytothoseoldwritingswhichhadprovidedNewmanwithsomuchinstructionandassistance;perhapstheFatherswoulddosomethingforhimaswell。HeransackedthepagesofSt。CyprianandSt。Cyril;hewentthroughthecompleteworksofSt。OptatusandSt。Leo;heexploredthevasttreatisesofTertullianandJustinMartyr。Hehadalampputintohisphaeton,sothathemightlosenotimeduringhislongwinterdrives。Therehesat,searchingSt。Chrysostomforsomemitigationofhisanguish,whilehespedalongbetweenthehedgestodistantsufferers,towhomhedulyadministeredthesacramentsaccordingtotheritesoftheEnglishChurch。HehurriedbacktocommittohisDiarytheanalysisofhisreflections,andtodescribe,underthemysticformulaofsecrecy,theintricateworkingsofhisconsciencetoRobertWilberforce。But,alas!hewasnoNewman;andeventhefourteenfoliosofSt。Augustinehimself,strangetosay,gavehimverylittlehelp。

  Thefinalpropulsionwastocomefromanentirelydifferentquarter。InNovember,1847,theReverendMr。GorhamwaspresentedbytheLordChancellortothelivingofBramfordSpekeinthedioceseofExeter。TheBishop,Dr。Phillpotts,wasaHighChurchman,andhehadreasontobelievethatMr。Gorhamheldevangelicalopinions;hethereforesubjectedhimtoanexaminationondoctrine,whichtooktheformpartlyofaverbalinterrogatory,lastingthirty-eighthours,andpartlyofaseriesofonehundredandforty-ninewrittenquestions。AttheendoftheexaminationhecametotheconclusionthatMr。GorhamheldhereticalviewsonthesubjectofBaptismalRegeneration,andhethereforerefusedtoinstitute。Mr。Gorham,thereupon,tookproceedingsagainsttheBishopintheCourtofArches。Helosthiscase;andhethenappealedtothejudicialCommitteeofthePrivyCouncil。

  Thequestionsatissueweretakenveryseriouslybyalargenumberofpersons。Inthefirstplace,therewasthequestionofBaptismalRegenerationitself。Thisisbynomeansaneasyonetodisentangle;butitmaybenotedthatthedoctrineofBaptismincludes:1God’sintention,thatistosay,Hispurposeinelectingcertainpersonstoeternallife——anabstruseandgreatlycontrovertedsubject,uponwhichtheChurchofEnglandabstainsfromstrictdefinition;2God’saction,whetherbymeansofsacramentsorotherwise——concerningwhichtheChurchofEnglandmaintainstheefficacyofsacraments,’butdoesnotformallydenythatgracemaybegivenbyothermeans,repentanceandfaithbeingpresent;and3thequestionwhethersacramentalgraceisgiveninstrumentally,byandatthemomentoftheactofbaptism,orinconsequenceofanactofprevenientgracerenderingthereceiverworthy——thatistosay,whethersacramentalgraceinbaptismisgivenabsolutelyorconditionally。

  ItwasoverthislastquestionthatthedisputeragedhottestintheGorhamCase。TheHighChurchparty,representedbyDr。

  Phillpotts,assertedthatthemereactofbaptismconferredregenerationupontherecipientandwashedawayhisoriginalsin。

  TothistheEvangelicals,headedbyMr。Gorham,repliedthat,accordingtotheArticles,regenerationwouldnotfollowunlessbaptismwasRIGHTLYreceived。What,then,wasthemeaningof’rightly’?Clearlyitimpliednotmerelylawfuladministration,butworthyreception;worthiness,therefore,istheessenceofthesacrament;andworthinessmeansfaithandrepentance。Now,twopropositionswereacceptedbybothparties——thatallinfantsareborninoriginalsin,andthatoriginalsincouldbewashedawaybybaptism。Buthowcouldboththesepropositionsbetrue,arguedMr。Gorham,ifitwasalsotruethatfaithandrepentancewerenecessarybeforebaptismcouldcomeintooperationatall?

  Howcouldaninfantinarmsbesaidtobeinastateoffaithandrepentance?How,therefore,coulditsoriginalsinbewashedawaybybaptism?Andyet,aseveryoneagreed,washedawayitwas。

  Theonlysolutionofthedifficultylayinthedoctrineofprevenientgrace;andMr。GorhammaintainedthatunlessGodperformedanactofprevenientgracebywhichtheinfantwasendowedwithfaithandrepentance,noactofbaptismcouldbeeffectual;thoughtowhom,andunderwhatconditions,prevenientgracewasgiven,Mr。Gorhamconfessedhimselfunabletodecide。

  ThelightthrownbytheBibleuponthewholematterseemedsomewhatdubious,forwhereasthebaptismofSt。Peter’sdisciplesatJerusalemandSt。Philip’satSamariawasfollowedbythegiftoftheSpirit,inthecaseofCorneliusthesacramentsucceededthegift。St。Paulalsowasbaptised;andasforthelanguageofSt。Johniii5;Rom。vi3,4;IPeteriii21,itadmitsofmorethanoneinterpretation。Therecould,however,benodoubtthattheChurchofEnglandassentedtoDr。Phillpotts’

  opinion;thequestionwaswhetherornotsheexcludedMr。

  Gorham’s。Ifitwasdecidedthatshedid,itwasclearthathenceforward,therewouldbeverylittlepeaceforEvangelicalswithinherfold。

  Buttherewasanotherissue,evenmorefundamentalthanthatofBaptismalRegenerationitself,involvedintheGorhamtrial。AnActpassedin1833hadconstitutedtheJudicialCommitteeofthePrivyCouncilthesupremecourtofappealforsuchcases;andthisCommitteewasabodycomposedentirelyoflaymen。ItwasthusobviousthattheRoyalSupremacywasstillafact,andthatacollectionoflawyersappointedbytheCrownhadthelegalrighttoformulatethereligiousdoctrineoftheChurchofEngland。In1850theirjudgmentwasdelivered;theyreversedthedecisionoftheCourtofArches,andupheldthepositionofMr。

  Gorham。Whetherhisviewsweretheologicallycorrectornot,theysaid,wasnottheirbusiness;itwastheirbusinesstodecidewhethertheopinionsunderconsiderationwerecontraryorrepugnanttothedoctrineoftheChurchofEnglandasenjoinedupontheclergybyitsArticles,Formularies,andRubrics;andtheyhadcometotheconclusionthattheywerenot。Thejudgementstillholdsgood;andtothisday,aclergymanoftheChurchofEnglandisquiteatlibertytobelievethatRegenerationdoesnotinvariablytakeplacewhenaninfantisbaptised。

  TheblowfelluponnoonewithgreaterviolencethanuponManning。Notonlywasthesupremeefficacyofthesignofthecrossuponababy’sforeheadoneofhisfavouritedoctrines,butuptothatmomenthehadbeenconvincedthattheRoyalSupremacywasamereaccident——atemporaryusurpationwhichleftthespiritualdominionoftheChurchessentiallyuntouched。Butnowthehorridrealityroseupbeforehim,crownedandtriumphant;itwasalltooclearthatanActofParliament,passedbyJews,RomanCatholics,andDissenters,wastheultimateauthoritywhichdecideduponthemomentousnicetiesoftheAnglicanfaith。Mr。

  Gladstonealso,wasdeeplyperturbed。Itwasabsolutelynecessary,hewrote,to’rescueanddefendtheconscienceoftheChurchfromthepresenthideoussystem’。Anagitationwassetonfoot,andseveralinfluentialAnglicans,withManningattheirhead,drewupandsignedaformalprotestagainsttheGorhamjudgment。Mr。Gladstonehowever,proposedanothermethodofprocedure:precipitateaction,hedeclared,mustbeavoidedatallcosts,andheelaboratedaschemeforsecuringprocrastination,bywhichacovenantwastobindallthosewhobelievedthatanarticleofthecreedhadbeenabolishedbyActofParliamenttotakenostepsinanydirection,nortoannouncetheirintentionofdoingso,untilagivenspaceoftimehadelapsed。Mr。Gladstonewashopefulthatsomegoodmightcomeofthis——thoughindeedhecouldnotbesure。’Amongothers,’hewrotetoManning,’IhaveconsultedRobertWilberforceandWegg-

  Prosser,andtheyseemedinclinedtofavourmyproposal。Itmight,perhaps,havekeptbackLordFeilding。Butheislikeacork。’

  TheproposalwascertainlynotfavouredbyManning。Protestsandprocrastinations,approvingWegg-Prossersandcork-likeLordFeildings——allthiswasfeedingthewindandfolly;thetimeforactionhadcome。’Icannolongercontinue,’hewrotetoRobertWilberforce,’underoathandsubscriptionbindingmetotheRoyalSupremacyinEcclesiasticalcauses,beingconvinced:

  1ThatitisaviolationoftheDivineOfficeoftheChurch。

  2ThatithasinvolvedtheChurchofEnglandinaseparationfromtheUniversalChurch,whichseparationIcannotclearofthecharacterofschism。

  3ThatithastherebysuspendedandpreventedthefunctionsoftheChurchofEngland。’

  ItwasinvainthatRobertWilberforcepleaded,invainthatMr。

  GladstoneurgeduponhismindthesignificanceofJohniii8。

  [’Thewindblowethwhereitlisteth,andthouhearestthesoundthereof,butcanstnottellwhenceitcometh,andwhitheritgoeth;soiseveryonethatisbornoftheSpirit。’]’Iadmit,’

  Mr。Gladstonewrote,’thatthewordsmightinsomewaybesatisfiedbysupposingourLordsimplytomean“thefactsofnatureareunintelligible,therefore,benotafraidifrevealedtruthsbelikewisebeyondthecompassoftheunderstanding“;butthisseemstomeameagremeaning。’Suchconsiderationscouldholdhimnolonger,andManningexecutedtheresignationofhisofficeandbeneficebeforeapublicnotary。Soonafterwards,inthelittleChapeloffBuckinghamPalaceRoad,kneelingbesideMr。

  Gladstone,heworshippedforthelasttimeasanAnglican。ThirtyyearslatertheCardinaltoldhow,justbeforetheCommunionservicecommenced,heturnedtohisfriendswiththewords:’I

  cannolongertaketheCommunionintheChurchofEngland。’’I

  roseup,andlayingmyhandonMr。Gladstone’sshoulder,said“Come“。Itwasthepartingoftheways。Mr。Gladstoneremained;

  andIwentmyway。Mr。GladstonestillremainswhereIlefthim。’

  OnApril6th,1851,thefinalstepwastaken:ManningwasreceivedintotheRomanCatholicChurch。Nowatlast,afterthelongstruggle,hismindwasatrest。’Iknowwhatyoumean,’hewrotetoRobertWilberforce,’bysayingthatonesometimesfeelsasifallthismightturnouttobeonlyanother“LandofShadows“。Ihavefeltitintimepast,butnotnow。ThetheologiafromNicetoSt。ThomasAquinas,andtheundividedunitysuffusedthroughouttheworld,ofwhichtheCathedraPetriisthecentre,isnow1800yearsold,andmightierineverypowernowthanever——

  inintellect,inscience,inseparationfromtheworld;andpurertoo,refinedby300yearsofconflictwiththemoderninfidelcivilisation——allofthisisafactmoresolidthantheearth。’

  V。

  WHENManningjoinedtheChurchofRome,heactedunderthecombinedimpulseofthetwodominatingforcesinhisnature。Hispreoccupationwiththesupernaturalmight,alone,havebeensatisfiedwithinthefoldoftheAnglicancommunion;andsomighthispreoccupationwithhimself——theonemighthavefoundventintheelaborationsofHighChurchritual,andtheotherintheactivitiesofabishopric。Butthetwotogethercouldnotbequietedsoeasily。TheChurchofEnglandisacommodiousinstitution;sheisveryanxioustoplease,butsomehoworother,shehasnevermanagedtosupplyahappyhometosuperstitiousegotists。’Whatanescapeformypoorsoul!’Manningissaidtohaveexclaimedwhen,shortlyafterhisconversion,amitrewasgoinga-begging。But,intruth,Manning’s’poorsoul’hadscentednoblerquarry。Tooneofhistemperament,howwasitpossible,whenoncethechoicewasplainlyput,tohesitateforamomentbetweentherespectabledignityofanEnglishbishop,harnessedbythesecularpower,withtheGorhamjudgmentasabitbetweenhisteeth,andtheillimitablepretensionsofthehumblestpriestofRome?

  Forthemoment,however,itseemedasiftheFateshadatlastbeensuccessfulintheirlittlegameofshuntingManning。ThesplendidcareerwhichhehadsolaboriouslybuiltupfromthesmallbeginningsofhisSussexcuracywasshattered——andshatteredbytheinevitableoperationofhisownessentialneeds。

  Hewasoverforty,andhehadbeenputbackoncemoretotheverybottomrungoftheladder——amiddle-agedneophytewith,sofarascouldbeseen,nospecialclaimtotheattentionofhisnewsuperiors。TheexampleofNewman,afarmoreillustriousconvert,washardlyreassuring:hehadbeenrelegatedtoacompleteobscurity,inwhichhewastoremainuntilextremeoldage。WhyshouldtherebeanythingbetterinstoreforManning?YetitsohappenedthatwithinfourteenyearsofhisconversionManningwasArchbishopofWestminsterandthesupremeruleroftheRomanCatholiccommunityinEngland。ThistimetheFatesgaveuptheunequalstruggle;theypaidovertheirstakesindespair,andretiredfromthegame。

  NeverthelessitisdifficulttofeelquitesurethatManning’splungewasashazardousasitappeared。Certainlyhewasnotamanwhowaslikelytoforgettolookbeforeheleaped,noronewho,ifhehappenedtoknowthattherewasamattressspreadtoreceivehim,wouldleapwithlessconviction。Inthelightofafter-events,onewouldbegladtoknowwhatpreciselypassedatthatmysteriousinterviewofhiswiththePope,threeyearsbeforehisconversion。ItisatleastpossiblethattheauthoritiesinRomehadtheireyeonManning;themaywellhavefeltthattheArchdeaconofChichesterwouldbeagreatcatch。

  WhatdidPioNonosay?ItiseasytoimaginethepersuasiveinnocenceofhisItalianvoice。’Ah,dearSignorManning,whydon’tyoucomeovertous?Doyousupposethatweshouldnotlookafteryou?’

  Atanyrate,whenhedidgoover,Manningwaslookedafterverythoroughly。Therewas,itistrue,amomentaryembarrassmentattheoutset:itwasonlywiththegreatestdifficultythathecouldbringhimselftoabandonhisfaithinthevalidityofAnglicanOrders,inwhichhebelieved’withconsciousnessstrongerthanallreasoning’。Hewasconvincedthathewasstillapriest。WhentheRev。Mr。Tierney,whohadreceivedhimintotheRomanCatholiccommunion,assuredhimthatthiswasnotthecase,hewasfilledwithdismayandmortification。Afterafivehourdiscussion,hestartedtohisfeetinarage。’Then,Mr。

  Tierney,’heexclaimed,’youthinkmeinsincere。’

  Thebitterdraughtwasswallowedatlast,and,afterthat,allwentsmoothly。ManninghastenedtoRome,andwasimmediatelyplacedbythePopeinthehighlyselectAccademiaEcclesiastica,commonlyknownasthe’NurseryofCardinals’,forthepurposeofcompletinghistheologicalstudies。Whenthecoursewasfinished,hecontinued,bythePope’sspecialrequest,tospendsixmonthsofeveryyearinRome,wherehepreachedtotheEnglishvisitors,becameacquaintedwiththegreatpersonagesofthePapalcourt,andenjoyedtheprivilegeofconstantinterviewswiththeHolyFather。Atthesametime,hewasabletomakehimselfusefulinLondon,whereCardinalWiseman,thenewlycreatedArchbishopofWestminster,wasseekingtoreanimatetheRomanCatholiccommunity。Manningwasnotonlyextremelypopularinthepulpitandintheconfessional;hewasnotonlyhighlyefficientasagleanerofsouls——andofsoulswhomovedinthebestsociety;healsopossessedafamiliaritywithofficialpersonsandofficialways,whichwasinvaluable。WhenthequestionaroseoftheappointmentofCatholicchaplainsintheCrimeaduringthewar,itwasManningwhoapproachedtheMinister,interviewedthePermanentSecretary,andfinallysucceededinobtainingallthatwasrequired。WhenaspecialReformatoryforCatholicchildrenwasproposed,ManningcarriedthroughthenegotiationwiththeGovernment。WhenanattemptwasmadetoremoveCatholicchildrenfromtheWorkhouses,Manningwasagainindispensable。NowonderCardinalWisemansoondeterminedtofindsomeoccupationofspecialimportancefortheenergeticconvert。HehadlongwishedtoestablishacongregationofsecularpriestsinLondonparticularlydevotedtohisservice,andtheopportunityfortheexperimenthadclearlynowarisen。TheorderoftheOblatesofSt。CharleswasfoundedinBayswater,andManningwasputatitshead。Unfortunately,noportionofthebodyofSt。Charlescouldbeobtainedforthenewcommunity,buttworelicsofhisbloodwerebroughtovertoBayswaterfromMilan。AlmostatthesametimethePopesignifiedhisappreciationofManning’seffortsbyappointinghimProvostoftheChapterofWestminster——apositionwhichplacedhimattheheadoftheCanonsofthediocese。

  Thisdoublepromotionwasthesignalfortheoutbreakofanextraordinaryinternalstruggle,whichragedwithoutintermissionforthenextsevenyears,andwastoendonlywiththeaccessionofManningtotheArchbishopric。TheconditionoftheRomanCatholiccommunityinEnglandwasatthattimeasingularone。Ontheonehandtheoldrepressivelawsoftheseventeenthcenturyhadbeenrepealedbyliberallegislation,andontheotheralargenewbodyofdistinguishedconvertshadenteredtheRomanChurchasaresultoftheOxfordMovement。Itwasevidentthattherewasa’boom’inEnglishCatholicism,and,in1850,PiusIX

  recognisedthefactbydividingupthewholeofEnglandintodioceses,andplacingWisemanattheheadofthemasArchbishopofWestminster。Wiseman’sencyclical,dated’fromwithouttheFlaminianGate’,inwhichheannouncedthenewdeparture,wasgreetedinEnglandbyastormofindignation,culminatinginthefamousandfuribundletterofLordJohnRussell,thenPrimeMinister,againsttheinsolenceofthe’PapalAggression’。Thoughtheparticularpointagainstwhichtheoutcrywasraised——theEnglishterritorialtitlesofthenewRomanbishops——wasaninsignificantone,theinstinctofLordJohnandoftheEnglishpeoplewasinrealitysoundenough。Wiseman’sinstallationdidmean,infact,anewmoveinthePapalgame;itmeantanadvance,ifnotanaggression——aquickeninginEnglandofthelong-

  dormantenergiesoftheRomanChurch。ThatChurchhasneverhadthereputationofbeinganinstitutiontobetrifledwith;and,inthosedays,thePopewasstillrulingasatemporalPrinceoverthefairestprovincesofItaly。Surely,iftheimagesofGuyFawkeshadnotbeengarnished,onthatfifthofNovember,withtriplecrowns,itwouldhavebeenaverypoorcomplimenttoHisHoliness。

  ButitwasnotonlythehonestProtestantsofEnglandwhohadcausetodreadthearrivalofthenewCardinalArchbishop;therewasapartyamongtheCatholicsthemselveswhoviewedhisinstallationwithalarmanddisgust。ThefamiliesinwhichtheCatholictraditionhadbeenhandeddownuninterruptedlysincethedaysofElizabeth,whichhadknownthepainsofexileandofmartyrdom,andwhichclungtogetheranalienandisolatedgroupinthemidstofEnglishsociety,nowbegantofeelthattheywere,afterall,ofsmallmomentinthecounselsofRome。Theyhadlabouredthroughtheheatoftheday,butnowitseemedasiftheharvestwastobegatheredinbyacrowdofconvertswhowereproclaimingoneverysideassomethingnewandwonderfulthetruthswhichtheOldCatholics,astheycametobecalled,hadnotonlyknown,butforwhichtheyhadsufferedforgenerations。

  CardinalWiseman,itistrue,wasnoconvert;hebelongedtooneoftheoldestoftheCatholicfamilies;buthehadspentmostofhislifeinRome,hewasoutoftouchwithEnglishtraditions,andhissympathywithNewmanandhisfollowerswasonlytooapparent。OneofhisfirstactsasArchbishopwastoappointtheconvertW。G。Ward,whowasnoteveninholyorders,tobeProfessorofTheologyatSt。Edmund’sCollege——thechiefseminaryforyoungpriests,inwhichtheancienttraditionsofDouaywerestillflourishing。WardwasanardentPapalistandhisappointmentindicatedclearlyenoughthatinWiseman’sopiniontherewastoolittleoftheItalianspiritintheEnglishcommunity。TheuneasinessoftheOldCatholicswasbecomingintense,whentheywerereassuredbyWiseman’sappointingashisco-adjutorandsuccessorhisintimatefriend,Dr。Errington,whowascreatedontheoccasionArchbishopofTrebizondinpartibusinfidelium。NotonlywasDr。ErringtonanOldCatholicofthemostrigidtype,hewasamanofextremeenergy,whoseinfluencewascertaintobegreat;and,inanycase,Wisemanwasgrowingold,sothatbeforeverylongitseemedinevitablethatthepolicyofthediocesewouldbeinproperhands。Suchwasthepositionofaffairswhen,twoyearsafterErrington’sappointment,ManningbecameheadoftheOblatesofSt。CharlesandProvostoftheChapterofWestminster。

  TheArchbishopofTrebizondhadbeenforsometimegrowingmoreandmoresuspiciousofManning’sinfluence,andthissuddenelevationappearedtojustifyhisworstfears。ButhisalarmwasturnedtofurywhenhelearnedthatSt。Edmund’sCollege,fromwhichhehadjustsucceededinremovingtheobnoxiousW。G。Ward,wastobeplacedunderthecontroloftheOblatesofSt。Charles。

  TheOblatesdidnotattempttoconcealthefactthatoneoftheirprincipalaimswastointroducethecustomsofaRomanSeminaryintoEngland。Agrimperspectiveofespionageandtale-bearing,foreignhabits,andItaliandevotionsopenedoutbeforethedismayedeyesoftheOldCatholics;theydeterminedtoresisttotheutmost;anditwasuponthequestionofthecontrolofSt。

  Edmund’sthatthefirstbattleinthelongcampaignbetweenErringtonandManningwasfought。

  CardinalWisemanwasnowobviouslydecliningtowardsthegrave。A

  manofvastphysique——’yourimmense’,anIrishservantusedrespectfullytocallhim——ofsanguinetemperament,ofgenialdisposition,ofversatilecapacity,heseemedtohaveengraftedupontherobustnessofhisEnglishnaturethefacile,child-like,andexpansivequalitiesoftheSouth。SofarfrombeingaBishopBlougramastherumourwenthewas,infact,theveryantithesisofthatsubtleandworldly-wiseecclesiastic。HehadinnocentlylookedforwardallhislifetothereunionofEnglandtotheSeeofPeter,andeventuallyhadcometobelievethat,inGod’shand,hewastheinstrumentdestinedtobringaboutthismiraculousconsummation。WasnottheOxfordMovement,withitsfloodofconverts,aclearsignoftheDivinewill?HadhenothimselfbeentheauthorofthatmomentousarticleonSt。

  AugustineandtheDonatists,whichhadfinallyconvincedNewmanthattheChurchofEnglandwasinschism?Andthen,hadhenotbeenabletosetafootaCrusadeofPrayerthroughoutCatholicEuropefortheconversionofEngland?

  Heawaitedtheresultwitheagerexpectation,andinthemeantimehesethimselftosmoothawaythehostilityofhiscountrymenbydeliveringcoursesofpopularlecturesonliteratureandarchaeology。Hedevotedmuchtimeandattentiontotheceremonialdetailsofhisprincelyoffice。Hisknowledgeofrubricandritual,andofthesymbolicalsignificationsofvestments,hasrarelybeenequalled,andhetookaprofounddelightintheorderingandtheperformanceofelaborateprocessions。Duringoneofthesefunctions,anunexpecteddifficultyarose:theMasterofCeremoniessuddenlygavethewordforahalt,and,onbeingaskedthereason,repliedthathehadbeeninstructedthatmomentbyspecialrevelationtostoptheprocession。TheCardinal,however,wasnotataloss。’Youmaylettheprocessiongoon,’hesmilinglyreplied。’Ihavejustobtainedpermission,byspecialrevelation,toproceedwithit。’Hisleisurehourshespentinthewritingofedifyingnovels,thecompositionofacrosticsinLatinVerse,andinplayingbattledoreandshuttlecockwithhislittlenieces。Therewas,indeed,onlyonepointinwhichheresembledBishopBlougram——hisloveofagoodtable。SomeofNewman’sdiscipleswereastonishedandgrievedtofindthathesatdowntofourcoursesoffishduringLent。’Iamsorrytosay,’remarkedoneofthemafterwards,’thatthereisalobstersaladsidetotheCardinal。’

  Itwasamelancholyfatewhichordainedthatthelastyearsofthiscomfortable,easygoing,innocentoldmanshouldbedistractedandembitteredbythefuryofopposingprinciplesandthevenomofpersonalanimosities。Butsoitwas。Hehadfallenintothehandsofonewhocaredverylittleforthegentlepleasuresofrepose。Lefttohimself,WisemanmighthavecompromisedwiththeOldCatholicsandDr。Errington;butwhenManninghadonceappeareduponthescene,allcompromisebecameimpossible。ThelateArchdeaconofChichester,whohadunderstoodsowellandpractisedwithsuchcarefulskillthepreceptofthegoldenmeansodeartotheheartoftheChurchofEngland,now,asProvostofWestminster,flunghimselfintothefraywiththatunyieldingintensityoffervour,thatpassionfortheextremeandtheabsolute,whichistheverylifebloodoftheChurchofRome。

  EventheredoubtableDr。Errington,short,thickset,determined,withhis`hawk-likeexpressionofface’,asacontemporarydescribedhim,’ashelookedatyouthroughhisbluespectacles’,hadbeenknowntoquailinthepresenceofhis,antagonist,withhistallandgracefulfigure,hispaleasceticfeatures,hiscompressedandicylips,hiscalmandpenetratinggaze。AsforthepoorCardinal,hewashelplessindeed。

  Henceforward,therewastobenopalteringwiththatdangerousspiritofindependence——wasitnotalmostGallicanismwhichpossessedtheOldCatholicfamiliesofEngland?ThesupremacyoftheVicarofChristmustbemaintainedatallhazards。Comparedwithsuchanobject,whatweretheclaimsofpersonalaffectionanddomesticpeace?TheCardinalpleadedinvain;hislifelongfriendshipwithDr。Erringtonwaspluckedupbytheroots,andtheharmonyofhisprivatelifewasutterlydestroyed。Hisownhouseholdwasturnedagainsthim。Hisfavouritenephew,whomhehadplacedamongtheOblatesunderManning’sspecialcare,leftthecongregationandopenlyjoinedthepartyofDr。Errington。

  Hissecretaryfollowedsuit;butsaddestofallwasthecaseofMonsignorSearle。MonsignorSearle,inthecapacityofconfidentialmanofaffairs,haddominatedovertheCardinalinprivateforyearswiththeautocraticfidelityofaservantwhohasgrownindispensable。Hisdevotion,infact,seemedtohavetakentheformofphysicalimitation,forhewashardlylessgiganticthanhismaster。Thetwowereinseparable;theirhugefiguresloomedtogetherlikeneighbouringmountains;andononeoccasion,meetingtheminthestreet,agentlemancongratulatedWisemanon’yourEminence’sfineson’。Yetnoweventhiscompanionshipwasbrokenup。TherelentlessProvostheretoobroughtasword。Therewereexplosionsandrecriminations。

  MonsignorSearle,findingthathispowerwasslippingfromhim,madescenesandprotests,andatlastwasfoolishenoughtoaccuseManningofpeculationtohisface;afterthatitwasclearthathisdaywasover;hewasforcedtoslinksnarlingintothebackground,whiletheCardinalshudderedthroughallhisimmensity,andwishedmanytimesthathewerealreadydead。

  Yet,hewasnotaltogetherwithouthisconsolations;Manningtookcaretoseetothat。HispiercingeyehaddetectedthesecretwayintotherecessesoftheCardinal’sheart——haddiscernedthecoreofsimplefaithwhichunderlaythatjovialmannerandthatfaciletalk。Otherswerecontenttolaughandchatterandtransacttheirbusiness;Manningwasmoreartistic。Hewatchedhisopportunity,andthen,whenthemomentcame,touchedwithadeftfingerthechordoftheConversionofEngland。Therewasanimmediateresponse,andhestruckthesamechordagain,andyetagain。HebecametherepositoryoftheCardinal’smostintimateaspirations。Healonesympathisedandunderstood。’IfGodgivesmestrengthtoundertakeagreatwrestling-matchwithinfidelity,’Wisemanwrote,’Ishalloweittohim。’

  Butwhathereallyfoundhimselfundertakingwasawrestling-

  matchwithDr。Errington。ThestruggleoverSt。Edmund’sCollegegrewmoreandmoreacute。TherewerehighwordsintheChapter,whereMonsignorSearleledtheassaultagainsttheProvost,andcarriedaresolutiondeclaringthattheOblatesofSt。CharleshadintrudedthemselvesillegallyintotheSeminary。TheCardinalquashedtheproceedingsoftheChapter;whereupon,theChapterappealedtoRome。Dr。Errington,carriedawaybythefuryofthecontroversy,thenappearedastheavowedopponentoftheProvostandtheCardinal。WithhisownhandhedrewupadocumentjustifyingtheappealoftheChaptertoRomebyCanonLawandthedecreesoftheCouncilofTrent。Wisemanwasdeeplypained:’Myowncoadjutor,’heexclaimed,’isactingassolicitoragainstmeinalawsuit。’TherewasarushtoRome,where,forseveralensuingyears,thehostileEnglishpartiesweretowageafuriousbattleintheantechambersoftheVatican。ButthedisputeovertheOblatesnowsankintoinsignificancebesidetherageofcontentionwhichcentredroundanewandfarmoredeadlyquestion;forthepositionofDr。Erringtonhimselfwasatstake。

  TheCardinal,inspiteofillness,indolence,andthetiesoffriendship,hadbeenbroughtatlasttoanextraordinarystep——

  hewaspetitioningthePopefornothinglessthanthedeprivationandremovaloftheArchbishopofTrebizond。

  Theprecisedetailsofwhatfollowedaredoubtful。Itisonlypossibletodiscernwithclearness,amidavastcloudofofficialdocumentsandunofficialcorrespondencesinEnglish,Italian,andLatin,ofPapaldecreesandvoluminousscritture,ofconfidentialreportsofepiscopalwhispersandthesecretagitationsofCardinals,theformofManning,restlessandindomitable,scouringlikeastormypetreltheangryoceanofdebate。Wiseman,dilatory,unbusinesslike,andinfirm,wasreadyenoughtoleavetheconductofaffairsinhishands。NorwasitlongbeforeManningsawwherethekeyofthewholepositionlay。Asintheolddays,atChichester,hehadsecuredthegoodwillofBishopShuttleworthbycultivatingthefriendshipofArchdeaconHare,sonow,onthisvasterscaleofoperations,hissagacityledhimswiftlyandunerringlyupthelittlewindingstaircaseintheVaticanandthroughthehumbledoorwhichopenedintothecabinetofMonsignorTalbot,theprivatesecretaryofthePope。MonsignorTalbotwasapriestwhoembodiedinasingularmanner,ifnotthehighest,atleastthemostpersistenttraditionsoftheRomanCuria。Hewasamasterofvariousartswhichthepracticeofageshasbroughttoperfectionunderthefriendlyshadowofthetripletiara。Hecouldmingletogetherastutenessandholinesswithoutanydifficulty;hecouldmakeinnuendoesasnaturallyasanordinarymanmakesstatementsoffact;hecouldapplyflatterywithsounsparingahandthatevenPrincesoftheChurchfounditsufficient;and,onoccasion,hecouldringthechangesoftortureonahumansoulwithatactwhichcalledforthuniversalapprobation。Withsuchaccomplishments,itcouldhardlybeexpectedthatMonsignorTalbotshouldberemarkableeitherforadelicatesenseofconscientiousnessorforanextremerefinementoffeeling,butthenitwasnotforthosequalitiesthatManningwasinsearchwhenhewentupthewindingstair。HewaslookingforthemanwhohadtheearofPioNono;and,ontheothersideofthelow-archeddoor,hefoundhim。Thenheputforthallhisefforts;hissuccesswascomplete;andanalliancebeganwhichwasdestinedtohavetheprofoundesteffectuponManning’scareer,andwasonlydissolvedwhen,manyyearslater,MonsignorTalbotwasunfortunatelyobligedtoexchangehisapartmentintheVaticanforaprivatelunaticasylumatPassy。

  ItwasdeterminedthatthecoalitionshouldberatifiedbytheruinofDr。Errington。Whenthemomentofcrisiswasseentobeapproaching,WisemanwassummonedtoRome,wherehebegantodrawupanimmensescritturacontaininghisstatementofthecase。Formonthspast,theredoubtableenergiesoftheArchbishopofTrebizondhadbeenabsorbedinasimilartask。Foliowasbeingpileduponfolio,whenasuddenblowthreatenedtoputanendtothewholeproceedinginasummarymanner。TheCardinalwasseizedbyviolentillness,andappearedtobeuponhisdeathbed。Manningthoughtforamomentthathislabourshadbeeninvainandthatallwaslost。ButtheCardinalrecovered;MonsignorTalbotusedhisinfluenceashealoneknewhow;andapapaldecreewasissuedbywhichDr。Erringtonwas’liberated’fromtheCoadjutorshipofWestminster,togetherwiththerightofsuccessiontotheSee。

  Itwasasupremeactofauthority——a’colpodistatodiDominiddio’,asthePopehimselfsaid——andtheblowtotheOldCatholicswascorrespondinglysevere。TheyfoundthemselvesdeprivedatonefellswoopbothoftheinfluenceoftheirmostenergeticsupporterandofthecertaintyofcomingintopoweratWiseman’sdeath。Andinthemeantime,ManningwasredoublinghisenergiesatBayswater。ThoughhisOblateshadbeencheckedoverSt。Edmund’s,therewasstillnolackofworkforthemtodo。

  Thereweremissionstobecarriedon,schoolstobemanaged,fundstobecollected。Severalnewchurcheswerebuilt;acommunityofmostedifyingnunsoftheThirdOrderofSt。Franciswasestablished;and£30,000,raisedfromManning’sprivateresourcesandfromthoseofhisfriends,wasspentinthreeyears。’Ihatethatman,’oneoftheOldCatholicsexclaimed,’heissuchaforwardpiece。’ThewordswerereportedtoManning,whoshruggedhisshoulders。’Poorman,’hesaid,’whatishemadeof?

  Doeshesuppose,inhisfoolishness,thatafterworkingdayandnightfortwentyyearsinheresyandschism,onbecomingaCatholic,Ishouldsitinaneasy-chairandfoldmyhandsalltherestofmylife?’Buthissecretthoughtswereofadifferentcaste。’Iamconsciousofadesire,’hewroteinhisDiary,’tobeinsuchaposition:IasIhadintimespast;2asmypresentcircumstancesimply;3asmyfriendsthinkmefitfor;

  and4asIfeelmyownfacultiestendto。

  ’But,Godbeingmyhelper,Iwillnotseekitbytheliftingofafingerorthespeaking,ofaword。’

  SoManningwrote,andthought,andprayed;butwhatarewords,andthoughts,andevenprayers,tothemysteriousandrelentlesspowersofcircumstanceandcharacter?CardinalWisemanwasslowlydying;thetilleroftheChurchwasslippingfromhisfeeblehand;andManningwasbesidehim,theonemanwiththeenergy,theability,thecourage,andtheconvictiontosteertheshipuponhercourse。Morethanthat;therewasthesinisterfigureofaDr。Erringtoncrouchingcloseathand,readytoseizethehelmandmakestraight——whocoulddoubtit?——fortherocks。Insuchasituationthevoiceofself-abnegationmustneedsgrowstillandsmallindeed。Yetitspokeon,foritwasoneoftheparadoxesinManning’ssoulthatthatvoicewasneversilent。Whateverelsehewas,hewasnotunscrupulous。Rather,hisscruplesdeepenedwithhisdesires;andhecouldsatisfyhismostexorbitantambitionsinaprofundityofself-abasement。AndsonowhevowedtoHeaventhathewouldSEEKnothing——no,notbytheliftingofafingerorthespeakingofaword。But,ifsomethingcametohim——?Hehadvowednottoseek;hehadnotvowednottotake。Mightitnotbehisplaindutytotake?MightitnotbethewillofGod?

  Something,ofcourse,didcometohim,thoughitseemedforamomentthatitwouldeludehisgrasp。Wisemandied,andthereensuedinRomeacrisisofextraordinaryintensity。’Sincethecreationofthehierarchy,’MonsignorTalbotwrote,itisthegreatestmomentfortheChurchthatIhaveyetseen。’ItwasthedutyoftheChapterofWestminstertonominatethreecandidatesforsuccessiontotheArchbishopric;theymadeonelasteffort,andhadthetemeritytoplaceuponthelist,besidesthenamesoftwoOldCatholicbishops,thatofDr。Errington。Itwasafatalblunder。PiusIXwasfurious;theChapterhadcommittedan’insultaalPapa’,heexclaimed,strikinghisbreastthreetimesinhisrage。’ItwastheChapterthatdidit,’saidManning,afterwards;butevenaftertheChapter’sindiscretion,thefataldecisionhunginthebalanceforweeks。’Thegreatpointofanxietywithme,wroteMonsignorTalbottoManning,’iswhetheraCongregationwillbeheld,orwhethertheHolyFatherwillperformaPontificalact。Hehimselfisdoubting。Ithereforesaymassandprayeverymorningthathemayhavethecouragetochooseforhimself,insteadofsubmittingthemattertoaCongregation。AlthoughtheCardinalsaredeterminedtorejectDr。

  Errington,neverthelessIamafraidthattheyshouldselectoneoftheothers。YouknowverywellthatCongregationsareguidedbythedocumentsthatareplacedbeforethem;itisforthisreasonthatIshouldpreferthePope’sactinghimself。’

  ButtheHolyFatherhimselfwasdoubting。Inhisindecision,heorderedamonthofprayersandmasses。Thesuspensegrewandgrew。EverythingseemedagainstManning。ThewholeEnglishepiscopatewasopposedtohim;hehadquarrelledwiththeChapter;hewasaconvertofbutfewyears’standing;eventhecongregatedCardinalsdidnotventuretosuggesttheappointmentofsuchaman。Butsuddenly,theHolyFather’sdoubtscametoanend。Heheardavoice——amysteriousinwardvoice——whisperingsomethinginhisear。’Metteteloli!Metteteloli!’thevoicerepeated,overandoveragain。Metteteloli!Itwasaninspiration;andPiusIX,brushingasidetherecommendationsoftheChapterandthedeliberationsoftheCardinals,madeManning,byaPontificalact,ArchbishopofWestminster。

  MonsignorTalbot’sfelicitywascomplete;andhetookoccasioninconveyinghiscongratulationstohisfriend,tomakesomeilluminatingreflectionsuponthegreatevent。’MYpolicythroughout,’hewrote,’wasnevertoproposeyouDIRECTLYtothePope,but,tomakeothersdoso,sothatbothyouandIcanalwayssaythatitwasnotIwhoinducedtheHolyFathertonameyou——whichwouldlessentheweightofyourappointment。ThisI

  say,becausemanyhavesaidthatyourbeingnamedwasallmydoing。IdonotsaythatthePopedidnotknowthatIthoughtyoutheonlymaneligible——asItookcaretotellhimoverandoveragainwhatwasagainstalltheothercandidates——andinconsequence,hewasalmostdrivenintonamingyou。Afterhehadnamedyou,theHolyFathersaidtome,“Whatadiplomatistyouare,tomakewhatyouwishedcometopass!“

  ’Nevertheless,’concludedMonsignorTalbot,’IbelieveyourappointmentwasspeciallydirectedbytheHolyGhost。’

  Manninghimselfwasapparentlyofthesameopinion。’MydearChild,’hewrotetoaladypenitent,’IhaveintheselastthreeweeksfeltasifourLordhadcalledmebyname。Everythingelsehaspassedoutofmymind。ThefirmbeliefthatIhavelonghadthattheHolyFatheristhemostsupernaturalpersonIhaveeverseenhasgivenmethisfeelingmoredeeply。’Still,IfeelasifIhadbeenbrought,contrarytoallhumanwills,bytheDivineWill,intoanimmediaterelationtoourDivineLord。’

  ’Ifindeed,’hewrotetoLadyHerbert,’itwerethewillofourDivineLordtolayuponmethisheavyburden,Hecouldhavedoneitinnowaymorestrengtheningandconsolingtome。ToreceiveitfromthehandsofHisVicar,andfromPiusIX,andafterlonginvocationoftheHolyGhost,andnotonlywithouthumaninfluences,butinspiteofmanifoldariapowerfulhumanopposition,givesmethelaststrengthforsuchacross。’

  VI

  MANNING’Sappointmentfilledhisopponentswithalarm。Wrathandvengeanceseemedtobehangingoverthem;whatmightnotbeexpectedfromtheformidableenemyagainstwhomtheyhadstruggledforsolong,andwhonowstoodamongthemarmedwitharchiepiscopalpowersandinvestedwiththespecialconfidenceofRome?Greatwastheiramazement,greatwastheirrelief,whentheyfoundthattheirdreadedmasterbreathednothingbutkindness,gentleness,andconciliation。Theoldscores,theyfound,werenottobepaidoff,buttobewipedout。Thenewarchbishoppouredforthuponeverysideallthetact,allthecourtesy,allthedignifiedgracesofaChristianmagnanimity。Itwasimpossibletowithstandsuchtreatment。Bishopswhohadspentyearsinthwartinghimbecamehisdevotedadherents;eventheChapterofWestminsterforgotitshatred。MonsignorTalbotwasextremelysurprised。’Yourgreatestenemieshaveentirelycomeround,’hewrote。’IreceivedtheotherdayapanegyricofyoufromSearle。ThischangeoffeelingIcannotattributetoanythingbuttheHolyGhost。’MonsignorTalbotwasveryfondoftheHolyGhost;but,sofar,atanyrateasSearlewasconcerned,therewasanotherexplanation。Manning,insteadofdismissingSearlefromhispositionof’oeconomus’intheepiscopalhousehold,hadkepthimon——atanincreasedsalary;andthepoorman,whohadnotscrupledinthedaysofhispridetocallManningathief,wasnowdulygrateful。

  AstoDr。Errington,hegaveanexampleofhumilityandsubmissionbyatoncewithdrawingintoacompleteobscurity。ForyearstheArchbishopofTrebizond,theejectedheirtotheSeeofWestminster,labouredasaparishpriestintheIsleofMan。Henursednoresentmentinhisheart,and,afteralongandedifyinglifeofpeaceandsilence,hediedin1886,aprofessoroftheologyatClifton。

  ItmightbesupposedthatManningcouldnowfeelthathistriumphwascomplete。Hispositionwassecure;hispowerwasabsolute;

  hisprestigewasdailygrowing。Yettherewassomethingthatirkedhimstill。AshecasthiseyesovertheRomanCatholiccommunityinEngland,hewasawareofonefigurewhich,byvirtueofapeculiareminence,seemedtochallengethesupremacyofhisown。ThatfigurewasNewman’s。

  Sincehisconversion,Newman’slifehadbeenalongseriesofmisfortunesanddisappointments。WhenhehadlefttheChurchofEngland,hewasitsmostdistinguished,itsmostreveredmember,whosewords,howeverstrange,werelistenedtowithprofoundattention,andwhoseopinions,howeverdubious,werefollowedinalltheirfluctuationswithaneagerandindeedatremblingrespect。HeenteredtheChurchofRome,andfoundhimselfforthwithanunimportantman。HewasreceivedatthePapalCourtwithapolitenesswhichonlyfaintlyconcealedatotallackofinterestandunderstanding。Hisdelicatemind,withitsrefinements,itshesitations,itscomplexities——hissoft,spectacled,Oxfordmanner,withitshalf-effeminatediffidence-

  suchthingswereillcalculatedtoimpressathrongofbusyCardinalsandBishops,whosedayswerespentamidthepracticaldetailsofecclesiasticalorganisation,thelong-drawninvolutionsofpapaldiplomacy,andthedeliciousbickeringsofpersonalintrigue。Andwhen,atlast,hedidsucceedinmakingsomeimpressionuponthesesurroundings,itwasnobetter;itwasworse。Anuneasysuspiciongraduallyarose;itbegantodawnupontheRomanauthoritiesthatDr。Newmanwasamanofideas。WasitpossiblethatDr。NewmandidnotunderstandthatideasinRomewere,tosaytheleastofit,outofplace?Apparently,hedidnot——norwasthatall;notcontentwithhavingideas,hepositivelyseemedanxioustospreadthem。Whenthatwasknown,thepolitenessinhighplaceswasseentobewearingdecidedlythin。HisHoliness,whoonNewman’sarrivalhadgraciouslyexpressedthewishtoseehim’againandagain’,now,apparently,wasconstantlyengaged。AtfirstNewmansupposedthatthegrowingcoolnesswastheresultofmisapprehension;hisItalianwasfaulty,LatinwasnotspokenatRome,hiswritingshadonlyappearedingarbledtranslations。AndevenEnglishmenhadsometimesfoundhisargumentsdifficulttofollow。Hethereforedeterminedtotaketheutmostcaretomakehisviewsquiteclear;

  hisopinionsuponreligiousprobability,hisdistinctionbetweendemonstrativeandcircumstantialevidence,histheoryofthedevelopmentofdoctrineandtheaspectsofideas——theseandmanyothermatters,uponwhichhehadwrittensomuch,hewouldnowexplaininthesimplestlanguage。Hewouldshowthattherewasnothingdangerousinwhatheheld,thattherewasapassageinDeLugowhichsupportedhim——thatPerrone,bymaintainingthattheImmaculateConceptioncouldbedefined,hadimplicitlyadmittedoneofhismainpositions,andthathislanguageaboutFaithhadbeenconfused,quiteerroneously,withthefideismofM。Bautain。

  CardinalBarnabo,CardinalReisach,CardinalAntonelli,lookedathimwiththeirshrewdeyesandhardfaces,whilehepouredintotheirearswhich,ashehadalreadynoticedwithdistress,werelargeandnottooclean——hiscarefuldisquisitions;but,itwasallinvain——theyhadclearlyneverreadDeLugoorPerrone,andasforM。Bautain,theyhadneverheardofhim。Newman,indespair,fellbackuponSt。ThomasAquinas;but,tohishorror,heobservedthatSt。ThomashimselfdidnotmeanverymuchtotheCardinals。

  Withasinkingheart,herealisedatlastthepainfultruth:itwasnotthenatureofhisviews,itwashishavingviewsatall,thatwasobjectionable。HehadhopedtodevotetherestofhislifetotheteachingofTheology;butwhatsortofTheologycouldheteachwhichwouldbeacceptabletosuchsuperiors?HeleftRome,andsettleddowninBirminghamastheheadofasmallcommunityofOratorians。Hedidnotcomplain;itwasGod’swill;

  itwasbetterso。Hewouldwatchandpray。

  ButGod’swillwasnotquitesosimpleasthat。Wasitright,afterall,thatamanwithNewman’sintellectualgifts,hisdevotedardour,hispersonalcelebrity,shouldsinkawayoutofsightanduseinthedimrecessesoftheOratoryatBirmingham?

  Ifthecallweretocometohimtotakehistalentoutofthenapkin,howcouldherefuse?Andthecalldidcome。ACatholicUniversitywasbeingstartedinIrelandandDr。Cullen,theArchbishopofArmagh,beggedNewmantobecometheRector。Atfirsthehesitated,butwhenhelearnedthatitwastheHolyFather’swishthatheshouldtakeupthework,hecoulddoubtnolonger;theofferwassentfromHeaven。Thedifficultiesbeforehimwereverygreat;notonlyhadanewUniversitytobecalledupoutofthevoid,butthepositionwascomplicatedbythepresenceofarivalinstitution——theundenominationalQueen’sColleges,foundedbyPeelafewyearsearlierwiththeobjectofgivingIrishCatholicsfacilitiesforUniversityeducationonthesametermsastheirfellow-countrymen。YetNewmanhadthehighesthopes。HedreamtofsomethinggreaterthanamerelyIrishUniversity——ofanobleandflourishingcentreoflearningfortheCatholicsofIrelandandEnglandalike。Andwhyshouldnothisdreamcometrue?’Inthemidstofourdifficulties,hesaid,’I

  haveonegroundofhope,justonestay,but,asIthink,asufficientone,whichservesmeinthesteadofallotherargumentwhatever。ItisthedecisionoftheHolySee;St。Peterhasspoken。’

  TheyearsthatfollowedshowedtowhatextentitwassafetodependuponSt。Peter。Unforeseenobstaclescroppeduponeveryside。Newman’senergieswereuntiring,butsowastheinertiaoftheIrishauthorities。Onhisappointment,hewrotetoDr。CullenaskingthatarrangementsmightbemadeforhisreceptioninDublin。Dr。Cullendidnotreply。Newmanwroteagain,butstilltherewasnoanswer。Weekspassed,monthspassed,yearspassed,andnotaword,notasign,camefromDr。Cullen。Atlast,afterdanglingformorethantwoyearsintheuncertaintiesandperplexitiesofsostrangeasituation,NewmanwassummonedtoDublin。Therehefoundnothingbutdisorderanddiscouragement。

  Thelaitytooknointerestinthescheme;theclergyactivelydislikedit;Newman’sauthoritywasdisregarded。HeappealedtoCardinalWiseman,andthenatlastarayofhopedawned。Thecardinalsuggestedthatabishopricshouldbeconferreduponhim,togivehimastatussuitabletohisposition;Dr。Cullenacquiesced,andPiusIXwasallcompliance。’ManderemoaNewmanlacrocetta,’hesaidtoWiseman,smilinglydrawinghishandsdowneachsideofhisnecktohisbreast,’lofaremovescovodiPorfirio,oqualcheluogo。’ThenewsspreadamongNewman’sfriends,andcongratulationsbegantocomein。Buttheofficialintimationseemedtobeunaccountablydelayed;nocrocettacamefromRome,andCardinalWisemanneveragainreferredtothematter。NewmanwaslefttogatherthatthesecretrepresentationsofDr。Cullenhadbroughtaboutachangeofcounselinhighquarters。Hispridedidnotallowhimtoinquirefurther;butoneofhisladypenitents,MissGiberne,waslessdiscreet。’HolyFather,’shesuddenlysaidtothePopeinanaudienceoneday,’whydon’tyoumakeFatherNewmanabishop?’UponwhichtheHolyFatherlookedmuchconfusedandtookagreatdealofsnuff。

  ForthenextfiveyearsNewman,unaidedandignored,struggleddesperately,likeamaninabog,withtheovermasteringdifficultiesofhistask。Hismind,whosenativehauntwasamongthefaraerialboundariesoffancyandphilosophy,wasnowclampeddownunderthefettersofpettydetailandfeduponthemeandietofcompromiseandroutine。Hehadtoforcehimselftoscrapetogethermoney,towritearticlesforthestudents’

  Gazette,tomakeplansformedicallaboratories,tobeingratiatingwiththeCityCouncil;hewasobligedtospendmonthstravellingthroughtheremoteregionsofIrelandinthecompanyofextraordinaryecclesiasticsandbarbaroussquireens。

  Hewasathoroughbredharnessedtoafour-wheeledcab——andheknewit。Eventually,herealisedsomethingelse:hesawthatthewholeprojectofaCatholicUniversityhadbeenevolvedasapoliticalandecclesiasticalweaponagainsttheQueen’sCollegesofPeel,andthatwasall。Asaninstrumentofeducation。itwassimplylaughedat;andhehimselfhadbeencalledinbecausehisnamewouldbeavaluableassetinapartygame。Whenheunderstoodthat,heresignedhisrectorshipandreturnedtotheOratory。

  But,histribulationswerenotyetover。ItseemedtobeGod’swillthatheshouldtakepartinawholesuccessionofschemes,which,nolessthantheprojectoftheIrishUniversity,weretoendindisillusionmentandfailure。HewaspersuadedbyCardinalWisemantoundertaketheeditorshipofanewEnglishversionoftheScriptures,whichwastobeamonumentofCatholicscholarshipandaneverlastingglorytoMotherChurch。Hemadeelaboratepreparations;hecollectedsubscriptions,engagedcontributors,andcomposedalongandlearnedprolegomenatothework。Itwasalluseless;CardinalWisemanbegantothinkofotherthings;andtheschemefadedimperceptiblyintothinair。

  Thenanewtaskwassuggestedtohim:“TheRambler“,aCatholicperiodical,hadfallenonevildays;wouldDrNewmancometotherescue,andaccepttheeditorship?Thistimehehesitatedratherlongerthanusual;hehadburnedhisfingerssooften——hemustbespeciallycarefulnow。’IdidallIcouldtoascertainGod’sWill,’hesaid,andhecametotheconclusionthatitwashisdutytoundertakethework。Hedidso,andaftertwonumbershadappeared,Dr。Ullathorne,theBishopofBirmingham,calleduponhim,andgentlyhintedthathehadbetterleavethepaperalone。

  ItstonewasnotlikedatRome;ithadcontainedanarticlecriticisingSt。PiusV,and,mostseriousofall,theorthodoxyofoneofNewman’sownessayshadappearedtobedoubtful。Heresigned,andintheanguishofhisheart,determinednevertowriteagain。Oneofhisfriendsaskedhimwhyhewaspublishingnothing。’Hannibal’selephants,’hereplied,’nevercouldlearnthegoose-step。’

  Newmanwasnowanoldman——hewassixty-threeyearsofage。Whathadhetolookforwardto?Afewlastyearsofinsignificanceandsilence。Whathadhetolookbackupon?Alongchronicleofwastedefforts,disappointedhopes,neglectedpossibilities,unappreciatedpowers。AndnowallhislabourshadendedbyhisbeingaccusedatRomeoflackoforthodoxy。Hecouldnolongerrestrainhisindignation,andinalettertooneofhisladypenitents,hegaveventtothebitternessofhissoul。WhenhisRamblerarticlehadbeencomplainedof,hesaid,therehadbeensometalkofcallinghimtoRome。’CallmetoRome,’heburstout——’whatdoesthatmean?Itmeanstoseveranoldmanfromhishome,tosubjecthimtointercoursewithpersonswhoselanguagesarestrangetohim——tofoodandtofashionswhicharealmoststarvationontheonehand,andinvolverestlessdaysandnightsontheother——itmeanstoobligehimtodanceattendanceonPropagandaweekafterweekandmonthaftermonth——itmeanshisdeath。ItwasthepunishmentonDr。Baines,1840-1,tokeephimatthedoorofPropagandaforayear。

  ’ThisistheprospectwhichIcannotbutfeelprobable,didIsayanythingwhichoneBishopinEnglandchosetospeakagainstandreport。Othershavebeenkilledbeforeme。Lucaswentofhisownaccordindeed——butwhenhegotthere,oh!’Howmuchdidhe,asloyalasonoftheChurchandtheHolySeeaseverwas,whatdidhesufferbecauseDr。Cullenwasagainsthim?HewanderedasDr。

  Cullensaidinaletterhepublishedinasortoftriumph,hewanderedfromChurchtoChurchwithoutafriend,andhardlygotanaudiencefromthePope。’AndItooshouldgofromSt。PhiliptoOurLady,andtoSt。PeterandSt。Paul,andtoSt。LaurenceandtoSt。Cecilia,and,ifithappenedtomeastoLucas,shouldcomebacktodie。’

  Yet,inspiteofall,inspiteoftheseexasperationsoftheflesh,theseagitationsofthespirit,whatwastheretoregret?

  Hadhenotamysteriousconsolationwhichoutweighedeverygrief?

  Surely,surely,hehad。

  ’Unveil,0Lord,andonusshine,Ingloryandingrace,’

  heexclaimsinapoemwrittenatthistime,called’TheTwoWorlds’:

  ’ThisgaudyworldgrowspalebeforeThebeautyofThyface。

  ’TillThouartseenitseemstoheAsortoffairyground,Wheresunsunsettinglightthesky,Andflowersandfruitabound。

  ’ButwhenThykeener,purerbeamIspoureduponoursight,Itlosesallitspowertocharm,Andwhatwasdayisnight……

  ’Andthus,whenwerenounceforTheeItsrestlessaimsandfears,Thetendermemoriesofthepast,Thehopesofcomingyears,’Poorisoursacrifice,whoseeyesArelightedfromabove;

  Weofferwhatwecannotkeep,Whatwehaveceasedtolove。’

  SuchwereNewman’sthoughtswhenanunexpectedeventoccurredwhichproducedaprofoundeffectuponhislife:CharlesKingsleyattackedhisgoodfaith,andthegoodfaithofCatholicsingeneral,inamagazinearticle。Newmanprotested,andKingsleyrejoinedinaniratepamphlet。Newman’sreplywastheApologiaproVitaSua,whichhewroteinsevenweeks,sometimesworkingtwenty-twohoursatastretch,’constantlyintears,andconstantlycryingoutwithdistress’。Thesuccessofthebook,withitstransparentcandour,itscontroversialbrilliance,thesweepandpassionofitsrhetoric,thedepthofitspersonalfeeling,wasimmediateandoverwhelming;itwasrecognisedatonceasaclassic,notonlybyCatholics,butbythewholeEnglishworld。Fromeverysideexpressionsofadmiration,gratitude,anddevotionpouredin。ItwasimpossibleforonesosensitiveasNewmantotheopinionsofotherpeopletoresistthehappyinfluenceofsuchanunlooked-for,suchanenormoustriumph。Thecloudofhisdejectionbegantolift;etl’espoirmalgreluis’estglissedanssoncoeur。

  ItwasonlynaturalthatatsuchamomenthisthoughtsshouldreturntoOxford。ForsomeyearspastproposalshadbeenonfootforestablishingthereaHall,underNewman’sleadership,forCatholicundergraduates。TheschemehadbeenlookeduponwithdisfavourinRome,andithadbeenabandoned;butnowanewopportunitypresenteditself——somelandinasuitablepositioncameintothemarket。Newman,withhisrevivingspirits,feltthathecouldnotletthischancegoby,andboughttheland。ItwashisintentiontobuildtherenotaHall,butaChurch,andtosetonfoota’HouseoftheOratory’。Whatpossibleobjectioncouldtherebetosuchascheme?HeapproachedtheBishopofBirmingham,whogavehisapproval;inRomeitselftherewasnohostilesign。Thelaitywereenthusiasticandsubscriptionsbegantoflowin。Wasitpossiblethatallwaswellatlast?Wasitconceivablethatthestrangeandwearypilgrimageofsomanyyearsshouldendatlengthinquietude,ifnotinhappiness,whereithadbegun?

  ItsohappenedthatitwasatthisverytimethatManningwasappointedtotheSeeofWestminster。Thedestiniesofthetwomen,whichhadrunparalleltooneanotherinsostrangeafashionandforsomanyyears,werenowforamomentsuddenlytoconverge。Newlyclothedwithalltheattributesofecclesiasticalsupremacy,ManningfoundhimselffacetofacewithNewman,uponwhosebrowswereglitteringthefreshlaurelsofspiritualvictory——thecrownofanapostolicallife。Itwasthemeetingoftheeagleandthedove。Whatfollowedshowed,moreclearlyperhapsthananyotherincidentinhiscareer,thestuffthatManningwasmadeof。Powerhadcometohimatlast;andheseizeditwithalltheavidityofabornautocrat,whoseappetiteforsupremedominionhadbeenwhettedbylongyearsofenforcedabstinenceandthehatedsimulationsofsubmission。HewastherulerofRomanCatholicEngland,andhewouldrule。ThenatureofNewman’sinfluenceitwasimpossibleforhimtounderstand,buthesawthatitexisted;fortwentyyearshehadbeenunabletoescapetheunwelcomeitterationsofthatsingular,thatalien,thatrivalrenown;andnowitstoodinhispath,aloneandinexplicable,likeadefiantghost。’Itisremarkablyinteresting,’heobservedcoldly,whensomebodyaskedhimwhathethoughtoftheApologia:’itislikelisteningtothevoiceofonefromthedead。’Andsuchvoices,withtheirsepulchralechoes,areapttobemoredangerousthanlivingones;theyattracttoomuchattention;theymustbesilencedatallcosts。

  Itwasthemeetingoftheeagleandthedove;therewasahovering,aswoop,andthenthequickbeakandtherelentlesstalonsdidtheirwork。

  EvenbeforehisaccessiontotheArchbishopric,ManninghadscentedapeculiarperilinNewman’sOxfordscheme,andsosoonashecameintopower,heprivatelydeterminedthattheauthoroftheApologiashouldneverbeallowedtoreturntohisoldUniversity。Norwasthereanylackofexcellentreasonsforsuchadecision。Oxfordwasbythistimeanestofliberalism;itwasnofitplaceforCatholicyouths,andtheywouldinevitablybeattractedtherebythepresenceofFatherNewman。Andthen,hadnotFatherNewman’sorthodoxybeenimpugned?HadhenotbeenheardtoexpressopinionsofmostdoubtfulproprietyuponthequestionoftheTemporalPower?Wasitnotknownthathemightalmostbesaidtohaveanindependentmind?Aninfluence?Yes,hehadaninfluencenodoubt;butwhatafatalkindofinfluencetowhichtosubjecttherisinggenerationofCatholicEnglishmen!

  SuchwerethereflectionswhichManningwascarefultopourintothereceptivecarofMonsignorTalbot。Thatusefulpriest,athispostofvantageintheVatican,wasmorethaneverthedevotedservantofthenewArchbishop。Aleague,offensiveanddefensive,hadbeenestablishedbetweenthetwofriends。’IdaresayIshallhavemanyopportunitiestoserveyouinRome,’wroteMonsignorTalbotmodestly,’andIdonotthinkanysupportwillbeuselesstoyou,especiallyonaccountofthepeculiarcharacterofthePope,andthespiritwhichpervadesPropaganda;therefore,Iwishyoutounderstandthatacompactexistsbetweenus;ifyouhelpme,Ishallhelpyou。’Andalittlelaterheadded,’Iamgladyouaccepttheleague。AsIhavealreadydoneforyears,Ishallsupportyou,andIhaveahundredwaysofdoingso。Aworddroppedattheproperoccasionworkswonders。’Perhapsitwashardlynecessarytoremindhiscorrespondentofthat。

  SofarasNewmanwasconcerned,itsofelloutthatMonsignorTalbotneedednoprompting。DuringthesensationcausedbytheappearanceoftheApologia,ithadoccurredtohimthatitwouldbeanexcellentplantosecureNewmanasapreacherduringLentforthefashionablecongregationwhichattendedhischurchinthePiazzadelPopolo;and,hehadaccordinglywrittentoinvitehimtoRome。Hisletterwasunfortunatelynotatactfulone。HeassuredNewmanthathewouldfindinthePiazzadelPopolo’anaudienceofProtestantsmoreeducatedthancouldeverbethecaseinEngland’,and’Ithinkmyself,’hehadaddedbywayofextrainducement,’thatyouwillderivegreatbenefitfromvisitingRome,andshowingyourselftotheEcclesiasticalAuthorities。’

  Newmansmiledgrimlyatthis;hedeclaredtoafriendthattheletterwas’insolent’;andhecouldnotresistthetemptationofusinghissharppen。

  ’DearMonsignorTalbot,’hewroteinreply,’Ihavereceivedyourletter,invitingmetopreachinyourChurchatRometoanaudienceofProtestantsmoreeducatedthancouldeverbethecaseinEngland。

  ’However,Birminghampeoplehavesouls;andIhaveneithertastenortalentforthesortofworkwhichyoucutoutforme。AndI

  begtodeclineyouroffer。

点击下载App,搜索"Eminent Victorians",免费读到尾