Does Newman's “On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine” Rest upon a Mistake?

Newman, in the famous essay in question, cited the Nicene orthodoxy of the faithful during the Arian controversy as this main, and only extended, argument for the thesis that there were situations in the life of the church where the Christian faith was upheld more consistently by the ordinary faithful than by their pastors. This article shows that historical evidence does not support Newman's claim for the faithful in the Arian controversy, and raises the question as to whether this fact undermines his thesis about the dogmatic importance of the sensus fidelium.