When the question arose of the
appointment of Catholic chaplains in the Crimea during the war,
it was Manning who approached the Minister, interviewed the
Permanent Secretary, and finally succeeded in obtaining all that
was required. When a special Reformatory for Catholic children
was proposed, Manning carried through the negotiation with the
Government. When an attempt was made to remove Catholic children
from the Workhouses, Manning was again indispensable. No wonder
Cardinal Wiseman soon determined to find some occupation of
special importance for the energetic convert. He had long wished
to establish a congregation of secular priests in London
particularly devoted to his service, and the opportunity for the
experiment had clearly now arisen. The order of the Oblates of
St. Charles was founded in Bayswater, and Manning was put at its
head. Unfortunately, no portion of the body of St. Charles could
be obtained for the new community, but two relics of his blood
were brought over to Bayswater from Milan. Almost at the same
time the Pope signified his appreciation of Manning's efforts by
appointing him Provost of the Chapter of Westminster--a position
which placed him at the head of the Canons of the diocese.
This double promotion was the signal for the outbreak of an
extraordinary internal struggle, which raged without intermission
for the next seven years, and was to end only with the accession
of Manning to the Archbishopric.
Pages:
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91