(From "Across the Plains, with Other Memories and Essays")

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND--IV

1801-1909

JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

Born in 1801, died in 1890; son of a banker; educated at
Oxford; a Fellow of Oriel in 1822, where he was associated
with Dr. Pusey; made a voyage to the Mediterranean in
1832-33, returning from which he wrote "Lead, Kindly Light";
joined the Oxford movement in 1833, writing many of the
"tracts for the times"; formally joined the Catholic Church
in 1845; established an Oratory in 1849; published
"Lectures" in 1850, the "Apologia" in 1864, "Grammar of
Ascent" in 1870; made a cardinal in 1879.

I

THE BEGINNINGS OF TRACTARIANISM[1]

During the first years of my residence at Oriel, tho proud of my
college, I was not quite at home there. I was very much alone, and I
used often to take my daily walk by myself. I recollect once meeting
Dr. Copleston, then Provost, with one of the Fellows. He turned round,
and with the kind courteousness which sat so well on him, made me a
bow and said, _Nunquam minus solus, quam cum solus_. At that time,
indeed (from 1823), I had the intimacy of my dear and true friend Dr.
Pusey, and could not fail to admire and revere a soul so devoted to
the cause of religion, so full of good works, so faithful in his
affections; but he left residence when I was getting to know him
well. As to Dr. Whately[2] himself, he was too much my superior to
allow of my being at my ease with him; and to no one in Oxford at this
time did I open my heart fully and familiarly. But things changed in
1826. At that time I became one of the tutors of my college, and this
gave me position; besides, I had written one or two essays which had
been well received. I began to be known. I preached my first
University sermon. Next year I was one of the public examiners for the
B. A. degree. In 1828 I became vicar of St. Mary's. It was to me like
the feeling of spring weather after winter; and, if I may so speak, I
came out of my shell. I remained out of it until 1841.

[Footnote 1: From the "Apologia pro Vita Sua."]

[Footnote 2: Richard Whately, Bampton lecturer at Oxford in 1822;
principal of St. Albans Hall in 1825; afterward Archbishop of Dublin;
best known for his "Logic" and "Christian Evidences." When Newman met
him, he was already famous for his "Historical Doubts Relative to
Napoleon Bonaparte," which had been published