Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-21

Missionary Society IN Dublin, and was IN
serted in the Minutes of Conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal Church held in Balti-
more in March last. What makes it pecu-
liariy interesting 10 me as an individual, Is,
that il details revival Of religion in my ma
tive town aud from my knowledge Of the
several places mentioned, | am enabled TO
voich for il correctness, as well as to assure
you that although wickedness abounded
in them, yet the hand that bringeth saliva
ton can cause grace much more 10 abound.
ASUBSCRIBER.
"BaIgmend, March l2, 1917.
Ny Dear Brother,
"More than FIVE years ago, when came
TO this country as Missionary, was great
ly cast down in taking a view OF the bar
rem state Of this part of the kingdom, and
filed with strong prejudice OF every kind. |
had my fears that little impression could be
made upon it. However, glory be to God,
he can work with or without means. lcan
now say, the "barren wilderness has be-
come a fruitful field, and many who were
not a people, have become the people Of
God"
"We have formed our Mission into two
circuits or Missions, Ballymena and kIlrea;
in both of which we have $50 regular men,
bers of Society. the greater part Of whom
are converted to God. Since last confer
ence we have had most glorious work in
the county Derry, near Kilrea. AT that
time we laid aside our horses, and set out
through the country on foot. In my Judg-
ment this is the best plan for Missionary:
know il is not the most comfortable for
can assure you, that many times IN the
course ofthe year, my poor feethave been
dreadiully blistered We entered into a
resolution that we would go from door to
door, and from village 10 village; and |
can Low say that God has been with U.S.
In small tract of country, between Kill
rea and Garvagh, we have formed circuit
that receives two of our Missionaries every
night i'm the month. We have also formed
a class in almost every village. Our con-
gregations are very large, in general from
one to three hundred; and lmay say we are
gloriously irregular. Our meetings some
times continue FIVE or six hours, while The
people express the agony of their souls by
strong and bitter cries TO God for mercy add
salvation. At one of these meetings some
time since, in the Town Of Kilrea, there
were many converted. When the preach
ers and leaders were worn out, and could
pray no more, the females began, and |
think more delightful PRAYERS never heard
in all my life. The work ofconvicton and
conversion has gone through all the classes.
Scarce night passes but some are happy
in God. Indeed conversion and the love
of God are the subjects in every house.
One day while ! preached in the street of
Kilrea 10 vast crowd, the spirit Of God
applied the word with divine power TO the I
hearts Of the people. The whole congre-
CATION were melted down before the Lord.
At the last prayer think more than FIVE
hundred fell down on their knees in the
street, wi lie their hearty amcns were heard
thro' the town. There we're four Church,
and two Dissenting ministers present.
They seemed aston;shed indeed. How
ever, ono Of them came forward after the
meeting, and thanked me for the sermon
gave me an. invitation 10 his house, and has
been very friendly ever since. Our love
feasts ere carried on with spirit and life. II
YOU were at one Of these, and heard the
simple people tell what the Lord had done
tor their souls, il would delight you very
much. Some OF them stand up and say,
"Glory 10 God It is just seven months
since God pardoned my sins :" others five,
and Others one old men and women, with
streaming eyes, adoring the God OF heaven
that sent the Missionaries 10 their houses
while many of the children, often years old
are savingIy converted. In short, there is
almost nothing but prayer I'D praise in
every house. In one little village, which
was seat Of wickeduess, the people are
all nearly converted, Great crowds used
to assemble here TO fight cocks. On one OF
those occasions OF late, there came only six
persons, and they were SD much ashamed,
that they went home without fighting coc';
at all. The man whS was in the habit Of
selling whiskey in this town, had 10 shut
his shop: he could get no person TO buy his