The passion for gossip brings into existence much bad journalism,
and some worse books—worse, because the incorporation of trivial ill-informed personalities within covers seems to be an added impertinence. Of all forms of gossip " Church chat " is the least agreeable ; it provides those who sit in the seat of the scornful with a good excuse for mockery at the expense of the ecclesiastically-minded. The Looking Glass of Lambeth (Philip Allan, 5s.) is called " A candid account of the leaders of the Church, by an unknown layman." He does well to remain anonymous, since his writing, if acknowledged, would certainly not add to his reputation for taste or knowledge. He writes from an extreme Anglo- Catholic standpoint„ and everybody who does not share the outlook of his little coterie comes in for jaundiced treatment. The author writes very knowingly ; but it is obvious that he surveys most of those of whom he writes from no more intimate position than a back bench in the House of Laity. He makes mistakes that anybody might have avoided ; as, for example, when he describes Lady Augusta Stanley as " Mrs. Stanley," or asserts that the Bishop of Middleton is the representative of the Liberal Evangelical group in the House of Clergy. The only occasions on which his judgments show any insight are when they are applied to the brand of Anglo. Catholicism that he knows and understands.
Previous page
