John Henry Hopkins The Law of Ritualism, Examined in Its Relation to the Word of God, the Primitive Church, the Church of England, and the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. 1866. First Edition.

Publisher: New York: Hurd and Houghton, 1866.
[7.5 × 5 in.] 98 pp. [English]. Very Good.

First edition of an examination of religious ritual and ceremonial worship by John Henry Hopkins, Bishop of Vermont. The work discusses the biblical and historical foundations of Christian rituals, including priestly vestments, incense, altars, candles, sacred music, and church ceremonies. Hopkins also explores the traditions of the early Church, the Church of England, and the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, arguing in favor of ritual practices while distinguishing them from Roman Catholic doctrine.

Bound in rich blue cloth boards with an ornate gilt front cover depicting a smoking thurible suspended by chains, with elaborate plumes of smoke rising around the gilt title lettering. All edges dyed red, with yellow endpapers.

Very Good condition, with slight soiling to the boards, particularly near the spine, bumped and rubbed corners, and chipping to the spine ends. Internally clean overall, with scattered foxing, mostly concentrated on the first and last few pages. Numerous library stamps throughout, including a Library of Congress duplicate stamp marked "Surplus-1" on the front endpaper.