Minster Lova. By Emily S. Holt. (John F. Shaw.)—Miss Holt
candidly avows that the purpose with which her book is written is to rouse the feeling of English readers against the " Catholio Revival." Perhaps, from her point of view, it would have been better to tell this " story of the days of Laud " without inter- vening in her own person to point the moral. Laud's temper was so arbitrary, his judgment so unbalanced, his view of the situa- tion so narrow, that a simple record of his proceedings, " without note or comment," would be a very effectual way of inculcating the lesson which Miss Holt designs to teach,—so far, indeed, as it is applicable to the present day. Miss Holt thinks that we are too supine. But is there not this difference,—that Laud's move- ment came from above ; that of to day has come from below. No one can accuse the Bishops of having fostered the revival ; the clergy have been the motive-power, with the laity pushing them on, and often going before. But this is very serious talk about a "gift-book." Miss Holt's tale is carefully studied, as all her work is; but, for the reason we have given, and because we feel that there is a great deal of meaning, in spite of its extravagances, in the movement against which she levels her attack, Minster Level does not please as much as some of her former volumes have done.
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