Second Presbyterian Church Ballyeaston (1859)



Rev. A. Pollock, the Presbyterian minister of Ballyeaston, worked so hard that he died just a few days after giving this report.

“On Sabbath morning the house was filled to overflowing, and with little preparation, it was no easy task to ascend the pulpit. I addressed them from the words, ‘Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.’ The Holy Ghost was there indeed, as a mighty rushing wind. Many were removed, and in the evening the green was filled, and no man can tell the number of the souls which were added to the church.”

 

“A correspondent says:— 'I gave you a report until Monday. This week has been nearly equal to our first week. We held five meetings, and in everyone we saw the mighty power of God. Thousands attended and very many fell like children to the earth — I should say like Saul of Tarsus — and some of them found peace at once, others were for more than three hours groping their way in thick darkness. Yesterday morning, and today, our meetings for prayer at nine o'clock were attended by between four hundred and five hundred souls. A friend addressed them from the Word, and the Lord was pleased to visit many. It was twelve o'clock today before I could leave the house. Even now I cannot finish this note without going to see in-sick souls, all in the agony of spiritual birth. I hear no sounds from without but songs of praise. Our whole land is shaking from the four winds, O friend.'

“The following are a few extracts from a letter of the Rev. Henry Ormsby, a minister on the Island of Bute, dated Ballyeaston, 21st June:— “Sir, I take the liberty to write to you to let you know that I arrived in BaIlyeaston last night from Belfast, and was most kindly received by Mrs Pollock who told me that her husband, the Rev. Mr Pollock of Ballyeaston, had gone to a meeting at Ballygowan about three miles from Ballyeaston. I went to it and overtook the Rev. Mr Pollock on the way who very kindly received me and gave me comforting information about the revival. When we arrived at the place of the meeting, which was in a field, I was quite surprised to see hundreds who came flocking over the hills where you could see no houses. It was truly like a moving among the dry hones. There were, I think, nearly two thousand of all ages; there was a great multitude of men; it was a very wet day or there would have been more than there were. "'The meeting was conducted by the Rev. Mr Pollock of Ballyeaston, and the Rev. Mr Whiteford and two young converts from Connor. I can truly say I never saw a more authentic congregation and towards the close, it was beyond all description. The life-giving Spirit of God came down like a mighty rushing wind. There I saw the stalwart men in great agony of soul and body rending the air with their piercing cries for mercy. Here and there through the field I could see the crowd and hear the sound of praise and prayer around someone who had been stricken down and had been carried away. I never saw such a sight before; may God be pleased to carry it on! Numbers of young women were stricken down. I tried to take notes of the cases, but I could not do so, so great was the power of God among them. We left off near eleven o'clock and had begun at seven o'clock. When we came away the multitude remained in the field. You could hear nothing but cries for mercy, and a great many clasping one another in their arms who had found the peace which passeth all understanding. One band we met were singing the praises of God on the public road. I can only say that the one half was not told to me in Scotland which I now see with my eyes and I cannot put in words what I now see as the power of God.'

"The Banner of Ulster" 28th June 1895


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