Oxford High Anglican Movement. By James H. Rigg, D.D. (C.
H. Belly.)—Dr. Rigg rightly claims for his book the dis- tinction of being the "only attempt to write anything like a
history of Oxford High Anglicanism yet made by a Nonconformist." As such it has some value and interest.. Now and then, we cannot help thinking, Dr. Rigg is irrelevant. The personal peculiarities of W. G. Ward have nothing to do with the subject, his extravagant humour, for instance, and strange tastes in reading, unless it is intended to depreciate the estimate of his personal piety. We do not suppose that this is in Dr. Rigg,'s thoughts. On the general questions discussed in the volume we cannot enter. Dr. Rigg does not over-estimate the significance of the movement of the last fifty years in the Anglican communion. If it were to continue on the same lines and in the same direction for another half-century, or even for half the time, it must end in Rome, with of course a disruption on one side or the other. Those who cling to the Anglican compromise as a means of great practical good are ready to welcome help from without. They dislike as much as does Dr. Rigg the extravagant pretensions of a certain party. But he hinders rather than helps when he tries to fasten upon the Church the odium of language which all who are responsible within it repudiate. His want oi candour in the matter of " Gace's Catechism" has strengthened those whom he can have had no desire to strengthen.
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