Revival in Ireland — 1859

The Pastor's Letter (April 1972)

My Dear Friends,

The year is 1858 and revival swept through America. The hand of God is upon the people of that land and souls are saved in large numbers through the work of the Holy Spirit. By 1859 the revival reaches over the Atlantic especially to the six northern counties of Ireland that compose the province of Ulster.

Who wouldn't long for the presence of His Holy Spirit that makes all our worship, and witness, and preaching so gloriously effective to the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan and the establishing of the truth of the gospel upon the earth?

The following few extracts from the history of that great revival of religion that swept through the North of Ireland and the rest of the country in the year 1859 are simply set forth as an encouragement and exhortation to pray and labour for such a time in that place again, and wherever we may happen to live and work in the name of our God.

BELFAST:
“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. Somewhere about 25,000 had gathered … … 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 … 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 electrical 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 services in the church began, there were piercing cries for mercy in every part of the house. There is a garden behind the church … and several persons under conviction of sin were removed there, while others were taken into my own dwelling-house. There were several groups of individuals. Some were exhorting those who were seeking salvation; some were weeping, and crying aloud for mercy; and some, with joyful lips, were praising God for having obtained salvation, and were singing the converts' psalm: –

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.”

LONDONDERRY:
“The secondary agency employed by the Holy Spirit in commencing the work here was that of four young converts from Country Antrim, brought there by the Rev. Jackson Smyth of Armagh, all of whom addressed a united meeting in the First Presbyterian Church. Three persons cried out for mercy during the meeting. A thrilling sensation passed through the great assemblage, as these mourning cries were uttered, and the thousands present felt each for himself and herself, ‘I have a soul to be saved.’ God had touched some mighty spring at His own Throne, and the vibrations were felt in our meeting that night. Hundreds went home with an arrow in their heart. The ‘Revival’ had begun in Derry. Perhaps never since Derry was a city – and it has seen stirring and awful days in its eventful history – did so many souls ache upon sleepless beds as on that mysterious night. They rose in the morning unrefreshed, with the hand of God heavy on them. Some have told me how they struggled during the silent watches; some wept for hours … other, in wild frenzy, muttered blasphemy upon their beds.

Monday passed, and another united meeting was held in the First Presbyterian Church that evening. The building was crowded to excess. Several Ministers addressed the meeting in calm and unimpassioned solemnity. The meeting felt still as a grave; the stillness was fearful; those who were present will never forget it. At length, the silence was broken by unearthly cries, uttered simultaneously by several in different parts of the Church, and in the course of a few minutes the vestry of the church was filled with individuals who lay in mental agony and absolute bodily prostration. Socialists may talk of ‘hysteria’; but I can testify that, so far as I know, not one of those who were stricken that night, and who professed to find peace in Jesus, has gone back to the world. If hysteria produce such results as these, then I pray that every man, woman and child in Ireland may become ‘hysterical’ before the end of the year.”

ARMAGH:
“One evening, as we assembled for prayer in the church as usual, the pews were almost empty. I made a few remarks in reference to our wonderful position. Like Gideon's fleece, we were dry, whilst all around the earth was watered. But I concluded thus: – ‘God has already blessed us in a silent way, and He will further bless us. If there are ten praying people in the city, God will revive His work, and I know there are more than ten.’ A brother minister arose, read a chapter of Isaiah, commented very briefly on it, and gave out a psalm. As he sat down, I whispered to him, ‘I see a young man under deep conviction of sin in one of the pews; he will cry out very soon.’ When the singing ceased, the wail rose up to heaven – ‘O Jesus, have mercy on my soul.’ A new thing this in the city of Armagh! Another voice was heard in the gallery, crying loudly for pardon and acceptance with an offended God. The revival had come!”

DROMARA:
“On the 25th July about a thousand persons assembled in Mr. Craig's church for prayer. A deep solemnity pervaded the meeting. Many sobs were heard, many tears were shed, and many were the 7#8216;groanings that could not be uttered.’ The meeting closed and all separated for their homes. Shortly afterwards intelligence arrived that some persons had been ‘stricken’ on their way home. We started off, and the scene which met our gaze will not soon be forgotten. There, on the roadside, with their backs against the ditch and their faces towards heaven, lay seven persons supplicating mercy … On the 29th July a prayer meeting was held on the green beside the church, that building being unable to contain the two thousand or more who were present and at the same place, on the succeeding Sabbath evening, there was another meeting, larger still, attended by not fewer than three thousand. Those were two evenings long to be remembered. … During the fortnight that followed many were affected in their own homes, and in the prayer-meetings, which were held in private houses all hours of the day and night. For the time being business was very much suspended. The whole parish was a place of weeping, and praying, and singing, and reading. There cannot be a doubt that there were more Bible readings, more believing prayers, more loving thoughts of Jesus, in our parish in the month of August than had been in the five years previous.”

Such accounts multiply themselves by the hundreds. There is but one explanation: “And the hand of the Lord was upon them, and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:21) And whatever our position today, the same presence of the Lord is greatly needed amongst us. Would that the Lord would be pleased to pour out His blessing as in old upon His dear Church in Ulster and extend that blessing to us all who “languish for His sight” in these days. That we might hear but “a sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,” and learn to “bestir ourselves” and look with trust in our hearts unto Him:

This Page Title – The Revival in Ireland – 1859 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 83 – placed on line March 2010 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk