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correspondence on religious subjects with his Spiritual Mother；
Manning still continued to indulge in secular hopes。 He entered
the Colonial Office as a supernumerary clerk； and it was only
when the offer of a Merton Fellowship seemed to depend upon his
taking orders that his heavenly ambitions began to assume a
definite shape。 Just then he fell in love with Miss Deffell；
whose father would have nothing to say to a young man without
prospects； and forbade him the house。 It was only too true； what
WERE the prospects of a supernumerary clerk in the Colonial
Office？ Manning went to Oxford and took orders。 He was elected to
the Merton Fellowship； and obtained through the influence of the
Wilberforces a curacy in Sussex。 At the last moment he almost
drew back。 'I think the whole step has been too precipitate；' he
wrote to his brother…in…law。 'I have rather allowed the instance
of my friends； and the allurements of an agreeable curacy in many
respects； to get the better of my sober judgment。' His vast
ambitions； his dreams of public service； of honours； and of
power； was all this to end in a little country curacy 'agreeable
in many respects'？ But there was nothing for it； the deed was
done； and the Fates had apparently succeeded very effectively in
getting rid of Manning。 All he could do was to make the best of a
bad business。
Accordingly； in the first place； he decided that he had received
a call from God 'ad veritatem et ad seipsum'； and； in the second；
forgetting Miss Deffell； he married his rector's daughter。 Within
a few months the rector died； and Manning stepped into his shoes；
and at least it could be said that the shoes were not
uncomfortable。 For the next seven years he fulfilled the
functions of a country clergyman。 He was energetic and devout； he
was polite and handsome； his fame grew in the diocese。 At last he
began to be spoken of as the probable successor to the old
Archdeacon of Chichester。 When Mrs。 Manning prematurely died； he
was at first inconsolable； but he found relief in the distraction
of redoubled work。 How could he have guessed that one day he
would come to number that loss among 'God's special mercies？ Yet
so it was to be。 In after years； the memory of his wife seemed to
be blotted from his mind； he never spoke of her； every letter；
every record； of his married life he destroyed； and when word was
sent to him that her grave was falling into ruin： 'It is best
so；' the Cardinal answered； 'let it be。 Time effaces all things。'
But； when the grave was yet fresh； the young Rector would sit
beside it； day after day； writing his sermons。
II
IN the meantime； a series of events was taking place in another
part of England； which was to have a no less profound effect upon
Manning's history than the merciful removal of his wife。 In the
same year in which he took up his Sussex curacy； the Tracts for
the Times had begun to appear at Oxford。 The 'Oxford Movement'；
in fact； had started on its course。 The phrase is still familiar；
but its meaning has become somewhat obscured both by the lapse of
time and the intrinsic ambiguity of the subjects connected with
it。 Let us borrow for a moment the wings of Historic Imagination；
and； hovering lightly over the Oxford of the thirties； take a
rapid bird's…eye view。
For many generations the Church of England had slept the sleep of
the。。fortable。 The sullen murmurings of dissent； the loud
battle…cry of Revolution； had hardly disturbed her slumbers。
Portly divines subscribed with a sigh or a smile to the Thirty…
nine Articles； sank quietly into easy living； rode gaily to
hounds of a morning as gentlemen should； and； as gentlemen
should； carried their two bottles of an evening。 To be in the
Church was in fact simply to pursue one of those professions
which Nature and Society had decided were proper to gentlemen and
gentlemen alone。 The fervours of piety； the zeal of Apostolic
charity； the enthusiasm of self…renunciation these things were
all very well in their way and in their place； but their place
was certainly not the Church of England。 Gentlemen were neither
fervid nor zealous； and above all they were not enthusiastic。
There were； it was true； occasionally to be found within the
Church some strait…laced parsons of the high Tory school who
looked back with regret to the days of Laud or talked of the
Apostolical Succession； and there were groups of square…toed
Evangelicals who were earnest over the Atonement； confessed to a
personal love of Jesus Christ； and seemed to have arranged the
whole of their lives； down to the minutest details of act and
speech； with reference to Eternity。 But such extremes were the
rare exceptions。 The great bulk of the clergy walked calmly along
the smooth road of ordinary duty。 They kept an eye on the poor of
the parish； and they conducted the Sunday Services in a becoming
manner； for the rest； they differed neither outwardly nor
inwardly from the great bulk of the laity； to whom the Church was
a useful organisation for the maintenance of Religion； as by law
established。
The awakening came at last； however； and it was a rude one。 The
liberal principles of the French Revolution； checked at first in
the terrors of reaction； began to make their way into England。
Rationalists lifted up their heads； Bentham and the Mills
propounded Utilitarianism； the Reform Bill was passed； and there
were rumours abroad of disestablishment。 Even Churchmen seemed to
have caught the infection。 Dr。 Whately was so bold as to assert
that； in the interpretation of Scripture； different opinions
might be permitted upon matters of doubt； and； Dr。 Arnold drew up
a disquieting scheme for allowing Dissenters into the Church；
though it is true that he did not go quite so far as to
contemplate the admission of Unitarians。
At this time； there was living in a country parish； a young
clergyman of the name of John Keble。 He had gone to Oxford at the
age of fifteen； where； after a successful academic career； he had
been made a Fellow of Oriel。 He had then returned to his father's
parish and taken up the duties of a curate。 He had a thorough
knowledge of the contents of the Prayer…book； the ways of a
Common Room； the conjugations of the Greek Irregular Verbs； and
the small jests of a country parsonage； and the defects of his
experience in other directions were replaced by a zeal and a
piety which were soon to prove themselves equal； and more than
equal； to whatever calls might be made upon them。 The
superabundance of his piety overflowed into verse； and the holy
simplicity of the Christian Year carried his name into the
remotest lodging…houses of England。
As for his zeal； however； it needed another outlet。 Looking forth
upon the doings of his fellow…men through his rectory windows in
Gloucestershire； Keble felt his whole soul shaken with loathing；
anger； and dread。 Infidelity was stalking through the land；
authority was laughed at； the hi