St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-18
THE TRACTARtN MOVEMENT.
Rev. William Wilkinson's Sermon
Suggested by Cardinal Ian-
ning's Death

The Rev. William Wilkinson, on the
Oxford movement. Speaking in st. An
drew's church yesterday, the rector said:
The death OF Cardinal Manning calls to
mind scenes which took place in the mem
orable years between 1885, and 1851 i'll the
University Of Oxford. England. In those
years deeds were done and words spoken, the
influence of which was not exceeded in any
twenty years since apostolic times, and the
end is not in the power OF any man TO
tell or TO estimate. In few, if any, times
have there been in one City or instr
tuition OF edudatlOn men of such
moral. scholarly and religious powers as
the University of oxford contained al that
time. To name few of them is to show how
vast and also how varied are The Influences
leagued with them held the same banner un-
furled to the public gaze. What memories
rise in the minds of well informed men nj
the mention of John Keble, one of the sweet.
est and best writers Of poetry in the English
language since George Herbert, whom in
many respects he strongly resembled. Of
Keble it was said that he was the most EN-
inently holy man of his day" He certainly
writes in such deeply spiritual style that
most of US who know his a Christian Year
have much need to read and reread il in
order to feel the full power of the beauty
and the conservation contained in this
work of perennial Interest for refined aud
holy men.
1t was a sermon preached by Keble before
the judges and university dignitaTes at OK
ford, which gave tone and color, direction
and force 10 the thinking of John Henry
Newman. man who became famous in
many ways-ss a great stylist in English lit
erature. a preacher OF remarkable power. a
poet who, had he given the world another
line. would have sung on when the busy
crowds of his fellows were with The uu-
known dead. III
Lead. kindly light amidst the encircling
gloom
fhOu ma m
A man he was in those DAYS Of pure and
strong conviction a thinker OF known alert
ness and great promise, which. as all the world
knows has beer fulfilled in the oaId. nails
marvellous career. l heard Gladstone Say #
Newman that he was one of Ite most won
derful spea6ers be had ever heard Then TO
these we add Dr.. Puser, Who il lee. known
to thu general public outSida EDglard. was
man who comrelied the admir- ItiOu of men
who detested his theology Lord Shafies.
bury did
he was a man devoted 10 the work Of
priest aud 10 leites>. in The esteem of many
profound scholars he greatest theoiogian Of
his age; a man who il has hreD said. was in
patriotic lore equal to Bishop LIghtfoot and
in CERTAIN qualities his superior. Then Man
ming was one OF this group tf very notable
meu. lie was of a deeply religious cast of
mind. These men mad all the advantage po-
sition can give and all the enthusiasm deep
and earnest conviction can bestow Time
Will no; let me spe,k o. Gladstone and of
ColeTidge. who enter ca iitt and law.
We must not forget when we look back to
those times that they reach MS lessons which
are enshrIned in many II The most valuable
records OF the past. We cannot too well
know that men have to be weighed as well as
counted. No men ever lived who more sim
cerely wanted Ia see the authority aud will
of Christ done or earth. as they understood
it. than did these founders of The Tractarian
mogement--so called because of Tue tracts
for The people which these u.en wrote and
published broadcast through The English
speaking world. The Mcthodists. led by
Wesley, appealed TO the lower classes. So
called. and made emotional religion
power. john Wesley was an Oxford man
and Protestant. These men called them
selves Catholics-An Catholics. They, to
their dying day, denied they taught any new
truth They rahsacked all history OF relig-
| ious doctriue. creed statement or practice 10
| show the ancient usage of the things they
did advocate, The rites they introduced.
| With a zeal hich knew nc abatement they
| taught the divine origin Of the church
| and her divine Dlission-apostolic snc-
| cessioL i'll bishops: the authority of he
| clergy as priests; the real pre<ence of Christ
| in The bread aud wine in the sacrament of
| the Lords supper Confession TO the priest
| is not obligatory, but permissible end in
many cases desirable, and many other things
| strange TO most English churchmen.
| The sacrament of The LORD S supper they
| thought the biggest act of worship. So their
| followere now teach. Members are rapidly
| on the increase. Every method known TO
| chnrchmen has been tried 10 answer these
| views, and every process known te law tried
| TO prevent stbeir spread, but the onward
march ot the principles held by the men of
high church views is apparent to every
| man of true information. II is a study of the
| religious state OF England in the nineteenth
| century which will surprise the students in
| ages % come. Right or ng,they influence
every kind OF craftsmanship in the Angli-
| can communion. and re6exly the
| various nOn-confoImst Protestant bod
| ies around them That Newman and
Manning went over to Rome, 10 me. has
| never been a surprise. My surprise is and
has always been Of another kind. With the
views taught. wonder all who held them
did not make a procession in that direction.
But amongst ali the men who have resisted
ia Df lihiiiry Of "a In ia yUht IN