In a clear parody of Hogarth's "Sleeping Congregation" this scene in a dissenting chapel, shows the preacher leaning from the pulpit, his fist raised as he shouts to the congregation below. A squirrel sits on the canopy of pulpit gnawing on a nut. While some of the congregation in the foreground and those in the background in a raised pew or balcony look up at the preacher, most are smiling at their neighbors and exchanging amorous glances. A chandelier hangs from the upper margin, beside it an inscription: "My friends fear nothing! Follow the first and good commandment -- increase & multiply! Defy as I do Beelzebub & all his crew. We are as innocent lambs passing our evenings here in love and harmony. Hearken not to backsliders, attend regularly & your feelings shall be gratified."
Alternative Title:
Celebrated and Reverend T. Screech Me Dead attacking the devil in his strong hold
Description:
Title from item. and Publication date from British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Topic):
Dissenters, Religious, Chapels, Courtship, Dissenters, and Preachers
Broadside., Consists of engraved allegorical plate., Attack on dissenters., Attributed to L'Estrange by Wing, NUC Pre-1956., and Image and "The explanation" are separated and possibly belonged to two different copies of this broadside, as suggested by paper discoloration. "The explanation" is mounted on support sheet.
BEIN Pequot Z96: Imperfect: pages 71-73 and [1] page at end wanting. Number 5 of 6 titles bound together in brown, blind tooled leather binding with manuscript call number label on spine., The dedicatory epistle signed: John Graunt who was from Bucklersbury and who flourished between 1640-1652; not to be confused with John Graunt, F.R.S., 1620-1674, a statistician from Hampshire who also published during that period. See B.M. Cat and D.N.B., With a title page woodcut., Head-pieces; initials., and Signatures: A² B-K⁴ chi1 (leaf A2 signed A3).
Publisher:
Printed for H.R. at the Three Pigeons in Pauls church-yard
Subject (Geographic):
England and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Dissenters, Religious, Christian sects, Church, Unity, and Church history
