Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/183

 teaching and the Sacraments. They considered that the Evangelicals were greatly mistaken in explaining only one of the important doctrines of the Church, to the neglect of all the others, and complained that the Broad Church party was not particular about teaching doctrine at all.

A revival was made in this respect as early as 1827, when Keble put his book of poems called "The Christian Year" before the people. How much is that book prized now! But at the time of its publication, because it dwelt upon seasonable Church teaching, and laid stress upon Saints' Days, it was called the "Fons et origo mali," the root and foundation of evil.

The Tractarians began their work by holding meetings for Bible readings, on which they had general discussions. One of the early subjects brought under consideration in this way was, "Is the Pope Antichrist?" The question was answered in the affirmative. Newman, who afterwards went over to Rome, in those days considered that the Church of Rome was bound up with Antichrist.

In the year 1833, Hurrell Froude and W. Palmer in the Common Room of Oriel resolved to form an Association for upholding the rites and principles of the Church. They communicated their idea to Keble and to the Rev. A. Percival, Rector of Hadleigh in Essex, and a Conference soon followed, held at the rectory, and it lasted a week. They came to the conclusion, considering recent events in Parliament, that Parliament had a wrong idea of the character and constitution of the Church of England. They decided, therefore, that they would revive the practical recognition of the truths so clearly set forth in the Prayer Book. This