Sept. 4 was a beautiful day; the children in the Oratory Mission Schools were just entering upon their afternoon’s work, little guessing what a happy and memorable afternoon this was to be for them.
About half-past two the news arrived that His Eminence Cardinal Newman intended to visit the schools at three o’clock. Joy filled every heart at the news and lit up every face: then for a moment a shade of disappointment succeeded, because of the impossibility of realising in so short a time the beloved projects of innocent show and grandeur, intended for the reception of such a visitor.
Wishing to give the children the pleasure of seeing him, he had resolved to visit the schools, but without giving notice of the day or time. The stratagem, however, did not quite succeed; a charitable friend betrayed the secret, and the school was hurriedly prepared for the coming honour.
A gentleman supplied the Sisters with an arm chair which with carpets and platform served for the humble throne. Flowers and white dresses had been procured in the meantime, and every child wore the Cardinal’s medal on a broad red ribbon.
His Eminence entered by the Infants’ School, where the little ones sang their best hymns. In the Girls’ School, on being seated, flowers were laid at his feet; then, the Address having been read, it was handed to him, the children meantime singing in Italian the hymn “Salve gran’ Cardinale”.
From the Children of the Mission Schools of the Oratory
Your Eminence,
Encouraged by the great honour of your presence amongst us, we venture to add our humble words to the addresses of the multitudes who vie with one another in presenting you their heartfelt homage on the occasion of your elevation to the dignity of Prince of the Church.
We cannot say anything new, but for the sake of variety we have ventured to sing a welcome to your Eminence in the euphonious Italian tongue, to which as Prince of the Holy Roman Church, you naturally must now assign a place by the side of our own English language.
We shall ever remember with gratitude the distinguished honour of your Eminence’s visit to our schools and humbly beg the grace of your blessing for us all, who call ourselves with filial devotion and profound veneration,
Your Eminence’s most humble children, the scholars of the Oratory Middle School.
Girls’ School.
Infants’ School.
Birmingham, Sept. 4, 1879.
The Cardinal thanked the children, praising their singing and the correct pronunciation of the Italian words; and asked them whether they knew why they honoured him thus, bringing him flowers, singing, and wearing his medal. He explained to them in beautiful simple words that the greatest man in the world is the Vicar of Christ, the Pope; that all the honour paid to the Pope refers to our Blessed Lord Himself, whose representative he is. “Everything in this world should remind us of God, but especially the Pope. If the Pope were to send us a present, a book for instance, we should value it very much, because it came from him. Now when he sends us a Cardinal, it is just the same thing; we honour a Cardinal because he comes from the Pope. You honour me, because the Pope has sent me. All the honour you bestow upon me, refers to the Pope, the great Leo XIII., and through him to God Himself. A Pope,” he continued, “when he is elected, chooses another name, besides his own. Some Popes have taken the name of Innocent, others Clement, others Pius, as did the late Pope. The present Pope has chosen the name of Leo. Can any of you tell me what the name of Leo means?—It means Lion. There have been many great Popes and Saints who have borne the name of Leo. Our Blessed Lord Himself is called a Lion in Holy Scripture, in the same way as the Holy Ghost is called a Dove. It is a wonderful thing that Almighty God should allow Himself to be compared thus. Again, you know, our Lord is sometimes spoken of as a Lamb, to remind us that He is meek, patient and mild; but when He is called a Lion, it means to say that He is powerful and strong. The Pope, too, is powerful; but he derives all his power from God.”
He concluded with these words: “In the name of the great Pope Leo XIII. who sent me, I will gladly give you my blessing!”
After the blessing was given, all the children kissed the Cardinal’s ring, hymns being sung meanwhile. Then the Cardinal gave to the Sisters a number of rosaries and medals blessed by Pope Leo, to be given to those children ” who are sometimes very good”. After again giving his blessing His Eminence proceeded to the Boys’ School.
From the English Benedictine Congregation
(Presented at Birmingham, Sept. 18, 1879.)
To His Eminence John Henry Newman, Cardinal OF Holy Church, THE President-General Abbot OF THE English Benedictine Congregation,
Greeting.
Upon the first announcement of the intention of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII., to raise your Eminence to the high dignity of Princedom in the Holy Catholic Church, the President-General of the English Benedictine Congregation at once conveyed to your Eminence an assurance of our participation in the universal joy with which such a well-deserved promotion was welcomed.
We now desire to express in a personal and more formal manner our congratulation, and approach your Eminence with the hope that our tribute of respect may be recorded amongst the many, but not too many, assurances which have gathered around you, and which your brethren and children of the Oratory are treasuring up amongst the heirlooms which your Eminence is to bequeath to them.
Others have with perfect truthfulness recorded your merits as Theologian, Philosopher, Poet, Preacher, and Historian. We may be allowed to single out, and to add to all these the spirit of the Ascetic, in which character your Eminence especially gains the sympathy of the children of St. Benedict. Like another Venerable Bede, you have loved to do your great intellectual work in retirement, and have been reluctant that any event should call you forth from your truly monastic cell. Obedience alone has effected what yourself would shrink from, but what all the world beside rejoices on witnessing. The voice of the Vicar of Jesus Christ has summoned your Eminence to take your rank amongst the Princes of the Church; and the voices of thousands, ours amongst them, are ascending in a chorus of prayer, that you may long be spared to grace your exalted office, and to continue your fruitful labours in behalf of the Faith.
We beg your blessing upon our Congregation, and humbly subscribe ourselves,
Your Eminence’s humble and devoted servants,
Dom. Placidus Burchall, Abbas Westmonasteriensis, Præses Generalis, O.S. B.
Dom. Norbertus Sweeney, Abbas S. Albani.
Dom. Maurus Margison, Prior Cathed., Petrobourg.
Dom. Anselmus Walker.
Dom. Edmundus Roche.
Dom. Wilfridus Raynal, Prior Cath., S. Michaelis.
Dom. Aidanus Gasquet, Prior Sti. Greg., Mag.
Dom. Benedictus Tidmarsh, Proc. Prov., Cantuar.