From the PREFACE. The peculiarity of this essay, in which it differs from most others on the same subject -- all others so far as I know -- is the fact that it treats the question of the Papal Supremacy purely as a matter of fact and of history. No comparison is made or attempted between the doctrines taught, and the rites and usages practiced under that system, and those which prevail elsewhere. In any system of religion, church authority must be a most important element, aside from any question of Divine Authority and spiritual grace of which it may be the channel, since it must and will exercise a powerful influence upon the character and spiritual growth of its members, as we can see everywhere around us. For this reason it has seemed to me desirable to have some short and handy treatise that discusses this question as a mere matter of historic facts, disentangled from, and unembarrassed by, association with questions of doctrine and of ritual, which are more or less distinct from it. With this brief explanation of the purpose and character of this little work, I commit it to the careful consideration of the reader and to the blessing of Almighty God.