# Pryer — The Way of All Flesh character guide

> Pryer in The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** LXI Pryer

**First appearance:** 0053-li

## Snapshot

A smooth clergyman with a scheme called the College of Spiritual Pathology, who relieves Ernest of every penny he owns in exchange for I.O.U.s.

## Who they are

Pryer befriends Ernest in London just as the young curate is most adrift, offering grand talk of a spiritual college and the flattering sense of being taken seriously by a man of the world. Ernest hands over his entire fortune on nothing but Pryer's paper promises, and even as the folly becomes plain he cannot quite believe his friend dishonourable. Pryer is the story's lesson in how easily a plausible man harvests the trust of someone who has never learned to tell friend from flatterer.

## Relationships

### [Ernest Pontifex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/ernest_pontifex)

_professional_

A fellow clergyman who exploits Ernest's naivety in a fraudulent financial scheme, leading to Ernest's ruin.

### [Ernest Pontifex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/ernest_pontifex)

_professional_

A fellow clergyman who exploits Ernest's naivety in a fraudulent financial scheme, leading to Ernest's ruin.

## In the story

### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/li)

Senior curate who befriends Ernest; described as tall, good-looking, High Church, and influential over Ernest.

### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lii)

Pryer expounds his views on the need for a scientific approach to sin, confession, and clerical authority, dismissing the Bible as unreliable for the laity.

### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/liii)

Influences Ernest with his ideas about spiritual pathology and excommunication; proposes the College of Spiritual Pathology and suggests investing in the Stock Exchange.

### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/liv)

Collaborates with Ernest on a scheme, influences him to stop house-to-house visiting, and is praised as a gentleman and man of business.

### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lv)

Ernest's fellow curate; involved with Ernest in speculative investments that lead to losses.

### [Chapter LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lvi)

Rebukes Ernest's proposal for street preaching, emphasizing obedience to Church authority and the dangers of fanaticism.

### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lvii)

Pryer is not present but his ideas and financial control over Ernest are central to Ernest's crisis; Ernest begins to suspect he has fallen among both spiritual and material thieves.

### [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lix)

Ernest's associate, who discusses the College of Spiritual Pathology and hints at undisclosed mysteries; their conversation is interrupted and proves to be their last meeting.

### [LXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxi)

Mentioned as having warned Ernest against house-to-house visitation; disliked by Mrs. Jupp for his harshness.

### [LXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxii)

Revealed to have taken Ernest's money with only I.O.U.s as security.

### [LXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxiv)

Ernest considers recovering money from Pryer to fund a new start.

### [LXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxvi)

Embezzled Ernest's money and absconded; his whereabouts remain unknown.

### [LXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxx)

Mentioned as having given Ernest ten pounds shortly before his arrest.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/pryer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters