"THE DREAM OF GER= ONTIUS."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 877, 25 July 1910, Page 6

"THE DREAM OF GER= ONTIUS."

AN APPRECIATION. (Bt the Rev. J. Hickson, S.H.) PART I. It is - proposed by the "Wellington Choral Socicty to produce at its next concert tho oratorio "The Dream of Gerontius." The same item is also on the programme of Dr. Harriss's Sheffield Choir, which is to entertain music lovers in these Southern Seas next year. Somo particulars concerning the work in its literary aspect, and also in its oratorio sotting, may thereforo bo interesting. ■ Tho "Dream of Gerontius" is a poem written by Cardinal Newman in 186*5, aud set to music by Sir Edward Elgar for the Birmingham Festival of 1900. Newman is known as one of tho finest writers of modern English prose. Witness his "Apologia Pro Vita Sua," written currente calamo (as a vindication of his chango of religious belief) in answer to an attack by Charles lvingsley—the same who wrote "no man knows the use of words better than Dr. Newman.", Tho

"Apologia" is looked upon us one of tho world's masterpieces of religious autobiography. Dr. Egan—some time Professor of English Language and Literature in the University of AVashington, aiid at present United States Ambassador at tho Court of Copenhagen—goes further, and calls the "Apologia" "tho finest model of Aodern English.prose extant." Newman, however, also composed many beautiful poems. - Who does not know "Lead Ivindly Light," and who that knows it, does not admire it? Yet this is at least, equalled many times in tho "Dream of Gerontius." Take, for instance, tho apostrophe of Gerontius to his souli i- ■ ,

Rouse thee, my fainting soul, and play tho man; And through such waning span Of life and thought a« still has to 05 trod Prepare to meet thy God. Or listen to the sublime accents of the angel: 0 Lord, how wonderful in depth and height, But most in ,man, how wonderful Thou art! . ' With what a love, what soft persuasive might, . ' Victorious o'er tho stubborn fleshly heart, Thy. tale 1 oomplete of "saints Thou dost provide To fill tho thrones which angels lost through pride. Finer still, perhaps, in the same hymn is the stanza:' 0 man, strange composito of heaven and earth I Majesty dwarfed to baseness! Fragrant flower! - ' I _ Kunning to poisonous seed! And seeming worth . Cloaking corruption!' Weakness mastering power! ' -'' Who never art so near to ' crimo and shame' As when thou hast achieved somo deed of name.. What can be. nobler than the closing song of the Soul: Take-me away, and'in the lowest deep There let me be,. And there in hope -the lone, night-watches keep, '■ Told out for me. / There, motionless and happy in my pain, Lone, not forlorn, There will I sing mv sad perpetual strain Until the morn. There , will I sing and sootho my stricken breast, ~ ' ' Which ne'er can cease To throb and pine, and languish, till ■ possest .- , Of its Sole Peace.'' There will I sing my absent Lord and l.ovc' Take me away, That sooner I may rise, and go above, And sco Him in the truth 1 of everlasting day.

So keen a orltio as Richard Holt Hutton (formerly editor of the "Spectator") styled .the "Dream" "one of the most unique and original poems of the nineteenth century.". He'cannot say enough ill its praise. "None of Newman's writings (to quote Mm further) engraves more vividly on his readers the ~ significance of the intensely practical convictions which shaped his caree". And especially it on us one of. tho great secrets of his influence. For Newman has been a sign to this generation that unless there is a great deal of the loneliness of death, in life there can hardly be much of the higher equanimity of life in death." "'lt is generally recognised (writes the Rov. Arthur VV. Hutton) as - the happiest effort to represent the unseen world that has tcnn made since the time of Dante."

■ The' poems that -portray life in the next world are few, yet Dr. Egan, the scholarly critic already quoted, wrote that, "For exalted purity, for terseness and beauty ut expression, for musical cadences, the 'Dream of Gerontius' stands first among the few greatr poems that depict the life after death. 'In Memoriam' is made up of human, yearnings of faith, of doubt. It never passes beyond 'the bar' of death: Milton's 'Paradise' is one of arigels rather than of men, and Eossetti's 'Blessed DamosoV is only a reflection of earth. In Dante's 'Purgatorio' the splendour seems to be so groat that, the appeal to the individual heart is lost, but the oftener w« read, the 'Dream of Gerontius' the moro its power and beauty and peace grow upon us." Dr. William Barry (designated by Sir i. C. Buraand "the most brilliant quarterly reviewer artd Dublin reviewer of his generation") says "Tho Dream is a rare poetic rendering into English verse of that high ritual which from the deathbed to the mass of supplication encompasses the faithful soul. It pierces indeed beyopd the veil,' but in, strict accordance or , analogy with what every Catholic holds to he there. Hence we shall best .interpiet its meaning if we liken tt not to Milton, whose supernatural worlds are his peculiar device, founded upon heathen rather than upon Christian tradition; nor to Dante, who liiingles history and landscape from his time and. travels in tho solemn sweet Purgatorio,' which remains his masterpiece; but to Calderon's 'Autos Sacramentales' at once an allegory and an act i/f faith."*' ' ( Gladstone, writing in ISBS to Mr. Lawrence Dillon about the "Dream," has this to say: "It originally came into the world in grave-clothes swaddled, that is to say, in the folds of the anonvhio'iis, but it has now fairly burst them, and uill, I hope take and hold its position in the literature of Ihe world."

It is narrated of General Gordon— "Chinese Gordon"-that he kept a copy by him 111 his Egyptian campaign. On the very day that ho entered Khartoum lie presented the book to the late Frank Power, correspondent of "The Times." Deep pencil marks had been drawn under all lines bearing on death and prayer, for instance—

'So pray for me, my friends, who have not strength to pray."

The last words that Gordon underlined before he gave Power tho book were— Farewell, but not forever, brother dear; Be brave and patient in thy bed of sorrow.

It was not long before Gordon fiist an<l Power later both died tho death of heroes. Power's sister' forwarded tho copy for Cardinal Newman's inspection, and lie wrote in reply: "Your letter and its contents took away my breath. I was deeply moved to find that a book of mine had been in General Gordon's hands, and that a description of -a soul preparing for death."

Two points may here lie noted. First, the word Dream" in the title misleads many. The sensations of Gerontius are no dream. The author hesitates to describe the poetical experience of a man at such a sacred moment as an actual fact. Out of reverence lie calls it a "Dream" in order to cover the poetical liberties that ho takes with the subject. As is said by an American magazine writer, whom we shall quote again ("An TJrsnline" in tile "Catholic. World"):— "When Gerontius 'fain ' would sleep* it is the ordinary lethargy of illness, and his dissolution comes in a lapse of consciousness. To a Catholic, there is no dmjim about ii- 'J'ko nt tjia

poem is to him the actuality of death, solemn, awful, but consoling.' 1 " Dr. I'lgnn puis it this way: "Tho poem is Iho realisation by means of a loving heart aud a poetic imagination of tho slate of a just soul after death—Gerontius typifying not the soul of a particular person imagined by Cardinal Newman, but you> soul, my soul, any soul which may b(> fortunate enough to satisfy the judging and merciful God."

Tho second point is that tho theology of tho "Dream" is in strict accord witli the teachings of the Catholic Church; ill fact, a large portion of tho liturgical prayers actually used by the Church in the death-bed rites are given literally or paraphrased by the poet. Let us now make a brief analysis of the .work. i ' ■

In tho first part of ihc poem Gerontius is represented in the throes of death; ho beseeches the prayers of his friends, who fall on, their knees and recite tho "Recommendation of a Departing Soul." While tho "Litany of the Dying" is being said, Gerontius with a supremo effort .summons all his energy and makes his "Profession of Faith." Firmly I believe and truly God is Three and God is One. Then conies the dread agony described in vivid language by the dving one himself, A fierce and restless fright begins to fill Tho mansion Df my soul.

Tho assistants redouble their supplications, the wearied one passes- quietly away, while the priest majestically utters tho comforting but awful words:

'Go forth upon thy journey, Christian soul!"

Now.the disembodied spirit gives utterance to its experiences. The last prayer of the priest, the "Subveuite" ("Conic to his assistance, all ye Saints' of God") rings in the ears of Gerontius, aud according to his idea ho has slept briefly and then awakes refreshed. Tho impressions of a new mode of existence are narrated; the .Guardian-angel of tho soul is heard singing in triumph , "a heart-snbduing melody," and the soul realises the angelic nature of its guide a_s the latter (ells the tale of his mission in a sublime canticle. Next comes the dialogue between the soul and tho ministering spirit, the latter'playing the part of interpreter, and, while the soul is borne on its way to the Judge, the voices of the demons are heard, who vent their rage in vitriolic utterance: Low-born clods Of bruto earth!

As the soul and its guardian angel approach more nearly, to tho Throne of tho Most High, ravishing and mysterious harmonies sound forth, choir after choir of angels joins in the symphony, the whole heavenly structure being alive with sound. . The augel then indicates a fresh stage of their journey, . ;

We now have passed tho gate aud are within Tho House of Judgment. ■

Lovingly the angel still unfolds tho mysteries of the heavenly Jerusalem and the soul already experiences a delightful joy.

But hark! A grand mysterious har-

inony: It Hoods me liko the deep and solemn sound

Of many waters. Now they Have gained the stairs Which rise towards the Preseiice-Cham-ber; There a band of mighty angels keep the

On either side, and hymn the Incarnate God. Next ''the liutels of. the presence-gate are vibrating and echoing back tho strain." There is yet another outburst of celestial melody. And now the threshold Utters aloud its glad responsive chant At last (hoy are come "into Ihc veiled presence of our God." So swift 'withal lias been, their passage that the echoos of the death-chamber sewn still to resound through the air. The Angel of the Agony—the very angel that ministered to our Lord. -

What time Ho knelt Lone in the garden-shade bedewed with blood Supplicates for the soul, and then the eager spirit,

''With tho intemperate energy of love Flies to' the dear feet of Emmanuel."

The judgment 'takes place, the soul accepts with resignation tho chastening of purgatory and breathes the touching prayer, beginning

"Take me away and in the lowest deen There let mo be."

The guardian angel commits liis. charge to the angels of purgatory, the golden prison opens i its gates, the soul enters purgatory and its brethren chant the Psalm "Lord Thou has been our Refuge." The angel guardian then sings a tender adieu in words of comfort and encouragement :

Farewell, but not forever! brother dear, Be brave and patient on they bed of sor-

row ; Swiftly shall pass thy night of trial here ■ And I will come and wake thee 011 tlio

morrow. ■ Such is the poem in outline. "It is'" (says the magazine-writer already quoted) "a drama projected with immortality for its stage, man for its actor, Eternity and space for its unities, and the balance - ! of heaven or hell for its catastrophe. What' more stupendous in conception 1" [The second and cohluding part will deal with the musical setting - of the poem.]