Ballymacarratt, Belfast (1875)



THE best idea of the present position of the movement may be gathered from the reports given in at the recent Monday's noon meeting. The Rev. John Dwyer presided, and there was an excellent attendance. The Rev. Hugh Hanna said that in the north end of the town last week had been one of great evangelistic activity. The whole district had been studded with meetings, all of which, so far as he had heard, were well attended. In St. Enoch's especially large numbers had congregated and at each service many inquirers had remained to be conversed with. On Sabbath evening Mr Guinness had preached on the subject of Missions, and at the close had invited all young men who were willing to devote themselves to foreign missionary work to confer with him. No fewer than twenty-two had responded to the invitation, the majority of whom expressed their readiness to enter on such work. The Rev. J. S. Macintosh said he had been engaged last week holding services in the bounds of the Route Presbytery. The meetings were extremely good. There was an eagerness to hear, and an earnestness, melting sometimes into tears, such as he had seldom seen. In Ballymoney, Mosside, Ballycastle, and Bushmills the audiences were very large. The minister of Mosside declares that there is a moral reformation in his congregation which is most delightful. The whole north of the county he (Mr Macintosh) believed was now ripe to harvest. The Rev. J. Robertson said that he had last week special services on the Falls Road, at which the presence and blessing of God had been manifestly felt. The Rev. R. C. Johnston told of what is being done in Ballymacarrett. For thirteen weeks special services have been continued, with an unbroken harmony among the ministers of all the denominations, and with a success which was wonderful. They had now transferred these services from the churches to six schoolhouses, hoping to reach thus a poorer class of the population, and for so far the experiment has succeeded well. They had also now established a Young Men's Christian Association on a non-denominational basis, the objects of which were not literary but religious. They had secured for it a house in a very advantageous situation and hoped it would prove the means of doing much good. The Rev. John Dwyer reported that in Agnes Street special meetings had been held last week. He had never seen a more
gracious influence, deeper humiliation before God, or cases of more unmistakable conversion.

"Times of Blessing." Feb 11th, 1875


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