To many people the Church of England is an expression
that stands for something vague and amorphous, a useful if not very logical outgrowth of English life, more genial than Rome or Dissent, but lacking the strength that comes of definite conviction. It -is not thus that -it appears to those who devote their lives to its service. One of them, Mr. G. F. Pollard, has been so exasperated by this misunder- standing that he has with great industry and energy produced a tractate, as our forefathers might have called it, to demon- strate the contrary. Ecclesia Anglicana (Rivingtons, 6s.) - maintains that members of the Church of England are English Catholics just as those of the Eastern Orthodox . Churches are Orthodox Catholics, and those of the Papal Church are Roman Catholics. He defends his position from the Prayer Book, from the Coronation Service, and from type al utterances of English Divines from Elizabeth's day onwards. But he finds room for Evangelical and Liberal ,conceptions. True Catholicism is the middle path, and Anglicans walk— or should walk—therein.. He is a foe, however, to com- promise, and would replace it by comprehension. Some will contest Mr. Pollard's history at various points. But the sincerity of his view and its consistency deserve respect, even if the reader feels at times that he would be more con- vinced, if it were not quite so consistent.
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