IS THE
VICAR OF BROMPTON
A
TRACTARIAN?

A QUESTION FOR THE PARISHIONERS.

BY
A LAYMAN.

“You call me a Tractarian, I am not so in any sense.”—See the Letter of Dr. Irons to the Editor of the Record.

“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just, but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him”.—Proverbs 18 chap. 17 verse.

LONDON:
CHARLES WESTERTON,
WESTERTON’S LIBRARY,
20, ST. GEORGE’S PLACE, HYDE PARK CORNER;
SEELEY’S, FLEET STREET.

1855.

Price Sixpence.

If any profits arise from the sale of this little publication, they will be given to the funds of the Chelsea, Brompton, and Belgrave Dispensary.

PREFATORY REMARKS.

In placing before my fellow parishioners this publication, I think it necessary most distinctly to disavow any personal hostility to the Vicar, as an individual.

I feel it the more incumbent on me to say this, as my object is not so much to prove the errors and unscriptural teaching of the “Tractarians,” as to make it plain (by his own words and actions) that Dr. Irons must be considered as altogether identified with the “Tractarian” party.

On a fitting occasion, however, I shall be ready (the Lord enabling me) to shew, that the principles and practices of those clergymen who have unhappily embraced “Tractarian” error, are as contrary to God’s blessed Word as they are to the Articles of our Church; and that these principles (if honestly carried out) as necessarily lead to Rome, as a humble and prayerful study of the Bible, will assuredly lead the sincere enquirer into the light and liberty of Gospel truth.

It is the policy of the more wily amongst the “Tractarians” to keep aloof in some measure from the “Ultras” of their party, and to follow the Jesuitical advice given from a certain quarter, not to be over hasty in bringing in Anglican forms and observances amongst their congregations, but to win them over by little and little.

This policy will account for much that is going on in our parish, where we have a Vicar who says that he is not a Tractarian “in any sense.”

I feel assured that the parishioners of Brompton are not prepared for that open and undisguised “Tractarianism” practised in some of our churches; but when I bear in mind the fact, that during the past year two or three of the most noted amongst the “Tractarian” Clergy have been preaching in the Parish Church, it shews the necessity of being on our guard to resist the insidious attempts made from within, as well as the endeavours now making from without, to bring us into the bondage of “Tractarianism,” or into the more open and unadulterated principles and practices of Romanism.  It may be well for us to remember that at the recent opening of the Popish Institution (the Oratory) in our Parish, there were reported as being present twelve Romish priests or laymen, who until the last few years were clergymen of the Established Church, and belonging to the “Tractarian” party.

In making use of the word “Tractarian” a necessity has been laid upon me, for though I deprecate the use of party names, I know of no other term (not even Puseyism) that would so