Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-02-26
Mutes Of Trauelin Gnrupe.
OBSERVATIONS ON IRELAND.
BY REV. r. LATHAM.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. |

Episcopal church. 1t had always been my
belief that what is known as Ulster province
is inhabited by Presbyterians nearly to the
exclusion ofall other denominations. This,
l found not to be the case. Nearly One-half
of the population of Ulster province is in
connection with the Roman Catholic Church.
The whole population of Ulster province
was, in 1881, ,739, ,542 distributed religious
ly, as follows Roman Catholics, S31 ,7S4
Episcopalians, 377 $780, Presbyterians, 1885,
1O7; Methodists 81, ,494 all other denomina-
tions, 29.221 In this last number is included
Baptists, independents, Plymouth Brethren,
Jews and persons claiming to have no relig-
ious connection. In every other province
of Ireland the Presbyterian population is
less than one per cent. of the population, ex-
cept in Leinster, and in that it is only one
per cent. These facts are very different
from what had been accustomed to regard
as the religious connections Of the popula-
tion of Ulster province.
The Protestant Episcopal church, which
in Ireland ranks second to the Presbyterian
church, lin point of numbers, is, like the
ince. Of the whole population of that prov
ince the Presbyterians are nearly twenty
seven per cent, and the Episcopalians are
nearly twenty-five per cent.
The Episcopal church was introduced
into Ireland during the reign of Henry the
Eighth of England. Up to that period Ire
land as we'll as all Europe, both insular and
continental, was in firm alliance with the
Pope of Rome. Henry, as we will notice
more particularly in these sketches, when
we come to treat of the Roman Catholics OF
Pope of Rome and had himself declared
"Ihe defender Of the Fdith." Over and in
the Church of England he exercised supreme
authority. In Ireland he attempted to do
what he had done in England. His success
in Ireland, as the facts show, was but very
limited. Legally he and his successors es-
tablished the Episcopal church in Ireland,
but they signally failed to convert the Cath
olics to Professionalism.
From the time Of Henry the Eighth un-
til 1871 the Episcopal church of Ireland was
but part of what is known as the Church
of England. In other words, the same
church was established both in England and
Ireland, and supported by the government.
The Episcopal church Of Ireland was dis
established and disendowed in 1869. The
| Act which effected this received the assent
of Queen Victoria on the Goth Of July, 1869,
but the provisions of the Act did not take
effect until January l, 1861. The Episcopal
church of Ireland at present consists of two
archbishops and ten bishops. The number OF
clergymen is about thirteen hundred. These
untary contributions. Each clergyman re-
ceives from the permanent fund about five
hundred and twenty-five dollars annually.
The Methodist church Of Ireland, like
both the Presbyterian and Episcopal church
es, is strongest in Ulster province. In fact,
there is very little Professionalism in any part
of Ireland except in Ulster Province. Less
than one per cent. of the whole population
of Ireland is in connection with the Method
ist Church. In Ulster province nearly two
per cent. of the population is Methodist, but
| in no one of the other four provinces does
the Methodist element embrace beyond one
half of one per cent. of the population.
Previous to 1878, there were in Ireland two
branches of the Methodist church--the
| Wesleyan and the Primitive Wesleyan
Methodists. These united in 1878, and
formed what is called the Methodist Church
of Ireland
1t seems that Methodisn was, at very
early period of its existence, introduced into
Ireland, but when, or by whom l DO not
know. l only know that the parents of the
| illustrious scholar and divine, Rev. Adam
! Clarke, LII. d., were members OF the WeS-
leyan Methodist church. Adam Clarke was
born in 17GO or 1852, and John Wesley,
the founder of MethOdism, was born in l7O3
About 1925 Mr.. Wesley began his public la
bOrs. DR.. Clarke was born in the north OF
Ireland, near COleraine, at place called
MOybeg. His parents were members OF
Methodist congregation of which Breedan,
one of the earliest cO-laborers with Mr.. W es-
| ley, was at the time pastor At POrtrush,
town on the northeastern coast of Ireland,
there is granite monument erected to the
memory of Dr. Clarke. l do not know
where he is buried, but think in London.
The only reason | have for thinking so is
that he died in London, Of cholera, on the
10Th of August, 1892 There are in connec-
ton with the Irish Methodist Conference
about two hundred active ministers-that is,
ministers who, in the language of the Meth
odists, are liable to take work." There are
forty upernumeraries. They have about
four hundred places of worship.
The Methodists in ireland seemed to me
to be very different from what they are in
our country. In doctrine, manner of wOr-
ship and form of church government, they
more closely resemble Presbyterians than
the Methodists in America 90. In fact
found the Methodists in Ireland more CAL
whistle than some of those who have sub
scribed Calvinistic creed.
The Baptist church, for some reason,
know not what, has never t1Ourished in
Ireland. During the time of Oliver Crom-
well very considerable number of Baptist
ministers settled in Ireland, but at present
connection with the Baptist church are
very few and are generally confined, so far
as 1 could learn, to the large towns and
cities In Belfast there are several Baptist
churches, but an intelligent citizen Of Bel
fast told me that the Baptists had well nigh
disappeared from Ireland. l was utterly
unable TO learn either the number of minis
ters or people in connection with the de-
nomination. From what / was able to
learn l concluded that the city of Belfast is
the stronghold of the Baptists in Ireland.
Besides the Protestant denominations
mentioned there is still another-thc indie
pendents These are Congregationalists, and
like the Baptists, are generally settled in
the large towns. Their number, when COM
pared with the whole population, or either
the EpiscOpalians or Presbyterians, is very
small. In the whole of Ireland there are
only few thousand Independents, and
their influence is scarcely felt.
Scattered here and there, over the north of
Ireland, there are few Plymouth Breth
rem. This denomination of Christians orig
mated in Plymouth, England, from which
place it spread to some extent to Ireland, |
and in some sections of the Northern States !
of the United States.
Generally speaking, the population of Ire
land are all in connection with some branch |
of the Christian Church. found them not
only moral people, but a religious people.
The Sabbath is observed by all classes better
than it is by the people of the United States
generally. The Irish clergymen are, asa rule, |!
men of literary and theological attainments. |
Their sermons are in some respects differ
ent from what we are accustomed to hear in !
America. They are more solid but less Wig