THE KING’S BUSINESS
865
A PRAYING MULTITUDE This meeting was not called to hear great preachers, but to..wait .on-God in prayer. The number of people in .attendance, was between 30,000 and 40,000. It was, a solemn sight to see those sober-faced, God-fearing men and women, many carrying their be loved Bibles, making their way through the busy streets of the capital of Ulster. The Moderator of the General Assembly pre sided. Prayer, praise and sacred song, in terrupted occasionally by the cry for mercy forced from the heart of some sin-burdened penitent, were the principal features' of the day. Smaller groups formed here and there in the Gardens to „listen to the impromptu messages from some who were recognized as qualified to give spiritual instruction and counsel. The meeting was a united public testimonial to the reality and genuineness of the revival, and God honored it by using it to spread the sacred flame. THE, LAYMEN’S PART From preceding articles, it will be seen that laymen had an important part in the work. The cottage prayer meetings were very largely in their care. When the work had begun in a district it was through the personal testimony of the converts, that it spread. Often the work began through the recital of what was taking place somewhere else by visiting laymen. The laymen also had a large place in the personal work with inquirers. In a; simple, -presentation ;'o'f the way of salvation they were also blessed: Not very many seemed to be called by God to attempt to carry on regular preaching services; the regular work of the ministry was carried on by those set apart by the church for that purpose. CHRISTIAN UNITY A pleasing feature of the revival was the fellowship into which the various Protestant bodies were- brought—Episcopal bishops, rectors and curates, working side by side with Presbyterian and Methodist ministers, all animated with the one great purpose of pointing the anxious to Jesus. The Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore, writ
ing to the Moderator of the General Assem bly said, “I „cannot conclude without men tioning the result of my late confirmations in Belfast, âs it marks the deep impression and devotional feeling which the Spirit of the Living God, moving Over this, portion of our land, has kindled. The numbers -confirmed annually by: me in7the parish of Belfast have averaged about 250, but, last year they reached 705, and never since I have administered that rite of my Church have I witnessed such solemnity of man ner and deep feeling as was exhibited by all whom I then confirmed.” ' TRAINING THE STUDENTS It is worthy of mention that the theo logical students threw themselves heartily into the work. Many of them withdrew their names from the competitive lists in the Queen’s University, “a' circurristance which was publicly noticed at the time, both by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, and by His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.” Dr. Gibson bears this testi mony to the value of this experience : “The theological'students wéré especially service able in' their respective neighborhoods, and the experience they ' acquired within the few months referred to; gave them a pro founder insight into the mode of dealing with individual souls than they could have attained by whole years of academic train ing.” ' ., A A MINISTER’S TESTIMONY ' Ih closing his report o f'th e work at Rortrush, a favorite watering-place in County .Antrim, the Rev. Jonathan Simpson says : “My record covers over 300 cases, I dare not say of conversion, but I must say of the mighty Spirits power to ‘convince the world of sin;’- Vrom contact with'this.‘won derful work of God,’ and being honored to take some little part' in Carrying it on, my spirit has ' been literally overwhelmed with a sense of thy 'own deep unworthiness ; but it were Worth living ten thousand ages' in obscurity . and reproach to be' permitted to creep forth at the expiration of that time, and engage in the glorious work of the last six months :of 18597’8
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