The Connecticut Observer, And New York Congregationalist

The Oxford Tracts.—The semi-popish publications of the Oxford doctors, which are exerting so unhappy an influence on many in the established church of England, and which have their admirers in this country, are thus appreciated by the Roman Catholics both in Europe and America. We copy from the U. States Catholic Miscellany.

"The Oxford Doctors—Pusey, Newman, and Keble, are promoting Catholicism most effectually by the publication of the works of the holy fathers in English, as well as by the "Tracts for the Times," which have attained extraordinary celebrity and circulation. In these tracts are advocated the restoration of the ancient liturgy, of the breviary, (which is recited daily by many of the partisans of these new opinions,) of fasting, of the monastic life, and many other religious practices. Moreover, they teach the insufficiency of the bible alone as a rule of faith—the necessity of tradition and church authority—the real presence—prayers for the dead, the use of images, the power of absolving in the priesthood, the sacrifice in the Eucharist, the devotion to the blessed Virgin, and many other Catholic doctrines. Within the last three months the state of things at Oxford is thus described by an eye witness. The University is in a state of great excitement on the subject of religion. Scarcely does a new work appear but the question is put even by the young students, 'does it take the Catholic or Protestant side of the question?' In the room of a fellow of one of the most important colleges, a crucifix is to be seen in a most conspicuous place. More than one disciple of Pusey has expressed his unwillingness to be called 'Protestant'—see the work of Dr. Newman lately published, in reply to the attack of Faussett on the new opinions. Every day brings out works, the tendency of which is to Catholicise the spirit and feelings of the University, and I found there a recent publication containing the hymns of the Salisbury, Roman, and Parisian Breviaries. It is said that there are no less than seven hundred ministers of the established church attached to the Oxford opinions.'"