Cardinal Newman, who is in his ninetieth year, received on
Wednesday a deputation from the Catholic Truth Society, and replying to their congratulations with warmth and candour, he said that the time had at last come when Roman Catholics can really do what Protestants have long since done, and what he has always admired them for their zeal in doing,—namely, devote their energies and their means to providing their co-religionists with a popular literature suitable for the wants of their readers, yet without neglecting the primary duties of the Church towards its worshippers. This preparation of a special literature which shall be at once interesting and to a certain extent propagandist, is a matter requiring great judgment and delicacy. It has been very seldom well done by any Church, because the propagandist tendency has usually been overdone. But we live in a time unusually favourable for the exercise of great impartiality in this respect,—just such an impartiality as Cardinal Newman's own writings have frequently displayed. It is very seldom that any controversial writer has shown more insight into the heart of Ins opponent's view than Cardinal Newman.
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