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The confederates matured their plans。 While Newman was making his
arrangements for the Oxford Oratory； Cardinal Reisach visited
London。 'Cardinal Reisach has just left；' wrote Manning to
Monsignor Talbot： 'he has seen and understands all that is going
on in England。' But Newman had no suspicions。 It was true that
persistent rumours of his unorthodoxy and his anti…Roman leanings
had begun to float about； and these rumours had been traced to
Rome。 But what were rumours？ Then； too； Newman found out that
Cardinal Reisach had been to Oxford without his knowledge； and
had inspected the land for the Oratory。 That seemed odd； but all
doubts were set at rest by the arrival from Propaganda of an
official ratification of his scheme。 There would be nothing but
plain sailing now。 Newman was almost happy； radiant visions came
into his mind of a wonderful future in Oxford； the gradual growth
of Catholic principles； the decay of liberalism； the inauguration
of a second Oxford Movement； the conversionwho knows？of Mark
Pattison； the triumph of the Church。。。。 'Earlier failures do not
matter now；' he exclaimed to a friend。 'I see that I have been
reserved by God for this。'
Just then a long blue envelope was brought into the room。 Newman
opened it。 'All is over；' he said； 'I am not allowed to go。' The
envelope contained a letter from the Bishop announcing that；
together with the formal permission for an Oratory at Oxford；
Propaganda had issued a secret instruction to the effect that
Newman himself was by no means to reside there。 If he showed
signs of doing so； he was blandly and suavely （'blande
suaviterque' were the words of the Latin instrument） to be
prevented。 And now the secret instruction had come into
operation blande suaviterque： Dr。 Newman's spirit had been
crushed。
His friends made some gallant efforts to retrieve the situation；
but； it was in vain。 Father St。 John hurried to Rome and the
indignant laity of England； headed by Lord Edward Howard； the
guardian of the young Duke of Norfolk； seized the opportunity of
a particularly virulent anonymous attack upon Newman； to send him
an address in which they expressed their feeling that 'every
blow that touches you inflicts a wound upon the Catholic Church
in this country'。 The only result was an outburst of redoubled
fury upon the part of Monsignor Talbot。 The address； he declared；
was an insult to the Holy See。 'What is the province of the
laity？' he interjected。 'To hunt； to shoot； to entertain。 These
matters they understand； but to meddle with ecclesiastical
matters they have no right at all。' Once more he warned Manning
to be careful。 'Dr。 Newman is the most dangerous man in England；
and you will see that he will make use of the laity against your
Grace。 You must not be afraid of him。 It will require much
prudence； but you must be firm。 The Holy Father still places his
confidence in you； but if you yield and do not fight the battle
of the Holy See against the detestable spirit growing up in
England； he will begin to regret Cardinal Wiseman； who knew how
to keep the laity in order。' Manning had no thought of
'yielding'； but； he pointed out to his agitated friend that an
open conflict between himself and Newman would be 'as great a
scandal to the Church in England； and as great a victory to the
Anglicans； as could be'。 He would act quietly； and there would be
no more difficulty。 The Bishops were united； and the Church was
sound。
On this； Monsignor Talbot hurried to Father St。 John's
lodgings in Rome to express his regret at the misunderstanding
that had arisen； to wonder how it could possibly have occurred；
and to hope that Dr。 Newman might consent to be made a
Protonotary
Apostolic。 That was all the satisfaction that Father St。 John was
to obtain from his visit to Rome。 A few weeks later； the scheme
of
the Oxford Oratory was finally quashed。
When all was over； Manning thought that the time had come for a
reconciliation。 He made advances through a common friend； what
had he done； he asked； to offend Dr。 Newman？ Letters passed； and；
naturally enough； they only widened the breach。 Newman was not
the man to be polite。 'I can only repeat；' he wrote at last；
'what I said when you last heard from me。 I do not know whether I
am on my head or my heels when I have active relations with you。
In spite of my friendly feelings； this is the judgment of my
intellect。' 'Meanwhile；' he concluded； 'I propose to say seven
masses for your intention amid the difficulties and anxieties of
your ecclesiastical duties。' And Manning could only return the
compliment。
At about this time； the Curate of Littlemore had a singular
experience。 As he was passing by the Church he noticed an old
man； very poorly dressed in an old grey coat with the collar
turned up； leaning over the lych gate； in floods of tears。 He was
apparently in great trouble； and his hat was pulled down over his
eyes as if he wished to hide his features。 For a moment；
however； he turned towards the Curate； who was suddenly struck by
something familiar in the face。 Could it be？ A photograph hung
over the Curate's mantelpiece of the man who had made Littlemore
famous by his sojourn there more than twenty years ago he had
never seen the original； but now； was it possible？ He looked
again； and he could doubt no longer。 It was Dr。 Newman。 He sprang
forward； with proffers of assistance。 Could he be of any use？ 'Oh
no； no！' was the reply。 'Oh no； no！' But the Curate felt that he
could not run away and leave so eminent a character in such
distress。 'Was it not Dr。 Newman he had the honour of
addressing？'
he asked； with all the respect and sympathy at his command。 'Was
there nothing that could be done？' But the old man hardly seemed
to understand what was being said to him。 'Oh no； no！' he
repeated； with the tears streaming down his face； 'Oh no； no！'
VII
MEANWHILE； a remarkable problem was absorbing the attention of
the
Catholic Church。 Once more； for a moment； the eyes of all
Christendom were fixed upon Rome。 The temporal Power of the Pope
had now almost vanished； but； as his worldly dominions steadily
diminished； the spiritual pretensions of the Holy Father no less
steadily increased。 For seven centuries the immaculate conception
of the Virgin had been highly problematical； Pio Nono spoke； and
the doctrine became an article of faith。 A few years later； the
Court of Rome took another step： a Syllabus Errorum was issued；
in which all the favourite beliefs of the modern world the
rights of democracies； the claims of science； the sanctity of
free speech； the principles of toleration were categorically
denounced； and their supporters abandoned to the Divine wrath。
Yet it was observed that the modern world proceeded as before。
Something more drastic appeared to be necessary some bold and
striking measure which should concentrate the forces of the
faithful； and confound their enemies。 The tremendous doctrine of
Papal Infallibility； beloved of all good Catholics； seemed to
offer just the opening that was required。 Let that doctrine be
proclaimed； with the assent of the whole Church； an article of
faith； and； in the face of such an affirmation； let the modern
world do its worst！ Accordingly； a General Council the first to
be held since the Council of Trent more than 300 years before
was summoned to the Vatican； for the purpose； so it was
announced； of providing 'an adequate remedy to the disorders；
intellectual and moral； of Christendom'。 The programme might seem
a large one； even for a General Council； but everyone knew what
it meant。
Everyone； however； was not quite of one mind。 There were those
to whom even the mysteries of infallibility caused some
searchings of heart。 It was true； no doubt； that Our Lord； by
saying to Peter； 'Thou art Cephas； which is by interpretation a
stone'； thereby endowed that Apostle with the supreme and full
primacy and principality over the Universal Catholic Church； it
was equally certain that Peter afterwards became the Bishop of
Rome； nor could it be doubted that the Roman Pontiff was his
successor。 Thus it followed directly that the Roman Pontiff was
the head； heart； mind； and tongue of the Catholic Church； and
moreover； it was plain that when Our Lord prayed for Peter that
his faith should not fail； that prayer implied the doctrine of
Papal Infallibility。 All these things were obvious； and yetand
yet might not the formal declaration of such truths in the year
of his grace 1870 be； to say the least of it； inopportune？ Might
it
not come as an offence； as a scandal even； to those unacquainted
with the niceties of Catholic dogma？ Such were the uneasy
reflections of grave and learned ecclesiastics and theologians in
England； France； and Germany。 Newman was more than usually upset；
Monseigneur Dupanloup was disgusted； and Dr。 Dollinger prepared
himself for resistance