den
disgusts, and, on the other hand, abuses and perversions of the true
doctrine, in the case of those who have taken it up with more warmth
than discernment.

From the end of 1835, or the beginning of 1836, the world outside of
Oxford began to be alive to the force and the rapid growth of this new
and, to the world at large, not very intelligible movement. The ideas
which had laid hold so powerfully on a number of leading minds in the
University began to work with a spell, which seemed to many
inexplicable, on others unconnected with them. This rapidity of
expansion, viewed as a feature of a party, was noticed on all sides, by
enemies no less than friends. In an article in the _British Critic_ of
April 1839, by Mr. Newman, on the State of Religious Parties, the fact
is illustrated from contemporary notices.

There is at the present moment a reaction in the Church, and a growing
reaction, towards the views which it has been the endeavours [of the
Tract writers] and, as it seemed at the commencement, _almost hopeless
endeavours_, to advocate. The fairness of the prospect at present is
proved by the attack made on them by the public journals, and is
confessed by the more candid and the more violent among their
opponents. Thus the amiable Mr. Bickersteth speaks of it as having
manifested itself "with the _most rapid_ growth of the hot-bed of
these evil days." The scoffing author of the _Via Media_ says: "At
this moment the Via is _crowded_ with young enthusiasts who never
presume to argue, except against the propriety of arguing at all." The
candid Mr. Baden-Powell, who sees more of the difficulties of the
controversy than the rest of their antagonists pot together, says that
it is clear that "these views ... have been extensively adopted, and
are daily gaining ground among a considerable and influential portion
of the members, as well as the ministers of the Established Church."
The author of the _Natural History of Enthusiasm_ says: "The spread of
these doctrines is in fact having the effect of rendering all other
distinctions obsolete. Soon there will be no middle ground left, and
every man, especially every clergyman, will be compelled to make his
choice between the two." ... The Bishop of Chester speaks of the
subject "daily assuming a more serious and alarming aspect": a
gossiping writer of the moment describes these doctrines as having
insinuated themselves no