in the 18th/19th Centuries
1802 Chapter 13
At Lisleen in the chapel the crowd was such that it was impossible to kneel and the feeling of those present was remarkable even for the meetings of Graham and Ouseley. At Omagh Protestants and Catholics listened with flowing tears and cried " it is all right, all true " and at Fintona " almost all the market " assembled round the missionaries.
Vol 4 1806-23
1809 Chapter 4
Having visited many places in Fermanagh Mr Averell, servant of God spent the Sabbath at Pettigo. Next day, being Christmas was also signalised as a time of blessing. Notwithstanding the place being so retired, the badness of the roads, and the darkness of the night, a multitude of people assembled, to whom the Lord manifested Himself in power and mercy. At Lisleen there was a numerous and serious congregation. On the following day, during the quarterly meeting at Drumclamph, God gave ample testimony that the glory had not departed from this old seat of Methodism. There was a large assembly of people " who had not only the appearance but much of the life and power of vital religion." Mr Averell spent the three remaining days at Newtownstewart, Omagh and Fintona, all of which were crowned with the divine presence.
1811 Chapter 6
Mr Lanktree, with Mr Alcorn, was stationed on the Londonderry circuit....... the out fortnight was laborious, including services at Strabane, Lifford, Clady, Dergbridge, Castlefinn, Ballindrait, Buncrana and other intervening places. Once in the quarter, each preacher changed with the missionary at Inishowen. Of this district of country, Mr Lanktree says that it was one of the most distant places in Ireland from real religion.
1814 Chapter 9
Looking at the state of the Society, in general through this country, we find that troublous times had now come. The postponement of the dispensing of the ordinances proved the occasion of a sad and most disastrous agitation. "A Letter Addressed to the Methodist Preachers in Ireland" by Mr William Stewart, dated November 17th, and endorsed by Messrs Ferguson, John Kerr, Andrew Hamilton, junior, and Reilly, the four other preachers then stationed in Dublin. In this document the writer takes the ground that such a measure as that passed by the Conference implied "total separation from the Established and all other Churches, and consequently our becoming a distinct body of Dissenters
1820 Chapter 15
Robert Smith who had travelled thirty-two years, withdrew from the Connection, and subsequently received an appointment from the Primitive Wesleyan Conference. As however his withdrawal did not take place until four years after the division, it is probable that there were other reasons for the step than dissatisfaction with the decision on the question of the ordinances.
1822 Chapter 17
Castlederg now appears for the first time, in the minutes of the Conference, as the headquarters of a mission in the county of Tyrone. Although Methodism had long existed and flourished in the surrounding country, it had no position in the town, and the spirit of the preachers was often stirred with them as they passed through it on the Sunday mornings to their appointments, and observed how the people appeared to have no regard for the law of God or the claims of religion. At length a son of Mr James Moore of Drumclamph, settled there, and invited the servants of Christ to his house. Soon through the influence and the example of this godly man, and the labours of the itinerants, the whole aspect of the village changed, the moral tone of the people was raised, and the foundation laid of a permanent and prosperous Methodist Church.
Vol 5 1823-41
1825
The Wesleyan Society on this circuit was likewise favoured with a similar season of refreshing. It commenced at a prayer meeting conducted by the leaders at Drumclamph, during which the Holy Spirit was poured out so powerfully that several persons cried out for mercy, and refused to be comforted until God spoke peace to their souls. The services were continued, great numbers attended, and for several weeks in succession scarcely a meeting was held at which some were not awakened or made happy in God. The tidings of this blessed work spread throughout the neighbourhood and with the good news the revival itself extended. In some instances pious farmers were obliged to leave their work in the fields, in order to pray with and comfort the mourners assembled in their barns. Of the March quarterly meeting the Rev. John Foster writes that he never before attended a service marked by such a display of the power of God, while at a place near Castlederg, at a similar meeting, "an unusual number of people were present, and the arm of the Lord was made bare in an extraordinary manner."
1827
The Wesleyan Conference met in Belfast, for the first time, on July 2nd.
.............Two ministers had died during the year - Matthew Stewart, who "finished
his course, happy in God." ...........
1829
Mission reports......At Castlederg there was an overflowing audience in
the market house........1831 The Wesleyan Conference commenced its sittings at Belfast on
July 6th.......The Rev James Smith....... was reported as having died in
the full triumph of faith.
1832
Ireland was now visited by that fearful scourge Asiatic cholera.....In
Cork 6 hospitals were opened in the city and it was estimated that no less than five
thousand persons died......
1834
The success of the Temperance movement far exceeded the expectations of
those who had started it. Early in1833 upwards of 150 societies, including 15,000 members,
existed in Ulster alone. The practice of abstinence from distilled spirits only, however,
did not satisfy many of the friends of the cause; for they saw plainly that to arrest the
progress of intemperance, the use of all intoxicating drinks should be given up. Hence the
origin of total abstinence. The first regularly organised teetotal society in Ireland was
formed at Strabane in June 1834.
1837
Gideon Ouseley, already
passed his 75th year visited Pettigo and Ballyshannon. In the latter place he stated that he was heard by an immense
crowd " as quietly as if they had been all our own people" -
see Donaldson Ancestors
Vol 6 1843-1859
1844
Mr
John Johnston of Ardbarren, went one winter's morning to meet a class at Kirlish and was
overcome by a snowstorm, which compelled him to take shelter behind hedge. He wended his
way thither again. About 20 persons assembled for prayer 7 during the delivery of a brief
address the Spirit of God was poured out on them, the entire party falling on their knees
& crying aloud for mercy. Before the close of the service 8 persons professed to having
obtained pardon for their sins, not one of whom had ever attended a Methodist service
before. In the evening Mr Johnston conducted another service in the same place; about 50
bowed down as penitents & 2 of them obtained peace in believing. This proved the
beginning of a gracious awakening, during which about 70 souls were won for Christ.
1851
At Drumclamph a revival had been going on with vigour for 14 months.
1854
The Primitive Wesleyans of Belleek, feeling deeply the necessity for a
suitable place of worship, secured an eligible site, rent free for ever, from John C
Bloomfield Esq.; who also laid the foundation stone of the new edifice and gave a handsome
subscription towards its erection. In due time a neat and commodious chapel was built, and
on Sunday, May 24th, it was set apart for the service of God by Mr James Griffin. On
the following evening a tea-meeting was held, at which the treasurer submitted his
accounts, and it was found that the house was almost free of debt
On June 28th, the Preachers of the Primitive Wesleyan Conference assembled in Dublin, Six candidates were admitted on trial. These included John Ker of Meaghy, near Newtonstewart.
1856
At Pubble we had much of the presence and the power of God; the people
spoke freely, and at the close about 20 penitents came forward. We have 78 classes on this
circuit, and the same number of leaders, men of God, who with few exceptions, are willing
to make great sacrifices to assist in carrying on the work. Frequently they leave their
homes, travel miles to meet the preacher, and then assist at the services -
see Hood ancestors
Concerning Lowtherstown, Fermanagh, Mr John Ker reports " the cause of God seems to flourish on this circuit ever since the conference. The congregations are generally very large and much good has been done. On the fair day in July at Pettigo I preached in the street to thousands, including hundreds of Roman Catholic pilgrims to Lough Derg - many details about this meeting follow -see Donaldson ancestors