Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/178

 Churchmen. In William's reign there was a movement on foot even for founding some method of public worship which might include all religious parties, Episcopalian and Dissenters, with the exception that Roman Catholics and Unitarians should be excluded. No Popery was the cry of the day. Controversy arose on doctrine. One was on the doctrine of the Trinity. Men began to explain the Holy Trinity in such a way that they ended in explaining it away. There was also a movement on foot for abolishing subscription to the Articles of Religion. The idea of that time seemed to be to establish a form of public worship which should be very broad and inclusive.

A better state of things was restored during the reign of Queen Anne. During her life the Church rose to great influence in the land again. With the exception of the last sixty years it was never more prosperous than during her reign. She took a great interest in the Church, and was very particular that the decencies of worship should be observed. Many new Churches were erected in her time, and a fund was started by her which has proved of excellent service since for the benefit of the poorer clergy. For many years Convocation had never met. But it was called back to power again in her time.

This excellent state of things received another check when the Georges were the ruling kings. They were about as irreligious as men could be, and they hated and despised England and our ways. They had no sympathy with our Church. They did not understand its teaching. The Church was bound to suffer in consequence. The spiritual life of England followed the example of the kings. No care