Book Description

A word about the origin of this book may be of some interest to its readers. In 1932, I was a layman of the Church, with a long-standing interest in Church history. As the centenary of the Oxford Movement approached, I noted that while the history of the movement in England had been told and retold, there was no corresponding account of the American developments of Tractarianism. With more courage than discretion, I set out to supply this want . . . . By 1941, I was ready for publication. But to find a publisher for a work of this sort, with its tenuous prospects of sale, was not easy. Eventually, the Church Historical Society ventured. The result was a pleasant suprise for both author and publisher. The book . . . was well recieved and widely reviewed. Above all, it sold. And still more suprising, the sale has continued steadily, until the first edition is exhausted. Meanwhiloe, many things have happened. I have continued to explore the field, with considerable results . . . Because of all these developments, and because there still seems to be a demand for the work, author and publisher again make their bow to a long-suffering public. --From the Author's Preface to the Second Edition