LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The Most suitable length is that of one of our "News of the Week' paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym.—Ed. THE SPECTATOR.]
THE VATICAN AND EUROPE
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In Mr. Goldman's article on this subject occurs a scntence which calls for examination. The words are : In this country the Oxford Movement eventually resulted in considerable accretions to Roman Catholicism." A much truer statement would read : . . . eventually prevented an immense accretion to Roman Catholicism. What hap- pened was this : Three men of outstanding holiness and power of mind taught English Christians (a) to recover the idea of membership in the true visible Church, designated in Scripture the Body of Christ. Along with this and as a corollary to it grew up (b) the sense of worship. I use the word "recover" because both (a) and (b) had been central and traditional ingredients of English Christianity. Else the power and numbers of modern High Churchmen would be wholly inexplicable.
It is true, of course, that there were secessions to Rome, but the wonder is that any stayed where they were. The movement began in 183$, and was greeted—as every pro- mulgation of truth always has been—with howls of derision, gross misunderstanding and even persecution. When in 184.5 Newman went over—the most conspicuous and attractive genius of the time—for a few years it looked as if the Movement was nothing but an unintelligible hankering after sub- mission to a foreign Bishop and an introduction of unaccept- able and mischievous novelties into our quite pure form of worship, novelties which only had to be shown up as imita- tions of " Rome " to be scouted and condemned.
But how was it that Keble and Pusey remained staunchly loyal to the Church of England ? How was it that their teaching prevailed against the inveterate national distrust of the foreigner, and the habits of cold and slovenly worship into which we had fallen for some 300 years ? Why do we not all go over to Rome today ?
The only possible answer is that, in spite of appearances' men came to recognize that our ancestors for a thousand years had been conscious of their membership in the very Church which Christ founded ; and that though for 300 years that consciousness had been stifled it had never wholly died away. Similarly, revival of stately significant forms of worship was possible, because English people are and always have been temperamentally ritualistic. Had it been otherwise all who know and value the corporate sense of religion would have been irresistibly drawn to Rome. As it is we have at home all that we need, and show in our worship our gratitude for the divine inspiration of the Tractarians.—I am, Sir, &c.,
E. LYTTELTON.
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