Untitled - Electric Scotland

92 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. iv.
make the course you have adopted a proper one, nay,
necessary one.
a most
"I think that words cannot bind a man who deals with the
Church s Articles as the writer of the Tract does.
"Detailed criticism is needless, if there were time either for
me to write, or you to read it. My wonder that your four
names alone were appended to this Protest still continues, my
other doubts being solved. I hope it was not from any hurry
on your parts leaving them unconsulted ; for that would have
been to cast a slur on all the tutorial body in the University,
with the exception of the four Colleges. I need not conceal my
fears of what will be the result, grounded on my conviction of the
existing want of moderation, and the prejudice of both sides, both
in Oxford and elsewhere. I should be driven nearly to despair
of the consequences were my confidence less strong in my own
Church s share of God s promise. Doubtless it will be overruled ;
and that must be enough for those who have to wait, not seeing
the end. To those who are of necessity engaged in it, the pain
ful lessons of ill-feeling and human jealousies which the Hampden
matter taught will be most useful now. As for yourself, my dear
Tait, let me, as your contemporary, beg of you to keep steadily
before you through the whole matter the recollection of your own
youth, and endeavour to contend throughout with singleness of
purpose for one side, and not against another. God guide you
all as seems Him right, and bless Alma Mater and her sons.
Pray let me hear from you soon. . . . Ever, my dear Tait, yours
most sincerely,
ROBERT SCOTT."
A yet closer friend, Arthur Stanley, had been travelling
in Greece and Italy with another ex-pupil of Tait s, Hugh
Pearson. They were now on their way home.
Rev. Arthur P. Stanley to Rev. A. C. Tait.
"ROME, March 30, 1841.
"O MY DEAR BELVEDERE/ What have you been doing?
Rome is only in a less state of excitement than Oxford. The
Pope has just issued a Bull defending the Decrees of Trent, on
the ground that they are not contradictory to the Thirty-nine
1 One of the names by which Tait was known among his Oxford friends,
his curly hair being said to resemble that of the statue in the Vatican.