THE LATE HENRY OFFLEY WAKEMAN.
[To THE EDrtoft OP THE "SPECTATOR"] you allow me to express in a few words the deep regret which is very widely felt among Churchmen at the early death—announced last week—of Mr; Henry Offley Wakeman. In 'him, at the age of only forty- 'six, the Church of England and his University have lost one of the most influential lay representatives of the abiding force of the Oxford Movement. As. History Lecturer and_ tutor at Keble he was the stimulating, sympathetic, and, in cases of poverty, most generous friend of all the undergraduates • with whom his work brought him into relations, and especially of those desirous of taking Holy Orders. There and by his active and liberal support of the Pusey House, of which he was for some time secretary, he contributed in a marked degree to the maintenance and reinforcement of the combina- tion of learning with practical devotion among the High Church clergy of this generation. A careful historical student, and an attractive writer, he produced in his " History of the Church of England " a book well deserving of its great popu- larity. Its vogue has, beyond doubt, served, in no small measure, to increase the currency among English Churchmen of a reasoned confidence in the continuity of their Church with that of Augustine and of Aidan, of Becket and of Langton. That a career already so fruitful of loyal and able service, and so bright with the promise of larger work in future years, should have been cut short at a period of anxiety like the present, is a cause of no ordinary sorrow.—I am, Sir, &c., T. B.
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