Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/185

 withstand all change which involves the denial of, or departure from, primitive practice in religious offices, and innovations upon the Apostolic prerogative, order, and communion of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons."

Secondly, its object was "To afford Churchmen an opportunity of exchanging their sentiments, and co-operating together on a large scale."

As a result of this Association, an address was sent to the Archbishops, signed by 7,000 Clergy, acquainting them with their object, and in 1834 another was sent from the laity which was signed by 230,000 heads of families. This showed undeniably how much the people were in sympathy with the Movement.

Newman was the leading spirit of the cause, and as it came before the public it was called by wags "The Newmania." In 1835 Pusey fully associated himself with this Movement, and thus added to its influence. The knowledge of the work of the Tractarians spread to the Court, where William IV. told the Bishops that he would be devoted to the cause of the Church.

Let us look into the teaching of the "Tracts for the Times." The first Tract appeared on September 9th, 1833. Its subject was "Thoughts on the Ministerial Commission." The teaching in this pamphlet was opposed to both the views held by the Evangelical and the Broad Church party of that time. This Tract says, "The Lord Jesus Christ gave His Spirit to His Apostles; they in turn laid their hands on those who should succeed them; and these again on others; and so the sacred gift has been handed down to our present