Untitled - Electric Scotland

iS 4 i] CORRESPONDENCE WITH STANLEY 97
Three years is a long time to look forward to, and, by God s help,
much may be done in Balliol and Oxford before then. Perhaps the
I .ishop and Archbishop may not approve the Chancellor s plan,
and then the matter is at an end, for I cannot in conscience leave
Halliol now. But if I am to go in three years, if I live so long,
let us work heart and hand during that time. I do not think late
divisions need at all prevent co-operation among those who love
what is good. Indeed, Newman pledges himself in a letter to the
Bishop to co-operate with religious men of all opinions. Therefore
let us make the most of the time while it lasts. But we shall do
nothing unless we do it in a truly religious spirit, and make the
good of our University the subject of our earnest prayers. Do, my
dear Stanley, let us strive, while God gives us the opportunity, to
do everything in a more seriously religious spirit. I fear our
plans cannot do any good unless they are more the subject of
our earnest prayers. There is no doubt we love what is good,
but I fear we do not seek it in a sufficiently serious, religious
spirit.
"I long very much to see you back here. Best regards to
Pearson. Your affect, friend, A. C. TAIT."
Rev. A. P. Stanley to Rev. A. C. Tait.
"GENOA, May 2, 1841.
" MY DEAR GREIS, Although I have but little time to write,
and shall be in England so soon after my letter, I cannot help
thanking you for your account of Oxford and yourself which I
found here yesterday. I hope there was nothing in my foolish
letter from Rome at all tending to annoy you, as, of course, not
knowing facts, neither having read No. 90, nor the Tutors Pro
test, I had no business to say anything. From what you say I
cannot be surprised at any one using any measures against the
Tract who thinks it unadvisable per se that Roman Catholics
should be members of the Church of England still less at any
one being angry at the tone which you describe as pervading No.
90 though perhaps, as I myself see no reason against Roman
Catholics being Anglicans, except the impracticability of it, I
should not have objected to any mode of rendering it practicable
which was not on other grounds objectionable. I shall be very
anxious to see, Ward s pamphlet, of which your letter contains
the first intimation. What, however, gave me most pleasure was
VOL. i.
G