He hated the frenzies of sectarianism even more than the mummeries of Rome

Now nothing is more notable about the generous and joyful impatience of Sydney Smith, than the fact that he hated the frenzies of sectarianism even more than the mummeries of Rome. For him the Methodists were simply madmen; and he said so; which is the ringing note of reality in all his record. He would have said that he was a loyal Anglican parson; his opponents might say he was a Pagan; but he was not only not a Puritan, but he was not a subconscious or submerged or secret Puritan.

G.K. Chesterton, 'Introduction', H. Pearson, The Smith of Smiths (1934), 10