[f. SOUP sb. or v.]
1. In Ireland, a Protestant clergyman seeking to make proselytes by means of dispensing soup in charity. Also attrib.
1861. Clington, Frank O’Donnell, 205. On this account they were called souper-schools and their ministers soupers.
1890. Cath. News, 29 Nov., 3/4. Our readers are no doubt aware of the usual falsehoods employed by Soupers for this purpose.
2. One converted to Protestantism by the receipt of soup or other charity.
1871. Froude, Short Stud., II. 369. In a village below the lake is a congregation of Soupers—Protestant converts.
1896. Daily News, 20 Jan., 6/4. They cannot believe in any Catholic honestly becoming a Protestant. The convert must be a souper.
Hence Soupering, Souperism.
1861. E. G. K. Browne, Ann. Tract. Movem. (ed. 3), 241. Who has lately … distinguished himself as a partizan of ‘Souperism’ at Belmullet.
1896. Cath. News, 18 Jan., 4/5. He has thought of Irish Church ‘missions,’ and believes that the system of soupering is carried on at Barmouth.
