One of the most remarkable features in the Anti-Papal demonstration in the autumn of 1850, was the part acted by a portion of the “Tractarians.”
Sensible that their party were more than suspected of being the origin of the “Aggression,” they were generally very early in the field to hold meetings, and to display an apparent opposition to Rome; but if we take the trouble to look into their proceedings at these meetings, we shall find that their principal aim was to get credit for zeal against Popery, and thus to blind the people to their own Romish practices, and prevent (as far as they could) anything like a real expression of Protestant feeling on the occasion.
As to the fact that two of the most noted “Tractarian” clergymen in London were lately invited to preach in the Parish Church, Dr. Irons says, they were his friends; “one of them a very old one;” but if the Doctor is not a Tractarian “in any sense,” he might have shewn hospitality and kindness under his own roof, rather than give these gentlemen the opportunity of propagating the errors of their principles and party in the pulpit of the Parish Church. More recently, a third well known “Tractarian” Clergyman was advertised to preach in Dr. Irons’ pulpit.
There is an old homely proverb, “Shew me the company a man keeps, and I will tell you what sort of a man he is.”
Having thus commented upon the communication of Dr. Irons in the “Record,” I would place before my fellow parishioners copies of some letters which passed between the Reverend Doctor and myself several years ago. My object in doing this is not to say harsh things against the individual, but to demonstrate that the Doctor is by his own admission a “Tractarian.”
I do not presume to sit in judgment on Dr. Irons, though I should think more highly of his candour and consistency, if he did not deny the holding of those opinions which I am constrained to believe he does entertain.
I am no admirer of a certain bishop in the West of England, but we must do him the justice to acknowledge that he is an exception to many of his “Tractarian” brethren.
There is no faltering on his part as to what his principles really are, and though we differ from him entirely, we recognize that we have a plain-spoken Englishman to deal with, who would feel it beneath his dignity to deny that he does not heartily side with the “Tractarians,” and endeavour by every means to advance their views and opinions.
Lamentable to the Church of England as are the proceedings of this dignitary, we should not think the more highly of him were he to assert that he is not a Tractarian “in any sense.”
The four following letters passed between Dr. Irons and myself soon after the public meeting relative to the Papal Aggression in 1850. [8]