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and his venerable age； it was easy enough to trace the mingled
qualities of the patriarch； the prophet； and the demagogue。 As；
in his soiled and shabby garments； the old man harangued the
crowds of Bermondsey or Peckham upon the virtues of Temperance；
assuring them； with all the passion of conviction； as a final
argument； that the majority of the Apostles were total
abstainers； this Prince of the Church might have passed as a
leader of the Salvation Army。 His popularity was immense；
reaching its height during the great Dock Strikes of 1889； when；
after the victory of the men was assured； Manning was able； by
his persuasive eloquence and the weight of his character； to
prevent its being carried to excess。 After other conciliators
among whom was the Bishop of London had given up the task in
disgust； the octogenarian Cardinal worked on with indefatigable
resolution。 At last； late at night； in the schools in Kirby
Street； Bermondsey； he rose to address the strikers。 An
enthusiastic eye…witness has described the scene： 'Unaccustomed
tears glistened in the eyes of his rough and work…stained hearers
as the Cardinal raised his hand and solemnly urged them not to
prolong one moment more than they could help the perilous
uncertainty and the sufferings of their wives and children。 Just
above his uplifted hand was a figure of the Madonna and Child；
and some among the men tell how a sudden light seemed to swim
around it as the speaker pleaded for the women and children。 When
he sat down all in the room knew that he had won the day； and
that； so far as the Strike Committee was concerned； the matter
was at an end。'
In those days； there were strange visitors at the Archbishop's
House。
Careful priests and conscientious secretaries wondered what the
world was coming to when they saw labour leaders like M。r John
Burns and Mr。 Ben Tillett； and land…reformers like Mr。 Henry
George； being ushered into the presence of his Eminence。 Even the
notorious Mr。 Stead appeared； and his scandalous paper with its
unspeakable revelations lay upon the Cardinal's table。 This
proved too much for one of the faithful tonsured dependents of
the place； and he ventured to expostulate with his master。 But
he never did so again。
When the guests were gone； and the great room was empty； the old
man would draw himself nearer to the enormous fire； and review
once more； for the thousandth time； the long adventure of his
life。 He would bring out his diaries and his memoranda； he would
rearrange his notes； he would turn over again the yellow leaves
of faded correspondences； seizing his pen； he would pour out his
comments and reflections； and fill； with an extraordinary
solicitude； page after page with elucidations； explanations；
justifications； of the vanished incidents of a remote past。 He
would snip with scissors the pages of ancient journals； and with
delicate ecclesiastical fingers； drop unknown mysteries into the
flames。
Sometimes he would turn to the four red folio scrapbooks with
their collection of newspaper cuttings； concerning himself； over
a
period of thirty years。 Then the pale cheeks would flush and the
close…drawn lips would grow even more menacing than before。
'Stupid；
mulish malice；' he would note。 'Pure lyingconscious； deliberate
and designed。' 'Suggestive lying。 Personal animosity is at the
bottom of this。'
And then he would suddenly begin to doubt。 After all； where was
he？ What had he accomplished？ Had any of it been worthwhile？ Had
he not been out of the world all his life！ Out of the world！
'Croker's 〃Life and Letters〃； and Hayward's 〃Letters〃；' he notes；
'are so full of politics； literature； action； events； collision
of mind with mind； and that with such a multitude of men in every
state of life； that when I look back； it seems as if I had been
simply useless。' And again； 'The complete isolation and exclusion
from the official life of England in which I have lived； makes me
feel as if I had done nothing'。 He struggled to console himself
with the reflexion that all this was only 'the natural order'。
'If the natural order is moved by the supernatural order； then I
may not have done nothing。 Fifty years of witness for God and His
Truth； I hope； has not been in vain。' But the same thoughts
recurred。 'In reading Macaulay's life I had a haunting feeling
that his had been a life of public utility and mine a vita
umbratilis； a life in the shade。' Ah！ it was God's will。 'Mine
has been a life of fifty years out of the world as Gladstone's
has been in it。 The work of his life in this world is manifest。 I
hope mine may be in the next。 I suppose our Lord called me out of
the world because He saw that I should lose my soul in it。'
Clearly； that was the explanation。
And yet he remained sufficiently in the world to discharge with
absolute efficiency the complex government of his diocese almost
up to the last moment of his existence。 Though his bodily
strength gradually ebbed； the vigour of his mind was undismayed。
At last； supported by cushions； he continued； by means of a
dictated correspondence； to exert his accustomed rule。 Only
occasionally would he lay aside his work to plunge into the yet
more necessary duties of devotion。 Never again would he preach；
never again would he put into practice those three salutary rules
of his in choosing a subject for a sermon： '（1） asking God to
guide the choice； （2） applying the matter to myself； （3） making
the sign of the cross on my head and heart and lips in honour of
the Sacred Mouth；' but he could still pray； he could turn
especially to the Holy Ghost。 'A very simple but devout person；'
he wrote in one of his latest memoranda； 'asked me why in my
first volume of sermons I said so little about the Holy Ghost。 I
was not aware of it； but I found it to be true。 I at once
resolved that I would make a reparation every day of my life to
the Holy Ghost。 This I have never failed to do to this day。 To
this I owe the light and faith which brought me into the
truefold。 I bought all the books I could about the Holy Ghost。 I
worked out the truths about His personality； His presence； and
His office。 This made me understand the last paragraph in the
Apostles' Creed； and made me a Catholic Christian。'
So； though Death came slowly； struggling step by step with that
bold and tenacious spirit； when he did come at last the Cardinal
was ready。 Robed in his archiepiscopal vestments； his rochet； his
girdle； and his mozzetta； with the scarlet biretta on his head；
and the pectoral cross upon his breast； he made his solemn
Profession of Faith in the Holy Roman Church。 A crowd of lesser
dignitaries； each in the garments of his office； attended the
ceremonial。 The Bishop of Salford held up the Pontificale and the
Bishop of Amycla bore the wax taper。 The provost of Westminster；
on his knees； read aloud the Profession of Faith； surrounded by
the Canons of the Diocese。 Towards those who gathered abo