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something elseone might be a priest。
Accordingly； Manning shook off his early Evangelical convictions；
started an active correspondence with Newman； and was soon
working for the new cause。 He collected quotations； and began to
translate the works of Optatus for Dr。 Pusey。 He wrote an article
on Justin for the British Critic； 〃Newman's Magazine〃。 He
published a sermon on Faith； with notes and appendices； which was
condemned by an evangelical bishop； and fiercely attacked by no
less a person than the celebrated Mr。 Bowdler。 'The sermon；' said
Mr Bowdler； in a book which he devoted to the subject； 'was bad
enough； but the appendix was abominable。' At the same time he was
busy asserting the independence of the Church of England；
opposing secular education； and bringing out pamphlets against
the Ecclesiastical Commission； which had been appointed by
Parliament to report on Church Property。 Then we find him in the
role of a spiritual director of souls。 Ladies met him by stealth
in his church； and made their confessions。 Over one casethat of
a lady； who found herself drifting towards Romehe consulted
Newman。 Newman advised him to 'enlarge upon the doctrine of I
Cor。 vii'； 'also； I think you must press on her the prospect of
benefiting the poor Church； through which she has her baptism； by
stopping in it。 Does she not care for the souls of all around
her； steeped and stifled in Protestantism？ How will she best care
for them by indulging her own feelings in the communion of Rome；
or in denying herself； and staying in sackcloth and ashes to do
them good？' Whether these arguments were successful does not
appear。
For several years after his wife's death； Manning was occupied
with these new activities； while his relations with Newman
developed into what was apparently a warm friendship。 'And now
vive valeque； my dear Manning'； we find Newman writing in a
letter dated 'in festo S。 Car。 1838'； 'as wishes and prays yours
affectionately； John H。 Newman'。 But； as time went on； the
situation became more complicated。 Tractarianism began to arouse
the hostility； not only of the evangelical； but of the moderate
churchmen； who could not help perceiving in the ever…deepening；
'catholicism' of the Oxford party； the dread approaches of Rome。
The 〃Record〃 newspaper an influential Evangelical journal took
up the matter and sniffed Popery in every direction； it spoke of
certain clergymen as 'tainted'； and after that； preferment seemed
to pass those clergymen by。 The fact that Manning found it wise
to conduct his confessional ministrations in secret was in itself
highly significant。 It was necessary to be careful； and Manning
was very careful indeed。 The neighbouring Archdeacon； Mr。 Hare；
was a low churchman； Manning made friends with him； as warmly； it
seemed； as he had made friends with Newman。 He corresponded with
him； asked his advice about the books he should read； and
discussed questions of Theology'As to Gal。 vi 15； we cannot
differ。。。。 With a man who reads and reasons I can have no
controversy； and you do both。' Archdeacon Hare was pleased； but
soon a rumour reached him； which was； to say the least of it；
upsetting。 Manning had been removing the high pews from a church
in Brighton； and putting in open benches in their place。 Everyone
knew what that meant； everyone knew that a high pew was one of
the bulwarks of Protestantism； and that an open bench had upon it
the taint of Rome。 But Manning hastened to explain： 'My dear
friend；' he wrote； 'I did not exchange pews for open benches； but
got the pews （the same in number） moved from the nave of the
church to the walls of the side aisles； so that the whole church
has a regular arrangement of open benches； which （irregularly）
existed before 。。。 I am not today quite well； so farewell； with
much regardYours ever； H。 E。 M。' Archdeacon Hare was reassured。
It was important that he should be； for the Archdeacon of
Chichester was growing very old； and Hare's influence might be
exceedingly useful when a vacancy occurred。 So； indeed； it fell
out。 A new bishop； Dr。 Shuttleworth； was appointed to the See；
and the old Archdeacon took the opportunity of retiring。 Manning
was obviously marked out as his successor； but the new bishop
happened to be a low churchman； an aggressive low churchman； who
went so far as to parody the Tractarian fashion of using Saints'
days for the dating of letters by writing 'The Palace； washing…
day'； at the beginning of his。 Andwhat was equally serioushis
views were shared by Mrs。 Shuttleworth； who had already decided
that the pushing young Rector was 'tainted'。 But at the critical
moment Archdeacon Hare came to the rescue； he persuaded the
Bishop that Manning was safe； and the appointment was accordingly
madebehind Mrs。 Shuttleworth's back。 She was furious； but it
was too late； Manning was an Archdeacon。 All the lady could do；
to indicate her disapprobation； was to put a copy of Mr。
Bowdler's book in a conspicuous position on the drawing…room
table； when he came to pay his respects at the Palace。
Among the letters of congratulation which Manning received； was
one from Mr Gladstone； with whom he had remained on terms of
close friendship since their days together at Oxford。 'I
rejoice；' Mr Gladstone wrote； 'on your account personally； but
more for the sake of the Church。 All my brothers…in…law are here
and scarcely less delighted than I am。 With great glee am I about
to write your new address； but； the occasion really calls for
higher sentiments； and sure am I that you are one of the men to
whom it is specially given to develop the solution of that great
problemhow all our minor distractions are to be either
abandoned； absorbed； or harmonised through the might of the great
principle of communion in the body of Christ。'
Manning was an Archdeacon； but he was not yet out of the woods。
His relations with the Tractarians had leaked out； and the Record
was beginning to be suspicious。 If Mrs。 Shuttleworth's opinion of
him were to become general； it would certainly be a grave matter。
Nobody could wish to live and die a mere Archdeacon。 And then； at
that very moment； an event occurred which made it imperative to
take a definite step； one way or the other。 That event was the
publication of Tract No。 90。
For some time it had been obvious to every impartial onlooker
that Newman was slipping down an inclined plane at the bottom of
which lay one thing； and one thing onlythe Roman Catholic
Church。 What was surprising was the length of time which he was
taking to reach the inevitable destination。 Years passed before
he came to realise that his grandiose edifice of a Church
Universal would crumble to pieces if one of its foundation stones
was to be an amatory intrigue of Henry VIII。 But； at last he
began to see that terrible monarch glowering at him wherever he
turned his eyes。 First he tried to exorcise the spectre with the
rolling periods of the Caroline di