A. E.
19, Alfred Place West, Brompton,
11th December, 1854.
IS THE VICAR OF BROMPTON
A TRACTARIAN?
In a letter bearing the signature of the Reverend Dr. Irons, which appeared some time ago in the “Record,” there is a distinct denial on the part of the Reverend Doctor as to his being a “Tractarian.”
In making a few comments upon the letter alluded to, I feel that I am not overstepping my duty as a parishioner of Brompton, and much more my duty as a professed lover of Scriptural truth, in opposition to Romish and Romanizing error.
Dr. Irons says, in the letter alluded to, “I am not a Tractarian in any sense,” and adds, “that he has always differed from the teaching of some of the Oxford Tracts.”
If the English language is to be understood in its plain grammatical sense, some refers to a few, or the smaller portion, and, consequently, Doctor Irons does not differ from the teaching of the Tracts, generally.
I have never met a “Tractarian” who did not profess to be at issue with one or more of the ninety Tracts; and I have no doubt but Dr. Pusey himself would unhesitatingly affirm, that there was teaching in some of them from which even he dissented.
Could we have asked the reverend gentlemen who have lately apostatized to Rome from one of the churches at Stoke Newington, I can easily imagine that they too would have differed from the teaching of some of the Tracts, though their principles and practices, before they finally left the Church of England, were daily giving evidence how completely (as a whole) they were identified with the party.
It must be borne in mind that from the time this “Tractarian” blight came over our Church, it has been the practice of its clerical adherents to deny any affinity with Romish error, and to beguile their congregations with the assurance, that the holding of “Tractarian” principles was the best safeguard to the Church of England.