The '59 Revival

Rev. Ian R. K. Paisley

On 17th April 1858 Rev. Thomas Toye, the minister of Gt. George’s Street Presbyterian Church, after hearing of the great awakening across the Atlantic, commenced prayer meetings in his church especially for revival. Mr. Toye, often called “the revivalist of the South,” hailed from Southern Ireland, had a unique personality and was the outstanding soul-winning minister in Belfast.

The connection between these prayer meetings and the advent of the revival could not be better demonstrated than in the following incident.

A minister from a distance, dressed in coloured clothes, stopped to inquire the way to Great George’s Street. “I want,” said he, “to see this work about which there is so much noise. is that a good place for seeing it?” “Oh, yes,” said the man of whom he inquired, “you will see plenty of it there.” “Then,” said the minister, “you don’t consider the revival a good thing?” “How can that be good,” said the man, “which affects business so much? It has been at a complete stand-still for the last few weeks.” “And how do you account for this?” inquired the minister. “The men that I blame for it are the ministers, and no one do I blame more than the very man to whose place you are now going. Why, sir, he has been holding meetings and praying for it for years. When the comet appeared here,” continued he, “he gave out that he would preach on it. You never saw anything like the number that went to hear him. Hundreds went away, who could not get in. Now, what do you think, sir? The sermon was all about ‘The Revival of Religion.’ I am quite sure that he expected it would come at that time, but how he knew it is not for me to say.” This man was a publican. He knew that if the revival went on much longer his business would be ruined.

The incumbent of Trinity Episcopal Church, Rev. Theophilus Campbell, also experienced the early droppings of the revival shower. He testifies; “During this time, that is, prior to May 1859, the Lord also vouchsafed more numerous instances of His blessing on the seed of life sown among the people, than previously. Many cases might be specified, were it necessary, especially among young men.

“To only one shall I particularly refer, it is that of a profligate and infidel, who, hearing the sound of the evening church bell, was led by it, unconsciously, to the church door, and as he expressed it, ‘an irresistible impulse forced him into the church.’ He retired to his lodging an altered man; his infidelity had given way, and, after a short time, he could look up to his Saviour, and find ‘joy and peace in believing.’

“It was, however, in connection with our Bible class that I perceived the most undoubted proofs of the awakening. The class meets from October to May in each year; the instruction is imparted conversationally. When about to separate, May 1857 the young men requested permission to meet in the school-house once every week for prayer during the summer; a request which I gladly granted, so that, in place of breaking up until the following October, I had the happiness to know that fervent supplications were offered by them for the outpouring of the Spirit on me, on themselves, the schools, the congregation, the parish at large, the whole Church, and the country.

“When we assembled in October 1858, I saw, from the very opening of the session, the manifestation of a deeper interest in the Scriptures, and also an increased attendance. When the close of the session arrived, May 1859, far from a wish to separate, the desire of the class was to continue its meetings through the month of June; the numbers too, were larger than at the beginning of the term.”

It was, however, through the ministry of the converts from Connor and Ahoghill that the revival burst forth into mighty conflagration and spread with such power that in a few weeks the newly converted numbered at least 10,000.

The first visit of the converts to Belfast was to Great George’s Street Church. Mr. Toye describes their visit:

“In the end of May 1859 I brought three lay brethren, two of them converts, from Ahoghill to Belfast, who held meetings, morning and evening, for three days, and whose visit awakened great interest. There were no screams nor prostrations during their addresses, but there seemed to be a deep and evident impression.”

Next, Rev. Robert Knox, Moderator of the Belfast Presbytery and minister of Linenhall Street Church invited the converts to address his evening service on the first Sabbath of June. A colleague of Mr. Knox describes the service: “On the first Sabbath in June, a meeting was held in Linenhall Street Church, and was addressed by two lay converts from Connor. The meeting was very large. The converts were intelligently acquainted with the Bible, and had felt the power of grace in their hearts: they possessed little learning beyond their knowledge of Divine truth and but for their great earnestness would not for five minutes have been listened to by any assembly in Belfast. But God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and the weak things and things that are despised hath God chosen to overthrow the mighty. And God owned them. He signally put His approbation on their testimony. One woman fell down in a pew as if she had suddenly been smitten by an invisible but resistless energy. She cried out for mercy. The meeting was impressed indeed; but the impression was not very deep. Incredulity, despite our expectations, was very great. The woman may have been excitable. She may not have been a person of very strong mind, and other imaginations started up to account for her prostration, independently of the Spirit of God. And so the meeting dissolved.”

On the Tuesday following the same two converts, along with Mr. Knox, held a revival meeting in Berry Street Presbyterian Church. At this service a young woman and a young man cried for mercy. Dr. Hugh Hanna, the minister of the church, reports:

“After the meeting was formally dissolved, the people were reluctant to depart. The meeting was reconstituted, prayers were offered, and two others were brought to a deep conviction of sin, and expressed their feelings in such a way as made a profound impression on the audience. The hand of God was visibly at work, and acknowledged in our midst.

“The next evening was that of the congregational prayer meeting, conducted by the elders and other praying people in the congregation. There was no minister present: there was no exciting address; but God made bare His arm in a most marvellous way. Many were convinced and converted. The meeting was large, and great fear fell upon all the people. It was resolved to continue every evening the meetings that God had thus signally owned.

“There had been, for many months, in Great George’s Street Church (the Rev. Mr. Toye’s) a faithful band who, on every evening of the week, besieged the throne of grace. They waited, like the believers of old, for the ‘Consolation of Israel.’ With the exception of these, the meetings in the Berry Street Church were the first assemblies identified with the revival movement in Belfast. And so they continued for six weeks on every evening of the week. The church was literally crammed; every available spot within and around it was occupied. Many thousands of souls must have been brought within the influence of the truth under the most solemn circumstances during those six weeks. Not only from the population of the town were their audiences drawn, but many earnest souls came from great distances in the country. It was now no uncommon thing for persons to travel forty miles for the sole purpose of seeking God where he was pleased so marvellously to manifest himself, and an incalculable good was done. During that period nearly eight hundred souls were visited at their own houses by the minister and office-bearers of the church—all brought under conviction of sin at the revival meetings. Many more, and by far a larger multitude, there is reason to believe, were overtaken by the grace of God, and brought to Christ by the silent inspiration of the Spirit. We are receiving proofs of this every day.

“The whole population was aroused. The Lord’s people rejoiced greatly. The churches were opened to accommodate the thousands that thronged with deepest earnestness to hear the word of God. And so the wondrous movement continued until flesh and blood could stand it no longer. The great excitement that worked the first stage of the revival subsided, and the gracious work continued, but under a quieter aspect. The world that walks by sight thought it external, and said it was so. The irreligious press gloried in preaching the fiction to be a fact, as it had done all it could to disparage and misrepresent it during its more active manifestations. But the work continues very auspiciously still. In the churches of Townsend Street, Eglantine Street, Great George’s Street, Berry Street, among the Presbyterians; in Christ Church, Trinity, St. Paul’s, and St. John’s, among the Episcopalians, where faithful ministers labour; Donegall Place, Wesley Place, and Salem, among the Methodists, the Spirit of God has been mightily manifested. Many trophies have been rescued from the hands of Satan. In Belfast alone some tens of thousands have been brought under serious impressions. There is probably no evangelical church in the town where the attendance is not greatly increased at all the services. It was somewhat difficult once to get the ear of the people for the Gospel. But is open now, and hearts are open also. Wherever a minister chooses he may have a congregation in a short time, the great majority of whom will listen to him with the most reverent attention. It is undeniable that a mighty change has been effected in the character of society; that a mighty good has been accomplished. Multitudes, I believe, have been savingly converted to God, and the gracious work is progressing still. Every day we are accosted by some in tones and terms of heavenly rapture, as they tell of the same struggles of soul they had heard of in others, and of the precious Saviour they have found.”

The Presbytery of Belfast, at its first meeting after the revival manifestation, was unanimous that the movement was of God and urgently called on all its members “to use all diligence in improving the present serious attention to Divine things, by the use of such means of religious awakening and instruction as may to them appear best fitted to accomplish the great end of the ministry in the conversion of souls to Christ, and the quickening and edifying of the Church of God, and very especially to plead with the Lord for the plentiful outpouring of His Holy Spirit.”

Dr. Knox, the evangelical bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore, called a conference of his clergy to discuss the awakening, which had his support and blessing. His clergy agreed with him that it was indeed a movement of God. They differed, however, on the question of the “strikings down,” some regarding these as Divine and others maintaining they were no part of the Divine method, but hysteria.

The ministers of the smaller evangelical denominations with characteristic energy gave themselves wholeheartedly to the spread of the revival.

A united weekly prayer meeting was started in the Music Hall (now Victoria Memorial Brethren Hall) with the zealous co-operation of all the evangelical denominations. At the first meeting the Mayor of Belfast took the chair, supported by almost one hundred ministers on the platform, the building being crowded to excess. Rev. Charles Seaver, incumbent of St. John’s, Belfast, and Dr. Morgan of Fisherwick Presbyterian Church were joint secretaries of this weekly prayer meeting. Bishop Knox presided at the second meeting, supported by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the President of the Methodist Church, and scores of local ministers.

So vast was the attendance that many hundreds could not gain admittance to the main hall. These, however, engaged in prayer in other parts of the building.

Some Unitarians, including their notable leader Dr. Montgomery, attended this second meeting as observers. Shortly afterwards the Remonstrant Synod and the Unitarian Association at their annual meetings ridiculed the revival, denying that the fruits of the Spirit were in any way its results, and condemning the whole awakening as an unmixed evil and an abomination. Unitarianism could not flourish in the apostolic atmosphere of the revival, and through it she received a fatal blow from which in Ulster she has never recovered.

Rome, naturally, joined hands with the Unitarians in opposition. Her priests were greatly alarmed and enraged at the numbers of their flocks who were delivered from superstitious idolatry and who stoutly resisted all their pleadings, arguments and threats to return to the old faith. Quite a number of the episcopal clergy outside Dr. Knox’s diocese also opposed the revival, as did a few Presbyterian ministers.

On Wednesday 29th June 1859 a monster open-air union prayer meeting was held in the Botanic Gardens. Just a year before, on the same site, the Prince of Preachers, Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, had proclaimed the gospel to the largest audience which ever assembled up to that time, to hear the gospel in Ireland. Now a far vaster throng gathered, not to hear the voice of man but to commune in prayer in order to hear the “still small voice” of God. The lowest estimate of the number attending this monster gathering was 15,000, the highest 40,000. Somewhere about 25,000 would probably be the right figure. The vast audience was made up of crowds from Armagh, Tyrone, Antrim and Down who came by railway trains packed to excess, and other throngs from the immediate neighbourhood and the city itself. A contemporary describes the service:

“When this vast assembly was gathered together in front of the platform, and occupying every available spot of the entire ground between the pavilion and the conservatory, the scene was certainly one of the most striking, as well as impressive, ever witnessed in the province. Crowds, however, continued to pour in through the gates for more than an hour subsequently, till at last the whole space in view from the platform was closely packed. ‘Even the branches of the trees were taken advantage of by the junior members of the audience, as the most suitable situations for either seeing or hearing; and there, while the sounds of praise were rising from the multitudes below, these young worshippers were heard joining in the song of thanksgiving. Nothing of holiday levity, nothing of the thoughtless mirth of youth was manifest among them; their attention to the proceedings was as marked, and their attention as well-ordered, as that of any person in the vast assemblage.’

“The Rev. John Johnston, D.D., the Moderator of the General Assembly—whose name was identified with Christian missions, Bible circulation, Sunday-school instruction, when these were little prized in Ulster, and who still more recently was the leader of that great open-air preaching movement which has acted as a pioneer to the present work of God—was the chairman and president on this remarkable occasion. He opened with a deeply impressive prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those before him. After reading a portion of Scripture, he then gave out the 100th Psalm, and never before, in Belfast, did so many voices unite in such hearty accord in singing this favourite song in Zion.

“The chairman then addressed the throng. The following is a portion of his observations: —’ When the destroyer of men’s lives was vanquished at the battle of Waterloo, the crowned heads of Europe fell down on bended knees, and with uncovered heads acknowledged themselves grateful to that God who had put an end to the shedding of human blood; and when the God of peace is now treading underfoot the destroyer of men’s souls, and is rescuing from his fatal grasp so many immortals for whom Christ died, shall we be ashamed to acknowledge His goodness, and the might of his Eternal Spirit, as we are this day met to do, and with one heart to pray ‘Thy kingdom come?’

“‘O Jesus, ride on till all are subdued, and the universe filled with the knowledge of God; Let the whole earth be filled with Thy glory. Amen and Amen.’

“But, my friends, we are in a world that lieth in wickedness, There are scoffers who say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning.’ Let us not give occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme, by any levity, trifling, or impropriety, unbecoming this occasion. Let us set the Lord God before us, and so realise His awful presence in this place, that good may be done, and God may be glorified. We are especially met to do homage to the Holy Ghost, whose convincing and converting power has been so strikingly manifested amongst us for these several months; and let us not resist the Holy Spirit, nor grieve Him, but ask unanimously, earnestly, and expectingly, that He will descend upon us on this day as He did on the day of Pentecost; in answer to the many prayers offered up, and to be offered, and that many sons and daughters may this day be born, to the Lord Almighty.

“While the addresses were being delivered, and the prayers offered, there were very many, who found it impossible to catch the sounds by reason of distance. Hence it came to pass that other congregations were rapidly formed and collected in other parts of the gardens, numbering from 500 to 1000 each. In these smaller meetings many were ‘struck down’ under deep conviction of sin; some weeping bitterly, but silently; some crying out piteously for mercy, and others unable to utter a word. Some proceedings in one of these circles—where a coloured gentleman, agent to the Temperance League, and three others, were offering up prayer in a manner, the vehemence of which gave occasion to considerable remarks— ‘were,’ said the Banner of Ulster, ‘not at all to our taste.’

“Prayer meetings among the young formed another feature of this remarkable gathering. In many parts of the gardens groups of boys and girls, some of them ragged, who had evidently belonged to the outcast classes, and were recently converted, prayed in language most affecting and impressive.

“On the same day on which the united prayer-meeting was held at the Botanic Gardens, the regular weekly prayer-meeting was held at the Music Hall, and was largely attended. Week-evening services also continued to be held in the various
places of worship, and these, as well as services in the open air, were crowned with results truly astonishing.”

Rev. Thomas Toye tells of the continuation of the Spirit pervading the Botanic Gardens meeting in his own church.

“On Wednesday, June 29, the great revival meeting was held in the Botanic Garden, and on the evening of that day, the glorious work may be said to have commenced with power in the congregation of Great George’s Street, The Lord introduced it in a very unexpected way. The girl who had found peace on the previous Sabbath evening stood up, declared that she was happy in the Lord, and simply added the words, ‘Come to Jesus.’ The effect of her invitation was like the effect of an electric shock, and many sinners came that evening, weary and heavy laden, to Jesus, and found rest for their souls.

“But this scene was soon to be eclipsed by another. The people gathered in such numbers on the following evening, June 30, that there was not accommodation for them; and there was one congregation in the church, and two in the street. After the service in the church began, there were piercing cries for mercy in every part of the house. There is a garden behind the church, into which there is an entrance from it, and several persons under conviction of sin were removed thither, while others were taken into my own dwelling house. The season of the year and the state of the weather were very favourable for those taken into the garden; and it may be truly affirmed, that such a scene had not been witnessed in Belfast before. There were several groups of individuals. Some were exhorting those who were seeking salvation; some were weeping, and praying aloud for mercy; and some, with joyful lips, were praising God for having obtained salvation, and singing the converts’ psalm:

‘He took me from a fearful pit, and from the miry clay, And on a rock he set my feet, Establishing my way. He put a new song in my mouth, Our God to magnify: Many shall see it, and shall fear, and on the Lord rely.’

“The usual time for dismissal came, but they were heedless about the hour of the night. The day brightened in the heavens, the morning star was succeeded by the rising sun, but they still remained exhorting, praying, and praising the Lord. They did not leave the spot till five o’clock in the morning; and it has been stated, that out of eight hundred persons professing to have been converted to God in this revival in Great George’s Street Church, there were forty who underwent that great change that night in the garden”

In July the revival tide continued to rise. Rev. H. Grattan Guinness was the most popular preacher in the Ulster Revival, and he addressed at this time in Belfast a crowd of 15,000 in another great open-air meeting. Speaking of the revival fifty years afterwards, the great preacher said: — “The predominating feature was the conversion of people of all ranks and positions, in ways sudden, startling, amazing. Before that time I had seen tens, or scores, brought to Christ under Gospel preaching; but this new movement of 1859 was something quite different. Ministers were occupied until midnight, or even till two or three o’clock in the morning, conversing with crowds of inquirers who were crying: ‘What shall we do to be saved?’”

Brownlow North, another great evangelist, preached to great indoor and open-air gatherings during the summer months of 1859 and the Presbyterian Assembly recorded their thanks for his help.

The General Assembly of the Irish Presbyterian Church met in the city of Dublin at the beginning of July. This Assembly was one of the most memorable in the history of ecclesiastical legislative gatherings in Ireland. Minister after minister rose and told of the outpourings of the Spirit of God in their respective congregations. The Moderator was Dr. Win. Gibson and he himself summed up the tone of the meetings thus: “It was felt throughout that the deliberations of our Assembly were pervaded by an overawing solemnity never realised before, filling the soul with a profound sense of Jehovah’s presence, subduing personal prejudices and prepossessions, and infusing a spirit of mutual forbearance and generous conciliation. The Lord had visited His Church as a court in His own house, so that, even in its ecclesiastical procedure, there had been realised as pure delight, as sweet communion, and as ennobling aspirations,, as could be hoped for in the most favoured times of visitation. It is impossible ever to forget those hours of blessing that flew by on rapid wing, when the theme of every tongue was the Spirit’s wondrous grace and power, and when every heart was melted, as under the descent of a heavenly influence.”

The Assembly recorded profound thanksgiving to God for the revival, recognising “with reverence and awe, and at the same time with inexpressible joy, the sovereign and infinite grace, which, notwithstanding our many provocations, has bestowed on us such evident and abundant tokens of the Divine favour.”

The revival fires were burning with such power as the Assembly met that before its business was a little more than half concluded it was found necessary to adjourn, its ministerial members being anxious to return to their respective flocks before the Sabbath. The fact that such an adjournment was necessary strikingly attests to the power and spread of the movement. The Assembly, nearly three months later, resumed their consultations in Belfast. During the intervening period the movement had spread far and wide and its fruits had been tremendous. Consequently the following resolution was most appropriate: —

“That the Assembly appoint a special day for public worship in all our churches, and for prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His gracious mercy vouchsafed in the revival of religion; and that supplication be offered for the extension of this gracious work to all churches and all lands; and that our moderator be requested to prepare an address, including reasons for the observance of such day, to be printed and circulated immediately amongst the brethren.”

Another union prayer meeting in the Botanic Gardens was held on the 17th August when 20,000 people attended. Dr. Weir, an eyewitness of the revival, describes this great gathering:

“From remote portions of Antrim, from far away districts in Down, from portions of Armagh, where the sickle was busy, from Tyrone, were seen numerous groups, all apparently earnest in the cause which had concentrated them at the same point. These consisted mostly of young people, respectable in dress and demeanour, evidently of the better class of tenant farmers’ families, attended by fathers, brothers, or husbands. A better, a fairer, or more honest specimen of the descendants of these Scottish settlers has never before been presented upon a field in Ulster, or upon an occasion when they could be seen to such advantage.

“There were numbers of persons present from Scotland— ministers and laymen of various congregations. Some of these took part in the devotional exercises, and all expressed themselves delighted and astonished by a work, which is now sowing its seeds in the motherland (Scotland), producing, we trust, good fruits.

“There were also present Episcopalians and Wesleyans, Presbyterians and Independents (including Geo. Pritchard formerly missionary at the Sandwich Islands, and afterwards British Consul at Otaheite), with Baptist, other ministers and laymen from every part of the United Kingdom. The Rev. Robert Knox discharged the duties of president. The Revs. Messrs. Seaver and Hanna, and Mr. McQuilkin—a convert from Connor, whose addresses have been so signally blessed—together with Dr. Edgar, addressed the people. Dr. Edgar spoke as follows: —

“Brethren, I am very desirous of impressing upon the minds of all here, that by such meetings as this, by the news of these revivals, which has been spread through the newspapers, we have brought upon ourselves great responsibility. For example, I have recently been visiting about twenty meetings in the south and west of this country, and wherever I have been, it has been my anxiety to hold both you and the people of this province as furnishing an example worthy of imitation. I have been told that such is the wonderful change that has been exhibited in Ulster, that, in one single Presbytery, conversions have been computed at no less than 1000 persons; that in one single congregation sixty young men have been brought in a few weeks to God; and that, in another congregation, out of 209 families, 207 now regularly observe family worship. Now, I tell you, you are pledged; we are before the world, and we must show to the world that our actions are equal to our words—that this is not a mere evanescent movement. I believe that now there is a greater demand for Gospel truth than there ever has been in our day—that there is a greater demand for Bibles than we have heretofore known— that our colporteurs never had their labours so much called upon. It is our duty to keep this work going on; to endeavour especially to supply Bibles with Psalms to your brethren. I have told how, during the course of this movement, members of one family felt for the conversion of others of the same family—how sisters have sat up all night praying for the conversion of a brother. It is your duty to see that such statements as this shall not be made in vain; and that to take care the work of sobriety, which this movement has so singularly encouraged, will continue to progress. I have said that where this work has gone on, spirit-sellers have been compelled to abandon their trade; and I trust this principle will be established to still greater extent, and that your band of union will be still greater than before!”

Meanwhile, the evangelical churches of the city were reaping a rich harvest of souls. Dr. James Morgan, of Fisherwick Presbyterian Church tells of the spread of the revival in his congregation.

“In the Sabbath schools, the work was more marked and general than in the congregation. The teachers were most assiduous and faithful. Many of the young were impressed. At the present time, the signs of spiritual good are as hopeful as at any previous period, perhaps even more so.

“I meet a large class of young persons every Sabbath evening. At present it contains about seventy. Formerly I found occasional inattention, or lightness of conduct, but latterly there has been a uniform spirit of the deepest seriousness and attention.
“Three evenings in the week we have long had a school for mill-girls, who could not attend at any other time. Formerly many of them were rude and unmanageable, but now they are devout, respectful, diligent, and in all respects present the most agreeable and encouraging appearance. There has been a gracious work in the souls of many of them.

“The day schools have exhibited similar results. The scholars hold a weekly prayer meeting, and some of themselves take part in the exercises. Lately, an application was made to us by some little boys for the use of a schoolroom in which they might hold a prayer-meeting during the interval of public worship on the Sabbath-day. Of course it was granted; and I can hear their voices in devotional exercises while I am awaiting the hour of our afternoon service. A fortnight ago, it was announced that I was to preach my annual sermon to children, in the afternoon. During the interval the children held a special prayer meeting to seek the Divine blessing on my sermon.

“I must add that I have abundant evidence of a similar work prevailing in other places; for some of my congregation, who left us in the beginning of the summer careless and worldly, have returned in the autumn earnest and lively Christians, having been brought under the influence of the Divine Spirit in the places where they resided.

“I will not presume to say how many may have been savingly influenced in all these ways and exercises, but I believe they amount to several hundreds. And there are two things, which I am constrained to testify of them—that I never saw a case, which suggested to me the idea of insincerity—and that I never saw an example of backsliding into open sin. I do know a few instances, but only a few, in which the glow of first love has abated, and in which, I fear, there never was a maturity of the Spirit’s work; but I have not been disappointed in any case where I had reason to believe there was a sound conversion to God.”

Rev. Theophilus Campbell, incumbent of Trinity Episcopal Church reports: “Gradually, and silently among many has the work proceeded; young and old have felt the influence of the truth, who exhibit, as its fruit, a desire for scriptural instruction, constant attendance in God’s house and at His table, until, in my own case, the congregation is overflowing, and more than half are communicants. A weekly prayer meeting in the schoolhouse, such as I never expected to see, not in any respect the result of undue excitement, speaks volumes for the deep religious feeling existing. It is conducted by myself or some brother clergyman. At first one schoolroom and about half the second were occupied, but night after night the numbers increased, until both rooms were completely filled. After the first excitement, occasioned by the stricken cases, had subsided, the interest increased, and at the last meeting, what I had not witnessed before, every individual knelt during prayer.

“The young people of our congregation and schools requested permission to meet in the school-house for prayer and reading God’s word, and singing His praises, at eight o’clock every Sunday morning, and at four in the evening. They have not abused the permission; far from it; this means of grace has increased their anxiety for God’s house and instruction in His Word, and has led to a more regular attendance at Sunday school. No impropriety marks their proceedings. From the first, I will bear my testimony, I have not witnessed nor heard of the slightest breach of the strictest decorum and propriety that should mark our intercourse with each other, and I know from experience that my authority and position as their minister is respected by all.

“Perhaps I ought to state that at our annual confirmation this year my numbers were one hundred and sixty-one, while the average of former years may be stated at twenty. All of these, with perhaps half-a-dozen exceptions, have come to the Lord’s table. During the confirmation many of the candidates were deeply affected, and could scarcely restrain their feelings. Of these one hundred and sixty-one, only sixteen were ‘stricken cases.’”
Strange to relate, the account of the spread of the revival in Linenhall Street Presbyterian Church is given by an episcopal clergyman, Rev. J. P. Garret, rector of Kellstown. Along with another episcopal minister, Mr. Garret visited Ulster during the awakening. His first visit was to a prayer meeting held in the schoolroom of the church for the factory women at the lunch hour. The local ministers were so busy with pressing duties as a result of the revival that he was asked to preside. He relates as follows: —

“Having given out a suitable hymn and prayer, I then read the first fourteen verses of John xvi., especially dwelling on the 7th and 13th verses. I felt my heart drawn towards these people, and after using expressions to stir up convictions, I assured all true subjects of conversion that when the Heavenly Physician commenced His work, He would perfect it, and carry on His stricken one to the rest in glory.

“Then occurred a scene I shall never forget: a strong girl sat near me, named Agnes J., twenty years of age, who, throwing up her hands, fell back with a suppressed moan. Three girls next her, held her from falling; her body quivered, tears fell, perspiration broke out over her face, her lips moved, the names of Jesus, Saviour, and Holy Spirit, were audible.

“We joined in the 40th Psalm, and after it was sung, two of the converted girls, at my request, prayed in turn, and never did I hear a more earnest prayer—so simple, so scriptural; beautifully they expressed themselves whilst wrestling with God in behalf of her they now called sister.
“Not one in the whole meeting but now held down their heads, and all seemed to pray as with one heart and one soul. Just before the conclusion of the meeting, the. Rev. Mr. Knox, the Presbyterian minister, entered, and feelingly he prayed on behalf of the oppressed and stricken one. She was then carried to his house, which was at hand. I followed. We then praised God together, and again prayed for her, and I left her with the intention of seeing her next day when taken to her home.

“Another girl, aged eighteen, called Rachel O., was stricken at the same moment, but she was able to suppress outward expression of what was passing within her. The next day, Wednesday, quite unexpectedly I called with a Scripture-reader of Christ Church, whom I had known for above twenty years, and we found Agnes in bed, very weak but very happy. She knew me at once, and her bright eyes bid me a joyous welcome. She told me, in answer to many questions, that she had for nearly three weeks been under conviction of sin; but that assurance that ‘God never commences his own work in a soul but he perfects it,’ went like a dart to her heart. She was overpowered, and fell. She said her heart felt as if it would burst; but now the load was gone, and sin was pardoned. She was full of gratitude—humbled in the dust for past sin and neglect of God, but, blessed be His name and His Holy Spirit, all was now changed. ‘Never, oh! never,’ she exclaimed, ‘will I doubt; He will never let me go.’ The girl who was also stricken at that meeting came in while we were there, and actually rushed to the bed, and threw herself into the arms of Agnes. They felt they were new creatures— one in Christ, and sisters for Eternity.”

In Lepper Street, about the middle of July at an evening meeting for prayer, upwards of twenty people were stricken with deep conviction. A local journal reported that all these cases resulted in genuine conversion.

Great open-air meetings were held at the Queen’s Island during the lunch hour by the men of the ironworks. The converts themselves were the chief speakers at these gatherings and through their testimonies many returned to work rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven. A young woman, herself converted in the revival, tells of the spread of the awakening in Ewart’s Row.

“Ewart’s Row is a manufacturing suburb of Belfast, on the north side of the town, having a population of about fifteen hundred souls. It was visited by the grace of God at an early period of the revival. Many were brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus in a very remarkable way. The change that was thus manifested, and the earnest entreaties and fervent prayers of the converts for the salvation of their friends and neighbours, by the Divine blessing, awakened the whole locality. There was no district of Belfast so deeply moved. The whole population crowded to prayer meetings and open-air preachings, evincing the deepest seriousness and concern about eternal things. Every one betook himself to the prayerful reading of the Bible. Those who could read but imperfectly or not at all bewailed their inability; every one became eager for instruction in the Word of God.
“The good done in every direction is incalculable. Scripture classes and prayer meetings are without end in the district the excitement attendant on the earlier stages of the revival has passed away, but a deep and settled seriousness remains, the result, it is believed, of the saving grace of God. The change witnessed in the locality is astonishing. The leisure hours were formerly devoted to boisterous amusements, in which profane swearing was practised to a fearful extent; now the name of God is never heard but with reverence, on any lips. Both sexes have shared in the grace of God, and Ewart’s Row is now a regenerated locality.”

Berry Street Presbyterian Church, where the revival in Belfast first broke out with power, continued to enjoy rich manifestations of the Spirit’s anointing. A mid-day children’s meeting was held in this church. 300 children attended and 100 of them found peace in Christ. Dr. Hanna, the minister of the church, writes: —
“The Lord has done great things in Berry Street among the Romanists. Consequently, the priests and their sturdiest adherents are exceedingly mad against us. The press teems with the vilest productions that Romanism can engender. Many of them are grossly libellous—all of them abominably filthy, with the purpose of disparaging the revival, and warning Romanists against attendance at any of the meetings. To a large extent they are successful in kindling the hatred of the masses, and I cannot traverse any of the streets without encountering insults, which evince the desperate demoralisation of Belfast papacy. I believe it never was so bad. The devil seems to be preparing himself against the truth, by more mischievous efforts among the Romanists. But the Lord knoweth them that are His, and God’s people shall hear His voice, saying ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her plagues.’

“We have now about forty weekly meetings for scriptural instruction and prayer connected with my congregation, and scattered over all the town. We have chosen the most necessitous localities for their establishment. They are working well. They are managed by the active and godly people, chiefly the young people of the congregation. The average attendance at each may be about fifty. I attended one of them the other evening, and I never breathed a more heavenly atmosphere than that which pervaded it.

“The converts are maintaining their profession with hopeful consistency. Of many of them we have now three months’ proof. I do not know, within my own sphere of observation, a single case of backsliding. The Lord is putting His seal on the work in such a manner as to call forth the gratitude of the churches. The testimony from all parts of the country is uniformly to the credit of the young believers. God has gotten to Himself great glory by so marvellous a work.

“Human infirmity will appear and somewhat mar the work in which God employs man as an instrument. Hence the irreligious press here makes a great outcry against a few evils that have arisen. It speaks as if there were nought but evil. It refuses to make honest acknowledgement of the mighty good that has resulted from the revival. The good so vastly preponderates, that the evil is as nothing to the good. ‘The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.’”

Rev. William Johnston speaks of the results of the revival in his congregation at Townsend Street. “The classes in my congregation, I should suppose, like any other, consist of the profane, the careless, the formalists, the backsliders, and the children of God. These have all been brought, more or less, under the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and effects have been produced, the personal knowledge of which has created the deep-seated and deliberate conviction, that, however many may doubt or deride, ‘this is the finger of God.’
“Some may deny the work of the Spirit, and some require the test of time. I can only say, that whilst a large amount of mere emotion has arisen and passed away, and whilst many have been awakened but not converted, many, very many, remain to testify to the saving work of grace which has passed upon them. Not one of those joining the church has lapsed into carelessness or inconsistency, but all stand fast in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

In Great George’s Street Church, the revival continued with unabated power mainly through the zeal of its minister. Rev. Thomas Toye himself speaks of its progress: “The revival movement continued to advance during the months of August, September and October. The congregations were so large, that the people were not only obliged to sit and stand in the aisles of the church, but, on some Sabbath evenings, I had individuals with me in the pulpit. The screams and prostrations became less frequent; but the presence of the Lord continued to be powerfully felt by the audience.

“In the early part of November, I found that the work was not advancing with that rapidity which circumstances required, and I directed the people to consider two particular passages of Scripture—Psalm lxxxv. 6, and Mal. iii 10 I entreated them to make these passages the subjects of prayer, and to pray over them in the prayer meeting, in the family, and also in the closet. The Lord remembered the words unto His servants, upon which He had caused them to hope.

“The work of revival appeared to begin afresh on Monday, November 28; and many of the converts were delighted by the thought that the scenes of July were about to return. On Monday night, five individuals were affected; on Tuesday night, five; on Wednesday night, eight; on Thursday night, three; and, on Friday night, I cannot tell the number.

“On this last night, the people were so unwilling to separate, that they began to sing in the open air at the gate of the church; and, before they parted, a young woman was ‘stricken down.’ She was immediately brought into my dwelling house, accompanied by a dear brother in Christ. He spoke to her, prayed with her, and remained by her side until she found peace.

The effect of these strikings-down, as they have been called, is wonderful. A man came into town that morning from the country on business. He was not able to return home so soon as he expected; and being in company with a person who was coming to the prayer meeting, resolved to come with him. He saw the woman affected, and was scarcely able to stand upon his feet. He forsook his sinful ways, returned to his God, obtained mercy, and was abundantly pardoned. And, on his return to his family, he commenced to have family worship—a circumstance which astonished all his acquaintances around.

“Nor was this the only result of the stroke. A young man, who belongs to a first-rate establishment in town, was amongst the people who remained at the gate. He saw the woman fall. He called on me soon after. He stated that he had never been so moved by any circumstance in all his life, and that he had now resolved to seek the salvation of his soul.

“In conclusion, I have to add that the prayer-meetings are held every night at eight o’clock, and will be, please the Lord, while three, or even two, will attend them. They are generally refreshing seasons. The Lord pours water on the thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground, and His people spring up as grass—as willows by the watercourses. I bless the Lord that I have lived to see such times. I always indulged in the hope that I would see a revival before I died; but I never anticipated such glorious scenes as will be associated with the recollections of 1859.

‘Ye mountains and vales, in praises abound, Ye hills and ye dales, continue the sound, Break forth into singing, ye trees of the wood, For Jesus is bringing lost sinners to God.’”

An eye-witness tells of the last night of 1859 and the early days of 1860 in Great George’s Street Church: “The revival movement continues to advance here in an extraordinary manner. The usual service to bring in the New Year commenced at ten o’clock on Saturday night; and, notwithstanding the rain which fell, the people assembled in such numbers that the house could not hold them. Mr. Toye preached from 1 Peter iv. 7—’ The end of all things is at hand.’ As the hour approached, he said that four minutes were reserved in which a sinner might come to Jesus in 1859. A young girl became deeply affected for her sins, and afterwards found peace in believing. There were also two other individuals arrested in their sin, concerning whom hopes are now entertained. The communion service on the following Sabbath was one of the largest and most refreshing ever experienced in the house, and was marked by a very interesting circumstance. A woman who was married to a Roman Catholic had been threatened by her husband in case she came to the meeting. She had been for some time grieving under the spirit of bondage, and while sitting at the table she lost it, obtained the spirit of adoption, and said aloud, ‘I bless the Lord I have found the pearl of great price.’ At the evening service the Church was crowded to excess, even from the stairs to the pulpit, the pulpit itself being filled. The influence of the truth was undeniably plain. There were several cases of conviction, and one young man left the Church rejoicing in God his Saviour for the first time in his life. The presence of the Lord continues to be felt, and His blessing to be given at our nightly prayer-meetings. The work is not marked by the bodily prostrations of the summer revival, but there is an awakening, a weeping and inquiry, a praying, a believing, a rejoicing, and an acknowledging of received mercy, which continues its progress among the people. The cases which continually occur are very numerous, and some of them very interesting.

“During a short address, Mr. Toye referred to the death of his beloved brother, Rev. David Hamilton, of York Street, and asked who would be baptised for the dead. The boy cried aloud that he would. He and his father were both made happy on that occasion.”

Early in 1860 Mr. Toye wrote: “There is no abatement of the revival work in this congregation. The meetings continue to be large, the interest is wonderful, and the efforts of converts to bring sinners to Jesus as decided as ever. The peculiar circumstances attending some of these cases would form a very interesting record.”