106 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



neglected the opportunity, and thus have perpetuat- 

 ed a separation from the organic body. 



In Great Britain the reformation was more wisely 

 conducted. The Church there had existed from 

 the days of the Apostles. For 6co years it remained 

 independent of the Roman see, and it was only 

 after the Norman conquest that the papal jurisdic- 

 tion became thoroughly established. 



While there were many efforts at reform, none 

 gave promise of success so long as the Pope's power 

 was held. In a. d. 1532, the quarrel of Henry the 

 Eighth with the Pope, led to the overthrow of the 

 power of the latter in Great Britain. Once over- 

 thrown, that power was impotent to check the ris- 

 ing tide. Henry is not to be credited as a reformer, 

 nor is he, as is sometimes urged, the founder of 

 the Church of England. That Church was founded 

 ages before he was born. God permitted his efforts 

 to secure a divorce from his queen to be the occa- 

 sion of the downfall of the Pope's authority in Great 

 Britain, and thus the way to the reformation was 

 facilitated. Almost contrary to the wishes of the 

 king, reform went forward step by step. First one 

 error was cast out and then another, until, with the 

 accession of Edward the Sixth, a. d. 1547, there 

 were made the most sweeping changes. Images 

 and relics were removed, the communion in both 

 kinds was given to the laity — the clergy were per- 

 mitted to marry — and the liturgy was purified and 



