The Intruder

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1802 Excerpt: ... and really, Sir, with all the valuable means of religious instruction, which we possess in this part of the country, added to the respectability of our clergymen, and their general attention to their respective cures, I am at a loss to discover any excuse for the dissatisfaction and mistaken zeal of the restless multitude, on the score of preaching. It argues something, in my mind, little short of folly, to see crowds of the people forsaking their parish churches to attend the discourses of itinerant preachers, of whose characters and principles they are utterly ignorant. Perhaps, at no former period, has the rage of popular preaching advanced to so high a pitch as it has done at the present, when, with truth, it may be said in the words of the Apostle, that men are carried away by the wind of every doclrine. Our parson, who preaches very much to, my my taste, something indeed in the manner of Sir Roger de Coverley's chaplain, has exerted himself to no purpose to check the progress of this madness. He now concurs with me in opinion, that it would be better to let you know of it before it is too late; for, said he, if any thing can bring them to a sense of their present absurd conduct, it will be the advice of the Intruder. Hoping then, my dear Sir, that you will publish this letter for the good of the community, I remain, yours, &c. FRANK TOUCHY, Gent. May 20, 1802. To the Editor of the Intruder. Sir, SOME person, (a gentleman I presume) who subscribes " a constant Reader" to your last paper, and who either is or pretends to be, on the footing of intimacy with the female part of your readers, has been at considerable pains in their behalf to point out, after the manner of Mr. John Sty, wherein and wherefore they fancy themthemselves at libert...