"THE SECRET HISTORY Of the oxford movement," ETC. LONDON JAMES NISBET & CO., LIMITED 21 BERNERS STREET 1900 PREFACE MANY books have been written on the Oxford Movement, but this is, so far as I am aware, the first attempt to write its History from the standpoint of an Evangelical Churchman. It will be admitted by all that there is room for a distinctly Protestant, just as much as for a Ritualistic or High Church, record of events which have transformed the outward appearance of a considerable portion of the Church of England during the past sixty-seven years. I have not undertaken this task unasked, nor without a sense of the difficulty to deal with such an important subject in anything like an adequate manner. But I have honestly tried to do my best, and no man can do more than that. As to how far I have succeeded, or failed, others are better able to judge than I am. Although an Evangelical Churchman, I have certainly tried to deal with my theme in no narrow-minded manner. claim to be as broad as the Church of England, nor would I banish from her ranks any of her loyal sons, though they may disagree with me on minor matters. I believe that I have written nothing but that which will meet with the approbation of old-fashioned High Churchmen and Broad Churchmen, as well as of those V I |