Green’s Dictionary of Slang

journeyman soul-saver n.

a scripture-reader.

1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 106: Journeymen-parsons — those who work by the job, and had recently a house of call, at the King’s Head, near St. Paul’s, now removed.
1831		Western Times 12 Feb. 4/6: A journeyman tailor is better able to provide for a family than a journeyman parson.
1843		Leics. Mercury 16 Sept. 1/8: Now if Mr ‘Anti-humbug’ be so very wise and learned as he pretends to be, and if he be not a ‘journeyman parson’ [...] let him answer.
1859		Western Times 9 July 6/1: The perpetual of St Sidwell's has a very wam-hearted journeyman parson who is fond of saluting the young damsels [...] with a brotherly kiss.
1868		Western Times 16 June 5/1: A dignitary of the church [...] giving one hundred a year to his journeyman parson and taking fourteen hundred a year for [himself].
1875		Notts. Guardian 17 Dec. 11/4: The ‘journeyman soul-saver’ (i.e. missionary), the mild Hindoo, and his compatriot from their respective boxes, will abuse each other’s wives, mothers, and female ancestry.
1888		Cornishman 28 June 7/2: He preached unlike any other journeyman soul-saver, as if he believed what he said.
1889–90		Barrère & Leland Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.