15 AUGUST 1891, Page 26

John Henry Newman. By Wilfrid Meynell. (lieg,an Paul, Trench, and

Co.)—Mr. W ilfrid Ttleynell's sub-title suggests a sub- ject of serious thought : "The Foun 3er of Modern Anglicanism and a Cardinal of the Roman Church." If this is so, what will be the end of "modern Anglicanism " ? Be this as it may, the book is really delightful. It is full of personal details, and sup- plements what has been written on the intellectual and theological aspects of the man. Here is what we read about his reception of the Cardinal's hat :—" The news of his impending elevation to the Cardinalate reached Newman early in 1879 by rumour ; and in March a letter from Cardinal Manning, giving an all but official message from the Pope to that effect, put an end to the 'surprise' he said he felt while the news seemed to be known to everybody, but to him had never been formally announced. His was not the attitude of St. Bonaventura, who looked up from washing dishes in the kitchen, to tell the Pope's mes- sengers to hang up the hat in the passage. It was no bauble to Newman, whose respect for authority was the main-spring of his Anglican as of his Catholic life It closed con- troversies which, while they lasted, had been always hot

and sometimes disturbing about the opportuneness of the Vatican Council's definition, about the dogmatism of Dr. Ward and the Dublin Review. It was a pledge of good-will from a quarter which, by rewarding him so highly, practically imposed silence on the old opponents. They are all on my side now,' said the aged Cardinal with a smile; a smile which had no poor human triumphing in it, but an added indulgent sweetness." An anecdote which bears on a recent controversy may be quoted :—" On the evening before their reception into the Church Eby the "their "is meant Newman, Bowles, and Stanton], Father Dominic went into the chapel with the catechumens, and recited office with them. But when they came to the record of how St. Denis, after his martyrdom, put his head under his arm, and walked about, Father Dominic cried stop,' and skipped it over. He thought such legends might be a difficulty to beginners ; but he did not know his men In truth, the neophytes were a little scandalised at him, and not at it."