Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-07-21
Of the y. Y. Courier & Enquirer
Affairs of Ireland.
ASTONISHING RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT.
DUBLIN, 18th June.

ASTONISHING RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT.
DUBLIN, 18th June.
A short but accurate account, but with
which, in America, you are familiar under
the name of a "Revivar--a movement
now rapidly spreading over Ulster, and re-
garding which there are conflicting ac-
counts and bitter controversies in the
northern newspapers, movement, l may
add, that far more than the Italian war,
or the change of government, engrossses
the attention of large sections of the pub
lic-may interest the readers of the Cour-
ier d Enquirer,
This movement was not produced by the
preaching of the English celebrities, Spur
geon, or Guinness, or McNeille, or Pun
cbeon, on their visits to this country,-nor
did it commence in any of our large towns
under the ministry of any of our own "men,
of renown" for talents and eloquence.
Thers is, nearly in the centre of Antrim
county, quiet rural pa. ish named Connor,
whose population, mostly Presbyterian,
have long enjoyed sound, Scriptural teach
ing, and have been accustomed to cherish a
spirit of unostentatious piety in their spray
ing Societies." In these an unusual ear
nestness manifested itself;-producing un-
wonted anxiety for the salvation of others
the result was general awakening of peo-
ple's minds to religious realities.
The spirit ofzeal, thus enkindled, spread
into the neighboring towns aud villages.
The people of AhoghilI, Broughshane, and
Ballymena were brought under the same
influence. The ministers opened the
churches, daily, for meetings for prayer
and praise. These were crowded; and
soon others began to be held in private
houses, tie streets, and the fields. AT
these, amid deep solemnity which perva-
ded all, and an excited awakening which
stirred many, some were SO Effected
STRICKEN" as they phrased it,-as to cry
out audibly; after which, there was bod
ily prostration. as well as mental agony,
which continued, in some longer, in some
a shorter time, before 'peace" was en-
joyed.
The news of these strange doings spread
abroad in all directions. Visitors from
Belfast on the East, and Coleraine, on the
West, came TO see and hear; and of those
who had felt the influence, visited these,
and intermediate and adjacent towns
From village to village, and from hamlet
it has spread, and not only is the whole Of
Antrim pervaded by it, but it extends far
into the neighboring counties. Newtown-
limavady aud Derry, Westward; Antrim
and Carrickfergus, Eastward; Cooks
town, Dungannon and Armagh, South
ward, are all me toned in the newspapers,
now filled with reports of the movement,
as visited, more or less strikingly, with
these singular manifestations.
Belfast, as the largest town, with the
greatest number of churches and jealous
ministers, with band of devoted auxila-
ries in the form of ''town missionaries" Is
now the most conspicuous scene of this ex-
traordinary visitation; and there as else
where, it is not confined to one denomina-
ton of Christians. 1t commenced with
the Presbyterians, and Is displayed most
signally among them; but Episcopalians,
Independents, and Methodists all recog-
nze it, and all participate in the blessing.
The Bishop Of Down, Connor, and Dro-
more, held meeting of his clergy, at
which they were advised to open their
churches and afford every facility for at
tention to religious realities. The Belfast
Presbytery resolved to take advantage of
the spirit pervading the people, and their
churches are opened daily, and several hold
open air services. The Methodists aud in
dependents have "penitents' pews," to
which the awakened resort. Multitudes of
all ranks, ages, and sexes, profess to have
have felt the power of religion, and the
greater number are from those classes
heretofore not the most distinguished for
solemn attention to sacred things-factory-
men, mill-girls, and young men in the large
mer antile establishments.