Transcribed from the [1852] Whittaker and Co. edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Public domain book cover] A LETTER TO LORD FIELDING. SUGGESTED BY THE LATE PROCEEDINGS AT THE NEW CHURCH AT PANTASA. BY THE REV. G. L. STONE, A.B. INCUMBENT OF ROSSETT, DENBIGHSHIRE. * * * * * LONDON: WHITTAKER AND CO.; CHESTER, PRICHARD; MOLD, PRING AND PRICE; HOLYWELL, MORRIS; WREXHAM, PAINTER. * * * * * LETTER, &c. MY LORD;— AN able Prelate of the Irish section of the Latin Church once observed—“The chief points to be discussed between the Church of Rome and of England are—the Canon of the Sacred Scriptures, Faith, Justification, the Mass, the Sacraments, the authority of tradition, of Councils, of the Pope, the celibacy of the Clergy, language of the Liturgy, invocation of Saints, respect for images, prayers for the dead. On most of these it appears to me that there is no essential difference between (Roman) Catholics and Protestants; the existing diversity of opinion arises, in most cases, from certain forms of words which admit of satisfactory explanation, or from the ignorance or misconceptions which ancient prejudice and ill will produce and strengthen,—but which could be removed; they are pride and points of honour which keep us divided on many subjects, not a love of christian humility, charity, and truth.” {3} Thus wrote the celebrated Bishop Doyle in the year 1824. Was he right or was he wrong? Are the differences between the two Churches so _very_ slight that there is _no material_ difference? If this be so, my Lord, permit me, with all respect for your rank as an English Nobleman, to ask you on what plea you have left the Communion of the English Church, and alienated the consecrated House of God at Pantasa from her service, for that of the dissenting body to which you have joined yourself? Bishop Doyle wrote either truth or falsehood in the above passage. If truth, have you left the Church of your Baptism and of your country for a system of foreign production, “no material difference, meanwhile, existing between them.” If falsehood, I might leave you to settle this matter with one of the ablest Romish Bishops of modern times. But, my Lord, there _is_ a “material difference” between the two Churches—a difference as great as between light and darkness—_the_ difference between Scriptural verities, and the unfounded figments of Tridentine manufacture. To prove this as briefly as may be, is my object in