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the elect〃； that is； they shall not be deceived； but those who
have lost faith in the Incarnation； such as humanitarians；
rationalists； and pantheists； may well be deceived by any person
of great political power and success； who should restore the Jews
to their own land； and people Jerusalem once more with the sons
of the Patriarchs。 And； there is nothing in the political aspect
of the world which renders such a combination impossible； indeed；
the state of Syria； and the tide of European diplomacy； which 'is
continually moving eastward； render such an event within a
reasonable probability。' Then Manning threw out a bold
suggestion。 'A successful medium；' he said； 'might well pass
himself off by his preternatural endowments as the promised
Messiahs。'
Manning went on to discuss the course of events which would lead
to the final catastrophe。 But this subject； he confessed； 'deals
with agencies so transcendent and mysterious； that all I shall
venture to do will be to sketch in outline what the broad and
luminous prophecies； especially of the Book of Daniel and the
Apocalypse； set forth without attempting to enter into minute
details； which can only be interpreted by the event'。 While
applauding his modesty； we need follow Manning no further in his
commentary upon those broad and luminous works； except to observe
that 'the apostasy of the City of Rome from the Vicar of Christ
and its destruction by the Antichrist' was； in his opinion；
certain。 Nor was he without authority for this belief。 For it was
held by 'Malvenda； who writes expressly on the subject'； and who；
besides； 'states as the opinion of Ribera； Gaspar Melus； Viegas；
Suarez； Bellarmine； and Bosius that Rome shall apostatise from
the faith'。
IX
THE death of Pius IX brought to Manning a last flattering
testimony of the confidence with which he was regarded at the
Court of Rome。 In one of the private consultations preceding the
Conclave； a Cardinal suggested that Manning should succeed to the
Papacy。 He replied that he was unfit for the position； because
it was essential for the interests of the Holy See that the next
Pope should be an Italian。 The suggestion was pressed； but
Manning held firm。 Thus it happened that the Triple Tiara seemed
to come； for a moment； within the grasp of the late Archdeacon of
Chichester； and the cautious hand refrained。 Leo XIII was
elected； and there was a great change in the policy of the
Vatican。 Liberalism became the order of the day。 And now at last
the opportunity seemed ripe for an act which； in the opinion of
the majority of English Catholics； had long been due the
bestowal of some mark of recognition from the Holy See upon the
labours and the sanctity of Father Newman。 It was felt that a
Cardinal's hat was the one fitting reward for such a life； and
accordingly the Duke of Norfolk； representing the Catholic laity
of England； visited Manning； and suggested that he should forward
the proposal to the Vatican。 Manning agreed； and then there
followed a curious series of incidents the last encounter in
the
jarring lives of those two men。 A letter was drawn up by Manning
for the eye of the Pope； embodying the Duke of Norfolk's
proposal； but there was an unaccountable delay in the
transmission of this letter； months passed； and it had not
reached the Holy Father。 The whole matter would； perhaps； have
dropped out of sight and been forgotten； in a way which had
become customary when honours for Newman were concerned； had not
the Duke of Norfolk himself； when he was next in Rome； ventured
to recommend to Leo XIII that Dr。 Newman should be made a
Cardinal。 His Holiness welcomed the proposal； but； he said； he
could do nothing until he knew the views of Cardinal Manning。
Thereupon； the Duke of Norfolk wrote to Manning； explaining what
had occurred； shortly afterwards； Manning's letter of
recommendation； after a delay of six months； reached the Pope；
and the offer of a Cardinalate was immediately dispatched to
Newman。
But the affair was not yet over。 The offer had been made； would
it be accepted？ There was one difficulty in the way。 Newman was
now an infirm old man of seventy…eight； and it is a rule that all
Cardinals who are not also diocesan Bishops or Archbishops
reside； as a matter of course； at Rome。 The change would have
been impossible for one of his years for one； too； whose whole
life was now bound up with the Oratory at Birmingham。 But； of
course； there was nothing to prevent His Holiness from making an
exception in Newman's case； and allowing him to end his days in
England。 Yet how was Newman himself to suggest this？ The offer of
the Hat had come to him as an almost miraculous token of renewed
confidence； of ultimate reconciliation。 The old； long； bitter
estrangement was ended at last。 'The cloud is lifted from me for
ever！' he exclaimed when the news reached him。 It would be
melancholy indeed if the cup were now to be once more dashed from
his lips and he was obliged to refuse the signal honour。 In his
perplexity he went to the Bishop of Birmingham and explained the
whole situation。 The Bishop assured him that all would be well；
that he himself would communicate with the authorities； and put
the facts of the case before them。 Accordingly； while Newman
wrote formally refusing the Hat； on the ground of his
unwillingness to leave the Oratory； the Bishop wrote two letters
to Manning； one official and one private； in which the following
passages occurred：
'Dr。 Newman has far too humble and delicate a mind to dream of
thinking or saying anything which would look like hinting at any
kind of terms with the Sovereign Pontiff。 。。。 I think； however；
that I ought to express my own sense of what Dr。 Newman's
dispositions are； and that it will be expected of me。。。 I am
thoroughly confident that nothing stands in the way of his most
grateful acceptance； except what he tells me greatly distresses
him namely； the having to leave the Oratory at a critical
period
of its existence； and the impossibility of his beginning a new
life at his advanced age。'
And in his private letter the Bishop said： 'Dr。 Newman is very
much aged； and softened with age and the trials he has had；
especially the loss of his two brethren； St。 John and Caswall； he
can never refer to these losses without weeping and becoming
speechless for a time。 He is very much affected by the Pope's
kindness and would； I know； like to receive the great honour
offered
him； but feels the whole difficulty at his age of changing his
life or having to leave the Oratory which I am sure he could
not do。 If the Holy Father thinks well to confer on him the
dignity； leaving him where he is； I know how immensely he would
be gratified； and you will know how generally the conferring on
him the Cardinalate will be applauded。'
These two letters； together with Newman's refusal； reached
Manning as he was on the point of starting for Rome。 After he had
left England； the following statement appeared in 〃The Times〃：
'Pope Leo XIII has intimated his desire to raise Dr。 Newman to
the
rank of Cardinal； but with expressions of deep respect for the
Holy See； Dr。 Newman has excused himself from accepting the
Purple。'
When Newman's eyes fell upon the announcement； he realised at
once that a secret and powerful force was working against him。 He
trembled； as he had so often trembled before； and certainly the
danger was not imaginary。 In the ordinary course of things； how
could such a paragraph have been inserted without his authority？
And consequently； did it not convey to the world； not only an
absolute refusal which he had never intended； but a wish on his
part to emphasise publicly his rejection of the proffered honour？
Did it not imply that he had lightly declined a proposal for
which in reality he was deeply thankful？ And when the fatal
paragraph was read in Rome； might it not actually lead to the
offer of the Cardinalate being finally withheld？
In great agitation； Newman appealed to the Duke of Norfolk。 'As
to the statement；' he wrote； 'of my refusing a Cardinal's Hat；
which is in the papers； you must not believe it； for this reason：
'Of course； it implies that an offer has been made me； and I have
sent an answer to it。 Now I have ever understood that it is a
point of propriety and honour to consider such communications
sacred。 This statement； therefore； cannot come from me。 Nor could
it come from Rome； for it was made public before my answer got to
Rome。
'It could only come； then； from someone who not only read my
letter； but； instead of leaving to the Pope to interpret it； took
upon himself to put an interpretation upon it； and published that
interpretation to the world。
'A private letter； addressed to Roman Authorities； is interpreted
on its way and published in the English papers。 How is it
possible that anyone can have done this？'