Howitt, William. History of Priestcraft in all Ages and Nations. New-York: London: Effingham Wilson, 1833. Reprinted for the Booksellers. [10603]
Faded plain cloth, original paper title label to spine, 7 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches, tight. Top of title page torn with loss of about one inch. xii., 260 clean pp. Good. Hardcover.
This first American edition includes the additions of an introduction, appendix, and index.
"This history of Priestcraft among the ancient and modern idolaters in the various countries of the world is a concise but clear development of the rise and progress of that unholy domination, which priests, in all ages, constantly grasped and perpetuated." - Introduction by the American Editor, who later in the Introduction laments that sometimes Howitt "has not developed [enough] distinction between the Divine appointments and the offispring of human corruption - and between the legitimate institutions of Jehovah in his mercy to mankind, and the superadditions made by priestly arrogance, rapacity and ambition."
Nevertheless, he recommends the book.
William Howitt (1792-1879), English Quaker who later in life - after the death of a child - turned to Spiritualism. He wrote on history, nature, religion, was a prolific author and was very well received by the British public.
