The Altar Steps
The Altar Steps
Free DownloadThe theme is of boyhood and growth instead of manhood and decay. The hero, Mark Lidderdale, is the son of a parish priest in London, one of the martyrs of the ritualistic controversy of the eighties. His own education for the priesthood through the Catholic Movement in the Church of England is the substance of the book, which is but an overture to The Parson's Progress.
Book Excerpt
nt by the Lord Chancellor, in whose gift the living was, to
appoint a more moderate man than the late vicar. Majendie, the new man,
when he was sure of his audience, claimed to be just as advanced as
Thurston; but he was ambitious of preferment, or as he himself put it,
he felt that, when a member of the Catholic party had with the exercise
of prudence and tact an opportunity of enhancing the prestige of his
party in a higher ecclesiastical sphere, he should be wrong to neglect
it. Majendie's aim therefore was to avoid controversy with his
ecclesiastical superiors, and at a time when, as he told Lidderdale, he
was stepping back in order to jump farther, he was anxious that his
missioner should step back with him.
"I'm not suggesting, my dear fellow, that you should bring St. Wilfred's actually into line with the parish church. But the Asperges, you know. I can't countenance that. And the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday. I really think that kind of thing creates unnecessary friction."
Lidderdale's
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An interesting book detailing the spiritual and physical maturing of a young man. Mark is the son of an Anglican clergyman belonging to the Catholic Party (the highest of the High Churchmen -- not Catholics insofar as recognizing the authority of the Pope).
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I downloaded this book for something to do while on a long road trip, and I wasn're sure how good it would be. I was pleasantly surprised by the book, and it had many twists and turns, and seemed pretty full of action. Still, the auther did an excellent job of making it easy to follow. Almost definitely the best book I have ever read off this site, or anywhere for that matter. I will very briefly describe the book:
Basically, a young boy named Mark Lidderdale, the son of a Catholic priest, goes through many difficulties in his childhood, striving towards his ultimate goal, which is to be a priest like his father, who died when he was very young. This book tells of how Mark got there, and how he resisted many temptations.
A bit long of a review, but I felt I had to sum up how good this book really is!
Basically, a young boy named Mark Lidderdale, the son of a Catholic priest, goes through many difficulties in his childhood, striving towards his ultimate goal, which is to be a priest like his father, who died when he was very young. This book tells of how Mark got there, and how he resisted many temptations.
A bit long of a review, but I felt I had to sum up how good this book really is!
04/28/2007
