THE
P RTAL
December 2012
Page 14
Thoughts on Newman
A Student’s Memories
of Dr Newman
by Br Sean of The Work
When William
Lockhart (1819 –1892) went up to Oxford in 1838 he knew little of Roman
Catholicism or of what later came to be known as the Oxford Movement. While at Exeter College he came
into contact with a number of Catholicising students who introduced him to both Newman and the ideals of
the Oxford Movement.
He would eventually make history by
becoming the first Tractarian to convert
to Roman Catholicism, two years before
Newman in 1843. Some fifty years
later Lockhart recorded in his Cardinal
Newman: A Retrospect of Fifty Years,
the memories of this time. His work is
a wonderful firsthand example of how
the ‘ordinary young men of Oxford’ saw
Newman during those important years
of the movement.
Newman could
read character
Newman could do more by a few words
than any one living. “What did he say to
you?” was asked of one who had been
called up by Newman for some more
or less serious matter. “I don’t know,”
said the other, “but he looked at me.”
Newman could read character; one felt
in his presence that he read you through
and through.’
a central member of
the Littlemore community
It was during Lockhart’s undergraduate
years that the Tractarians were enjoying the height of
Lockhart remembered how Newman’s very name their success. This would come to an abrupt end with
went before him: ‘I saw him first on a certain day which the publication of Tract XC in 1842.
I vividly remember. I was walking down High Street
- it was between All Souls’ and Queen’s College. He
Newman caused immense controversy in the
was crossing, I think, to Oriel. My companion seized University and throughout the country by attempting
my arm, whispering to me, “Look, look there, that to interpret the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of
is Newman!” I looked, and there I saw him passing England in a Catholic light. Lockhart graduated in the
along in his characteristic way, walking fast, without same year the tract was published and, after following
any dignity of gait, but earnest, like one who had a the progress of the Movement, he felt the attraction to
purpose; yet so humble and self-forgetting in every the Roman Catholic Church ever stronger.
portion of his external appearance, that you would not
have thought him, at first sight, a man remarkable for
He confided these concerns to H. E. Manning,
anything.’
who advised him to go and live with Newman at the
newly founded house he had established at Littlemore.
On another occasion he recalled how Newman Lockhart did so, and was quickly a central member of
used to discipline unruly undergraduates: ‘Oriel the Littlemore community, assisting Newman in the
especially was a “fashionable” college; there was always translation of Flueury’s Ecclesiastical History. In 1843
a good number of noblemen, baronets, gentlemen Lockhart’s strong desire to receive the sacrament of
commoners, distinguished by their velvet, or “tufted” confession urged him to make the step to the Roman
gold tasselled cap, and silk gown. They were mostly Catholic Church.
fast young men, “hunting in pink” was perhaps the
smallest of their irregularities against university
Newman, aware of the repercussion this would
discipline. There was apt to be too much wine drunk have for the community at Littlemore, immediately
at supper parties, and in consequence “rows in quad” resigned his parish of St. Mary’s, and preached his last
were frequent.
sermon in the Anglican Church.