Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-07-28
Affairs in ireland.
tfrom de New York Courier,

Il
DUBLIN. June Is, 1859.
A short but accurate account ofwhat ha
been unusual IN this country. but which il
America you are familiar under the name o
q 'reviysP'-a movement nov rapid,
spreading over Ulster, and Regarding vhicI
there are conflicting accounts and bite
controversies in the Northern newspaper
q movement. I may add. that, fer more thar
the Italian war or the change Of govern
ment, engrosses the attention of large sec.
tions of the public-may interest the read.
ers of the Courier and Enquirer.
This movement was not produced by the
preaching Of the English celebri,ies, Spur.
geon, or Guinness, or McNeilie. or Pun.
cheon. or their visit to, this country; nor
did it csmnencs in any of our large towns
under the ministry of any Of Sur own "men
Of renown" for talents asa sioquence.
There is, nearly in the. cedass OF Antrim
county. quiet rural parish named Connor,
whose population, mostly -Presbyterians,
have long enjoyed sound scriptural ,esch-
ing and have been accustomed to cherish
spirit of unostentatious piety in their
"prsying societies." In these an unusua |
earnestness manifested itself, producing un-
wonted anxiety FOR the salvation of others.
the result was general awakening of peo-
pies minds to religious realities. ---t
The spirit Of zeal thus enkindled spread
into neighboring towns and villages. The
Psople of AhoghiIi, Brouzhshsne. and Bslly-
mena were brought under the same influ.
ence. The minister opened the churches
daily for meetings for prayer and praise -
These were crowded; and soon others be-
gan to be hslt in private houses. the streets,
and the fields. At these. amid deep sclem.
nifty which pevsded all and an excited ava.
kening which stirred many, some we're so
affected d-"stricken" a. they phraaed it-as
to crv out audibly; after which there was
bodily prostration as we'll a. mental agony .
which continued in some q longe-, in some
q shorter time before '.peace" was en-.
joyed.
The news of these strange doings spread
abroad in all directions. Visitors from
Belfast on the east aud Coleraine on the
west came 10 seq and hear; and some of
hose who had felt the influence visited
hese and intermediate and sdjscent towns
From village to village and from hamlet TO
hamlet it has spread; and not onlv il he
whole Antrim Pervaded by it, but it extends
ar into the neighbor.ng counties. New
ownlimavady and Dssrv westward. Ant rim
md Csrrickiergus eastward. Cnokstown
0ungannon, and Armagh eouihward, are all
mentioned in the newspapers. now filled
With reports nf the movement, as visited
more or less strikingly with these singular
Manifest atoms.
Belfast, as the largest town, with the
number of churches and jealous
with band of devoted auxilia-
les in the form of town mis.iona, ,es," is
low the most consp icuous scene of this ex-
raordinary visitation, and there as else
'here it is not confined to one denomina-
ion OF Christians. ltcommenced with the
'resbyterians and is displayed most sig
ally among them; but Episcopalians, In
ependenta. and Methodists all recognise it,
nd all participate in the blessing.
The Bishop of Down. Connor, and Dro-
'ore held a meeting of bis clergy at which
hey were advised TO open their churches
nd afford every facility for atte ntion to re
gious realities. The Belfast Presbytery
esoived TO take advantage of the spirit per-
aiding the people, and their churches are
pen daily, and several hold open air SER
ices. The Methodist and Independents
ave "Penitents' pews," to which the ava
ened resort. Multitudes. of a II ranks, ages.
nd sexes, profess to have felt the power of
eligion, and the greater number are from
hose classes heretofore not the most dis
inguisbed FOR solemn attention to sacred
mill.girls, and young
len in the large mercantile establish
leDts