tibrary of trhe trheolo^ical £zm\navy 
 
 PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 
 
 PURCHASED BY THE 
 HAMILL MISSIONARY FUND 
 
 BX8495.G62 C35 1868 
 
 Campbell, W. Graham. 
 
 Apostle of Kerry® or, The life of the Re^ 
 
 Charles Graham, who had for many year. 
 
 . «rrt. . x - .1. ~ 1 — — : ™ N 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/apostleofkerryxOOOcamp 
 
&$nik of Jierrgv 
 
 OR 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE 
 
 REV. CHARLES GRAHAM 
 
 WHO HAD FOR MANY YEARS, AS HIS ASSOCIATE ON 
 THE CELEBRATED 
 
 GIDEON O USE LEY 
 
 ALSO 
 
 CONTAINING ONE OF MR. GRAHAM'S SERMONS, AN IRISH HYMN, ETC. 
 
 ' And the hand of the Lord was with them : and a great number believed, and turned 
 unto the Lord.— Acts xi. 21. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. W. GRAHAM CAMPBELL 
 
 6 1 rural ^flissioitargr 
 
 MOFFAT AND 
 
 DUBLIN 
 COMPANY, 
 1868 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
DUBLIN STEAM PRINTING COMPANY. 
 
THIS VOLUME 
 
 IS INSCRIBED TO THE 
 
 REV. WILLIAM ARTHUR, A.M., 
 
 PRINCIPAL OF THE METHODIST COLLEGE, BELFAST, 
 AS A TOKEN OF PERSONAL ESTEEM, 
 AND ALSO ON ACCOUNT OF THE DEEP INTEREST 
 WHICH FOR MANY YEARS HE HAS TAKEN 
 IN THE IRISH MISSIONS. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 * Lead on, O Lord, and I will follow Thee ; 
 E'en though my path a nigged one may be, 
 
 Still I will onward press, 
 While Thine Almighty arm my steps uphold 
 To cherish, keep, and bless.' 
 
 O the Christian it is always a pleasing and 
 profitable task to trace the hand of Divine 
 Providence in directing and controlling the 
 various revolutions of human affairs, especially in 
 those things connected with the salvation of men, 
 and the extension of the Redeemers kingdom. It 
 was well and wisely observed by Flavel, that 
 ' those who diligently watch the Providence of God 
 shall never want for a Providence to watch.' The 
 rise and progress of Methodism, and its chosen 
 instruments, furnish a large chapter in the volume 
 of a special Providence. The venerable Wesley 
 occupies a prominent place therein, as well as his 
 remarkable brother, Charles, 'the bard of Metho- 
 distic song/ Nor has it been less so in its wonder- 
 workings, as seen in the preparation and rising up 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 of suitable agencies for the regeneration of Ireland. 
 It has been often said, that 'emergencies make the 
 men;' we would rather say, that 'God makes the 
 men, and providential emergencies call them forth 
 or, to use the language of a great poet, 
 
 'Divinity shapes our ends.' 
 
 It was so in patriarchal and in prophetic times, and 
 yet more remarkably so in the early history of 
 Christianity ; also in the origin and progress of the 
 Reformation of the sixteenth, and not less so of 
 the eighteenth century, in the marvellous history 
 of Methodism. It is specially the design of the 
 author, or rather of the compiler, of the present 
 volume, to make prominent and emphatic the re- 
 markable dispensation of God's unerring and 
 benevolent Providence in raising up the subject of 
 this memoir, and at such a time ! In fact, almost 
 everything about him partakes largely of the senti r 
 ment so often and so familiarly expressed, speaking 
 of the Most High : — 
 
 1 He nothing does or suffers to be done, 
 But we ourselves would do, could we but see 
 The end of all events as well as He.' 
 
 There are some persons, and we might almost 
 venture to say, many good people, whose history 
 and memoirs could only at best interest a local or 
 a family circle; there are others whose career par- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 vii 
 
 takes so much of marvellous incident, and so much 
 of the rich displays of Divine grace, as to make 
 their history of world-wide importance. In this 
 light, but in an humble and qualified sense, we 
 would consider the history of Mr. Graham to stand, 
 which the materials of the volume will, we hope, 
 unfold. Men have been raised up in all ages, since 
 the rise of Christianity, who seemed almost to tread 
 in the foot-prints of apostles and martyrs ; men who 
 'conferred not with flesh and blood' to impart im- 
 mortal benefits on their country, and upon mankind 
 in general ; perhaps never more so than during the 
 latter part of the past and the beginning of the 
 present century. Men who won for themselves a 
 name in the annals of our Churches, and will excite 
 the admiration of generations yet to come. As our 
 work is closely connected with what is technically 
 called ' The Irish General Mission,' we will be 
 excused for naming three of those worthies who 
 laboured on Irish soil, and in the Irish language, 
 to an extent almost beyond conception, namely, 
 Thomas Walsh, Charles Graham, and Gideon 
 Ouseley — men head and shoulders above their 
 fellow-labourers, and who, like David's ' three 
 worthies,' endangered their lives again and again, 
 in drawing the water of life from a richer fountain 
 than that of the well of Bethlehem; and then, aloud, 
 inviting their perishing countrymen, in the language 
 
viii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 of Isaiah, 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to 
 the waters ; and he that hath no money, come ye, 
 &c. These men seem to have been prepared by 
 the Hand Divine to become leaders in the van of 
 the missionary corps, or what Dr. William Crock 
 calls them in his American Methodism, ' Legio 
 Tonans, or the Thundering Legion,' willing — 
 
 ' To spend and to be spent, for them 
 
 Who had not yet their Saviour known.' 
 
 They were also called ' Cavalry Preachers ;' but 
 better even, for euphony sake, they had been called 
 ' Calvary Preachers for this they were in the 
 highest sense of the word. That was their watch- 
 word — the secret, the source, and the centre of 
 their power and success. They sang — 
 
 » 
 
 ' Vouchsafe us eyes of faith to see 
 The Man transfixed on Calvary ; 
 
 To know Thee who Thou art — 
 The one eternal God and true ! 
 And let the sight affect, subdue, 
 And break my stubborn heart.' 
 
 Hence success and revivals were the constant rule 
 of their labours; the want of them the exception. 
 ' Not, indeed, the mountain torrent/ as Dr. Dixon 
 states in his Life of Miller, 'but the steady and 
 onward flow of the majestic river, spreading bloom 
 and beauty in its course along the adjacent soil/ 
 Such moral triumphs and victories constrain us to 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ix 
 
 say, that when the laurels of Waterloo shall have 
 mouldered into dust, and the deeds of Trafalgar 
 shall lie deep beneath the sable wave of oblivion, 
 the toils and triumphs, the conflicts and conquests, 
 of those deathless names of missionary fame, shall 
 be had in everlasting remembrance not only in the 
 archives of the Church militant but in those of the 
 Church triumphant as well. It is, therefore, incum- 
 bent on the Church to rescue and redeem as much 
 as possible of their history, to stimulate the zeal, to 
 challenge the faith, and to rouse the energies of the 
 Church of the present, and to transmit the same 
 down to the latest generation. During the period 
 in which men live who have been eminent for use- 
 fulness, the public is rarely led to examine the 
 slow gradations by which that usefulness becomes 
 matured ; it will therefore be our pleasing duty to 
 supply this deficiency, at least in some degree, con- 
 cerning one of the above evangelistic lights — so 
 small at its commencement, but so clear and steady 
 during a long period of more than half a century — 
 we mean Mr. Graham. Of Mr. Ouseley, also, we 
 will be able to speak largely, and considerably 
 from documents unpublished before. On Thomas 
 Walsh we will not enlarge more than to say, that 
 he was one of the earliest fruits gathered in from 
 the Irish harvest field, through the instrumentality 
 of one of the very first preachers Mr. Wesley sent 
 
X 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 to this country. His conversion took place in the 
 street in Limerick, while Robert Swindles preached 
 from Matt. xi. 28, 'Come unto me all ye that labour 
 and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' 
 Thomas was a respectable Roman Catholic young 
 man, who lived at a distance, but came into Limerick 
 that day. He was intended for the priesthood. 
 The word reached his heart, and from that time he 
 became a 'burning and a shining light/ and died, as 
 it has been quaintly but truly said, ' An aged man, 
 at twenty-eight.''" A considerable portion of the 
 materials at the command of the writer were left 
 by Mr. Graham himself ; other portions by his son, 
 and the remainder the result of hard catering 
 among the living and the dead. It is upwards of 
 thirty years since he was first urged to undertake 
 this task, which he did then attempt, but, for want 
 of time on the laborious posts of duty assigned to 
 him, he had to abandon it again and again. And 
 even now the same cause might justify the post- 
 
 * Some good men in London lamented to Mr. Wesley that he and his 
 brother Charles should spend so much of their time in Ireland, and send so 
 many of their preachers there. Mr. Wesley replied, 'Have patience, and 
 Ireland will repay you.' 'We could hardly think it,' said they ; 'but when 
 Mr. Walsh came, we saw that Mr. Wesley's faith was better than ours.' 
 Besides, we may say that he taught John Wesley the doctrine of ' Christian 
 perfection.' Thus Ireland, though poor, has made many rich from that 
 to the present; and it may be that God intends her to be yet a greater bless- 
 ing than ever, not only to England, but to the world at large. O Lord, 
 arise and have mercy upon our Zion, and send even now prosperity. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xi 
 
 ponement for some future season, during which he 
 might have more leisure ; but as so much attention 
 has been lately directed to this General Mission 
 agency, both by the persecution which the writer 
 met with during the past year, as well as the interest 
 taken in its success, in this country and in America, 
 he considers a further delay would not serve the 
 cause in which Mr. Graham and others so nobly 
 laboured. And, although the work has been hastily 
 written, and mostly so when others were enjoying 
 the balm of 1 Natures sweet restorer,' yet he ven- 
 tures to send it forth, and will feel more than re- 
 paid if but the heart of some drooping missionary 
 is cheered in his hallowed toil; and if it shall, in 
 the slightest degree, contribute to promote the 
 interests and perpetuate the agency of ' The Irish 
 General Mission. 
 
 These circumstances will, it is hoped, apologise 
 for many errors; and now, sincerely praying that 
 the same missionary flame which burned with such 
 fervour in the breast of this devoted prophet of the 
 Lord, and of his associates in this great enterprise, 
 may be coveted and realized by himself and by all 
 our ministers, this humble volume is thus committed 
 to Him without whom nothing is strong, or wise, 
 or holy, or good, but with whose favour the feeblest 
 effort can a 'lasting blessing prove/ The writer 
 also hopes the sermon in the Appendix, which is 
 
xii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 only one of at least five hundred which Mr. Graham 
 left, and well written out, will be acceptable to 
 many, and also the Irish hymn, with its humble 
 translation. There are three other indices added, 
 to the last of which we would direct particular 
 attention, as it bears on the grand cardinal doctrine 
 of our glorious Christianity, ' Justification by faith 
 alone' so much needed at the present time. 
 The author must here express himself as laid 
 under renewed and lasting obligation to his con- 
 stant and respected friend, the Rev. W. Arthur, 
 A.M., for his kind permission to dedicate this 
 memoir of Mr. Graham to him. If a higher mark 
 of respect could be offered — if indeed it can be at 
 all regarded in that light — it would be gratefully 
 tendered to our honoured countryman. We will 
 now conclude these prefatory remarks with the 
 lines which will be found at the end of Mr. Ouse- 
 ley's master-work on the Romish controversy, 
 called Old Christianity : — 
 
 / ' Go forth my artless book, in Jesus' name 
 
 I cast thee on the waters ; 
 
 Go thy ways, 
 And if, as I believe, thy meaning \s good, 
 The world shall find thee 
 
 After many days.' 
 
 W. G. C. 
 
 Blackrock, Dublin, August 20, 1868. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction . . . . . . xxiii 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY LIFE AND CONVERSION. 
 
 Description of Sligo and its neighbourhood. — Its scenery. — Lough Gill. 
 — Distinguished in Irish History. — Skirmish with the French. — 
 The latter subdued by Marquis Cornwallis. — Civil wars. — The 
 birthplace of Graham. — Character of his parents. — His great- 
 grandmother. — The state of morals most deplorable. — Sent to 
 school. — Returns. — Becomes reckless. — Invocation of saints and 
 angels. — His father's death. — Obtained his blessing. — Promises 
 amendment. — Revolts again. — Death of a respectable female. — 
 "Wake. — Rebuked. — Balaam. — His end. — Invited to preaching in 
 Sligo. — Plainness of congregation. — Dress. — Mr. Wesley's and 
 author's opinion. — Wm. Bramwell. — Anecdote. — Hears the Rev. 
 F. Wrigley. — Convinced of sin. — Deep distress. — Finds mercy. — 
 Great joy, — Grieves the Spirit. — Great anguish. — Restoration. — 
 Greater joy than before . . . . . 3-14 
 
 CHAPTER If. 
 
 BECOMES A LOCAL PREACHER — CONFLICT AND VICTORY. 
 
 After his restoration, begins to labour with redoubled energy.— Increases 
 in influence and esteem. — Becomes a local preacher. — A myste- 
 rious revelation. — Goes to preach for the first time from a text of 
 Scripture. — Is encouraged greatly. — Heavy trials occur. — Divi- 
 sions in the Sligo Society. — Entertains views on the 'limited 
 atonement.' — Renoimces them. — Has fever. — Meets Mr. Thomas, 
 by whom he is instructed and encouraged. — Mr. Wesley's visit to 
 
xiv 
 
 CONTEXTS; 
 
 Sligo. — Wesley not discouraged, although forgotten by some of 
 his former friends. — Mr. Graham made very useful. — Richard 
 Baxter's view of the ministry. — Persecution. — Interviews with 
 priests. — Smart reply. — Revival round the 'Sligo circuit. — Struck 
 by a Romanist who was buried that day week. — Evil Reports. — 
 Envy. — Young's Description. — Ovid's also, with Dryden's trans- 
 lation. — Description of Antichrist. — 1771 . . 16-23 
 
 CHAPTER ITL 
 FILIAL ATTACHMENT — MARRIAGE, AND ENTIRE CONSECRATION 
 TO GOD. 
 
 Very acceptable as a local preacher. — Watches over his mother's age 
 with great anxiety. — Can't think of leaving her. — Some impression 
 about future and more extended usefulness. — Enters the marriage 
 state. — Makes a happy choice. — His wife's early conversion and 
 usefulness. — The bliss of kindred spirits. — She is a true helpmate. 
 — Thoughts about emigrating. — His mother's happy death. — 
 Renewed thoughts of emigrating prevented. — Seeks and obtains 
 the blessing of perfect love — Recommends it to others. — A great 
 revival follows. — Mr. Wesley's visit to Sligo. — Awful tragedy in 
 Sligo before the Revolution. — Fearful massacre of Protestants in 
 1641. — Luther obtained holiness of heart ; so does D'Aubigne and 
 others. — Mr. Fletcher's language appropriate. — Perfect resignation 
 to the will of God. — 1772 ..... 25-29 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PREPARATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF KERRY. 
 Labours for many years in the capacity of a local preacher. — Dr. Coke 
 visits Sligo. — Mr. Graham's interview with him. — Refuses to go 
 on the Irish mission. — The Doctor's disappointment. — Makes out 
 a sermon in the Irish language. — Made a blessing. — Other attempts 
 prosecuted. — Remarkable dream. — Mr. Black drowned. — Bartho- 
 lomew Campbell's visit to Sligo. — Converted in Lough Derg. — 
 Conference record of Mr. Black. — Campbell and Graham's popu- 
 larity on the Sligo circuit. — Also on the Longford circuit. — 
 Campbell returns home. — Graham preaches before the district. — 
 Recommended to Conference. — Accepted. — Appointed to the 
 County Kerry. — Prepares for the journey. — Much cast down. — 
 1776-1790 31-35 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XV 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ENTRANCE TO KERRY. 
 
 He leaves the place of his nativity for Kerry. — Calls at and settles his 
 family in Limerick. — Receives bad treatment in Castle Island. — Is 
 received by a fanner. — Enters Tralee. — Takes the street. — Great 
 opposition. — Tries it again. — Succeeds. — A persecutor injured. — 
 Moral courage. — Leaves for Milltown. — Succeeds. — Revival; 
 many converted. — Great opposition from the Romish priesthood. — 
 Judgments. — Great superstition. — Peter Cartwright, of America. — 
 An Irish Preacher. — Retaliation. — Altar Denunciations. — Remark- 
 able conversion in Dingle. — Another singular case. — Domestic 
 bliss. — Cowper. — Greatly respected by all classes. — Many added to 
 the society. — Terminates his first year's labour. — 'Poetry. — 1790 37-46 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Ireland's evangelization. 
 Mr. Graham appointed the third preacher to Limerick circuit. — Revisits 
 Kerry. — Takes up parts of Cork. — Great success. — A remarkable 
 circumstance. — A whole family converted. — Visits Newmarket, 
 Kanturk, Mallow, Doneraile, etc. — Remarkable conversion of a 
 freemason. — The Rev. James Olliffe. — Lord Doneraile. — Lord 
 Mountcashel. — Prepares to leave the country. — Deep regret at 
 leaving this loving people. — They sorrowed greatly after him. — 
 Dreams and visions. — St. Paul. — St. Patrick; his creed. — His 
 armour or hymn. — No Roman Catholic. — A genuine Protestant. 
 
 —179* 48-57 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 mr graham's appointment to the north. 
 Mr. Graham leaves Kerry. — Deep regret. — Returns to Limerick. — 
 Meets the superintendent. — Delivers up his accounts. — Resigned 
 as to his appointment. — Goes to Enniskillen. — Meets his colleague. 
 — Mutual faith and hope for a revival. — Very popular preacher in 
 Irish. — Persecution from Rome. — Second year in Enniskillen. — 
 Great prosperity. — Recounts God's dealing for four years. — Gra- 
 titude. — Appointed to Birr or Parsonstown. — Visits Clare. — 
 Extract from Minutes. — Appointed to Mountrath. — Labours with 
 Rev. A. Averell, — Extracts from his life. — Representative to 
 English Conference. — Driven on shore by stress of weather. — 
 
xvi 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Providential dream. — Humorous mistake of a bellman. — Messrs. 
 Graham and Averell's labours and success. — Rebellion of 1798. — 
 Conference. — Providential escape. — Burning of mail-coach near 
 Naas. — Messrs. G. and A. Taylor's escape in Wexford.— Appointed 
 to Longford, with Messrs, Smith and Andrew Taylor. — Letter to 
 his son. — English sympathy. — C. Wesley. . , 59-68 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE IRISH GENERAL MISSION, JULY 1799 TO JULY l8oO. 
 
 The Rev. W. Smith's history. — Dr. Coke's missions. — General mis- 
 sionaries. — Dr. Coke's encouragement. — Mr. Ouseley's appoint- 
 ment. — Mr. Lanktree's opinion of him. — Graham visits a convict 
 in Longford Gaol. — Prays with him. — Hopes of his conversion and 
 happy death. — First street service after appointment to general 
 mission. — Rev. W. Reilly's opinion of Graham and Ouseley. — 
 Preaches in Sligo-street. — Opposition and success. — Labours for 
 six weeks there. — Journey to and from Dublin. — Preaching on the 
 way. — Tullamore, Drogheda. — Letters to Dr. Coke. — Removes 
 to Clones. — Great labours through the North. — Visits Smith- 
 borough, Monaghan, Newbliss. — Marvellous results. — Also Balli- 
 bay, Cootehill, Clones. — Prepares for next Conference. — Esteem 
 each other with increasing affection. — The Conference justified in 
 appointing three additional missionaries for next year (1800). — 
 Names and appointments. — Spheres of labour. . . 70-98 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 JULY l800 TO JANUARY l8oi. 
 
 Labours and Journals from the end of June until Conference. — Also at 
 Conference. — Returns from Conference. — Very remarkable success 
 in several places. — Arrives in Clones. — Sets out again. — Visits 
 Kilmore. — Opposed in Clones by the magisterial clergyman. — 
 Also the captain of the militia. — Castleblayney. — Keady. — ■ 
 Monaghan. — Preaches to a wedding party. — Hopeful results. — 
 Six weeks' tour through the North. — Good work in the South. — 
 Letter from Messrs. Kane and Webb to Dr. Coke. — Also from 
 Mr. M'Quigg. — Persecution in Clones. — Popularity of the mis- 
 sionaries in consequence. — Their visits to Caledon, Charlemont, 
 Loughgall, Armagh, and other places. — Extracts from their letters, 
 October to December. — Mr. Graham's * license ' to preach. — Close 
 of the half-year's labours .... 100-119 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XVII 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 JANUARY TO JULY l8oi. 
 
 Remarkable conversions. — Opposition from officers at Irvinestown. — 
 Biographer of Ouseley. — Correspondent of Dr. Coke. — Journal. — 
 Roslea, Wattsbridge, Clonkirk, Clones, Redhill.— Mrs. Little.— 
 Great temptation. — Deliverance. — Notorious sinners converted. — 
 Ballyhaise, Cavan, Killeshandra, Carrigallen, Arvagh. — Cloone 
 blood men. — Mr. Harpur and respectable neighbour. — Families. — 
 Drumlarney, Manorhamilton ; revival. — Revival in 1832 at Kille- 
 shandra, Longford, Killashee, Kenagh, and Ballymahon. — Great 
 opposition. — Conduct of the priest at Ballyhownas. — Goshen. — 
 Granard. — The missionaries return to Mr. Harpur's. — Extracts 
 from Mr. Graham's journal. — Conversion of Terence M 'Go wan 121-135 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 JULY 1 8oi TO JULY l802. 
 
 Graham and Ouseley's appointments. — Three of the missionaries retire 
 — two from over- exertion. — Opinion of the Conference in regard to 
 the effects of the general mission. — Dr. Coke's opinion. — Mr. 
 Wesley's opinion of the Irish. — Rev. Dr. W. Crook's opinion of 
 the general mission. — Mr. Graham's letter to Dr. Coke. — Labours 
 at Bandon, Clonmel, "NVaterford. — Rev. M. Lanktree's opinion. — 
 Intelligence from Cork, Dunmanway, Ballydehob, Newry, and 
 several places. — Rev. Mr. Ridgeway. — Rev. W. Reilly. — A late 
 writer's opinion. — Poetry 137- 1 43 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MEANS ADOPTED FOR A MORE EXTENSIVE REVIVAL. 
 
 The general mission appointment for 1802. — Increase during three 
 first years of the general mission, 10,473. — Irish address to 
 the English Conference. — The missionaries visit the eastern part 
 of the kingdom. — Great persecution in Kilkenny. — Mr. Ouseley 
 wrote to the Catholic Bishop. — Appointments for 1803. — Mr. 
 Reilly's account of same. — Also Mr. Lanktree's account. — Favour- 
 able reception in Kilkenny. — Death of Rev. John Johnston. — 
 Question and answers relative to the best means of promoting a 
 revival. — Appointments of 1804. — Mr. Ouseley's letter to Dr. 
 
 b 
 
XV111 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Coke. — Visit to Carlow. — Ditto to Kilkenny, third time. — Letter 
 to Mr. Graham from Miss Ould, Coleraine. — Missionary appoint- 
 ments for 1805. — Increase of same. — 1802 to 1805 . 145-152 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 GRAHAM AND OUSELEY ARE APPOINTED TO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. 
 
 Hymn by Horatious Bonar. — Mr. Graham parts with Mr. Ouseley. — 
 Death of Mrs. Graham. — Letter of Mrs. Ouseley. — Conference 
 record. — Another letter from Miss Ould. — Appointments for 1806. 
 — Letter from Mr. Graham to his son. — Lorenzo Dow. — His great 
 usefulness. — Ouseley and Hamilton's great persecution in Eyre- 
 court. — Remarkable conversion of a Presbyterian clergyman. — 
 The thrashers. — Conversion of a Roman Catholic. — Mr. Ouseley's 
 horse injured. — Conference record of the missions. — Answer of 
 British Conference. — Conversion of a persecutor in the County 
 Clare. — Another remarkable case at Wexford . . 154- 161 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 MR. GRAHAM RETURNS TO CIRCUIT WORK. — 1807 TO l8l2. 
 
 Mr. Graham returns to circuit work. — Labours on the Athlone round. 
 — Puts his papers into the hands of Mr. Roger Lamb. — Appointed 
 to Mallow in 1808.— Letter of Mr. Ouseley to Mr. Lanktree. — 
 Appointed second year to Mallow. — Second letter of Mr. Ouseley. 
 — Awful superstition. — Appointed to Longford in 1810. — Conver- 
 sion and happy death of the Rev. M. Harrison, of Naas. — Hymn. 
 — Four Letters of Mr. Graham to his son. — Appointed to Cavan in 
 181 1. — To Mountrath for 1812-1813. — Death of his brother. — Lord 
 Sidmouth's Bill. . . . . . 1 63- 1 72 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 DIVISION ANTICIPATED. 
 
 Dr. Coke's last visit to Ireland. — Obtains two missionaries for Ceylon. 
 — Cox, the American Missionary. — Elliott. — Lines on Dr. Coke's 
 death. — Mr. Graham's letter to his son. — Mr. Ouseley's sermon in 
 Limerick. — Mr. Graham's appointment to Newtownbarry. — The 
 Rev. John Hadden. — Letter. — Increase of Missionaries. — Mr. 
 Ouseley's appeal to go to India. — Refusal. — Mr. Noble's conver- 
 sion, — Visit to Wicklow. — Mr. Reilly's letter. — Marvellous con- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 xix 
 
 versions. — Mr. Graham's second year's appointment. — Letter of a 
 Roman Catholic convert. — The Rev. Mr. Blanshard's letter to 
 Mr. Graham. — Asked to go to India. — Refuses. — The Rev. John 
 M 'Kenny's appointment, — Discussion on the sacraments 174-182 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 FAMILY AFFLICTION — CONVERSION OF HIS SON. 
 
 Mr. Graham's third appointment to Newtownbarry.— His brother's 
 death. — Letter to his son on the subject. — Serious accident, narrow 
 escape. — Letter describing it. — Great agitation on the subject of 
 the sacraments. — Author's wish for its renewed settlement, and 
 union of both bodies. — The Rev. W. Hamilton's happy death. — 
 Letter from Rev. S. Wood. — Mr. Graham's appointment to Carlow. 
 — Letter to his son. — Letter of the Rev. F. Tackaberry, his son in 
 the Gospel. — Letter of Rev. C. Mayne. — Rev. James Rutledge. — 
 His letter. — His trials and marvellous deliverance in the army. — 
 Lord Cornwallis. — Mr Rutledge's deliverance. — The conversion 
 of young Mr. Graham in Dublin. — His father's joy . 184-191 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 REAPPOINTED TO MISSION WORK. 
 
 Appointed to Newtownbarry as a missionary in his sixty -ninth year. — 
 Supplies for the circuit minister. — Extract of a letter from his son. 
 — Letter from Rev. Samuel Steele. — Letter from young Mr. Graham 
 to his father. — Brief journals for seven months. — Letter from Mr. 
 Feely. — Letter from Mr. Graham to the Rev. Joseph Taylor, 
 London. — Another to same. — Letters to his son, and to Mr. 
 Taylor ....... 193-200 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 SPIRITUAL CHILDREN— LETTERS. 
 
 Letter to his son. — Do. to Mr. Taylor of London. — Mission house cir- 
 cular from Rev. Messrs. Bunting, Taylor, and R. Watson. — Mr. 
 Graham's second year's appointment to Newtownbarry. — Letter 
 from Mr. John Feely. — Letter from young Mr. Graham on sancti- 
 fication. — Letter of Rev. John Wesley on the same subject. — 
 Letter to Mr. Taylor, of London. — Do., very important 202-210 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ENLARGED MISSION — LETTERS AND RESULTS. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Graham to his son. — A letter from young Mr. Graham 
 to his father. — Mr. Graham's letter to his son in reply. — Letter from 
 Rev. M. Lanktree. — His views of Christian unity and union appli- 
 cable to our being united to the Primitive connexion. — Mr. Ouseley's 
 mode of arguing with Roman Catholics. — Conversion of a soldier 
 at Waterloo. — Letter from Mr. Graham to his son. — Visit of Rev. 
 John Feely, his son in the Gospel. — Mr. Feely's character of Mr. 
 Ouseley. — Mr. Ouseley's of Mr. Feely. — Mr. Graham to his son. 
 Two letters to mission secretary. — Another to his son . 212-223 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY. 
 
 Fifth appointment to Wexford. — Letter to his son. — Letter to mis- 
 sionary secretary in London in 1822. — Also one in beginning of 
 1823.— Another to his son ... 225-228 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 JOURNALS — GREAT OPPOSITION. 
 
 Mr. Graham's last appointment. — King's County. — Athlone. — Leaves 
 County Wexford. — Great grief. — Letter to Rev. Mr. Taylor of 
 London. — Letter from Athlone to his son. — Concern of a Roman 
 Catholic young man. — Illness. — Sympathetic letter from Rev. G. 
 Ouseley. — Extract of Mr. Graham's third last letter to his son.— 
 Second last letter. — Also the last, and very interesting 230-235 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH DESCRIBED. 
 
 Mr. Pilch.— Assists Mr. Graham— His Visits.— Work on the mission. 
 Mr. Graham rejoices in his prosperity. — Visit of Rev. John Feely. 
 —Great delight.— Prays with the congregation.— Conversion of a 
 Roman Catholic near Gillan.— Visit of his son.— Triumphant 
 death . . . • • • • 2 37-244 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XXI 
 
 PAGE 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 CHARACTER OF MR. GRAHAM. 
 
 Observations on Mr. Graham's death by the author. — His ministerial 
 appointments. — Conference character. — Observations by his son 
 Charles. — By Rev. Wm. Ferguson. — Mr. Ferguson's epitaph in 
 Stephen's Green Wesleyan Chapel suitable — Letter from Mr. 
 Ouseley to Mr. Lanktree on Mr. Graham's death. — Mr. Lanktree's 
 character in part, in note. — Rev. R. Huston's character of Mr. 
 Graham. — Preachers born in Connaught. — Mr. Punshon's lines in 
 note. — Rev. Richard Tracey on Mr. Graham. — Rev. John Byrne 
 on same and his poem ..... 246-257 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 SEVERAL OPINIONS ON THE MINISTERIALAND MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE. 
 
 Views of Rev. Thomas Jackson on the Christian ministry. — Ditto the 
 Rev. William Arthur. — Ditto Rev. Charles Prest. — Ditto Rev. 
 Mr. Perks.— Ditto Rev. Mr. Briggs.— Ditto Rev. Dr. Scott.— Ditto 
 Rev. Dr. Crook.— Ditto late Rev. R. Wallace.— Epitaph.— Ditto 
 Rev. John Byrne. — Ditto a lay gentleman. — Ditto Rev. John Hill. 
 —Ditto Rev. O. M'Cutcheon.— Ditto Mr. Sheriff M 'Arthur, of 
 London 259-271 
 
 Rev. Dr. Stevens' description of the labours and fruit of the general 
 mission. — Dr. George Smith's (of Cambourne) account of the 
 English Home Mission. — Mission under Dr. Coke, as the result of 
 the success of the Irish Mission. — The conversion of the Dairy- 
 man's daughter. — Also of Mrs. Slacke of Annadale. — Sudden 
 death. — Mrs. Whittaker of Sligo. — A remarkable woman. — 
 Sudden death ...... 273-282 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 FRUIT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Conclusion — the general mission 
 
 Appendix A 
 Appendix B 
 Appendix C 
 Appendix D 
 
 284-296 
 299-304 
 306-311 
 313-316 
 318-323 
 
LINES ON IRELAND. 
 
 Said to be first written in Latin about a thousand years ago — likely when 
 she first obtained the appellation of ' Island of Saints,' and long before 
 she was visited by the Church of Rome. 
 
 ' Far westward lies an isle of ancient fame, 
 By nature blest, and Ireland is her name ; 
 Enrolled in books, exhaustless in her store 
 Of vehiy silver, and of golden ore ; 
 Her fruitful soil for ever teems with wealth, 
 With gems her waters, and her air with health ; 
 Her verdant fields with milk and honey flow, 
 Her woolly fleeces vie with virgin snow ; 
 Her waving furrows float with bearded corn, 
 And arms and arts her envied sons adorn. 
 No savage bear with lawless fury roves ; 
 No roaring lion through her peaceful groves ; 
 No poison here infects, no scaly snakes 
 Creep through her grass, nor toad among her lakes. 
 An island worthy of its pious race, 
 In war triumphant, and unmatched in peace.' 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ' Let others boast their ancient line, 
 In long succession great ; 
 In the proud list let heroes shine, 
 And monarchs swell the state. 
 Descended from the King of kings, 
 Each saint a nobler title sings.' 
 
 HE term c Apostle/ as connected with the title of this 
 book, and applied to Mr. Graham, requires explana- 
 tion. We use it only in a secondary or conventional 
 sense. It has been frequently so used by churches in all 
 ages, especially in reference to missionaries who first intro- 
 duced the Gospel into new places ; for instance, Sv/artz was 
 called the Apostle of India; Brainard, the Apostle of the 
 North American Indians ; Judson, the Apostle of Burmah, and 
 it has been often so used among ourselves, as in the case of John 
 Crook, who was called ' the Apostle of the Isle of Man,' &c. 
 The term uttootoKoq literally signifies f a messenger' or envoy — 
 a-n-o, from, and <n-£\Xw, to send — 4 1 send a message,' that is, sent 
 on a confidential errand. The word was anciently used to signify 
 a person commissioned by a king to negotiate important affairs, 
 then it was used synonymously with the word 1 herald.' The 
 apostles were first called disciples, to denote that men must be 
 first taught of God before they are sent of God. See Dr. 
 Clarke on Matthew x. 2, and Rom. i. 1. It is applied to our 
 
xxiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Lord (see Heb. iii. i) in a peculiar and pre-eminent sense, 
 as 1 The sent of God f- — also applied to the twelve apostles in a 
 special sense, and in which there can be no successors. It 
 was necessary for them to see our Lord, to witness His death, 
 resurrection, and ascension; to write the Scriptures, and to 
 work miracles ; hence the modern ' apostolical succession ' boast 
 is, as Archbishop Whately said, 'a fable ;' but in spirit, in labours, 
 in success, and in the conversion of sinners, it may be justifi- 
 able ; and in this sense it is so used by us. The writer would 
 now record another name, that of the Rev. Edward Hazleton, 
 who may well be called 1 the Apostle of Donegal.' He was 
 instrumental in the conversion of the gifted Dr. Elliott, of 
 America, the author of the work entitled Roman Catholicism. 
 In the minutes of 1855, which record Mr. Hazleton's death, it 
 is said, ' hundreds will be the crown of his rejoicing in the day 
 of the Lord Jesns.' His last words were, ' the will of the Lord 
 be done.' He deserves a lengthened record. The writer would 
 say the same of many more of our beloved fathers, such as the 
 Revds. W. Ferguson, M. Tobias, Wm. Stewart, and his per- 
 sonal friend, H. Deery, &c. It would fail him to speak of 
 about one hundred more of those standard bearers who passed 
 away to mansions in the skies since he entered the ministry, 
 in 183 1. What a glorious Shining front' of God's nobility 
 from the Irish battle field there displays the ' unutterable 
 name.' Whatever may have been their pretensions on earth, 
 they have now realized the truth of Tennyson's (Poet Laureate) 
 lines : — 
 
 ' 'Tis only noble to be good ; 
 
 Kind hearts are more than coronets, 
 And simple faith than Norman blood.' 
 
 The name Graham signifies in the Danish language (from 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXV 
 
 which it is derived), ' the commander of an army/ — and one 
 might almost venture to say, that it was never more appropri- 
 ately applied, in the best sense of the tenn, than to the subject 
 of this memoir ; for, since the days of the apostles, perhaps no 
 man gathered in, and conducted onward, a greater number of 
 ' the sacramental host' — the Wesleys and Whitfield excepted — 
 than Charles Graham, as the following pages will testify. With 
 them, he also might truly exclaim : — 
 
 ' O the fathomless love that has deign'd to approve 
 
 And prosper the work of my hands ! 
 With my pastoral crook I went over the brook, 
 
 And, behold, I am spread into bands ! 
 Who, I ask in amaze, hath begotten me these, 
 
 And inquire from what quarter they came ? 
 My full heart it replies, they are born from the skies, 
 
 And gives glory to God and the Lamb.' 
 
 The large families of the Grahams now spread over England, 
 Ireland, and Scotland, are all of Danish extraction, and have 
 descended from the renowned Grceame, the son of Scioldus, 
 the king of Denmark, It appears that Fergus II., king of 
 Scotland, was married to the daughter of this Graeaeme about the 
 year 404. The father is said to have accompained his son-in- 
 law to Scotland with his family, and became a general in the 
 king's army. In an engagement with the Romans, who had 
 invaded the kingdom, he completely routed them, and 
 broke down the wall which Severus, the Seventh Emperor 
 of Rome, had erected from the Frith of Forth to the 
 Clyde. The breach was afterwards, and we believe is still 
 called Graham's Dyke, or Dock, near Dumbarton. In the 
 year 11 28, we read in Scotch history of 'William de Graeaeme' 
 being one of the witnessses to the laying of the foundation 
 of the Abbey of Holyrood House, by King David I. In 
 
xxvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the year 1814, the late Sir Walter Scott wrote a letter to 
 the Rev. John Graham, author of the Siege of Deny, and which 
 afterwards appeared in the Dublin University Magazine for the 
 year 1833, in which he distinctly states, that James the First of 
 England and Sixth of Scotland, on his accession to the English 
 throne, banished many of the Grahams to the North of Ire- 
 land, not from arbitrary, but from political motives, suspecting 
 their strong adherence to the English interest. This proved 
 an infinite blessing to that part of the country, then wild and 
 waste, but Charles Graham's ancestors were not among those 
 settlers. His came directly from Scotland at the time of the 
 Revolution, and fought gallantly under King William. They 
 afterwards settled down in different places, no doubt well 
 rewarded for their bravery. The ancestral family of Mr. 
 Graham fixed their residence at Drumahair, about six miles 
 from Sligo ; the ruins of the old mansion are said to remain 
 there still. The head of the family, being a Scotch laird 
 was in the habit of returning yearly to Scotland for his rents, 
 but one of those occasions proved to be his last. It was sup- 
 posed he was either drowned or murdered. He was never 
 heard of afterwards. He left a widow and four orphan sons 
 to deplore his loss, and that in a strange land. One of those 
 sons was the grandfather of Charles Graham. Alas ! how 
 uncertain are the fairest prospects on earth, confirmed by every 
 day's experience.* What is our life ? It is but a vapour. 
 
 The aged widow was truly pious, as will be seen. She reared 
 her children industriously and well, and also her grandson, the 
 
 * Perhaps this was never more tragically illustrated than by the awful 
 scene which this day's papers (August 21, 1868) describe, just as these lines 
 are going to press. Some thirty-five persons hurried into eternity 
 yesterday, by the Irish mail train from London coming in contact with 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXV11 
 
 father of Charles ; but while we may here trace Mr. Graham's 
 family through a long line of ancestral respectability, it will 
 be our more pleasing duty and privilege to trace him to a 
 higher, a richer, a nobler parentage, by which alone he could 
 claim a title to ' A never-fading crown.' And, after all, what 
 are worldly distinctions and an earthly name, even royalty 
 itself, especially in the time of worldly reverses, and in the 
 hour of death ? But, above all, what will they avail in 1 that day 
 for which all other days were made?' — for 'without holiness 
 no man shall see the Lord/ and all thanks to our God, this 
 holiness may now be ours. 
 
 * True happiness is not the growth of earth, 
 
 The search is useless if you seek it there ; 
 'Tis an exotic of celestial birth, 
 And only blossoms in celestial air.' 
 
 waggons laden with petroleum oil, and which ignited by the concussion ; 
 not a moment left as a preparation for eternity ! Among the number are an 
 Irish nobleman and his lady, and worthily spoken of for many good 
 qualities. What a comment on Gray's lines: — 
 
 4 The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, 
 
 And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, 
 Await like the inevitable hour — 
 The path of glory leads but to the grave.' 
 
/ 
 
 I. 
 
 1 God is love.' — i John iv. 8. 
 
 * Love found me in the wilderness, at cost 
 Of painful quests, when I myself had lost ; 
 Love on its shoulders joyfully did lay 
 Me, weary with the greatness of my way ; 
 Love lit the lamp, and swept the hou& all round, 
 Till the lost money in the end was found ; 
 'Tv/as Love whose quick and ever watchful eye 
 The wanderer's first step homewards did espy; 
 From its own wardrobe Love gave word to bring 
 What things I needed — shoes, and robe, and ring. ' 
 
 A 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY LIFE AND CONVERSION. 
 
 Description of Sligo and its neighbourhood. — Its scenery. — 
 Lough Gill. — Distinguished in Irish history. — Skirmish 
 with the French. — The latter subdued by Marquis 
 Cornwallis. — Civil wars. — The birthplace of Graham. — 
 Character of his parents. — His great-grandmother. — The 
 state of morals most deplorable. — Sent to school. — Returns. 
 — Becomes reckless. — Invocation of saints and angels. — His 
 father's death. — Obtained his blessing. — Promises amend- 
 ment. — Revolts again. — Death of a respectable female. — 
 Wake. — Rebuked. — Balaam. — His end. — Invited to preach- 
 ing in Sligo. — Plainness of congregation. — Dress. — Mr. 
 Wesley's and author's opinion. — Wm. Bramwell. — Anecdote. 
 — Hears the Rev. F. Wrigley. — Convinced of sin. — Deep 
 distress. — Finds mercy. — Great joy.— Grieves the Spirit. — 
 Great Anguish. — Restoration. — Greater joy than before. 
 
 HE town of Sligo, near to which Mr. Graham was born, 
 is a good Irish sea-port, in the province of Con- 
 naught, and is situated on the north-western coast of 
 the island. It lies in the centre of a vast basin, formed by 
 surrounding mountains. The Atlantic flows into it, and forms 
 a commodious and beautiful harbour for ships of large tonnage. 
 
4 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 The town is also rich in a variety of ancient ruins, some of wh 
 are in a fine state of preservation. The neighbourhood abounds 
 in all the elements of picturesque scenery. It is relieved from 
 the monotony of other parts of Ireland by an agreeable diversity 
 of wood and water, of mountain range and fertile valley, all 
 of which render it what may be truly called romantic — including 
 the bold, the beautiful, and the sublime. Lough Gill, close by, 
 can compare, for its size, with any lake in Ireland, and may be 
 called ' the Killarney of Connaught/ The town is distinguished 
 in Irish history for having given battle in 1798 to Genera! 
 Humbert, who commanded the French army, and who had to 
 succumb to Marquis Cornwallis, a few days after, in the County 
 Longford. It also suffered much from the civil wars of 164a 
 and 1 641, to which we must refer again. But while these 
 attractions of place and scenery may be interesting to tourists, 
 historians, or antiquaries, they are still more so to the admirers 
 of the footprints of Providence and of grace, inasmuch as they 
 are associated with the names of many of the illustrious dead, 
 who served both the Church of God and their countiy, and 
 especially as being the birth-place of the subject of our Memoir. 
 They witnessed his early days, his rising manhood, his conver- 
 sion to God, and particularly his evangelistic labours, for at 
 least some twenty years of his hallowed career. 
 
 Mr. Graham was born on the 20th August 1750, at a village 
 called Tullinnagrackin, within two English miles of the town of 
 Sligo, on the south or Dublin side, and, to use his own lan- 
 guage, ' of parents who were punctual, honest, and kind, but as 
 to vital piety, it was neither known nor thought of.' They con- 
 formed to the service of the Church of England, as they had 
 no place of worship in the locality belonging to that of their 
 forefathers — the Church of Scotland. His father was reared by 
 his own grandmother, the ancestral widow already alluded to, 
 who, like another Lois, instructed him well in the theory of 
 divine truth until he became at least a good textuarist. But hi? 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 5 
 
 knowledge, alas, was all in vain as far as decision for Christ 
 was concerned. 
 
 * Knowledge, alas, 'tis all in vain, 
 
 And all in vain our fear, 
 Our stubborn sins will fight and reign, 
 If love be absent there.' 
 
 The state of morals in that neighbourhood then, and indeed 
 one might justly say all over the land, w T as most deplorable. 
 An episcopalian clergyman writes of the period thus — ' Every 
 sin might be practised with impunity ; the country was degraded, 
 ignorant, and corrupt j and after the celebration of divine 
 worship (on the Sabbath), both in the Church and Roman 
 Catholic chapel, away went all, accompanied by priest and 
 parson, either to the chase or to the merry dance-ring, so well 
 described by Goldsmith in his Descried Village — 
 
 "And still as each repeated pleasure tired, 
 Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspired." ' 
 
 An aged Wesleyan minister, the Rev. Matthew Lanktree, 
 speaks of this era also in the following mournfully graphic 
 manner : — ' Blasphemy, Sabbath-breaking, and drunkenness, 
 were awfully predominant; party spirit, pitched battles, san- 
 guinary conflicts, nocturnal devastations, and private murders, 
 were the order of the day. At fairs and markets they fought 
 like furies, until bloodshed and battery marked the conquest. 
 The very amusements displayed equal barbarity. Song-singing, 
 card-playing, and dancing were regarded as among the innocent 
 things, but Sabbath-breaking was awfully prevalent, especially 
 on pattern (patron) days (alluding to days devoted to the 
 patron saint of some well — such as "Saint John's Well," &c, 
 no doubt in reference to Bethesda of old) : on those days 
 drinking, riot, and every evil work abounded; but the wakes 
 (that is, waking the dead) were the most profane, ludicrous. 
 
6 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 and obscene. At one time a prayer for the repose of the 
 dead, at another time a keen (Irish cry for the dead), some- 
 times rising to a wail by the mourning women, perhaps half 
 drunk ; and then the smoking, drinking, and jokes by the aged, 
 while the young were allowed to revel in all manner of folly.' 
 It was the misfortune of young Graham to be surrounded by 
 all these associations in his youth, for they were equally preva- 
 lent both among Protestants and Roman Catholics. The lad 
 was sent to school when young, but remained only long enough 
 to read, to write, and to make up some accounts. This was 
 the maximum of common-rate education among the middle 
 classes in those days, and happy was the youth who attained 
 even to this standard. He left school at fourteen, and 
 became the fond companion of his father on the farm, and 
 accompanied him to fairs and markets, ' to take the old man 
 safely home.' After his return from school — which he was 
 then too glad to leave, but which he greatly regretted in after 
 life — we may describe him in the following lines of Willis, an 
 American poet — 
 
 1 A noble boy, 
 A brave, truehearted, careless one, 
 Full of unchecked, unbounded joy, 
 Of dread of books, and love of fun, 
 And with a clear and ready smile, 
 Unshadow'd by a thought of guile.' 
 
 This youth, now called by the over-fondness of both parents, 
 ' their dear Charles,' soon began to learn the evil habits 
 and corrupt practices of those around him. His father's 
 society was greatly courted, as he was both generous and hos- 
 pitable himself. The son was thus early inducted into all the 
 convivialities of foolish company, and he soon became a learned 
 disciple in the school of Bacchus, where all the arts of hell are 
 freely taught Self-will and obstinacy, as well as quarrelling 
 and gambling habits, were all acquired, until the mastery was 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 7 
 
 fully obtained ; and although young in years, the sentiment 
 of Wordsworth was truly verified — 
 
 • The child is father to the man. ' 
 The parents were now unable to restrain the habits of the 
 young Tyro. Their own indulgence tended to strengthen 
 them. Still his father would sometimes reprove him, and fre- 
 quently repeated portions of those Scriptures which he himself 
 had learned in early life from his good old Scotch grandmother. 
 His 'dear Charles' would promise amendment, but as fre- 
 quently — 
 
 ' Disappointment smiled at hope's career." 
 As to family and private devotions they were never named, 
 unless by an occasional repetition of the following doggrel lines 
 after lying down at night : — 
 
 ' There are four corners on my bed, 
 There are four angels round me spread, 
 Matthew, Mark, and Luke and John, 
 God bless the bed that I lie on. ' 
 
 This was the sum total of the devotional piety of those days, 
 and the Protestants were as superstitious as the Romanists in 
 invoking saints and angels. ' Alas ! where there is no vision 
 the people perish.' : 
 
 A trying circumstance now occurred which greatly alarmed 
 this young desperado, namely, that of the death of his father. 
 His sickness was protracted, but it appears from what Mr. Graham 
 states afterwards, that the affliction was sanctified, and he had 
 a pleasing hope that ' mercy to his rescue flew ; ' for in record- 
 ing the event his words are, 1 1 believe he died in the favour of 
 God, and with His praises on his lips.' The old man was led 
 by the Spirit of God, through the light of the truth received in 
 early life, to see his lost condition. He earnestly sought and 
 happily found redemption in the blood of the Lamb. Oh, the infi- 
 nite advantages of a religious training, and how true the saying, 
 ' Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old 
 
8 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 he will not depart from it' It was so in this case, although he 
 did depart from it 'for many long rebellious years.' The solemn 
 event of his death affected young Charles very deeply, at least 
 for a time ; but he consoled himself, that as he obtained his 
 father's blessing before he died, all was well, and he resolved to 
 cease from evil ; but his promises were ' like the morning cloud 
 and the early dew,' and were as easily and speedily broken as 
 Samson's withes \ for scarcely had his father been more than a 
 few days interred, when the historical phrase might be adopted, 
 that * Old Adam was too strong for young Melancthon.' Off 
 he plunged again into greater excesses than before. Restraint 
 was out of the question, and he became 4 desperately wicked.' 
 The spirit of Scotch clanship and hero worship came upon him 
 with all the power of a ruling passion. He became a noted 
 pugilist, and his motto was to 'conquer or to die.' Kis com- 
 panionship was entirely in character, and its members might be - 
 truly called what he himself afterwards designated the noto- 
 riously ungodly, ' Sons of Belial.' What were called 'the Sligo 
 Bucks,' a class of the most reckless and vicious characters of 
 the age, were in full swing. Indeed, it seemed to be then the 
 rage of the day for each town to turn out 'bands' vieing with 
 each other in deeper crimson; but those in Sligo and 'the 
 Mallow Rakes' excelled. Nor was young Graham and his 
 companions a whit behind. He drank in iniquity as water, and, 
 to use his own expression, ' I might truly be called legion, for 
 no chains could bind me.' Reminding one of John Newton's 
 description of himself — 
 
 1 Legion was my name by nature, 
 Satan raged within my breast ; 
 Xe'er was sinner ever greater, 
 Ne'er was mortal more oppressed.' 
 
 Yet the Spirit of God did not cease to strive with him, for 
 sometimes the alarming portions of Scripture which his father 
 taught him would now and again flash across his wayward 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 9 
 
 mind ; but, like unwelcome and forbidden intruders, they 
 were resisted again. Yet, unwearied, Love Divine pursued 
 him, as the following circumstance will fully prove — an event 
 which considerably contributed in putting a drag on the wheel 
 of his corrupt nature, if not the actual turning-point in his 
 history. A respectable Protestant woman had died in the 
 neighbourhood, whose brother was a local preacher in the 
 town of Sligo. It appears he was formerly one of young 
 Graham's companions in folly and in crime. Graham attended 
 the wake with a number of his associates, and, according to 
 wonted custom, they began, at a certain time of the evening, 
 to indulge themselves in foolish sports. The local preacher 
 interposed, and mildly rebuked them. They insisted on their 
 accustomed rights, but he was firm to his purpose. They 
 bitterly retorted, and said — ' Perhaps we will get to heaven as 
 soon as yourself.' 'That may be,' said he; 'but unless you 
 live the life of the righteous, your hope of heaven will be as 
 vain as that of Balaam, who said, " Let me die the death of 
 the righteous, and let my last end be like unto his ;" but, alas ! 
 how did he liveV This was as a nail fastened in a sure place. 
 Young Graham went home chafed in his mind, but resolved to 
 search the Bible all through, until he found out what was recorded 
 of Balaam. The result was, that he found that Balaam ' loved 
 the wages of unrighteousness,' and was afterwards found dead 
 among the slain in battle. (Numbers xxxi. 8.) 'From this 
 moment,' says he, 'the scales began to fall from my eyes.' 
 But he was not thoroughly awakened yet to a deep sense of 
 his guilt and danger, although he began 'to feel after God.' 
 The husband of the deceased woman just referred to became 
 anxious about the salvation of young Graham. On the fol- 
 lowing Sabbath he called and prayed in his mother's house, 
 after which Graham asked him from what book did he learn 
 that fine prayer ? The friend responded, and said that he had 
 not learned it from any book, and that prayer was the gift of 
 
IO THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 God. This greatly stunned young Graham, for he never heard 
 an extemporaneous prayer before. This friend had himseh 
 lately joined the Methodists, and was truly converted. He 
 then invited young Graham to accompany him to hear a 
 Methodist preacher in Sligo. He did so, but it was a leader 
 who conducted the service ; most likely Andrew Mabin, of 
 whom we will have to speak hereafter. The first impression 
 on this new hearer's mind was that of wonder at the plain 
 dress of the congregation, so different from any he had ever 
 witnessed ; the Methodists of those days — especially the female 
 portion of them — carried out St. Peter's injunction, — 'Whose 
 adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the 
 hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel.' 
 (i Pet. hi. 3.) On which Mr. Wesley remarks, 'Three things 
 are here forbidden — 1st, plaiting (or curling) the hair; 2ndly, 
 wearing gold (by way of ornament) ; 3rdly, putting on costly 
 (or gay) apparel. These, therefore,' says he, ' ought never to 
 be allowed, much less defended by Christians.' How far this 
 contrasts with the present race of Methodists and other pro- 
 fessing Christians, let conscience and usage declare. Neatness 
 and cleanliness are always to be admired, and there was no 
 person a greater advocate for these virtues than the venerable 
 man named. His motto was, with good old Herbert, 
 1 Let thy mind's sweetness have its operation 
 Upon thy person, clothes, and habitation.' 
 
 And I would merely add, that these three things will generally 
 guide in regard to dress — namely, age, circumstances, and position. 
 At all events young Graham's mind was deeply impressed with 
 the modest apparel of the first Methodist congregation he had 
 ever witnessed. Small matters ol this character may be over- 
 ruled so as to contribute to great results. It is said of the 
 celebrated William Bramwell, that on one occasion, when 
 travelling in a stage-coach with a strange gentleman, the 
 conversation turned on prayer, when Bramwell said to his 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 I I 
 
 companion, 1 1 believe, Sir, you never pray.' The other asked 
 him 'why he said so.' ' Because,' said Mr. R, 'I see no sign 
 of it on your knees.' The gentleman had the curiosity to 
 look at the knees of Mr. BramwelFs trousers, and saw them 
 threadbare with frequent and long kneeling. It is stated that 
 this simple circumstance led to the gentleman's conversion. 
 The friend already referred to invited Graham again to accom- 
 pany him on the following Sabbath to Sligo. The Rev. 
 Francis Wrigley preached from Matt, vii 21 — ' Not every one 
 that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom 
 of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in 
 heaven.' Under this sermon he was completely broken down. 
 The interrogatory mode of application prevailed among the 
 Methodist preachers of those days, and often with marvellous 
 results, as was the case in this instance. ' Is there any person 
 here,' said the preacher, 'guilty of such and such crimes?' — 
 particularizing a number of them. Graham's conscience smote 
 him at once, or rather the Holy Spirit applied the word, and 
 it would appear that he cried out audibly, 'I am the man.' 
 The following Scripture was literally fulfilled : — ' He was con- 
 vinced of all, he was judged of all, and the secrets of his heart 
 were made manifest,' &c. (1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25.) He went home 
 with the barbed arrow of conviction deeply infixed. He might 
 surely say, in Doddridge's description of Colonel Gardiner — 
 
 ' My conscience felt and owned the guilt, 
 
 And plunged me in despair ; 
 I saw my sins His blood had spilt, 
 And helped to nail Him there. ' 
 
 This awful but hopeful struggle began. 'The strong man 
 armed kept his palace,' but not now ' in peace.' Still he refused 
 to let the captive go ! An alarming dream, in which all his 
 sins stood out before him in dread array, 'and which,' says 
 he, in his record of this fearful scene, ' caused me great horror 
 of mind.' He awoke, no doubt, exclaiming, ' O wretched 
 
12 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this 
 death ? ' Traly wretched, helpless, and distressed, he ceaselessly 
 groaned — 
 
 ' The sinner's only plea, 
 " God be merciful to me.'" 
 
 He penned the following penitential confession, which may 
 be compared to Ezekiel's roll of lamentation, and mourning, 
 and woe : — ' I took my full swing of pleasure, and neither vows 
 or good purposes could stand before the power of temptation. 
 I regarded neither God, or man, or demon, or kindred, except 
 my mother, who had often cause to weep over me. When I 
 went abroad I seldom returned without a fight, and at different 
 times my wickedness endangered my life.' The recollection 
 of all this lay like a millstone on his heart. Thus he continued 
 for a full fortnight in all the agony of woe. At length the hour 
 of deliverance arrived. He went to Sligo, and heard the 
 sweet sound of Gospel grace again, very likely, from the same 
 minister under whom he was awakened. In the middle of the 
 sermon, while the preacher was directing the convinced peni- 
 tent to the Lamb of God, faith sprung up in his heart, 'the Sun 
 of Righteousness arose with healing in his wings,' and joy and 
 gladness filled his weary and heavy-laden spirit. He writes, 
 ' I believe on that occasion I received the justifying grace of 
 God, for I felt my trouble dispersed like mist before the rising 
 sun.' We may well adopt Cowper's language on the way of 
 salvation by faith : — 
 
 * O how unlike the complex works of man, 
 Heaven's easy, artless, unencumbered plan ; 
 Legible only by the light they give, 
 Stand the soul-quickening words, " Believe and live.'" 
 
 This auspicious event took place on the 17th of March, 
 1770, and in the twentieth year of his age. He returned to 
 his house like the publican 'justified,' to tell to his overjoyed 
 mother what God had done for his soul. At once the spirit of 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 *3 
 
 grace and supplication was poured upon him. and immediately 
 he commenced family prayer, and bid fair for worlds on high. 
 One is constrained to wonder that a career so reckless and 
 prodigal could be pursued so long with any kind of proper 
 attention to his farm and to his mother's comforts ; but now 
 she forgot all her pain, and toil, and care, and, better still, she 
 very soon became herself the subject of penitential Sorrow and 
 heartfelt joy. He writes of her distress thus:— 'She watered 
 her couch with her tears, and mingled her drink with her 
 weeping;' but ere long she, too, found 'the pearl of great price,' 
 and that to the no small joy of 'her dear boy.' This event took 
 place while he was engaged one morning in family prayer. 
 She never lost the conscious sense of the Divine favour until 
 she finished her happy course. Both mother and son now 
 went on their way rejoicing, and all around shared in their 
 joy ! But, alas, like many young converts, imagining his 
 mountain so strong that he 'could never be moved,' and igno- 
 rant of Satan's devices, soon, by unwatchfulness, he lost the 
 light of God's reconciled countenance, and became the subject 
 of very deep distress. However he fled at once to ' the horns 
 of the altar.' He wrestled there for three days and nights, 
 scarcely partaking of either food or sleep ; and if his agony 
 was poignant before, it was sevenfold more so now. He 
 thought he committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy 
 Ghost, and, like David, he literally ' roared by reason of the 
 disquietness of his heart' He might truly say, ' The pains of 
 hell got hold upon me.' Like Peter, he 'wept bitterly;' but 
 when his strength had well nigh failed, like another wrestling- 
 Jacob, God appeared in his distress, and he exclaimed : — 
 
 ' O what shall I do my Saviour to praise, 
 So faithful and true, so plenteous in grace ; 
 So strong to deliver, so good to redeem 
 The weakest believer that hangs upon him ? ' 
 
 If his peace ' flowed as a river' before, it flowed as a torrent 
 
14 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM. 
 
 now. It was 'joy unspeakable, and full of glory.' Besides he 
 was doubly watchful and circumspect. From this time, I 
 believe, he never for an hour lost the sweet sense of sins 
 forgiven during his after-life of fifty-four years. The painful 
 ordeal through which he now passed he recorded most faith- 
 fully, and he hoped it would be a warning to young beginners 
 to hearken to our Lord's admonition, ' Watch and pray, lest 
 ye enter into temptation.' If the enemy can succeed in getting 
 the young believer to depend on self, and thus push him off 
 his guard, he will soon tempt him to question the genuineness 
 of his conversion. I would strongly recommend in such cases, 
 an immediate application to some experienced Christian friend 
 for prayerful sympathy and counsel. The writer was well nigh 
 casting away his confidence in the beginning of his own Chris- 
 tian course for want of such advice. 
 
 ' Happier we each other keep, 
 We each other's burden bear ; 
 
 Never need our footsteps slip, 
 Upheld by mutual prayer.' 
 
II. 
 
 4 The desire of the conversion of souls is nothing else but a spiritualized 
 humanity.' — John Howe. 
 
 ' Born of the Spirit now, divinely led, 
 He hastes in his dear Saviour's steps to tread ; 
 Alarms the souls that sleep secure in sin, 
 'Till urged the one great business they begin. 
 Instructs them how to escape the judgment nigh, 
 "Ye must be born again, or dead for ever die ; " 
 And cried, with deep, unfeign'd humility, 
 "Send, Lord, by whom Thou wilt, but send not me." 
 He now begins, from every weight set free, 
 To make full trial of his ministry ; 
 Breaks forth on every side, and runs and flies, 
 Like kindling flames that from the stubble rise ; 
 Ranges through all the city, lanes, and streets, 
 And seizes every prodigal he meets ; 
 Where'er the ministerial Spirit leads, 
 From house to house the heavenly fire he spreads. ' 
 
 C. Wesley on Whitfield. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 BECOMES A LOCAL PREACHER CONFLICT AND VICTORY. 
 
 After his restoration, begins to labour with redoubled energy. 
 —Increases in influence and esteem. — Becomes a local 
 preacher.— A mysterious revelation. — Goes to preach for 
 the first time from a text of scripture. — is encouraged 
 greatly. — heavy trials occur. — divisions in the sligo 
 Society. — Entertains views on the 'limited atonement.' — 
 Renounces them. — Has fever.— Meets Mr. Thomas, by whom 
 he is instructed and encouraged. — mr. wesley's visit to 
 9ligo. — Wesley not discouraged, although forgotten by 
 some of his former friends. — mr. graham made very useful. 
 — Richard Baxter's view of the ministry. — Persecution. — 
 Interviews with priests. — Smart reply. — Revival round the 
 Sligo Circuit. — Struck by a Romanist who was buried that 
 day week. — Evil reports. — Envy. — Young's description. — 
 Ovid's also, with Dryden's translation. — Description of 
 Antichrist. — 1771. 
 
 ND when thou art converted (restored), strengthen 
 thy brethren,' said our Lord to Peter j so it was now 
 with this young restored disciple of Jesus. Being 
 ' strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might,' he began 
 to speak boldly and indiscriminately to every one whom he 
 met, about 'Christ and Him crucified.' He also began to hold 
 prayer meetings here and there. New scenes of usefulness 
 presented themselves to him day by day. He very soon 
 became the object of attraction and esteem. Although he 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 17 
 
 had not the slightest idea at the time of a wider circle of 
 labour than his own immediate neighbourhood afforded. His 
 highest ambition seemed to be that of a local preacher — 
 a lay order among the Wesleyans — but even this he regarded 
 in a very responsible point of view. The following circum- 
 stance gave him both light and encouragement as to the 
 Divine will in this matter, as well as proved the truth of the fol- 
 lowing Scripture — ' Unto the upright there ariseth light in 
 darkness.' 
 
 One day, while pondering in one of his fields on the respon- 
 sibility of this office and how he might best promote the Divine 
 glory, and withal feeling his own utter insufficiency, just then 
 he felt a strange sensation coming over him, and in a moment 
 as if wrapt up in vision, he thought he saw a person approach 
 him who threw his mantle over him, and then immediately 
 vanished. At once he thought of Elijah casting his mantle on 
 Elisha. (See 1 Kings xix. 19). This greatly strengthened him. 
 and confirmed him in a thorough conviction that God would 
 open some door of usefulness before him, which presently 
 presented itself thus : — A local preacher, who was unable to 
 attend his appointment, sent to request Mr. Graham to do so 
 for him. He was rather nonplussed for a moment, as he had 
 not hitherto preached from a regular text; but while beginning 
 to hesitate, and making it a subject of prayer, the following 
 passage came powerfully to his mind — ' Woe is me if I preach 
 not the gospel ; for a dispensation of the gospel is committed 
 unto me.' This was enough: he saddled his horse, and off he 
 went, assured that God would not send him on this ' warfare at 
 his own charge.' His own words are, ' My heart was filled 
 with holy fire, which was the anointing of the Holy Ghost.' 
 Both himself and the people were greatly blessed that night 
 He became now what might be called ' a local evangelist,' but 
 still attending to his agricultural pursuits. Just at this time some 
 heavy trials awaited him. A division took place among the 
 
 B 
 
1 8 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Methodists in Sligo. The greater part united with a Mr. Mabin, 
 a merchant of influence, and the chief man in the society. He 
 separated from Mr. Wesley, and sent for a Calvinistic minister to 
 Scotland, who took possession of the little chapel. The 
 Methodists had to remove to another place. Mr. Mabin sent 
 for Mr. Graham, and held out the hope of his being immediately 
 called to the work of the ministry. Being very unsuspicious, 
 and glowing with a holy passion for the salvation of souls, he 
 yielded to the thought for the time being; obtained the books 
 which bore on the 'five points' of Calvinism; read them with 
 avidity; and, for a short time, embraced the doctrine of 'a 
 limited atonement.' He earnestly prayed for Divine direction, 
 and was soon afterwards led to change his purpose, and remain 
 with the people of his early choice. A severe fever which 
 perilled his life, together with a conversation, or rather a con- 
 troversy, which he had with the Rev. Mr. Thomas, a Wesleyan 
 preacher, greatly contributed to strengthen his resolution. The 
 subject of discussion was, the covenant wilich God made with 
 Eli, and the rejection of himself and family, which went to 
 show, that though the covenant- seemed to be absolute, yet there 
 must have been an implied condition, inasmuch as the covenant 
 was changed. (See i Sam. ii. 30.) 'Wherefore the Lord God 
 of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of 
 thy father, should walk before me for ever : but now the Lord 
 saith, Be it far from me ; for those that honour me I will honour, 
 and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed' Graham 
 w*rites, ' I was down at a blow ' — alluding to one of his pugilistic 
 expressions. He thought to recover, but said he, ' I was com- 
 pletely foiled.' From this time he resumed his full sphere of 
 usefulness in the Methodist society. All through this ordeal 
 he retained the life of God in his soul, but he was greatly 
 grieved at the reception Mr. Wesley met with from his old 
 friends on his next visit Mr. Wesley records it thus in his 
 Journal : — ' Mr. K and family would scarcely look at me, 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 although the last time they would almost pull out their eyes for 
 
 me, but now — 
 
 1 " They wondered at the strange man's face 
 As one they ne'er had known."' 
 
 And again, ' My old friend Andrew Mabin did not own me. 
 However, a few did, and we seem by all this late bustle and 
 confusion to have lost nothing.' Among those few was Mr. 
 Graham, who was then labouring away with double energy. His 
 own words are — 'I was determined to "spend and to be spent" in 
 the cause of my Master, and I thought I should have no 
 hindrance, for His word was as fire in my bones.' In fact, the 
 burden of souls lay so deeply on his spirit as to swallow up 
 every other desire. His feeling was, 1 Give me souls or else I 
 die.' Richard Baxter writes in his Reformed Pastor, t I never 
 knew a minister much owned of God unless he had a desire 
 bordering on unhappiness 'to see the fruit of his labours.' 
 It was truly so with Mr. Graham. ' The zeal of the Lord had 
 eaten him up. ' He was greatly strengthened by Mr. Thomas' ex- 
 perience — the preacher to whom allusion has just been made. 
 He gave the following statement to Mr. Graham: — 'I have 
 known God since I was nine years of age, and if I knew a 
 better way than what I have followed among the Methodists I 
 would embrace it' 
 
 The deplorable state of the community around him deeply 
 affected him, especially the Roman Catholic portion of it. 
 Those with whom he could religiously associate were very few 
 and far between, unless those who feared God in Sligo, but the 
 divisions and controversies there were withering. He warned 
 the Romanists wholesale wherever he met them, ' to flee from 
 the wrath to come.' This procedure soon brought upon him 
 the ire of the priests, who began to proclaim him from the 
 altars, and told the people to avoid him as a 1 demon, 1 ' a false 
 prophet,' and 'a madman.' The old game was up at once. 
 One of these reverend gentlemen, apparently kinder than the 
 
23 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 rest, 'pitied the young man,' and resolved to try his hand in 
 recovering this outcast from the sacred fold of Rome. 
 Accordingly he sent for young Graham, but the interview 
 was of a very short duration. 
 
 The priest said, ' I sent for you Mr. Graham, because I pity 
 you to be spending your time in striving to pervert my people ; 
 and you know that ours is the true Church, and out of the 
 Church of Rome there is no salvation.'* 
 
 'I know no such thing,' said Mr. Graham; 'for if you can 
 show me one in your whole parish who is not on the way to 
 hell I will join your Church at once.' 
 
 1 On the way to hell?' said the priest. 
 
 ' Yes,' said Mr. Graham. 
 
 ' Do you mean that my father is on the way to hell? How 
 can you make use of such an expression?' 
 
 'I ask you, Sir,' said Mr. Graham, 'is sin the way to hell?' 
 The priest said, 'yes.' 
 
 'Well, then,' said Graham, 'I don't know one in your whole 
 parish who is not committing sin from day to day.' This was 
 quite enough. 
 
 The priest pronounced him 'incorrigible,' and regretted that 
 he had anything to do with such a rough customer ! Before 
 they parted, Graham administered the following sharp reproof — 
 ' I fear, Sir, God never sent you to preach the Gospel, for if he 
 
 * 1 What constitutes a Church? 
 
 Not lofty spires, that pierce the distant clouds, 
 
 Nor well-built towers, nor glittering minarets, 
 
 Nor pealing organ, nor the hymning choir, 
 
 Nor spotless alb, nor sacerdotal stole, 
 
 Nor fragrant incense, e'en from golden censers ; 
 
 But God's pure Word, dispensed by holy men, 
 
 And holy sacraments with Gospel rites, 
 
 And fervent prayer, that Heaven delights to hear, 
 
 And Christ's own presence, with His faithful saints — 
 
 These constitute a Church. ' — Lytha?n. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 2 1 
 
 did you would profit the people.' They then parted, and the 
 priest took good care never to send for him again. 
 
 They afterwards met at a funeral, and the priest accosted 
 him, with an infidel sneer, by saying, ^Your Bible, Sir, might 
 as well be Roderick Random as anything else.' 
 
 k Sir,' said Graham, ' you appear more like a buffoon than a 
 teacher of religion.' 
 
 The record does not say whether they ever met again. How- 
 ever, he set his face as flint against this dire system, and verified 
 the Scripture declaration — 'The righteous are as bold as a lion.' 
 As might be expected, a great revival of religion soon spread 
 like fire round the land, and Graham 'waxed stronger and 
 stronger.' Many were brought to a saving knowledge of the 
 truth. Most likely this was the first extensive revival, as known 
 by that name, with which the Sligo circuit was visited ! Still 
 his labours were circumscribed, for he had his farm to mind, 
 and his mother's needs to supply. Like Paul, he wrought 'with 
 his own hands,' and was 'chargeable to no man.' He also 
 applied himself to reading, and soon became ' a workman that 
 needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' 
 We might apply those expressive words in a remarkable sense 
 to him. 
 
 ' Stablishes the strong, restores the weak, 
 Reclaims the wandering mind, binds the broken heart, 
 And trains by every rule 
 Of holy discipline to glorious war, 
 The sacramental host of God's elect.' 
 
 Nor was he long allowed to pass on unmolested. He had 
 soon ' to endure the contradiction of sinners against himself,' 
 like his Divine Master ! It was commonly reported that the 
 Methodists acted on the «^-resistant principle, and that they 
 never retaliated ! This led to the principle being tested in Mr. 
 Graham's case. As he was going one Sabbath morning to meet 
 a class at some distance, a stalwart Romanist, who was likely 
 
2 2 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 instigated by altar denunciations, came up to him and struck 
 him on the side of the head, or rather on his cheek. Graham, 
 who was well known formerly to fear the face of no man, but 
 now blending the harmlessness of the dove with the meekness 
 of wisdom, and literally acting on the Scripture injunction in 
 Matthew v. 39, as laid down by our blessed Lord, ' turned the 
 other side,' and said, ' Now strike me on this side,' which he 
 did. Mr. Graham merely replied, ' It will be a mercy if you 
 are able to lift that arm on this day week.' On that day week, 
 to the consternation of the whole country, the man was buried. 
 From that forward preachers and class leaders were allowed to 
 pass that way unmolested ! But when this did not succeed, 
 busy slander assumed its venomous sting, and tried its unhal- 
 lowed game. When going to meet his class on another occa- 
 sion, he found a large kitchen crook on the road, and took it 
 up to leave it at the next house for the owner, whose 'flitting' 
 had passed by some short time before. He was met by a man 
 ^vho immediately raised the report, 1 Graham stole the crook ;' 
 and this passed as a bye-word, or a nick-name, on the Metho- 
 dists for years, until it was a little altered into ' Ousely stole the 
 crook.' The Writer remembers the slander. But 'through 
 evil report and through good report' Graham pursued the even 
 tenor of his way, 'rejoicing that he was counted worthy to 
 suffer anything for Christ.' Dr. Young, in his Centaur ?iot 
 Fabulous, says 'Envy has under its banner hatred, calumny, 
 treachery, with the meagreness of famine, the venom of pesti- 
 lence, and the rage of war.' But Dryden's translation of Ovid's 
 description of Envy is more terse — 
 
 1 She never smiles but when the wretched weep, 
 Nor lulls her malice with a moment's sleep ; 
 Restless in spite, while watchful to destroy, 
 She pines and sickens at another's joy ; 
 Foe to herself, distressing and distrest, 
 She bears her own tormentor in her breast ' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 23 
 
 One would almost imagine that Ovid had a presentiment of the 
 envy which was to characterize professing systems of the Chris- 
 tian religion in after times. We should rather say antichristian, 
 for their motto has been ' to bite and devour one another,' 4 an 
 inscription,' says Richard Watson, ' only worthy to be written 
 on the gates of hell.' May it soon give way to one truly worthy 
 of the sacred name and cause of Him after whom we are called — 
 ' See how these Christians love one another.' 
 
 ' Haste, happy day ; that time I long to see, 
 When every child of Adam shall be free, 
 When all mankind in raptures shall proclaim 
 The pleasing wonders of a Saviour's name.' 
 
III. 
 
 ' He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless 
 come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.' — Ps. cxxvi. 6. 
 
 ' If you have not gold and silver 
 
 Ever ready at command; 
 If you cannot, toward the needy, 
 
 Reach an ever open hand; 
 You can visit the afflicted, 
 
 O'er the erring you can weep ; 
 You can be a true disciple, 
 
 Sitting at the Saviour's feet. 
 
 If you cannot, in the harvest, 
 
 Gamer up the richest sheaves, 
 Many a grain, both ripe and golden, 
 
 Which the careless reaper leaves, 
 You can glean among the briers 
 
 Growing rank against the wall, 
 For it may be that their shadow 
 
 Hides the heaviest wheat of all. 
 
 Do not then stand idly waiting 
 
 For some greater work to do ; 
 Fortune is a lazy goddess, 
 
 She will never come to you. 
 Go and toil in any vineyard, 
 
 Do not fear to do or dare— 
 If you want a field of labour, 
 
 You can find it anywhere.' 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 FILIAL ATTACHMENT — MARRIAGE AND ENTIRE CONSECRATION 
 
 TO GOD, 
 
 Very acceptable as a local preacher. — Watches over his mo- 
 ther's AGE WITH GREAT ANXIETY. — CAN'T THINK OF LEAVING 
 
 her. — Some impression about future and more extensive 
 usefulness. — Enters the marriage state. — Makes a happy 
 choice. — His wife's early conversion and usefulness. — The 
 bliss of kindred spirits. — She is a true helpmate. — Thoughts 
 about emigrating. — His mother's happy death. — Renewed 
 thoughts of emigrating prevented. — Seeks and obtains the 
 blessing of perfect love. — Recommends it to others. — A 
 great revival follows. — Mr. Wesley's visit to Sligo. — Awful 
 tragedy in Sligo before the Revolution. — Fearful massacre 
 of Protestants in 1641. — Luther obtained holiness of heart, 
 so does D'Aubigne and others. — Mr. Fletcher's language 
 appropriate. — Perfect resignation to the will of God. — 1772. 
 
 AVING now spent some time in the capacity of a local 
 preacher, and with great acceptance, yet having his 
 maternal parent to provide for, who was now 
 
 ' In age and feebleness extreme, ' 
 
 he could not think of taking a wider sphere which would sepa- 
 rate them, especially as his father gave her in charge to him. 
 But still he had some inward impression that God might at a 
 future day require him to give himself wholly to the work of 
 the ministry. In the mean time he took counsel, and asked in 
 prayer for Divine direction — for in everything ' he made his 
 
2 6 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 requests known to God — relative to changing his condition in 
 life. In this step he resolved to abide by the Scripture standard — 
 'Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers' (2 Cor. vi. 14), well 
 knowing that 'A prudent wife is of the Lord' (Pro v. xix. 14). 
 He states, ' If God ever heard prayer, He did it in this matter.' 
 He was directed to the house of a respectable and pious family 
 below Sligo of the name of Phillips, and there found the wife 
 of his choice in Miss Phillips, of whom he speaks thus : — 1 She 
 is truly a helpmeet for me, and proves a blessing to my soul 
 Thank God for giving me one as my partner who is an heir of 
 glory.' The account he gives of her early conversion is nearly 
 as remarkable as his own. She was aroused from her sinful 
 slumber by an awful dream of the solemn transactions of the 
 final judgment. She earnestly sought, and speedily found re- 
 demption in Christ, and became a 'burning and shining light.' 
 She now entered into all the views of her husband relative to 
 the salvation of souls, and encouraged him forward in his 
 happy toil : — 
 
 ' True bliss, if one can reach it, is composed 
 
 Of hearts in union, mutually disclosed, 
 
 When one in spirit, interest, and design, 
 
 Each girds the other to the race divine. ' 
 
 His marriage seems only to have intensified his desire for more 
 publicly and more frequently proclaiming the glorious sound of 
 Gospel grace. Whenever he was called away to any distance 
 to fill preaching appointments, she well supplied his lack of 
 home duties, as far as directions relative to the farm and busi- 
 ness affairs were concerned. Indeed, the love of souls became 
 so much his ruling passion, that he entertained the idea of 
 emigrating, especially as his mother had passed away about this 
 time. He says of her death — ' She died triumphantly happy, 
 and blessing the day she was ever born.' Never did greater 
 love exist between mother and son ; and while he rejoiced in 
 her complete victory over death, yet he mourned for her ' as 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 27 
 
 one mourneth for his mother.' We may truly say of her as 
 Charles Wesley wrote on his mother — 
 
 ' In sure and certain hope to rise, 
 And claim her mansion in the skies ; 
 A Christian here the flesh laid down, 
 The cross exchanging for a crown. 
 Meet for the fellowship above, 
 She heard the call, " Arise, my love," 
 " I come," her dying looks replied, 
 And lamb-like as her Lord she died.' 
 
 In speaking of his intention to emigrate, his feelings are thus 
 expressed — ' I cared not at this time where my sun went down, 
 so that God would make me the instrument of plucking sinners 
 as brands from the eternal burning.' Both husband and wife 
 sent 'up their cry to God to be guided aright in this matter. 
 The result was, a richer baptism of the Spirit, and a willingness 
 to wait for clearer light. He knew his being married pre- 
 sented an obstacle to his being called out into the regular work 
 of the Methodist ministry in this country, as there was a strict 
 rule then, as now, in the Conference, on that subject. The 
 Lord, however, answered in another way, in giving him to see the 
 absolute necessity of entire sanctification, or what he generally 
 called 'a clean heart' And as there was much written and 
 spoken on this subject at this time, he resolved not to rest short 
 of the blessing, that he might be the better able to recommend 
 it to others. His continual cry, as well as that of his good 
 wife, was, ' Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right 
 spirit within me.' 'Just as I arose one morning,' he writes: — 
 ' The Lord visited me in a most remarkable manner, and forcibly 
 impressed these words of the 103rd Psalm on my mind, 
 " Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that is within me, bless 
 his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all 
 his benefits : who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all 
 thy diseases." In that solemn moment,' says he, ' I found 
 
28 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 such a change pass on my soul as I had been unacquainted 
 with before — a change which filled me with "joy unspeakable 
 and very full of glory" — I could from that hour say, that " I 
 walked all the day long in the light of His countenance : " — 
 
 1 ' ' Not a cloud to arise or darken the skies, 
 
 Or hide for a moment the Lord from my eyes. " ' 
 
 In the above passage the two blessings are included — first, 
 'who forgiveth all thine iniquities;' and, secondly, ' who 
 healeth all thy diseases' It was this last blessing he sought, 
 and now found — the entire sanctification of his nature. ' My 
 cup was full,' he writes, ' and running over ; and so unspeak- 
 able was my joy, that it lifted me above all earthly things. 
 Wherever I came, the people had little rest, for where I slept 
 I was either preaching, praying, or praising God aloud, both 
 night and day.' He was now like a flame of fire, and all the 
 Sligo circuit seemed to partake of the influence, and vast num- 
 bers were led to seek, and happily found the same heavenly 
 treasure. To this wonderful work, no doubt, Mr. Wesley refers 
 in one of his next visits to Sligo : — ' Upon inquiry, I found 
 there had been for some time a real revival of religion here. 
 The congregations have considerably increased, and the society 
 is nearly doubled.' — Vol. iv., page 117. On the same page of 
 this Journal Mr. Wesley writes : — ' I now received an intel- 
 ligent account of the famous massacre at Sligo, a little before 
 the revolution. One Mr. Morris, a Popish gentleman, invited 
 all the chief Protestants to an entertainment, at the close of 
 which, on a signal being given, the men he had prepared fell 
 upon the Protestants, and left not one of them alive.' In 
 another part of his Journal he records : — ' I have just read a 
 history of the Irish rebellion of 1641, during which 200,000 
 Protestants were butchered in cold blood, and for which God 
 has still a controversy to settle with this country.' 
 
 Mr. Graham was now made more extensively useful than 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 29 
 
 ever, and he was very anxious to know the full will of God 
 concerning him. It would appear as if he was not sufficiently 
 experienced to enter on the great work of evangelizing the 
 land. His own unfitness — at least in his own estimation — 
 made him tremble. The Lord applied this passage, 'I will 
 send by whom I will send.' But ' holiness of heart' was his 
 constant theme. D'Aubigne states that Luther sought it 
 and found it, but called it under another name, namely, 'A 
 second conversion.' D'Aubigne tells us that he sought 
 it himself, and found it, 300 years after Luther. Baxter, 
 Fletcher, Wesley, William Carvosso, and Thomas Walsh pro- 
 fessed to have obtained it as a distinct blessing. So did Lady 
 Maxwell, Mrs. Fletcher, and Mrs. Rogers obtain it Boardman, 
 an American writer, calls it, ' The higher life.' Dr. Peck calls 
 it, ' The central idea of Christianity;' and Mr. Wesley calls it, 
 'Christian perfection.' Mrs. Palmer, of America, says, 'It is 
 laying the will on the altar.' Mr. Fletcher calls it 'Perfect 
 purity' — to be obtained by faith in the virtue of the atone- 
 ment. His language is very strong, but appropriate — 
 
 ' My heartstrings groan with deep complaint, 
 
 My flesh lies panting, Lord, for Thee ; 
 And every limb and every joint 
 Stretches for perfect purity.' 
 
 These lines express Mr. Graham's feelings when seeking the 
 above blessing. He never did anything by the half-measure 
 system. What he saw to be right and his duty, he did it with 
 all his heart Every faculty of his soul was now filled with 
 pure and entire love to God and man. His constant feeling 
 and language in everything was — 
 
 ' Father, Thy only will be done. ' 
 
IV. 
 
 TRUST IN CHRIST. 
 
 * Let me never, never doubt Him 
 
 Who has hitherto been true ; 
 For I cannot live without Him, 
 
 And to trust Him is His due. 
 There are those who long have tried Him, 
 
 Poor, weak creatures of the dust, 
 And have learned that all beside Him 
 
 Are unworthy of their trust. 
 So, in every doubt and sorrow, 
 
 Let my heart exultant say, 
 I will trust Him with to-morrow, 
 
 I will trust Him with to-day ; 
 I will trust for food and raiment, 
 
 I will trust His gracious care, 
 And attend a humble claimant 
 
 At the bounteous gate of prayer.' 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PREPARATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF KERRY. 
 
 Labours for many years in the capacity of a local preacher. — 
 Dr. Coke visits Sligo. — Mr. Graham's interview with him.— 
 Refuses to go on the Irish mission. — The Doctor's disap- 
 pointment.— Makes OUT A SERMON IN THE IRISH LANGUAGE. — 
 
 Made a blessing, — Other attempts prosecuted. — Remarkable 
 dream. — Mr. Black drowned. — Bartholomew Campbell's 
 visit to Sligo. — Converted in Lough Derg. — Conference 
 record of Mr. Black. — Campbell and Graham's popularity 
 on the Sligo circuit. — Also on the Longford circuit. — 
 Campbell returns home. — Graham preaches before the 
 district. — Recommended to Conference. — Accepted. — Ap- 
 pointed to the County Kerry. — Prepares for the journey. 
 — Much cast down. — 1776-1790. 
 
 N the happy state described in the foregoing chapter, 
 Mr. Graham continued to labour on, ■ in season and 
 out of season,' for many years. At length Doctor 
 Coke visited Sligo, and was on the look-out for agents who 
 understood the Irish language, in order to send the Gospel to 
 the Irish-speaking population. He sent for Mr. Graham, and 
 when the Doctor asked him if he could preach in the Irish 
 language, he said, 'he could not, as he never attempted it, 
 although he could speak it well' The Doctor wondered very 
 much ; but Mr. Graham meekly said, ' Doctor, do you think 
 that every Christian man who speaks English can preach in 
 English ?' The Doctor saw the force of the observation, and 
 
33 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 was struck with the candour and honesty of the man and of the 
 Christian. Both were disappointed; but the right time was 
 not yet come. On his return home after this interview with 
 the Doctor, he thought he Avould attempt to write out a sermon 
 in the Irish language, which he did; and after reading it to 
 some of his friends, they encouraged him to preach it, and 
 they would gather Romanists and Protestants to hear it. He 
 consented, and a vast concourse assembled, who were delighted 
 with this, his first effort in their own beloved language. He 
 writes thus in reference to it : — 1 Truly, God was present, and 
 made it a blessing; it was a softening, melting time. The 
 Romanists declared they never heard anything like it, and en- 
 couraged me to come and preach for them again. Accordingly, 
 I appointed the day, and came home much refreshed and 
 encouraged, believing that God had yet something for me to 
 do in this country.' He made a third attempt, but the priest 
 took the alarm, and proclaimed that he was ' a wolf in sheep's 
 clothing,' and forbade any of his flock to go near him. But 
 the Lord opened another door at some distance, where all ap- 
 peared hopeful for a time, and many heard the Word of life 
 in . their own loved tongue. Even here a new persecution 
 arose, for the Episcopalian ministers began, as well as the 
 priests, to oppose this ' new sect;' but there was no discharge 
 from this war. Still 1 Woe is me if I preach not the gospel ' 
 sounded in his ears. All this time the Lord was preparing him 
 for harder conflict in another part of the country. He had a 
 very remarkable dream, the purport of which was that he 
 should go far to the south-west of the kingdom, and there pro- 
 claim the message of life ; but that he must be full forty years 
 of age before he should go. Like Moses, he was not yet quali- 
 fied for the arduous enterprize. This must have occurred at 
 least three years before he went to the County Kerry, as he was 
 then only thirty-seven years. During this interval some strange 
 circumstances transpired. The Rev. John Black was appointed 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 33 
 
 to the Sligo circuit in the year 1789. Shortly after he arrived, he 
 called on Mr. Graham to say that he invited a good brother of 
 the name of Bartholomew Campbell, or familiarly called Bartley 
 Campbell, to come to the circuit and assist him ; that he was 
 rather a little eccentric as he was formerly a Roman Catholic, 
 and was converted in Lough Derg, in the County Donegal, 
 and went by the name of 'the Lough Derg preacher.' Mr. 
 Graham merely said that any eccentricity might not serve the 
 good cause. Mr. Black said he could not draw back. So the 
 matter rested. But in a few days Mr. Black was no more ; he 
 was drowned below Sligo, having gone beyond his depth in 
 bathing. The record (in part) in the minutes for 1790 is, in 
 answer to the question, ' Who has died this year?' Answer — 
 'John Black, a young man of excellent spirit, clothed with 
 humility, and high in grace. His talents promised very exten- 
 sive usefulness. As he was one day bathing in the sea, he got 
 beyond his depth, and was drowned. " How unsearchable are 
 His judgments, and His ways past finding out'" 
 
 Campbell came to Sligo according to arrangement, but how 
 was he affected when he found Mr. Black dead, whom he was 
 coming to assist ! Mr. Graham took the stranger by the hand, 
 and brought him through the circuit Very soon the report 
 spread abroad that 'he was converted in "Lough Derg,'" 
 which attracted multitudes to flock to hear him from all 
 quarters, and especially Romanists, in great numbers. This 
 was the very thing to serve Graham, who was just prepared to 
 preach to them in the Irish language, little imagining that he 
 was thereby preparing for the County Kerry, to which he was 
 appointed at the following Conference. These two evangelists, 
 who might well be styled ' Boanerges,' or sons of thunder, 
 laboured away as flames of fire for nearly a year, and the Lord 
 wrought mightily with them by moral signs and wonders 
 following. Great numbers of both Romanists and Protestant - 
 were truly converted to God. Invitations reached them from 
 
 c 
 
3^ 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 all parts of the country, and from neighbouring circuits. They 
 complied with a very pressing one from the Rev. Thos. Barber, 
 of the Longford circuit, and laboured there also with very great 
 success. After some time Campbell returned to his own 
 neighbourhood, having filled the mission for which Providence 
 sent him.* Mr. Graham remained on the Longford circuit, at 
 the earnest request of Mr. Barber, until the Conference, allow- 
 ing wife and farm to do for themselves. Mrs. Graham wrote 
 to him thus: — 'Dear Charles — Go and labour away for God, 
 and I will abide by the stuff, and share the last penny with 
 you to sustain you in all your expenses.' ' This,' says he, 'was 
 as fresh oil to the wheel, and I bounded as a hart' On the 
 Longford circuit he had full scope for all his talents, preaching 
 daily, both in English and Irish, and with great acceptance 
 and success. Mr. Barber gave him ' the right hand of fellow- 
 ship,' and 'magnified the grace of God in him;' and in order 
 to bring his case before the Conference, he had the preachers 
 of the district to hear him, and they unanimously recommended 
 him, regarding his case as an extraordinary one. The Con- 
 ference received him, notwithstanding his being married, and 
 appointed him to the County Kerry. Dr. Coke was President 
 that year (1790), and knowing Mr. Graham well, he rejoiced 
 greatly in the appointment. He was then forty years of age, 
 less by a month, but fully that by the time he reached Kerry, 
 thus literally fulfilling his dream. It appears the claims of the 
 County Kerry were again and again pressed on the attention 
 of the Conference; but they were postponed from year to year, 
 for want of a suitable agent who understood the Irish lan- 
 guage. Mr. Barber wrote to Mr. Graham to Longford about 
 his appointment, on which the latter remarks : — ' It made my 
 heart tremble, hearing there was neither circuit nor society 
 
 * For a fuller account of Campbell's conversion and Lough Derg, see 
 Appendix B. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 35 
 
 there. All my faith was exercised, but I opened my mouth to 
 the Lord, and I dare not draw back.' He repaired at once to 
 his native place, near Sligo, to prepare for this long and perilous 
 journey, which he did with all speed, reminding one of the 
 conduct of Ezra, whom Mr. Graham and his good wife imitated, 
 for ' they sought of the Lord a right way for themselves and 
 their little ones, and he was entreated of us.' He entered on 
 this enterprize with anxiety, verifying the truth of the following 
 lines : — 
 
 ' How willing is the man to go 
 Whom God hath never sent ; 
 How timorous, diffident, and slow, 
 God's chosen instrument.' 
 
LINES SUITABLE TO MR. GRAHAM'S APPOINTMENT TO THE COUNTY 
 KERRY IN I790. 
 
 ' Soldier, go, but not to claim 
 
 Mouldering spoils of earth-born treasure ; 
 Not to build a vaunting name ; 
 
 Not to dwell in tents of pleasure. 
 Dream not that the way is smooth ; 
 
 Hope not that the thorns are roses ; 
 Turn no artful eye of youth 
 
 Where the sunny beam reposes. 
 Thou hast sterner work to do ; 
 
 Hosts to cut thy passage through : 
 Close behind thee gulphs are burning, 
 
 Forw ard ; there is no returning. ' 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 ENTRANCE TO KERRY. 
 
 He leaves the place of his nativity for Kerry. — Calls at and 
 settles his family in llmerick. — receives bad treatment in 
 Castle Island. — Is received by a farmer. — Enters Tralee. — 
 Takes the street. — Great opposition. — Tries it again. — 
 Succeeds. — A persecutor injured. — Moral courage. — Leaves 
 for mllltown. — succeeds. — revival ; many converted. — 
 Great opposition from the Romish priesthood. — Judg- 
 ments. — Great superstition. — Peter Cartwright of America. 
 — An Irish preacher. — Retaliation. — Altar denunciations. 
 — Remarkable conversion in Dingle. — Another singular 
 case. — Domestic bliss. — Cowper.— Greatly respected by all 
 classes. — Many added to the society. — Terminates his first 
 year's labour. — Poetry. — 1790. 
 
 m 
 
 T may be truly said of Mr. Graham, relative to the 
 journey on which he was about to enter, that, like 
 Abraham, 'he went out, not knowing whither he 
 went;' and 'he journeyed southwards] as well. In leaving his 
 native place he expresses his feelings thus : — 'Trusting in the 
 faithfulness of that God who had already led me through scenes 
 of suffering, I took my leave of my native country with a small 
 hope of ever returning to it again, hearing such reports of 
 Kerry, and that the inhabitants thought very little of a man's 
 life, especially that of a Methodist preacher.' He and his wife 
 and two children arrived safely in Limerick, where they were 
 received with all cordiality by the Methodist society, of whom he 
 speaks in unbounded terms of gratitude. It appears he preached 
 
33 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 for them, and that they appreciated both himself and his work. 
 Having settled his little family there, he started, on the third 
 day after his arrival in Limerick, for Kerry. He rode on horse- 
 back, and had eighteen miles of a bad mountain road to pass 
 over, besides eighteen miles more on the coach road. On the 
 mountains over which he passed, it was said, there were deeds 
 of bloodshed repeatedly committed. He, however, passed over 
 without any interruption, and arrived in Castle Island in the 
 evening, after a ride of some forty English miles, and thus 
 reached within ten miles of Tralee, the county town of Kerry. 
 He was no sooner settled in the humble hotel of the town, 
 intending to stop for the night, than it was noised abroad that 
 ' a false prophet ' had come to town. Immediately the priest 
 gathered a mob, and came to the inn, and insisted on their 
 putting out the stranger, which, of course, had to be done to 
 please 'his reverence,' and his brave band of 'defenders of the 
 faith,' like the saints at Granard in 1867. It was then late in 
 the evening, and the stranger knew not the country. Alas ! 
 where were even the common ties of humanity ? Or did they 
 ever hear 'I was a stranger and ye took me in?' or had they 
 ever heard of the % parable of the good Samaritan ? Out he had 
 to go, and thus thrust into the street, he wandered off on the 
 road to Tralee. Such are the tender mercies of Rome. No 
 wonder if his worst fears of Kerry would haunt him with the 
 idea also of their being fully realized. The only thing which can 
 be said is, that the mob did not molest him. When about half- 
 way to Tralee, he called at a farmer's house and told his tale 
 of disappointment. At once he was invited to come in. He 
 found his host to be a staunch Protestant, who sent out and 
 gathered a congregation for the missionary, for it was upon this 
 one condition that he promised to remain. The congregation 
 soon assembled, and on that night possession was taken 
 of Kerry. The word preached was with power. The man of 
 the house was deeply affected, and next morning, when Mr. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 39 
 
 Graham was leaving for Tralee, Mr. Groves said, ' Sir, you are 
 welcome to stay until May-day in the morning, and make this 
 your stopping-place while you are in this country.' So he did 
 afterwards. This man became the subject of saving grace. 
 The writer had the pleasure of seeing him fifty-three years 
 after that time, in the year 1843, when we travelled that same 
 circuit, then commenced by Mr. Graham. Such Gaiuses should 
 not be forgotten. O, how wise and kind is God, who 
 
 ' From seeming evil still educeth good. ' 
 
 Thus cheered, and escaping from what he called ' the remnant 
 of a shattered town,' he proceeded to Tralee, little knowing 
 what awaited him there. He describes the town as ' famous 
 for folly and dissipation,' and the country as ' a barren land.' 
 He strove to get a house for hire in which to preach, but could 
 not succeed. He asked a respectable, but, one whom he calls, 
 ' a weak brother,' to assist him, but all to no purpose. There 
 was no room even in the inn for an entertainment on that 
 fashion. So he had no alternative but to deliver his message 
 — which he resolved to do somewhere — in the street. He tells 
 us that he addressed ' an unruly group of gapers,' who turned 
 out in a short time to sow something stronger than 'gape seed,' — 
 that of a volley of 'Irish grape shot,' or rather Irish bullets, which 
 proved that he was about to receive, what * the hundred evan- 
 gelical heroes' obtained a few years ago who visited our native 
 land — that of 'a warm reception.' I would say of that band 
 'all honour,' even more so than that of Spartan or Balaclava 
 notoriety. Of the brave ' six hundred ' we justly and proudly 
 say in the nervous lines of Tennyson — 
 
 * Honour the brave and bold, 
 Long shall the tale be told, 
 Yea, when our babes are old, 
 How they rode forward. ' 
 
 But still this was more the result of ' stern military necessity,' 
 
THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 while the other was 1 voluntary.' At the same time, I am free 
 to say that perhaps none ever responded so cheerfully as that 
 lion-hearted band of British soldiery, when 
 
 ' " Charge !" was the captain's cry; 
 Theirs not to reason why, 
 Theirs not to make reply, 
 Theirs but to do and die, 
 Into the valley of death 
 Rode the six hundred. ' 
 
 But here was Graham, alone, in a strange land, with his motto 
 like that of Augustine, Contra Mwidnm, or like the nobler Paul 
 on Mars' Hill proclaiming, 'And the times of this ignorance God 
 winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.' 
 The uproar on Mr. Graham's first attempt at street-preaching 
 in Tralee was so great that he had for that time to desist, as he 
 states, 
 
 ' With holy indignation filled, 
 Thus by the prince of hell withstood. ' 
 
 But it was only to try it again — which he resolved to do, and 
 conquer or die — and it is said he did conquer successfully under 
 the following circumstances. Having taken his stand in the 
 same place as before, a plan was immediately adopted by two 
 accomplices to stone the preacher, and if possible to wound him 
 mortally. One of the party was to stand close to the preacher 
 to guide the other in his aim, while the latter took his post 
 behind a dead wall opposite. The signal was given, the stone 
 flew, missed Graham, but struck the stone-thrower's accomplice, 
 and cut him desperately, some say mortally. He acknowledged 
 his crime, and was taken off in his blood to the Infirmary, crying 
 out aloud for mercy — thus literally fulfilling the Scripture, ' He 
 made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he 
 made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his 
 violent dealing shall come upon his own pate.' (Psalm vii. 
 15, 16.) From this forward the servant of the Lord was 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 4' 
 
 allowed to preach unmolested. From Tralee he repaired 
 to Milltowti, on entering which he inquired of a lad, ' Do you 
 know any one in this town who reads the Bible?' 'Oh, I do, 
 Sir,' responded the boy; 'the clerk of the church.' ' Will you 
 show me where he lives?' said Mr. Graham. 'I will, Sir,' said 
 the guide, and brought him to the man's door. When he came 
 out, Mr. Graham said, 'I understand that you read the Bible?' 
 ' Oh, I do, Sir, on the Sabbath at church ; but, Lord help me, I 
 make a very bad use of it.' ' I am a preacher of the Gospel,' 
 said Mr. Graham, ' and I would like to preach it here.' 'Will 
 you come in, Sir?' said he. ' I will,' said Graham, ' when I put 
 up my horse at the inn.' He did so, and returned. That day 
 salvation came to that man's house, and it became the con- 
 stant resort of the missionary and of those who followed after. 
 This man was addicted to drink, the prevalent sin of that day, 
 and it is to be lamented of this day as well ; although many 
 have been redeemed from that ' soul-destroying suicide where 
 more than blood is spilt' It appears the town was filled that 
 day with country people, as it was what is called a holyday, but 
 which might be better designated an unholy day, from the evil 
 practices which abound, and which have been long sanctioned 
 by the 'law of usage.' Mr. Graham took his stand on a block 
 opposite the market-house — which block lies there still, at least it 
 was there about twenty-five years ago. He delivered his 
 message faithfully both in English and Irish, the latter being 
 well understood. The Word was 'quick and powerful.' The 
 clerk was converted, and many deeply affected. The news 
 reached Sir William Godfry, the lord of the soil, who imme- 
 diately sent a message to the preacher not to preach there 
 again; but Graham was after publishing that he would do so, 
 and he was of sterner stuff than to be intimidated from his 
 purpose by a threat of that kind. Accordingly, he preached 
 although he expected the bailiff every moment to interrupt him ; 
 but he was allowed to finish. He says, ' I was willing to go to 
 
42 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 prison and even to death for Christ.' The people flocked out 
 from town and country; the power of God descended, and many 
 received the message of salvation at that very service, and a 
 foundation was laid in that town for a cause which lasted for 
 years. It ultimately became the head of a circuit called ' The 
 Milltown Circuit' Thence Mr. Graham travelled round the 
 country. Open doors presented themselves in all directions, 
 and immediately Methodist societies were formed, and several 
 among Sir William Godfry's tenantry, even some Roman 
 Catholics, joined the society. It was now reported all over the 
 country that Mr. Graham was formerly a Roman Catholic 
 priest — I suppose because he spoke so much in Irish. This 
 only increased his popularity ; for many came to hear him from 
 mere curiosity. The Romish bishop of Killarney took the 
 alarm, and charged all his clergy to be aware of him, and to 
 warn their flocks not to hear or go near him; that he was a 
 'walking devil,' and 'a deceiver of the people.' One of the 
 priests who had abused him more fiercely than the rest, fell 
 down stairs the same night in a drunken fit, and broke his neck. 
 This alarmed the whole country, but not the clergy ; for another 
 priest met Mr. Graham shortly after, and said, ' I will make you 
 leave the country altogether,' and raised his cane to strike him, 
 calling him a 'rascal,' and stating that he would get Colonel 
 Hassett to put him out of the country. Graham said, ' I will 
 not leave it for you or Colonel Hassett, for I came to remain 
 as long as I please.' On this the priest raised his cane to strike 
 him but some person interposed. Then Mr. Graham said, ' It 
 is a bad qualification for any man bearing your profession to be 
 'a striker;' and, awful to relate, I saw his face no more, for he 
 died shortly after, raving mad' 1 Vengeance is mine, and I will 
 repay, saith the Lord.' Peter Cartwright's physical force system 
 would not do in this country, however, it may have done with 
 the infidel settlers he had to deal with in his early days. We 
 had, I understand, in this country a preacher somewhat of the 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 43 
 
 same disposition as Mr. Cartwright. The record is — 'As a 
 preacher, his talents and usefulness were very considerable. 
 And although it must be admitted that his natural temper was 
 severe, and sometimes trying to his best friends, yet it is but 
 jnstice to his memory to state that he has not been known to 
 speak to the disadvantage of an absent person.' Of another 
 referred to on the same page of the minutes it is said, 
 
 ' His preaching much, but more his practice wrought 
 A living sermon on the truths he taught.' 
 
 The latter is surely 'the more excellent way.' But is there 
 not an allowable holy indignation against evil, which has been 
 sometimes erroneously attributed to a bad natural temper? 
 How can we account for Nehemiah's conduct on any other 
 principle? (See Neh. xiii. 25, 28.) In another part of the 
 country the priest called out the names of sixteen persons 
 from the altar, for having heard Mr. Graham preach. He 
 insisted that each of these should go by night to a distant 
 graveyard, bare-footed and bare-headed, and through bogs 
 instead of the high road, and for each to bring back a human 
 bone, and then appear on the following Sabbath in the congre- 
 gation in a white sheet, and with his right hand lifted up, 
 holding the bone in it But all this did not do. ' The common 
 people still heard him gladly,' for he made the way of salvation 
 very plain, and that in their own loved Irish language. Thus 
 Graham, like another Luther, persevered in his hallowed toil, 
 indifferent to threats or maledictions. The Protestant ministers 
 of the Established Church sometimes opposed him very strongly. 
 It is likely his zeal put their indifference to the blush. Well 
 might Cowper warn Episcopal authorities, as he does in the 
 following lines, against ordaining such ministers — 
 
 " From such apostles, O ye mitred heads, 
 Preserve the Church, and lay not careless hands. 
 On skulls that cannot teach and will not learn. " ' 
 
44 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 It appears from the persecutions with which this servant 
 of God had to contend, that neither the Bonner nor the Laudean 
 school was dead, and it is to be feared their spirit is not dead 
 yet. Dr. Clarke remarks, in his commentary on the words 'No 
 striker' (i Tim. iii. 3) — 'Not quarrelsome, not ready to strike 
 a person who may displease him, no persecutor of those who 
 may differ from him, or prone 
 
 ' To prove his doctrine orthodox 
 By apostolic blows and knocks. ' 
 
 While opposed and maligned by the clergy, the Lord gave 
 Graham the hearts of the people. Even the higher classes saw 
 his worth, and hailed his visits with delight. But, best of all, He 
 gave him many 'souls for his hire.' In every direction he had 
 seals to his ministry. The following are specimens : — In the 
 harbour of Dingle lay a man-of-war. The burser, as he was 
 called for purser, was a rigid Roman Catholic, although married 
 to a Protestant lady. This lady came to hear Mr. Graham. 
 The word reached her heart She penitently and believingly 
 sought, and soon found, the priceless pearL At once she 
 joined the little society just then formed in the town, and met 
 by a Mr. James Leggett, also the fruit of Graham's ministry. 
 But this so exasperated her bigoted husband, that he became 
 her most determined enemy. He tolerated her being an Epis- 
 copalian, but to unite herself with the ' sect everywhere spoken 
 against' was outrageous. Still she persevered, although he 
 resorted even to violence. He used to w r atch her coming 
 home from ' the conventicle,' and rush on her with a bludgeon, 
 and inflict some dreadful wounds. No doubt, prayer was con- 
 tinually offered up for her by Mr. Graham and the little society. 
 On one occasion, while thus waiting close by for her to come 
 out, he was attracted by Mr. Graham's melodious but powerful 
 voice. He listened, and ' at each sound the pleasing wonder 
 grew,' until 'he was induced at length to enter the house, 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 45 
 
 which caused those present to feel as much surprised, if not 
 alarmed, as if a roaring lion had appeared amongst them. But 
 ere long the lion became a lamb. He was completely sub- 
 dued. He earnestly sought and speedily found the mercy 
 of God, and went home with his more than overjoyed wife, a 
 pardoned and happy man. Indeed all partook of the hallowed 
 delight, but there was greater joy 'through all the courts of 
 paradise.' At once he renounced the Church of Rome, 
 joined the little society, and for many years ornamented his 
 profession, and then removed to England, where both 
 himself and his good wife spent some years, and ultimately 
 passed triumphant home. They could, after his conversion, 
 well understand Cowper's beautiful lines — 
 
 ' Domestic happiness, thou only bliss 
 Of Paradise that has survived the fall ! 
 Thou art not known where Pleasure is ador'd — 
 That reeling Goddess, with the zoneless waist. 
 Forsaking thee, what shipwreck have we made 
 Of honour, dignity, and fair renown.' 
 
 Another case of remarkable conversion greatly cheered 
 him also. It was that of one of the most bigoted Roman 
 Catholics in Kerry. His name was Roche. He was also an 
 abandoned drunkard. He heard Graham preach, and 'the 
 entrance of the word gave light' He, too, speedily became 
 the happy participant of 
 
 4 The overwhelming powers of saving grace. ' 
 
 He at first came to mock, but remained to pray, and his con- 
 version produced a thrill of wonder throughout the community. 
 But, alas ! in his case the wife became the tormentor. She re- 
 mained a bigoted Romanist, and greatly persecuted him. He, 
 however, continued faithful, and ' finished his course with joy.' 
 
 These instances are only specimens of hundreds of similar 
 cases in that country, and of those converts who shall be 'the 
 crown of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus,' and thus 
 
46 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM. 
 
 ' mightily grew the word of the Lord.' A thorough reforma- 
 tion of morals took place in every direction, and all this in 
 one short year. It was almost literally ' a nation born in a 
 day ! ' Graham received about two hundred members into 
 the Methodist society, besides many on triaL He was regarded 
 as 1 an angel of light,' and was actually called 1 The Apostle of 
 of Kerry.' How true to the life are the following lines: — 
 
 4 Blessed time, when every dwelling 
 
 Shall our joyful anthem raise ; 
 Every heart with rapture swelling, 
 
 Thrilling every tongue with praise ; 
 Firmament, now glowing o'er us, 
 
 Mountains, rivers, isles, and sea, 
 All combine to swell the chorus 
 
 Ringing in earth's jubilee.' 
 
VI. 
 
 'The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.' — Judges vii. 20. 
 I. 
 
 * Sons of my sleeping fathers, 
 
 My country and my home, 
 I see a glorious vista 
 
 Of joyful years to come ; 
 The vision falls upon me, 
 
 A brighter day appears, 
 I see thy dove descending, 
 
 To wipe away thy tears. 
 
 11. 
 
 Rejoice ye sons of Erin, 
 
 Your dawning is begun ; 
 In hymns of triumph welcome 
 
 The rising of the sun. 
 The happy day is coming 
 
 When thou wilt reach the goal — 
 Thy great emancipation 
 
 Of heart, and mind, and soul. 
 
 III. 
 
 A full and glorious freedom 
 
 My God shall grant to thee, 
 Even that for which the Saviour 
 
 Hath died to set thee free. 
 Yes, beauteous feet shall traverse 
 
 Thy mountains, and proclaim 
 Glad tidings of salvation 
 
 In our Immanuel's name.' 
 
CHAPTER VX 
 
 Ireland's evangelization. 
 
 Mr. Graham appointed the third preacher to Limerick circuit.— 
 Revisits Kerry. — Takes up parts of Cork. — Great success. — 
 A remarkable circumstance. — A whole family converted. — 
 Visits Newmarket, Kanturk, Mallow, Doneraile, etc. — 
 Remarkable conversion of a freemason. — The Rev. James 
 Olliffe. — Lord Doneraile. — Lord Mountcashel. — Prepares 
 to leave the country. — Deep regret at leaving this 
 loving people. — they sorrowed greatly after him. — 
 Dreams and visions. — St. Paul. — St. Patrick, his creed. — 
 His armour or hymn. — No Roman Catholic. — A genuine 
 Protestant. — 1791. 
 
 T the Conference of this year, Mr. Graham stands in 
 the minutes as the third preacher on the Limerick 
 Circuit, in order that the other two, Messrs. David 
 Gordon and Andrew Hamilton, jun., might visit the counties 
 of Kerry and Cork alternately with him ; but from the account 
 which he gives it appears that he had to take up those far off 
 stations altogether himself. Very likely they imagined that he 
 was the right man for the work ; he knew the country better 
 than they could^ possibly ffo. He seemed to feel this a little, 
 especially as his family still remained in Limerick during the 
 second year. There was no alternative, and off he started again ; 
 and as he had now a large portion of the County Cork com- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 49 
 
 mitted to his trust, as well as the County Kerry, he was fully 
 convinced that 
 
 c An arm of flesh must fail 
 In such a strife as this ; 
 He only can prevail 
 
 Whose arm immortal is ; 
 'Tis Heaven itself the strength must yield, 
 And weapons fit for such a field. ' 
 
 He commenced his incursions from Kerry into the county of 
 Cork, but found few intermediate places. This involved very 
 long journeys, but the Lord permitted, or rather overruled, the 
 following circumstance to obviate this difficulty. A lady who 
 lived about half way between Killarney and Kanturk paid a 
 visit to a family in Kerry who entertained Mr. Graham, and 
 who was there that very day. She told him that herself and 
 husband were very much alarmed from what occurred a few 
 days before she left. It appears that the servant-maid had 
 just laid the cloth on the dining-room table for dinner, 
 and returned for the plates, but when she came up the second 
 time she found the cloth all saturated with blood : she was 
 terrified, and called the family to witness the scene ; they were 
 equally alarmed, and concluded that it must be the forerunner 
 of some awful judgment She asked Mr. Graham's opinion. 
 He said, that it might be intended as a warning, and that they 
 should humble themselves before the Lord, and pray that he 
 might either avert or otherwise sanctify any trial which might 
 arise. She said they would do so, and asked Mr. Graham to 
 call at their place passing and repassing. This was just what 
 he wanted — a stopping-place to break the long journey. Mr. 
 Graham also said, 'Too many in this country are like the 
 children of Israel, who sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to 
 play.' Mr. Graham called at the house soon after, and his visit 
 resulted in the conversion of that interesting family. We may, 
 
 D 
 
5« 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 surely, with the greatest propriety, adopt the oft-repeated lines 
 as suitable here : — 
 
 ' God moves in a mysterious way, 
 
 His wonders to perform ; 
 He plants His footsteps in the sea, 
 
 And rides upon the storm. 
 Deep in unfathomable mines 
 
 Of never-failing skill 
 He treasures up His bright designs, 
 
 And works His sovereign will.' 
 
 In his visits to the County Cork, his success and openings in 
 spreading Gospel truth were, if anything, more remarkable 
 than even in the County Kerry. The first place visited was 
 Newmarket. Here the hotel-keeper received him most cor- 
 dially, and would make no charge. This gentleman had been 
 a Roman Catholic, but now went nowhere. He heard Mr. 
 Graham preach, and expressed himself as greatly pleased. 
 There was hope concerning him that he received the truth in 
 the love thereof. This was a good beginning. Mr. Graham 
 next proceeded to Kanturk. Here he found 'a few well- 
 disposed people,' whom he joined into a class after preaching, 
 and believed they would ' hold fast whereunto they had at- 
 tained.' Thence to Mallow, of which he humorously observes, 
 ' From a child I heard of " the Rakes of Mallow," as proverbial 
 for drunkenness, cock-fighting, and all manner of dissipation.' 
 Several discouraged him in going to this place at all, but he 
 answered — 'The deeper sunk, the greater danger, and the 
 greater need of my message.' He called at the inn, the 
 proprietors of which were Protestants. When they found out 
 his errand, the husband flung his hat into the fire, saying, ' If 
 you convert me, you may convert the devil.' Mr. Graham was 
 amazed, and yet had hope of this man before he left the town. 
 The landlady said, ' W e have a religion of our own here, and as 
 for your "repentance," and "faith," and "pardon," we do not 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 5* 
 
 want such things ; we have our own clergy.' Mr. Graham 
 meekly replied, ' Except a man be born again, he cannot see 
 the kingdom of God.' But, unlike Nicodemus, she did not 
 even inquire, ' how can these things be ?' He obtained a room 
 for hire, and spent two nights among them. He preached, and 
 also visited from house to house, and succeeded in obtaining a 
 good congregation, and even formed a society of twenty-five 
 persons, who manifested a sincere desire ' to flee from the wrath 
 to come.' Whether it was at this or a subsequent visit the 
 following remarkable conversion of a gentleman (and afterwards 
 of his whole family) took place, I will not assert, but I may as 
 well introduce it here. It was communicated to me several 
 years ago by the late Rev. James Olliffe, who was contemporary 
 with Mr. Graham for a considerable period of his life. Mr. 
 Olliffe says: — 'In the year 1804 I met in class a gentleman 
 who was brought to God in Mallow many years before. I was 
 entertained in his house as one of the regular stopping-places 
 for our ministers. His conversion occurred thus. Mr. Graham 
 preached in the street of Mallow, and took his stand directly 
 under the window of a freemason lodge. The members were 
 meeting at the time, inducting one of their order. They heard 
 the sound of the preacher's voice, always clear and musical. 
 They approached the window, listened attentively, and became 
 much concerned. When the preacher had done (and I suppose 
 when they had done also), a messenger was despatched from 
 the body to request his attendance at the rocm. He accord- 
 ingly ascended the ladder, laid justice to the rule and 
 righteousness to the plummet, and squared off at least one 
 living stone for our spiritual building ; and by so doing made 
 a sun house for our ministers for many years, and the whole 
 family became the partakers also with him of the grace of 
 eternal life.' Mr. Graham regularly visited Mallow after this 
 during the year, and left 150 members in society, which led to 
 its becoming the head of a circuit immediately after. Of the 
 
52 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 society he remarks, ' A more loving people, for a young 
 society, could hardly be found.' How marvellous the change 
 in such a short time ! Even the innkeeper, who regarded his 
 own conversion as hopeless as that of the devil, became Mr. 
 Graham's best friend, and invited him to his house ; and it is 
 hoped that the good lady also was led to see the way of salva- 
 tion more fully. The next place visited was Doneraile. This 
 visit caused a great stir in the town. The news reached Lord 
 Doneraile immediately, that ' a wonderful missionary had come 
 to town.' His lordship sent for his steward, and inquired all 
 about this stranger. He told his lordship that he came to 
 reform the town. His lordship replied, ' It would be well if it 
 could be done.' Graham opened his commission, and not in vain, 
 for before he left he joined in society seventeen ; and besides, 
 there were many others who gave evidence that they did not 
 hear in vain, and a great change was effected in the town ; 
 thus verifying the truthfulness of the apostolic song, 1 Now 
 thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in 
 Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by 
 us in every place.' Lord Mountcashel related the triumphs of 
 truth in a neighbouring town through the instrumentality of a 
 Wesleyan missionary, in a speech delivered in London at the 
 
 anniversary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, in the year 
 
 1828 ; our readers will judge for themselves. 
 
 LORD MOUNTCASHEL'S SPEECH, 
 At the Anniversary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, held in London, 
 May $th, 1828. 
 
 ' I would mention one anecdote respecting a Wesleyan mis- 
 sionary, for the truth of which I can vouch. He went to one 
 of the villages on a Sunday, and taking his station near the 
 Catholic chapel, he preached in the open air to a large mul- 
 titude who surrounded him. The Catholic clergyman, feeling 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 S3 
 
 much annoyed at this, placed himself not far from the preacher, 
 at the head of a crowd ; and when the missionary came to an 
 important point in his discourse, he (the priest) raised his arm 
 as a signal to the people who set up a loud shout, so as to 
 drown the voice of the speaker. This, however, did not dis- 
 courage him, but he proceeded to the end of his discourse. A 
 few days afterwards the priest was passing near the place, when 
 raising his arm and pointing to it, he said to a friend, ' That is 
 the spot where that cursed heretic preached to the people.' At 
 the very moment he raised his arm he was seized with paralysis, 
 his arm dropped by his side, his mouth was distorted, he 
 staggered backwards, and was taken to his own house in a state 
 of insensibility, and until this moment he is not perfectly 
 recovered.' 
 
 Thus in labours more abundant did this veteran of the cross 
 spend the second year of his ministry along those moral wilds 
 and wastes of Kerry and of Cork, at the conclusion of which he 
 remarks : — ' The Lord turned the barren wilderness into the 
 fruitful field, and opened rivers in high places, and springs in 
 the valleys and then asks, in all the confidence of faith and 
 hope — 
 
 ' Is anything too hard for Thee, 
 Almighty Lord of all?' 
 
 Before he left he could pass through every part of the country 
 without the slightest annoyance. Rich and poor both loved 
 and respected him, and now bitterly mourned his departure 
 from them ; and he, in turn, might truly say of many of them, 
 'For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.' 
 But the time was come when he must bid this loving and hos- 
 pitable people a final adieu — at least as their minister and 
 pastor. But he did return in the capacity of a general mis- 
 sionary many years after. He felt very deeply at leaving them ; 
 for, whatever he was to others, he was truly an apostle to them. 
 He writes — ' I would have a deeper sorrow in leaving Kerry, 
 
54 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 but that I am fully convinced the Lord enabled me to do the 
 work for which He sent me to this country, and of which I 
 had so clear a revelation before I entered on it at all, even by 
 remarkable dreams and visions.' It would appear as if he had 
 the whole scene laid before him, as Saint Paul had when he 
 was told of a certain place — ' I have much people in this city.' 
 I know there is a large amount of suspicion with many as to 
 the reality of anything connected with dreams. I will not here 
 enter on what some are pleased to call ' the philosophy of 
 dreams,' but we have the clearest evidence that the Most High 
 frequently employed such in giving intimation of His will, so 
 that it would be utter folly to question their genuine character 
 in numberless instances, especially in the absence of the 
 clearer vision of revealed truth. In a recent life of the reputed 
 Saint Patrick, which now lies before me, the following occurs : — 
 ' When I was about to return from Ireland, where I had been a 
 slave for six years, I heard, in a dream, a voice which told me 
 I was soon to return to my own country (Scotland), and that 
 a ship would be ready to carry me at the sea side. In com- 
 pliance with this I repaired to the place, found the vessel 
 unmoored and ready to sail. I reached home in safety, and 
 was heartily received ; and after four years I returned by a 
 voice I heard in another dream. I saw a large quantity of 
 letters brought to me, one of which I opened, containing these 
 words — 'The voice of the Irish.' I opened another, which said — 
 ' We entreat thee, holy youth, to come out and walk among 
 us.' He states this dream haunted him day and night for four 
 years, during which he went to Gaul, and studied under Germanus 
 and others, and then came back to Ireland, and it is said 
 brought twenty assistants with him, landing on the coast of 
 Wicklow in the year 432, at the mouth of the river Vartry 
 from which Dublin is now being supplied with wholesome 
 water. He met with much opposition, but ultimately succeeded 
 in spreading Gospel light through the length and breadth of 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 55 
 
 the land, which, no doubt, obtained for it the appellation of 
 ' Island of Saints.' If Saint Patrick's history and doctrines 
 could have been faithfully preserved from the legend which too 
 often shrouds it, we would have had transmitted to us one of the 
 most brilliant examples of missionary life and success which 
 took place since the days of the apostles, He might well be 
 called the Apostle of Ireland. Thus we may say with a 
 certain writer — 
 
 ' Many truths 
 Have been made known in visions and in dreams. ' 
 
 As we have introduced this marvellous man, of whose existence 
 we can have no reasonable doubt, although Ledwich, a well- 
 known writer on Irish antiquities, questioned his existence, and 
 Mr. Wesley had his misgivings on the subject also, yet others 
 have written as strongly of the reality of his existence, of the 
 genuine character of his piety, and the purity of his doctrines, 
 we will make no apology for introducing a part of his reputed 
 Creed, and also an extract from what is called his Hymn, when 
 going to Tara to meet Laoghaire, the supreme monarch of 
 Ireland, of his interview with whom he had strong fears. 
 
 saint Patrick's creed. 
 
 ' There is no other God, nor ever was, nor will be after Him, 
 except God the Father, without beginning, from whom is all 
 beginning, who upholds all things ; and his Son Jesus Christ, 
 whom, together with the Father, we testify to have always 
 existed, who, before the beginning of the world was spiritually 
 present with the Father, begotten in an unspeakable manner 
 before all beginning, by whom were made all things visible and 
 invisible, who was made man, and having overcame death was 
 received into heaven to the Father ; who will render to every 
 one according to his deeds ; and has poured out abundantly on 
 us the gift of the Holy Spirit, even the earnest of immortality; 
 
56 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 who makes those that believe and obey to be sons of God 
 the Father, and joint heirs with Christ; whom we confess and 
 adore, one God in the Trinity of the sacred name.' — See late 
 Archdeacon Hamilton, P.P.'s, version of the Comer sion of Saint 
 Patrick, page 7 (O'Reilly, 139 Capel Street, Dublin). 
 
 saint Patrick's armour or hymn (in part). 
 
 ' I bind to myself to-day, 
 The power of Go 1 to guide me, 
 The might of God to uphold me, 
 The wisdom of God to teach me, 
 The eye of God to watch me, 
 The ear of God to hear me, 
 The Word of God to give me spirit, 
 The hand of God to protect me, 
 The way of God to prevent me, 
 The shield of God to shelter me, 
 The host of God to defend me 
 Against the snares of demons, 
 Against the temptations of vices, 
 Against any man who injures me, 
 Whether far or near, 
 With few, or with many, 
 Christ with me to-day, 
 Christ before me, Christ behind me, 
 Christ within me, Christ beneath me, 
 Christ above me, Christ at my right hand, 
 Christ at my left hand, Christ in the fort, 
 Christ in the poop, Christ in the chariot seat, 
 Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, 
 . Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, 
 Christ in the eye of every one that sees me, 
 Christ in eveiy ear that hears me. 
 
 1 1 bind to myself to-day the strong power of an invocation of the Trinity, 
 the faith of the Trinity in unity, the Creator of the elements — 
 
 ' Domini est Salus, 
 Domini est Salus, 
 Christi est Salus, 
 
 Salus tua Domine sit semper nobiscum. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 57 
 
 Translation. 
 Salvation is of the Lord, 
 Salvation is of the Lord, 
 Salvation is of Christ, 
 Thy salvation, O Lord, is always with us. '* 
 
 In all the above, 'Christ is all and in all,' and not a word 
 about the invocation of saints or angels, or of purgatory ; which 
 proves that Saint Patrick was a sound Protestant in creed and 
 worship, and not a Roman Catholic. 
 
 st. Patrick's death. 
 We now give from the most authentic sources we have, an 
 account of the happy death of this great and holy man. This 
 event took place at Saul, his favourite resort in the County 
 Down, on the 17th of March 465, now 1403 years ago, not 
 noticing the difference of style. He laboured for thirty- 
 three years as a general missionary in Ireland, and left behind 
 him as the fruit of those labours, under God, 365 churches, 
 365 ordained ministers, and 3000 elders. His last words are 
 recorded to be, £ Now I commend my soul to. God, who is 
 faithful, whose mission I perform, lonely that I am I pray 
 God that He may grant me perseverance, and that He may 
 vouchsafe to permit me to bear faithful witness to Him even 
 unto death. I pray those who believe in and fear God, whoever 
 may look into or receive this wTiting, which I, Patrick, a sinner 
 and unlearned, wrote in Ireland, that no one may ever say that 
 I, in my ignorance, am to have the merit of anything I may 
 have done according to the purpose of God — But believe and 
 take it for certain that it was God who did it, and this is my 
 confession before I die.' His motto, and the secret of all both 
 in life and in death was ' Christ with me,' and this may be ours 
 also, thank God ; and if so, all will be well with us for ever. 
 
 See Dr. Todd's Life of Saint Patrick, pp. 426, 429. 
 
VII. 
 
 ' In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand : 
 for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or that, or whether they 
 both shall be alike good.' — Solomon. 
 
 Sow ye beside all waters, 
 
 Where the dew of heaven may fall ; 
 Ye shall reap, if ye be not weary, 
 
 For the Spirit breathes on all. 
 
 Sow, though the thorns may wound thee, 
 
 One wore the thorns for thee ; 
 And, though the cold world scorn thee, 
 
 Patient and hopeful be. 
 
 Sow ye beside all waters, 
 
 With a blessing and a prayer ; 
 Name Him whose hands uphold thee, 
 
 And sow thou everywhere. 
 
 Work in the wild, waste places, 
 
 Thou b none thy love may own ; 
 God guides the down of the thistle 
 
 The wandering wind hath sown. 
 
 Will Jesus chide thy weakness, 
 
 Or call thy labour vain ? 
 The word for Him thou bearest 
 
 Shall return to Him again. 
 
 O, with thy heart in heaven, 
 
 Thy strength thy Maker's might, 
 Till the wild, waste places blossom 
 
 In the warmth of a Saviour's light. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 mr. Graham's appointment to the north. 
 
 Mr. Graham leaves Kerry.— Deep regret.— Returns to Limerick. 
 — Meets the superintendent. — Delivers up his accounts. — 
 Resigned as to his appointment. — Goes to Enniskillen. — 
 Meets his colleague. — Mutual faith and hope for a 
 revival. — Very popular preacher in Irish. — Persecution 
 from Rome. — Second year in Enniskillen.— Great pros- 
 perity. — Recounts God's dealing for four years. — Grati- 
 tude. — Appointed to Birr or Parsonstown. — Visits Clare. — 
 Extract from minutes. — Appointed to Mountrath. — Labours 
 with Rev. A. Averell. — Extracts from his life. — Represen- 
 tation to English Conference. — Driven on shore by stress 
 of weather. — providential dream. — humorous mistake of 
 a bellman. — messrs. graham and averell's labours and 
 success. — Rebellion of 1798. — Conference. — Providential 
 escape. — Burning of mail-coach near Naas.— Messrs. G. and 
 A. Taylor's escape in Wexford. — Appointed to Longford, 
 with Messrs. Smith and Andrew Taylor. — Letter to his 
 son. — English sympathy.— C. Wesley. 
 
 R. GRAHAM having now given up the Kerry mission, 
 he came to Limerick, where his family resided, and 
 called to see Mr. Gordon, the superintendent, in 
 order to present him with the financial and numerical character 
 of the mission, which were very satisfactory. He waited in 
 Limerick until his appointment was confirmed. Before Mr. 
 Gordon went to the Conference he said to Mr. Graham, 
 i Where do you wish to go next year ? ' ' Wherever the 
 
60 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 providence of God casts my lot,' said Mr. Graham. If this 
 spirit were more fully acted on by Churches and ministers, we 
 would not have so many calls as we hear of, and perhaps not so 
 many cases of dissatisfaction. In apostolic times they were 
 sent, and in the early days of John Wesley it was so also. 
 ' How shall they preach except they be sent ? ' is an important 
 inquiry. If we 
 
 ' Leave to His sovereign sway 
 
 To choose and to command, 
 So shall we wondering own His way, 
 How wise, how strong His hand.' 
 
 ' He would then choose our inheritance for us,' and if so, all 
 would be mutually well for both worlds. Mr. Graham received 
 his appointment for the Enniskillen circuit He left work 
 enough in Kerry and Cork to justify the Conference in ap- 
 pointing four preachers to travel the Limerick circuit. Of his 
 own appointment he remarks : — ' I received a letter from the 
 Conference to say that I was appointed for the Enniskillen 
 circuit, with the Rev. Matthew Stuart as my colleague, and 
 from the slender acquaintance I have of him, I rejoice at my 
 lot.' Mr. Stuart was a man greatly owned of God wherever he 
 travelled, and possessed a kindred spirit with Mr. Graham in 
 love for the salvation of souls and the revival of God's work. 
 He finished his course very happy in God, in 1827. On 
 leaving Limerick for Enniskillen, Mr. Graham remarks, ' I shall 
 never forget this precious people who " bore the burden and 
 the heat of the day : " they took care of my little family for the 
 two years I was in Kerry.' He was now much drawn out in 
 prayer for his new circuit, and when he arrived he found what 
 he calls 'a praying people, and many of them experienced 
 Christians.' It was mutually impressed on the minds of both 
 these brethren, Stuart and Graham, unknown to each other, 
 that God would grant them a glorious revival year, and 
 'according to their faith it was done unto them.' Indeed, both 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 61 
 
 of them would be miserable without conversions, and those 
 with which they were favoured, were always regarded as truly 
 genuine. Mr. Graham attracted great crowds by his preaching, 
 especially when he preached in the Irish language, as many in 
 the County Fermanagh understood it at that time. There was 
 a great movement among the Roman Catholics, as they under- 
 stood the Irish well, and several left the Church of Rome. 
 1 The word was quick and powerful, and sharper than a two- 
 edged sword.' The priests took the alarm, and strove to 
 prevent as many as they could from listening to words 'whereby 
 they might be saved.' Mr. Graham merely calls them 'an 
 unhappy class of men.' The greatest enemies of truth were 
 convinced and converted ; and so subdued were former opposers 
 that they dare not now move a tongue against a work which was 
 being so divinely acknowledged. It would appear as if the whole 
 land would 'stretch out its hand unto God.'. Thus these 
 heralds of mercy spent their happy year, 'the Lord working 
 with them by signs following ; so mightily grew the word of the 
 Lord.' They returned nearly a hundred of an increase. 
 
 At the Conference of 1793, Mr. Graham was appointed to the 
 charge of the Enniskillen circuit, with Messrs. Michael Murphy 
 and James Bell as his colleagues. Of Mr. Murphy we may 
 remark, that he was converted to God in Dublin, through the 
 instrumentality of the Rev. John Fletcher, during a visit he paid 
 to the city. The record of him is, ' He was a useful preacher. 
 His manner was warm and affectionate ; his piety sincere and 
 uniform ; his conversation was animated and devout ; he loved 
 the means of grace ; and he joyfully finished his earthly course 
 in the 80th year of his age.' Of Mr. Bell we will require to 
 speak hereafter as a missionary. The enemy of peace endea- 
 voured to disturb the circuit during the year, but, by the blessing 
 of the Most High, and the forbearance and courage of Mr. 
 Graham, it was soon restored to perfect tranquillity. He writes 
 — ' I think I never saw a greater growth in grace, or the work 
 
62 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 of God more prosperous than on this circuit' The increase 
 during the two years was 372. He reviews the whole of his 
 regular ministry thus — ' Glory to God, who has in the course of 
 the last four years added many seals to my ministry. It bears 
 me up that I have not "run in vain," neither "laboured in 
 vain." Although He has brought me through deep waters and 
 fiery trials, I have also during that time witnessed the happy 
 deaths of many who were converted to God by my humble 
 ministry. Having therefore obtained help of the Lord, I 
 continue to this day " preaching to small and great repentance 
 towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," urging 
 all to go forward to the attainment of that holiness " without 
 which, no man can see the Lord." And being now in the 44th 
 year of my age, it is with gratitude I can look back on the 
 many dangers I have escaped, and the many deliverances 
 wrought out for me, also the many favours which have followed 
 me all the days of my life. The only return I can make is to 
 give myself afresh and " all that I have and am" to that God 
 who " loved me, and gave Himself for me," and " washed me in 
 His own blood f and had I a thousand lives, and a thousand 
 worlds, I could count them all too little to be devoted to His 
 sendee, for He alone is "worthy to be praised, and to be had in 
 everlasting remembrance" throughout all ages, world without 
 end. Amen.' Oh, how refreshing, even at this distant period 
 of seventy-four years, are those hallowed aspirations, the 
 grateful and overflowing emotions of a heart filled with love to 
 God and man. How true to the life is the following description 
 by the immortal Young — 
 
 'Thou my all, 
 My theme, my inspiration and my crown ; 
 My strength in age, my rise in low estate ; 
 My soul's ambition, pleasure, wealth, my world ; 
 My light in darkness, and my life in death ; 
 My boast through time, bliss through eternity ; 
 Eternity, too short to speak Thy praise, 
 Or fathom Thy profound 0/ love to man. ' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 63 
 
 Mr. Graham's next circuit, in 1794, was Birr, in the King's 
 County, latterly called Parsonstown, from Parsons, the family 
 name of Lord Ross. This town is now the second town on 
 the Roscrea circuit. On this circuit he travelled two years, 
 and we have no record but what is included in the address of 
 the Irish Conference to the British Conference, which bears on 
 the work in general, but no doubt on this circuit in particular ; 
 for we find no less than 335 members of an increase during the 
 two years. It states, ' We rejoice and bless God that we have 
 it in our power to inform you that He hath owned our labours 
 during the year that is past, and that He is building up Jeru- 
 salem in troublous times. The Great Head of the Church has 
 wonderfully preserved and prospered us.' Mr. M'Quigg was 
 his colleague, who was afterwards appointed as one of the 
 general missionaries. There is a singular ' N.B.' in con- 
 nexion with their appointment in the year 1 794. 'Birr — Charles 
 Graham, James M'Quigg. N.B. — These shall be also con- 
 sidered as missionaries for the County Clare ; and shall visit it 
 alternately, as often as possible.' This was surely sharp exer- 
 cise, for to any one that knows the distance by which those 
 parts of the country are separated, and the mode of travelling 
 in those days, it will appear that the word of the Lord was 
 scarce indeed ! 1796, 1797. — Mountrath, in the Queen's 
 County, was his next appointment for two years. The record 
 in the minutes is as follows : — ' The past year has been very 
 favourable to Zion in this land. In many places the Word of 
 the Lord has been glorified. Numbers have been convinced, 
 converted, and added to the Church.' During those two 
 years the Rev. Adam Averell stands on the minutes as con- 
 nected with the Mountrath circuit as a supernumerary, perhaps 
 because he had property close by at a place called Tentower, 
 but he laboured most faithfully with Mr. Graham, who was 
 the superintendent On pages 207, 208, 209, 210, of Mr. 
 Averell's Life, by Messrs. Stewart and Rivington. the following 
 
64 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 is recorded as having taken place about the spring of 1798 : — 
 'But,' observes Mr. Averell, 'amidst all the confusion 
 occasioned by these dreadful scenes we had seasons of great 
 refreshing. All glory to the Lord for His peculiar care over 
 His servants in these eventful and trying times.' He accom- 
 panied Mr. Graham to Ballyhappahan, and remarks, ' We 
 found the country almost deserted, and on arriving at our 
 destination, our friends expected a visit from the rebels that 
 night. We had, notwithstanding, a large congregation in the 
 evening, and Brother Graham preached a deeply-affecting 
 sermon, and afterwards, in our prayer-meeting, our God in- 
 spired us with confidence that we would be preserved to see 
 the return of another day, and we were not disappointed. At 
 our quarterly meeting (Love Feast), next day, in Mountrath, 
 the Lord made bare His arm, and manifested Himself in great 
 blessing.' On the 9th of June, Messrs. Smith, M'Farland, 
 Graham, and Averell, set out for Conference. They reached 
 Monasterevan the first evening, where they had a hallowed 
 season. Next day the two former brethren took coach for 
 Dublin, leaving their horses, no doubt alarmed by reason of 
 the awful reports, while Graham and Averell proceeded on 
 horseback confiding in God. When they came to Naas, they 
 heard that the two coaches were burned a little outside of that 
 town. All was terror, but after feeding their horses they pro- 
 ceeded. They found one of the coaches burned — that on 
 which the two good brethren had travelled for safety. Their 
 lives were spared, but they lost all they possessed, and then 
 the rebels allowed them to pass on. O, how delightful it is to 
 hold life from God as the boon of the moment !' Shortly after 
 this Mr. Averell was instrumental in the conversion of a 
 gentleman in Athlone, a nephew to Mr. Goldsmith, and under 
 very remarkable circumstances. A very singular case of the 
 preservation of the life of a Doctor Waddy, and the death of a 
 Friar Burne, is recorded on page 225 -of the same volume. In 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 65 
 
 1796, Mr. Averell accompanied Messrs. Joyce and Smith as 
 representatives to the English Conference. On their return by 
 Bristol they sailed for Dublin in a brig called the ' Sturdy 
 Beggar.' They had great stress of weather, and had to 
 put into a coast-town called Ilfracombe, where they had to 
 remain for a full fortnight. On the second night after we 
 landed I had a dream, says Mr. Averell, in which I thought it 
 was said to me, ' You must preach the Gospel here, for there- 
 fore have I sent you.' And, accordingly, they were made very 
 useful to the inhabitants. Several conversions took place. 
 Neither the Episcopalian nor Independent ministers would 
 give them any encouragement, but rather preached against 
 them, although Mr. Averell had his regular letters of ordi- 
 nation as a Church of England clergyman. However, they 
 sent the bell-man about, who, unknown to himself, by a humo- 
 rous mistake, succeeded in obtaining a tremendous crowd. ,He 
 was told to publish that f two Wesleyans ' had come to town, 
 and would preach in the evening at a certain place. The bell- 
 man proclaimed — ' Take notice that two Welch Lions have come 
 to town, and will preach' at such an hour arid in such a place ; 
 mistaking the word Wesleyans for Welch Lions. As may be 
 imagined a motley group assembled, and great good was done. 
 How often has curiosity been overruled when other methods 
 failed ! ' Come see a man that told me all that ever I did,' led 
 to the conversion of many of the Samaritans. Surely ' He 
 maketh a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters.' 
 What was a great trial turned out to be a blessing. At the 
 Conference of 1798, that memorable year of rebellion, Mr. 
 Graham was appointed to the Longford circuit. In the 
 address'of the Irish Conference of this year to the British Con- 
 ference we read the following, and may well imagine in what 
 state the country was involved : — ' Never did we expect to see 
 so awful a day as we now behold. The scenes of carnage and 
 desolation are truly affecting. To attempt a description would 
 
 E 
 
66 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 be vain indeed. The loss of trade, breach of confidence, fear 
 of assassination, burned towns, country waste, houses for miles 
 without an inhabitant, the air tainted with the corrupted bodies 
 of thousands, form some idea of the melancholy picture. 
 Many of our societies scattered, and many of our people with- 
 out a place to lay their heads, constrain us to cry, "O Lord^ 
 shorten the days of our calamity, or no flesh can be 
 saved.'" Messrs. George and Andrew Taylor had escapes from 
 death in Wexford, the most miraculous! The former was a 
 local preacher, and afterwards wrote a history of the rebellion. 
 The latter was a regular minister in our connexion, and 
 laboured most successfully for many years. This year, July 
 1798, he was appointed, together with Mr. James Smith, to 
 labour with Mr. Graham on the Longford circuit. The Rev. 
 William Reilly, Mr. Ouseley's biographer, speaks of Mr. A. 
 Taylor thus : — ' In the early part of Mr. Taylors ministry he 
 was in perils oft among his own countrymen, and was taken 
 and sent prisoner, as a heretic, to the garrison of Wexford, 
 where hundreds of Protestants were already sacrificed at the 
 shrine of intolerance. He was brought before the inquisitorial 
 court. When asked, '-What are you?" Taylor said at once, 
 " I am a Methodist preacher? not knowing but the next hour 
 would have been his last ; and strange to say, one of the party 
 said, ''he is an honest fellow, and must not be injured."' 
 Thus, through faith, we may still well say, in this instance at 
 least, that he ' escaped if not the edge of the sword,' he did the 
 point of the pike. 
 
 1 O for a faith that will not shrink, 
 
 When pressed by every foe ; 
 That will not tremble on the brink 
 
 Of any earthly woe ; 
 That will not murmur or complain 
 
 Beneath the chastening rod ; 
 But in the hour of grief or pain 
 
 Will lean upon its God.' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 67 
 
 The remainder of this year passed sweetly away in the mutual 
 sympathy and happy toil of these good and martyr-spirited 
 brethren. Thanking God that they were counted worthy to 
 suffer so much as they did for Christ in the dreary winter of 
 '97, and fearful spring of '98, they rejoiced now in their new 
 sphere of labour on the Longford circuit, comparatively free 
 from those ' cruel mockings,' and even of death in its bitterest 
 forms, which, of some excellent of the land, it might be said, 
 
 ' Dragged them into fame, 
 And chased them up to heaven.' 
 
 About this time Mr. Graham apprenticed his only son and 
 namesake in a respectable establishment in Dublin, and, from 
 the first letter which he wrote to him afterwards, I consider 
 the following extract is worthy of record, as it may serve other 
 young lads. It appears Mr. Graham bought a nice dress-coat 
 for Charles, to be worn on the Sabbath and on special occa- 
 sions ; but, after the father left the city, the young lad thought 
 well of exchanging it for one more suitable to his taste, which 
 the father told him not to do. However, the new coat was 
 stolen from poor Charles, and a letter of lamentation reached 
 the father, to which the following extract is the reply in part : — 
 
 'Longford, December 1798. 
 
 1 Dear Charles, — I sincerely think the loss of your coat is a kind of 
 judgment for your disobedience and pride. The same cast the angels out 
 of heaven. How few let well enough alone. But I hope you will learn 
 obedience by the things you have suffered. ' A reproof sinks deeper into a 
 wise man's heart than hundreds of stripes into a fool's back." Tell your 
 master to purchase the coat and send me the bill. You had need to be 
 more watchful and prayerful, and secure an interest in the favour of the 
 Almighty. The weather is very severe here. Mother and I have colds ; 
 your sister is well. My rides are long, but it is a mercy I am able to ret 
 through. All join in love to you and the family — I remain, your affec- 
 tionate father, 'Charles Graham. 
 
 The following is an extract from the answer of the British 
 
68 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 Conference to the Irish Address referred to already. It shows 
 much brotherly kindness in those peculiarly trying times : — 
 
 ' Very Dear Brethren, — Though the common means of intelligence 
 had made us acquainted with your truly calamitous condition before we 
 received your very moving address, yet, on its being read in the Conference, 
 the tenderest compassion and most affectionate sympathy were excited in 
 every breast. We saw, we felt the difference of our situation ! You were 
 in the midst of various perils, while we were comparatively resting in safety. 
 We were in "a land of peace," while you were exposed to "the swelling of 
 Tordan." Surely those words were eminently fulfilled among you — "Per- 
 secuted but not forsaken ; cast down but not destroyed ! " Not only had good 
 angels "charge concerning you," but God Himself was with you, and kept 
 you "as the apple of His eye." Your conduct, dear brethren, is worthy of the 
 highest degree of approbation. You evidenced your attachment to " the flock 
 of Christ over which the Holy Ghost had made you overseers," by continuing 
 to watch over them and share their lot, when hirelings would have mani- 
 fested themselves to be stick by fleeing at the approach of the wolf ! O 
 brethren, rejoice that the Head of the Church hath thus honoured you to 
 suffer for His name's sake ! Go forward and fear nothing. ' ' As your days 
 so shall thy strength be." And should any of you be called to lay down 
 your lives in so righteous a cause, it will be dying like the Prince of life, 
 and the crown of martyrdom will be your eternal reward.' 
 
 We will conclude this chapter with the lines of Charles 
 W r esley, so suitable to the trials and patience of the Lord's 
 servants at this time in Ireland — 
 
 ' Welcome alike the crown or cross ; 
 
 Trouble I cannot ask, nor peace, 
 Nor toil, nor rest, nor gain, nor loss, 
 
 Nor joy, nor grief, nor pain, nor ease, 
 Nor life, nor death, but ever groan, 
 Father, Thy only will be done.' 
 
VIII. 
 
 JUBILEE YEAR FOR IRELAND, GENERAL MISSION, 1 799. 
 
 'And lamps within the pitchers.' — Judges vii. 16. 
 
 ' Blow ye the trumpet, blow 
 
 The gladly solemn sound ; 
 Let all the nations know, 
 
 To earth's remotest bound, 
 The year of Jubilee is come ; 
 Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. 
 
 Jesus, our great High Priest, 
 
 Hath full atonement made ; 
 Ye weary spirits rest, 
 
 Ye mournful souls be glad. 
 The year of Jubilee is come, 
 Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. 
 
 Extol the Lamb of God, 
 
 The all-atoning Lamb, 
 Redemption in His blood 
 
 Throughout the world proclaim. 
 The year of Jubilee is come, 
 Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. 
 
 Ye who have sold for nought 
 
 Your heritage above, 
 »Shall have it back unbought, 
 
 The gift of Jesus' love. 
 The year of Jubilee is come, 
 Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. ' 
 
 Charles Wesley, 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE IRISH GENERAL MISSION, JULY 1799 TO JULY 1800. 
 
 The Rev. W. Smith's history. — Dr. Coke's missions. — General 
 
 MISSIONARIES. — Dr. COKE'S ENCOURAGEMENT. — MR. OUSELEY'S 
 APPOINTMENT. — MR. LANKTREE'S OPINION OF HIM. — GRAHAM 
 VISITS A CONVICT IN LONGFORD JAIL. — PRAYS WITH HIM. — HOPES OF 
 HIS CONVERSION AND HAPPY DEATH. — FIRST STREET SERVICE AFTER 
 
 appointment to general mission. — rev. w. reilly's opinion 
 of Graham and Ouseley. — Preaches in Sligo street. — Oppo- 
 sition and success. — Labours for six weeks there. — Journey 
 to and from dublin. — preaching on the way. — tullamore, 
 Drogheda. — Letters to Dr. Coke. — Removes to Clones. — 
 Great labours through the north. — Visits Smithborough, 
 monaghan, newbliss. — marvellous results. — also ballibay, 
 Cootehill, Clones. — Prepares for next Conference. — Esteem 
 each other with increasing affection. — the conference jus- 
 tified in appointing three additional missionaries for next 
 year (1800). — Names and appointments. — Spheres of labour. 
 
 HE Rev. William Smith, in his Consecutive History of 
 Irish Methodism, alludes thus to the establishment 
 of the general mission : — 'Dr. Coke having success- 
 fully established missions in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, 
 and the West Indies, resolved this year (1799) to adopt a plan 
 by which to introduce the Gospel among the benighted pea- 
 santry of Ireland, and that by means of missionaries who under- 
 stood the Irish la?ignage.' > He met with opposition from the 
 Conference in consequence of the expenditure, but the Doctor, 
 undertaking to become responsible, surmounted all the dim- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 7* 
 
 culties. and saw the plan crowned with success. The subject 
 was also introduced into the address to the English Conference 
 thus: — 'Two of our respectable brethren, of considerable 
 standing, Messrs. M'Quigg and Graham, have entered upon 
 one of the most arduous undertakings that has been attempted 
 since the primitive times — that of teaching the native Irish the 
 way of salvation in their own language. They sacrifice every 
 social comfort, that they may bring lost sinners to "the Shepherd 
 and Bishop of souls.'" This was the apostolic spirit. Dr. 
 Coke may be truly called 1 the prince of missionaries, and the 
 undying friend of Ireland' The subject of Ireland's evangeliza- 
 tion had long occupied his most anxious solicitude. About 
 fourteen years before this he .wanted Mr. Graham to engage in 
 some enterprise of this character, but some difficulty always 
 presented itself. Mr. Graham, as we have mentioned before, 
 would not undertake it at the first interview. 
 
 Matters had now come to a crisis. The country had under- 
 gone a fearful scourge the winter and spring before. The 
 atrocities were fearful, and vengeance did not slumber. The 
 minds of the people were subdued, and it was only acting the 
 part of the good Samaritan, to pour the balm of Gospel truth 
 into hearts and minds torn with anguish on the one side, and 
 subdued into sullen silence and black despair on the other. 
 Before the Conference closed there was another brother added 
 to the two general missionaries already mentioned, namely, the 
 immortal Ouseley, appointed also out of the ordinary mode of 
 receiving candidates, being a married man. This note is 
 affixed to his name in the minutes : — ' Gideon Ouseley is not 
 hereby received into the regular travelling connexion, but is to 
 have the allowance of a travelling preacher for himself and his 
 wife while he is employed on this mission.' Gideon did not 
 care what restrictions were imposed on him, only let him preach 
 as 'a dying man to dying men,' and to tell them of 'the dire 
 disease and the sovereign cure.' He was to take Connaught 
 
72 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 and Ulster, with Mr. Graham as his senior and superintendent. 
 Hence the phraseology always obtained, while they travelled 
 for five or six years together, 'Graham and Ouseley,' but latterly 
 many of our good brethren have changed the order, and style 
 them ' Ouseley and Graham,' but from the beginning it was not 
 so. Mr. Graham kept regular journals for many years, 
 most of which are in the hands of the author. He is not sure 
 that Mr. Ouseley kept any. Mr. Graham tells us that he had to 
 wait — that is, wait in daily toil — for about a month, in and 
 about Sligo, for Mr. Ouseley, after the Conference, until he 
 regulated his temporal affairs, having filled a literary situation, 
 where he had preached locally for two years previously with 
 great acceptance and success. The Rev. Matthew Lanktree 
 speaks of him at this time thus: — ' It was here (Sligo) I first saw 
 my friend and brother, Mr. Gideon Ouseley, that eminent Irish 
 missionary. He was not then in our itinerant ministry, though 
 exceedingly zealous in public and private, by ordinary and 
 extraordinary labours, calling sinners to repentance, particularly 
 in the Irish language. A remarkable influence attended his 
 ministry, and I shall scarcely ever forget his power with God in 
 prayer.' Mr. Graham records his own entrance on the general 
 mission work in the town of Longford as follows : — ' On the day 
 after I returned from the Conference (20th July 1799) to Long- 
 ford, I heard there was a man to be executed. It was on a 
 Saturday. A little before the execution I went to the prison, 
 where I found the priest engaged in saying prayers out of a 
 book for the poor man. There were three prisoners besides in 
 the place. I knelt down and said Amen to every good petition, 
 but was silent when he prayed to saints and angels. When he 
 had done I took the opportunity of pointing the dying man to 
 "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." 
 The priest said "I should not have interfered." I said, "My 
 dear sir, don't be displeased, every one should be willing to 
 assist the dying." The man fastened his eyes on me. I 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 73 
 
 directed him again, in Irish, to Christ, and he showed so much 
 earnestness that I was constrained to kneel down with the poor 
 man again, and pour out my soul in prayer, • in the Irish 
 language, for his conversion. The man cried aloud for mercy ; 
 I directed him again to Calvary, and he calmed down into 
 peace of mind. The priest was confounded, but could not 
 oppose.' Mr. Graham states, 'The man went to the drop with 
 a firm step, and I trust he was in Abraham's bosom that very 
 day.' This was the first trophy of the general mission labour, 
 and a befitting one it was, as a grand specimen of the power of 
 Divine mercy, and to convince his servant that he was to despair 
 of no case this side of the pit of perdition : and, oh ! what a 
 triumph of the abounding grace of God over superstition and 
 sin, was this instance of the possibility of a sinner of the deepest 
 dye finding mercy. It was almost literally 
 
 ' Snatching the fire-brand from the flame 
 And quenching it in the Saviour's blood.' 
 
 It was a marvellous victory of grace. Everything would seem 
 to forbid his going at all to the prison ; but, oh ! the value of one 
 human soul, and that on the brink of woe ! 
 
 ' To gain the world a soul is lost, 
 What can that love explain ? 
 More than the thousand worlds it cost 
 One precious soul to gain. ' 
 
 Let others speak of deeds of moral valour, and of Christian 
 sympathy, but this will compare with any I ever read of, 
 knowing, as I do, the difficulties of dealing (in Ireland espe- 
 cially) with such a case, where the everlasting destiny of the 
 spirit is infallibly bound up with the last rites of the Church of 
 Rome ; although, strange to say, a person is never anointed 
 who is to be executed, because not sick, and not given up by 
 the doctor. This is still more passing strange, when one con- 
 siders that anointing or extreme unction is one of the seven 
 
74 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 sacraments indispensably necessary for salvation ! A case 
 occurred in Sligo about that time, of a man who fell from the 
 drop, the rope having broken, and he was greatly mangled. 
 The priest then came and anointed him, because he was sick : 
 and yet, alas ! he was all safe if he had not fallen ! This speaks 
 for itself, but 4 the unjust knoweth no shame.' Encouraged by 
 this prison scene, Mr. Graham took the street next day in Long- 
 ford after public worship, and preached to a vast multitude. He 
 describes the scene thus: — 'On Sabbath, the 21st of July 
 1799, I resolved, in the strength of the Lord, to give my 
 mission a full trial on the open street. I had a crowded 
 congregation, a vast multitude. I took for my text, " For 
 Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, 
 that he might bring us to God." (1 Peter iii. 18.) A more 
 suitable text he could not take. He spoke in Irish and 
 English, as he ha.d a mixed multitude of Romanists and 
 Protestants. The power of God descended, and he observes, 
 ' I think I never saw a congregation in a public street more 
 affected — some bathed in tears, others kissing the ground, 
 others smiting their breasts, others kneeling on the street I 
 hope it will be a day never to be forgotten.' This was surely 
 a hopeful beginning, as the first attempt in this department of 
 his general mission labour, for he was a general missionary all 
 through. Yet it was very cheering to him to have these 
 pledges that the hand of the Lord was in this appointment. 
 The Rev. Mr. Reilly observes : — ' In the choice of the agents 
 who were, in the first instance, selected for the undertaking, 
 the Conference was evidently under Divine direction. And 
 the time chosen for its commencement, while it evinced an 
 ardent zeal and tender sympathy for those who were perishing, 
 showed also " the wisdom from above. " The land was weary 
 of hostility, and sickened by the sight of surrounding deso- 
 lation. Indeed, the Irish, at all times disposed to attend to 
 the preaching of the Gospel, when not terrified by altar denun- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 75 
 
 ciations, were at this time more particularly willing to listen 
 to the invitations of Divine mercy and peace.' Mr. Wesley 
 observes — ' What a nation is this ! Every man, woman, and 
 child (except a few of the great vulgar), not only patiently but 
 gladly suffer the word of exhortation.' In fact, the time, the 
 agents, and the mode of their operation, were all in keeping 
 with Divine arrangement. As to the time, the land, weary with 
 projects, just as it is now in 1868, and fruitless in everything 
 but disappointment and misery ! As it regarded the agents, 
 especially Graham and Ouseley, they seemed to be chiselled by 
 the hand of the Divine Lapidary from rough blocks of granite, 
 mentally, morally, and physically. As it regards their mode of 
 labour, it was as wise as it was benevolent. They were not to 
 be confined ; they were to go everywhere, and fill Ireland with 
 their doctrine. They had nothing to do but ceaselessly cry, 
 ' Behold, behold the Lamb.' Their motto, in substance, may 
 be well expressed in the following lines : — 
 
 ' Lord, if Thou didst Thyself inspire 
 Our souls with this intense desire 
 
 Thy goodness to proclaim, 
 Thy glory if we now intend, 
 O, may our deed begin and end 
 Complete in Jesu's name. 
 
 Not in the tombs we pine to dwell, 
 Not in the dark monastic cell, 
 
 By vows and grates confined ; 
 Freely to all ourselves we give, 
 Constrained by Jesu's love to live 
 
 The servants of mankind. ' 
 
 With those sentiments, Mr. Graham immediately prepared 
 for and set out on his arduous mission. He first visited Sligo, 
 where he was to meet Mr. Ouseley. This was close to his 
 native place, which he had not seen for nine years. On his way he 
 spoke to the Romanists in Irish. One of these fell on his 
 knees on the open road, and cried aloud for mercy, which led 
 
76 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Mr. Graham to record, ' that the Scriptures have a powerful 
 effect when spoken in the Irish language;' and exclaims, 'Oh, 
 that the Lord may raise up and send forth more labourers into 
 this harvest field!' He entered the town from his native place 
 on the 28th of July (Sabbath), as an ambassador with a com- 
 mission higher than ever fell to an ermined judge or a crowned 
 head. He felt a little reluctance at first to take the street, as 
 it was so close to his former residence ; but this feeling was 
 only temporary, and vanished as gossamer before the wind. 
 ' I set my face,' says he, 'as flint, and conquered in the strength 
 of Christ' He took his stand at the corner of two streets, to 
 command both Church and Mass people. He was soon sur- 
 rounded with what he calls 'a gazing, unthinking multitude.' 
 He was interrupted for a few minutes, but order was soon 
 restored, and he finished in peace. Many were well affected 
 towards him, but on the following Sabbath an attempt was 
 made by a rabble mob to annoy him. The presence of some 
 gentlemen kept them in check. He says, ' The opposition 
 only roused my soul, and God enabled me, both in English 
 and in Irish, to denounce the judgments of heaven against 
 impenitent sinners.' On the 29th, next day, he preached in a 
 country place, where, twenty years before, he laboured as a 
 local preacher, and where he had much fruit. On the 30th he 
 preached in his native village, and had several Roman Catholics 
 to hear him, whom he formerly knew. One woman cried 
 aloud, and blest the day she ever heard a Methodist preacher. 
 Next day he preached in his brother's house close by. He 
 found this brother ' striving to seek and serve the Lord.' Here 
 he went from house to house, praying everywhere in both lan- 
 guages. August 4th, he took the street again in Sligo, where 
 he was annoyed at the commencement by the shrill noise of a 
 pig, which some son of Belial held by the ear on purpose to 
 annoy the preacher. When this was over, a soldier came 
 forward, and began to bark like a dog. He was soon taken 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 77 
 
 away, and confined to barracks, and allowed neither to bark 
 or bite. Then an oyster-man came up, shouting at the pitch 
 of his voice on behalf of his 1 shell- wares.' Still Graham waited 
 patiently, for he saw that earth and hell were resolved to baffle 
 him ; but there he stood, 
 
 ' Firm as an iron pillar strong, 
 And steadfast as a wall of brass. ' 
 
 At last, when silence was restored, he appeared to be gifted and 
 girded afresh for the conflict against sin, and earth, and hell ; 
 and, by one of the most awful and powerful appeals ever 
 brought to bear on head, and heart, and conscience, in the 
 street, he literally thundered as from Mount Sinai on the 
 solemnities of death, judgment, hell, and eternity. He himself 
 says, and he never was accused of inflated statements, ' it bore 
 down all before it' They would have listened to him until 
 midnight, 'although,' says he, 'earth and hell were stirred up 
 at first against me.' He also remarks that 1 many by this open 
 air preaching will hear who otherwise would never hear at all.' 
 The same observation was made in a letter lately received by 
 the author from one of the first noblemen in the land. It runs 
 thus : — ' I thank you for your letter and annexed paper, and 
 beg, in token of approval of missionary effort by out-door 
 preaching, to enclose a donation in aid of the movement. The 
 Gospel may thus be brought within the hearing of some who 
 might otherwise never hear it.' A dignitary of the Church of 
 England writes within the last few weeks (and in reference 
 to the vindication of this practice at the late trial in Longford), 
 — ' I would be glad to see the out-door triumphs of Wesley in 
 England repeated in Ireland, when in every fair and public 
 gathering the Gospel could be preached. Of course, Satan 
 would howl, and his children rage, but the word of the Lord 
 would not return void.' It is pleasing to know that the right of 
 public open air preaching has been so fully vindicated at this 
 
78 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 late trial, at the spring assizes of Longford, March 1868, that 
 the parties were convicted who opposed the preacher, by a most 
 outrageous and murderous attack on his person, for merely 
 passing through the town of Granard, because he happened to 
 preach there about two years before. 
 
 On the 5th and 6th August, Mr. Graham went to the sea-side, 
 and preached to the bathers w r ho came there for healthful 
 purposes affecting the body, but who now heard words whereby 
 the soul, which is afflicted with a disease no human means can 
 remedy, might be healed, and that by resorting to the 
 river of the water of life, 'without money and without price.' 
 He says, ' Many Romanists heard the word, and wept under 
 a deep concern for salvation.' Next day they brought to him 
 a deranged woman, to see if he would cure her. He prayed 
 with and for her ! She paid the greatest attention to what he 
 said, and was remarkably quiet and friendly. Mr. Graham 
 only remarks, ' I hope the Lord will restore her to her reason.' 
 August nth. — This day may be regarded as a memorable one in 
 the history of the Irish mission, as it was the first on which 
 both those kindred spirits (Messrs. Graham and Ouseley) united 
 in public, and in hallowed and honourable toil ! They may be 
 called the giant missionaries, and princes in our Israel ! We 
 may apply the word used in reference to Jonathan and David, 
 ' they were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death 
 they were not divided' (in affection). 'They were swifter than 
 eagles (on ministerial wing); they were stronger than lions' 
 (in strength divine). They repaired on Saturday evening, 10th, 
 to Riverstown — an old Methodist station ten miles from Sligo, 
 a place often visited by Mr. Graham, during the years of his 
 earlier career. He states, ' This place is like the garden of the 
 Lord, and well watered by Methodist husbandmen, a holy and a 
 happy people.' Mr. Graham preached on Saturday evening, and 
 met the class on Sabbath morning, and had what he calls 'a melt- 
 ing time.' As soon as the mass people came out, Mr. Ouseley at 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 7 9 
 
 once got into their midst, and commenced to preach in Irish. 
 It appears the priest heard of their coming, and had his flock 
 well warned. They resolved to give the black caps a warm 
 reception, and the priest resolved to head them himself ; but, 
 Mr. Graham and some of the Methodists coming up at the 
 moment, rather disconcerted the scheme. The priest then 
 thought to get the people away altogether, but this also failed ; 
 and then and there these two worthies continued for about an 
 hour and a half in alternate addresses, while many, from deep 
 conviction of the truth, cried aloud, ' it is the truth.'' ' I trust,' 
 says Mr. Graham, 'they will never forget that day.' The two 
 brethren rejoiced greatly 'according to the joy in harvest, and 
 as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.' Thus cheered, as 
 having triumphed over a well-designed priestly plot, they 
 thanked God and took courage, and laboured away round that 
 country for several days, and with marked success. On one of 
 these days they met a number of Romanists coming from ' a 
 pattern,' or holy well station. The people stood still, while 
 these singular men — like Elijah and Elisha in their own way, 
 and no two men ever appeared more like them in that country 
 — addressed the pilgrims on the great subject of salvation by 
 faith alone, and not by the deeds of the law, or human per- 
 formances, mortifications, or penances. They were moved 
 with compassion toward them, and regarded them as 'sheep 
 having no shepherd.' 'The poor creatures,' says Mr. Graham, 
 'fell on their knees, smote their breasts, and with uplifted 
 hands and streaming eyes called on God. We directed them 
 to a crucified and willing Saviour, powerful and present to save. 
 One cried out, " what must I do ?" Others rushed forward, and 
 such a scene of penitential sorrow as took place on the open 
 road ! They would almost adore us, and we had hard work to 
 prevent them from kissing our feet. After commending them to 
 the grace of God, we moved closer to the well, and here the . 
 scenes of wonder rightly began.' The first affected was a 
 
80 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 hoary-headed sinner, who ran after them to the well. He 
 called on all to listen to the Gospel message; the people 
 gathered round them, and one woman knelt behind until he 
 had done. She cried piteously all the time, and so did the old 
 man. They all listened as for life, and Mr. Graham hoped that 
 their salvation began that very day, and that many of them 
 would be saved at the last day. Already they might sing in 
 the language of holy triumph : — 
 
 ' All thanks be to God, 
 
 Who scatters abroad, 
 
 Throughout every place, 
 By the least of His servants, His savour of grace : 
 
 Who the victory gave, 
 
 The praise let Him have ; 
 
 For the work He had done, 
 All honour and glory to Jesus alone.' 
 
 Sabbath, 18th. — Mr. Graham writes, ' Brother Ouseley and I 
 went to Manorhamilton. I preached in the morning, and met 
 the class, which was like the opening of heaven.' It was 
 reported that these wayfaring men would preach in the street ! 
 The priests took the alarm and went to the magistrate, who 
 was also the minister of the parish, and stated that these men 
 had come to town to put them out of their chapels. ' If that 
 be so,' said the weak magisterial clergyman, ' they will put me 
 out of my church, so I will order them to be taken up.' Mr. 
 Graham heard of the dodge, and sent two confidential friends 
 to inform him that the statements of the priests were false- 
 hoods. However, neither priest, magistrate, or minister dared 
 to interfere, for ' the common people heard them gladly ' in the 
 open street ' A good day,' says Mr. Graham, ' from morning 
 until night' The Irish language was fully used in all that 
 country, especially in the counties of Leitrim and Sligo. It 
 •was a powerful weapon in the hands of 'these ministers of 
 flame.' It was so with the Hebrew language in St Paul's time — 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 Si 
 
 ' And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to 
 them, they kept the more silence.' — Acts xxii. 2. And still 
 there are multitudes in those parts who would be glad to hear 
 the word of life in their own loved language. In Thomas Walsh's 
 time the people frequently rose en masse, and said, after ' hear- 
 ing in their own language the wonderful works of God,' ' we 
 will follow you all over the world.' It was equally so in the 
 hands of those heaven-appointed messengers, and the people 
 uttered again and again the same language to them. The 
 following lines on preaching in the Irish language are highly 
 appropriate here : — 
 
 ' Fail not to scatter wide the holy word 
 In native seed, congenial to the soil, 
 And fear not for the blessing of the Lord, 
 
 Who will not render void thy faithful toil ; 
 And soon, oh, soon shall Erin's fertile field 
 A rich return, a glorious harvest yield.' 
 
 Never, perhaps, in the same space of time, or by any two men, 
 was a larger portion of this native seed of Divine truth scattered 
 in any country or in any language than by those two men 
 especially by Graham, who had been at least sixteen years pro- 
 claiming it before Mr. Ouseley began at all. On the 21st 
 they attended a funeral, and taking advantage of the church- 
 yard, they preached to a multitude, who heard with profound 
 attention. ' It was a great day.' At the evening service the 
 power of the Highest overshadowed the assembly. On the 21st 
 4 Mr. Ouseley was assailed,' says Mr. Graham, 'by a spouting 
 controversialist of some Romish order — a poor, conceited sin- 
 ner — but he soon was foiled and disappointed ; then he strove 
 to prevent the people from attending, but all in vain. They, 
 poor creatures, flocked to hear us, and entreated us to return 
 to them speedily; they were nearly all Romanists.' On the 
 22nd they went to the country again. Graham preached from 
 Hebrews vi 12, ' That ye be not slothful, but followers of them 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' He had 
 great power ; but while Mr. Ouseley prayed, the heavens were 
 opened, and 1 there was a noise and a shaking among the dry 
 bones.' It was a remarkable night, and they came home weary 
 in body, but not of their hallowed work. Now, in incessant 
 labour, day after day, and night after night, Mr. Graham uses 
 those words, a truth unknown to worldly minds — 
 
 ' Labour is rest, and pain is sweet, 
 If thou, my God, art here. ' 
 
 On the 23rd they went to a village close to the town, spoke to 
 the Romanists by the way, but they were again attacked by 
 what Graham calls 'a blaspheming Rabshekah. He cursed 
 and damned, and offered all manner of insult, and would lay 
 violent hands on us if he dare;' but they bore it in the spirit 
 of David, when assailed by Shimei, saying, ' It was the Lord 
 permitted the tongue of slander to be let loose upon us for 
 having so long refrained from publicly proclaiming Christ' He 
 told Mr. Ouseley that if he had a book, he would swear that 
 there was neither God or devil, heaven or hell. Graham 
 exclaims, 'O Lord, what is man!' On the 25th, however, 
 they were well rewarded for all this reproach, which, perhaps, pre- 
 pared them the better to bear it. On this day, Sunday, they 
 took their stand at the old Market-house in Sligo, then situated 
 in Market Street, where our excellent friend, T. W., has now 
 a first-rate house of business. Here they spent a full hour and 
 half in proclaiming to a listening and deeply attentive multi- 
 tude 'the unsearchable riches of Christ' A gentleman who 
 lived opposite was so deeply affected, that he came over and 
 invited them to make his house their home. Many were ena- 
 bled that day to distinguish the difference between the form 
 and the power of godliness. Graham writes, under this date, 
 ' I was determined to hurl the artillery of heaven against the 
 devil's kingdom. Persecution] says he, ' never intimidates me, 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 83 
 
 but fear sometimes does. Mr. Ouseley took his stand the day 
 before, Saturday, among the fish-women in the open street, on 
 which Mr. Graham remarks — 'I came forward to assist him, 
 and was now delivered from that cursed shame which has long 
 pursued me.' One would think that he was a perfect stranger 
 to such sensibilities, but he had 'like passions with us.' 
 
 Monday, 26th. — Mr. Graham preached again at the Market- 
 house from Heb. xiii. 9, ' For it is a good thing for the heart to 
 be established with grace.' Here he says, he found many 
 people tossed about by Calvinism and Antinomianism, but the 
 Lord Carried on his work in spite of all opposition from every 
 quarter. With gratitude he exclaims, ' Glory to God ; wherever 
 I turn in this country I find some of the fruits of my first 
 labours twenty-six years ago!' Ouseley waxed stronger and 
 stronger. His arguments in Irish with Romanists were irresistible. 
 Graham observes here, 'I had faith to believe that all the 
 devils in hell, or all the powers on earth, would not be able to 
 keep back the people from hearing us. This faith was tried 
 powerfully in a day or two after. On the Sabbath, Mr. Ouseley 
 stood at the market-place, and I accompanied him.' It 
 appears the priests anticipated their coming, and had a great 
 scheme formed to frustrate the preaching of ' the black caps,' 
 as the two missionaries were called. A vast crowd assembled, 
 and were attentive while Graham spoke from Pro v. xv. 29, but 
 when Ouseley began it was the signal for a general shout The 
 mob tied old kettles to the tails of dogs, and hunted them 
 through the streets, making a frightful noise. Ouseley had to 
 desist, but this only roused Graham, and up he stood, and 
 with stentorian voice shouted, ' It is all in vain for the sons of 
 Belial to endeavour by such means to uphold the devil's 
 kingdom, for the Lord Jesus has resolved on its ruin, and 
 down it must come.' Silence immediately ensued, and although 
 a few raged, the people listened attentively, and they were 
 allowed to finish in peace, by prayer and the benediction. 
 
8 4 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Surely we may well say after this, that ■ the righteous are as 
 bold as a lion : ' and with the poet we cheerfully, and believingly, 
 and hopefully sing — 
 
 ' Truth crushed to earth will rise again, 
 The eternal years of God are hers ; 
 Wide error wounded, writhes in pain, 
 And dies amidst her worshippers.' 
 
 The week following the Sabbath's street service was marked 
 by signs of good The chapel could not hold all that came 
 each night to hear. Careless Protestants and backsliding 
 Methodists were all roused The missionaries attended a 
 funeral next day of a Roman Catholic. Here they had a fine 
 opportunity for preaching in Irish and English. Such a scene 
 as that grave-yard presented ! Several began to cry over their 
 dead, and the women knelt at the graves and cried with a bitter 
 lamentation. Ouseley fell on his knees with them, and began 
 to pray in Irish. The people thought some wonderful thing 
 was about to take place, perhaps that the end of the world was 
 coming quickly ; others thought it must be some token of good 
 from God. ' How long, O Lord ! ' After this, there was a 
 conspiracy devised by the soldiers and the base Romanists to 
 murder the preachers the next time they appeared in the street 
 to preach. The plan was this — they were to meet on the 
 outskirt of the crowd, and in one body make a desperate rush, 
 and by force bear all before them, tumble the preachers, and 
 tramp them to death. They met accordingly, but Graham 
 observed their movements, and quickly took Ouseley by the 
 hand and quietly walked off. One of the officers was in the 
 secret of the plot, and was to attend and protect them, but he did 
 not appear at all. It was likely to cost him the loss of his 
 commission, and the soldiers were likely to be punished ! 
 Thus the two brethren laboured in and around Sligo for about six 
 weeks, 1 warning every man, and teaching every man publicly, 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 85 
 
 and from house to house,' and glorious signs followed in con- 
 versions of members of all churches. The Sligo circuit return 
 showed an increase of about 200 members after this. Mr. 
 Ouseley was now fully free from all temporal concerns, and those 
 two companions in labour, started off for Collooney, Ballymote, 
 Boyle, and all the towns around. The Romanists flocked to 
 hear them in all directions, and several renounced the Church 
 of Rome altogether ; in fact, it was one continued stream of 
 divine influence following in every direction. Wherever they 
 went the Lord worked with them. In Boyle they met with 
 stern resistance. Even the army officers behaved most 
 infamously ; for they encouraged the mob to throw rotten eggs 
 and other offensive missiles. Here also they encountered a 
 great controversialist of the Church of Rome, a Scapularian ; 
 but when he became impertinent they refused to argue with 
 him The Romanists then called Graham 'the old devil;' and 
 Ouseley 'the young devil,' and 'the son of the old fellow.' 
 Here also the Established Church minister opposed them. 
 But these things moved them not. Opposition rather inspired 
 them afresh with greater faith and more fervency in prayer, and 
 more signal triumphs and victories awaited them in other 
 places. At this time, they wrote a joint-letter to Dr. Coke, 
 dated October 10, 1799. In it they say — 
 
 * The enemy's kingdom is falling before us. The Roman Catholics are 
 exceedingly affected in every place. We are preaching in the streets, in the 
 markets, and by the highway. We preached lately in Jamestown, beyond 
 Carrick-on- Shannon, to the largest congregation we ever beheld. They 
 wept in numbers on every hand. Also at Mohill and Longford markets, 
 we spoke three times in the open air in one day. [I suppose in different 
 parts of the town.] The Lord is with us of a truth. 
 
 * Chas. Graham. 
 
 • Gideon Ouseley. 
 
 « To the Rev. Dr. Coke: 
 
 As the Doctor took such an interest in this mission, and in 
 everything Irish, perhaps I could not find a better place to 
 
86 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 introduce the first interview which the Rev. Matthew Lanktree 
 had with him, than here. His record is — ' Early this summer 
 I commenced my acquaintance with that eminent man of God, 
 Dr. Coke. He greatly edified me by his public ministry, and 
 greatly delighted me by his amiable manners; he preached 
 from Psalm xlviii. 31, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her 
 hands unto the Lord." Ethiopia he described as representing the 
 whole sable race of Africa. By " stretching out her hands unto 
 God," he understood to mean, her lamenting her moral and 
 degraded condition, and imploring redress from God's righteous 
 administration ; but especially did it mean, her seeking with 
 earnestness the blessings of Gospel salvation. He quoted Gen. 
 ix. 25, 26, 27 — " Cursed be Canaan ; a servant of servants shall 
 he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord 
 God of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant. And God 
 shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem ; 
 and Canaan shall be his servant." " Cursed be Canaan," the 
 fourth son of Ham, must be a prediction of the future wicked- 
 ness of his descendants, the Canaanites, whom the curse over- 
 took in the most awful manner. " A servant of servants," this 
 destiny for ages, and even such in what was called free-born 
 America and the British colonies ! Poor Africa ! " Blessed be 
 the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant." 
 He considered that America was peopled from Asia by the 
 decendants of Shem, to whom the unfortunate blacks, the race 
 of Ham, became slaves, and slavery which Mr. Wesley called 
 " the sum of all villainy." " God shall enlarge Japheth," whom 
 he persuaded to emigrate to Europe (and had a numerous 
 family in Asia Minor). " And he shall dwell in the tents of 
 Shem ; " that is, God shall dwell as He did among the Jews, in 
 tents. The tabernacle and temple, and finally Canaan himself 
 shall be His (that is, the Lord's) servant. Thus Japheth 
 means Europe ; Shem, Asia and America ; and Ham and 
 Canaan, denote Africa.' Ingenious enough. The doctor and 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 the noble band of missionaries did more to melt the chains of 
 slavery than either a Clarkson, a Buxton, or a Wilberforce. 
 
 ' O, 'tis a godlike privilege to save, 
 And he that scorns it is himself a slave ; 
 Inform the mind, one beam of heavenly day 
 Would heal the heart, and melt the chains away.' 
 
 Mr. Graham writes to his son in Dublin, from Tullamore, 
 shortly after he wrote to Doctor Coke. In it he says — 
 
 1 The devil's kingdom is falling before us. We preached yesterday to a 
 crowd of hardened sinners, but they gave us a patient hearing. We are 
 now become fair and market men. This is the most effectual way which 
 has ever been devised to spread the Gospel. We do more in spreading 
 truth in one fair or market day, than we could in weeks or months in private 
 houses. In some markets the cries and tears of the people are enough 
 to rend the heavens. Whatever I could say on this subject would fall far 
 short of what it is in reality, and will appear more and more.' 
 
 After this, Graham and Ouseley proceeded to Dublin to meet 
 Dr. Coke, and came round by Balbriggan, Drogheda, Ardee, 
 the Poles, Bailieborough, Kingscourt, Cavan, Killeshandra, 
 Belturbet, and back to Sligo. An extract from another letter 
 to Dr. Coke, just after they arrived in Sligo, will best describe 
 this tour. It is dated Sligo, Nov. 1799. 
 
 ■ We have come to Sligo (their families being there), and all glory to God, 
 we have had a blessed time of it. The power of the Lord attended us 
 wherever we came, which confirms us more and more that the Lord has 
 called us to this glorious work. At Balbriggan the Catholics attended 
 night and day. One woman cried aloud for mercy, and found it. We 
 preached on the street, and had a patient and a profitable hearing. A man 
 cried out, " Every parish in Ireland would want two such men." We took 
 the street in Drogheda, and were summoned to appear before the magistrate; 
 but he ordered us to get the Tholsel, or Sessions Room (Town Hall), and he 
 came himself, and brought the sheriff with him to hear us, and also a Church 
 of England minister. We had a vast congregation of Catholics, who 
 seemed to be greatly impressed- Both of us spoke at the meeting, and the 
 Lord blessed the word very greatly to many. After the service the 
 magistrate told one of our friends, that we 1 ' might preach whenever and 
 
88 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 wherever we pleased." We were men greatly wondered at by the people 
 of Drogheda. In Ardee the Catholics wept aloud in the open street, and 
 clapping their hands inquired, " what they should do to be saved?" The 
 Gospel was indeed "the power of God to the salvation " of many that day. 
 At the Poles near Kingscourt, the heavens were opened unto us. At 
 Kingscourt the Catholics and all were powerfully affected. At Bailie- 
 borough we attacked the devil's kingdom at once. The poor Methodists 
 were alarmed, having never seen mission work on that fashion ; but they 
 had their eyes opened very soon. One girl said, " the day of judgment was 
 coming." The word of the Lord like thunder awoke many, and one 
 Catholic woman found peace with God. Next night, two more shed tears 
 like the pouring out of water. We came to Cavan sounding the Gospel- 
 trumpet all the way. It was a fair-day. We were as wet as we could be, 
 but neither of us dried or refreshed ourselves until we preached in the fair. 
 A lady who saw us through her window wept all the time. The people 
 remained uncovered all through in the rain, and were bathed in tears. 
 They entreated us to preach that night again in the court-house, and they 
 would come and hear, which we did. We also visited the prisoners in the 
 jail. One was in for murder and robbery, a fine-looking young man, and a 
 respectable Protestant. Our hearts clung to him, and both he and several 
 others cried aloud for mercy. The servant-maid, where we lodged at Mr. 
 Smith's, found salvation, and the whole town was moved. At Killeshandra 
 the effects of the street preaching were amazing, and the cry of the vast 
 multitude was raised in the publican's petition, "God be merciful," &c. 
 It was a great day for the poor Catholics. 
 
 ' C. Graham.' 
 
 From Graham's journal papers we have a continuation of 
 this tour, and of the marvellous scenes which took place from 
 day to day. From Killeshandra they went to Mr. Martin's, 
 within a few miles of the town. Here the whole neighbourhood 
 was moved, and even the preacher on the circuit was over- 
 whelmed with wonder, having never witnessed such power from 
 on high. At Belturbet they met with a hard attack from the 
 enemy. It appears they stood close to the door of a public 
 house. The wife of the publican, whom Mr. Graham calls ' a 
 Jezebel,' fearing their 'craft was in danger,' went up to her 
 window and cried, 'False prophets — it was foretold they 
 should come in the last days. ' When this did not lead them to 
 desist, she sent for a constable to remove them, but he ' feared 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 89 
 
 the people/ who were so numerous and so attentive. So the 
 two missionaries had the opportunity of denouncing the sins 
 both of drunkenness and of covetousness tremendously, the 
 latter of which, they said, caused Judas to sell his Master. 
 The foolish and wicked woman was confounded. How 
 characteristically does Cowper describe such a case — 
 
 ' Ambition, avarice, and the lust of fame, 
 And woman, lovely woman, does the same ; 
 The heart surrendered to the ruling power 
 Of some ungoverned passion every hour. ' 
 
 Thence they came to a place close by, where they were 
 received as ' angels of light,' and where a Roman Catholic 
 manifested the most astonishing concern about his soul's eternal 
 interests, and entreated these men of God to bless him, and 
 said if they did, he would be blessed. Mr. Graham merely 
 devoutly exclaims, ' Blessed God, open the eyes of these poor 
 creatures, and let them know the truth as it is in Jesus.' 
 From this place they went to Sligo, as we have seen. After 
 resting a few days with their families, they started again for 
 another tour northwards, to Ballyshannon, Enniskillen, Pettigo, 
 Ballinamallard, &c. But his own words to Dr. Coke will 
 explain it better than any language of mine. He says — 
 
 'We spent the last month (December 1799) in the North, and met with 
 no opposition, although we preached on the streets. The poor, the rich, 
 the learned, listened with astonishment. We denounced the judgments of 
 heaven against the sins of the day. The Catholics attended from place to 
 place in spite of all entreaty by their priests. The fame of the Irish 
 preaching had spread through all the country. Numbers of cases of 
 conviction and conversion took place. We were astonished. In Ballintra 
 the place was too small, so we had to go from house to house. The people 
 crying everywhere aloud for mercy. We went to Pettigo, not far from 
 Lough Derg. [I wonder they did not visit the Pilgrim's Island, where poor 
 Bartley Campbell found the mercy of God.] Here we took the street. 
 This was a blessed day. The Catholics were greatly struck, and followed 
 us night and morning. We came on to Ballinamallard and Enniskillen, 
 where the power of the Lord attended us in both places, in public and 
 
9 o 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 private. The meetings lasted some nights for five and others for six hours, 
 until we were literally worn out We can give but an imperfect account of 
 the work. Two Catholic girls found peace with God in Sydare ; and on 
 last Monday night, several souls were brought to God. As soon as we 
 recover we shall go to the North again. ' ' O Lord our God, strengthen 
 Thy poor servants for this great work." — Yours, &c, 
 
 ' Charles Graham. 
 
 1 G. Ouseley.' 
 
 Thus ends the first half-year of this wonderful missionary toil 
 and success ! For it we glorify God in His servants ! The 
 above letters and records are, however, but the merest outline of 
 the papers which fully describe their herculean efforts. The 
 rocks and glens which had reverberated the clangour of arms, 
 and the cannon's roar, now echoed the joyful sound of an 
 evangelical jubilee. The very streets which had been deluged 
 with human blood, were now refreshed with streams from the 
 life-giving fountain of water divine. ' If ever,' says the Rev. 
 W. Reilly, 1 Ireland is to be regenerated, there must arise a 
 succession of noble spirits, inspired with the zeal that glowed 
 in the bosoms of Walsh, Graham, and Ouseley, to go forth to the 
 streets and public places, to the fields and highways, to persuade 
 sinners to be "reconciled to God.'" 
 
 The labours of this half-year would supply one of the 
 richest chapters of evangelism which, perhaps, ever blessed the 
 world since the days of the apostles, and yet it only supplies a 
 specimen of what is to follow for the next five years and a 
 half, during which those ' Boanerges ' laboured together. We 
 must not, however, confine our attention altogether to the 
 labours of Graham and Ouseley, even during this period. 
 
 The South was visited as well. On the southern district, the 
 Rev. James M'Quigg laboured with great success, which the 
 following extract from his letter to Dr. Coke will fully estab- 
 lish :— 
 
 'In the beginning of August 1799, I made my first trial as a missionary 
 in Bandon. I stood under a tree, and a large number of people came 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 91 
 
 around me. Some admired the Irish, and others were in tears, crying to 
 the Lord for mercy. The next time I had many of the Caithness soldiers 
 to hear, who did not understand English well, but they were greatly affected 
 when I spoke in the Erse dialect. Good was done. I afterwards went to 
 Innishannon, and preached to a multitude in the street. With many of 
 them I conversed afterwards, and they declared they would come to hear 
 me whenever I came, especially if I preached in Irish. The name of Jesus 
 was precious to them. In Macroom, fifteen miles west of Bandon, I 
 preached to a large congregation in the Court-house. One young soldier 
 wept incessantly, and while listening to the Word, felt it to be " the power 
 of God " to his salvation. He was a Carmelite. In Cork I preached four 
 times in Irish, twice on Barrack Hill. I had thousands to hear, who were 
 not only attentive, but bathed in tears. When I was leaving them they 
 cried aloud to God for blessings to rest on me. In Youghal I preached 
 three days on the quay to thousands, who fell on their knees in the wet 
 street, and some followed me through the street for advice, declaring that 
 they had an awful sense of their sinfulness since they heard me preach. I 
 conversed with a learned Catholic in Youghal very pleasingly. He seems 
 anxious for truth. I feel much gratitude to the magistrates and inhabitants 
 of Youghal. In Newtownbarry many of the Roman Catholics came to the 
 preaching-house. Half of the congregation were of that persuasion, and 
 when the Protestants left, they remained to shake hands with me and to 
 bless me. Our friends besought me to come here again. 
 
 'James M'Quigg.' 
 
 The following short extract is from a letter by Mr. Tydd, of 
 C lough j or dan, to the Rev. Mr. Averell : — 
 
 ' Mr. Macklin informs me that Messrs. Graham and Ouseley were at his 
 house. The Catholics flocked to hear them from place to place. They 
 preach on horseback in the fairs and markets.' 
 
 This reference is to the first half-year's labours, as it is dated 
 ' October 22nd, 1799,' and alludes to their work when on their 
 way to Dublin to meet Doctor Coke. In compliance with 
 what he states, ' I have made it a rule that the Irish Mission- 
 aries shall spend some time with me when I visit Ireland. The 
 last time they spent about a fortnight with me. — T. C 
 
 I must reluctantly refrain from giving any further extracts 
 here from Mr. Graham's journal, in reference to his work during 
 the following three months, although there are passages which 
 
9 2 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 abound in singular displays of Divine power. These two 
 ' labourers in their Master's cause ' travelled through nearly all 
 the circuits of the North, which took them about three months 
 to accomplish, from January 1800, until April following. In 
 lieu of those extracts, I can only give the letter which they 
 wrote to Doctor Coke after their return, dated — 
 
 ' Sligo, April 6, 1800. 
 1 We have now returned to Sligo after travelling all the circuits in the 
 North of Ireland, and all glory to God, our labours have been crowned 
 with great success. The fire of the Lord has attended us wherever we 
 came, and His fear fell upon the people. We have preached to thousands 
 in the open streets and in the fields, in the fairs and markets, and in the 
 principal towns of the North. Numbers of Catholics have been awakened, 
 and many of them converted, especially at Clones, Brookborough, Ballina- 
 mallard, and their respective neighbourhoods. We can give you but a very 
 imperfect account of this great work ; but if you are spared to come to this 
 kingdom, the preachers from their different circuits will be able to satisfy 
 you fully as to what we now relate. All glory to God, the harvest is great. 
 It was not in our power to spend half as much time with the poor Catholics 
 as they required, though we spent three months in our last tour. We are 
 come home to rest a little, but I think our stay will be very short. Nor can 
 we, with a good conscience, rest while so many thousands are now willing 
 to hear, and are perishing for lack of knowledge. It is a wonder, indeed, 
 how we have been sustained under such great labours and exertions. The 
 preachers and people thought it impossible that we could hold out, having 
 not only the labours of the streets and fields, but a revival almost in every 
 part, which keeps us preaching, exhorting, and praying for hours. But still 
 we are alive and resolved to go on with our glorious work. At Newtown - 
 Stewart we preached a little out of the town, and numbers out of the fair 
 came to hear us. Many of the poor Catholics, bathed in tears, came forward 
 to shake hands with us, entreating us, according to the custom of their 
 priests, to lay our hands upon them and bless them. 
 
 *C. Graham, 
 
 'G. OUSELEY.' 
 
 I must glance at the journals for the quarter following this 
 period, as I have no directer means of affording information of 
 how it was spent They resolved on removing their families 
 from Sligo to Clones. They had spent a large amount of 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 93 
 
 labour in the neighbourhood of Sligo, but a wider field had now 
 opened up to them in the County Monaghan, and they thought 
 Clones a better centre. Before they left Sligo, however, Mr. 
 Ouseley resolved to make one grand charge on the Church of 
 Rome, which all through life he regarded as ' the dire Apostacy,' 
 and he seemed to be raised up like another Luther to wage 
 war with it, until the last gasp. Mr. Graham writes — 'We 
 determined to make another trial in the street, although the 
 priest commanded great power, in preventing the Catholics 
 from hearing us ; yet, on this occasion, contrary to our expecta- 
 tion, we were attended with a crowd of the Catholics, who stood 
 quietly while Brother Ouseley proved to them that they were 
 deceived, and had not the doctrines preached by Saint Paul in 
 his Epistle to the Romans \ and that their priests were blind 
 guides, and false prophets, and knaves, and took their money, 
 but did them no good. I exhorted after him, not minding 
 sects or parties, but directed them at once to turn away their 
 attention from creeds, and from church and chapel walls, and 
 to look to Him who could alone grant them what they all 
 wanted, u real happi?iess" which could only be found by faith in 
 Christ. They heard with deep attention, and the power of the 
 Lord attended the word. The hearts of many were melted, 
 which also proved a blessing to my own soul. I am now about 
 to leave my native county again, and I have strong hopes that 
 the devil's strongholds will be broken down even here.' 
 
 This ends their labour for the present in the town and 
 neighbourhood of Sligo, for which they prayed, and laboured, 
 and hoped, and wept so much. 
 
 Mr. Graham states that he set out May r, 1800, with his 
 family from Sligo, on his way to Clones. He preached in 
 Manorhamilton the first night. He states, God made the 
 service a blessing to himself as well as to others ; and on the 
 next night he preached also, which was a time of breaking 
 down. All the people were in tears. On the 3rd of May he 
 
94 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 arrived in Clones. It was Saturday, and he felt much fatigued 
 with his journey ; but on next day, the Sabbath, he went to 
 the Market-house, and there proclaimed, as formerly, the un- 
 searchable riches of Christ. He states, ' some souls were set at 
 liberty.' The work begun here before had not declined, although 
 the priest was hard at work to undo what was done among the 
 Romanists. The good work was very deeply grounded among 
 the Methodists, and likely to spread far and wide. Now we 
 find him starting out afresh. He went next day to the fair of 
 Roslea, and felt the need of Mr. Ouseley, who had not yet 
 arrived from Sligo. But the Lord stood by him, and although 
 the place had a bad name, the people gave him a very attentive 
 hearing. Many hearts were melted, and a wonderful reforma- 
 tion took place, even in a change from cursing, swearing, 
 drunkenness, and lying. This was a place where Satan had 
 his seat, and many subjects — a place 'where dragons lay,' as 
 Graham expresses it, 'but now it begins to grow grass with 
 reeds and rushes.' The Catholics followed him that evening 
 to Mr. Whitley's, where they had to stand outside for want of 
 room. They came again next morning, and a revival com- 
 menced, in which the kind family participated largely, and 
 many of the Catholics went home broken-hearted. He prays — 
 ' O Lord, carry on this glorious work.' 
 
 Next day he met Mr. Ouseley, who had arrived from Sligo, 
 with Mrs. Ouseley. The following day they proceeded to 
 Smithborough, scarcely allowing themselves a day to rest. 
 Numbers nocked from different quarters. The heavens were 
 opened, and showers of blessing descended in rich abundance. 
 They met several Catholics coming from mass, whom they 
 addressed, when many were convinced of all and judged of all 
 on the spot. In the evening they preached at a Mr. Mitchell's. 
 Here they had many seceders, who, Graham states, 'had 
 been preached to death by long harangues.' It was ploughing 
 on the rocks for a considerable time, but before they concluded 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 95 
 
 the Lord touched many hearts. He observes on this, '/wwere 
 far better than one.' 
 
 Graham expresses that he felt great loneliness during the 
 few days Ouseley and himself were separated. Mr. Ouseley 
 stood the street in Sligo on the Sabbath after Mr. Graham left, 
 Mr. Banks, the Sligo superintendent, assisting, and preached 
 to an attentive congregation. Graham expresses his gratitude 
 to God for the success of his dear brother Ouseley thus, ' Blessed 
 be God that we have encouragement to go back to Sligo again, 
 notwithstanding all the priest has done — namely, his very 
 worst — to keep his people from hearing ; but neither men nor 
 devils can prevent them now.' He also states, ' Mr. Ouseley 
 preached in Lisbellaw on his way from Sligo, and God set 
 some souls at liberty, and at Maguiresbridge also he preached 
 to a mixed multitude.' 'I never knew,' says he again, ' such a 
 desire for hearing, we have now more invitations than we can 
 attend to.' 
 
 From Smithborough they went to the Monaghan market. 
 The people ran with eagerness to hear them, as if there had 
 been a famine of the Word in the land. Some appeared to be 
 stunned, some bathed in tears, but some of the clergy strove to 
 keep up their courage by laughing at the solemn scene, like 
 the school-boy, when passing the church-yard by night, 
 1 whistling to keep their courage up.' Their countenances, 
 however, soon changed, for ' the Word of the Lord was with 
 power,' and bore down all before it ' The Catholics,' Graham 
 writes, 'ran after us, inquiring "when would we come again?" 
 All the priest's curses or threatenings are insufficient to prevent 
 their attendance.' The impressions of the former visit were 
 not effaced. God gave them the hearts Of this people, and they 
 were willing to follow them anywhere Again, next day, in 
 Smithborough, we find them preaching to a mixed multitude of 
 Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Seceders, and Roman Catholics. 
 Before the meeting closed the rocks began to rend, and when 
 
9 6 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 they went into the house they could not be heard on account 
 of the loud and bitter wail of distress and anguish of spirit. 
 The Lord wounded and healed, broke down and built up. 
 Many witnessed that day for Christ that He had ' power on 
 earth to forgive sins.' Mr. Graham quaintly observes, 'I doubt 
 not but we have left enough for priests and ministers to do for 
 awhile. These have been stumbling-blocks, for one of them 
 challenged a Methodist preacher to dispute the subject of the 
 decrees — they have other subjects to dispute about now — a great 
 number have been truly converted to God.' They next pro- 
 ceeded to Newbliss, where, in the market, many were cut to 
 the heart, and found it to be the best market they ever attended. 
 Xext day they went to the market of Clones, where they had 
 from a thousand to fifteen hundred to hear, and the Spirit's 
 'two-edged sword' did great execution. They thundered the 
 law from Mount Sinai; the people trembled, and the devil's 
 strongest snares were broken. The priests were losing their 
 power. Then to Newbliss again, where the scene was on the 
 most marvellous scale. Young and old, husbands and wives, 
 rejoicing together as having 'found peace with God' Not a 
 word now about purgatory or unconditional election, things 
 debated hard before in all this country ! A young man heard 
 them, and conversed with them, who was preparing for the 
 Roman Catholic priesthood. He now declared he believed 
 the Methodist doctrines, 'and I trust,' says Mr. Graham, 'he 
 will never read a Latin mass.' At Cootehill the sensations 
 among the Romanists amounted to a complete moral revolution • 
 anxious to get liberty, and yet afraid of the power of caste, 
 and several of them, too, in 'orders.' They were convinced of 
 their errors, and did not know what to do. Mr. Graham prays 
 for them, and says, 'from such bondage, good Lord deliver 
 them.' At Ballybay the priest got behind them in a window, 
 and heard his system exposed, and his people warned 
 against it They followed the preachers out of the fair in order 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 97 
 
 to get more light They told the people that their religion was 
 'a religion of money and not of mercy.' Thence they both 
 went to Rockcurry, where they had about fifteen hundred to 
 hear. Such numbers made them tremble. .Graham exclaims, 
 ' Lord, what am I ? a helpless creature ! O Lord, give me 
 wisdom and power. The work is thine, and worthy of Thee.' 
 A young, half-drunken gentleman gave some annoyance, but 
 soon withdrew. No marvel that when the devil's kingdom is 
 in danger, he is always sure to send some of his servants to 
 prop it up. It was then tottering all round that country. Next 
 morning a woman who was * struck ' the day before in the 
 street, was set at liberty through believing in Jesus. Her hus- 
 band also was struck down, as well as many others. The 
 preachers then left for Cootehill. Here they obtained the 
 Presbyterian Meeting-house, and had several Dissenting 
 ministers to hear. They also preached the next morning, 
 when many were alarmed. Thence they went to Cavan, where 
 they had a crowd, and many of the Tipperary militia, who 
 heard with astonishment, being mostly Roman Catholics. The 
 Lord sent home His word with power to many hearts. It was 
 a good time to all. In the evening they preached again 
 when they had both to reprove and encourage. Some soldiers 
 behaved badly, but the rest heard gladly. Writing of this, Mr. 
 Graham says, ' It is impossible for me to give a full account 
 of this great work now going on ; and here I must confess 
 that anything to equal the conversions from Romanism I 
 scarcely ever read of, and all of a most marvellous type.' 
 
 I shall not proceed with any further details from the journal 
 now, lest I might weary the reader. I will finish the record of 
 this year's labours in the next chapter, and here give an extract 
 from a letter written by Mr. Graham to Dr. Coke, dated Clones, 
 June 28, 1800: — 
 
 * Could we attend to all the invitations we have from different places in 
 the country, I know not when we should leave it, for such a call for 
 
 G 
 
98 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 preaching I have never known, nor such crowds to attend it. The whole 
 country is in a flame. The Lord is truly doing great things, and those who 
 are eye and ear witnesses must conclude that some great event is likely to 
 take place ; such an outpouring of the Spirit of grace and supplication I have 
 never witnessed before. 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 Thus they now arrive within a few weeks of the first Con- 
 ference year of this marvellous general mission enterprise, the 
 success of which fully justified the appointment. It was one 
 continued stream of labour, and of almost uninterrupted health, 
 and of equal prosperity. Those two apostolic men, although 
 in some things very dissimilar in their natural temperaments 
 and gifts, yet never had they a word in the way of a misunder- 
 standing. ' Each esteemed the other better than themselves, 7 
 and rejoiced in each other's success. They could truly sing 
 with melody in their hearts to the Lord — 
 
 1 Still may we to our centre tend, 
 To spread Thy praise our common end — 
 
 To help each other on : 
 Companions through the wilderness, 
 To share a moment's pain, and seize 
 An everlasting crown." 
 
IX. 
 
 • Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might ; for there is 
 no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither 
 thou goest.' — Ecclesiastes ix. 10. 
 
 ' Some high or humble enterprise of good 
 Contemplate, till it shall possess thy mind, 
 Become thy study, pastime, rest, and food, 
 And kindle in thy heart a flame refined. 
 Pray heaven for firmness thy whole soul to bind 
 To this thy purpose — to begin, pursue, 
 With thoughts all fixed, and feelings purely kind ; 
 Strength to complete, and with delight review, 
 And grace to give the praise where all is ever due. 
 
 Rouse to some work of pure and holy love, 
 And thou an angel's happiness shalt know, — 
 Shalt bless the earth, while in the world above, 
 The good begun by thee shall onward flow 
 In many a branching stream, and wider grow. 
 The seed that in these few and fleeting hours 
 Thy hands unsparing and unwearied sow, 
 Shall deck thy grave with amaranthine flowers, 
 And yield the fruits divine in heaven's immortal bowers.' 
 
 Carlos Wilcox. 
 The Atnerican Cowper. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 JULY 180O. 
 
 Labours and journals from the end of june until Conference, 
 — Also at Conference. — Returns from Conference. — Very 
 remarkable success in several places. — arrives in clones. 
 — Sets out again. — Visits Kilmore. — Opposed in Clones by 
 the magisterial clergyman. — also the captain of the 
 militia. — Castleblaney. — Keady. — Monaghan. — Preaches to 
 a wedding party.— Hopeful results. — Six weeks' tour 
 Through the North. — Good work in the South. — Letter 
 from Messrs. Kane and Webb to Dr. Coke. — Also from Mr. 
 M'Quigg. — Persecution in Clones. — Popularity of the mis- 
 sionaries in consequence. — Their visits to Caledon, Charle- 
 mont, Loughgall, Armagh, and other places. — Extracts 
 from their letters, October to December. — Mr. Graham's 
 'license' to preach. — Close of the half-year's labours. 
 
 N the last chapter we brought down the labours of the 
 self-denying missionaries to the 28th of June, and 
 here it may be interesting to record the mode of 
 their journeyings to Conference, and their preparation for it, 
 which was anything but rest for either body or mind As one 
 remarked — 
 
 ' They scorned their feeble flesh to spare, 
 Regardless of their swift decline.' 
 
 On the 8th of July we find them at Belturbet, preaching in the 
 Market-house to a large congregation, among whom was a con- 
 siderable sprinkling of ladies and gentlemen, many of whom 
 felt the power of the Word. They were much astonished to 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 ior 
 
 hear the cries of the people for mercy, and said, these mission- 
 aries were good men, and a great blessing to the country. But 
 how hard for the rich to be fully decided for God. A Love 
 Feast followed ; many strangers remained at it for the first time 
 in their lives. Many were converted that day. Next day they 
 preached at Ballyhaise. Many Catholics were cut to the heart, 
 and some justified. It was said to be the greatest day that 
 town ever saw. They next proceeded to Clones, and took the 
 market, as they thought it might be their last day in that place, 
 as it was probable they would be changed at the Conference. 
 Many were constrained to cry out for mercy. These they 
 brought to the preaching-house, where the Lord set many of 
 them at liberty, and some Romanists among the number. They 
 preached on July 12 th to a vast multitude of Orangemen, who, 
 instead of spending the evening as formerly in drinking parties, 
 came now to hear the sound of the Gospel trumpet,, and con- 
 ducted themselves with the greatest propriety. ' Love worketh 
 no ill to his neighbour.' 
 
 The last Sabbath before Conference (July 13th) they preached 
 in the country in the morning, and had a time of rich refresh- 
 ing, numbers professing to be saved. * Religion,' says Mr. 
 Graham, ' bears down all before it in this country ; the most 
 prejudiced have been convinced and converted.' As the sequel 
 will show, there was great anxiety now among the people lest 
 these remarkable messengers should be removed from their 
 district of country at the Conference ; but it was not so. On 
 the evening of the same Sabbath they preached to about four 
 thousand people. Before the open air service was held, many 
 who came from a distance went to the Established Church. 
 It is mentioned that a young man fainted, or was 'struck,' in 
 the church, when the minister cried out, * Take him away, I 
 will have no irregularity in my church ; and if these strangers 
 are my parishioners, I wonder I did not see them here before ; 
 but if they are following those cavalry preachers (so called 
 
102 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 from their preaching on horseback), I wish they remained at 
 home in their own churches. Let no one say that I invited 
 them here.' This same clergyman was heard to say on the 
 previous Sabbath, that he wished the Irish missionaries to come 
 there ; his preaching appeared to do the people no good, and 
 that he thought it better for him to give up altogether; but 
 when they did actually come, he got alarmed. All parish 
 ministers, however, were not of his mind ; for we find the mis- 
 sionaries shortly after invited in another town by the minister 
 of the parish to preach in his church. 
 
 We find them on their way to Conference on Monday, 
 July 14th. They passed through Ballyhaise and Cavan, preach- 
 ing in each place to multitudes inside and outside. They met 
 the Rev. Joseph Armstrong and Rev. George Brown, who 
 assisted them in Cavan. The word was with power to all 
 classes. There w r ere many soldiers in the town also, who 
 inquired as of old, 'And what shall we do?' Thence they 
 journeyed to Oldcastle, which Graham calls ' a hardened and 
 corrupt town j ' but a Mr. Henry, with whom they spent the 
 night, declared that ' it gave him the greatest happiness to see 
 so many poor, ignorant Roman Catholics calling on God for 
 mercy and so broken down.' The Romanists would willingly 
 remain for hours on their knees without apparent weariness. 
 The missionaries, leaving Oldcastle, proceeded to Dublin, where 
 they were appointed by Conference to preach at 'John's Well.' 
 They had a very large, well behaved, and very attentive con- 
 gregation, especially the Roman Catholics. Others passed and 
 repassed carelessly. One poor Romanist was convinced, whose 
 eyes poured out tears like water. Another in the street mani- 
 fested great concern, and immediately a crowd gathered round, 
 to whom Mr. Graham preached a short sermon. Before they 
 left the city they called at a Doctor Stokes's ; and while Mr. 
 Ouseley was writing a card to leave his name, as the doctor was 
 out, Graham spoke to the servant-maid on the subject of per- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 103 
 
 sonal religion. She manifested the greatest concern, and wept 
 bitterly. They commended her to God in prayer, and had 
 good hope concerning her. Mr. Graham prays thus : — 1 O 
 Father of mercies and God of the spirits of all flesh, how many 
 of Thy creatures are perishing in darkness, and none to take 
 them by the hand : send light into ' the world, O Lord, and 
 disperse the gloom that has overspread the face of all nations.' 
 How well to be instant in season, and out of season, so pointedly 
 expressed thus : — 
 
 * 'Tis not for man to trifle ! Life is brief, 
 
 And sin is here. 
 Our age is but the falling of a leaf — 
 
 A dropping tear. 
 We have no time to sport away the hours ; 
 All must be earnest in a world like ours. 
 Not many lives, but only one have we — 
 
 One, only one ; 
 How sacred should that one life ever be, — 
 
 That narrow span ! 
 Day after day filled up with blessed toil, 
 Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil. ' 
 
 Having rehearsed to the Conference the wonderful dealings of 
 God with them throughout this first remarkable year of their 
 enterprise, they were again * commended to the grace of God' 
 to continue their glorious toil ; and, in addition, the Conference 
 expressed its great satisfaction by augmenting the number of 
 general missionaries to six, who stand thus on the minutes: — 
 
 Galway, Tipperary, Queen's County, Kilkenny, Dublin, Westmeath, 
 Longford, Leitrim, King's County, Sligo, Mayo, and Roscommon — James 
 M'Quigg, James Bell. 
 
 The Province of Ulster, and the Counties of Louth and Meath — Charles 
 Graham, Gideon Ouseley. 
 
 Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kil- 
 kenny, and Clare — Laurence Kane, Henry Webb. 
 
 Graham and Ouseley left Dublin on the ist of August and 
 
104 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 arrived in Drogheda, where they preached at the Tholsel (Town 
 House) without the slightest annoyance. Many Romanists 
 heard with respectful attention, as Graham states — ' The Lord 
 gave both liberty and power, and the Word appeared to fall as 
 seed in good ground.' The difficulty now, as then, seems to 
 arise more from the cowardice of Protestants than the anti- 
 pathy of Roman Catholics. ' Arise, O Lord, thou and the Ark 
 of thy strength ! ' They reached Ardee on the 2nd, where Graham 
 became ill ; but Ouseley took the street, and preached to the 
 Roman Catholics. Graham says — ' We thought to storm the 
 place, but I was laid aside for a day.' This is the first time we 
 find him to complain of illness. They proceeded next to a 
 place called the Poles, near Kingscourt ; the Roman Catholics 
 heard with great avidity. It was a time of breaking down ; 
 and one intelligent young man, a Roman Catholic, ' was cut 
 to the heart.' His distress was poignant, and he cried out, 
 1 I am full of fire.' Prayer continued to be made for him until 
 his soul was set at liberty. It was now the fire of heavenly 
 love — and oh, the expressions of gratitude for ever having 
 heard those servants of the Lord. Kingscourt was next visited 
 on the market day. The former visit, last November, gave 
 intensity to the desire for hearing ; great power attended the 
 word. Tears flowed freely ; or, to use Graham's expression, 
 ' plentifully," and many called most earnestly on God. The 
 Irish language was freely spoken here ; the people knelt in the 
 open street. The Lord was very present, and the word reached 
 every heart Graham prays, ' O Lord, water the seed with the 
 dew of Thy grace.' Thence they went to the market of Shercock, 
 where a similar scene to that at Kingscourt took place. Most 
 of those who heard were Roman Catholics, who, with uplifted 
 hands and streaming eyes, cried aloud for mercy. The Estab- 
 lished Church minister, who was also the magistrate, heard 
 attentively — a happy contrast to his unworthy brother at Clones. 
 A Roman Catholic shopkeeper asked them to take some 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 refreshment, and said, ' The man who would pin his faith to 
 the sleeve of any individual deserved to be lost' His wife 
 said, ' We heard of you, and we were afraid you would not 
 come to us.' Some of the Catholics said also, ' What shall 
 we do ? You have told us that the priest cannot forgive us our 
 sins, and we are greatly alarmed.' Mr. Graham prays again — 
 ' O Lord, send light, nor suffer these any longer to remain in 
 the shadow of death.' 
 
 They soon after arrived in Clones, where their families re- 
 sided, but which they could scarcely call their home, from the 
 short time they were allowed to remain quiet. I find they 
 scarcely gave themselves more than a day to rest after an 
 absence of months. Indeed they preached on the evening of 
 their arrival. Now a great trial awaited them. The curate, 
 who was also a magistrate, vowed not to allow them to preach 
 in the street. Mr. Graham waited on him, but the decree was 
 passed. We shall see the result forthwith. After labouring 
 round the country with great success for some days, multitudes 
 from all directions flocked to hear, and some who ' came to 
 mock remained to pray ;' and others, wno thought to laugh at 
 the cries of penitents, were 1 struck,' and cut to the heart. Some 
 of these were Seceders, or reformed Presbyterians. One young 
 woman cried aloud, saying, * I came here although afraid, but 
 the Lord has found me out, and has blessed me.' They continued 
 in prayer for the mourners for a long time. They brought 
 some of these into a barn. A Mr. Whitley came in and said, 
 ' Oh, come out to see a man stretched on the ground, who used 
 to offer to swear oaths for a wager ; he is roaring for mercy.' 
 Here the missionaries were joined by Mr. William Hamilton, 
 who assisted them greatly. Several were justified, some of 
 whom were Roman Catholics, who followed them from place to 
 place, in opposition to the entreaties of their priests. The threats 
 of the priests, it is but just to say, were mild in comparison with 
 the persecution of the Established Church ministers and gentry, 
 
106 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 and more especially from the Episcopal ministerial magistrate 
 of C/ones, by whom they were prevented from preaching on the 
 previous market-day, as already stated. Mr. Graham says, 
 i We determined to go out to-day, cost us what it would. 
 Accordingly we went to the middle of the street, and the peo- 
 ple gathered round. The captain of the militia, another per- 
 secutor, and in league with the clerical magistrate, came to us 
 and said we must not preach there — that it was too near his 
 lodging. We moved a little, and remained for about two hours, 
 although it rained most of the time. Invitation upon invitation 
 poured upon us ; nor can we give this country either the time 
 or labour they require.' So far, so well. 
 
 At Kilmore, in a day or two after, many were set at liberty, 
 and, says Mr. Graham, ' The Lord be praised, this country is 
 all on fire — travelling preachers, local preachers, leaders, and 
 hearers are flaming with zeal for the glory of God.' Next day, 
 at Castleblaney fair, a large concourse, mostly Roman 
 Catholics, heard the word with joy. Soon there was a noise 
 and a cry from every quarter; not 'the confused noise' of the 
 battle-field, but the result of the burning power of the Word, 
 and the fire of heavenly love. The Gospel soon spread far and 
 wide. In the evening, at Mr. M'Birney's, the scene was more 
 surprising. The people followed the missionaries. Roman 
 Catholics smote their breasts, kissed the ground, and, crying 
 aloud for mercy, wept bitterly. O for such times again ! It was 
 the Lord's doings, and truly marvellous. The following Sabbath 
 exceeded all the others. No house could hold the people. 
 They got liberty to go into Lord Blaney's demesne, and the 
 power of the Most High was so overwhelming that, to use the 
 words in Graham's journal, ' The people could neither sit nor 
 stand, but fell on their knees during the time of preaching, and 
 then with one voice cried aloud to God for mercy. It was a day 
 never to be forgotten.' At Keady, in the evening of that day, 
 they preached again, and the Irish language had a wonderful 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 I07 
 
 effect upon the Roman Catholics. The exclamations of some 
 of them were a little humorous. One of these was, ' The rest 
 of the ministers may throw their caps at them' (the missionaries), 
 meaning thereby that they should uncover their heads before 
 their superiors. At Monaghan multitudes heard them — mostly 
 Roman Catholics — and were powerfully affected. Again they 
 preached in the evening on the street with similar effects. 
 Here Graham records the happy death of a young woman, who 
 found peace with God in this revival. 
 
 The next remarkable account is that of their preaching to a 
 wedding party, while the priest, who was waiting for them, looked 
 on from the chapel door. Ouseley alighted from his horse, 
 and knelt down on the road to pray with the young people, 
 who also knelt, and truly it was 'a time of refreshing.' 'We,' 
 says Mr. Graham, 'exhorted them to get themselves joined to 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, and to prepare for the marriage supper 
 of the Lamb. The word was blessed to them, and soon their 
 tears began to flow.' Mr. Armstrong, the circuit preacher, who 
 then accompanied Graham and Ouseley, was so overcome at 
 seeing those poor Roman Catholics so broken down, that he 
 declared — 'I could lay down my life for them.' All this time 
 the priest did not seem desirous to appear. He looked as if 
 thunderstruck, and could not tell what to make of it ; but pro- 
 bably he soon found it out. It was altogether a strange scene 
 on a wedding-day, and not likely to be readily forgotten. It 
 would present a fine subject for the pencil of a Raphael to see 
 three Methodist preachers kneeling on the open road, holding 
 their horses' bridles, surrounded by a wedding party, calling on 
 God for mercy, while tears flowed apace, the chapel in the 
 distance, with the priest peeping out from behind the half-open 
 door, and manifesting all the emotions, no doubt, of amazement 
 and fear, as if inquiring 'What does all this mean?' 
 
 The servants of the Lord went on their way rejoicing, while 
 the bewildered party repaired to the chapel to meet their still 
 
io8 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 more bewildered clergyman. Here we may surely say they 
 were 'instant in season,' and, as in this instance, 1 out of 
 season' 
 
 After this Graham and Ouseley visited the lower parts of the 
 North for about six weeks, during which their labours were in- 
 cessant and marvellously successful, although Satan, here and 
 there, strove to throw obstacles in their way. The chief 
 hindrances are stated to be ' ministers of religion so-called.' 
 This was peculiarly the case at Clones in the month of October 
 of this year (1800). Before we describe that painful scene we 
 must glance at the work in the South, as recorded in two letters 
 to Dr. Coke — one dated 'Cork, 9th September 1800 — from 
 Messrs. Kane and Webb : — 
 
 1 We preached on the bridge of Bandon, and had a large congregation 
 who heard with great attention, and were much benefited. In Kinsale, a 
 Roman Catholic knelt on the open street bathed in tears. We had hundreds 
 to hear. Preached again in Bandon to a thousand people. One of our 
 hearers was a woman who has two brothers priests ; and, although they 
 opposed her, and warned her against us, she declared she must hear the 
 truth. Other Catholics came next night, and were in tears. In Ballyneen 
 the Catholics heard us attentively, and helped us to sing ; and when at 
 prayer fell on their knees in the middle of the street. At Lisnegat, the 
 Catholics who could not get into the house, knelt outside all the time of the 
 sermon. One of them refuses to obey the priest. At Cape Clear we 
 preached and reasoned with the people out of the Scriptures. They were 
 all Catholics. The Reformation under Elizabeth did not extend that far. 
 At Dunmanway we had upwards of a thousand people to hear us, and the 
 Protestant clergyman amongst the number. At Cork, on our return, we had 
 about sixteen hundred to hear, and several of the congregation were military 
 officers. The people heaped all manner of blessings upon us. We are now 
 preparing to set out for another missionary excursion, and beg an interest 
 in prayer. ' 
 
 Here, at Cork, the above missionaries obtained Bishop 
 Bedell's old Irish Bible, and were putting it into the 'Roman 
 character for the use of the country people with the English 
 and Irish in opposite columns — a thing necessary to be done 
 even now, 1868. They finished no more than the book of 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 109 
 
 Genesis. Archbishop M'Hale, of Tuam, did the same with 
 the Pentateuch, in the Douay version, some time ago; and here 
 I may state that the Irish-speakiiig people number, by the last 
 census, 155,000; and those speaking the Irish and English, 
 800,000 — more than all the Episcopalians in Ireland. 
 
 The next extract is from a letter by Messrs. M'Quigg and 
 Bell to Dr. Coke, dated October 13th, 1800 : — 
 
 1 Many gentlemen seem pleased with our mission ; wherever we go we are 
 received, except by the priests. We were invited to Urlingford by a highly 
 respectable gentlemen. After mass we took the street, and had a vast crowd. 
 The priest came rushing by like a madman while we were at prayer, and 
 swore I should not preach there. The gentleman who invited us declared 
 I should, and shouted to me to "go on? I spoke in Irish. We had 
 about 1500 Roman Catholics, and only 20 Protestants. Brother Bell (says 
 M'Quigg) stood firm as an oak, in all the confusion. He is a most pleasing 
 companion to me, for zeal, humility, and love, and withal a good voice. The 
 magistrate made a speech after I spoke, and then took us home, and invited 
 us back. The priest then pretended that he only came to save us, and that 
 we may now preach away. We preach to thousands who otherwise would 
 never hear the Gospel. The Irish language has charms which amaze my- 
 self. Many of the gentlemen are ready to fight for us in the street. 
 Brother Bell glories in his heavenly calling. A minister of the establishment 
 at Roscrea who heard us exclaimed, " There never was so useful a scheme 
 adopted for the good of Ireland.'''' In Mountrath an old priest strove to take 
 away the people, but when I thundered in the Irish language he fled, and 
 the people came back. The Roman Catholic bishop heard us and said, 
 " It was severe work." In Mountmellick I preached under the window of 
 a paralyzed gentleman, who was one of our greatest enemies in Dublin. He 
 came here for his health's sake. His servant wheeled him in an arm-chair to 
 the window. The word smote him. He wept aloud, and made signs to 
 send for the preacher. " I never," says M'Quigg, " saw a man in deeper 
 distress for salvation." A gentleman, some time ago, horsewhipped a ballad 
 singer who annoyed us in the street, after which he was right glad to fly.' 
 
 I have now to fall back on Mr. Graham's journals for the 
 account of the persecution in Clones — and which is recorded 
 nowhere else, except in a parody which the Rev. R. Crozier 
 wrote on the subject, but I consider it too serious for that style 
 of treatment, although I have the document, which is more 
 
no 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 amusing and humorous than edifying. Mr. Graham's account 
 is in substance as follows : — 
 
 ' On our return from the Dublin ^Conference in the month 
 of August, we found the rulers of Clones took council together, 
 that we should no more preach in the street, but we resolved 
 to go on as usual. Some of our friends thought it right that 
 we should speak to the magistrate, and explain our position. 
 We did so, but all in vain. He resolved to carry out his threats, 
 and prevent us from street preaching. We had to tell him that 
 we would " obey God rather than man and that it would be 
 an awful thing for him if he were found " fighting against God " 
 by opposing the proclamation of His truth. He said, he did 
 not think so. On our return from a short tour northward, where 
 we saw the glory of the Lord so remarkably revealed, we 
 resolved to go a-head. Accordingly, on the i ith of October, we 
 arrived. Next day was the Sabbath, and a memorable day it 
 was.' Mr. Graham continues : — 'We purposed to preach in the 
 street, and went out when the people were coming from mass. 
 I had been half-way through my sermon when the rector?s 
 servant came to me with a note, but apprehending its contents, 
 I requested him to keep it until I was done ; but he returned 
 with the note to his master, and immediately the curate, who 
 was the magistrate (as already stated), came forward and com- 
 manded me to desist. Some of the people interposed and 
 reasoned with him, but in vain. He said, "they are not sent 
 to preach the Gospel, and I will not suffer them to preach here 
 again.' He ordered the people to disperse. A Mr. Cochraine 
 who was lieutenant of the yeomen, told this magistrate that 
 they would not disperse, as they were not acting illegally. The 
 
 magistrate called a Captain G of the militia, who came 
 
 forward blaspheming by the name of the Most High. I told 
 him, says Graham, "not to swear." He told me not to 
 attempt to preach to him, or if I did, he would punish me. I 
 told him, "I did not fear his punishment." Then the magis- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 I 1 1 
 
 trate, fearing consequences, said, " But you must not preach so 
 near my church." Mr. Ouseley then said, " Let us move on," 
 and as we were about to leave, the magistrate said to Mr. 
 Ouseley, "Did you not state that you were free from sin?" 
 Mr. Ouseley responded, " Blessed be God, nine years ago, the 
 Lord made me free from sin" — alluding, no doubt, to Romans 
 vi 1 8, which runs thus — " Being made free from sin, ye became 
 servants of righteousness, &c" The curate replied — " You are a 
 blasphemer, for it is written, 1 If we say we have no sin, we 
 deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.'" Cochraine, the 
 Captain alluded to, said, " Quote the whole of the passage," 
 repeating, " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to 
 forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
 He then turned on me,' says Mr. Graham, 'and called me, 
 "An infamous liar." Mr. Ouseley immediately reproved him 
 for " reviling the Lord's servant" We then went to Mr. Ousel ey's 
 door, the people followed us. Mr. Ouseley ascended a block, 
 and began to preach. The rector cried out, "Call out the 
 army." The Captain appeared, the drum beat to arms, and 
 the men were drawn up. Immediately some of the yeomen ran 
 for their fire-arms. The magistrate, seeing that this might lead 
 to blood, ordered the soldiers back, but ran up to Mr. Ouseley 
 and pulled him down from the block, when I, says Mr. 
 Graham, ' started up to finish my sermon ; then he thought 
 to pull me down, but he found, to his confusion, that I was a 
 little too heavy and stiff, and not so easily moved I finished, 
 and pronounced the benediction, and dismissed the con- 
 gregation.' 
 
 Thus ended one of the most singular and disgraceful scenes 
 which had been witnessed since or before in that country, at 
 least in connexion with street preaching, or magisterial folly. 
 It resulted in the disgrace of both rector and curate, while it 
 only tended greatly to the increased popularity of the mission- 
 aries — as, indeed, persecution always does. The magistrate 
 
1 1 2 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 never had a day's prosperity afterwards, and the rector as little. 
 I could record tragic scenes, but I forbear. I cannot, however, 
 but exclaim — ' Verily, there is a God that judge th in the earth.' 
 The lines of a great poet, although written to condemn the 
 mistaken judgment of Kirke White, and quite different to the 
 case just mentioned, yet, by accommodation, they may be 
 applied with the greatest propriety as descriptive of self- 
 destruction : — 
 
 ' ' Twas thine own genius gave the fatal blow, 
 And helped to plant the wound that laid thee low ; 
 So the struck eagle, stretched upon the plain, 
 No more through rolling clouds to soar again, 
 Viewed his own feather on the fatal dart, 
 And winged the shaft which quivered in his heart. 
 Keen were the pangs, but keener far to feel, 
 He nursed the pinion which impelled the steel, 
 While the same plumage that had warmed his nest, 
 Drank the last life-drop off his bleeding breast.' 
 
 In reflecting on this whole affair, one is at a loss to know 
 whether to wonder more at the folly, the madness, or the 
 wickedness, not to say the impolicy of such conduct. The 
 rudeness, the ungentlemanly bearing, the unchristian course 
 pursued by those two clerical fanatics, surpass description ; 
 and all this, just after the rebellion, when the Methodists were 
 known, and proved to be the most loyal and orderly people on 
 the face of the globe, and especially in Ireland • but the truth 
 was, their preaching bore down like thunder on the sins of 
 the day, both of lay and cleric, and 'galled them to revenge.' 
 Indeed, we are almost led to believe that, like as of old, the 
 Lord permitted those 'thorns in the flesh,' lest by the ' abun- 
 dance of the revelations' (of grace), those highly honoured 
 men of God 'should be exalted above measure.' 
 
 Immediately before this, Mr. Graham wrote — 'At Caledon 
 the bones were very dry. We preached in the fair, and brought 
 weighty artillery to bear on the wicked ; we found it very diffi- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 "3 
 
 cult to get to their hearts. In the evening the Lord came to 
 our help, and broke down some flinty rocks, and healed some 
 backsliders ; but next morning, at seven o'clock, the power of 
 the Lord descended so remarkably, that old and young were 
 moved. A young woman screamed out in an uncommon man- 
 ner, and seemed as one possessed of an evil spirit. Her whole 
 frame trembled. She strove to tear something out of her breast 
 However, she soon began to praise God. A Roman Catholic 
 woman fell down stricken likewise, under the power of convic- 
 tion, and immediately her mother became similarly affected; but 
 all were restored. This " thirsty land" has now become " springs 
 of water." It was never so seen on this fashion in Caledon 
 before.' 
 
 In Charletnont a number of officers thought to amuse them- 
 selves at the expense of the 'black caps;' but soon ' their 
 folly was, however, turned into amazement,' although one of 
 them, bolder than the rest, came forward and said — 
 
 ' I charge you to preach no more in the street ; your doctrine 
 
 is very good, but you make such a d noise that the town 
 
 is annoyed.' 
 
 Mr. Ouseley answered, * Yes, we do make a noise ; but ours 
 is hallowed noise.' I suppose, alluding to the unhallowed 
 character of those blasphemers' foul-mouthed oaths, ' the 
 drunkard's song, and the loud and vacant laugh,' to which 
 these same military gentlemen were no strangers. 
 
 At Loughgall ' the great men of authority' declared that if 
 the 'black caps' came, they would 'send them to h — V 
 They did come, and neither the Established Church clergy nor 
 
 Colonel C could stand before the artillery of heaven — the 
 
 thunders of the law. 
 
 'At Armagh] says Mr. Graham, ' all come to hear us except 
 the rich. Alas ! shall these go to hell because God is good to 
 them ?' They have too often ' their good things' in this life, 
 but not always, thank God. 
 
 H 
 
ii4 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 At Portadown they had the most patient hearing, both out- 
 side and inside, except that a mad woman strove to annoy 
 them. Mr. Graham remarks, 1 If such are at all close by, they 
 are sure to join the crowd, as if the devil took them by the 
 hand to the very spot.' Many were converted at Porta- 
 down. 
 
 At Bluestone a Roman Catholic woman was alarmed, and 
 said she was in company with twelve priests, and never heard 
 anything like this way of salvation before, but quite the 
 contrary. 
 
 At Lisbum, Lurgan, Tandragee, Killalea, Hillsbord, and 
 Markethill, S the power of the Lord was present to heal in all, 
 and in great numbers.' They then came to an old gentleman's 
 place of the name of Halliday, who had previously entertained 
 Mr. Wesley. This man was eighty-two years of age, but not 
 yet converted. They prayed earnestly for him 
 
 It would fail the writer, as well as, perhaps, tire the patience 
 of the reader, to record all the journal accounts from October 
 until the end of December 1800, but I will give a few extracts 
 of letters, which will throw some light on this last quarter of 
 the year. The first is from Mr. Graham to his son in Dublin, 
 dated — 
 
 * Enniskillen, December 25, 1800. 
 
 { My dear Charles, — The fire of the Lord attends us wherever we go. 
 It is astonishing the numbers who have been convinced and converted 
 during the last week. I never saw the prejudices of Enniskillen conquered 
 in the street until this day. We did not leave it until we left it in triumph. 
 I think this was one of the best days it has ever seen. The Lord is riding 
 in triumph through all this land, all glory to His eternal name. Mr. 
 Stuart, the circuit preacher, mounted his horse, and took the street with us, 
 and did valiantly. " Many hands make light work." Mr. Kerr also goes on 
 courageously. The Lord is owning the labours of these men. Here many 
 Catholics have been convinced and converted since we left Clones. Super- 
 stition and formal religion are flying like the chaff of the summer threshing- 
 floor. The little stone cut out of the mountain without hands is becoming so 
 powerful that it appears to me, at least, that it will shortly fill this nation. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 Whatever I can say comes far short of what the Lord is doing. To Him 
 be the power and the glory for ever, amen, and amen. — I remain your 
 loving father, * Charles Graham.' 
 
 This letter speaks for itself. It is a rich gem of missionary 
 triumph. I may here remark that, from that time, street 
 preaching was never regarded as a very formidable task in 
 the street of Enniskillen. A few months ago,. March 1868, 
 the superintendent minister of that circuit, the Rev. R. Huston, 
 joined me in a street service at the fair of that town, and we 
 had the most profound attention from a vast concourse of 
 Catholics and Protestants, many of whom knelt during the 
 times of prayer, and this, too, just after the trial and conviction 
 of the Granard rioters at the Longford Assizes, for their attack 
 on the author when passing through that town. 
 
 The next extract is from the pen of Mr. Ouseley to Mr. 
 Joyce : — 
 
 t Near Enniskillen, December 23, 1800. 
 
 'My dear Brother, — Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied unto thee, 
 and all our dear brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we 
 arrived in Clones Mr. Graham fell sick, but I preached abroad to vast con- 
 gregations, and in the houses the voice of heaven-born children was heard 
 rejoicing. God wrought a great work in the country where I had to go 
 alone. Many souls were brought to God. Several Romans were awakened 
 during the five days I was with Mr. Brown, and four of them were made 
 happy in God. A father who had not spoken to his daughter for months 
 because she quitted the priest, fell on the floor weeping. I prayed over 
 him in Irish; he got up, took his daughter in his arms, they kissed each 
 other, and wept aloud. O, how people love when the love of God is shed 
 abroad in their hearts. Some were converted this week who were like 
 devils before. How mighty is the power of God! On the Sabbath I preached 
 in a ball-room, where gaiety and vanity reigned before ; but now there was 
 another kind of noise and work there. The number was vast, and the 
 crying of the penitents filled the house. The gentleman of the house and 
 his whole family are turned to God. I came home hoarse and weary, but 
 my God soon revived me. Now Mr. Graham set out with me, and we had 
 another great week. Every day souls are converted ; we cannot ascertain 
 how many, the number is so great, and the multitudes who throng around us 
 are so immense. We found it impossible to find out all the mourners, or 
 
1 1 6 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 those who are made happy — we did not attempt to count. We conversed 
 with a priest on Tuesday, and the result was pleasing. Many appear literally 
 to droour the Word. On Monday another Roman Catholic was converted. 
 At Belturbet the cry never ceased till nine o'clock at night. At Ballyconnel 
 several wept, and some were made happy in God. These were mostly 
 Romans. But, oh ! at Sivanlinbar, the vastness of the congregation, the 
 eager attention, the loud lamentation, together with the sound of prayer 
 which went up to heaven (when we were telling them that Christ ascended 
 to heaven to send down the gift of the Holy Ghost), all, all was over- 
 whelming. One of our friends met a Romanist that evening going home, 
 weeping along the road, and lamenting how he had been blinded. These 
 Roman Catholics love us, and are anxious to get pamphlets from us. Near 
 Enniskillen we had a blessed meeting ; scarcely a dry face. Glory, glory, 
 glory to our God. I can say no more now. I am your happy and affec- 
 tionate brother in the Gospel, * Gideon Ouseley. y 
 
 Doctor Coke remarks here, ' It gives me peculiar pleasure 
 that the missionaries are now putting the converted Catholics 
 under the care of the most pious and sensible members of our 
 society, in their respective neighbourhoods. Without this or 
 some similar plan, these missions could never be permanently, 
 or at least extensively useful.' 
 
 Mr. Graham writes from Clones to Dr. Coke, dated 
 
 1 January 22, 1801. 
 'Reverend and dear Sir, — Since I wrote last we have had great 
 success. The Catholics heard in the street of Rathmolyon, and seemed 
 alarmed. At Mr. Fox's, of Galtrim, the greater part of the congregation 
 were Catholics. The power of the Lord fell on all. Such a time I had 
 not known in this place, and some Catholics professed "to feel the par- 
 doning love of God." In the benighted town of Athboy Mr. Ouseley 
 sounded the alarm in the street, and then called them in to prayer. Many 
 who could not get in knelt outside the window, bathed in tears. Oh ! what 
 a pity to see these poor sheep perishing for lack of knowledge. At Old- 
 castle the Catholics flocked to hear us as they did before, and the Lord 
 blessed His word to them ; and at the market, next day, they seemed as 
 much athirst for the Word as the gaping land for the falling rain. It was 
 truly affecting to see them falling on their knees, and looking up to heaven 
 for mercy. At our last visit, one of them left the mass and never returned- 
 The whole town seemed alarmed that night, for the market people waited 
 to hear us at Mr. Henry's. At Ballyjamesduff we preached in the Presby- 
 terian Meeting-house, and the presence of the Lord filled the place. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 II 7 
 
 Catholics attended, and all yielded as melting wax before the fire. Next 
 day, at the market, many were cut to the heart. On these two market- 
 days and the Sabbath you would imagine the whole country was alarmed. 
 The family that invited us were truly converted to God, and their neighbours 
 were all awakened out of their long sleep of sin. Within the last six 
 weeks I may safely say hundreds of souls have been convinced and con- 
 verted. Many Catholics were converted at the Quarterly Meeting (Love 
 
 Feast). In Enniskillen, one Sally M 'H appeared to be possessed. She 
 
 screamed in the wildest manner. Five men could not hold her or keep her 
 down. The more we prayed, the more she raged. She could not bear to 
 hear the Saviour's name mentioned ; but, at last, the Lord heard prayer for 
 her, and had mercy on her, and on us also. After she had lain as if dead 
 for some moments, she started to her feet and praised the Lord, and still 
 continues to praise Him. " All glory be to God, whose mercy endureth 
 for ever." Another Catholic woman was converted a few nights ago, when 
 she cried out in the Irish language, Meelia molla lath mo Launihore — the 
 author gives it in its English pronunciation form for those who could not 
 pronounce it in Irish — that is, " A thousand praises to thee, my Saviour." 
 Another woman, who had passed through different Roman Catholic orders, 
 such as the Scapular* &c, and was looked upon as "a saint indeed" to the 
 great surprise of the priest and all his people, gave them the slip. The 
 priest sent her word, that if she feared to perish in her own old religion, 
 he would stand in her place at the last day; but Mary would not be 
 cheated. 
 
 * I remain, &c, 
 
 ' C. Graham.' 
 
 The foregoing extracts may be regarded as terminating the 
 first half-year of their second year's appointment, namely, from 
 July 1800, to the end of December. But, before I close this 
 important half-year's labours, I must introduce a copy of the 
 "license/ as a Protestant dissenting minister, which Mr. 
 
 * The word Scapular is taken from the Latin Scapula, which signifies 
 shoulders, from the circumstance of those in this order wearing two bits of 
 brown woollen stuff attached together by a pair of strings, and generally 
 initialled with B.V.M., which stand for Blessed Virgin Mary; so that one 
 part hangs on the breast and the other on the back. These are to be duly 
 blessed by a priest. They are emblems of ' the Lady of Mount Carmel,' 
 the Mother of Christ. It is said to be a charm against all misfortune, 
 and secures a passport to heaven, as well as preserves from everlasting punish- 
 ment. 
 
Tl8 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Graham obtained from the Quarter Sessions in Dublin, very- 
 likely through the influence and advice of Doctor Coke. It 
 runs thus : — 
 
 * We certify that at an adjournment of the General Quarter Sessions of 
 the Peace and General Gaol Delivery, held for the County of the City of 
 Dublin, at the Sessions House of said city, on the twelfth day of November, 
 one thousand eight hundred, Charles Graham, Protestant preacher of the 
 Gospel, belonging to, and in connexion with, the society of the people 
 called Methodists, came into open court, and did then and there take, 
 repeat, and subscribe the oaths of allegiance and abjuration, and make, 
 repeat, and subscribe the declaration, as set forth and enjoined to be taken, 
 made, and repeated by an Act of Parliament, made in the sixth year of the 
 reign of the late King George the First, entitled an Act for the Relief of 
 Protestants Dissenting from the Church of Ireland, in order to entitle him to 
 preach and expound the Gospel, pursuant to the provisions contained in said 
 Act, and which we certify at the office of the said court, this twelfth day of 
 November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred,' 
 
 ' Allen & Greene, C.P.C.C.D.' 
 
 I suppose the initials stand for Clerk of the Peace for the 
 Coimty of the City of Dublin. This document settled the 
 clerical rulers of Clones, although 'still willing, but afraid to 
 strike.' Many of the early Methodist preachers, both in 
 England and Ireland, had to take out this ' license ' as dissent- 
 ing preachers, in order to avail themselves of the benefit of the 
 ' Toleration Act,' and to prevent clerical opponents from 
 taking advantage of the law against ' Conventicles.' Yet the 
 Methodist preachers did not wish to own dissent from the 
 State Church; but clerical persecutors drove them into taking 
 out dissenting ' licenses,' as in the case of Graham. The 
 swearing of Graham to ' bear true allegiance ' was one of the 
 necessary forms required to be submitted to before he could 
 obtain the 'license.' But the true loyalty of the Methodists 
 could not be doubted. ' A more loyal man than John Wesley,' 
 says the venerable Thomas Jackson, in his Centenary of Wes- 
 leyan Methodism, 'never existed. His loyalty was not a 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 119 
 
 sentiment or a prejudice, but a principle. He succeeded in 
 impressing the same character upon the societies that acknow- 
 ledge him as their founder. Amidst disaffection, the pinchings 
 of the protracted war, and the rampant radicalism of a later 
 period, the loyalty of the Methodists was steadily maintained, 
 as their official documents fully testify.' 
 
 Near Enniskillen, on the 26th December, no house could 
 hold the people, and they had to go to the field, although they 
 had to sit on the cold ground, and this in winter. About one 
 hundred of them were Catholics. Those who entered an 
 adjoining barn subsequently ' were all broken down.' 
 
 The following statement of Mr. Graham's own experience is 
 to me most precious. Under date, the same day, December 
 26th, he writes : — 
 
 ' All glory to God, He met me here (at the house of Mr. George 
 M 'Donald, near Enniskillen) in a manner that I can hardly describe. So 
 much of His love and power did the Lord let down into my soul, that nature 
 could hardly sustain. I thought for some moments I should have fainted ; 
 nor was I sure but that the Lord was about to call my spirit away from the 
 body. O Lord, my God, give me grace and wisdom to guard this sacred 
 treasure. Such a visit as this my soul had long waited for. This is the 
 third time the Lord gave me to feel His "fulness of love." O, may I never 
 grieve Him more. Where might I have been now had I been faithful to 
 His grace?' 
 
 At Derrygonnelly the crowd was so great that the priest's 
 brother and the Roman Catholics wanted the people to go into 
 the Catholic chapel, but as the priest was not there, they 
 would not do so. On the last day of this year, December 31st, 
 1800, about thirty were converted, and several obtained the 
 blessing of 'a clean heart' Among the latter were several young 
 persons, whose countenances seemed to beam as if in a beati- 
 fied state. 
 
X. 
 
 'In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine 
 hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that, or whether 
 they both shall be alike good.' — Eccles. xi. 6. 
 
 1 Sow ye beside all waters, 
 Where the dew of heaven may fall ; 
 Ye shall reap, if ye be not weary, 
 For the Spirit breathes on all. 
 Sow, though the thorns may wound thee, 
 One wore the thorns for thee, 
 And though the cold world scorn thee, 
 Patient and hopeful be. 
 Sow ye beside all waters, 
 With a blessing and a prayer ; 
 Name Him whose hands uphold thee, 
 And sow thou everywhere. 
 
 Work in the wild, waste places, 
 Though none thy love may own ; 
 God guides the down of the thistle, 
 The wandering wind hath sown. 
 Will Jesus chide thy meekness, 
 Or call thy labour vain? 
 The word for Him thou bearest, 
 Shall return to Him again. 
 O, with thy heart in heaven, 
 Thy strength thy Maker's might, 
 Till the wild, waste places blossom, 
 In the warmth of a Saviour's light.' 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 JANUARY TO JULY l8oi. 
 
 Remarkable conversions. — Opposition from officers at Irvines- 
 town. — Biographer of Ouseley. — Correspondent of Dr. Coke. 
 — Journal. — Roslea, Wallsbridge, Clonkirk, Clones, Red- 
 hill. — Mrs. Little. — Great temptatioiV. — Deliverance. — No- 
 torious sinners converted. — Ballyhaise, Cavan, Killeshan- 
 dra, Carrigallen, Arvagh. — Cloone blood men. — Mr. Harpur 
 and respectable neighbour. — Families. — Drumlarney, 
 Manorhamilton, revival. — Revival in 1832 at Killeshandra, 
 Longford, Killashee, Kenagh, and Ballymahon. — Great 
 opposition. — Conduct of the priest at Ballyhownas. — 
 Goshen. — Granard* — The missionaries return to Mr. 
 Harpur's. — Extracts from Mr. Graham's journal.— Conver- 
 sion of Terence M'Gowan. 
 
 HIS year began with still more remarkable instances 
 of conversion. One of these is recorded thus : — 
 ' A man of the name of Crawford, who heard us last 
 year, and then one of the vilest characters in all the country, 
 came and heard us again this time. He is now a burning and 
 a shining light, truly "a brand plucked from the burning." A 
 short time before this took place, he went to a wake, and got 
 drunk, and then went and kissed the corpse of the dead woman, 
 saying, " Why did you go to hell until I would be with you ?" 
 using also many other awful expressions. Oh, the goodness 
 and mercy of God ! ' 
 
 At Lowtherstown, now Irvinestown, the siege was heavy. 
 
122 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Military officers raged, and threatened to duck or bayonet the 
 missionaries if they did not desist ; but the truth prevailed, and 
 many received the engrafted Word. 
 
 At Make?iny, in Brother Somerville's, about fifteen were con- 
 verted that night, and among them, two of the soldiers who 
 followed from town. In the course of this month some hun- 
 dreds were brought to God. 
 
 In allusion to this period, the venerable biographer of Ouseley 
 writes : — 
 
 ' The unwearied exertions and zeal of these two men were equalled only 
 by the unprecedented results which attended their preaching, and which 
 became a matter of surprise, even to those who had themselves been long 
 accustomed to witness the power of the Gospel in the salvation of sinners. 
 Men who had for many years preached the Gospel themselves, stood amazed 
 at the ceaseless and exhausting toil of Graham and Ouseley, as well as at 
 the glorious results which followed in the conviction and conversion of 
 multitudes. ' 
 
 One of Doctor Coke's correspondents writes in reference to 
 this period also, thus : — 
 
 * Permit me, my dear sir, to say something of the Irish missionaries, 
 Messrs. Graham and Ouseley. The mighty power of God accompanied 
 their word with such demonstrative evidence as I have never known, or 
 indeed rarely heard of. I have been present in fairs and markets, while 
 these two blessed men of God, with burning zeal and apostolic order, 
 pointed hundreds and thousands to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away 
 the sin of the world." I have seen the immediate fruit of their labour — the 
 aged and the young falling prostrate in the most public places of concourse, 
 cut to the heart, and refusing to be comforted until they knew Jesus, and 
 the power of His resurrection. I have known scores of these poor penitents 
 to stand up, and witness a good confession ; and, blessed be God, hundreds 
 of them now adorn the Gospel of Christ. I am wanting in language to set 
 forth the wonders I have seen wrought by the mighty power of the Holy 
 Ghost, and I am humbled to the dust when I see the usefulness of these 
 dear men of God.' 
 
 While we might multiply testimonies of this character, relative 
 to the unprecedented labours and success of these marvellous 
 men, yet nothing appears to us so satisfactory as the personal 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 123 
 
 record from the living and loving hearts, expressed by the 
 willing hand and the ready pen. And how Mr. Graham found 
 time to keep those journals so regularly for each day, I am 
 utterly at a loss to know, considering his constant and wasting 
 labours. 
 
 The following few extracts will bring us to the close of this 
 half year, and up to July 1801, and will well repay an attentive 
 perusal. But we must pass over nearly four months' journalism 
 of the raciest and richest character : — 
 
 'On the 8th of May 1 801,' writes Graham, 'we came to the fair of 
 Roslea, and stormed the devil's kingdom in the street. Surely the Lord 
 was King this day, and the devil's bulwarks were going to pieces ; nor had 
 he one of his servants who dare stand up for him. No wonder he rages 
 about this work, for never did anything appear so well calculated to sap the 
 foundation of his kingdom. Here we have "the able men of Belial," the 
 Atheists, the Deists, the Arians, the Predestinarians, the Socinians, the 
 covert Pharisees, and the backsliders. These sinners are asleep in the arm> 
 of the devil ; and when they hear the judgment of God denounced against 
 them, they tremble even in the open street, and many of them have lately 
 turned to God.' 
 
 They came to Wattsbridge on the 10th, where they had about 
 a thousand people. Both Protestants and Romanists were 
 brought under the most powerful emotion and penitential 
 distress, and several found peace. After taking one day's rest 
 in Clones they went to Clonkirk, where they preached in a field 
 to hundreds, and had 'seals to their ministry' on that day. 
 Thence they went to jRedhill, to a Mr. Little's, which had been a 
 home for the preachers, since his conversion through the mis- 
 sionaries. He first invited them himself to his house. It was 
 a highly respectable place. Both Mr. Little and all his family 
 were now devoted to God. He was truly generous. When 
 Mr. Ouseley's horse died, while in that locality, he made him a 
 present of a very good one in its place. Here Mr. Graham 
 mentions, a very powerful temptation under which Mrs. Little 
 had laboured for some weeks, namely, ' that there was no God, 
 
124 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 no heaven, no hell,' &c. ; in fact, no invisible world at all, and 
 no accountability. This brought her into deep distress of 
 mind ; but one day, when alone, the most awful sensation came 
 over her: eternity opened to her vision with the most fearful 
 view of hell and its torments. She trembled all over; she 
 'cried mightily to God,' who again 'lifted up the light of His 
 countenance upon her,' and from that day she never doubted 
 those solemn realities. The whole family had been very care- 
 less and fashionable previous to their conversion. Others in 
 that neighbourhood, who were formerly devils, now were lambs. 
 
 Such were John E and Thomas B , but now ' burning 
 
 and shining lights.' One exclaimed, before he found peace, 
 that ' he would not wonder if the ground should take fire under 
 him, because he was such a sinner;' and that 'no priest or 
 bishop ever got to his heart before.' So exclaimed others also. 
 That very man, and another young person found peace that 
 night 
 
 Thence the preachers went to Ballyhaise, where they met 
 many of the poor 'sheep without a shepherd,' who felt that 
 these men had more love in their hearts for them than all the 
 clergy in the country. After this they found the Protestants of 
 Cavaii rather unyielding, but the Roman Catholics were 
 alarmed, especially while they declared that neither salt nor 
 water, nor oil, nor beads, would ever save them ; nothing but the 
 Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation to 
 every one that believeth, and which was preached to the 
 old Romans. (See Romans i. 16.) One cried out, 'It cost 
 me half-a-guinea for wine and spirits at the last confession' 
 'Being called,' says Graham, "Father" and "Reverend" will 
 not do.' 
 
 They next went to Killeshandra, where the crowd was im- 
 mense. ' The Word bore all before it' The clergy of all parties 
 were alarmed. In those days many of them appeared to be very 
 corrupt The missionaries preached on May 20th mid-day 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 sermons at Carrigallen with great effect, and that evening 
 at Swinagh, where i eight or ten were set at liberty.' On the 
 22nd the Spirit wrought by the Word on every heart at the 
 market of Arvagh, and in the evening at Mr. Johnston's near 
 the town : no house could hold the people. Ten or twelve 
 found liberty. On the 23rd they came to Mr. Harpur's, of 
 Drumlarney. They had to take to the field. Graham states, 
 ' The heavens were opened, and the skies poured down bless- 
 ings on all ; about twenty found peace.' We may here mention 
 a circumstance relative to this family, which is worthy of record. 
 Mr. Harpur, and the head of another respectable family in the 
 neighbourhood, had a conversation about taking the preachers 
 to lodge. 
 
 The neighbour said to Mr. Harpur — 1 1 have resolved not to 
 invite them; for,' said he, 'I see few but plain people joining 
 them, and I have a large family of daughters, and my lodging 
 the preachers might prevent them from being respectably 
 married.' 
 
 ' Well,' said Mr. Harpur, 1 I have a large family also, but I'll 
 trust God and take them in.' 
 
 He did so, and in the course of a few years it was found that 
 all Mr. Harpur's family were comfortably and respectably, and, 
 better still, religiously settled in life; while those of the other 
 friend were sadly disappointed, and aftenvards some of the 
 most tragic scenes followed, scenes over which we must cast 
 the veil of oblivion. Drumlarney became the home of the 
 preachers, and the centre of spiritual light, and power, and 
 influence to the whole of that neighbourhood for years. One of 
 Mr. Harpur's daughters, Mrs. Allen Nixon, a highly respectable 
 Christian matron, still lives to this day, 21st July 1868, near 
 the town of Manorhamilton, with her worthy and zealous son- 
 in-law, Christopher Armstrong, Esq., of Blackpark; and we 
 may add, she lives to see, or at least, to hear of another glorious 
 revival of religion on that circuit, almost similar to the one 
 
126 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 described by Mr. Graham, when she was first brought to God 
 sixty-eight years ago. She is now between eighty and ninety 
 years of age. Surely godliness is worth a world; yea, two. It 
 has ' the promise of the life which now is, and of that which is 
 to come.' 
 
 On the Sabbath morning, May 24th, in Mr. Harpur's field, 
 the missionaries preached to not less than a thousand people. 
 The conversions were very numerous. All seemed affected, 
 and the people were filled as with the ' new wine of the king- 
 dom.* 'So that one might,' says Mr. Graham, 'imagine they 
 were, as on the day of Pentecost, drunk with new wine.' The 
 Catholics were not forgotten. In the evening of the same day, 
 Graham and Ouseley preached on the hill of Drumbullion, near 
 the far famed Corlispratten. The congregration exceeded a 
 thousand persons, many of whom appeared to gasp for the 
 Word of the Lord 
 
 ' As a thirsty land for showers.' 
 
 4 The power of the Holy Spirit descended, while one preached 
 from — " These men are the servants of the Most High God, 
 which show unto us the way of salvation" (Acts xvi. 17). 
 Conversions began on every hand, and both "the slain and 
 healed of the Lord " were many.' 
 
 'This,' says Mr. Graham, 'was a high day, and I trust it 
 shall be had in everlasting remembrance. All glory to God; 
 His kingdom is coming.' 
 
 They returned on the 25th to Carrigallen, and preached to a 
 mixed multitude, some of whom never heard a Gospel sermon 
 before. The whole market was moved, and ' the place shaken.' 
 Such a day was never seen in Carrigallen previously. ' A plentiful 
 rain descended to confirm the inheritance, for it was truly 
 weary.' It was a time both of weeping and rejoicing. In the 
 evening of the same day, at Mrs. Love's of CordufT, they had 
 to preach in the open field, and the heavenly fire spread 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. I 2 7 
 
 all around. Many were set at liberty. The meeting continued 
 until late at night. 
 
 ' I trust,' says Mr. Graham, ' the fire will burn until it purges 
 all the country.' 
 
 These were surely days of the Son of Man. The writer has 
 a particular interest in that part of the kingdom, inasmuch as, 
 thirty years after, in 1831, he witnessed a similar outpouring 
 of the Spirit It is recorded in the October Magazine for 1 83 2 : — ? 
 
 'The next place visited in an extraordinary manner was Carrig- 
 allen. Here, on the morning previously, the town was filled 
 with blood-thirsty men, who beat each other most unmercifully. 
 They were all Romanists, and one of them since died of the 
 wounds he received In a few days we had the gratification of 
 seeing a house filled with mourners crying for mercy, ten of 
 whom stood up and praised God for pardoning mercy.' 
 
 From Carrigallen the missionaries repaired to Cloone still, 
 further into the County Leitrim. This, Mr. Graham calls, 
 i Satan's seat,' and where many of 'his blood-men' resided, 
 whom he employed 4 at fairs and markets for bloody work.' 
 They thought to begin their bloody work this day also, but the 
 hook was in the jaw. The Lord made their wrath to praise 
 Him. The country is mostly Roman Catholic, but the mis- 
 sionaries failed not to show how they were duped, and kept in 
 the dark by the priests and the pope, in withholding the 
 Scriptures from them. The magistrates, Messrs. West and 
 Crofton, attended the preaching, and testified their full appro- 
 bation. This was surely bearding the lion in his own den. 
 
 1 How mean the triumphs shown by haughty Rome, 
 When marched her heroes to the trophied dome, 
 Compared with those celestial spirits yield 
 To men who vanquished in a nobler field.' 
 
 From Cloone they went to Mohill, where the Word was 
 blessed to many. Thence they proceeded to Leitrim town, 
 where their preaching produced similar results. They returned 
 
128 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 back to the market of Mohill again, where the Catholics cried 
 out 1 we never heard such things before but in the evening 
 many were enabled to rejoice in a sin-pardoning Saviour. 
 After this they arrived in Longford. Here they took the street, 
 and most of the Methodists stood about them, which many are 
 now, in 1868, very reluctant to do in several places. The 
 priests were enraged, and warned their flocks not to listen. 
 Numbers, however, did hear, and heard to purpose. The mis- 
 sionaries told them that neither their Church, nor their priests, 
 nor masses, nor purgatory could save them. Nothing but faith 
 in the atoning blood of Christ (Heb. ix. 22) could justify them. 
 Of the following Sabbath Mr. Graham states 'I have seen good 
 days in Longford when I travelled the circuit, but I never saw 
 a better day than this.' 
 
 They then visited Killashee, where the minister of the 
 Established Church, on the Sunday before, denied the 1 witness 
 of the Spirit,' and said — 'We cannot discern the ordinary 
 operations of the Spirit from our own feelings.' 'But,' says 
 Mr. Graham, 'I preached from 1 Cor. ii. 12, "Now we have 
 received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of 
 God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us 
 of God." ' At Kenagh, another place they visited, the cries of 
 the people were alarming, but the Lord was present to heal 
 Thirteen joined the Methodist society. At Barry, a village 
 proverbial for blasphemy, the Lord sent His blessing with the 
 street address, and added ten to the little society. At Bally- 
 mahon, 'which,' Mr. Graham states, 'lies in the "region and 
 shadow of death," the devil raised a tumult by sending a mad 
 woman to annoy us. She made a horrible noise by loud 
 blasphemy. The mob began to throw stones, encouraged by 
 the bishop's brother. One of the stones cut one of our friends 
 in the head.' 
 
 This appears to have been an old practice in the County 
 Longford, and a recent one as well, as was witnessed lately in 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 I29 
 
 Granard. The missionaries besought the Most High to over- 
 turn the devil's kingdom in this ungodly town. 
 
 At Ballyhownas they ploughed on hard rocks, but some of 
 the ground gave way at length. In Mullingar, on the market- 
 day, they preached with their 'black caps on.' Nearly all the 
 market people followed them, and among the number the 
 priest, but not to hear ; rather 
 
 1 To scatter, tear, and slay. ' 
 
 He ran through the people like a mad dog, and strove to hunt 
 them away. Mr. Graham spoke softly to him, on which he 
 walked off, and they then preached. The people heard atten- 
 tively. Graham and Ouseley continued here for a few days, 
 and the Lord gave them ten souls 'for their hire.' But they 
 had to suffer a little more in the way of persecution, for a mob 
 shouted them out of what they call * a wicked town of ignorance 
 and error.' 
 
 From this they repaired to Goshen, and it was so in reality 
 as well as in name. Here they stopt with the M'Cutcheon 
 family, and spent 'a very happy Sabbath.' A rich shower of 
 blessing descended on the little inheritance, and some were 
 1 added to the Lord and to His Church by His will.' At Lisduff 
 they had to preach outside, and had 'a glorious awakening.' 
 Roman Catholics as well as Protestants were alarmed, and 
 cried for mercy. The priests here were very active to keep 
 the people away, but they could not. Still their curse was 
 dreaded, especially by those whose minds were only half- 
 opened. On the 8th of June the missionaries came to Granard, 
 now a place of greater notoriety than ever. They preached in 
 the market. 
 
 ' The priest,' says Mr. Graham ' spoke in his chapel against 
 us, yet hundreds followed us as we rode through the market. 
 The people stopped to hear, and did so with the greatest 
 patience. We denounced purgatory, and told them of a simple 
 
 1 
 
130 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 cure to get rid of all this superstitious nonsense, namely, to 
 keep a hard hold of their money.' 
 
 The people commended them for their honest dealing and 
 plainness, and it would appear as if truth so far prevailed with 
 double sway. While at prayer there was a great sensation of 
 deep concern through the whole street. The following portion 
 of the prayer is recorded : — 1 O Lord, water the seed with the 
 dew of Thy grace, and cause it to bring forth fruit a hundred- 
 fold.' Hundreds also followed the missionaries to the Market- 
 house, and there they had cause to believe ' their labour was 
 not in vain in the Lord.' 
 
 They returned, on the 10th of June, to Mr. Harpur's, of 
 Drumlarney, after this very arduous tour. Mr. Graham re- 
 marks — 1 This country (Killeshandra circuit) is all on fire. The 
 work of the Lord goes on rapidly. The meeting to-night (June 
 10) lasted until eleven o'clock. Vast numbers saved from 
 guilt, and others sought and obtained "sanctifying grace." 
 Several Roman Catholics have been converted since we left, 
 and have left the mass altogether. Nothing, 1 adds Mr. 
 Graham, 'will do now but hurling the artillery of heaven 
 against the strongholds of Babylon. Nothing else will shake 
 her foundations, and destroy her hell-born errors.' Two of the 
 Roman Catholics were saved at this meeting. Next day 
 Graham and Ouseley preached in the open air ; and such was 
 the deep distress of many, that they had to retire, when the 
 shades of night came on, to a large barn, and did not leave it 
 until twelve o'clock that night. About forty found peace. Four 
 of them had been Roman Catholics. This was surely 'the 
 Lord's doings, and marvellous in their eyes,' at that time, and 
 marvellous in our eyes still. At Ballyconnell the ingathering 
 was great, and many Roman Catholics heard for eternity. 
 
 At Swanlinbar, on the 13th June, it was still more so. The 
 rich heard as well as the poor. The Catholics were greatly 
 affected. At some of the meetings, many swooned away, and 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 lay motionless for some time ; but they invariably came out of 
 it unspeakably happy • and not one injured in body or mind. 
 Here they dealt heavy blows against the practice of the priests 
 quenching candles and ringing bells, to excommunicate those who 
 heard 'the black caps;' but the people said, l the preachers tell the 
 hottest truth? 'Yes/ says Graham, 'and the cause of truth, 
 like Aaron's serpent, is swallowing up all error.' At Violet 
 Hill the prospect was that of Millennial glory. At Lisbellaw the 
 cry of the Catholics for mercy was most affecting. It was 
 literally a wail. At the next service it was still more surprising 
 — fear and shame had fled. The Catholics cried aloud, 'Have 
 we,' said they, ' believed the doctrine of devils, and renounced 
 the Gospel of God for the commandments of men?' It was the 
 same in Brookborough. 
 
 We come now to the last extract of Mr. Graham's journal for 
 this half year, and which brings their labours up to the time of 
 Conference, July, 1801 : 
 
 * We accompanied Mr, Alcorn,' says Graham, 'to the Quarterly Meeting 
 (or Love Feast) near Fivemiletown, on the Brookborough circuit Here 
 we had a great company, which no house could hold. We took possession 
 of a large garden ; it was nearly full, and there we held the Love Feast. 
 Oh, such an ingathering of souls ! The Spirit of the Lord descended in an 
 abundant manner. The shout of a king was heard in our camp, and the 
 voice of new-born souls was sweet It was a day of the Son of Man.' 
 
 On their return to Brookborough, they met a man who 
 appears, from Mr. Graham's description, to bear all the marks 
 of Terence M'Gowan — familiarly called Terry M'Gowan — the 
 famous cock-fighter, who lived near Maguiresbridge. His 
 conversion was on this wise. He came to the town with a 
 game-cock to enter that day in 'the ring.' On his turning the 
 corner of the street, with the cock under his long swallow-tailed 
 coat, two men on horseback, with 'black caps,' presented them- 
 selves to him He was astonished, but more so when he heard 
 them describe, in his own sweet-toned Irish language, the 
 
I32 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 solemnities of 'the day for which all other days were made;' 
 together with the fearful doom of the wicked for ever, as also 
 the joy of the righteous at God's right hand, and then urging 
 all to an immediate surrender to Christ. Poor Terry was 
 indeed terrified, and actually thought the day of judgment was 
 just at hand. He also thought it was high time for him to 
 begin to pray, and involuntarily put both hands together, and 
 lifted them up towards heaven, and no doubt with streaming 
 eyes. Of course the game-cock fled, perhaps to fall into better 
 hands, but this was a matter of perfect indifference with 
 Terence. He prayed, and wept, and cried aloud again and 
 again to God for mercy, for Christ's sake; and while pleading 
 thus, the Lord, in compassion, spoke peace to his bewildered 
 and alarmed conscience. Then and there he could now sing, 
 as with buoyant heart and step he bounded home to tell his 
 wife and children the strange victory he obtained, not at the 
 cock-pit, but the one described, in the language of Charles 
 "Wesley : — 
 
 ' My God is reconciled, 
 
 His pardoning voice I hear, 
 He owns me for His child, 
 
 I can no longer fear ; 
 "With confidence I now draw nigh ; 
 And Father, Abba, Father, cry.' 
 
 Of course his terrified wife and children did not know what 
 to make of it, and thought he was deranged. He had all of 
 them on their knees at once, to return thanks to God for the 
 deliverance obtained. His wife, supposing him insane, sent 
 one of her children to a neighbour's house, to beseech them to 
 send immediately for the priest, for that ' Terry had come 
 home from the market out of his mind.' 
 
 The priest was not long coming, and inquired of Terry 
 ' what was the matter ?' 
 
 ' Xever better in my life,' said Terry. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 133 
 
 ' Nonsense,' said the priest ; ' did you hear the black 
 caps?' 
 
 'I did,' said Terry, < thank God' 
 
 'So I thought,' said the priest; ' those fellows would set the 
 world mad. Will you now mind your business, Terry, and go 
 to your duty on next Sabbath ? ' 
 
 ' I will,' said Terry, 4 if your reverence does one thing for 
 me.' ' 
 
 'What is that, Terry?' said the priest 
 
 ' It is to come with me to Maguiresbridge, in order to get 
 the Lord to undo what He did for me there to-day.' 
 
 ' What did He do for you there?' said the priest. 
 
 ' He said to me there,' said Terry — ' Terry M'Gowan, " your 
 sins, which are many, are all forgiven you." ' 
 
 * I give you up as a lost case,' said the priest 
 
 From that forth Terry was allowed to go on his way rejoic- 
 ing — 'waxing stronger and stronger.' He began to hold 
 prayer meetings round the country, and became a 'burning and 
 a shining light ' — at least in his own plain way, for many years. 
 He was made exceedingly useful in his day, and has long since 
 passed away ' triumphant to the skies.' I went out of my way 
 to see his daughter some years ago, in the County Fermanagh, 
 and found her aged and afflicted, but very happy in God. It is 
 most likely that all the family have landed safely ere this in ' the 
 palace of angels and God.' It is said that his Roman Catholic 
 neighbours made a hard struggle to secure for him a visit from a 
 priest before he died, and when he was very feeble; but they were 
 baffled, and when the Church of England clergyman came, he 
 would not allow him to use a form of prayer in the celebration 
 of the Lord's Supper at his dying bed, lest it might have the 
 slightest semblance of changing the elements ; he required him 
 to pray twice extempore, and then prayed himself, as he said 
 he ' wanted a clearer manifestation of God's countenance ! ' 
 The power of God descended, and His glory filled the place. 
 
134 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 It is said that the Episcopal minister had cause to bless God for 
 that day. Thus the Lord put honour on His servant in death 
 as well as in life, proving that ' precious in the sight of the 
 Lord is the death of his saints.' We are here reminded of the 
 motto on Latimer's crown, 'win and wear;' and of Terry 
 M 'Go wan we would record one in his own loved tongue, 
 ' Thrid she agiis booheej that is, ' he fought and con- 
 quered.' 
 
 I find a condensation of the labours of Graham and Ouseley 
 for the few closing weeks of this Methodistic year, namely, 
 those in the end of May and the beginning of June, written 
 by one of the Wesleyan ministers, who was an eye-witness in 
 several places. Writing to Dr. Coke, he says : — 
 
 4 The two Irish missionaries — Brothers Graham and Ouseley — met me in 
 Carrigallen, in the County Leitrim, where we had the greatest outpouring 
 of the Holy Spirit Brother Ouseley preached in a field, and towards the 
 conclusion the cry of mourners broke out. There they continued until the 
 clouds of heaven drove us all into a large barn, where we remained a long 
 time. Many were converted, but next day surpassed all. Brother Graham 
 preached on a hill near Corlispratten to many hundreds. It was the 
 Sabbath. The cry of mourners broke out again. Ah, dear sir, how 
 awful to hear persons crying aloud for mercy in the open air; and how 
 encouraging to witness many finding "the pearl of great price !"' 
 
 We would say, how delightful as well. • Blessed are they 
 that mourn,' are our Lord's words. We would here record 
 what Mr. Simeon used to say — \ Of all men in the world, the 
 Christian pastor should be a man of an affectionate heart ; for 
 as well might you have a marble statue to supply the place of 
 a real father, as a marble-heaffed preacher to supply the place 
 of a real and affectionate pastor. ' 
 
 'A sermon cold and poor,' says Claude, 'will do more mis- 
 chief in an hour than an hundred rich ones will replace.' 
 
 The affectionate, glowing, sanctified heart, after all, is the 
 true source of genuine pulpit eloquence. 
 
 Jerome used to say, ' It is not the clamour of praise, but the 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 135 
 
 groans of conviction, that should be heard whilst the minister 
 preaches.' And again, 'The tears of the congregation form 
 the highest praises of the pulpit orator.' 
 
 No wonder that such glorious triumphs would lead these 
 men of God to imagine that the whole land would soon bow 
 to the sway of truth, and that sin and error would speedily flee 
 from the earth. The increase for this year in bona fide members 
 of the Methodist society was 3,065, besides vast multitudes of 
 congregational members. They might well labour on while 
 thus cheered, and sing and pray as well — 
 
 * Jesus, the word bestow, 
 
 The true, immortal seed ; 
 Thy Gospel then shall greatly grow, 
 And all our land o'erspread. ' 
 
XI. 
 
 ' This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and 
 reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark 
 for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' 
 
 The Apostle Paul. 
 
 1 Lives of great men all remind us 
 
 We can make our lives sublime, 
 And departing leave behind us 
 
 Footprints on the sands of time ; 
 Footprints that, perhaps, another, 
 
 Sailing o'er life's solemn main, 
 A forlorn and shipwreck'd brother, 
 
 Seeing, shall take heart again. 
 Let us, then, be up and doing ; 
 
 Let your armour be complete ; 
 Still advancing, still pursuing, 
 
 Learn to labour and to wait.' 
 
 Longfellow. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 JULY 1 80 1 TO JULY l802. 
 
 Graham and Ouseley's appointments. — Three of missionaries 
 retire, two from over exertion. — opinion of the con- 
 ference in regard to the effects of the general mission. — 
 Dr. Coke's opinion. — Mr. Wesley's opinion of the Irish. — 
 Rev. Dr. W. Crook's opinion of the general mission. — Mr. 
 Graham's letter to Dr. Coke. — Labours at-Bandon, Clonmel, 
 Waterford. — Rev. M. Lanktree's opinion. — Intelligence 
 from Cork, Dunmanway, Ballydehob, Newry, and several 
 places. — Rev. Mr. Ridgeway. — Rev. W. Reilly. — A late 
 writer's opinion. — Poetry. 
 
 HE General Mission appointments of the Conference 
 of 1 801 were limited to three, as follow: — Graham 
 and Ouseley, province of Ulster, and south and west 
 also ; Laurence Kane, south of Ireland. Two brethren retired 
 to circuit work from ill health. The other was appointed 
 to circuit work also. The great and unprecedented success of 
 the general mission justified the Conference in inserting in the 
 minutes of this year (1801) the following, in the way of ques- 
 tion and answer. It would do credit to apostolic times, and 
 is worthy of the brightest days of the Church of Christ. It is 
 truly a gem of missionary intelligence : — 
 
 Q» 1. ' What success has attended the Irish missions in the last year? 
 A. I. 'The success of the northern missio?i (on which Messrs. Graham 
 and Ouseley laboured) has been very considerable among the Roman 
 
138 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 Catholics; and secondly, its influence has been almost unbounded in 
 stirring up the Protestants, and has been the means of the conversion of 
 vast numbers in connexion with the labours of the regular preachers ! 
 
 2. ' In respect to the western mission — first, in various places in the West 
 many hundreds, and frequently thousands, of the Roman Catholics have 
 attended the preaching of the missionaries ; and if weeping, tre?nbling y and 
 falling down in the streets, be marks of being awakened, or at least being 
 deeply affected, great good has been done in this quarter ! Secondly, 
 many Protestants have been stirred up, and a considerable number con- 
 verted to God. 
 
 3. ' In respect to the South — first, very large congregations of Roman 
 Catholics attended the missionaries in general in the streets, and many fol- 
 lowed the missionaries to the preaching-houses deeply affected. Secondly, 
 in the city of Limerick and the neighbouring country, multitudes of Roman 
 Catholics heard with attention : many appeared to be truly awakened, and 
 there was every appearance of a good work. ' 
 
 Dr. Coke, in reviewing the labours of the two first years of 
 this Irish General Mission, writes : — 
 
 ' In my humble judgment, the whole empire is, in a political point of 
 view, concerned in the success of this mission. I believe there is not a 
 nobler or a more important charity than the object which it contemplates, 
 namely, the conversion and regeneration of all Ireland. If the warm affec- 
 tions of the Irish can be engaged on the side of truth, they will become one 
 of the most virtuous and religious nations on the globe. ' 
 
 ' What a nation is this,' says Mr. Wesley, in his journals, in 
 allusion to their willingness to hear ; ' for every man, woman, 
 and child, not only patiently, but gladly, suffer the word of ex- 
 hortation, except a few of the great vulgar.' 
 
 In another place, in allusion to one of his visits to Athlone, 
 he says, ' Rich and poor, Protestants and Papists, gathered 
 together from every side, and deep attention sat upon all.' 
 And again he calls them ' the most immeasurably loving people 
 in the world.' 
 
 In the English Address of this year to the Irish Conference, 
 the great revival is thus recognised in the form of prayer*: — 
 5 May this great revival continue to increase until Ireland flame 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 139 
 
 with the love and glory of God' The increase in Ireland this 
 year was 4,941. 
 
 A modern writer, the Rev. W. Crook, D.D., and the impas- 
 sioned friend of the general mission, asserts — ' The general 
 mission should receive a generous support from our people, 
 both in England and America. Indeed, there should be a 
 general missionary for each of our provinces, and it would well 
 repay its cost a hundred-fold. We might double or treble our 
 membership in Ireland in a few years ; and who can tell what 
 the result would be upon the cause of Protestant Christianity 
 in this and other lands.' 
 
 Immediately after this Conference of 1801, Mr. Graham, 
 accompanied by Mr. Ouseley, set out for the South, and his 
 letter to Doctor Coke will suffice, in lieu of his journal, to 
 show the marvellous success which attended their united 
 labours in that part of the country : — 
 
 'MONAGHAN, March 17, 1802. 
 ■ Reverend and dear Sir, — We had a prosperous journey on our 
 way to Limerick. We took the streets as we passed along, The people 
 everywhere heard, and wept, and prayed. The Romish clergy cannot keep 
 the people from hearing us now. A great fire broke out on the country 
 part of the Limerick circuit, and continues burning. Catholics have left 
 all to follow Christ. We passed on to the County Kerry, where rich out- 
 pourings of the Holy Spirit were vouchsafed. In Tralee hell appeared to 
 be let loose. [Eleven years after his first attempt there, but which appears to 
 be forgotten.] We took the street. My voice, which is pretty strong, was 
 drowned, the uproar was so great ; and five magistrates, officers, yeomen, and 
 many Protestants availed nothing. We had to get a guard of soldiers that 
 evening (Sabbath) while we preached to hundreds in the Court-house ; and 
 many of the Catholics came in spite of their clergy. One of them charged 
 the priest "for keeping him in the dark so long." Another charged three 
 of them, saying, " Your people are in the dark, and so would you have it." 
 From thence we went to Skibbereen and that neighbourhood, where the 
 work, outside and inside, was most amazing. The whole country appeared 
 alarmed. The Catholics flocked in multitudes to hear, but on the Sabbath 
 the priest rode furiously through the people. The crowd was great, and 
 great numbers tumbled over each other, while he lashed them with his whip ; 
 
140 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 but we kept our ground. When the hurry was over, many of them came 
 to hear us again, and declared "they would follow us all over the world." 
 The power of the Lord fell mightily on the people of Bantry; no opposition 
 there but from an old woman. Satan was far gone for friends. One 
 Catholic young woman cried aloud for mercy ; and many fell, powerfully 
 convinced, and then believed to the saving of the soul. 
 
 "'Deep wounded by the Spirit's sword, 
 And then by Gilead's balm restored." ' 
 
 After this they spent seven hard days' labour in and about 
 Bandon, and were abundantly repaid by numerous tokens of 
 ' power from on high,' both inside and outside of doors. These 
 were days of the Son of Man. Mr. Graham heard of the illness 
 of his wife, and resolved to return to Monaghan, Mr. Ouseley 
 accompanying him. They sounded the alarm in every place — 
 an alarm well calculated to awaken ' the dead in trespasses and 
 in sins.' In Kinsale and Cork the Word was with great power. 
 They travelled on horseback, in all, two hundred and thirty statute 
 miles, in five and a half days, more than forty miles a day, and 
 preached morning, noon, and night, thus performing a journey on 
 horseback, perhaps unparalleled even in Irish horsemanship, con- 
 sidering the amount of labour included. When they arrived in 
 Monaghan, Mr. Graham says, ' I found my dear wife just reco- 
 vering from the j aws of death. ' Mr. Graham had had no previous 
 intimation of Mrs. Graham being so unwell, until he received 
 the letter in Bandon ; but the Lord had mercy on her, and on 
 him also, in thus having spared to him 'one of the best of 
 wives.' After spending a little time at home, they prepared 
 for another visit to the South, as they said they did not finish 
 their work there, which they accomplished before the Conference 
 of 1802. In this last journey they spent twelve weeks, in the 
 former eighteen ; making thirty weeks in the South and East 
 alone during the year. 
 
 Mr. Lanktree, then stationed on the Waterford circuit, writes 
 concerning this last visit, thus : — 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 141 
 
 4 We had a visit from the Irish missionaries, Messrs. Graham 
 and Ouseley. I took my stand with them on horseback in the 
 street of Clonmel. They were violently opposed by the mob, 
 but they preached, notwithstanding, with fearless fidelity. The 
 champions of Satan put up a madman to preach in derision, 
 but he did them no harm.' 
 
 Here they laboured in the midst of great opposition for some 
 three or four days. ' Their visit, ' says Mr. Lanktree, ' through 
 the goodness of God, tended very much to serve the cause of 
 truth in Clonmel and in Waterford. Their word was with 
 power.' 
 
 Just at this time several letters were flying through the 
 kingdom relative to the extraordinary work which was spreading 
 and prevailing east, west, north, and south. One writes from 
 Bandon : — ■ 
 
 ' Blessed be God, I have something worthy to communicate. 
 The society here numbers two hundred of an increase. The 
 flame has spread through all the western circuits, so that it is 
 little less than " a nation born in a day.'" 
 
 Another writes from Cork: — ' Poor and ric/i, profane and 
 moral, scoffer and inquirer, Papist and Protestant, all indiscri- 
 minately fall beneath the mighty power of God. In ten days no 
 less than one hundred and seventy souls were brought to God. ' 
 
 Another writes from the South : — ' O brother ! never did any- 
 one now living see such a day as this. At Ballydehob, it seemed 
 in one sense as the day of judgment when penitents were crying 
 for mercy ; but it was the day of salvation, for no less than 
 sixty found peace with God. In Dunmanway thirty, and thirty 
 added to the society. In other places twenty-nine found the 
 mercy of God.' 
 
 Another writes from the North about the same time : — 1 1 
 cannot relate the sixth part of the good work It broke out at 
 Xewry with us. In these places, including Newry, ninety-eight 
 found peace; on the side of the mountain seventy-two were set 
 
142 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 at liberty; and at Dungannon, in one day, sixty were converted. 
 The Irish missionaries,' writes the last correspondent, * Graham 
 and Ouseley travelled this country, but two such men for an 
 apostolic, fearless spirit, I never saw. Great success attends 
 their ministry. At Fivemiletown, a hundred and fifty have joined 
 the society since they left. Prisons and death seem no more 
 to them than liberty and life. There is a revival in all the 
 neighbouring circuits, namely, Brookborongh, Clones, Bally- 
 coiinell, Sligo, Enniskillen, Ballina?nallard, Newtownstewart, 
 Belfast,' &c. 
 
 This last communication is from the pen of the Rev. M. 
 Ridgeway. 
 
 Another preacher writes from the North, to Dr. Coke : — ' I 
 cannot but attribute the late extraordinary revivals in the North 
 to the general missionaries. They have " provoked us to 
 jealousy/' and made us ashamed to stand still whilst they are 
 labouring with all their might, both day and night. We have 
 added two hundred and twenty-six in Downpatrick, and a 
 hundred and one on trial, and about two hundred were justified.' 
 
 ' It was,' says the Rev. W. Reilly, ' at this critical period, just 
 after the land was saturated and sickened with hostility and 
 blood, that these heralds of grace unfurled the banner of the 
 cross to their perishing countrymen. The very rocks and 
 glens which reverberated with the clangour of arms, and the 
 roar of the cannon now echoed the joyful sound of the Gospel 
 trumpet of jubilee. The very streets, which had been deluged 
 with human gore, were now refreshed with the streams of "the 
 water of life." The towns and districts which had been the 
 theatres of sanguinary conflict, were now cheered by the pro- 
 clamation of a free and full salvation, "without money and 
 without price;" while the rolling tide of Divine power seemed 
 to bear down all opposition before it, wherever they came.' 
 
 Oh, that the Most High would now, in 1868, baptize and 
 send forth another band of such wayfaring men, after the 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 T 43 
 
 feverish excitement into which this country has been plunged 
 for the last few years. And of this there is hope, thank God. 
 A late writer states, that ' With the man of the world religion 
 is regarded merely as a battle, but no hymn ; according to the 
 monk it is a mere hymn and not a battle; but according to the 
 practical Christian, it is both a battle and a hymn together' It 
 was so with these men of God; constant co?iflict and constant 
 triumph marked their daily and onward career. 
 
 ' We go not forth, like men of old, 
 
 Cities and lands to win ; 
 But oh, we wage a deadlier strife 
 
 Against the hosts of sin. 
 Strong in our God, and in His might, 
 
 The Spirit's sword we wield ; 
 And in His name abide the fight 
 
 ' On our own battle field.' 
 
XIL 
 
 ' Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see God.' — Matthew v. 8. 
 
 'Jesus, I my cross have taken, 
 
 All to leave and follow Thee ; 
 All things else for Thee forsaken, 
 
 Thou from hence my all shalt be. 
 Perish every fond ambition, 
 
 All I've sought, or hoped, or known, 
 Yet how rich is my condition ! 
 
 God and heaven are still my own. 
 
 Let the world despise and leave me, 
 
 It has left my Saviour too ; 
 Human hearts and looks deceive me, 
 
 Thou art not like them untrue. 
 And whilst Thou dost smile upon me, 
 
 God of wisdom, love and might, 
 Foes may hate and friends deceive me, 
 
 Show Thy love, and all is right. 
 
 Go, then, earthly fame and treasure, 
 
 Come disaster, scorn, and pain ; 
 In Thy service pain is pleasure, 
 
 With Thy favour love is gain. 
 I have called Thee Abba, Father, 
 
 I have set my heart on Thee ; 
 Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, 
 
 All must work for good for me.' 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MEANS ADOPTED FOR A MORE EXTENSIVE' REVIVAL. 
 
 The general mission appointments for 1802. — Increase during 
 three first years of the general mission, 10,473. — irish 
 Address to the English Conference. — The missionaries visit 
 the eastern part of the kingdom. — great persecution in 
 Kilkenny. — Mr. Ouseley wrote to the Catholic Bishop. — 
 Appointments for 1803. — Mr. Reilly's account of same. — 
 Also Mr. Lanktree's account. — Favourable reception in 
 Kilkenny.— Death of Rev. John Johnston. — Question and 
 answers relative to the best means of promoting a revival. 
 — Appointments of 1804. — Mr. Ouseley's letter to Dr. Coke. 
 — Visit to Carlow. — Ditto to Kilkenny, third time. — Letter 
 to Mr. Graham from Miss Ould, Coleraine. — Missionary 
 appointments for 1805. — increase oe same. — 1802 to 1805. 
 
 HE General Mission appointments for this year were 
 as follow : — 
 
 ' Connaught and the County Clare — Laurence Kane, Thomas 
 Allen. 
 
 ' The rest of Munster, Leinster, and Connaught — Charles Graham, 
 Gideon Ouseley.' 
 
 The increase for this last year in the Irish connexion 
 amounted to 2,467, which added to the two former years make 
 exactly the amazing number of 10,473 ! — and that in three 
 years ! ! Well may we exclaim, ' what hath God wrought ! ' 
 We can now see the kind hand of our God in all this, if it were 
 nothing else but to cheer the hearts of His servants, who bore 
 so patiently, the burden and the heat of the day.' It was at 
 
 K 
 
146 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 the risk of life they travelled through the kingdom during the 
 past three or four years, and especially in travelling to and 
 from Conference. 
 
 In the Irish Address to the English Conference for this year 
 (1802) the following is recorded: — 'Two thousand souls and 
 upwards were added to our numbers this last year, among 
 whom were several poor Catholics, now worshipping God in 
 spirit and in truth. Thus has a gracious Providence favoured 
 us hitherto, and especially so during the last year.' 
 
 These two missionaries, now chiefs in the mission field, and 
 giant champions for truth, having been appointed principally 
 to the eastern part of the kingdom, immediately set out for 
 Wicklow, Wexford, Kildare, Car low, and Kilkenny. In Ennis- 
 corthy, near to which stands the famous Vinegar Hill, and where 
 so much blood was wantonly shed, they took their stand in the 
 principal street, mounted on their horses, with their black caps 
 on. They first sung a hymn, which had a wonderful effect. 
 Then they 1 preached the Word,' which fell with great power 
 on all who heard it; and some of the fruit remains to this very 
 year, as the writer lately found out in a visit to that town. 
 And no wonder. They went fresh from their knees in private, 
 where they pleaded for the baptism of fire, and inflamed with a 
 Saviour's dying love, they hastened to the rescue of the slaves 
 of sin and hell, and then preached with ' the Holy Ghost sent 
 down from heaven.' Yea, 
 
 ' With cries, entreaties, tears, to save. 
 To snatch them from the gaping grave.' 
 
 They had not, however, the same success or tranquillity in 
 Wexford, for while Mr. Ouseley was preaching, a mason on a 
 scaffold pelted him with stones, which was near costing the 
 stone-thrower his life, for another desperado, in his way, 
 rushed forward to pull down the ladder. Had this been done, 
 the mason would soon have had little power to throw stones 
 again. But Mr. Ouseley observed the act, and cried out, 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 147 
 
 1 Let him alone' During this tour they preached nineteen times 
 in the streets of sixteen towns, besides the sermons inside ! 
 Many Roman Catholics heard, and when any one disturbed 
 the preachers, others came forward and quelled the rioters. 
 Several were in each place awakened. In Hucket&toum the 
 priest passed by quietly, and all remained ; the whole street 
 was filled ; tracts were taken eagerly. At FctJiant two Catholic 
 girls were cut to the heart. One of these was bribed for a 
 while. The priest gave her three guineas, but ' she has since, 
 says Mr. Graham, ' given them the slip, and followed us four 
 miles in deep distress of mind. I hope many more have 
 received the seed of the kingdom. Our way was opened 
 everywhere, until we came to Kilkenny \ but here they were 
 bent on murdering us. I got several bruises. The whole city 
 was in an uproar. It was fearful to witness the flinging of 
 stones, and to hear the shouting. We found shelter in the 
 barrack, but it required all the power of the mayor and the 
 commanding officer to escort us on safely out of the city. 
 Some of the mob went before us to stone us again ! I greatly 
 pitied them,' says Graham ; ' for how will they ever see the 
 light unless it is thus brought publicly before them?' 
 
 4 1 wrote,' says Mr. Ouseley, ' to the Catholic bishop, and 
 expostulated with him on the barbarity of his people. After 
 this we took the street of Athy, and had a blessed time. We 
 are greatly worn down, and Brother Graham had to keep his 
 bed for some days.' 
 
 We may surely apply these lines of Charles Wesley — 
 
 1 The tokens of Thy love 
 
 On every side we see, 
 And crowds begotten from above 
 
 Stretch out their hands to Thee. 
 Against " the evil day" 
 
 Ready prepared we stand, 
 To turn Thy vengeful wrath away, 
 
 And save a guilty land.' 
 
148 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 FROM JULY 1803 TO JULY 1804. 
 
 The appointments for this year are as follows : — 
 
 \ IRISH MISSIONARIES. 
 
 'The Counties of Limerick, Tipperary, Mayo, Galway, and Clare — 
 Charles Graham, Gideon Ouseley.' 
 
 We see from the number of the missionaries being thus 
 reduced, that Dr. Coke's resources must have failed The 
 demands on him from the foreign stations were very numerous, 
 but he more than made up for this declension, as we will find 
 during the following eight or ten years. 
 
 Mr. Reilly states, that ' during this year they were acknow- 
 ledged in every place, and some of the circuits were remarkably 
 visited by the power and presence of God.' 
 
 Mr. Lanktree also states of this year — 'In Carlow, during 
 this second visit, they preached both in the street and in the 
 chapel. The word of life was blessedly triumphant. Their 
 preaching in the colliery was attended with the power of God. 
 Prejudice and opposition were borne down by the influence of 
 truth and love. Twenty persons have joined the society.' 
 
 In Kilkcmiy their reception was now of a different character 
 to the former. Both clergy and laity, to their credit, hailed then- 
 visit with delight The ringleaders in the previous disturbance 
 had been imprisoned Thus might they confidently trust and 
 sweetly sing — 
 
 1 Through waves, and clouds, and storms, 
 He gently clears thy way ; 
 Wait thou His time, so shall this night 
 Soon end in joyous day.' 
 
 Thus did they spend this laborious, but happy and successful 
 year of hallowed toil. 
 
 During this year the venerable John Johnston, of Lisburn, 
 passed triumphantly home, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. 
 He was employed by Mr. Wesley for some time as general 
 superintendent of our connexion in Ireland Some of his last 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 1 49 
 
 words were — c I can look back with joy on the day when Mr. 
 Whitfield preached from the text, " Christ our passover is 
 sacrificed for us." Whether I was in the body or out of the 
 body, I could not tell ; but when I appear before my Saviour, 
 I will cast my crown at His feet.' He soon beheld the God 
 he loved so long. (See Minutes, 1803, vol. i., page 168.) 
 
 In the Minutes for the year 1804, vol. L, page 175, we have 
 a most important question proposed, to which there are nine 
 important directions by way of answers given ; and it is hoped 
 we may be excused for introducing them here, at least in 
 part : — 
 
 ' Q. 23. What can be done for the revival of the work of God in Ireland? 
 
 * A. 1. Let us humble ourselves before God. The revival must begin 
 with ourselves. Let us use self-denial. 
 
 ' 2. Let us be more careful in giving to God, through Jesus Christ, the 
 entire glory of all the good wrought in and by us. He must be our "all 
 in all." 
 
 * 3. Let us, as preachers, be more simple, evangelical, practical, and 
 zealous in our preaching. 
 
 '4. Let us not aim at what sermon -hunters call fine preaching, in order to 
 be popular. 
 
 * 5. Let us frequently insist on the doCtrine of original sin. It is not 
 stale or worn out ; it is fundamental. 
 
 ' 6. Let us, above all things, be zealous to bring our hearers to the foun- 
 tain opened for sin and uncleanness. 
 
 ' 7. Let us press upon believers the necessity of increasing in holiness, 
 and of dying daily and walking with God. 
 
 ' 8. Let us faithfully preach practical holiness, and tear the mask from 
 the face of the hypocrite. 
 
 ' 9. Let us never omit a pointed, faithful, yet loving application at the 
 close of our sermons.' 
 
 JULY 1804 TO JULY 1805. 
 
 * The appointments for the general mission this year are : — Province of 
 Connaught and Leinster — Charles Graham, Gideon Ouseley. Province of 
 Ulster — William Hamilton, James Bell.' 
 
 This was the sixth appointment of Graham and Ouseley to 
 be companions in honour and dishonour, and never did two 
 
150 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 yoke-fellows -work so freely or so lovingly. Mr. Graham 
 became unwell after the Conference. 
 
 Mr. Ouseley writes to Dr. Coke thus : — ' Brother Graham is 
 blessedly recovered, and we mean to set out to-morrow for our 
 destination, namely, Counties Wicklow a»d Wexford first I 
 hope we shall have a good year. I dreamed last night that I 
 was preaching and weeping over poor sinners. I have often 
 found it so these five years past. I hope our dear friends and 
 brethren will, as I believe they do, continue to help us in their 
 constant prayers.' 
 
 Thus prepared, they started, and prosecuted the year's labour 
 with unabated ardour. Prejudices were giving way in every 
 direction, and Gospel truth bearing glorious sway even where 
 the greatest obstacles opposed. In Carlow, whilst they 
 preached in the street and in the chapel, the word of life was 
 again triumphant— twenty persons gave in their names to 
 meet in society. In Kilkenny, where the missionaries were 
 formerly ill-treated, they are now honoured. Indeed, they 
 were greatly honoured and abundantly successful everywhere 
 this year — as if the Lord wttuld specially and signally mark the 
 last year of their united toil with His richest blessings. In one 
 place ten or twelve joined society, six of whom were Romanists. 
 In another place thirty joined class, of whom two were 
 Catholics. In this place there was a great revival. In another 
 town twenty-one joined the Methodist society. During the 
 latter end of this year they paid a third visit to Kilkenny, and 
 the record of it is — 'Several members were added to the 
 society;' and on the Carlow circuit 'there were one hundred 
 and fifty added, and many of them savingly converted to 
 God.' 
 
 During this year Mr. Graham received a letter from a highly 
 respectable lady, who lived in Coleraine, but was now at Dun- 
 gannon on a visit She was brought to God through his in- 
 strumentality. The following is an extract : — 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 ' Many thanks to my dear brother Graham for his kind and very acceptable 
 letter of 13th inst Blessed be God, who has done much for me, and kept 
 my face Sionward. I think I take delight in everything, whatsoever, that 
 has a tendency to promote His glory and honour. The more I know of my 
 Lord and Saviour the more I delight in Him and in all His ways. I do 
 determine, with the assistance of His Holy Spirit, to take up my cross 
 daily and follow Him. I was truly thankful to hear from you that the 
 work of the Lord was in so prosperous a way, and I sincerely pray that the 
 Lord may abundantly reward you both (including Mr. Ouseley) for your 
 work of labour in His vineyard. On last Sunday we were favoured with 
 two of the missionaries, Messrs. Hamilton and BelL They preached at 
 four o'clock p. m. in the street, and in the house at seven. They read over 
 their journals of what had passed since they set out. Next day was the 
 Quarterly Meeting (Love Feast). I think that the power of the Lord was much 
 there. It reminded me of the first Sunday you preached in Coleraine. There 
 were numbers of penitents, both men and women, crying aloud for mercy. 
 Such a sight I never saw before. Some found pardon before I left, about 
 three o'clock. Others remained until near the evening service. Remember 
 me, with much regard and good wishes, to your son and daughter ; also to 
 Brother and Sister Ouseley, who, I hope, are as well as I wish them to be. 
 I remain, my dear Brother Graham, wishing you every happiness, spiritual 
 and temporal, your truly affectionate friend and sister in the Lord Jesus, 
 
 'Eliza Ould p * 
 
 The period is now fast approaching when those two kindred 
 spirits, Graham and Ouseley, must part, the very anticipation 
 of which must have affected each other very keenly. They 
 travelled thousands of miles together; slept hundreds of times 
 together • endured the rigours of winter and the heat of summer 
 together j shared each other's trials and triumphs ; preached 
 thousands of sermons in each other's hearing ; and, best of all, 
 witnessed thousands of conversions together : and yet we never 
 hear a word of jealousy, or even the breath of suspicion, to 
 cause either a moment's pain. For this we 1 glorify the grace 
 of God in them.' Their love was that of David and Jonathan; 
 but still there may have been great wisdom in the act of 
 separation, each taking a young man, and thereby more effec- 
 tually to perpetuate and extend the missionary spirit 
 
 Accordingly, at the approaching Conference, they were to be 
 
THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 told off to different parts of the country, each with his new 
 colleague, and the missionary staff to be greatly augmented. 
 Very likely the state of the missionary exchequer was in a 
 more healthy condition than it was previously, for we find no 
 less than eight men paired off, as if to take the kingdom by 
 storm. They stand thus in the minutes for July 1 805 to 1 806 : — 
 
 'IRISH MISSIONARIES. 
 
 'Dublin and Cork Districts, and their vicinity — William Hamilton, 
 Gideon Ouseley. 
 
 ' Limerick and Athlone Districts, and vicinities — Charles Graham, Andrew- 
 Taylor. 
 
 'Belfast and Newry Districts, and vicinities — Samuel Alcorn, James Bell. 
 'Londonderry District, and adjoining country — John Hamilton, William 
 Peacock. ' 
 
XIII. 
 
 1 He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love 
 God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, 
 That he who loveth God love his brother also.' — I John iv. 20, 21. 
 
 ' Go, labour on ! spend and be spent, 
 Thy joy to do thy Father's will ; 
 It is the way the Master went, 
 
 Should not the servant tread it still? 
 
 Go, labour on ! enough, enough, 
 
 If Jesus praise thee — if He deign 
 To notice e'en the willing mind, 
 
 No toil for Him shall be in vain. 
 
 Go, labour on ! thy hands are weak, 
 
 Thy knees are faint, thy soul cast down ; 
 
 Yet falter not, thy prize is near, 
 
 The throne, the kingdom, and the crown. 
 
 Go, labour on ! while it is day, 
 
 The long dark night is hastening on ; 
 
 Speed, speed thy work, up from thy fear, 
 It is not thus that souls are won. 
 
 Toil on, toil on ; thou shalt find 
 
 For labour, rest — for exile, home ; 
 Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom's voice, 
 
 The midnight peal, "Behold I come." ' 
 
 HORATIUS BONAR. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 GRAHAM AND OUSELEY ARE APPOINTED TO DIFFERENT 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 Hymn by Horatius Bonar. — Mr. Graham parts with Mr. Ouseley. 
 — Death of Mrs. Graham. — Letter of Mrs. Ouseley. — Con- 
 ference record. — Another letter from Mrs. Out.d. — Ap- 
 pointments for 1806. — Letter from Mr. Graham to his son. — 
 Lorenzo Dow. — His great usefulness. — Ouseley and Hamil- 
 ton's GREAT PERSECUTION IN EYRECOURT. — REMARKABLE CON- 
 VERSION of a Presbyterian clergyman. — The Thrashers. — 
 Conversion of a Roman Catholic. — Mr. Ouseley's horse 
 injured. — Conference record of the missions. — Answer of 
 British Conference. — Conversion of a persecutor in the 
 County Clare. — Another remarkable case at Wexford. 
 
 OW as these venerable men, Graham and Ouseley 
 had to part, they, no doubt, could realize the lines 
 which they often sung before — 
 
 • And let our bodies part, 
 
 To different climes repair ; 
 Inseparably joined in heart 
 The friends of Jesus are. 
 O let us still proceed 
 
 In Jesu's work below ; 
 And, following our triumphant HeacL 
 To further conquests go.' 
 
 Messrs. Graham and Taylor started for the midland counties, 
 while Messrs. Ouseley and Hamilton repaired to the South, 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 *55 
 
 It appears to have been a year of great affliction to Mr. Graham, 
 by reason of the death of his beloved wife. This mournful 
 event must have taken place in the spring of the year 1806. 
 Although we have no record on which to rely — many of Mr. 
 Graham's papers having been lost — but from a letter which 
 Mrs. Ouseley writes to young Mr. Graham, in which she 
 alludes to his mother ' being now happy,' we must conclude 
 that she passed away some time previously. The letter is too 
 valuable to be omitted. It does credit to the head and heart 
 of the good lady who wrote it. 
 
 4 Sligo, August 30th, 1806. 
 
 'My very dear Friend and Brother, — I fear by this time you are 
 beginning to say, that I am an ungrateful creature ; do not say so, for I am 
 not, I assure you. I remember with gratitude your kind attention to me. 
 I find the people here are very affectionate. Some of your friends wept a 
 good deal when they saw me, as your dear mother and I used to be together 
 formerly ; but she is happy, and you and I are still spared. O let us, my 
 dear Charles, examine, are we living to please ourselves, or our God ? It 
 would be an awful thing to be separated in the great day from our good God, 
 and our dear friends who are in glory. There is surely a revival of the work 
 of God here. On Sunday week we had a field meeting, and much good was 
 done. Old and young backsliders were restored to the favour of God. 
 I love long letters, and I love to have something said in praise of the 
 heavenly country we are journeying to — mind this. I hope to hear you 
 have attended class, and that your soul is prospering. Oh, do, my dear child, 
 suffer one that loves you to urge you to attend to that comfortable means 
 of grace. My dear Ouseley is about Ballina and Killala at present. The 
 Lord is doing wonders. I expect him soon. We are to have another field 
 meeting in a week. I wish I had you here, and I am sure you would be the 
 better of seeing the poor simple folk coming with all their sins to their 
 offended Father. It has done me good. Be sure you come to us at 
 Christmas. May every purchased blessing be yours, my dear child, for time 
 and eternity. So prays your affectionate friend and sister, 
 
 'Ht. Ouseley.' 
 
 This painful bereavement must have greatly affected both 
 father and son ; for they were all three greatly bound up in 
 each other's fondest love. Mrs. Graham, no doubt, died as she 
 
THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 lived, ' looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto 
 eternal life.' 
 
 ' Happy soul, thy days are ended, 
 All thy mourning days below : 
 Go, by angel guards attended, 
 To the sight of Jesus, go ! ' 
 
 We have little or no record of this year, except what is stated 
 in the Address of the Irish to the English Conference. It is 
 this : — ' In many parts of the country much good has been done 
 during the past year, by the preaching of the Word. A spirit of 
 hearing has been excited in the minds of the people of almost 
 all descriptions, insomuch that inconvenience of time (season) 
 or place could not prevent hundreds from assembling in the 
 streets. These encouraging openings will, we doubt not, be 
 productive of the greatest benefit to mankind.' 
 
 Miss Ould, of Coleraine, writes to Mr. Graham again. The 
 following is an extract: — 
 
 ' Your letter revived my soul very much ; it was a reviving balm. May 
 the Lord bless and reward you with His best of blessings. Brother J. 
 Stewart is a good young man, and a good preacher ; he will have to exert 
 himself very much here. The world is getting a great hold of some of our 
 members. I am rejoiced to hear of all the good the Lord is making you 
 the instrument of doing. It is a blessed employment to be an ambassador 
 for the Lord Jesus. May you be crowned with success this year also. I 
 am sure I have reason to bless and praise the Lord for ever having sent you 
 to Coleraine, as you and dear Brother Ouseley were the instruments of 
 bringing me, a poor, proud, vain sinner, out of darkness ; and, blessed be 
 His holy name, I have never had the least desire to return to the world 
 again. I only regret that I have it not in my power to do more for my 
 Father's kingdom. I am just thinking what a happiness it will be when we 
 and all the dear followers of the Lord shall meet, never more to part. May 
 God of his infinite mercy grant this to be our case. Continue to pray for 
 me as I shall do for you. 
 
 'Eliza Ould.' 
 
 JULY 1806. 
 
 At the Conference of this year there were ten men appointed 
 to the general mission work. It would appear that its popu- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 157 
 
 larity was increasing year by year. They were stationed 
 thus : — 
 
 L The Dublin District — Alcorn and Bell. 
 
 2. The Cork District — Graham and Taylor. 
 
 3. The Limerick and Athlone Districts — W. Hamilton and Ouseley. 
 
 4. The Belfast and Newry Districts — Kerr and M'Cord. 
 
 5. The Londonderry District — J. Hamilton, W. Peacock. 
 
 Immediately after the Conference, Mr. Graham wrote to his 
 son in Dublin from Bandon, thus : — 
 
 * There is a stir in Bandon ; but in Kerry, where we were lately, there are 
 both convictions and conversions. Thank God, who did not suffer us to 
 labour in vain, or spend our strength for nought. Oh, may we be grateful 
 and humble. If Lorenzo is in Dublin, give him my love. I am glad to 
 hear that he can labour there now. Remember me to the preachers. They 
 are friends of mine. May they prosper abundantly.' 
 
 The preachers were Lanktree, M 'Mullen, William Stewart, 
 Kerr, and A. Hamilton. 
 
 Of Lorenzo Dow, Mr. Lanktree remarks : — ' I knew he had 
 been made a blessing to many, and that God was with him ; 
 but with his eccentricities or infirmities I have nothing to do. 
 But I know that he sent twenty-seven persons to me in one 
 body to join our society; perhaps most of these were con- 
 verted to God. Among them are Mrs. C and her amiable 
 
 daughter H , now the well-known and esteemed wife of 
 
 one of our most efficient preachers.' 
 
 Mr. Lanktree, no doubt, here alludes to the late Mrs. Waugh, 
 of Bandon, who was the fruit of Lorenzo's labours. Mr. Ouseley 
 writes of him thus, from Sligo, to Mr. Lanktree : — ' I do, indeed, 
 enjoy the tidings of the appearance of a revival in Dublin, and 
 that the Lord is so manifestly blessing Lorenzo's labours.' 
 
 In another place Mr. Lanktree says : — ' Lorenzo was with us 
 three days. How many were born of God I cannot tell. Not 
 less than two hundred persons came forward to join our society 
 within this fortnight We had a glorious Quarterly Meeting 
 
158 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 (Love Feast) in Carlo w. Many hearts were rent, and some 
 made happy.' Lorenzo Dow was an American preacher. 
 
 'This year (1806) was one of great persecution,' says Mr. 
 Hamilton, Mr. Ouseley's companion. ' At Eyrecourt, County 
 Galway, and near the Shannon, we preached in the street, and 
 had a battle with both priest and people, who beat my horse 
 greatly, and threw him down on the street, and I on his back. 
 Ouseley was hurt, and lost his hat in the fray. I thought we 
 should never leave the spot alive. The soldiers were called 
 out with loaded guns and fixed bayonets. They formed a 
 square, until we preached again to the market people, and then 
 they conducted us out of town ; but some of the persecutors 
 got before us, and shouted as if Scullabogue barn was on fire. 
 We were robbed of our books, and only escaped with our lives.' 
 And then he apostrophizes thus — ' Cruel mockings are nothing, 
 and showers of stones are but child's play ; but bloodshed and 
 battery are no joke.' 
 
 But in the midst of all this they were cheered by remarkable 
 instances of conversion among both rich and poor, even in^ 
 that very neighbourhood, and in other places also. The con- 
 version of the Rev. Mr. Caldwell, the Presbyterian minister of 
 Sligo, and his joining the society, cheered them greatly. Mr. 
 Caldwell did not leave his own body, but he attended the class 
 meetings and Love Feasts of the Methodists ; and his 4 expe- 
 rience' was of the richest type. 
 
 At this time also, Mr. Ouseley had to contend with great 
 difficulties, in consequence of what were called ' The Thrashers.' 
 They rose to a great head, and marauded the whole country at 
 night He says, ' The Thrashers have come upon my poor 
 mare, but they have only taken oft' her fore shoes, and the 
 hair off her tail. Thanks be to God for His care of us in this 
 troubled county, Sligo.' In another place he says, 1 The people 
 were afraid to receive me. My grieved soul complained to the 
 Lord against Satan, and next day a respectable Romanist cried 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 159 
 
 aloud, and prayed most vehemently ; and when I was arranging 
 for some stopping-places, he spoke out and said, " Come, sir, to 
 my house two days in the week, and welcome, indeed. I don't 
 care a straw for the priest; not I, indeed" I preached in a 
 day or two after, in a fair in the mountains, among the 
 Thrashers, and now they gave me thousands of blessings, and 
 warned the priest to let Ouseley alone any more.' 
 
 The Conference record, in its Address to the British Con- 
 ference at the close of this year (1806), in reference to the 
 results of this general mission work, is as follows : — 
 
 1 The joy you feel at the success of our missionaries, greatly encourages us 
 to persevere in this very arduous undertaking ; and we have the pleasure of 
 informing you, that three additional missionaries have been engaged in the 
 blessed work this year. To your kind exertions, and the generosity of the 
 good people of England (under God), thousands of souls in this country 
 are indebted for the light of the Gospel. May God reward you all a thousand- 
 fold. The Lord greatly owns the missionaries. May Almighty God still 
 uphold them, and prosper their way more and more.' 
 
 In the answer of the British Conference, we have the follow- 
 ing . — I i n the success of the missionaries, we greatly rejoice, 
 and congratulate you on the pleasing prospect which opens 
 before you. Our prayers shall not be wanting in your behalf, 
 that your labours in this blessed undertaking may abundantly 
 prosper. Even so, Lord Jesus. Amen.' 
 
 We must here refer to one or two circumstances of an 
 interesting character, which took place in connexion with 
 Mr. Ouseley about this time. They are recorded in his 
 Memorial, by Mr. Reilly. It appears that a Methodist class- 
 meeting was established by Mr. Ouseley in a dark part of the 
 County Clare, and that a leader was appointed to meet it who 
 had to come from a distance. Some of the Romanists hearing 
 that ' a new religion' was to be thus imported to the country, 
 resolved to destroy the house where the class was met Ac- 
 cordingly, having watched the leader's movements, this party 
 
160 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 followed him on a Sabbath morning, resolving to make short 
 work of this 1 new sect' They besieged the house, and sent 
 in the ringleader to watch the movements, and to give the 
 signal for their entrance at the proper time ; but, to the great 
 surprise of the gang outside, Pat did not reappear as soon as 
 they expected. They were utterly confused and disappointed. 
 ' The hymn was first given out and sung.' ' This is very purty" 
 — pretty — said Pat; 'I'll not disturb them yet' Prayer was 
 offered up. 1 1 '11 let them alone until they have done with 
 their prayers,' said he to himself The class began, and he 
 said to himself, ' I '11 hear what they have to say.' The leader 
 at length accosted the rude stranger thus : — ' My good man, 
 did you ever know yourself a sinner before God, and that you 
 deserved to be for ever excluded from His presence?' Pat 
 wept exceedingly, and cried out, ' Lord have mercy upon me ! 
 what shall I do? I'm a wicked sinner.' The whole meeting 
 joined in earnest prayer for him, and very soon Pat was 
 ' sitting at the feet of Jesus, quiet, and in his right mind 
 What wonders grace can do ! 
 
 1 1 knew him afterwards,' says Mr. Reilly, * as noble an 
 advocate for truth as he had been before a daring opposer.' 
 
 The banditti decamped with all speed, when they heard 
 Pat's cries, all of them exclaiming, 1 The devil is among the 
 Methodists.' It was surely 'the Lord's doing, and mar- 
 vellous in our eyes.' This was quite in character with the 
 account of the man in the County Wexford (of whom Dr. 
 Stephens writes), who concealed himself in a sack at a Methodist 
 meeting, that he might give a signal at a certain time to some 
 outside to enter, and scatter, if not injure, the congregation. 
 But the poor fellow- in the sack found the preaching too 
 powerful to lie quiet any longer, and at length he cried aloud 
 for mercy. Some thought the devil was in the sack, and were 
 afraid to go near it j but at length he was extricated, and came 
 forth, to the astonishment of all, a partaker of Gospel freedom. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. l6l 
 
 The house was pointed out to the writer last June, where this 
 occurred. How wonderful are the ways of the Lord, in thus 
 ' making the wrath of man to praise Him !' 
 
 The other circumstance in reference to Mr. Ouseley, about 
 this time, occurred in Granard. It appears that Mr. Ouseley 
 preached in the street, and that a person of the name of 
 Caulfield threw missiles at him — an exploit not forgotten there 
 yet — for which some persons gave Caulfield a severe chastise- 
 ment at the time. He summoned those parties, and Mr. Ouseley 
 summoned him. The cases were sent for trial. His bill was 
 thrown out, but Mr. Ouseley's was found. Caulfield was 
 found guilty, and sent to jail, while Mr. Ouseley came off 
 victorious, and was found preaching at five o'clock in the 
 morning, in the street, to a considerable number of labourers, 
 waiting to be employed, and then went into the chapel to 
 preach at six. 
 
 Mr. Lanktree remarks, * Often has my soul been roused by 
 the unquenchable zeal and abundant labours of these men of 
 God, the missionaries.' 
 
 Mr. Ouseley writes again to Mr. Lanktree from the County 
 Sligo. We give an extract : — 
 
 ' I know it will be gratifying to you and my friends to mention the most 
 striking occurrences. First, we are getting all the single people we can, 
 with the children, to commit the holy Scriptures. Secondly, the Lord 
 favours me in witnessing many conversions and lively meetings everywhere ; 
 many weeping, and many shouting the praises of God, and this in the midst 
 cf troublesome times. Hallelujah. In one place ten or twelve Romanists 
 joined the society, in spite of the curses of the priest, which he (the priest) 
 said, " will make the hair of your head to fall off, and no ointment when 
 dying." While I was preaching on false prophets, the Lord greatly blessed 
 it to two souls who found peace. One exclaimed, " O, the priest, the 
 priest ! why is he hindering us from all this comfort and sweetness ?" Next 
 day a large barn was filled, and it was M heaven on earth," ' 
 
 L 
 
XIV. 
 
 ' For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God 
 to the pulling down of strong holds.' — 2 Cor., x. 4. 
 
 ' Blessed be the Lord God of our Israel, praised be the Lord of our Zion ; 
 Jehovah hath gone forth with an host, and hath given us victory in the 
 battle. 
 
 He is our helper and defender, the Rock of our strength and our fortress. 
 He hath delivered us in trouble, and saved us from the wrath of our 
 enemies. 
 
 By Him have we overcome the proud, by Him have we escaped the 
 terrible ! 
 
 He gave us the shield of His salvation, and armed us with the spear of 
 victor\\ 
 
 He girded us with valour for the fight, and subdued the mighty under us. 
 We will thank Him among the nations ; His name will be exalted among 
 the heathen. 
 
 Blessed be the God of our Israel, praised be the Lord of our Zion ! ' 
 
 Martin Tup per. 
 
 1 The word "tribulation" is derived from the Latin word "tribuhimg* 
 that word signifying "the thrashing instrument," or roller, by which the 
 Romans separated the corn from the husks. But some Latin writer of the 
 Christian Church appropriated the word and image for the setting forth of a 
 higher truth, calling sorrows and griefs " tribulations," threshings, that is, 
 of the inner, spiritual man, without which there could be no fitting him for 
 the heavenly garner.' 
 
 Dean Trencie 
 
 * Let that sweet word our spirits cheer 
 Which quell'd the toss'd disciples' fear — 
 
 " Be not afraid." 
 He who could bid the tempest cease, 
 Can keep our souls in perfect peace, 
 
 If on Him stayU' 
 
 ♦ 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 MR. GRAHAM RETURNS TO CIRCUIT WORK. 
 
 1807 TO l8l2. 
 
 Mr. Graham returns to circuit work.— Labours on the Athlone 
 round.— Puts his papers into the hands of Mr. Roger Lamb. 
 — Appointed to Mallow in 1808. — Letter of Mr. Ouseley to 
 Mr. Lanktree. — Appointed second year to Mallow. — Second 
 letter of Mr. Ouseley. — Awful superstition. — Appointed 
 to Longford in 1810. — Conversion and happy death of the 
 Rev. Mr. Harrison, of Naas. — Hymn. — Four letters of Mr. 
 Graham to his son. — Appointed to Cavan in 181 i. — To 
 mountrath for 1812-1813. — death of his brother. — lord 
 Sidmouth's Bill. 
 
 T the Conference of this year Mr. Graham was ap- 
 pointed to the Athlone circuit, having now finished 
 seventeen years of hard labour ; and eight of these 
 on the general mission, which he loved so much. In all, 
 including from the time he became a local preacher, thirty- 
 six years. The Athlone circuit, or, as it was formerly called, 
 ' the Athlone round,' contained a tract of country now divided 
 into several circuits and missions. There is no record left of his 
 labours during this year. It is said he was requested by Con- 
 ference to place his papers in the hands of a Mr. Roger 
 Lamb, of Dublin, for revision, and that many of them were 
 thereby mislaid. The writer knew Mr. Lamb. He wrote a 
 history of the American war, having passed through it himself. 
 He was very talented and truly pious, somewhat like the late 
 
164 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 James Field, of Cork. The writer heard Mr. Lamb say to a 
 brother who had declined in religion, 'Come again, brother, "A 
 cracked bell can never be mended; it must be run over again.'" 
 Mr. Graham's next appointment was Mallow (1808), with 
 Mr. John Wilson, who died in 1813. The record of his 
 death (in part) is, ' a man of piety and genuine simplicity.' 
 This was the very circuit (Mallow) which was first formed by 
 Graham himself, in the year 1791, seventeen years before. 
 There can be no doubt but he must have had many pleasing 
 recollections of his first labours in that country. The circuit 
 had now 246 members in it. During the previous year the in- 
 crease in Ireland was nearly one thousand members. While Mr. 
 Graham was thus labouring in the South, Mr. Ouseley was work- 
 ing hard in the West. He writes to Mr. Lanktree thus : — 
 
 ' You inform me of three thousand souls being brought to God in one 
 American meeting. * Hallelujah! If my brethren would send me to the 
 P-^ast — where I hear there have been thousands of professing Christians dis- 
 covered, and uncorrupted by Popery — I would be willing to go and die 
 there. I saw a letter last week from brother Peacock, of the Milltown 
 circuit, saying that the Quarterly Meeting (Love Feast) in that town lasted 
 from Friday until the Tuesday following. The Lord's power was great. 
 Brother Tobias is all on fire in Coleraine. Good news from the mission- 
 aries. J. Hamilton and Bell are in those quarters. The North is giving up, 
 and the South is not keeping back. About one hundred have been added 
 in the Giant's Causeway.' 
 
 The increase this year was 1,300. The record of Conference 
 is ' our missionaries are still much owned of the Lord.' 
 
 1809. 
 
 Mr. Graham remains in Mallow this year also. Of his 
 labours I have no record. But during the year the mission- 
 aries seem to have been greatly acknowledged of God, although 
 labouring in some of the most destitute parts of the kingdom. 
 Mr. Ouseley writes, after a very severe illness, to Mr. Lanktree, 
 then stationed in Armagh : — 
 
 * See Appendix C. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 'I must contrast my circuit with yours. Yours is to range through 
 meadows fair, and fields productive of crops, to make the tiller's heart to 
 dance, while meandering cry stal streams and sweet fruits cluster all around 
 — such is yours ! But to have the huge rocks, hard as adamant, wild deserts, 
 where savage beasts seek their prey, and scarcely a green herb, or sprig, 
 or fruit is found — how dreary is the sight, when the poor traveller does 
 not know where to rest his weary head ! How dismal the contrast ; and 
 such is ours. And yet, glory to God, the solitary places are become glad, 
 and the desert is beginning to sing and blossom as the rose — friendship and 
 good will are beginning to appear. We have now twenty-four stopping- 
 places and about sixty members. Still I was greatly humbled lately, hi 
 beholding a sight such as I had never witnessed, near Gort, in the County 
 Galway, and that under the name of religion — men and women pro- 
 miscuously, in the most indecent and unbecoming manner, walking on 
 their bare knees over rough gravel and stones, and their hands clasped over 
 their heads, lest they should in their progress derive any assistance from them. 
 You could have traced their track by the blood that streamed, yea, that 
 flowed from their mangled knees. In another stage of the penance, some 
 were running round the extensive ruins (old buildings). Others descending 
 into a narrow cell called purgatory, not unlike that described in Lough 
 Derg. At a distance on the plain stood the stump of a large tree, which I 
 had been told, for the most part, was cut away piecemeal, as affording a 
 charm against every evil.' 
 
 Such are the frightful superstitions by which thousands in 
 our unhappy country are deluded. When Mr. Ouseley asked 
 the guide of the whole scene why was the tree so much cut 
 away, he said that the saint of the place, Macduagh, travelled 
 round the world on his knees until he came to that spot, where 
 there was a tree, and that there his girdle fell off— that the 
 tree received such virtue that a bit of it would preserve him 
 from sickness, from fire, and all accidents. ' Do, Sir,' said he 
 to Mr. Ouseley, 1 take a bit of it yourself ; it will keep you 
 from harm of every kind.' 
 
 ' Thank you,' said Mr. Ouseley, 1 1 shall not mind it now ■ 
 but where is the original tree ?' 
 
 ' It is all cut away, Sir, but the one that is there now is as 
 good. Do, Sir, take a piece.' But when Mr. Ouseley appeared 
 unyielding, he added, 'Ah, Sir, you are not Irish, but English.' 
 
i66 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Mr. Ouseley said he never was in England. 
 
 ' If not,' said the man, ' you surely belong to them, so you do.' 
 
 Mr. Ouseley departed with deep regret and indignation at 
 such a soul-destroying system, and with his sympathies of com- 
 passion more roused than ever. Let no one ever blame him 
 for having his hatred to it intensified to the extent it was when 
 he called it ' the dire apostacy." 1 
 
 At the Conference of this year, 1810, the missionaries were 
 increased to twelve, thus showing that the mission was 
 becoming more and more popular every year. Mr. Graham 
 who was the first who, in a special sense, assumed the 
 position of general missionary in the county of Kerry twenty 
 years before, is still content to fill the narrower sphere of a 
 circuit preacher. We find him now in Longford again, with the 
 Rev. George Stevenson as his colleague — a man of deep piety, 
 as gentle as a child, and a sound divine. Mr. Graham travelled 
 here in 1798. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Harrison, a clergyman of the Church of England, 
 at Naas, in the County Kildare, died this year, 1810. His con- 
 version was the fruit of the general mission in the year 1806, 
 through the instrumentality of the Rev. Messrs. Alcorn and Bell. 
 It is well recorded in the Irish Wesleyan Magazine for that year, 
 and still more minutely by the Rev. W. Reilly, in his brief but 
 admirable Memorial of Mr. Ouseley, thus — * In the autumn 
 of 1806, Messrs. Alcorn and Bell, as at other times, preached 
 in the streets of Naas. The Rev. Isaac. Harrison was among 
 the hearers. Mr. Harrison was a gentleman of accomplished 
 mind, and ranked among the most celebrated advocates of the 
 charitable institutions of the day. Mr. Alcorn preached from 
 Matthew ix. 37, 38, "The harvest truly is plenteous," &c. The 
 Word was accompanied by Divine power to the heart of Mr. 
 Harrison, and after the sermon he came forward and addressed 
 the preacher thus : — "I am a clergyman of the Church of England, 
 but, alas ! although a minister for twenty years, I have been one 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 167 
 
 of those idlers you have described in your sermon." Mr. Bell 
 then preached also, after which Mr. Harrison invited both of 
 them to his house, where they found a large party of ladies and 
 gentlemen engaged at the card-table. The missionaries were 
 introduced. The cards were soon removed, and the Bible was 
 laid on the table. Mr. Harrison requested Mr. Alcorn to sing 
 the hymn by which he had been so much affected on the street. 
 While doing so, every heart heaved with emotion; every cheek 
 was suffused with tears. He was requested to sing it again. He 
 . did so with equal, if not, with greater effect. Mr. Alcorn then 
 engaged in prayer, and on that occasion Mr. Harrison received 
 the indubitable witness of his acceptance with God — which he 
 never afterwards lost. The whole family became "heirs with 
 him of the grace of eternal life." The scene can be better 
 imagined than described. From that day his house became 
 "the house of prayer," and his motto was that of Joshua — "But 
 as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." — Joshua xxiv. 
 1 5. His whole parish soon felt the benefit of this delightful 
 change, but his career was short He caught fever in visiting 
 one of his parishioners, and died in the full triumph of faith.' 
 
 Shortly after his conversion he wrote to Mr. Alcorn. The 
 following is an extract from this letter : — 
 
 ' I reckon that a blessed day in which I met with you. It is a day that 
 always returns with additional pleasure and internal comfort to my soul. 
 Eternal thanks to God. O may I be the humble means of saving if but one 
 soul, from the pains of eternal death. We should unremittingly " pray the 
 Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.'" 
 
 A few days after his death his son and successor, the Rev. John 
 Harrison wrote to Mr. Alcorn, in which communication he says: — 
 
 'The public papers must have announced to you the decease of one who 
 was your son in the Gospel, my dear father. He was brought from death 
 to spiritual life, so that God was his Father by the Spirit, and Jesus his full 
 Saviour. The love of Christ which was shed abroad in his heart made him 
 happy in death, and it did cast out fear. The Sabbath meetings shall not 
 be forgotten.' 
 
i68 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 He here refers to those meetings established by his father from 
 the time of his conversion, and conducted in a room belonging 
 to the diocesan school, to the great edification and delight of 
 many. The present writer may here remark that he called on 
 the Rev. Mr. Harrison, jun., in Naas, about thirty years after 
 the death of his father, and found him a well-disposed, and 
 much-respected clergyman. He conversed freely about his vene- 
 rated parent, and inquired for many of the missionaries whom 
 he knew in early life. He also died soon after. The writer 
 may state that at that time (1838) he took the street in Naas, 
 and preached, and the Lord soon raised up a considerable 
 cause, which flourished for a season, until the famine came, and 
 drove our principal friends to America and elsewhere. I trust it 
 will soon revive again. The following is the hymn which was 
 sung by Mr. Alcorn, and which first attracted Mr. Harrison, when 
 walking carelessly along the street with some other gentleman — 
 
 ' From Salem's gate, advancing slow, 
 
 What object meets my eyes? 
 What means this majesty of woe? 
 What mean those mingled cries? 
 
 Who can it be? Who groans beneath 
 
 That ponderous cross of wood? 
 Whose soul's o'erwhelm'd in fears of death; 
 
 Whose body's bathed in blood. 
 
 Is this the Man? Can this be He 
 
 The prophets have foretold? — 
 Should with transgressors numbered be, 
 
 And for my crimes be sold ? 
 
 0 lovely sight! O heavenly form, 
 For sinful souls to see ! 
 
 I'll creep beside Him as a worm, 
 And see Him die for me. 
 
 1 '11 view His wounds and hear His groans, 
 
 Until, with happy John, 
 I on His breast a place may find 
 To lean my head upon. ' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 169 
 
 We find Mr. Graham stationed in the year 181 1 on the 
 Cavan circuit, with Mr. Gustavus Armstrong, of whom honour- 
 able mention is made by the Conference thus : — ' A man of 
 great integrity and truth; a sincere and unalterable friend: and 
 it was rarely known that, in the long space of more than forty 
 years as an itinerant preacher, he ever quitted a circuit without 
 leaving it better than he found it. When asked, "Are you 
 afraid to die?" he answered, "No. blessed be God, I am not.'" 
 During this year we have three or four letters from Mr. Graham 
 to his son, extracts from which will show that the fire of hea- 
 venly love and zeal still continued to burn in his breast with 
 unabated ardour. The first is dated — 
 
 ' Belturbet, July 28, 181 1 {Cavan Circuit). 
 ' My dear Charles, — I trust I shall spend my time to some profit 
 among this people. Many rejoice to see me again, as I laboured a good 
 deal among them when a missionary, and the fruits of our labours still 
 remain. I had a blessed Sabbath morning in this town yesterday. Here 
 we have a very respectable society. The judgments of the Lord are a great 
 deep. [He refers to family affliction.] We may strive to fathom them, but 
 strive in vain. It is only eternity which will fully reveal them to His 
 children; but at the worst of times they are mingled with mercy; and who 
 more favoured than I have been through all the changing scenes of life ! I 
 have clearly seen His hand conducting and preserving me. — Your ever 
 affectionate father, 
 
 ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 The next letter of those to which we referred is dated — 
 
 'Brookboro', October 4, 181 1. 
 1 My dear Charles, — I am on the Brookborough circuit begging money 
 for a preaching-house in Belturbet,* and I have to travel through the Clones 
 and Monaghan circuits ; and you will think that by this time my face wili 
 be pretty well hardened at the work. Oh, that God may help me to do 
 eveiy work to His own glory. — I am, as ever, your affectionate father, 
 
 1 Charles Graham.' 
 
 * The Conference note is — ' Brothers G. Armstrong and Graham are to 
 raise subscriptions on the Clones, Monaghan, Brookboro', and Cavan circuits, 
 for the Belturbet preaching-house.' — (Minutes, vol. i., 181 1, page 264.) 
 
THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Another letter reads thus : — 
 
 ' Thank God, we have nothing to complain of with respect to health and 
 peace ; and as to the other blessings of this life, we know no want. The 
 Lord has hitherto helped us, and He will help; "for He is good, and His 
 mercy endureth for ever." I hope you feel it your duty and interest to give 
 yourself unreservedly to Him. Till then there can be no real peace or 
 happiness in this world. I pray the Lord of His great mercy not to leave 
 one belonging to me behind. Blessed be the Most High, this circuit 
 promises well this year. I trust we shall have some fruit of our labour. 
 Oh, that He may bless us, and all that labour in the Word. Although I 
 write but seldom, I pray often for you. 
 
 ' I am your affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 The next communication is more important, from the same 
 circuit : — 
 
 1 The Lord has blessed our labours in some degree since we came to this 
 circuit ; not a few convinced and converted. Blessed be the Lord, this will 
 more than recompense for all our toil. It is a pleasure to labour among a 
 people who receive the Word, and bring forth the fruits of it. 
 
 M 'Tis worth living for this, 
 To administer bliss 
 And salvation in Jesus's name." 
 
 May He grant unto me that my life and latest breath may be spent in His 
 service. I see more and more the necessity of being a Christian, "not in 
 word only, but in deed and in truth;" and if I had my life to live over 
 again, I think I should live more to purpose than I have done. But I can 
 only now lament my failings and shortcomings before the Lord, and be 
 deeply humbled as in the dust before Him. I daily see what need a Chris- 
 tian has of watchfulness and prayer, who acts under the inspection of that 
 God who knoweth all the thoughts and weigheth the intentions; but I can 
 only say, "God be merciful to me, a sinner," and grant that as I am 
 drawing nearer to my final end, I may have clearer views of the "inhe- 
 ritance of the saints in light." 
 
 ' I am, as ever, your affectionate father, 
 
 ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 What little boasting is here ! What humbling views had 
 this great, and holy, and useful man of himself, even to the 
 end I A short time previous to the above he wrote : — ' The 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 Lord gave me a long time of trial. May He grant that my last 
 days may be my best, and keep me from sin, and all will end 
 well.' 
 
 At the Conference of the year 1812, Mr. Graham was 
 appointed the superintendent of the Mountrath circuit, with 
 Messrs. Averell and Lougheed as his colleagues. Mr. Averell 
 was generally supposed to have liberty to visit various parts of 
 the kingdom, and his appointment to Mountrath was, no doubt, 
 likewise in consideration of his having property close by, and 
 its being his native place. During this year Mr. Graham's 
 eldest brother, who lived near Sligo, died very suddenly ; to 
 which event he very appropriately refers in the following letter 
 to his son in Dublin : — 
 
 1 My dear Charles, — I had a letter from my nephew, James Graham, 
 letting me know that his father departed this life on the 16th of February. 
 He came home quite well from the market of Sligo, and in a moment after 
 he dined, he got a stroke, which left him half dead. He lingered a few days, 
 and then finished his course, but left a testimony behind him of his accept- 
 ance with God. Glory to God, it is no vain thing to serve Him. My dear, 
 honest brother strove to serve the Lord for forty years. He supported His 
 cause and His messengers ; and now his work is with the Lord, and his 
 reward with his God. 
 
 1 " Oh, what are all my sufferings here, 
 
 If, Lord, Thou count me meet 
 With that enraptur'd host t' appear, 
 
 And worship at Thy feet? 
 Give life or death, give ease or pain, 
 
 Take life or friends away, 
 I come to find them all again, 
 
 In that eternal day." 
 
 ' " Who next shall be summoned away? My merciful God, is it I ?" 
 
 ' This is truly a loud call to me to be ready. O God, make me faithful 
 unto death, that I may attain the crown of life. 
 
 'C. Graham.' 
 
 Mr. Lanktree states that this was a most important year to 
 the Methodist Connexion, as in it Lord Sidmouth's bill was 
 
172 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 overthrown. It appears it would have operated most inju- 
 riously in relation to the whole economy of Methodism, 
 especially towards its itineracy. Mr. Butterworth, a member 
 of our society in London, and a member of Parliament that 
 year, laboured most indefatigably to upset it. The united 
 prayers of the Methodists of the United Kingdom went up 
 to heaven, and the victory was gloriously triumphant Mr. 
 Butterworth accompanied Dr. Clarke to the Irish Conference, 
 and greatly cheered our brethren, who were suffering from an 
 accumulating debt on the Connexion, and frequently had to tax 
 themselves. In reference to the above bill, Mr. Lanktree 
 observes further : — ' How little God's people are aware how 
 many enemies may be privately contriving their ruin, and as 
 little as to the instruments He employs to effect their deliver- 
 ance. But while we abide in Jehovah's counsel, and rely on 
 His promise, "no weapon formed against them shall prosper, 
 and every tongue that rises against them in judgment shall be 
 condemned.'" These observations are very suitable to the 
 present times in 1868. 
 
 At the close of this year it appears Mr. Lanktree exchanged 
 with Mr. Finley, in order to visit Innishowen, and on his 
 return remarks — ' This is one of the farthest places in Ireland 
 from real religion. First, it abounds with Popery ; second, the 
 Church (Episcopalians) and Meeting people (Presbyterians) 
 are also ignorant and bigoted ; third, the people are generally- 
 drunken and slothful ; fourth, they have short leases and 
 rack-rents, to be paid by illicit distillation; and lastly, they 
 have no regard for preachers, less desire for heaven, unless it 
 could be procured by smuggling. And yet even here there are 
 witnesses for Jesus. One young woman's deep experience 
 surprised me. She spoke with a glow of sacred eloquence 
 which could not easily be equalled.' 
 
XV. 
 
 1 MANY ARE THE AFFLICTION'S OF THE RIGHTEOUS.' 
 
 ' Home in prospect still can cheer me, 
 Yes, and give me sweet repose, 
 While I feel His presence near me ; 
 For "my Father knows." 
 
 Yes, He comes and knows me daily, 
 
 Watches over me in love ; 
 Sends me help when foes assail me ; 
 
 Bids me look above. 
 
 Soon my journey will be ended, 
 
 Life is drawing to a close ; 
 I shall then be well attended : 
 
 This " my Father knows." 
 
 I shall then with joy behold Him, 
 
 Face to face my Father see ; 
 Fall with rapture, and adore Him, 
 
 For His love to me. 
 
 Nothing more shall then distress me 
 
 In the land of sweet repose ; 
 Jesus stands engaged to bless me : 
 
 This " my Father knows." ' 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 DIVISION ANTICIPATED. 
 
 Dr. Coke's last visit to Ireland.— obtains two missionaries for 
 Ceylon. — Cox, the American missionary. — Elliott. — Lines on 
 Dr. Coke's death. — Mr. Graham's letter to his son. — Mr. 
 Ouseley's sermon in Limerick. — Mr. Graham's appointment 
 to Newtown darry. — The Rev. John Hadden. — Letter. — In- 
 crease of missionaries. — Mr. Ouseley's appeal to go to 
 India — Refusal. — Mr. Noble's conversion. — Visit to Wick- 
 low. — Mr. Reilly's letter. — Marvellous conversions. — Mr. 
 Graham's second year's appointment. — Letter of a Roman 
 Catholic convert. — The Rev. Mr. Blanshard's letter to 
 Mr. Graham. — Asked to go to India. — Refuses. — The Rev. 
 John M 'Kenny's appointment. — Discussion on the sacra- 
 ments. 
 
 IUR annual Conferences,' says Mr. Lanktree, 'have 
 been advancing in interest for many years past ; but 
 I that of 1 8 13 was distinguished by extraordinary 
 
 evidences of the presence and blessing of our living Head. 
 Doctor Coke was our President. This was his twenty-fifth visit 
 to Ireland ! He has been long our attached, faithful, and inde- 
 fatigable friend and servant for Christ's sake. His heart was 
 set on a mission to the East, and to begin in Ceylon. He 
 asked in the Conference, " which of the brethren would come 
 forward and engage in the mighty enterprise?" Two of our 
 excellent and beloved brethren, Messrs. Lynch and Erskine, 
 offered themselves at once to accompany the doctor. The 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 175 
 
 doctor wrote to a friend thus : — " I am now dead to Europe, 
 and alive for India. God has said to me, 'Go to Ceylon,' 
 and so fully convinced am I it is the will of God, that methinks 
 I would rather be set naked on the island of Ceylon, without 
 clothes and without a friend, than not go there." The last 
 words he said to me were, " Brother Lanktree, farewell. Re- 
 member the missions. Form missionary societies.'" 
 
 The self-sacrificing spirit of this great-souled man of God 
 reminds one of what Mr. Cox, an American missionary, who 
 was appointed to Africa, said to a fellow-student — ' If I die in 
 Africa, you must come after me and write my epitaph.' 'I 
 will,' said the student; 'but what shall I write.' 'Let a 
 thousand missionaries die before Africa is given up,' was the 
 reply ; and in this spirit he died. Elliott, ' the apostle of the 
 Indians,' said, ' prayers and pains through faith in Christ Jesus 
 will do anything ;' and on the day of his death, and in his 
 eightieth year, he was found teaching the alphabet to an Indian 
 child at his bed-side, and said to a friend, ' As I can no longer 
 preach, the Lord gives me strength enough to teach this poor 
 child his alphabet' 
 
 The following lines, written on Dr. Coke's death, may be 
 very appropriately introduced here : — 
 
 ' Immortal Coke has reached the highest heaven ; 
 The radiant robe, the starry crown is given 
 By his approving Lord, while heaven resounds 
 With silver lyres and sweet seraphic sounds. 
 Those toils, those trials, which he patient bore, 
 By angel voice are now recounted o'er, 
 While souls, which crown'd his labours, quick advance, 
 And cast on Coke the fond, endearing glance. ' 
 
 He died on his way to India, and like another Moses, called 
 to ascend, not an earthly Pisgah, but the mount of vision and 
 of faith, to view the Indian landscape o'er, and then, like him, 
 his happy spirit was kissed away beyond the swelling flood. An 
 
i 7 6 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 ocean grave well became him — a fit emblem of his world-wide 
 purposes that every shore might be visited by the blessings of 
 his high commission, and that every wave should be regarded 
 as sounding his requiem until 'the sea shall deliver up its 
 dead.' 
 
 Of the results of the Irish missionary operations this year, 
 the Conference remarks — ' Viewing the Irish missions as bear- 
 ing on the navy and the military, we consider them as objects 
 of primary importance, and we are confident that if they be not 
 supported by the usual means, a most serious evil must befal 
 this country.' The reply of the British Conference is of equal 
 importance. 'The Irish missions, since their first commence- 
 ment, have lain very near to our hearts. The introduction and 
 spread of vital religion among the Catholics of Ireland is of the 
 first importance to the British Empire, and we shall be happy 
 at all times to promote it as far as our finances will admit.' 
 
 There were eleven men appointed last year, but this year 
 only nine. The increase in the Methodist Society in Ireland 
 was about 1,000. Mr. Graham was appointed* for the second 
 year — 1813 — to the Mountrath circuit, and had Mr. Gustavus 
 Armstrong, with whom he travelled the Cavan circuit a few 
 years before, as his colleague. An extract of a letter from Mr. 
 Graham to his son will show how the good work of God still 
 prospered in his hand. It is dated from Mountmellick, being 
 part of this circuit. 
 
 ' Mountmellick, May 24, 181 3. 
 ' My Dear Charles, — This has been a good year on this circuit; the 
 Lord has blessed the work abundantly. There are many brought in and 
 convinced, and converted to God. He works, and none can hinder ; and 
 He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. — Your affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 About this time Mr. Ouseley preached a most solemn and 
 instructive sermon in Limerick barracks, and had a large por- 
 tion of the Sligo militia to hear him, then stationed there. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 177 
 
 The Rev. Wm. Ferguson, who was present, gave the following 
 outline of it to Mr. Reilly, who records it : — ' The text was 
 Prov. xxii. 3, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth 
 himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished." The 
 place and circumstances were peculiarly striking to the subject. 
 The Shannon flowed under the window of the room in which 
 he was preaching. He first described the prudent man; 
 secondly, where he hideth himself; thirdly, the character of 
 the simple, and their punishment. The latter (the simple) he 
 described as a man without the knowledge of God, and a 
 stranger to the wisdom from above. He may (said he) be 
 very acute in transacting the business of life, an able statesman, 
 a profound philosopher, an eminent artist, or a distinguished 
 scholar; but he lives according to the course of this world, 
 and dies unconverted. Then his punishment — the place, the 
 company, the duration. In reference to the last particular — 
 the duration — he observed, taking advantage of the Shannon 
 flowing underneath — " If you were to count a thousand years 
 for every drop of water that ever flowed in that Shannon, from 
 Drumshambo (a small town in the County Leitrim, near the 
 mouth of that river, more than one hundred miles off), to the 
 sea, it would be but a 'point, when compared with that eternity 
 through which the simple will have to endure the wrath of 
 God. " ' Mr. Ferguson added, ' It made an impression on my 
 mind that can never be effaced — the mighty river flowing on 
 in a continuous current, and had flowed on for near six thou- 
 sand years, and flowing still S What an emblem of eternity!' 
 exclaimed Mr. F. to himself. 
 
 Mr. Graham was appointed this year (18 14) to Newtownbarry 
 as superintendent, and Mr. John Hadden for his colleague ; of 
 whom the following record is found in the death roll for the 
 year 1843: — £ As a Christian, his piety was uniform; as a 
 friend, he was truly affectionate ; as a colleague and superin- 
 tendent, his worth was only known to those with whom he 
 
 M 
 
i?3 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 travelled; and as a preacher he was instructive and per- 
 suasive.' 
 
 Mr. Graham writes in the September of this year to his son. 
 The following extract from it will instruct us as to the state of 
 the circuit and his prospects for the year : — 
 
 ' Newtownearry, Sept. 26, 1814. 
 ' My dear Charles, — We are well, blessed be God for all His mercies. 
 I have been twice round my circuit. I like it well. We are likely to hare some 
 good done this year. Our congregations are increased, and our meetings 
 lively. I am after holding three Quarterly Meetings (Love Feasts), where 
 we had much of the presence and power of God, and I trust much good was 
 done. If the Lord spare me to finish this year, I shall be grateful. He 
 has done great things for me, for which I feel thankful. May the little 
 time I have be unreservedly given up to Him. It is short and uncertain. 
 May the Father of mercies bless and keep you. So prays your affectionate 
 father, ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 The Hibernian Methodist Missionary Society was formed 
 this year, and an interesting report of the speeches delivered 
 on that occasion was recently published under the direction of 
 the Rev. Wm. Crook, D.D. It deserves general circulation. 
 The Address of the Irish Methodist Conference to the British 
 Conference of this year is one from which I cannot resist the 
 desire to introduce the following extract : — 
 
 1 The unity of the members of Christ's Church is its glory and its strength 
 — the fellowship of one common system of uncorrupted doctrine, and of a 
 discipline which is according to godliness. We do unfeignedly congratulate 
 you on the success of the glorious Gospel of God our Saviour amongst you. 
 We deplore with deep humility that our enlargement is not proportionate 
 to yours. We appointed a committee to trace the causes and the directions 
 suggested, respecting the necessary ministerial qualifications, the more 
 faithful application of discipline, and above all, the habitual sense of the 
 presence of an indwelling God, so necessary to render our preaching effec- 
 tual, were accompanied with such overwhelming manifestations of Divine 
 light, consolation, and power, as Ave never before experienced in our 
 Conference. We contemplate with joy the future glory of the East, where 
 " the Sun of Righteousness first arose with healings in His wings" (alluding 
 to the mission under Dr. Coke) ; and we rejoice to contribute to the means 
 of its establishment. These are momentous and eventful times.' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 179 
 
 At this Conference — 1814 — we find no less than thirteen 
 missionaries told off for the Irish mission, — all men of note. 
 Before Dr. Coke left the Conference last year, Mr. Ouseley 
 offered himself for the East Indies, and entreated the Con- 
 ference, with tears, to let him go with the doctor; but the 
 Conference interposed, one brother stating, ' Mr. Ouseley 
 cannot be spared; he has not yet fulfilled his mission in his 
 native country.' The doctor pleaded hard, and assigned many 
 reasons ; but the Conference was inflexible, and, as the future 
 proved, it was wisely directed in its decision. His place on 
 the Irish mission could not be supplied. He was appointed 
 that year to the Counties of Antrim and Deny, where he con- 
 tinued for six years, and his labours there will only be fully 
 known in 'the day of the Lord Jesus.' His memory is still as 
 balm to many a grateful heart. Many young men were raised 
 up, who became useful preachers of the Gospel, and several of 
 them men of great power. Mr. Arthur Noble was among the 
 fruits of the early labours of Graham and Ouseley. Mr. Reilly 
 remarks — 'Messrs. Graham and Ouseley, with their Bibles in 
 their hands, and with their black caps on, rode into the town 
 of Fintona, and opened their great commission to surrounding 
 multitudes. Mr. Ouseley's text was Rev. vi. 17 — "For the 
 great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to 
 stand?" At the conclusion he vehemently cried out, "O 
 Fintona, Fintona ! remember that a man sitting on his horse 
 in the street warned you to prepare to meet your God. You 
 will recall this day to mind, in the great day, which I have been 
 describing to you." Young Noble was convinced, and soon 
 after savingly converted to God, and became the travelling 
 companion of Mr. Ouseley on the Irish mission for some 
 years.' 
 
 Their united labours were crowned with marvellous results. 
 Mr. Reilly mentions, in a letter to Mr. Ouseley, written from 
 Wicklow, after one of his visits, accompanied by Mr. Noble, 
 
l8o THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 just referred to, that — ' The most extraordinary conversions, 
 which I have ever seen or heard of, have taken place. Some 
 very respectable, some abandoned, one atheist, some most sin- 
 gular persecutors, have all been converted to God ; and some 
 of our own old members have been sanctified. Jehovah smiles 
 on all the land, and the wilderness and solitary places are 
 glad, and the deserts rejoice and blossom as the rose. One 
 would almost imagine that the day of Ireland's moral and 
 spiritual regeneration had arrived, and that the brightest antici- 
 pations of prophecy were about to be fulfilled.' 
 Oh ! the power of simply preaching Christ and Him crucified ! 
 
 ' Where'er I go, I'll tell the story 
 
 Of the cross, of the cross ; 
 In nothing else my soul shall glory, 
 
 Save the cross, save the cross. 
 Yes, this my constant theme shall be, 
 
 Through time and through eternity, 
 That Jesus tasted death for me 
 
 On the cross, on the cross.' 
 
 Mr. Graham was appointed in 1815 to superintend the New- 
 townbarry circuit again, with Mr. Hadden for his colleague. 
 The following is an extract of a letter from a local preacher, 
 who had been a member of the Church of Rome, when he first 
 heard Mr. Graham : — 
 
 ' Dear Sir, — I hope you will bear me on your mind before a throne of 
 grace. I am a weak vessel to be called, in any wise to proclaim the un- 
 searchable riches of Christ. The little society feel much for your separa- 
 tion from them. They still continue faithful. I have great hope that much 
 good will be done this year, and that Satan's kingdom shall meet a mighty 
 overthrow, and that the enemies of the Lord will be much scattered. 
 Adieu, till the archangel's trump shall summon our sleeping dust to the 
 solemn day of decision! — 
 
 ' ' ' Oh, that each in the day of His coming may say, 
 I have fought my way through ; 
 I have finished the work Thou didst give me to do.'" 
 
 S^o prays your affectionate son in the Gospel. ' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. l8l 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Blanshard, of London, wrote to Mr. Graham 
 on the subject of superintending the great mission work just 
 commenced in Ceylon. We give an extract : — 
 
 ' 14 City Road, London, June 15, 1815. 
 
 ' Dear Brother, — The Missionary Committee have directed me to state 
 to you the following particulars, to which we earnestly beg your serious 
 attention. We want first, a brother of years and respectability in the work, 
 to go to Ceylon as superintendent of that wide and important circuit. 
 Secondly, we want four or five young men, who, if they have travelled a 
 year or two, will be the more acceptable as helpers in the great work. We 
 beg that you will take this into your serious consideration, and if you feel 
 inclined to offer your service for that work yourself, please let us know as 
 soon as you can. May the merciful God have mercy upon all pagans and 
 idolators, and that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Metho- 
 dists, and be made one fold under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. — 
 Yours, &c, 
 
 'Thomas Blanshard.' 
 
 Mr. Graham declined the offer, for, besides a consciousness of 
 unfitness for the position, he was then in the sixty-fifth year 
 of his age. The Rev. John M 'Kenny, from Ireland, was 
 shortly afterwards appointed to Ceylon, as a young man. He 
 returned to Ireland after many years, and was received into 
 ■ full connexion,' as our ordination was then called, with the 
 writer at the Belfast Conference, in the year 1835; he had 
 previously no opportunity of being publicly set apart to our 
 ministry. 
 
 In the Address of the Irish to the English Conference this year, 
 181 5, reference to the Irish mission is thus made : — 'The Irish 
 mission still continues to bless our land. Several Roman Catho- 
 lics have, during the year, turned to the Lord, and of the careless 
 Protestants not a few.' The answer supplies us with the fol- 
 lowing : — ' Heaven has cast a smile on all our missionary 
 labour.' 
 
 Many petitions were presented at this year's Conference in 
 favour of the administration of the ordinances in our own 
 
182 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 chapels. The subject was discussed at large, and the votes 
 taken. These were in favour of the measure. It afterwards 
 was considered best to postpone their administration for another 
 year, which was adopted. The Rev. Adam Averell, an ordained 
 minister of the Established Church, labouring as a Methodist 
 preacher, was, however, appointed to administer them, whenever 
 invited to do so, dit?'i?ig the year. 
 
XVI. 
 
 ' Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows. ' 
 
 ' JESUS ONLY.' 
 
 ' He comes to break oppression, 
 
 To let the captive free, 
 To take away transgression, 
 
 And reign in equity; 
 To give them songs for sighing, 
 
 Their darkness turn to light ; 
 Whose souls, in misery dying, 
 
 Were precious in His sight. 
 
 Before Him, on the mountains, 
 
 Shall peace, the herald, go ; 
 And righteousness, in fountains, 
 
 From hill to valley flow. 
 For He shall have dominion 
 
 O'er river, sea, and shore, 
 Far as the eagle's pinion, 
 
 Or dove's light wing can soar. 
 
 The mountain dews shall nourish 
 
 A seed in weakness sown, 
 Whose fruit shall spread and flourish, 
 
 And shake like Lebanon. 
 The tide of time shall never 
 
 His covenant remove ; 
 His name shall stand for ever, 
 
 His name — What is it ? Love ! ' 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 FAMILY AFFLICTION — CONVERSION OF HIS SON. 
 
 Mr. Graham's third appointment to Newtown barry. — His 
 brother's death. — Letter to his son on the subject. — 
 Serious accident, narrow escape. — Letter describing it. — 
 Great agitation on the subject of the sacraments. — 
 Author's wish for its renewed settlement, and union of 
 both bodies. — The Rev. W. Hamilton'siiappy death. — Letter 
 from Rev. S. Wood. — Mr. Graham's appointment to Carlow. 
 Letter to his son. — Letter of the Rev. F. Tackaberry, his 
 son in the Gospel. — Letter of Rev. C. Mayne. — Rev. James 
 Rutledge. — His letter. — His trials and marvellous deliver- 
 ance in the army. — Lord Cornwallis. — Mr. Rutledge's 
 deliverance. — The conversion of young Mr. Graham in 
 Dublin. — His father's joy. 
 
 R. GRAHAM returned, in 1816, for the third year 
 to superintend the Newtownbarry circuit. In the 
 spring of this year he received an account of the 
 death of his other brother. He was greatly affected by this 
 event also, as he was before by the sudden removal of his 
 eldest brother four years previously. An extract from a letter 
 to his son will best describe this sanctified affliction : — 
 
 'Gorey, May 6, 18 16. 
 ' My dear Charles, — Your uncle James is dead. This, with the 
 former news, has brought me low. I am left alone. O Lord, be my 
 helper, and help me to be ready for the next call. I feel my spirits much 
 depressed. My brothers loved me dearly. I shall see them no more until 
 I arrive in that eternal world to which they are fled. I hope they made 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 185 
 
 their escape from the evils of this world, and are gone to rest. Time is 
 short ; we shall soon meet again. Oh ! that it may be with yonder throng 
 who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the 
 Lamb. What is life, and what is the world and all it contains, when com- 
 pared to an assurance of that rest that remains for the people of God ? My 
 dear Charles, lose no time in closing in with your Maker. You seem as if 
 bowed down with a spirit of infirmity. Oh ! may the Lord loose you, and 
 let you go, as you ought to go, and serve Him. — I am your affectionate 
 father, 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 At the end of this year he met with a very serious accident. 
 He fell off his horse, or rather his horse fell and rolled over 
 him, cutting and bruising his leg most seriously. He was 
 brought home with difficulty, and lay under it for ten days. 
 He says, in describing the scene to his son : — 
 
 ' Blessed be the Lord, it happened near home. No bone was broken. 
 Perhaps by this I escaped some greater evil. I am safely housed, and 
 happy in my mind. Glory to the Lord, I had not one unhappy moment 
 since it happened to the present. I can say, "It is good to be here" and 
 to be in His hands. He has said, " All things shall work together for good 
 to them that love God." I have long proved His faithfulness, and I trust I 
 shall prove it more and more in my old age. Oh, what an awful thing to 
 live one moment without His favour, for "in the midst of life we are in 
 death." The Saviour's mandate is, " Be ye also ready." Lord, make me 
 holy in heart and life, and in all manner of conversation. Here we have 
 no abiding city ; this- earth is not my place. May I cast my whole care, 
 living and dying, upon Him who careth for me. — I am, as ever, your 
 affectionate father, 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 This was the great controversial year in the Methodist 
 societies in Ireland, on the subject of sacramental administra- 
 tion in our own chapels. Mr. Graham seems to have acted 
 very moderately during the whole affair. Indeed, in the County 
 Wexford they were nearly all in favour of the measure, but he 
 humorously remarked, that ' the poor stewards and leaders 
 found it difficult to release all the circulars and letters, as 
 postage was very high at that time.' Surely, one might imagine 
 that now, at the end of fifty-two years of Methodist history since 
 then, the subject might be very gravely and prayerfully con- 
 
i86 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 sidered again, and we would add, may it be speedily, and 
 satisfactorily, and for ever settled. The signs of the times 
 demand it. Charles Wesley prayed thus for a similar object — 
 
 ' But wilt Thou not at last appear? 
 
 Into Thine hands this matter take ; 
 We look for no protection here, 
 
 But Thee alone our refuge make. 
 To Thee, O righteous Judge, appeal, 
 And wait thine acceptable will. ' 
 
 During this year the missionaries prosecuted their perilous 
 duties with great ardour and success amidst great discourage- 
 ments. One of the honoured band broke down under the 
 weight of numerous but gloriously successful toils, namely, the 
 Rev. William Hamilton, the companion of Ouseley for some 
 years. He was compelled to retire, and died triumphantly on 
 the 8th of October 1843. Some of his last expressions were, 
 ' If I could shout, so that the world might hear, I would tell of 
 the goodness and love of God my Saviour. Not a cloud ! not 
 a cloud! victory over death! The sting is taken away! glory, 
 glory to God.' 
 
 But while one and another of the standard-bearers thus fell 
 now and again ; there were always those around who rushed 
 forward to lift the falling banner, and baptized unto the dead, 
 cried again, 'Behold, behold the Lamb.' The Conference 
 record is : — 
 
 ' While we rejoice in the success of missionary exertions abroad, it is still 
 further ground of gratitude that our own Irish missionaries have been blest 
 in their labours at home. In the course of last year new ground has been 
 broken up, the Word of God widely distributed, many sinners awakened, 
 and some, who were the ripe fruit of the mission, have escaped away to the 
 mansions of light. In one sense we are all missionaries ; and our prayer is, 
 that we may possess more of the true missionary spirit, and that the king- 
 dom of Christ may spread till the whole earth is filled with his glory. 
 
 'Samuel Wood, Secretary.'' 
 
 Mr. Graham was removed this year to superintend the Carlow 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 187 
 
 circuit, with Mr. Archibald Campbell as his colleague. Shortly 
 after the Conference he wrote to his son. The following 
 is an extract from the letter: — 
 
 'Carlow, October ^th, 18 17. 
 'My dear Charles, — I received your letter, which has given me great 
 comfort to find that you have joined the people of God at last. Blessed be 
 the Lord for all His mercies. There is a young lad* near Athy, who was a 
 rigid Roman Catholic. He left the mass since I came to this circuit, and is 
 now converted. He is from the County Sligo. I have some hope that he 
 will become a preacher. He is a young man of fine abilities, can read, and 
 write, and speak the Irish. I hope if the Lord call him out, he will be 
 useful to that class (Romanists). May the Lord raise up some who will 
 show them the light, for they are in a deplorable state, and few care for 
 their souls. I am often led to think I should again take the streets ; but 
 having a circuit to attend, I know I would not be adequate to standing 
 out. The weary wheels will soon stand still : oh, that I may be prepared to 
 give up my accounts. What is life ? 
 
 ' Your ever affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 Mr. Graham was also cheered this year by the receipt of an 
 interesting letter from Mr. Fossey Tackaberry. I will intro- 
 duce an extract from this also, which will, I am sure, be read 
 with great pleasure. 
 
 'Tomagaddy, Dec. \$th, 1 81 7. 
 'My dear and never-to-be-forgotten Father and Friend, — I 
 received your welcome letter, which I have read many a time, and many a 
 time I have longed to see you, even for one hour. How much I needed 
 your conversation, I did not know until you were gone. Mr. Douglas is 
 worthy the character you gave of him in your letter. He is an honest man 
 and useful especially in discipline. But I never could feel free to open my 
 mind to any preacher since I saw you. When I think of the way I used to 
 speak to you, and how little afraid of you I was, I wonder ; and, never 
 did I need your advice more than since you left. But, thanks to my loving 
 Lord I was' never so happy as I have been for some time past — never such 
 access to God — such close union and communion with Him ; nor yet felt I 
 my own weakness and helplessness as now. Without Christ I can do 
 nothing. Temptations have driven me closer to the Lord, and led me to 
 cast my care upon Him who is able to save. Still I long to see you, I 
 
 Afterwards the Rev. John Feely, of whom more again. 
 
1 88 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 would willingly go every foot to Carlow to spend one night with you. Our 
 people here are doing well. Many in our class are increasing in holiness, 
 especially the young men. They are also increasing in zeal, activity, and 
 usefulness. A few have been put out of the class at Ballycanew, but we 
 have gotten five or six ornaments in their stead. The members of our class 
 are really a wonder to us, they have made such progress in the Divine life. 
 There is an increase and earnestness in a class, which I asked you if I would 
 give up. Ten young men of us meet once a week in band, to watch over 
 each other in the Lord, and our souls have been wonderfully strengthened, 
 comforted, and knit together ; and thanks to the Most High that while Zion 
 is torn in other places, we are determined to follow after holiness. Re- 
 member me to dear Mrs. Graham. I felt at home with her on the day I 
 spent in Newtownbarry. Remember me at the throne of grace. 
 
 'Your unworthy son and servant in the Gospel, 
 
 'Fossey Tackaberry.' 
 
 The Rev. Charles Mayne was representive to the English 
 Conference of last year (1816), and the circular which he 
 sent to the brethren on his return now lies before me. The 
 following extract may be interesting : — 
 
 'I arrived in time in London to enjoy a very blessed Sabbath, previous 
 to the sitting of the Conference. Dr. Clarke and Mr. Moore preached. In 
 the Love Feast, at 3 o'clock, a spirit of prayer and earnestness prevailed, 
 Avhich was truly delightful. Mr. Reece was chosen President, a wise and 
 steady man ; and Mr. Bunting, Secretary. I can truly say, that the English 
 brethren are a body of pious ministers, and their sermons are plain and 
 evangelical. A young gentleman of great piety, and large property, who 
 had just taken the degree of Master of Arts at Cambridge, offered himself 
 to travel. He was received, and placed on the list of reserve. We had a 
 very interesting visit from two Prussian clergymen, sons to the Bishop of 
 Berlin, young men of piety. They came to England by the desire of their aged 
 father, and by permission of the Prussian Court, to inquire into the state of 
 religion, charities, and education of England. They were admitted. The 
 President gave them an account of our origin, and Dr. Clarke of our 
 doctrines, and Mr. Moore of our success. They retired deeply impressed 
 with the importance of Methodism, which is a mighty work, and is spreading 
 from shore to shore. I pray the Father of mercies, to pour out His Holy 
 Spirit on us, as on the sister kingdom. Wishing you a very happy and 
 prosperous year, 
 
 \ I remain your truly affectionate brother, 
 
 ' C. Mayne.' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 189 
 
 The above shows the spirit of piety, and the talent for 
 observation which characterized this truly devoted man of 
 God, himself, a well-educated Christian gentleman, and a 
 member of a highly respectable family, and one who bore no 
 small share of ' the burden and heat of the day,' even in the 
 public streets, and in the depth of winter. It was some con- 
 trast to find him one day in the street of Gorey, proclaiming 
 Christ in the midst of a stone throwing mob, and, perhaps, in a 
 short time after, sitting with his brother, Judge Mayne, on the 
 Bench, in some county town. A preacher gives the following 
 graphic account of such vicissitudes in Ireland: — 'At Mrs. 
 Tighe's we conversed with senators, ministers, and ladies of 
 rank and talent, we were attended by liveried servants, and 
 cheered with the sound of the organ; perhaps in the next place 
 our lodging was on straw, in some outhouse or newly prepared 
 dwelling, of those who had recently suffered the loss of all 
 things. In a word we might say, ' Our life was in our hand. ' 
 
 The following is the epitaph of the Rev. Charles Mayne, on a 
 marble tablet in the Wesleyan chapel at Kingstown, near 
 Dublin :— 
 
 |n Ittmorn of tljc 
 
 Rev. Charles Mayne, who for upwards of 42 years, 
 as a Wesleyan Minister, successfully preached the 
 Gospel throughout most of the cities, towns, and rural 
 districts of Ireland, and in this town, after a short 
 illness, died in the faith of Christ, May 4th, 1838. 
 Aged 66. 
 
 This Tablet is erected by his bereaved Widow, as a 
 small Memento of his worth and her sorrow. 
 
 During the Methodistic year, 1817, the Rev. James Rutledge 
 writes to Mr. Graham, from Sligo, the following brief but cheer- 
 ing note : — 
 
IQO 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 ' Thank God, we have a good work on this circuit We have 
 very large congregations. Sinners are being converted, and 
 our societies increasing.' 
 
 Having been for a year with this devoted servant of the 
 Most High, the writer feels much gratification in introducing 
 the high estimation in which he was held by his brethren in the 
 ministry. 1 He entered the army in 1793, and in that situation 
 was enabled so to honour God, that he was made the instrument 
 of great good to many of his fellow-soldiers. He was a man 
 of strong understanding, great prudence, and immovable 
 fidelity. He entered the Methodist ministry in 1802, and spent 
 thirty-seven years in the active itinerant work, and nine as 
 supernumerary, and died in the full assurance of eternal rest 
 on the 5th of September 1848.' There is also a circumstance 
 told of him, which is said to have occurred in 1798, the 
 year of the rebellion in Ireland. Mr. Rutledge was a ser- 
 geant in the Leitrim Militia, and a local preacher in the 
 Methodist society. He was a terror to evil doers; and it 
 appears a conspiracy was concocted against him, and, like 
 Daniel, it was no doubt said of Rutledge, ' We shall find 
 no occasion against him, except we find it against him con- 
 cerning the law of his God' Accordingly, they watched Rutledge 
 returning several times from outside the camp, to which they 
 alleged he went for the purpose of holding communication with 
 the rebels. A charge was drawn up and sent in against him. A 
 court-martial was summoned, and Rutledge and his accusers 
 appeared. The case was tried, and all the accused could say 
 in defence of his frequent absence from barracks was, that he 
 retired for devotional purposes, which was disbelieved, and he 
 was sentenced to be shot. The whole examination, the accused's 
 statement, and the judgment, were laid for confirmation before 
 Lord Cornwallis, then Commander-in-chief in Ireland. His 
 lordship thought the plea to be rather singular, and he sent for 
 the prisoner, saying — 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 191 
 
 * Rutledge, you state that the purpose for which you so fre- 
 quently retired beyond the camp was to pray ? ' 
 ' Yes, my lord,' said Rutledge. 
 
 ' Well,' said his lordship, ' if that be so, you must be pretty 
 expert at that business now. You had better kneel down, and 
 give us a specimen of your devotional powers.' 
 
 Rutledge knelt, and poured out his soul in such marvellous 
 strains, in which he prayed for the king, for his lordship, for the 
 British army, for his country, that before he was half through 
 his lordship interrupted him, and said — 
 
 ' Quite enough. A man of such intercourse with God could 
 never be a rebel.' 
 
 It is also said, that his lordship took him into his own special 
 confidence ; and, for anything I know, he may have often heard 
 Rutledge pray again, and, perhaps, he was also the means of 
 his lordship's conversion. 
 
 We may truly, in this case, adopt the following lines : — 
 
 ' When one that holds communion with the skies, 
 Has filled his urn where these pure waters rise, 
 And once more mingles with us, meaner things, 
 ' Tis even as if an angel shook his wings ; 
 Immortal fragrance fills the circle wide 
 That tells us whence his treasures are supplied. ' 
 
 Coming to the close of this Methodistic year, Mr. Graham's 
 cup cf joy was filled to overflowing. On the occasion of his 
 son's conversion to God, an event long prayed for and earnestly 
 anticipated, his rapturous emotion is expressed in the following 
 communication : — 
 
 ' Carlow, February 24, 181 8. 
 *■ My dear Charles, — Your last letter was greatly blessed to me, seeing 
 the Lord in mercy has looked upon you again, and brought you into His 
 fold. May He, of His great mercy, keep you the residue of your days 
 near His wounded side. He loved you, and gave Himself for you. " O 
 to grace how great a debtor." While I live, may I live to Him. Two 
 Catholics have been lately converted. — Your affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
XVII. 
 
 ' For the redemption of their soul is precious.' — Psalm xlix. 8. 
 
 ' What is the thing of highest piice 
 
 The whole creation round ? 
 That which was lost in Paradise, 
 
 That which in Christ was found, 
 The soul of man. Jehovah's breath, 
 
 That keeps two worlds at strife ; 
 Hell moves beneath to work its death, 
 
 Heaven stoops to give it life. 
 
 God to reclaim it did not spare 
 
 His well-beloved Son ; 
 Jesus to save it deigned to bear 
 
 The sins of all in one. 
 The Holy Spirit sealed the plan, 
 
 And pledged the blood divine ; 
 To ransom every soul of man, 
 
 That price was paid for mine. 
 
 And is this treasure borne below 
 
 In earthly vessels frail? 
 Can none its utmost value know, 
 
 Till flesh and spirit fail ? 
 Then let us gather round the cross, 
 
 That knowledge to obtain; 
 Not by the soul's eternal loss, 
 
 But everlasting gain,' 
 
 J. Montgomery. 
 
XVII. 
 
 t REAPPOINTED TO MISSION WORK. 
 
 Appointed to Newtownbarry as a missionary in his sixty-ninth 
 year. — Supplies for the circuit minister. — Extract of a 
 letter from his son. — letter from rev. samuel steele. — 
 Letter from young Mr. Graham to his father. — Brief 
 journals for seven months. — letter from mr. feely. — 
 Letter from Mr. Graham to the Rev. Joseph Taylor, Lon- 
 don. — Another to same. — Letters to his son, and to Mr. 
 Taylor. 
 
 T the Conference of this year, 1818, Mr. Graham was 
 appointed to the Newtownbarry circuit as a new mis- 
 sion field. Now, within a month of the sixty-ninth year 
 of his age, he entered on his labours here with all the animation 
 of a young man. He seems to rejoice that the closing years of his 
 eventful life were likely to terminate as theybegan on the mission 
 field, which was actually the case, and a fitting termination it 
 was. It was not with him ' a youth of labour and an age of 
 ease.' Immediately after his appointment to this mission, he 
 says, ' I had to supply circuit work for the Rev. Andrew 
 Hamilton for a short time, who was laid aside by a sore leg. 
 He refers to this event in the following extract of a letter 
 written to his son : — 
 
 ' Thank God, my health has been good since I left Dublin. Mr. Hamilton 
 cannot travel, and I have been confined to this circuit for him. I have 
 been preaching in the streets and in the markets. The poor people are sunk 
 in superstition and idolatry. Heaven alone can relieve them. Many of them 
 
 N 
 
194 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 give me a patient hearing, and seem to be greatly affected ; but having to 
 do with their priests does not admit of their judging for themselves. Per- 
 haps their deliverance may be at hand. May the Saviour who redeemed 
 them open a door for them, and deliver them from the galling yoke they 
 labour under. We have a great work on this circuit, near Gorey. Mr. 
 Reilly and a local preacher and myself held forth lately at a field meeting 
 to some thousands, who were greatly broken down. They said they never 
 saw such a day. I hope this will be a year of great blessing. May the 
 great Head of the Church assist us. — Your affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 Shortly after this the Rev. Samuel Steele wrote to Mr. 
 Graham on the subject of missionary labour, and about keeping 
 his journals regularly, and forwarding them to London to the 
 Mission House. Mr. Steele was representative to the English 
 Conference this year, and after Ins return he thus writes to Mr. 
 Graham, to Newtownbarry : — 
 
 'Roscrea, September 16, 1818. 
 ' My very dear Brother, — You are to write to London at least once 
 a quarter, giving the committee a circumstantial account of your success, 
 and mode of your proceeding. They wish to be able to state to their 
 friends and the public what the missionaries are doing in Ireland. Nothing 
 interests them so much as a particular account of the conversions of Roman 
 Catholics. By so doing you will make the Irish mission interesting to the 
 English. Thank God we have a prospect of doing good in several parts of 
 this circuit. Our congregations in this town are increasing. Let us be 
 zealous and faithful, and our path will be like that of the just that shineth 
 more and more to the perfect day. — I am, my dear brother, affectionately 
 yours (with love to Sister Graham), * Samuel Steele.' 
 
 The following is from his son about the same date : — 
 
 'Dublin, September 23, 181 8. 
 'My VERY DEAR Father, — On last Sabbath I, and indeed the whole 
 Society, attended the remains of Mr. Arthur Keene to "the Cabbage 
 Garden" (an old burial ground), where he was buried, and very near the 
 spot where my mother lies. Mr. Averell came from Cork to see him, but 
 was late. He died before he came, but he spoke at the grave ; and I went 
 to hear him in the [evening. I bless God my face is still Zionward, and I 
 trust, by the grace of God, to continue so. I feel no desire to turn back, 
 and I can truly say, "I hate the sins that made Him mourn." I earnestly 
 long for and desire purity of heart. This, I believe is my privilege to 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 195 
 
 obtain, and which I trust I shall never rest until I possess it. I beg an 
 interest in your prayers that I may obtain the desire of my soul, and that I 
 may be enabled to serve God acceptably, with a perfect heart and with a 
 willing mind. I offer up my feeble prayers to God for your success, and 
 that God may give you many seals to your ministry, and preserve you to a 
 good old age, to be a blessing to thousands. — I remain, dear father, your 
 affectionate son, * Charles Graham.' 
 
 During this year — from July 19, 181 8, until February 24, 
 1 8 19 — he seems to be in labours more abundant in the fairs, 
 and markets, and fields of the County Wexford. His records 
 are very brief, but sufficient to show that the ruling passion for 
 saving souls did not decline with age. His journal runs thus : — 
 
 'July 19, preached in the market of Nciutownbarry. July 29, preached 
 in Gorey market. August 5> a field meeting. August 19, preached in the 
 market. September 9, market. September 16, in Gorey market. 17, 
 Field meeting. 24, in Newtownbarry market. October 7, Gorey market. 
 October 22, Newtownbarry market. November 4, in the fair. This day I 
 got a most attentive hearing. November 11, in Gorey market. I had a 
 patient, and I hope a profitable hearing. November 18, I had the clergy 
 (Established Church) to hear at some distance. One of them said that he 
 enjoyed my holding out a free salvation, and wondered when he saw the 
 crowd so attentive. December 29, preached in the Gorey market. The 
 people very attentive, and many much affected. January 13, Newtownbarry 
 market; we had a good hearing. 19, Gorey ; many heard with deep atten- 
 tion. 28, Newtownbarry ; it was feared I should be opposed by a degraded 
 priest, who made a great noise on the last market-day, and wanted to see 
 me in order to confute me, but he did not appear, and I had no interruption, 
 but a patient, and I trust profitable hearing. February 2, 1819. — As I came 
 to the fair of Ballycanew I heard that John Gowen had been murdered the 
 night before, and, from the appearance of the time*, I was tempted for a 
 moment to think it dangerous to preach in the fair; but I considered — 
 whether I should be the next to suffer or not — I should do my duty and 
 sound the alarm to misguided, perishing sinners. The Lord sent me help. 
 John S. Wilson stood by me (afterwards the Rev. J. S. Wilson), and delivered 
 a faithful warning. We had a patient, and, I am persuaded, a profitable 
 hearing. February 3, I preached in the market of Gorey, and the Lord 
 stood by me. It was a solemn time; God grant the impressions may be 
 lasting. February 10, preached in Newtownbarry, from Acts iv. 12, 
 "Neither is there salvation in any other," &c. This subject bore down 
 on the Popish doctrine of priestly absolution, the intercession of angels and 
 
196 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 of saints, dead ox alive. One cried out, "What then shall we do?" I 
 said I would set him right. I then opened the way of salvation through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, and soon after he went away quietly. February 1 7, 
 came to the market of Gorey.* A drunken priest, a day or two before, 
 made a great noise, and blasphemously crying out that he would put 
 Graham down, as he did in Newtownbarry, but he took good care not to 
 meet me in either place. I had a great hearing on this day. Some of the 
 Catholics thought to drag others away, but they would not stir until they 
 heard me out. February 24, preached in Newtownbarry. A man at a dis- 
 tance made a great noise, but I continued to alarm the people, and to warn 
 them to be prepared for death and judgment. They seemed to feel much. 
 A woman, with tears in her eyes, took me by the hand and thanked me. 1 
 
 Thus this aged veteran continued, both in winter and in 
 summer, his exhausting labours for the five years he was sta- 
 tioned on this mission ; and when it is considered that one street 
 service requires a larger expenditure of bodily strength than 
 half-a-dozen of sermons inside — at least in Mr. Graham's style 
 and voice of thunder — we are utterly amazed how he held out 
 so long. But there must surely have been supernatural strength 
 afforded according to his ministerial ' day.' Nor was he without 
 singular fruit to his incessant labours. It was on one of those 
 occasions of street preaching in Gorey that young John Byrne 
 was convinced, and afterwards converted to God, and became 
 a minister in our Connexion, and travelled for three years, when 
 his health failed and he had to retire, but finished well. 
 
 The following letter is from Mr, John Feely, to whom 
 reference was made by Mr. Graham to his son in Dublin, 
 when he travelled the Carlow circuit in the year 181 7 : — 
 
 'Athy, Oct. 1, 1 8 18. 
 'My dear Sir, — I have a few moments to disburden a mind full of 
 thought. I hope in our God your soul and body prosper, and that you 
 enjoy the full assurance of hope ; also, that the work of God is prospering 
 in your hands in that country (County Wexford). Here in Athy we have a 
 
 * The writer feels pleasure in acknowledging the vast improvement of the 
 present times in regard to the habit above alluded to, when compared with 
 what it sometimes was of both Churches, fifty or sixty years ago. I hope 
 this suffices, once for all. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 197 
 
 prospect of a revival of the "undefiled religion" of the Lord Jesus. The 
 great Husbandman is seemingly detei-mined to ingraft new branches in the 
 room of those who have fallen off. Oh, pray that He may even here raise 
 up a people to His name. Providence has fixed me here. I have opened 
 a school, and have tuitions in the country. My mind, after all, is not easy. 
 I fervently implore my heavenly Father to circumcise my heart and lips 
 with power Divine, and send me to call poor, perishing sinners to repen- 
 tance. Oh, if He would deign to do this one thing for me, I would be per- 
 fectly easy. I am well aware of the greatness of the work, of my own 
 unfitness, but also of the Lord's omnipotence. My clay is in the hands of 
 the potter. I lay me down at the feet of the Almighty Jesus, in whom 
 dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Thy kingdom come. O Lord 
 God Almighty, Fountain of love, take pity on a perishing world. May the 
 unspotted spouse of Jesus (His Church) daily flourish, and be adorned in 
 the beauty of holiness. God bless you, Mr. Graham. — Your son, 
 
 'John Feely/ 
 
 The following is the first letter from Mr. Graham to the 
 Rev. Joseph Taylor, Methodist Mission House, No. 74 Hatton 
 Garden, London :: — 
 
 ' Newtownbarry, Oct. 17, 1818. 
 
 * My dear. Brother, — I have undertaken the work of this mission with 
 fear and trembling, knowing that I have not only the infernal powers to 
 contend with, but also the leaders of those poor deluded sheep. As I was 
 the first called out to this work after the rebellion, Mr. Ouseley was then 
 appointed to travel with me. We laboured for six years together, and, 
 thank God, it was not in vain. The day of judgment only will be able to 
 tell the results. I had no idea of being sent to the mission work again, 
 being now in the sixty-ninth year of my age. I have taken to the streets 
 since I came, and had a good hearing. Those who understand the Irish 
 say I speak the truth, and seem to be much affected. Their clergy are 
 crying out against us in their chapels, as "false prophets," &c. ; but I trust 
 the light will break in upon them, and raise up from among themselves 
 some who will be able to instruct them, such as John Feely, who fled and 
 sought mercy, and found it, under the first sermon he heard me preach. 
 The Lord has raised him up to be useful. Also, David O'Hanlon, and a 
 drum-major and his wife (a Catholic), have been all lately converted to God, 
 and three other Catholics converted last year; and now a blessed work is 
 going on here. — I am yours affectionately, 
 
 ' Charles Graham. 
 
 ' To the Rev. Joseph Taylor, of London.'' 
 
198 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 We also find the following letter from the same place : — 
 
 ' Gorey, Feb. 13, 1 8 19. 
 1 My dear Brother Taylor, — Since you heard from me last, I have 
 been preaching in markets and fairs, until I have been so exhausted as to 
 be forced to take to my bed ; but I trust my labours have not been in vain 
 in the Lord. I had rigid opposition in one of the fairs — nothing like it 
 since the rebellion. They thought to have conquered. Some of them said, 
 "they would have but one religion." It was in Gorey. Mr. Mayne was 
 put down, and I could scarcely be heard, the noise was so great. Satan 
 and his angels disputed the ground with us, but the rioters were confounded, 
 and many of the poor Catholics were ashamed of their conduct. I published 
 I would preach there again the following week. I did so, although the day 
 was very cold. I had a blessed hearing. The Lord sent a young man to my 
 help. He was as bold as a lion. He sounded an alarm indeed. [I sup- 
 pose this to be John S. Wilson.] The truth triumphed. I preached lately 
 at a funeral, where I had many Catholics. The Lord attended the Word, 
 and many were convinced. I endeavoured to undo the doctrines of purga- 
 tory and priestly absolution by proclaiming a free and full salvation. Our 
 Churches (Established) in this country are greatly corrupted with a limited 
 redemption. I told some of them that I feared they would undo their 
 Church, as the mass will undo the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Ouseley 
 told me that between Dublin and Cork about one thousand members have 
 joined society. About two hundred have joined us here lately, and many 
 of them Catholics. Feely is preaching, Owens holds on his way, and 
 O'Connor is taken up by the Church (Establishment). God be praised for 
 this glorious work 
 
 ^Your affectionate brother, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 He writes again as follows, to the Rev. Joseph Taylor of 
 London : — 
 
 ' Newtownbarry, March 21, 18 19. 
 * My dear Brother, — When I came to this mission I had but two 
 places which I could call my own, and therefore I went through the fairs 
 and markets until places opened to me, where I am now fully employed, . 
 independent of the places where the circuit preachers labour. And still the 
 prospect opens. I may say I labour more than when I was on a circuit. 
 The outside work is very heavy. Our preaching-places are crowded, and 
 many forced to stand outside. The Most High has come to our help this 
 year. We have a blessed revival on every hand. When we were at the 
 lowest ebb, He hasted to visit us. It would not be easy to tell the num- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 bers who attended Messrs. Ouseley and Reilly. These blessed men are 
 indefatigable, and the Lord is mighty with them, and blessing their labours ; 
 and both missionaries and circuit preachers are working in this revival. 
 All glory to God for ever and ever. He helps me in the decline of life, and 
 I feel grateful and humble, that He enables me to do anything to bring 
 glory to His great name. In this revival some of the Catholics have been 
 awakened. One was persecuted for joining us, and was branded as "a 
 heretic." Poor man! he took ill, and died; but I hope the Lord has taken 
 him to Himself. The Romans reported he was mad. A woman (a Roman 
 Catholic) also died lately ; she heard me attentively, and was most anxious 
 to see me in her last moments. O Lord Most High, have mercy on this 
 people. Burst their bonds. How many of them would be blest, if they 
 were at liberty to hear the truth : as they say themselves, " if they knew the 
 right way, they would walk in it." 
 
 ' I am yours affectionately, 
 
 * Charles Graham.' 
 
 This letter was written in answer to certain inquiries relative 
 to the missionaries occupying circuit ground. 
 
 I must now introduce a very interesting letter from Mr. 
 Graham to his son. It is dated from the residence of Mr. 
 Tackabeny : — 
 
 ' TOMAGADDY, Aftf'il 25, 1819. 
 
 'My dear Charles, — This has been a good year with me in every 
 sense of the word. I am loudly called upon to look forward and be pre- 
 pared whenever it pleases the Lord to call upon me. May He grant me 
 grace to have my work done ! The blessed work of conviction and conver- 
 sion is still going on in the society and congregations. Much of the power 
 of the Lord attends the Word in every direction, and much of heaven is 
 found in our meetings. This was a glorious morning — to see young and old 
 broken down, and then rejoicing in God, was truly affecting. Blessed be 
 the Lord that directed me here again (formerly three years as a circuit 
 preacher). I find this fourth year to be the best; they are so far from being 
 tired of me, that they only fear I shall be taken from them. May I be 
 humble and thankful. "O what hast Thou for sinners done !" I preached 
 yesterday week in the market of Gorey. I had a blessed hearing, although 
 the ballad-singers thought to annoy me. Blessed be the Lord, even those 
 who were open enemies are become friends. In fact, even-thing seems to 
 give way to the work of God. Perhaps the Lord will make my last days 
 my best and happiest. While other preachers are laid up with infirmities, 
 I have health to eat and drink, and sleep and labour. Marvellous are Thy 
 
200 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 works, O Lord ; and above all, to see the fruit of our labour ! A young 
 woman who was converted three years ago prayed this morning, to the 
 astonishment and edification of all. Perhaps in the kingdom you would not 
 meet with such young men and women as are on this circuit. Most of them 
 not only justified, but in the possession of sanctification. This work is 
 spreading and deepening. I am a wonder to myself, now going into my 
 seventieth year. All the priests can do cannot prevent some of them from 
 hearing. 
 
 ' As ever, your affectionate father, 
 
 'C Graham.' 
 
 He writes again to the Rev.. Joseph Taylor of London : — 
 
 ' Newtown barry, June 25, 18 19. 
 1 My dear Brother, — I bless God for your prosperity. Our God will 
 do great things. We had to hold our meeting last Sabbath in a Roman 
 Catholic chapel, which our people have obtained. It is now a preaching- 
 house. The priest of this chapel was killed in the last rebellion. We had 
 John Feely, the converted Roman Catholic, to preach in it. Brothers 
 Reilly and Barber also preached, and we had much prayer. The place was 
 well watered. Brother Feely is recommended by the district to travel. A 
 clergyman of the (Established) Churchstrove to persuade me against preaching 
 in the street, but I had a patient and profitable hearing ! The power of the 
 Lord fell on the crowd. Thus we leave the truth in the public places. It 
 is mighty, and will prevail. Some of the Catholic servants, who hear us 
 where we lodge, have been greatly persecuted and injured, but they aie. 
 faithful. Oh, the mercies of the year ! 
 
 'Yours affectionately, 
 
 'C. Graham.' 
 
XVIII. 
 
 ' On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, 
 
 And cast a wishful eye 
 To Canaan's fair and happy land, 
 Where my possessions lie. 
 
 O the transporting, rapturous scene 
 
 That rises to my sight ! 
 Sweet fields arrayed in living green, 
 
 And rivers of delight. 
 
 All o'er those wide extended plains 
 
 Shines one eternal day ; 
 There God the Sen for ever shines, 
 
 And scatters night away. 
 
 No chilling winds or poisonous breath 
 
 Can reach that peaceful shore ; 
 Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, 
 
 Are felt and feared no more. 
 
 When shall I reach that happy place, 
 
 And be for ever blest? 
 When shall I see my Father's face, 
 
 And in His bosom rest? 
 
 Filled with delight my raptured soul, 
 
 Can here no longer stay ; 
 Though Jordan's waves around me roll, 
 
 Fearless I'll launch away.'* 
 
 J. Montgomery. 
 
 * This was a favourite hymn with Mr. Ouseley, who sung it to the old 
 Irish air of ' Gra machreej or ' Tara's Hall.' 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 SPIRITUAL CHILDREN— LETTERS. 
 
 Letter to his son. — Do. to Mr. Taylor of London. — Mission 
 
 HOUSE CIRCULAR FROM REV. MESSRS. BUNTING, TAYLOR, AND R. 
 
 Watson. — Mr. Graham's second year's appointment to New- 
 
 TOWNBARRY. — LETTER FROM Mr. JOHN FEELY. — LETTER FROM 
 
 young Mr. Graham on sanctification. — Letter of Rev. John 
 Wesley on the same subject. — Letter to Mr. Taylor of 
 London. — Do., very important. 
 
 R. GRAHAM, in writing to his son, says : — 
 
 ' Newtownbarry, Aug, 20th, 1819. 
 ' My dear Charles, — Fossey Tackaberry helped me in Gorey 
 market. The Lord gave us a wonderful hearing. The Protestants wondered 
 at the attention of the Catholics, although their bishop charged a man and 
 his sister 20s. for hearing me near Arklow. A schoolmaster was reported 
 as having heard us, and had our books in his house. He was denounced 
 and all his scholars dispersed. He was to be excommunicated on the follow- 
 ing Sabbath, but he slipped off to church (the Established). It is hard to 
 get one soul out of their hands. Fossey Tackaberry's servant boy has left 
 the mass. It is amazing to think how long this delusion lasts ; and how 
 they can dream of having religion, and at the same time committing all 
 manner of sin, I cannot divine. But error is infatuating, and "she has 
 made the nations drunk with the wine of her fornication." Hence they are 
 unable to judge for themselves. But nothing should concern myself so 
 much as to be ready to leave when I am called. Kempis says, "It is vain 
 to desire to live long, and not desire to live welL " 
 
 { " O that the world might taste and see 
 The riches of His grace. " 
 
 'Although my feeble voice can extend to few, my prayers can extend to 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 203 
 
 many. Lord help me to be found more fervent and more earnest than ever. 
 1 have been warning S lest she should be hardened through the deceit- 
 fulness of sin. We hear bad news from England. No doubt, Popery is at 
 the bottom of it 'Tis not unlikely but they have some devilish scheme on 
 foot, for they are always working in the dark. Remember me to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Dale. 
 
 ' Ever your affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 How Mr. Graham secured time to write journals and long 
 letters I am at a loss to know, except by a marvellous redemp- 
 tion of time from sleep and other interruptions. He writes 
 again to London, in the following terms, continuing his reports 
 as requested : — 
 
 1 Newtownbarry. August 4/^,1819. 
 
 • My dear Brother, — Last Sabbath we had John Feely again, and 
 hundreds of people flocked to hear him. He was once a determined enemy 
 to this way, but now "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." He 
 has the salvation of souls very much at heart. All the Catholic converts 
 are delighted with him. William Byrne, from the County Wicklow, came to 
 see him, and converse with him, also George Miller. These men have been 
 proclaimed and deprived of all subsistence. I hear there were forty candles 
 put out, and all horrible curses pronounced by the bishop and clergy in 
 excommunicating John Feely and Francis Cavanagh, and likely George 
 Miller also, for what they call heresy. [This was surely canon tazv.] It 
 requires no small share of resolution to leave that apostate Church. A 
 young man refused to obey his father in going to mass, and the priest came 
 and asked, "Why he disobeyed his father?" He answered, "If any love 
 father or mother more than me, said Christ, he is not worthy of me." The 
 priest said, " Let him go, he is full of heresy." The lad escaped, and said 
 to a friend, that portion of Scripture comforted me, " Greater is he that is 
 for you than all that is against you." He by some means obtained one of 
 Mr. Ouseley's tracts, which first unhinged him. A Roman Catholic girl to 
 whom I spoke at one of my lodging places lately, is now a member of our 
 society. Several schoolmasters have left, and next to the priest the people 
 look up to them as men of understanding. May the great Head of the 
 Church prepare us for, and assist us in, this glorious work. 
 
 'I am yours affectionately, 
 
 ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 * To the Rev. Jeseph Taylor, of London? 
 
 The following is an extract from a circular forwarded to all 
 
THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 the Wesleyan missionaries employed under the British Con- 
 ference, and sent to Mr. Graham by the Rev. Joseph Taylor, 
 with the annexed note : — 
 
 'Wesleyan Mission House, 77 Hatton Garden, 
 London, October 5, 18 19. 
 
 ' My dear Brother, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours, and 
 to thank you for the regularity of your communications. We rejoice to 
 hear of the prosperity of your work in Ireland; may the Lord increase it. — 
 I am yours truly, 
 
 'Joseph Taylor.' 
 
 EXTRACT. 
 
 ' Dear Brethren, — We have just concluded our annual Conference at 
 Bristol. The form of receiving brethren into full connexion, on the Monday 
 and Tuesday evenings of the second week of the Conference, was rendered 
 peculiarly impressive by the experience of Mr. Hawtry, formerly a captain 
 in the army,* and now appointed a missionary to Paris; and also, by the 
 presence of Mr. Harvard, whom Providence has safely brought to this 
 country from Ceylon. The ardent missionary feelings and just views of the 
 honour, importance, and peculiar sanctity of missionary labour discovered 
 in his address, raised all our hearts in thankfulness to God for having raised 
 up such men among us for His own purposes ! The increase in our societies 
 this year is 6,905, of which the increase in Great Britain was 1,700. In 
 Ireland, 3,528 (more than half of all), and in the missions, 1,677. The 
 increase in America is upwards of 11,000. You will rejoice with us in the 
 goodness of God to our brethren in Ireland in cheering them under the 
 recent troubles they have suffered, in consequence of the lamented divisions 
 of their societies in that country, by rendering their ministry eminently 
 useful through the year. The fruit of your missionary labours during the 
 last year will never be fully estimated, but in eternity X It is from your 
 living in Christ, and under the efficient influence of His grace, that a sense 
 of the inestimable value of souls will be preserved in your minds, for " out 
 of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Dear brethren, bear 
 with us whilst we remind you, not in the spirit of suspicion, but in that of 
 watching over each other in love, that, as missionaries, you have peculiar 
 
 * This Captain Hawtry was converted in Ireland through the instru- 
 mentality of Mr. Graham's street preaching. He was in the Irish 
 Conference in 1 824. When the obituary of Mr. Graham was read, he rose 
 and said — ' It is far below his worth; ' and alluded to the time of his own 
 conversion, and when he first heard him preach in Ireland. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 205 
 
 temptations, and will need not only to put on, but to wear daily the whole 
 armour of God. Against a slothful disposition let us affectionately exhort 
 you to make vigorous efforts. Almost everything depends upon the 
 personal exertions of a missionary ; for, from his example, all subordinate 
 agents will take the measure of their own duty, and however willing they 
 may be to labour, yet they need the constant and vigilant superintendence 
 of their ministers. Look at the example of all distinguished missionaries, of 
 Wesley, Coke, Swartz, Elliott, Brainard, and others. Imitate their labours, 
 love, and patient zeal. 
 
 ' You will have your discouragements, yet relying upon the blessing of 
 God in a holy perseverance, the most unpromising appearances Mall give 
 way. He who thinks nothing can be done will certainly effect nothing. 
 Before constant application at the throne of grace, the most insuperable 
 obstacles will give way ! The Moravian mission in Greenland, the London 
 mission in the South Seas, the Baptist mission in India, and our own West 
 Indian and Ceylon missions, are eminent instances. " If I am not success- 
 ful myself, " said the excellent Henry Martin ; " God may make use of my 
 patience and continuance to encourage the attempts of some future mission- 
 aries." Watch against impatience of spirit, self-confidence, pride, and, above 
 all, against the spirit of sloth and decline in religious experience. " Let 
 me never fancy I have zeal/' said an eminent missionary, "until my heart 
 overflows with love to every man living." And now, dear brethren, we 
 commend you and your work to the Lord. Long may you be spared to 
 labour in this the highest vocation of the Christian ministry, and abundantly 
 may you reap the fruit of your labours ! Soon will the period of active life 
 be terminated. May it be employed by us and by you in fulfilling the 
 ministry we have received of the Lord Jesus in the only work on earth 
 which will have immortal results, and extend felicitous and glorious conse- 
 quences into ages of future time, and into eternity itself. 
 
 We are, dear brethren, yours affectionately, 
 
 'J. Bunting, ^ 
 J. Taylor, Jun. \ General 
 R. Watson, \ Secretaries. 
 
 The following observations, which are also embodied in this 
 admirable document are of first-class importance, and deserve 
 general perusal : — 
 
 ' It is necessary for the Christian missionary to spend as much time as 
 public duty will allow in retirement, not merely for purposes of study and 
 mental improvement, but to cultivate a full acquaintance with his own 
 heart, to hold intercourse with God in prayer, and fully to obtain the pro- 
 
206 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 mised supplies of the Holy Spirit, read books on practical divinity, 
 and also the lives of good men. Of the former we commend Wesley's 
 Christian Library; and of the latter, The Life of the late Rev. Henry 
 Martin? 
 
 We may observe that this year (1819) was very remarkable 
 for its increase in the sphere of Mr. Graham's labours, and on 
 his mission, as well as in many other parts of Ireland. Between 
 the new mission just formed and the circuit around, the increase 
 was 270 members. 
 
 Mr. Graham was appointed again — from July 1819 to July 
 1820 — to the same mission as last year, and on which he 
 appears to have laboured with the same arduous toil and 
 success as the former; indeed, each succeeding year, as his 
 life nears the goal, appears to be more abundantly honoured 
 with the richest conversions, all solid and pillar-like, as his 
 allusions will justify anon. The following is another interesting 
 extract of a letter from his endeared son in the Gospel, the 
 Rev. John Feely, to whom allusion has been made again and 
 again : — 
 
 ' Crossabeg, February 9, 1820. 
 'My dear Mr. Graham, — I am happy to have an opportunity of 
 ■writing to you — I wished for it. The Lord sent me where I believe he had 
 work for me to do. Athy is remarkable. There I met two young men 
 who were inquiring. One heard me on New- Year's morning on Philippians 
 iii. 3, " We are the true circumcision," &c. His heart became divinely 
 determined never more to go to the mass. The other came and had his 
 remaining doubts removed. Mr. Guard, a young preacher (on reserve), 
 preached, and we prayed with this young man. The Lord heard, and next 
 day he returned home rejoicing. He is a very sensible young man. Xext 
 day I went to a Mr. Wesley's, near Baltinglass, where I delivered a short 
 sermon on purity of heart. Brother Guard preached the next evening on 
 love. We were happy ; but at family prayer the Lord manifested Himself 
 to us. The Divine blessing descended, and a young man cried out for 
 mercy, and confessed his sin of backsliding in a most lamentable way. He 
 retired, and found peace while praying. Glory to God. This young man 
 was lately married. I asked his wife if she found peace ; she said not. We 
 sang and prayed, and God blessed her also. In fact, the whole family was 
 moved, and also the servants. We cried to God, and He heard from 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 207 
 
 heaven. Our parting was very affecting. God be glorified ; He was my 
 portion all through, and my Instructor. We had large congregations in 
 several places, and good has been done during this missionary tour. — I am 
 your affectionate son in the Gospel, 
 
 'John Feely.' 
 
 Thus the Lord was training this young evangelist, and a 
 better companion he could not have met to stimulate his zeal 
 and confirm his faith than the Rev. William Guard, then a 
 local preacher, and on the list of reserve for our ministry, and 
 afterwards an indefatigable Irish missionary for many years. 
 He fell in harness on the Donegal mission, but his lamp was 
 well trimmed. The writer had the privilege of knowing him 
 for many years, ' a faithful man above many.' We have now 
 his three honoured sons in our ministry. This would have been 
 the highest ambition of his large Wesleyan heart, had he lived 
 to see it ; but on his beloved relict has fallen that honour. She 
 had been long a full sharer with him in that oft but submis- 
 sively prayed-for and mutually anticipated consummation. 
 
 The next letter is from Mr. Graham's son — now such not 
 only in the flesh, but ,also in the spirit : — 
 
 'Dublin, April 23, 1820. 
 'My very dear Father, — We should aim at being as perfect as pos- 
 sible. If we never set the prize in view, we shall never attain to it. May 
 God help me. I cannot attain to half the perfection I know it is my privi- 
 lege to enjoy. I daily see not only my weakness and imperfections, but the 
 seeds of evil still cleaving fast to me, and sometimes they show their heads 
 over ground, and it requires much labour, perseverance, and self-denial to 
 keep them down. God only can root them out. 
 
 ' I am, dear father, your affectionate son, 
 
 ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 The above extract reminds me of a letter which I saw 
 lately (Feb. 1868), when I was at Swanlinbar, in the County 
 Cavan, on general mission work, and which Mr. W'esley wrote 
 at one time, to Mr. James Copeland, of Lisbellaw, County 
 Fermanagh, on the very same subject, namely, 1 sin in believers," 
 
208 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 to which young Mr. Graham refers. Mr. Wesley writes as 
 follows : — 
 
 'Glasgow, May 4, 1786. 
 'My dear Brother, — There is no reasonable doubt but you had, at 
 the time you mention, a real blessing from God. I make no doubt but He 
 did then give you a taste of His pardoning love ; but you were not then 
 thoroughly convinced of inbred sin, the sin of your nature. God is now 
 convincing you of this, in order to give you "a clean heart," but Satan 
 strive* hourly to drive you to despair. Regard him not Look to Jesus. Dare 
 to believe. On Christ lay hold; wrestle with Him in mighty prayer. Yea, 
 
 " A sigh can reach His heart, 
 A look will bring Him down from heaven." 
 
 He is at hand. 
 
 \ I am, your affectionate brother, 
 
 'J. Wesley. 
 
 ' To Air. James Cofeland, Lisbellaw, Ireland.' 
 
 Mr. Graham writes to London as follows : — 
 
 * Newtownbarry, March 31, 1820. 
 'My dear Brother, — Thank God I am still preserved, and endea- 
 vouring feebly to witness for the Saviour in public and in private. I lament 
 I do not see a real breach made on the errors of the day. Oh, that I could 
 see more of the travail of the Redeemer's soul. Still it is cause of praise to 
 see any making their escape. May I finish my life and labours to the 
 honour and glory of God. But, alas ! how little have I done for Him who 
 did so much for me ! John Feely's labours are greatly blessed, although 
 not yet called out. He is well acquainted with the Irish language, and is 
 willing to give up all to warn sinners, and his own countrymen especially. 
 AVilliam Byrne is still an ornament ; and although John Byrne has not yet 
 left the Mass, but is almost persuaded, my soul is drawn out after him. 
 John Brophy is preparing for America, to escape. A poor woman (a 
 Catholic) joined us in prayer. She said the priest would have nothing to 
 do with her, for she went to him to church her and put his hands on her ; 
 but he would not, as she had no money. I told her of the grert High 
 Priest, who would not reject her. I hope she may obtain mercy. She 
 joins in family prayer. I had to pray twice with and for her. O Lord, 
 hasten Thy coming, and kingdom, and glory among all men ; and that "the 
 priests themselves may believe, and put salvation on," for they are a great 
 stumbling-block in the people's way, and are at present most rigidly 
 opposing the work of God. — I am, yours truly, 
 
 'Charles Graham. 
 
 ' To the Rev. Joseph Taylor? 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 209 
 
 He writes next from the metropolis : — 
 
 'Dublin, July 1st, 1820. 
 ' My dear Brother, — I am pained when I consider the awful effects of 
 sin, and how the "blind lead the blind," and are instrumental in their de- 
 struction. But, notwithstanding all the vigilance of those teachers, the 
 Lord is at work, convincing and converting some among them. John 
 Feely has passed this Conference. Oh, that the great Head of the Church 
 may call and qualify many more who without reserve will give themselves to 
 the work, and not be afraid or ashamed to stand in the streets and market- 
 places, to publish the tidings of salvation to perishing sinners. I know this 
 has a good effect. The people now expect me to preach at every fair and 
 market when I come round. It is delightful to see the crowds that attend 
 in the open air, and "faith comes by hearing." I met a young man in 
 coming to Dublin who heard me preach two years ago, and he is now 
 truly converted, and a praying member of society. A woman whose life was 
 threatened stands fast. Thus we have many faithful witnesses who have 
 fled from Babylon. O Lord, hasten her downfall. All glory to God. 
 Amen and Amen. 
 
 1 1 am most affectionately yours, 
 
 * Charles Graham. 
 
 1 To the Rev. Joseph Taylor: 
 
 Writing again from Newtownbarry, to which he returned 
 after the Conference of 1820, he says: — 
 
 'Newtownbarry, Oct. 21st, 1820. 
 'My dear Brother, — Many wonder at me, and I wonder at myself, 
 that at my time of life, having passed seventy years in the world, I am 
 enabled to attend my places both in public and in private houses. Thank 
 God for all His mercies to me, who am so unworthy of any favour from 
 His hand. But He is good and " His mercy endureth for ever." Hitherto 
 He has helped me. Many desire to hear me. Others call me "a devil," 
 and curse me most bitterly. If I take this patiently, as I ought to do, I 
 should have much cause of rejoicing, seeing I am not only called to believe, 
 but also "to suffer for His sake." O, may He grant me patience and resigna- 
 tion to His Divine will, so that I may "finish my course" to the "praise 
 and glory of His name." The converts from Rome are doing well. Some 
 of them preaching in public places. The Lord has given us another 
 schoolmaster lately. May kind Heaven increase the number daily. I 
 hope before I go home to see some of these men able to fill even more than 
 my place. I am going this day to the market, to proclaim to the listening 
 
 O 
 
2IO 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM. 
 
 throng salvation through a Saviour's name. May the great Master of 
 assemblies send His own Word with Divine power to every sinner's heart. 
 
 1 1 am yours affectionately, 
 
 < Charles Graham. 
 
 * To the Rev. Joseph Taylor.' 
 
 He writes again from Newi:ownbarry : — 
 
 ' Newtown barry, January 21st, 1821. 
 
 ' My dear Brother, — I find we have no other way in getting at Roman 
 Catholics but by street preaching at fairs and markets. They are watched 
 very close by their clergy, and they leave nothing undone in order to keep 
 them from hearing us. They even prevent servants from going to hire in 
 Protestant houses, especially where we lodge. But in the markets we have 
 a full hearing. I said in the open street lately, " We need no other place for 
 cleansing the soul ; for the blood of Christ, 
 
 "Through earth and skies, 
 
 Mercy, free, boundless mercy cries." 
 
 'Blessed be God for this open fountain. I don't fail to warn them even at 
 the expense of my health, and all that is dear to me. I trust I shall live to 
 see better days. The work of the Lord is prospering in convincing, con- 
 verting, and sanctifying. I trust the Lord will avert the malice of men and 
 devils. I cannot but admire the fortitude of the converts from Rome. 
 Two of them went lately to warn their friends. The mother of one of them 
 fa female) struck her with the tongs, and blackened her arm. The other 
 was near being murdered, but escaped with his life. The country is dis- 
 turbed. I hear that two cart-loads of pikes have been taken near Dublin, 
 and lodged in the Castle, and that many delegates have been taken. If the 
 present disturbances subside, I hope the word preached will have greater 
 power, as their minds would be more tranquil. May they see their danger 
 and speedily return. 
 
 'Yours affectionately, 
 
 ' Charles Graham. 
 
 ' To the Rev. Joseph Taylor : 
 
XIX. 
 
 ' But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the 
 power may be of God, and not of us.' — 2 Cor. iv. 7. 
 
 ' I would the precious time redeem, 
 
 And longer live for this alone, 
 To spend, and to be spent for them 
 
 Who have not yet my Saviour known. 
 Fully on these my mission prove, 
 And only breathe to breathe Thy love. 
 
 My talents, gifts, and graces, Lord, 
 
 Into Thy blessed hands receive ; 
 And let me live to preach Thy word, 
 
 And let me to Thy glory live ; 
 My every sacred moment spend 
 In publishing the sinner's Friend 
 
 Enlarge, inflame, and fill my heart 
 
 With boundless charity divine ; 
 So shall I all my strength exert, 
 
 And love them with a zeal like Thine ; 
 And lead them to Thy open side, 
 The sheep for whom their Saviour died.' 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ENLARGED MISSION. LETTERS AND RESULTS. 
 
 a letter from mr. graham to his son. — a letter from young 
 Mr. Graham to his father. — Mr. Graham's letter to his son 
 in reply. — Letter from Rev. M. Lanktree. — His views of 
 Christian unity and union applicable to our being united 
 to the Primitive connexion. — Mr. Ouseley's mode of arguing 
 with Roman Catholics. — Conversion of a soldier at Water- 
 loo. — Letter from Mr. Graham to his son. — Visit of Rev. 
 John Feely, his son in the Gospel. — Mr. Feely's character 
 of Mr. Ouseley. — Mr. Ouseley's of Mr. Feely. — Mr. Graham 
 to his 'son. — Two letters to mission secretary. — Another to 
 his son. 
 
 HE following letter affords strong evidence of the 
 truthfulness of the Divine record in a spiritual and 
 ministerial sense — ' He bringeth forth fruit in old 
 age.' It unfolds much of his labours during the greater part of 
 the year, as indeed the whole of this marvellous chapter of 
 incidents does; almost passing strange at his age, and yet 
 true : — 
 
 * Newtownbarry, March 24, 1821. 
 
 ' My dear Charles,— Thank God, we are all in health, and want for 
 nothing, unless more gratitude and love to our Maker ; and we may have 
 these blessings also for asking. Oh, what a mercy that heaven is so free of 
 access ! Encouraged, yea commanded, to come and receive out of His ful- 
 ness. Alas ! how little faith we possess. It appears there is a total stop 
 put to the schemes of the disloyal in this country. There was much night- 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 213 
 
 work among them ; but the Lord reigns, and blessed be our Rock. I am 
 still preaching to them, and, notwithstanding all the prohibitions of their 
 clergy, I have a hearing. 'Tis of the Lord I am left so long in this country. 
 Before I leave, it would appear the Lord will raise up young men who will 
 more than fill my place. Two of these blessed young men took their station 
 by my side on the last market-day of Gorey. It appeared very formidable 
 to see three men, set in battle array, preparing to open a battery upon the 
 ramparts of Babylon. It was a glorious time. Many rejoiced to see it. 
 After we had done speaking, a Catholic came to one of the young men and 
 said, " I heard the truth, and will embrace it." We shall soon have him 
 amongst our people. It is astonishing how my health has been preserved 
 with so much market work through the winter, and what has transpired of 
 the spring. I have been every week at some market or other, when it was 
 dry overhead ; and it seemed to harm me less than the summer. I wondc r 
 at the goodness of the Lord. Perhaps He will let me see another Con- 
 ference. I hear Doctor Clarke is to be over in the month of May to open 
 your new house in Abbey Street ; and if I am spared, mercy only knows 
 where I shall spend the next year. But I leave it all to Him who has hitherto 
 directed me. If I could lie passive in His hands, all would be well. Oh, 
 for faith and patience, resignation, gratitude, and humility! How many are 
 my mercies and obligations ! ' ' Surely goodness and mercy have followed 
 me." I see His hand, and I adore the riches of His redeeming love. I 
 hope young Charles {grandson) is growing good. If he bends his mind to 
 serve God it will make him dutiful, and he will be a blessing. Oh, to bear 
 the yoke in youth ! May parents and children so live and act as not to be 
 separated at last. — I am, as ever, your affectionate father, 
 
 ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 The following letter from his son refers to a great many 
 stirring events, as indeed our whole history, both national and 
 ecclesiastical, seems never to have been anything else but 
 eventful ; it also shows what a keen observer of men and 
 things young Mr. Graham had been : — 
 
 'Dublin, April 1821, 
 
 4 My very dear Father, — You will have the Doctor at the Confe- 
 rence. He is to open our chapel in Abbey Street at the end of June. He 
 will also administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper on that day. The 
 Catholic Bill has passed the House of Commons by a majority of nineteen, 
 and has gotten the first reading in the House of Lords ; and there is little 
 
214 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 doubt entertained but it will obtain the royal assent. Peel and Ellis were 
 the only members who opposed it in the Commons, and succeeded in 
 getting a clause inserted that disqualifies Roman Catholics from filling the 
 office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland ; and it is supposed the Lords will 
 insert a clause to exclude them from being judges. There were two bills 
 brought in — one to emancipate the Roman Catholics generally, and the 
 other to regulate the intercourse of the clergy and people with the See of 
 Rome. To the latter their clergy are strenuously opposed, for by it all 
 their correspondence with the Pope should be submitted to Government. 
 There is another measure in contemplation, which is to pay all the clergy 
 out of the Treasury, and take the expenses off the people altogether. 
 ... I wrote the above three weeks ago, and I have now to tell you 
 that, notwithstanding the strenuous efforis made, and the strong expecta- 
 tion created for the bill to pass, it was thrown out in the Lords by a 
 majority of thirty-nine. The Duke of York was against it; and he is the 
 heir to the crown. The majority of the Lords went with him. It has 
 created a great sensation amongst the Catholics. It is said that the king's 
 ministers will bring it forward agam. God only knows what is best. 
 How thankful and devoted should I be ! May God enable me to put my 
 whole trust and confidence in Him, who has fed, and clothed, and preserved 
 me all my life — far above what I could expect. May I devote the 
 remainder of my days to His service, so that I may at last inherit eternal 
 life, for the sake of Jesus Christ. You will not go to any one from me at the 
 Conference. I have a hoiue and a heart to entertain you. — Your affec- 
 tionate Son, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 From the above we see what efforts were made to remove 
 the disabilities of the Roman Catholics at that time ; but it^ 
 was not until 1829 the Emancipation Act was passed, in 
 reference to which Lord Eldon remarked — ' If this act pass, 
 the sun of England's glory sets.' It is said that a solemn oath 
 was taken that there never would be the slightest effort made 
 to injure the Church of England in this country. What the 
 present stirring events about its disendowment may bring to 
 pass, it would be difficult to tell. ' May the Lord defend the 
 right' At the Conference of 1821 the sphere of Mr. Graham's 
 labours was somewhat enlarged by taking in the whole county 
 of Wexford. His mission was now called 'the County Wexford 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 215 
 
 Mission,' very likely for the purpose of keeping him the longer 
 in this part of the country, to mature the work so auspiciously 
 begun. The following was the first letter after this Conference 
 to his son : — 
 
 ! Newtownbarry, August 8, 1821. 
 • My dear CHARLES, — I have gone round my mission since I returned, 
 and preached in the market of Gorey to a vast crowd. Fossey Tackaberry 
 helped me, a most blessed young man. We held field meetings for the 
 last three Sabbaths, when crowds flocked to hear. What a mercy that we 
 are privileged to preach xvhen and where we please. God bless King 
 George IV. May he long live to sway the British sceptre, and defend his 
 loyal subjects! What a mercy that we are not driven into corners, and sent 
 to prisons for preaching the Word. We have many mercies to be grateful 
 for that our forefathers had not — having so few to explain to them the word 
 of life. I was to see Mr. Feely. He is greatly lamented by the inhabi- 
 tants of Athy, &c. He had a most commodious place to live in; but the 
 dear man seems willing to forsake all, and give himself to the work. What 
 a mercy when one is about to give up (his account), others are ready to take 
 his place. Since I began this letter, I heard of the Queen's death. I must 
 confess I feel concerned. Perhaps the Lord has taken her away from the 
 evil to come. " The Lord sitteth on His throne judging right," and " His 
 judgments are a great deep." In the day of His coming all will be brought 
 to light. Lord help us to watch and do all things in reference to that day. 
 It will be a serious thing to meet the Judge. Happy are those who have 
 their doubts removed, and their peace made. Oh, Charles, strive to be 
 ready ! I need not tell you what opposition I feel in my mind against 
 going out upon my mission this year. I doubt not but much of it may 
 come from the powers of darkness, who contend with all who resolve to be 
 on the Lord's side ; but He has been often better to me than my boding 
 fears ! I am in his hand, to make use of me or lay me aside, as seems good 
 to Him. If the queen is dead, I suppose all expectation of the king's 
 coming to Dublin will be dismissed. May we learn from all these things 
 to keep looking unto Him, "who shall come, and will come, and will not 
 tarry." May the Most High bless and prosper you for time and eternity. 
 — So prays your ever affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 While Mr. Graham was thus pursuing his hallowed and suc- 
 cessful toil in the south-east of the kingdom, God was carrying 
 on His work in the far north, through the instrumentality of 
 
2l6 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 of Messrs. Lanktree and Hill,* on the Ards Mission. The 
 following records a specimen of their work. It is from a com- 
 munication sent to the Mission House, London : — 
 
 ' Respecting the spiritual state of our people I can say, to the glory of 
 God, I never saw more genuine piety in any part of Ireland. Lately, at a 
 Love Feast, as many spoke as time would admit, and all were happy. 
 Shortly after, at the Lord's Supper, in Portaferry, such was the holy influ- 
 ence, that I could scarcely perform, the sacred office. At this sacrament we 
 had two converted Roman Catholics — one of whom is now a leader — both 
 the fruit of this mission. Many have been converted from a state of great 
 profligacy, and some of them from infidelity, one of whom is now beginning 
 to instruct others with considerable success. There is a remarkable spirit of 
 hearing, and the improved morals recommend the preaching by which that 
 improvement has been effected. While the season remained favourable we 
 held large meetings almost every Lord's Day in the open air, which have 
 been exceedingly owned of God. 'Matthew Lanktree.' 
 
 Mr. Lanktree also wrote the following address on the subject 
 of uniting a branch of the Methodist body in England who 
 had separated many years before. This branch had some 
 congregations in this country. His views I consider very 
 appropriate and applicable to union of Primitive and Wesleyan 
 Methodist bodies, towards which some efforts have been already 
 made. I feel pleasure in inserting the document : — 
 
 1 Brethren, — I anticipate the happiest consequences from a candid, 
 serious, and liberal discussion of the matter thus providentially brought 
 under your consideration. It is evident that there can be no earthly, in- 
 terested, or selfish motive to influence this proposal. The Spirit of Christ 
 can alone effect this union, which would be conducive to the best interests 
 of our common cause. Were not the Methodists raised up, as a people, 
 to magnify the riches of divine grace, by diffusing " scriptural holiness " 
 throughout the world ? Why, then, should we be separate bodies — we who 
 
 * The Rev. John Hill still lingers amongst us, a saint indeed. I had 
 the great pleasure and privilege of travelling with him for three years 
 on the Tullamore circuit, 1846-49 : and also of seeing him at Belfast Con- 
 ference last year (1867), and after that of spending part of a day with him in 
 Donaghadee, and, oh, such power as he had with God in prayer ! 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 2I 7 
 
 are one in doctrine, experience, design, and even general economy ? Oh, let 
 our hearts and hands be indissolubly one, and wholly engaged for our God 
 and Saviour. Satan strove, by dividing, to destroy us. He raised up 
 mountains of prejudice, and barriers of human expediencies between us, in 
 order that we might never reunite. But the God of peace is confounding 
 Satan's devices. The principal difficulties are already removed. Our 
 affections are again flowing together, like mingled streams of a mighty 
 river, to stop the mouths of our enemies, and once more to revive the 
 ancient proverb, "See how these Christians love one another." Let 
 judicious deputations of brethren be appointed on both sides, and let the 
 result be known to all parties. This appears to be a favourable season for 
 consolidating our interests, which, if now lost, may never return with the 
 same advantages. May its final consummation bring glory to God, and the 
 Psalmist's language be realized — "Behold how good and pleasant it is for 
 brethren to dwell together in unity." 'Matthew Lanktree.' 
 
 I trust those observations may now meet the eye of some 
 influential lovers of our common Zion in Ireland and England 
 also, especially those of the Wesleyan and Primitive Wesleyan 
 Methodists in Ireland. God Himself has given us indication 
 already of what may be done in this way by the spirit of true 
 unity, which has been lately poured out so abundantly on both 
 denominations, on the Manorhamilton circuit. 
 
 During the year 182 1 Mr. Ouseley was zealously working 
 away in the south and south-west part of the kingdom. He 
 writes : — 
 
 ' Our congregations were principally Romanists. ■ They refused to be 
 hindered by the priests. One young man in Kerry, a Romanist, who had 
 been an atheist, was providentially led to hear us, and became so deeply 
 convinced as to fall on his face and cried aloud for mercy. A Roman 
 Catholic gentleman said to the priest (who allowed him to read the Bible), 
 " Why do you keep the cup from the laity in the sacrament?" He replied, 
 - ' Don't you know we are very poor, and very numerous, and the expense 
 of the wine would be very heavy." "But," said the gentleman, "you 
 make them pay for baptism, confession, masses, and extreme unction, &c. ?" 
 "Yes, certainly we do," said the priest. "Then, why do you not make 
 them pay for the wine also, as it is enjoined by our Lord, who said ' drink 
 ye all of this? &c." "Really, Sir," said his reverence, blushing, "this is 
 certainly an error in our Church." That was true, but the real cause of 
 withholding the cup was this, that it would prove too much, whereas the 
 
2l8 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 body and blood, &c, are said to be in the wafer already; it would be useless 
 to repeat it.' 
 
 On Mr. Ouseley's return to Dublin, the Rev. Matthew 
 Tobias related the following curcumstance to cheer him in his 
 missionary toils : — 1 A Roman Catholic man had heard him and 
 Mr. Graham in the streets of Ballyshannon, where they first 
 commenced their general mission labours — was deeply con- 
 vinced of sin, but strove by every method to resist the im- 
 pressions, and quench the spirit's operations. At length he 
 entered the army, and fought in the battle of Waterloo. 
 Multitudes were falling on every side. All his former convic- 
 tions returned with tenfold force, and fearing he might be the 
 next called off, and remembering some of the expressions made 
 use of in the sermons and prayers of the missionaries twenty 
 years before, he began to plead with God for mercy, and asked 
 Him for the sake of Christ to forgive his sins. On the spot, 
 and in the midst of shot and shell, he found peace. He 
 escaped unhurt, returned to Dublin, and was then walking in 
 the ways of the Lord.' 
 
 'I hope,' says Mr. Ouseley, 'this will be the case with mul- 
 titudes, who are deterred from making an open avowal of what 
 they believe.' 
 
 Perhaps it was so with Obadiah in the court of Ahab, and 
 1 those of Caesar's "household' of whom St. Paul speaks. 
 Mr. Graham writes the following letter to his son: — 
 
 ' Newtown barry, Nov. 22nd, 182 1. 
 ' My DEAR Charles, — My strength and sight are failing, although I have 
 cause to bless God that I have not been "labouring in vain, nor spending 
 my strength for nought." The people seem to love me as much as ever, 
 and would be pained to think of my sitting down. I am in the hand of 
 the Lord. He knows what to do with me better than I know myself. But 
 'tis likely I must desist from the mission, and whether I shall be equal to a 
 circuit, time will tell. I have only to live for the present, and leave the 
 rest to the Lord. If I must sit down, I have some thoughts that Dublin 
 would be my place. I have been doing a little in the fairs and markets, 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 219 
 
 and meet with no opposition. The Antinomian ministers used to do all in 
 their power to annoy us, by going to some of our preaching places, and 
 holding lectures, but the bishop, at the last visitation, has interdicted them, 
 and the (Established) Church is now at war with itself. The world will 
 soon discover who is right, and who is wrong ; Calvinism was formerly the 
 death blow of Methodism wherever it had influence. / have been long 
 apprized of their combination against us, and our people are so simple, that 
 when they meet with anything like religion in those ( Established Church ) 
 ministers, they think there are none such, btit ti??ie will tell. Truth alone will 
 bear the test, and all false systems shall fade away, and come to nought, 
 Peace and safety are only found in the way of holiness. I hope you are 
 going forward. There are few to help ; many to hinder. 
 
 'Your affectionate father, 
 
 ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 During this and the following year (1821-22), the Rev. John 
 Feely was appointed to travel with Mr. Ouseley on the general 
 mission. I regret that Mr. Ouseley's biographer was not aware 
 that this young man was the fruit of Mr. Graham's ministry 
 when he was stationed on the Carlow circuit, in the year 181 7. 
 Mr. Reilly merely says, at page 239 — 1 Mr. John Feely, a 
 young man, who had been converted by the Irish missionaries 
 from the Romish creed, in which he had been educated.' 
 The fact was, Mr. Graham was on a circuit at the time, and first 
 met him at the house of a Mr. Large, on the Carlow circuit, 
 where he was employed as a tutor in the family. He ventured 
 to hear Mr. Graham preach, and the results were several con- 
 versations, or rather stern controversies, on the disputed tenets 
 between the Reformed and Romish religion. The w^riter 're- 
 members Mr. Feely to say, that what decided his mind was, 
 the emphatic manner in which Mr. Graham concluded the last 
 controversial conversation by quoting so authoritatively Rev. 
 xviii. 4, 5, — 1 Come out of her my people, that ye be not 
 partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remem- 
 bered her iniquities.' The Spirit of God accompanied this 
 passage with such power to the young man's conscience, that 
 
220 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 he literally trembled, and from that day forward never attempted 
 to defend his system. He sought the mercy of God, and soon 
 found it; and did indeed become, as we have already seen, and 
 as the sequel will still further confirm, ' a burning and a shining 
 light' 
 
 Mr. Ouseley speaks of him in terms of high respect and 
 affection thus : — 
 
 ' He is quite in his element, when he stands or rides in the street to 
 address his countrymen in their own tongue, which he speaks with great 
 facility. And as they learn that he had been of their own Church, they are 
 the more eager to hear him .' 
 
 Mr. Feely also speaks of Mr. Ouseley with admiration and 
 respect thus : — 
 
 ' 1 found him a man of deep devotedness to God, and, if possible, of still 
 greater missionary zeal. As a minister of Christ he was, indeed, " instant 
 in season and out of season," endeavouring at all times, and by all Christian 
 means, to lead sinners to the one, all-sufficient Saviour. He often encoun- 
 tered things of an unpleasant nature while engaged in open-air work, which 
 was almost constant ; and, oh ! how did he labour in prayer both before and 
 after these exercises ! Often have I heard him weep, and agonize, and 
 wrestle with God. In coming into a town he stood on the most convenient 
 spot he could select, and commenced forthwith to sing a hymn in English 
 and Irish. In a short time a goodly number might be seen around him, of 
 all creeds, attentively listening to the Word of Life, although sometimes 
 one and another would, in turn, mimic or indulge in malice. It is not in 
 my power to describe him as a preacher. He clearly expounded the moral 
 law in its spirituality, extent, and requirements ; and then the depravity of 
 the heart as a fountain, sending off seventeen streams of corruption con- 
 tinually. (See Gal. v. 19-21). Then the meritorious cause of human sal- 
 vation, by the redeeming work of the Lord Jesus ; and then pressed the 
 present acceptance of pardon through faith in His blood. He was a great 
 enemy to Popery, as a system, but not to its unhappy subjects. These he 
 greatly pitied, but blamed their teachers. 
 
 'John Feely.' 
 
 Mr. Graham writes to his son early in 1822, as follows : — 
 
 ' Ballycanew, Jan. 18, 1822. 
 ' My dear Chari.es, — Thank God, I have seen another year, and am in 
 good health at present. I have an increase of hearers on my mission, and 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 221 
 
 some new places, which are likely to do well. I am preaching in the fairs 
 and markets as usual, -which proves a blessing in stirring up the people, and 
 increasing our congregations. I have been violently opposed on the day I 
 preached in Enniscorthy market. There was an uproar. They began at 
 last to throw whatever came to hand, and resolved to prevent my being 
 heard. This was the great market day before Christmas Day. The Mayor 
 of the town came forward and put a stop to the confusion, and let me loose 
 at them. Many of them stood pale-faced and confounded before I had done. 
 On yesterday week I had a real hearing. The Mayor attended, and the 
 Protestants were roused by the conduct of the Romanists on the former day. 
 I know nothing better calculated to stir up ignorant Protestants, lukewann 
 Methodists, and backsliding sinners, than this outside work. They will not 
 come to our houses, but here we find them out. I wonder how my health 
 stands under this heavy labour. When Mr. Banks saw the attention of the 
 Catholics in the market of Newtownbarry, he said — " That he had no hope 
 for years to come to see such results of the mission. " I hope the Lord has 
 something in store for it. I am never happier than when T deliver my mes- 
 sage, and then leaving it with the Lord to give the increase. We had a 
 great watch-night in the market-house of Gorey, and I preached in the fair 
 next day. John Wilson (I suppose John S. Wilson), a local preacher, 
 mounted my horse when 1 had done, and we had (both) a blessed hearing. 
 The people were attentive. Perhaps I was never loved or respected so much 
 as I am at present. The Lord is good, "and His mercy endureth for ever." 
 Others are being raised up for this warfare when I am no more. I had my 
 day, and I am thankful. All glory to God ! my peace abounds. I know 
 nothing but peace at present. It may be that my last days shall be my best. 
 May the Most High bless and keep you all. Amen. Amen. 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 Mr. Graham again writes to the secretaiy of the Missionary- 
 Society in London : — 
 
 1 Newtownbarry, April 20, 1822. 
 
 ' My dear Brother, — Although the minds of the people are disaffected, 
 and many are alarmed, yet, through all I have an attentive hearing, and 
 many are melted into tears under the Word. My health is greatly impaired, 
 and I find myself inadequate for the work. Mr. Banks and others think I 
 ought to sit down at present ; but if I could struggle on until Conference, I 
 would be unwilling to do so. I am in the hands of that wise Being who 
 knows what is best to do with me, and I leave it all to Him. "Through 
 waves, and clouds, and storms, He has gently cleared my way." Hitherto 
 He has helped me. I feel this an important period of my life — just finishing 
 
222 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 my course, and desisting from that blessed work, wherein He has so long 
 supported and kept me from departing from His ways. My heart is full. 
 I could say much, but I forbear. I have a pleasing account to give of my 
 mission. The work is deepening and spreading. I met thirty in class in 
 Newtownbarry on last Sabbath morning. It was like the opening of 
 heaven. The progress they are making in the Divine life is astonishing. 
 
 One of these was a late convert from Rome, a young man named T. B . 
 
 His father enjoined on him, when dying, to pay ten shillings quarterly to 
 get him out of purgatory ; but his mother, who was a Protestant, dying 
 shortly after, left Thomas her Bible, with a dying request to read it. He 
 felt as much attached to her and her safety as to the father, and brought 
 five guineas to the priest to pray for her also. The priest refused, saying 
 "she was hopelessly lost as a heretic ; but as he was so anxious, he would 
 write to the bishop." He (the bishop) was of the same mind, and poor 
 Thomas was in a state of black despair, when some one invited him to com- 
 and hear me. He did so, and asked my advice. I told him by no means 
 to give the priest another penny, and pointed him to Christ. He sought 
 and found, and now rejoices in God exceedingly, as do two females, 
 formerly Romanists. — Yours, 'Charles Graham. 
 
 1 To the Rev. Joseph Taylor, London.'' 
 
 He writes again to the secretary in London, in three months 
 after : — 
 
 'Newtownbarry, June 22, 1822. 
 ' My dear Brother, — I hope the Lord will give me grace to be 
 resigned. I was first chosen by the Conference as a missionary to go 
 through the kingdom, but I was unwilling to travel alone, and I considered 
 Brother Ouseley a fit person to send with me ; and by the blessing of God, 
 our way was opened, and greatly blessed. The Lord has raised up many 
 who are now able and willing to declare the glad tidings to a perishing 
 world. Some are leaving the Mass ; others are inquiring how they may 
 make their escape. It is easy with the Lord to open the way, but it 
 requires both faith and patience in the preachers. May the great Head of 
 the Church teach us what to do, and how to do it, and take the whole 
 matter into His own hands, and give the increase. I have been lately 
 endeavouring to open some new places, and although I have not joined 
 them in societies, yet I think impressions have been made, which will yield 
 fruit hereafter. The field meetings are greatly blessed. Neither names nor 
 forms will do now. Real religion is becoming honourable, and bears down 
 all before it. Heaven has greatly blessed us with labourers in this corner 
 of His vineyard ; and many who were greatly prejudiced now see their mis- 
 take, and confess that the power of the Lord is among the Methodists. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 223 
 
 Some profess and enjoy the blessing of sanctification ; others pressing after 
 it. Blessed be the Lord for this Methodism. May it increase in the earth 
 with all the increase of God, that "all may know Him, from the rising of 
 the sun to the going down of the same." 'Tis a blessing to witness the 
 growth in grace of some, and their rapid advance in praying, exhorting, 
 and preaching. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen ; so be it. 
 
 ' I remain yours truly, 
 
 1 Charles Graham. 
 
 ' To the Rev. Joseph Taylor, London. ' 
 
 Shortly before the Conference of 1822 he writes to his son, 
 thus : — 
 
 'Dear Charles, — It appears my travelling will be over at the next 
 Conference, if spared. Mr. Banks thinks I should sit down at present. 
 The last month has been hard on me. A swelling in my legs, a violent 
 cough, a lightness in my head, loss of sight, and loss of appetite. My time 
 cannot be long. I feel this an important period of my life. The finishing 
 of my course and of the ministry which the Lord committed to me, and in 
 which I had a name and a place so long. Thank God, I have not turned 
 aside from the path of duty until I can labour no longer. I have been long 
 afraid of sitting down too soon; but now I am convinced that I can no 
 longer fill up the place of an active man ; and as the Lord is raising up men 
 who are willing and able to work, and supply my lack of service, why should 
 I not submit? Oh, what a mercy that our ministry is not failing, but 
 increasing, both in gifts and in grace. We have a number of most blessed 
 young men on this mission, and a number of holy men and women who are 
 alive to God. Their cups are full and flowing over. Among these a young 
 man who has fled from the Mass, and for his time is an ornament to reli- 
 gion ; and, notwithstanding the danger he is exposed to for having left the 
 Mass at such a time as this, he neither fears priests nor people. There are 
 females also belonging to that system, who are striving to make their 
 escape, but they are watched by their parents and other friends. I hope 
 they may be steady. I am going out to the circuit to-morrow, please the 
 Lord, to try how far I can go. The good Master can yet strengthen me, if 
 He has any work for me to do. 
 
 ' Your affectionate father, 
 
 'C. Graham.' 
 
 1 
 
XX. 
 
 ' The world is my parish.'— John Wesley. 
 
 ' Disciples of Jesus, stand ye here idle ? 
 
 Go work in His vineyard to-day : 
 The night is approaching, when no man can labour, 
 Our Master commands us, and shall we delay ? 
 
 Chorus — The field is the world, the field is the world, 
 Look up for the harvest is near ; 
 When the reapers from gloiy will shout as they come, 
 And the Lord of the harvest appear. 
 
 Our field is the Avorld, and our work is before us ; 
 
 To each is appointed a message to bear ; 
 At home or abroad, in the cottage or palace, 
 
 Wherever directed our mission is there. 
 Chorus — The field is the world, &c. 
 
 Perhaps we are called from the highways and hedges, 
 
 To gather the lowly, despised, and oppressed ; 
 If this be our duty, then why should we falter ? 
 We'll do it and trust to our Saviour the rest. 
 Chorus — The field is the world, &c. 
 
 Instead of the thorn shall the myrtle be planted, 
 
 The desert shall blossom and bloom as the rose, 
 The palm tree rejoicing shall spread forth her branches, 
 
 The lamb and the lion together repose. 
 Chorus — The field is the world,' &c. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY. 
 
 Fifth appointment to Wexford. — Letter to his son. — Letter to 
 missionary secretary in london in l822. — also one in 
 beginning of 1823. — another to his son. 
 
 T this Conference, July 1822, Mr. Graham was 
 appointed the second year to 'the County Wex- 
 
 I ford Mission,' and wrote the following letter to 
 
 his son within one day of the seventy-second year of his 
 age :— 
 
 ' Newtownbarry, August 19///, 1822. 
 4 Dear Charles, — I was brought very low since I returned from Dublin. 
 I had to return from the mission very unwell, and spent eight days at home, 
 after which I set out to meet Messrs. Ouseley and Feely in the market of 
 Gorey. As they were late in coming, I took to the saddle and faced the 
 crowd, and then a local preacher held forth. But before he had done, the 
 men whom we expected came up, and you would imagine that there was 
 scarcely a particle of antichristian superstition but was exposed and swept 
 away for ever. The field meetings were astonishing. The Lord is paying 
 those two men well for their labour of love. We had a great breaking 
 down. The places are well watered. You would wonder to see so many 
 Protestants in a country place as we had at the field meeting. The Lord be 
 praised, Methodism is likely to drive all before it. We have had those good 
 men two days. I feel no desire at present to desist from the blessed work 
 of warning sinners "to flee from the wrath to come." " 'Tis worth living 
 for this." May the Lord ever save me from growing weary or faint in my 
 mind. There is nothing I dread more than that lukev/armness, which the 
 
 P 
 
226 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. G GRAHAM, 
 
 Lord so much abhors. I feel grateful to my Saviour for what He has done 
 and is doing. The people are blessedly alive. Some are joining our classes 
 and some getting converted. Oh, what a mercy that any are making their 
 escape from the world and the devil. " The kingdom of heaven suffereth 
 violence, and the violent take it by force. 11 Therefore strive for as much 
 religion as will make you happy. I am joined by Mr. Feely in love to you 
 and all the family. 
 
 ' Your affectionate father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 He writes to the mission secretary in London early in 1823, 
 in the following terms : — 
 
 ' Newtown barry, Jan. \Wi, 1823. 
 1 My dear Brother, — I have lately enjoyed a good degree of health, 
 and was enabled to take the streets. Although every effort is made to 
 prevent the Catholics from hearing, yet they do hear, and I believe feel the 
 truth of what is declared. And although the seed may appear for some 
 time to be under the clods, it will spring forth and bear fruit at last. On 
 last Christmas morning, a dispute arose between the priest and one of his 
 parishioners, which led the priest to attempt to strike him, and would have 
 (tone so, only that another prevented him. The priest then turned his vestments; 
 to curse this man, and opened a book to close it on him, when another came 
 and swept the book out of his hand, and a scuffle ensued. It appears the 
 secret was that the man whom the priest struck keeps a Bible. The priest 
 had to beg pardon from this man, to his great mortification, but the other 
 declared he would never hear him again. This priest told another man to 
 burn a Testament he obtained from a friend. The Bible is opening the 
 eyes of the people, and I am resolved they shall hear in the streets. Crowds 
 are hearing now. Tears flow apace. The power of God is falling on them. 
 Errors are exposed, truth enforced, and none daring to contradict now. 
 Many say it was in the street they were convinced of their lost condition. 
 Oh, why have we not more street preaching. Oh, let us give them — both 
 Romans and careless Protestants who will not come to our houses — warning 
 from the Lord, whether they will hear or forbear. I hear six priests have 
 left the Mass. I wonder why the Lord has kept me so long in this country. 
 The end will be glorious. The prospect is good. Lord help me to finish 
 my course well. 
 
 ' I am yours affectionately, 
 
 'Charles Graham. 
 
 ' To the Rev. Joseph Taylor, London. ' 
 
 The next letter to his son is also dated at the opening of the 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 227 
 
 year 1823, and contrasts with his state of health when he wrote 
 to Mr. Taylor:— 
 
 'fan. 31^, 1823. 
 
 'My dear Charles, — I am unwell at present, and it is high time to 
 attend to that admonition, " Set thine house in order for thou shalt die and 
 not live." My time must be short. Thank God, I have lived so long. 
 During the latter part of the past year and the beginning of the present, my 
 soul has been happier than usual. I sometimes thought the Lord was pre- 
 paring me for a better world. Oh, that I may be ready. This should engross 
 my attention above all things else, for no past experience, no matter how 
 precious, would do for the present. But I bless God, He makes me happy, 
 especially in the path of duty. The weary body would say, 'tis time to 
 give up ; but the Lord knows what is good for me, and I hope He will 
 give me strength for my day. I am leaving home to-morrow, please the 
 Lord, as I am well. I expect to be home next week. Write during that 
 time if you have anything of interest to communicate. After that I shall 
 have the full round of my circuit or mission to take, which will take me 
 nearly three weeks. May the good Lord guide and bless you and family is 
 the prayer of your affectionate father. 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 In this letter he refers, no doubt, to the rich baptism of the 
 Spirit to which the Rev. R. Huston alludes in his Life of the Rev. 
 Fossey Tackaberry, thus: — 'When Mr. Graham was on the 
 Newtownbarry mission, and at the close of his career, Mrs. 
 Morris, sen., of Ballycanew, at whose house he was wont to 
 make a monthly pastoral visit, mentioned to me, that the last 
 time he called, there was such an extraordinary power and 
 unction in his prayer, she inquired — " Mr. Graham, is your soul 
 nearer to God than usual ?" " Oh, yes," he benignantly replied, 
 "much nearer." ' 
 
 This venerable Christian lady still lives; she went to America 
 some years ago, and has lately returned. The writer heard 
 her pray a few days since in Ballycanew. Oh, such access to 
 the throne of grace ! It might be well said of herself now, 
 that ' her soul is much nearer to God than usual.' She is like 
 another Anna— 'a widow of four score and four years,' and 
 
228 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 iike her also, ' serves God with fastings and prayers night and 
 day;' and as well 'speaks to all them (in that neighbourhood 
 of Ballycanew) who look for redemption;' that is, for a 
 glorious revival of God's hallowed work, such as she has seen 
 in America, Nor is her devoted son less to be admired for 
 his filial attachment, and for the interest he takes in Zion's 
 prosperity. 
 
XXL 
 
 ' But go thou thy way till the end be, for thou shalt rest, and stand in 
 thy lot at the end of the days. — Daniel xii. 13. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER'S DISMISSAL FROM THE FIELD OF CONFLICT. 
 
 ' Soldier, rise — the war is done ; 
 
 Lo ! the hosts of hell are flying : 
 'Twas thy Lord the battle won ; 
 
 Jesus conquered them by dying. 
 Pass the stream — before thee lies 
 
 All the conquered land of glory ; 
 Hark ! what songs of rapture rise, 
 
 These proclaim the victor's story. 
 Soldier, lay thy weapons down, 
 Quit the sword, and take the crown ; 
 Triumph ! all thy foes are banished ; 
 Death is slain, and earth has vanished.' 
 
 1 Behold a patriarch of years, who leaneth on the staff of religion ; 
 His heart is fresh — quick to feel — a burning fount of generosity ; 
 Lofty aspirations, deep affections, holy hopes, are his delight. 
 Passionate thirst for gain never hath burned within his bosom ; 
 The leaden chains of that dull lust have not bound him prisoner. 
 The shrewd world laughed at him for honesty — the vain world mouthed 
 
 at him for honour; 
 The false world hated him for truth — the cold world despised him for 
 
 affection. 
 
 Still he kept his treasure — the warm and noble heart.' 
 
 Proverbial Philosophy. 
 
CHAPTER XXL 
 
 JOURNALS — GREAT OPPOSITION. 
 
 Mr. Graham's last appointment.— King's County.— Athlone. — 
 Leaves County Wexford. — Great grief. — Letter to Rev. 
 Mr. Taylor of London. — Letter from Athlone to his son. — 
 Concern of a Roman Catholic young man. — Illness. — Sym- 
 pathetic LETTER FOM REV. G. OUSELEY. — EXTRACT OF Mr. 
 
 Graham's third last letter to his son. — Second last letter. 
 — Also, the last, and very interesting. 
 
 T the Conference of July, 1823 — his last — Mr. Graham 
 was appointed to ' the King's County and County 
 Westmeath mission,' and to reside in Athlone, where 
 he had his wish gratified, namely, ' a quiet place and a short 
 time to prepare for flight' How he parted with his dear 
 friends and his spiritual children, we may judge from the 
 following extract from Huston's Life of Tackaberry. 
 
 ' He was held in the highest veneration and esteem by those 
 among whom he laboured ; and his parting from them bore an 
 almost literal resemblance to that of Paul from the Ephesian 
 elders. " And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck and 
 kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, 
 that they should see his face no more.'" And this was literally 
 true of Mr. Graham; but many of them have seen him since 
 in that spirit land where friends in Christ shall part no more. 
 
 To the missionary secretaries he writes himself after this 
 fashion : — 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 231 
 
 ' Enniscorthy, July, 1823. 
 
 'My dear Brother, — There are now eighty members on this mission in 
 two years. Some convinced of sin, some converted, and a few who profess 
 sanctifying grace. In some places we have no class meeting for want of 
 leaders or praying members ; but there is every prospect that the Lord will 
 raise up those who will assist in this way. There are three local preachers, 
 zealous and useful ; and three who can exhort, and pray, and hold meet- 
 ings; and two in another class. One of the local preachers had been a 
 Catholic. I trust the seed scattered will bring forth fruit to the glory of 
 God. One of our members, a converted Roman Catholic, told me there 
 were forty in the country ready to break off. They only want a little 
 courage to meet persecution. Perhaps the time is at hand. The markets 
 and fairs are open on that circuit to any who possess strength and courage 
 to attend them. They are in every direction well acquainted with hearing 
 for five years past. I have warned them publicly in fairs, and markets, and 
 fields, at the risk of health and everything that was dear or sacred to me. 
 For I may say, though in a limited sense, " I did not count my life dear 
 unto me," if His great name should be glorified, and the souls for whom 
 He shed His precious blood finally saved. May the Most High water the 
 seed, and cause it bring fruit abundantly, to the glory of His adorable name. 
 — Amen. 
 
 'Charles Graham. 
 
 ' To the Rev. jfoseph Taylor, London. ' 
 
 With these sentiments he closed his five years' mission 
 labours in the county of Wexford. 
 
 The following letter is the first from Athlone to his son : — 
 
 ' Athlone, October 30, 1823. 
 
 'My dear Charles, — This day I feel a little better, thank God; and 
 I hope, if spared, to go to my circuit to-morrow. Mr. Banks has been 
 very ill, and I hear Mr. Steele is not well. We, old preachers, must expect 
 shortly to be removed, so as to make room for others to take the field. 
 May the good Lord help us to finish our course well, and may He send 
 more faithful labourers to enter the list. We had the Rev. Valentine Ward 
 here, who gave great satisfaction to all who heard him. I hope our cause 
 will get on well in this town and country. I have been preaching a good 
 deal of Irish in some of my places. There is a Roman Catholic young 
 man who hears me. He has bought a Bible, and now doubts the Popish 
 doctrines. If he were converted, we would have hope of him, as he is a 
 young man of abilities. It is not easy for any one of that church in such 
 
2 3 2 
 
 THE LJFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 times as these, to make their escape. Perhaps the Lord is giving them the 
 length of their chain ; and may shortly stop them. The army seems much 
 on the alert. All these things call upon us all to be ready, for, "in the 
 midst of life we are in death." But we are in His hand, who hath the solo 
 control, and who can say to all His enemies, "hitherto shall thou come, 
 and no further." May our confidence be such that we " may not fear what 
 man can do unto us." — Your affectionate father, 
 
 ' Charles Graham.' 
 
 The following sympathetic letter, of nearly the same date, is 
 from the well-known pen of Mr. Graham's dear friend and com- 
 panion for many years 'in the kingdom and patience of Jesus/ 
 the Rev. G. Ouseley : — 
 
 ( 2i Great Ship Street, Dublin, Nov. 8, 1823. 
 
 * My much esteemed and greatly beloved brother Graham, — 
 By a letter from brother Reilly, which Mr. Ward received yesterday, I learn, 
 with no small concern, that you are so unwell, that it is not advisable for you 
 to travel until your strength shall return. If it please God, it shall return- 
 Be satisfied ; it is all of God. Take a little rest for the remainder cf your 
 time. It is singular I was telling Mr. Ward (the Rev. V. Ward, Superin- 
 tendent of Missions) of your illness before Mr. Reilly's letter arrived. I 
 dreamed a few nights ago that a number of the preachers were together, and 
 some unusual ordination was about to take place. I thought you were the 
 person first to be ordained, and that I was fixed on to pronounce your cha- 
 racter. I spoke aloud, and said — " Brother Graham's character is, that he 
 did always promptly, and with all his might, everything he conceived right 
 to be done to promote the glory of God, and the good of the cause he was 
 engaged in ; this ye all know." Methought the Divine power and blessing 
 fell upon us all, and that a shower of tears of gratitude and love burst forth 
 from your eyes and mine, and from the eyes of all. Giving glory to God, I 
 awoke, and my soul was very happy. Yes, Charles, my good brother, as 
 we have seen many happy and prosperous days together, and many times 
 were thus refreshed together of God, so that we were "filled with joy un- 
 speakable, and very full of glory," which, when I now think on, my eyes 
 begin to overflow. I have a hope that, after a little, a short time indeed, 
 we shall meet in the everlasting joy, in the presence of our ever blessed 
 Lord, in our Father's house above, never more to be severed again. Be of 
 good comfort, my brother ; wait with joy your appointed time. How de- 
 lightful is that saying, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us 
 rom all sin" God upbraideth not. "I will never leave thee; I will 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 233 
 
 never forsake thee." Give my love to good brother Dowd and his family. 
 He flinched not in the day of rebuke. My Harriett, who loves you much, 
 and looks to be with us for ever after a little, joins me in affectionate regards 
 to you, sister Graham, and Ann. Your ever affectionate brother in Christ, 
 
 ' Gideon Ouseley.' 
 
 P. S. — We have a prospect of a blessed work on our mission (Meath). 
 Thank God, my health continues as good as when I was a boy. 
 
 The following short extract is from the third last letter which 
 Mr. Graham wrote. It is dated — 
 
 ' Athlone, Dec. 3, 1823. 
 'My dear Charles, — It pleases me before I go hence, that the Lord 
 has put into my power to be of any use to my family . They have been long 
 the subjects of my prayers, and I hope He has, in some measure, answered 
 me. How soon I may have done with prayer I know not, but the Lord 
 affords me much time for that duty. I get but little rest at night, about 
 three hours, when the pain returns, and continues until morning. The 
 weary wheels at last stand still, except what little I do in the old preaching 
 house. The good Lord sent me a man to take my place, and to travel the 
 mission, just at the nick of time. He is well liked. I hope the Lord will 
 make him a blessing. Let us watch and pray, for the time is hastening 
 when you will be as I am now ; and how awful would it be for me to come 
 to the borders of the grave, and have no prayer answered. The Lord be 
 praised, He gives me comfort in my affliction. I can cast myself and all 
 my concerns upon Him. God grant this may be the best year we have ever 
 spent if preserved. Amen. 
 
 'C. Graham.' 
 
 The following is from the second last letter to his son : — 
 
 ' My dear Charles, — The Lord may have something still for me to do. 
 Although I cannot put my foot out of doors, I can pray for the people who 
 have been committed to my care, and direct him who is labouring in my 
 place. And blessed be the Lord, the work is prospering. There is a good 
 appearance. " 'Tis not by might, but my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." 
 He gives, and who can stay His hand ? How few have faith in prayer ; 
 therefore, instead of making " their requests known to God," they strive to 
 live independent of Him. But some will say we are not worthy to be heard, 
 as we are sinners ; but let this cursed cause be removed, and then the effect 
 will cease. Let every one cut off the right hand sin, and pluck out the right 
 eye sin, and give themselves sincerely and unreservedly to seek and serve the 
 Lord ; and we have His word for it — " Prove me now herewith, saith the 
 
234 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out 
 a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Let these 
 words leave a lasting impression on your mind. You may hear from me 
 again before I go hence, and be no more ; but there is nothing certain, for 
 if you knew what I pass through, you would wonder I am alive this day. 
 Mother joins me in love to you and all the family. — I am your affectionate 
 Father, 
 
 ' Chari.es Graham.' 
 
 The above observations on prayer are worthy the last days 
 of such a man, whose whole religious life was a life of prayer. 
 To this we may attribute the great success of his ministry. 
 How true are Miss Lutton's beautiful lines — 
 
 ' When torn is the bosom with sorrow or care, 
 Be it ever so simple, there's nothing like prayer ; 
 
 It seizes, soothes, softens, subdues, yet sustains ; 
 Gives vigour to hope, and puts passion in chains. 
 Prayer ! prayer ! sweet, sweet prayer ; 
 Be it ever so simple, there 's nothing like prayer.' 
 
 We now come to the last letter which this venerable servant of 
 the Lord wrote, but wrote with a tremulous hand, and just 
 waiting until his change came. And oh ! w r hat a scene follows — 
 
 ' ATHLONE, April 2, 1824. 
 'My dear Charles, — I am advised by my family to send for you to 
 come down as soon as possible, for I may say with the patriarch, " I know 
 not the day of my death. " The Lord has spared me to a good old age, but 
 from my great weakness, and my want of rest and appetite, it is not pos- 
 sible that I can hold out much longer. I will not say what the Lord can 
 do. I did not expect to see this time ; but He knows what is best, and 
 what He is doing, therefore all I want is to wait His time. My affairs are 
 mostly settled. Perhaps there will be something due at the Conference, 
 after my debts and funeral expenses are paid, which may be of use to some- 
 body. The will is ready to be signed. I can say little more, but expect to 
 see you shortly. My strength is failing, or I would say more. Farewell, 
 my dear children. May that God who blessed me and kept me, bless and 
 keep you all for ever, is the prayer of your ever affectionate Father, 
 
 'Charles Graham.' 
 
 After this the hand 'forgot jts cunning, and the pen the readiness 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 235 
 
 of the ready writer. i The keepers of the house (hands) trem- 
 bled, and the strong men (legs) bowed themselves,' and only 
 a short time was now to elapse until this venerable patriarch 
 gathered up his feet to die ; and nobly was he enabled to 
 meet the final foe, proving that he could realize the truth of 
 what he long preached, 1 For so an entrance shall be ministered 
 unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ ' (2 Peter i. 11). 
 
XXII. 
 
 * Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man 
 is peace.' — Psalm xxxvii. 37. 
 
 1 THE BELIEVER'S TRIUMPHANT END. 
 
 ' Of life's past toils, the fading trace 
 Hath given that aged patriarch's face 
 Expression holy, deep, resigned ; 
 The calm sublimity of mind. 
 Years o'er his snowy head have past, 
 And left him of his race the last ; 
 Alone on earth, but yet his mien 
 Is bright with majesty divine. 
 And those high hopes, whose guiding star 
 Shines from eternal worlds afar, 
 Have with that light illumed his eye, 
 Whose fount is immortality ; 
 And o'er his features poured a ray 
 Of glory, not to pass away — 
 One to sublimer worlds allied, 
 One from all passions purified — 
 Even now, half mingled with the sky, 
 And all prepared — oh, not to die, 
 But, like the prophet, to aspire 
 To heaven's triumphal car of fire ! ' 
 
 Hemans. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH DESCRIBED. 
 
 Mr. Pilch.— Assists Mr. Graham. — His visits.— Work on the 
 mission. — Mr. Graham rejoices in his prosperity. — Visit of 
 Rev. John Feely. — Great delight. — Prays with the congre- 
 gation. — Conversion of a Roman Catholic near Gillan. — 
 Visit of his son. — Triumphant death. 
 
 HE following sketch of his last illness and death 
 was written by Mr. Pilch, the assistant, to whom 
 Mr. Graham referred as having supplied his place 
 
 on the circuit, and who was made so useful. He afterwards 
 removed from this country to New York, where he occupied a 
 very useful ministerial position, and died some years ago, 
 happy in the Lord. He has met his companion and friend : — 
 
 * December 4, 1823. — On my arrival in Athlone, Mr. Graham 
 came in from Firbane scarcely able to ride. I wondered at 
 seeing him so reduced, and concluded he had done with the 
 labours of the harvest field.' 
 
 Here we see a remarkably special providence. This friend 
 was on his way to take charge of one of our mission schools at 
 Firbane, and had just arrived in time to meet the emergency 
 of Mr. Graham's illness. He was advanced in life, but 
 talented, and very acceptable. Mr. Graham asked him to 
 take his place, saying, ' If you don't go I will go myself, if I 
 should fall in the ditch in the attempt' 
 
 4 1 saw,' continues Mr. Pilch, 1 that he could not attempt it 
 
238 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 again, but such was his love for souls, and his unflinching 
 regard for regularity in being at his places to the very last, that 
 nothing but absolute incapability could prevent him from setting 
 out. Mr. Graham concluded the interview by saving, " I had 
 a heaven on earth while engaged in the blessed work, and I 
 never had it nearer my heart than now." He always wept with 
 joy when I told him of any conversion, and he lived in the old 
 rooms connected with the preaching-house in Athlone. He 
 would, when able, lean over the bannisters of the stairs and pray 
 at the conclusion of the service, but his strength soon failed, 
 and he had to decline even this slight service. When speaking 
 of death he only smiled at the thought of soon getting away, 
 but not impatient to be off. He was perfectly resigned to the 
 will of God, and said, "I have not a doubt of joining the blood- 
 besprinkled band, and I have that assurance now for fifty years, 
 and I could not now be deceived. I neither fear the devil nor 
 his blood-men, nor all the powers of darkness j Christ is my 
 stronghold, and I defy their hellish rage ; I had many conflicts 
 with the enemy, but now the victory is won. I could not but 
 be happy." ' 
 
 1 Friday, February 26, 1824. — I was surprised,' says Mr. 
 Pilch, ' to see the change which had taken place in one week. 
 He said to me, " I am going home fast, and I will never leave 
 this bed-chamber until carried out." On the next morning I 
 called and found him asleep, but he awoke in about an hour, 
 and smiled as if on the wing for flight He was all praise. I 
 asked him how he was. He said, "I am the same in body, 
 but happy in my soul." The tears ran copiously down his 
 weather-beaten cheeks, while he was exclaiming, " Precious 
 Saviour, loving Saviour, praise the Lord, O my soul, and all 
 that is within me bless his holy name." When I prayed, it 
 appeared as if heaven was let down into our midst. This was 
 glory begun.' 
 
 'Sabbath, 28. — We held our Love Feast in the chapel, after 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 239 
 
 which several of the friends visited him, to their unspeakable 
 joy.' 
 
 ' Tuesday, March 1. — I called and asked him "how he felt." 
 He merely said, "breathing;" but immediately asked "How is 
 the Lord's work going on?" I told him of a Roman Catholic 
 family who had renounced the errors of Popery. He smiled 
 and said, " Many times I have both warned and wept over 
 them, but it is not easy to get disentangled from that yoke." 
 It appears he was instrumental in convincing this family of 
 the errors of Popery before his last illness, as if God would 
 crown his last public effort with another rich trophy from 
 that dark system, for the destruction of which he spent his 
 life !' 
 
 ' March 3. — His son arrived from Dublin, which was a 
 source of much comfort, for he greatly loved him. Mr. 
 Graham then took me by the hand, and, with his eyes heaven- 
 ward, prayed forme, and then said, "All is well ; I am delivered 
 from the sin of doubting. After preaching the Gospel to others 
 for fifty years, how could I doubt ? Jesus is mine and I am 
 His." I said, "You seem to be happier than you were a few 
 days ago." He said, "I was so tortured with acute pain that 
 I could not converse much, but I have not followed a cunningly 
 devised fable." I said, "The brethren above will be glad to see 
 you, and welcome you home." " O, yes," said he, and wept. 
 We were all melted into love. I left him on the 5th of March, 
 and did not expect to see him again, so Mr. Lemaistre and I 
 prayed with and for him. I heard Mr. Feely came to see him, 
 and that it was a rich season, and a time of mutual blessing, 
 and even of rejoicing. They partook of the Lord's Supper 
 before he left, which was a source of unspeakable satisfaction 
 to Mr. Graham, as Mr. Feely was his own loved son in the 
 Gospel, as already recorded. Their parting was truly affecting 
 Again we see the kind providence of God in placing Mr. Feely 
 in a station which made it convenient to visit his spiritual 
 
240 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 father on his death-bed They have long since met to part no 
 more for ever.' 
 
 ''March 13. — I returned to-day, and found my venerable 
 friend still lingering on the shore, but ready to launch away, 
 
 "Nearer the bound of life, 
 
 Where we lay our burden down ; 
 Nearer leaving the cross ; 
 
 Nearer wearing the crown." ' 
 
 1 March 14. — Found him still very happy in God, but patiently 
 awaiting the will of the Lord.' 
 
 1 March 15. — Found him scarcely able to breathe.' 
 
 ''March 16. — Found him cheerful and without pain. He 
 said, "When I was going round my mission before my last 
 illness, my soul was, at some times, so happy, and so filled with 
 the love of God, that I could scarcely refrain from crying aloud, 
 and shouting the praises of the Lord ; and since my affliction 
 my joy has been beyond expectation." ' 
 
 1 March iS. — Found Mr. Graham, to all appearance,~on the 
 brink of eternity; his eye quite sunk. He could only speak in a 
 whisper. He gently and humorously said, " It takes a great 
 deal of affliction to kill an old man referring to the agony 
 he endured all night with a racking cough. But how soon a 
 reverse, even for the better, came. Found him yesterday 
 evening quite cheerful, he conversed about the work of God, 
 and about the time he went to travel, and about his being 
 nearly upset by erroneous teaching, but said he, " The Lord 
 delivered me." He spoke of Fletcher and Benson, and of their 
 interview with Lady Huntingdon, and of their fidelity on be- 
 half of the truth. This conversation was too much for him, but 
 he rallied again and again, and even after this sat up in his 
 chair.' 
 
 ' Sabbath, March 29. — Visited my aged friend to-day, and, oh ! 
 how sweetly did he speak about the beauty of the Sabbath, and 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 24I 
 
 about the day when all shall be brought home to enjoy an 
 eternal Sabbath around the throne above. He was very happy, 
 but next day worse, still rejoicing. My next visit found him 
 much composed. We conversed about the establishment of 
 Wesleyan day-schools. He rejoiced that the teachers would 
 be like so many missionaries. He next referred to Satan's 
 temptations, that he thought to tempt him to doubt his accep- 
 tance, "but," said he, "he was discomfited, and should be so, 
 for the Lord filled my whole soul with love divine. The endu- 
 rance was hard for a. time, but I considered Christ as enduring 
 such.'" 
 
 'April 6, Sabbath. — Found him in some heaviness through 
 manifold temptations (bodily afflictions), but he said, " Though 
 He slay me, yet will I trust Him. I had long contemplated 
 death, but never thought it was so difficult to get through it ; it 
 is a great mercy that these afflictions cannot follow beyond the 
 gate of death. It is now nearly over ; it is too sharp to tarry."' 
 Some good brother alluded to God's unchangeable fidelity, and 
 that He would never leave or forsake him. Immediately Mr. 
 Graham broke out in faltering notes — 
 
 " The voyage of life's at an end, 
 The mortal affliction is past ; 
 The age that in heaven they spend, 
 For ever and ever shall last." ' 
 
 ' Sabbath^ Ap7-il 13. — On yesterday he gave me directions 
 about the mission, and committed me and all to God in prayer. 
 This day he said, "I hope soon to be out of the reach of the 
 spoiler; I can rejoice with joy unspeakable." ' 
 
 In this happy and triumphant state of mind he continued 
 to the last, but sometimes unconscious : whether in the body 
 or out of the body, he knew not. He had passed through 
 what Pope calls 'the pain,' and was now entering on ' the bliss 
 of dying.' Fond nature had almost ' ceased its strife,' and 
 he was about to 'languish into life.' Already he could sing — 
 
 Q 
 
242 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 1 Lend, lend your wings ; I mount, I fly. 
 O grave ! where is thy victory? 
 O death ! where is thy sting?' 
 
 In this rapturous state he continued for eight days, sometimes 
 unconscious of everything around him. Like Bunyan's Pilgrim, 
 he was in the land of Beulah, and on the ' Delectable Moun- 
 tains ' — 'viewing the landscape o'er.' Nothing but 'Jordan's 
 stream ' rolled between. On the 23rd of April the final scene 
 arrived, and, to the astonishment of all around him, he broke 
 forth into the most thrilling strains of praise. The room 
 seemed filled with a flood of light and glory, and it is even said 
 that sounds seraphic were heard by his wife and daughter, as 
 if a convoy of angels were in waiting — 'the chariots of Israel, 
 and horsemen thereof — to convey his happy and sanctified 
 spirit ' to the realms of the blest ' the moment the weary wheels 
 of life stood still ; reminding us of Mrs. Hemans's description 
 of the patriarchal and beatified end of the venerable and pious 
 dead. We have placed it at the front of this chapter, page 236. 
 The following lines seem also very appropriate : — 
 
 * How calm his exit ! 
 Night dews fall not more gently to the ground, 
 Nor weary, worn out winds expire so soft. 
 Behold him in the evening tide of life — 
 A life well spent, whose early care it was, 
 His riper years should not upbraid his green. 
 By un perceived degrees he wears away, 
 Yet, like the sun, seems larger at the setting.' 
 
 The writer should here state that his eyes beheld that placid 
 countenance in death. It indicated all the appearance of one 
 anticipating, and even almost participating, the glory which its 
 spirit companion had already realized. It was truly ' the lovely 
 appearance of death,' if ever that expression could be justified. 
 
 The description of Mr. Graham's happy death brings to our 
 recollection the account which records the death-bed scenes of 
 the Rev. Messrs. Mather and Pawson, Wesleyan ministers of 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY, 
 
 243 
 
 England, as almost similar. Of Mather it is said he exclaimed, 
 in his last moments, * Why did you call me back ? I have been 
 in paradise as surely as I shall go there again. I have been in 
 heaven this morning. I long to be gone. Oh, proclaim Jesus. 
 Glory to God and the Lamb. Amen. Amen. Amen.' Of 
 Pawson it is said he cried out, ' Oh, bring near the joyful hour ! 
 I think I'll get the start of you,' said he to an old friend, ' and 
 show you the way to the regions of bliss and immortal glory. 
 I am dying, but my death-bed is a bed of roses. I have no 
 thorns in my dying pillow. Heaven already is begun. Ever- 
 lasting life is won, is won, is won : my God, my God, my God.' 
 
 It also reminds us of the death-bed scene of Dr. Payson, of 
 America, who died in 1827, three years after Mr. Graham. 
 On being asked, ' Are your views of heaven clearer and brighter 
 than ever before?' he said, 'Why, for a few moments I may 
 have had as bright, but formerly my joys were tumultuous; 
 now all is calm and peaceful.' In a letter which he dictated to 
 his sister, he says : — ' Were I to adopt the figurative language 
 of Bunyan, I might date from the land of Beulah, of which I 
 have been for some weeks an inhabitant. The celestial city is 
 full in my view. Its glories beam upon me. Its breezes fan 
 me. Its odours are wafted to me. Its sounds strike upon my 
 ears, and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing sepa- 
 rates me from it but the river of death, which now appears but 
 as an insignificant rill, that may be crossed at a single step, 
 whenever God shall give permission.' 
 
 But it is not only to the death-bed, but to the battle-field of 
 life to which we must principally look. A celebrated minister 
 once visited an humble member of his congregation, and found 
 him at work as a tanner. He gave him a pleasant tap on the 
 shoulder. The good man started, and, looking behind him, 
 exclaimed, 'Sir, I am ashamed that you should find me thus 
 employed.' ' Let Christ, when He cometh,' said the minister, 
 ' find me so doing.' ' What !' said the good man, ' doing thus ?' 
 
244 THE LIFE 0F THE REV - C. GRAHAM. 
 
 ' Yes,' said the minister, ' faithfully performing the duties of my 
 calling.' 
 
 'Herein,' says John, ' is our love made perfect, that we may 
 have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so 
 are we in this world.' Yes, the believer's growing conformity 
 to his Maker's image imparts a 'boldness' which naturally 
 springs from the assurance that he has passed from death unto 
 life. It was this led General Havelock to say to Sir James 
 Outram, ' For more than forty years I have so ruled my life, 
 that when death should come, I might face it without fear.' 
 This was in no spirit of pride or of self-confidence. John 
 Wesley's definition of humility was, ' To think the truth con- 
 cerning one's-self.' Caleb did not boast although he said, 'I 
 wholly followed the Lord my God.' It was so with Havelock, 
 the Christian warrior, when about to 
 
 ' Rest from the two-fold strife — 
 The battle-field of India and the battle-field of life.' 
 
XXIII. 
 
 1 1 have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the 
 faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.' — 
 2 Tim. iv. 8, 9. 
 
 ' Servant of God, well done ! 
 
 Rest from thy loved employ ; 
 The battle fought, the victory won, 
 Enter thy Master's joy. 
 
 The voice at midnight came, 
 
 He started up to hear ; 
 A mortal arrow pierced his frame ; 
 
 He fell, but felt no fear. 
 
 Tranquil amidst alarms, 
 
 It found him on the field, 
 A veteran slumbering on his arms, 
 
 Beneath his red-cross shield. 
 
 His sword was in his hand, 
 
 Still warm with recent fight, 
 Ready that moment, at command, 
 
 Through rock and steel to smite. 
 
 It was a two-edged blade, 
 
 Of heavenly temper keen ; 
 And double were the wounds it made, 
 
 Whene'er it glanced between. 
 
 'Twas death to sin ; 'twas life 
 
 To all who mourned for sin : 
 It kindled and it silenced strife — 
 
 Made war and peace within.' 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 CHARACTER OF MR. GRAHAM. 
 
 Observations on Mr. Graham's death by the author. — His minis- 
 terial APPOINTMENTS. — CONFERENCE CHARACTER. — OBSERVA- 
 TIONS by his son Charles. — By Rev. Wm. Ferguson. — Mr. 
 Ferguson's Epitaph in Stephen's Green Wesleyan Chapel 
 suitable. — Letter from Mr. Ouseley to Mr. Lanktree on 
 Mr. Graham's death. — Mr. Lanktree's character in part, 
 in note. — Rev. R. Huston's character of Mr. Graham. — 
 Preachers born in Connaught. — Mr. Punshon's lines in 
 note. — Rev. Richard Tracey on Mr. Graham. — Rev. John- 
 Byrne on same and his poem. 
 
 UR venerable father in Christ is now gone ; not lost, 
 but only gone a little before, to be 'for ever with the 
 Lord' whom he loved so long and loved so well on 
 earth. He will be had in everlasting remembrance. His name 
 is still embalmed in the memory of many who linger behind, and 
 who will be his increased crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord 
 Jesus. The writer saw his remains in Athlone forty-four years 
 ago, and his prayer then was, and still is, that his mantle and 
 a double portion of his spirit might fall upon him. 
 
 ' Oh, may we in his footsteps tread, and follow him to heaven. ' 
 
 His death was more like a translation than a dissolution. 
 Like Payson, of America, he 'swam in a sea of glory, long 
 before he plunged into the Godhead's deepest sea.' The 
 secret of his unbounded labours and usefulness, as well as of 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 247 
 
 his persevering stability to the end, may be attributed, next to 
 Divine influence, to the genuine character of that ' faith which 
 works by love, and purifies the heart.' This was the vital 
 current which flowed continually through the moral system. 
 It was not a sentiment ; it was Christian principle. It entered 
 into all the sanctifying duties of his life, both towards God and 
 man. Hence the stability of his zeal, the magnitude of his 
 labours, and the unbounded character of his usefulness. He 
 had, no doubt, his infirmities, and he may have had faults too ; 
 but if he had the latter, I never heard of them. There may 
 appear to some that there was an unjustifiable roughness of 
 manner in his earlier days ; but we might as well blame John 
 the Baptist or Martin Luther for calling things by their right 
 names, as to blame Charles Graham. If he employed rough 
 implements, it was because he had rough work to do. 
 
 The Rev. John Hartley, in speaking of John the Baptist, 
 says : — ' His words were often as rough as his garments, and 
 piercing as barbed arrows ; but such will be borne, when spoken 
 by thorough and consistent men, and spoken in real love. His 
 preaching stirred like a clarion, and woke many an echo in the 
 depths of men's hearts and consciences ; still eager thousands 
 hung upon his lips.' So it was with Graham. It is said, that 
 in the latter years of his life a peculiar sweetness and amiability 
 of disposition was manifest to all ; still he blended the 'son of 
 thunder' and the 'son of consolation' into hallowed combination. 
 If the writer was requested to write his epitaph he would select 
 that on Sir Christopher Wren's monument at Saint Paul's in 
 London. It is this — 
 
 ' Si qu^ris monumentum 
 
 CIRCUMSPICE.' 
 
 * If you inquire for his monument, look around and if he was 
 called on to throw Mr. Graham's character into suitable lines of 
 poetry, he would select those written by Cowper on Whitfield. 
 They are as follow, and almost to life : — 
 
248 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 1 He loved the world that hated him, the tear 
 That fell upon his Bible was sincere ; 
 Assailed by scandal and the tongue of strife, 
 His only answer was a blameless life. 
 And he that forged, and he that threw the dart, 
 Had each a brother's interest in his heart : 
 He followed Paul, his zeal a kindred flame, 
 His apostolic charity the same ; 
 Like him he laboured, and like him content 
 To bear it, suffered shame where'er he went. ' 
 
 His ministerial appointments stand thus: — Kerry, 1790; 
 Limerick, 1791 ; Enniskillen, 1792-93; Birr, or Parsonstown, 
 t 794-95; Mountrath, 1796-97; Longford, 1798. General mis- 
 sionary : — Province of Connaught, and Counties of Meath and 
 Louth, 1799; Province of Ulster, 1800, 1801 ; South and 
 West of Ireland, 1802; Munster, 1803; Counties of Limerick, 
 Tipperary, Mayo, Gal way, and Clare, 1804; Provinces of Con- 
 naught and Leinster, 1805 ; the Limerick and Athlone Districts, 
 and country in their vicinity, 1806; the Cork District, 1807; 
 Athlone Circuit, 1808-9; Mallow Circuit, 1810; Longford 
 Circuit, 181 1 ; Cavan Circuit, 1812-13 ; Mountrath Circuit 
 1814-15-16; Carlow Circuit, 18 17 ; Newtownbarry Mission, 
 1818-19-20; County Wexford Mission, 1821-22; King's County 
 and County Westmeath Mission, 1823. 
 
 The following is the Conference record of Charles Graham, 
 in the Minutes of Conference for 1824: — ' He was born near 
 Sligo, where he lived as a respectable farmer during a period of 
 forty years. At an early age he heard the Gospel by some of 
 the Methodist ministers. He was soon after converted to God. 
 In the commencement of his Christian course, he was led to 
 entertain the doctrine of particular redemption ; but he after- 
 wards had more scriptural views, and he continued to the end 
 of his life, testifying that God is loving to every man in Christ 
 Jesus. He was actively employed for twenty-one years as a 
 local preacher, calling sinners to repentance. In the chapels of 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 249 
 
 our connexion — in the fairs and markets — " in season and out of 
 season " — he was abundant in labours, beseeching men " to be 
 reconciled to God." As a preacher, his abilities were highly 
 energetic and useful. His powerful appeals to his street con- 
 gregations in the Irish language, were pathetic, and sometimes 
 overwhelming. The multitudes heard, trembled, and fell before 
 him. When no longer able to proceed on his mission, he was 
 favoured with more than ordinary influences of the Holy Spirit, 
 as if the great Master had already said, " Well done, good and 
 faithful servant." During his confinement, he endured much pain 
 with patience and fortitude. Near the close of his life he spoke 
 little, yet his whole soul was wrapped up in the ''blessed hope 
 of immortality." And he was often heard to repeat these 
 words — 
 
 ' ' The age that in heaven they spend 
 For ever and ever shall last." 
 
 He gently fell asleep on the bosom of our Lord in Athlone, 
 April 23, 1824, aged seventy-four.' 
 
 The next testimony is from his dear Charles, his only son and 
 namesake, with whom he corresponded so familiarly and affec- 
 tionately for twenty-four years — ' It would far exceed my feeble 
 powers of description, to give an adequate idea of the hap- 
 piness, resignation, and divine confidence, possessed by my 
 dear and lamented father during his long and painful illness. 
 He never discovered a doubt, or even a temptation, on the 
 subject of his acceptance with God through Jesus Christ. Of 
 him it might frequently be said, as of the ancient patriarch, 
 that he literally " worshipped leaning on the top of his staff" 
 [Alluding to his efforts to perform family devotion, while either 
 lying, or sitting up in the bed]. He made it a matter of prayer, 
 that God, before He removed him to his eternal rest, would be* 
 pleased so to reveal Himself and the invisible world, that he 
 might have some just idea of the ineffable glory of that hea- 
 venly kingdom, into which he felt persuaded he was about to 
 
250 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 enter. And it appeared that God, in infinite condescension, 
 answered this prayer of His dying servant, for on the night pre- 
 vious to his dissolution he had such a discovery of the eternal 
 world made to his mind as caused his prayer to be turned into 
 the most rapturous praise. " Glory, glory be to God : glory, 
 glory be to God," were his continued expressions. In the 
 course of the night he lifted up his hands three times and 
 repeated the words, "Amen, amen, amen" [Perhaps in allusion 
 to the language of the four beasts in Rev. v. 14, who are 
 represented as saying, Amen]. We could not ascertain the 
 immediate . reference to these devout ejaculations. He was 
 totally abstracted from the world, and from all earthly con- 
 cerns. About half-an-hour before he expired he said to Mrs. 
 Graham, " I am going to depart j I am going to depart. Livy, 
 my dear, I am going to sleep;" and in a few moments he 
 literally fell asleep in Jesus, without a sigh or groan, or the 
 least distortion of a muscle of his countenance. He had the 
 use of all his faculties to the latest hour of his life, and his 
 sight, hearing, and understanding were as perfect as in the 
 time of his health. For these also he expressed his constant 
 thanksgiving to God, thus proving the truth of the declaration, 
 " If any man serve me, him will my Father honour." ' 
 
 The above documents were read by Rev. Wm. Stewart after 
 he preached his funeral sermon on Monday, the 26th of April 
 1S24, in the Wesleyan Chapel, Abbey Street, his remains 
 having been brought from Athlone and then to the chapel, 
 previous to interment. The audience was deeply affected. 
 The preachers, stewards, leaders, Strangers' Friend Society, 
 and many of the members and friends of the Dublin Society 
 followed him to the grave, reminding us of what is said of 
 Samuel's sepulture : — ' And Samuel died ; and all the Israelites 
 were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in 
 his house at Ramah (1 Sam. xxv. 1) ; and under the Christian 
 dispensation in which life and immortality are more fully 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 brought to light, we have the tenderest sensibilities of our sanc- 
 tified nature called forth thus, ' And devout men carried Stephen 
 to his burial, and made great lamentation over him' (Acts viii. 2). 
 One is sometimes led almost to ask, when great and good 
 men die in these latter days, whether we are as much affected 
 as we ought ? 
 
 The following is from the pen of Mr. Graham's affectionate and 
 long-tried friend, the Rev. Wm. Ferguson.* It is found, as sup- 
 plied by him, among 1 Recent Deaths,' in the July number of the 
 Wesley an Methodist Magazine for 1824: — 'The Rev. Charles 
 Graham, one of our oldest, most laborious, and most successful 
 Irish missionaries. In the year 1790 his appointment to the 
 County Kerry was made by the express desire of Mr. Wesley, by 
 whom Mr. Graham was personally known and approved. He had 
 much opposition from the Catholics, yet his ministry was to many 
 of them "the power of God to their salvation." After seven 
 years of circuit work he was again appointed to the general 
 mission in 1799, to preach the Gospel in the native tongue to 
 his benighted countrymen, for which he was eminently qualified. 
 
 * It affords the writer great pleasure to record here the high estimation 
 in which the Venerable William Ferguson was held by his brethren in 
 the ministry. The following is the epitaph on the marble tablet which 
 is found in the Wesley an Chapel, Stephen's Green, Dublin : — 
 
 The Rev. William Ferguson 
 
 Departed this life, in the faith of Christ, on the 26th 
 July 1854, in the 84th year of his age, and 64th of 
 his ministry. 
 
 This Tablet is erected by his brethren of the Wesleyan 
 Methodist Conference of Ireland, as a memorial of 
 the esteem in which they held his eminent piety, 
 practical wisdom, and the many virtues that adorned 
 his character. 
 
252 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 The commanding sweetness and fluency with which he spoke 
 the Irish language, and his pronunciation of it, afforded more 
 general satisfaction than that of any other Irish speaker I have 
 ever known. His morals were unblameably correct ; his piety 
 was sincere and fervent ; and his talents as a preacher truly 
 respectable. I have often seen hundreds, yea, thousands, hang 
 upon his lips, still as night, whilst the tears, streaming from 
 their eyes, gave ground of hope that they were not hearing 
 the word of life in vain. My acquaintance with Mr. Graham 
 commenced in 1793, and, during a period of thirty-one years 
 I have invariably found him the same pious, laborious, 
 ardent, and faithful minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ.' 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Lanktree* writes, ' I had a letter from my 
 old friend and brother Ouseley, which gives such a testimony 
 to his former colleague, Mr. Graham, lately called to his 
 eternal rest, as should comfort and cheer the servants of our 
 Lord, who are still in their state of probation. It is this : — 
 
 " My dear Brother Lanktree, — I have just come from the country, 
 and heard that our good and greatly beloved brother Graham has a day or 
 two since fled to that fair world of light and love, after which he had so 
 long panted, and to arrive at which he laboured day and night. And what 
 a labourer was he ! But the time of rest is come. Yes, he has just gone 
 a little before us. Oh, what days 'of the Son of Man' have he and I seen 
 together ! But a blessed eternity is at hand, and there all the ship's com- 
 pany meet, never again to part. I am still supported as when young, thank 
 God. I labour much in the streets also. Yesterday I rode twenty-two 
 miles, preached in the morning in Cavan — in Ballyjamesduff market at one, 
 to a vast crowd — and last night in Kells. This day I rode to Dublin 
 thirty-two miles, and am not a whit the worse. 
 
 " G. Ouseley." ' 
 
 * So many references having been made to Mr. Lanktree, the writer 
 feels great satisfaction in introducing the following sketch of his character 
 from the Minutes of Conference for the year 1850. 'His public ministra- 
 tions were eminently spiritual, rich in evangelical truth, and accompanied 
 by the unction of the Holy Ghost. He was specially a son of consolation to 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 253 
 
 The next is selected from a lecture, entitled i Ouseley and 
 Graham,' delivered by the Rev. R. Huston in Armagh, about 
 five years since, and afterwards published by request. He 
 says, ' Mr. Graham was the most remarkable of Ouseley's co- 
 cvangelists, and was born in Connaught, as were several who 
 were endowed with popular talents, and others with less shin- 
 ing gifts.' The writer would here digress: — 
 
 Mr. Huston mentions Ouseley, whom Ave call immortal ; Straw-bridge, 
 the founder of Methodism in Maryland ; William Arthur, whose fame is 
 world wide — although not born in Connaught, yet reared and converted 
 there ; — Thomas Guard, the brilliant lecturer ; Thomas M 'Cullagh, an 
 'Eminent Irishman,' convinced of sin in the street of Athlone, under a 
 sermon preached there by Mr. Ouseley, and afterwards converted to God 
 in Kilkenny through Mr. Huston's ministry — this the writer had from Mr. 
 M'C — ; John Feely, in many particulars a second Thomas Walsh: G. 
 Alley, whose pulpit and whose pen give no uncertain sound, endeared to 
 the writer by a spiritual tie. The writer must also lay claim to R. Huston 
 himself as a Connaught man. He wrote an admirable biography of the Rev. 
 Fossey Tackaberry, who was Mr. Graham's son in the Gospel. We would 
 also mention James Rutledge, another Daniel in prayer; the gifted 
 Thomas Lougheed, and G. and M. Burrows, all to be had in honourable 
 and everlasting remembrance. The writer was particularly intimate with 
 Mr. G. Burrows, and, oh, how anxious he was to have Mr. C raham's 
 memoir published. The Rev. Mr. Landers wrote a poem on Mr. G. 
 Burrows's death. I will here introduce one of the verses so very expres- 
 sive of his character : — 
 
 'He walked with God, — his life-long consecration, 
 
 Like hallowed service in some temple fair, 
 Was one of patience, love, and adoration, 
 
 Fruitful of blessing, and sustained by prayer. ' 
 
 Mr. Huston continues to remark that the following features 
 of Mr. Graham's character were very prominent : — 
 
 the sick and the dying. In his latter days, when a supernumerary, he sought 
 to save souls. His last ministerial act was to pray at the bedside of a poor 
 man, who was dying of cholera; shortly after which he died himself of 
 the same disease. His last words were, "To die is gain." He died in 
 Belfast, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, and the fifty-fifth of his 
 ministry.' 
 
2 54 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 ' First — He was remarkable for high-toned spirituality. An 
 humble, serious, and holy man ; entirely devoted to God.' 
 
 1 Secofidly — For marvellous answers to prayer and singular 
 revelations from God. He made it a matter of prayer that God 
 would reveal the ineffable glory of the invisible world to him 
 before he entered it, and He did so. For some days before he 
 departed, he shouted again and again, " O, the glory ! O, the 
 glory!" 
 
 ' Thirdly — For moral courage. This was seen from the be- 
 ginning of his career, especially when preaching in the open 
 air ; and more especially in his defiance of Romish opposition. 
 It was tested frequently in the County Kerry, and in the 
 streets of Clones, when opposed by the magistrate and the 
 army. 
 
 1 Fourthly — For his yearning pity for perishing sinners, such 
 as in the case of the culprit at Longford, for whom he pleaded 
 with God on the morning of his execution, and had hope in 
 his death. 
 
 t Fifthly — For his perception of the morally sublime. This may 
 be seen in his graphic description of some of those expressions 
 which female converts from the Church of Rome used after 
 they found peace with God; one exclaiming in Irish, "A 
 thousand praises to Thee, my Saviour." 
 
 '■Sixthly — For his pungent and apposite wit, as when he was 
 preaching from " Why stand ye here all the day idle," he said — 
 " Just like the boy galloping for the priest \ he was idle, 
 although in haste ! " It is so with many still idle^ although 
 apparently labouring hard. 
 
 ' Seventhly — For pathos and unction as an Irish speaker, the 
 Rev. W. Ferguson said of him, " The commanding sweetness 
 and fluency with which he spoke in the Irish language emi- 
 nently qualified him to preach the Gospel to his benighted 
 countrymen. I have seen hundreds, yea, thousands, as still as 
 night listening to the pointed and powerful appeals to their 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 255 
 
 consciences, whilst the flowing tears proved they were not 
 hearing in vain." 
 
 '•Eighthly — For convincing argument and persuasion. Hold- 
 ing a lengthened debate on the tenets of Rome with a shrewd 
 controversialist, Mr. Graham at length turned on the sanctity 
 of the Church as a mark of apostolicity, and said, " If I went 
 next Sabbath to your place and took out all the rogues, liars, 
 drunkards, swearers, Sabbath-breakers, &c, how many, think 
 you, would I leave behind?" " Why, Sir," said the man ; "If 
 you went so close to work as that, you would pull the priest 
 himself off the altar ! " 
 
 Mr. Huston forgot, however, to mention another prominent 
 feature of Mr. Graham's character — that of great meekness under 
 provocation, especially when arising from ignorance. It was 
 this which arrested that young man in Gorey of whom mention 
 was made more than once in this biographical sketch. Mr. 
 Graham was preaching as the people were coming out of mass, 
 when a miscreant took some of the mud of the street and flung 
 it in Mr. Graham's face ! Mr. Graham, with dignified meek- 
 ness, said nothing, but took out his handkerchief and wiped off 
 the mud. Young Byrne was passing by, and witnessed the 
 scene. He said to himself, ' That is a man of God,' and he 
 left the Church of Rome at once. 
 
 ' Teach us to bear the taunt, the scoff, 
 The hour when timid friends fall off ; 
 
 In meekness tempered best, 
 Teach us to witness for the Lord, 
 And still to wield the two-edged sword, 
 
 And then " remaineth rest." ' 
 
 'Graham's portrait,' says Mr. Huston, 1 physically and morally' 
 — and we would add, mentally — 'may be thus drawn : — a mus- 
 cular frame, a penetrating look, a commanding voice, an authori- 
 tative bearing, a strong understanding, a heart overflowing with 
 love to Christ and the souls of men. Bold as a lion, mighty 
 
THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 in the Scriptures, antagonistic to error, pastoral in his spirit and 
 habits. [And I would here add, conscientiously scrupulous in 
 all his appointments, especially ministerial.] Fatherly in his 
 manner, energetic, self-denying, candid, prudent, instructively 
 witty, prayerful, unwearied in toil, and faithful unto death.' 
 
 I can strongly commend Mr. Huston's lecture which, for its 
 size, is the best characteristic description extant of the two great 
 men on whom he lectures. It is well written, and abounds 
 with anecdotes. 
 
 Another description, partly taken from Mr. Reilly's account 
 of those two ' great hearts,' will be pleasing: — 'Mr. Graham was 
 naturally gifted with persuasive powers ; Mr. Ouseley with 
 reasoning powers. Mr. Graham's voice was soft and musical ; 
 Mr. Ouseley's rough and sepulchral. Mr. Graham brought the 
 Scriptures, with a mind filled with holy truth, to bear upon 
 errors and prejudices convincing to all ; Mr. Ouseley, by logi- 
 cal arguments and varied research, would stop the mouths of 
 gainsayers. Both were perfect masters of the Irish language, 
 and each felt inspired with a pure zeal for the truth of 
 Christ, and burned with an unquenchable zeal for the glory 
 of God and the salvation of sinners. They were sons of 
 thunder.' 
 
 The Rev. Richard T. Tracey, of Limerick, kindly sent the 
 following, unsolicited, a few days ago, relative to Mr. Graham's 
 person and labours : — ' The last time I saw Mr. Graham was at 
 the Conference (most likely 1820) in Dublin. His figure was 
 compact, firm, and erect. I saw him leaving town. He 
 seemed dead to all around him, and alone in the midst of the 
 multitudes. I thought what a noble herald from the Courts 
 above ! An ambassador of Christ, having delivered his 
 message of mercy to thousands, who were subdued beneath the 
 shadow of the cross. And as my last glance fell on this 
 venerable man of God, my very heart sighed, " Let my last 
 end be like his." ' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 257 
 
 Mr. Byrne was mentioned in a former part of this memoir as 
 being the fruit of Mr. Graham's ministry in the street of Gorey. 
 He became a preacher in our connexion, and travelled with great 
 acceptance for three years. When his health declined, he had 
 to give up the ministry; but he was very useful wherever his lot 
 was cast. He died of cholera in the year 1848, in Tralee, 
 where he was greatly respected. He published a volume of 
 poems, in which the following is found to the memory of Mr. 
 Graham : — 
 
 c LINES ON THE REV. CHARLES GRAHAM. 
 
 ' To tell where sleeps the brave, 
 The column lifts its head ; 
 How grateful on the patriot's grave 
 A nation's tears are shed. 
 
 But there's a holier spot, 
 
 Where dust more sacred lies ; 
 The hoary veteran's rest, who sought 
 
 The triumphs of the skies. 
 
 Such this aged warrior was, 
 
 Who in his armour died ; 
 A valiant soldier of the cross, 
 
 In hottest conflicts tried. 
 
 The high commission came, 
 
 He heard, he rose, he went, 
 The Gospel trumpet to proclaim, 
 
 To all, wherever sent. 
 
 Wherever men would hear 
 
 The story of the cross ; 
 He nobly stood, unmoved by fear, 
 
 In mercy's glorious cause. 
 
 Alike to old and young, 
 
 His lips did grace impart; 
 In eloquence of feeling strong, 
 
 The language of the heart. 
 
 Then, then with tears bedew / 
 
 The dust where Graham lies ; 
 ** Look up, look up," he cries to you, 
 
 " Come meet me in the skies." ' 
 
XXIV. 
 
 'And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah.' — I Kings xviii. 46. 
 ' I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.' — John L 23. 
 4 This is Elias, which was for to come.' — Matthew xi. 14. 
 ' Notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven L» greaier 
 man he.' — Matthew xi. 11. 
 
 4 Methinks we need him once again, 
 That favour'd seer ; buc where shall he be found?' 
 
 1 Twice in her season of decay, 
 
 The fallen Church hath felt Elijah's eye 
 Dart from the wild its piercing ray, 
 
 Not keener burns, in the chill morning sky, 
 The herald star, 
 Whose torch afar, 
 Shadows and boding night-birds fly. 
 
 Where is the lore the Baptist taught, 
 
 The soul unswerving, and the fearless tongue ? 
 The much enduring wisdom, sought 
 
 By lonely prayer the haunted rocks among? 
 Who counts it gain, 
 His light should wane, 
 So the whole world to Jesus throng ? 
 
 Thou Spirit, who the Church didst lend 
 
 Her eagle wings, to shelter in the wild ; 
 We pray thee, ere the Judge descend 
 
 With flames like these, all bright and undefiled, 
 Her watch-fires light, 
 To guide aright 
 Our weary souls, by earth beguiled. 
 
 So glorious let Thy pastor's shine, 
 
 That by their speaking lives the world may learn 
 First filial duty, then divine, 
 
 That sons to parents, all to Thee may turn ; 
 And ready prove, 
 In fires of love, 
 At sight of Thee, for aye to bum. ' 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 SEVERAL OPINIONS ON THE MINISTERIAL AND MISSIONARY 
 ENTERPRISE. 
 
 Views of Rev. Thomas Jackson on the Christian ministry. — 
 Ditto the Rev. William Arthur. — Ditto Rev. Charles 
 Prest. — Ditto Rev. Mr. Perks. — Ditto Rev. Mr. Briggs. — 
 Ditto Rev. Dr. Scott. — Ditto Rev. Dr. Crook. — Ditto late 
 Rev. R.'Wallace. — Epitaph. — Ditto Rev. John Byrne. — Ditto 
 a lay gentleman. — Ditto Rev. John Hill. — Ditto Mr. 
 Sheriff M 'Arthur, of London. 
 
 ~~ HE Rev. Thomas Jackson states the following in sub- 
 stance, in his little work on The Apostolical Churches : 
 — 'That the Gospel of Christ is the science of sal- 
 vation, and its ministry is intended to bring mankind to a 
 personal knowledge of Christ as a present Saviour from sin. 
 Under this ministry Jews and heathens were first awakened, 
 and gathered into Churches, and it will be so again ; but the 
 ministry which falls short of this object is a failure. A con- 
 vincing, soul-saving, and edifying ministry, is the grand want of 
 the present age. If the minister of Christ is to be " a fisher of 
 men," and fail to draw a single sinner out of his native element, 
 and thus catches nothing, to say the least, he is unskilful in his 
 profession. The physician, who never performs a single cure, is 
 entitled to little credit. There is now by many, far more energy 
 put forth in behalf of an imposing ritualism, than by many 
 Christian ministers in behalf of the spread of the glorious doc- 
 
z6o 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 trine of salvation by faith. There are men now who profess 
 to be Christ's ministers, and successors of the apostles, who 
 openly declare at one time their full belief in all the formu- 
 laries of Protestantism, and at another time as openly and 
 absolutely deny them ; thus uttering falsehood and blasphemy 
 before the Lord and before men. " Surely, men of low degree 
 are a lie, and men of high degree are vanity." This state of 
 things is indeed alarming. But we have the same remedy the 
 early Churches had — that of earnest, united, believing, and 
 persevering prayer. If this be faithfully tried, the Holy Ghost 
 will descend " like mighty winds, or torrents fierce, or like the 
 soft and penetrating dew." Then, when the enemy comes in as 
 a flood, the Spirit will lift up a standard against him ; or, as it 
 reads in the margin, "put him to flight" Men will be raised 
 up to preach the Gospel, with the Holy Ghost sent down from 
 heaven ; the progress of error will be arrested, and the various 
 forms of sin will disappear. Sinners will be compassionated 
 with cries and tears, and the masses will soon be turned from 
 darkness to light, and Satan's kingdom will totter in every direc- 
 tion to its fall. The seal of forgiveness, the regeneration of 
 the heart, and holiness of life, with all the corresponding fruits 
 of righteousness, will follow in the train.' 
 
 'Soldiers of Christ, arise, 
 And put your armour on ; 
 Strong in the strength which God supplies, 
 Through His eternal Son.' 
 
 The Rev. Charles Prest, in a speech at the Home Missionary 
 Meeting in May 1868, said — ' The necessity for additional home 
 missionary exertions is apparent in the continual increase of 
 the population, which outstrips the efforts of all evangelical 
 Churches. An additional reason why we should multiply this 
 agency, is to be found in the pestilent errors which disfigure 
 some of the Churches around us ; besides, it is a lamentable 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY, 
 
 fact, that crime and ungodliness prevail to an alarming extent 
 You ought to have fifty home missionary ministers employed in 
 the metropolis. The necessity is felt in every locality where 
 great spiritual destitution abounds, and this is seen in the 
 numerous and repeated applications for additional home mis- 
 sionaries; but there is discouragement as well, and this arises 
 from the present inability of the committee to meet the 
 numerous, and urgent, and special claims which are presented 
 to us, and some repeated over and over again, for home mis- 
 sionaries, and all special' 
 
 The following is from the Rev. W. Arthur, A.M., as delivered 
 in a speech last May (1868) in London : — 
 
 ' There was a vast population around them, with many trials 
 and temptations assailing it, and this population, in many 
 cases, could never be reached by any official means. Give me 
 a man penetrated with faith — faith in God, faith in ^Christ, 
 faith in heaven, faith in hell, faith in the resurrection, faith in 
 the judgment, faith in things not seen, faith that brought 
 acceptance with God — that man would work earnestly for the 
 salvation of souls. It was love that made men work \ it was 
 love that created every mission station at home and abroad. 
 They Wanted more faith in, and love to, God. The law of love 
 was the one undying power in the earth. Let us have that, and 
 each would be warmed and strengthened for his work, and 
 become a constant spring of blessing to all around him.' 
 
 The Rev. G. T. Perks said, in a missionary speech delivered 
 in London, in May 1868 — 'He believed the main cure for all 
 the miseries of Ireland would be an extensive circulation of 
 the Word of God, and of the diffusion of that Protestant 
 Christianity which had so largely blessed themselves. He 
 thought that a race which had given to themselves a Dr. Adam 
 Clarke, and a William Arthur, had no reason to blush for its 
 blood. He was inclined to think that if old Saint Patrick 
 himself were alive to-day, he would be a thorough Wesleyan 
 
262 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 Methodist (missionary). He wrote a treatise called the Con- 
 fession of Saint Patrick* and there was nothing in it which 
 might not be subscribed to by the most conscientious Pro- 
 testant Christian. About the middle of the seventh century 
 the famous St. Columba left the shores of Ireland rxrevangelize 
 vScotland, and he fixed his residence in Iona, where he became 
 the luminary of the Caledonian people. He and his mis- 
 sionaries were not that strange compound which were the curse 
 of Ireland at this day. They held to the sole supremacy of 
 God's Word, and to the doctrine of salvation through faith in 
 Christ. It was a dark day for Ireland when Henry EL handed 
 it over to Pope Adrian IV. Ireland had gone back ever 
 since in the scale of intelligence, morality, and commercial 
 greatness, and if ever it rise it must throw off the Papal 
 incubus. Just at this moment the earnest attention of Protes- 
 tant Christians was directed to the religious claims of Ireland, 
 and Providence was creating an agency mighty for good. It 
 was often satisfactory to his own mind to reflect that many of 
 those who emigrated from Ireland had been nurtured in Pro- 
 testantism, and they knew that Wesleyan Methodism was first 
 introduced into North America by Irish emigrants. But if 
 they would have their colonies to become hot beds of igno- 
 rance, superstition, and disloyalty, they would leave Popery to 
 vegetate in all its vigorous wildness j but if they would have 
 their colonies rise high in the scale of intelligence, and in all 
 that was good and great, they must multiply churches and 
 chapels, and then they would become, as Ireland would 
 become, in the words of one of her poets, " great, glorious, 
 and free." ' 
 
 The Rev. F. W. Briggs writes, in his Chequer Alley — 'What 
 the fallen masses around you want is the introduction among 
 them of a power which no human machinery can produce. 
 
 See pages 55, 56. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 263 
 
 That power is divinely provided in the truth of Christianity. 
 A single example is better than a hundred untried theories, 
 however plausible. In Chequer Alley, by the mere force of 
 wisely used means for bringing Christian truth to act on the 
 conscience and heart, without the influence which wealth 
 commands, without high intellectual culture, without the 
 ■prestige of office, or of superior social position, hundreds of 
 degraded men and women have been effectually lifted up out 
 of that terrible slough, from which they had neither power nor 
 desire to extricate themselves. And what it has done there it 
 will do everywhere, if faithfully, fairly, and persistently tried.' 
 
 The Rev. R. Scott, D.D., when referring to the Irish General 
 Mission says : — 1 On every hand how many Protestants and 
 Roman Catholics alike are perishing in their sins, without any 
 faithful voice to show unto them the way of salvation. To 
 reach them the herald of the cross must go to them, and not 
 wait until they come to him. Burning with zeal for their price- 
 less souls, he must go into the streets and lanes of the city, and 
 into the highways and hedges, that he may seek wandering 
 sheep, and bring them to the Saviour's fold. The system of 
 itinerant evangelism which has ever characterised Methodism 
 must never allow the claims of the pastoral work to interfere 
 with the spirit of aggression. Let us meet our difficulties in 
 the same spirit of faith with which our fathers met them, and 
 we shall turn all our difficulties into occasions of success and 
 triumph.' 
 
 The Rev. W. Crook, D.D., writes in his Ireland and 
 American Metlwdism, at page 24 : — ' And is it not the dictate 
 of ordinary prudence and self-interest to strengthen the hands 
 of Methodism in Ireland? It is the only agency that has yet 
 told to any serious extent upon the Irish Roman Catholic mind. 
 In 1799 — the year after the last Popish rebellion — while the 
 smoke of that fearful conflagration was still ascending, the Irish 
 Conference projected the first organized mission ever attempted 
 
264 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 in Ireland, with direct reference to the Romanist population. 
 Graham and Ouseley,* with an intrepidity which, I venture to 
 think, has been rarely surpassed in the history of the Church, 
 volunteered for this arduous mission. Speedily priestly wrath 
 waxed hot. They were denounced from the altar, but they 
 sublimely held on their way, and the success of their heroic 
 mission was truly marvellous.' 
 
 The following extract is from the last official sermon which 
 our ever-to-be-esteemed and lamented brother, the late Rev. 
 Robert Wallace,f preached at the August District Meeting in 
 Dublin, in 1865 — and which has since been published — and 
 
 * We may here introduce the epitaph on Mr. Ouseley's tomb in Mount 
 ] erome Cemetery : — 
 
 Gideon Ouseley 
 Departed this life 
 May 14, 1839, 
 In the 78th year of his age. 
 He was a zealous, laborious, and 
 Self-denying Minister of the Gospel 
 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 Throughout the United Kingdom, 
 And during nearly half a century 
 He was ceaselessly engaged 
 In his Master's work ; 
 In Ireland especially, 
 In its towns and villages, 
 Fairs and markets ; 
 Regardless of personal ease, 
 Fearless of danger, 
 Uninfluenced by the policy of those 
 1 Who are prudent in their own sight,' 
 
 He persuasively called on men 
 To 'repent and believe the Gospel.' 
 
 t The writer feels much pleasure in being able to record the following 
 epitaph, which he transcribed to-day (August io, 1 868) from the tablet 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 which the writer had the privilege of hearing ; and now, with 
 equal pleasure, introduces it here. The text was, ' He that 
 goeth forth and weepeth,' &c. (Psalm cxxvi. 6.) 'The end of 
 the Christian ministry is to save souls, to enlighten men's minds, 
 to awaken their consciences, to bring them to repentance, to 
 faith in Christ, to establish them in the way, and lead them to 
 glory. We have already said that the Jewish Church was local 
 and stationary. It is quite otherwise with the Church of the 
 New Testament. Christ commands His disciples "to go into 
 all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." It 
 will never do for the Christian minister to wait until the people 
 come to him. He must go to them — go to " the highways and 
 
 erected in the Centenaiy Chapel, Stephen's Green, by the stewards and 
 members of that congregation, among whom Mr. Wallace laboured with 
 great acceptance for three years, and by whom he was greatly esteemed : — 
 
 £0 i\z gftcmorg 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Rev. Robert Wallace, whose sanctified talents and 
 devoted service will be long held in affectionate 
 remembrance. Appointed by the Irish Conference 
 of 1866 one of its delegates to the Methodist Churches 
 of America, during the celebration of the Centenary 
 of Methodism on that continent, he was, in ten days 
 after his arrival, seized with cholera, and died in 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sabbath, September 2nd, in 
 the 55 th year of his age, and 31st of his ministry. 
 ' And he, being dead, yet speaketh.' 
 
 The writer also read to-day the last letter of the Rev. W. M. Punshon 
 from British America ; and his last sentence in that letter is grateful to us, 
 and will be to many : — 1 During my stay in Cincinnati I visited the cemetery 
 in which Robert Wallace lies, and gazed with mournful interest upon the 
 monument erected over his remains. He is worthily commemorated, and 
 would reach heaven as soon from Cincinnati as from Dublin, rising in "a 
 chariot of fire." He was a good and an able man, and there are many on 
 both sides of the Atlantic who keep his memory green.' 
 
266 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 hedges, the streets and lanes of the city, and compel them to 
 come in" — sow the seed everywhere — in the hearts of little 
 children, of youth, and of age — in the prayer-meeting and 
 class-meeting, in the Sunday-school as well as in the congre- 
 gation. Without sympathizing deeply with the work in which 
 we are engaged, we never make much progress. "He that 
 goeth forth and weepeth." In many a tear there is a power 
 which is of more value than the most brilliant gem ever 
 gathered from the bed of ocean ; in many a smile more 
 charms than in the brightest sunbeam that ever lighted up 
 the scenery around us. Sympathy with the work, with God, 
 with men — it awakens all his sense of the love of Christ to 
 himself, all his pity for his fellow-men, all his hopes for the 
 triumph of the Redeemer's cause, and links with heaven itself 
 in the joy over the returning sinner; but if he denounce the 
 sinner's doom — lead him to the door of hell, and show him 
 what it is — let him do it with tears in his eyes.' 
 
 And we would add, let him imitate Him who wept over 
 Jerusalem, and, if possible, would weep still. 
 
 ' Nay, but He utter'd over thee, 
 Jerusalem, a true complaint ; 
 Jerusalem, who shedd'st His blood, 
 That, with His tears, for thee hath flowed.' 
 
 The following are also the views of a lay gentleman who 
 does not wish his name to appear. He has written largely — 
 though he never published his writings — on the subject of the 
 world's conversion, and the responsibility of the Church of 
 Christ in reference to this important matter. The author of 
 this volume^ thinks his writings would be well worth general 
 circulation in a permanent form. He observes : — 
 
 * From the Acts of the Apostles, and some of the epistles, 
 it is obvious that the object of the primitive preachers was to 
 bring the light both of the law and the Gospel to bear on the 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 267 
 
 minds of Jew and Gentile by means of preaching and public 
 addresses, to convince men of sin, and the guilt and danger 
 consequent on neglecting the offer of mercy; to warn them 
 to flee from the wrath to come ; and as well to flee for refuge, 
 to 1 lay hold upon the hope set before them.' They agitated 
 the world; they organized churches; and those who had been 
 formerly dead in trespasses and in sins were brought into life 
 and Christian fellowship. An organized agency of this class 
 would be as necessary now as then. The Gospel should be 
 preached at least to every sinner in Christendom, and then to 
 the regions beyond, where Christ has not yet been named, 
 
 "Till every distant nation 
 
 Has heard the joyful sound, 
 And fill the whole creation 
 With blessings all around." ' 
 
 The following extract is from a letter by the Rev. John Hill 
 to the writer, in the year 1850, written from Castlebar : — 
 
 ' Union is sacred, and should be considered in its connexion 
 with eternity.' [He here refers to the writer and himself having 
 travelled three very happy years together on the Tullamore 
 circuit] ' May God be glorified in having useful labours pro- 
 longed. Make others work; act like John Holmes in this 
 respect I can sympathize with you in your care and labour. 
 Nothing will help so much as spiritual prosperity ; nothing but 
 love will bring us through. Oh, how cheering to have souls 
 converted. Some think that when men grow old in sin, their 
 conversion is impossible ; I think otherwise. Your old convert 
 is proof. Why does God spare ? Is not His long-suffering to 
 be counted salvation ? Hopefully apply the truth to all men. 
 May this year be a year of abundant blessing from above. 
 This land is spewing out its inhabitants to America. As 
 to England, I am pleased at the godly firmness of the Con- 
 ference. The agitation will terminate as the former. This is 
 the fourth storm in my day which has tossed the John Wesley 
 
2 68 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 ship ! She will sail on and bear the blessed cargo safe into 
 port. I would desire my studying, preaching, and every act 
 would be for eternity, that God may be glorified, and a poor, 
 unprofitable servant may be prepared to join the companions 
 of my youth or age in the house not made with hands.' 
 
 He concludes with a beautiful poem just written for the 
 occasion. I give two verses — 
 
 1 When elders their crowns are in lowliness casting, 
 
 The songs of the ransomed our tongues shall employ, 
 And all that's intended in life everlasting 
 Shall perfect our pleasure and fulness of joy. 
 
 From prospects so cheering we labour to borrow 
 
 A balm for the trials and toils of to-day, 
 And hope shall uphold us till sighing and sorrow 
 
 For ever and ever shall vanish away. ' 
 
 The writer of this work was then placed on the laborious 
 Irvinestown circuit, where his health gave way. 
 
 It gives the author much gratification to introduce here 
 the recent views of our comparatively young, but increasingly 
 popular minister, the Rev. Oliver M'Cutcheon, on the general 
 mission — in which he takes the liveliest interest, and has often 
 cheered the writer during the last year, which was one of per- 
 secution and trial, but one also of great success, thank God 
 — in the report which he wrote and read this year at the Confer- 
 ence in Dublin : — 
 
 'The general mission occupies a prominent place in the 
 history of Methodism in Ireland. For several years it was 
 maintained. The labours of the missionaries were greatly 
 blessed and successful in the conversion of sinners to God, and 
 in the increase of our societies. Much of this success was 
 among the Roman Catholic population : want of men, and want 
 of means compelled the Conference to abandon it occasionally. 
 Last year the Conference was induced to appoint three general 
 missionaries, encouraged by a grant of five thousand dollars 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 269 
 
 from the Methodist Episcopal Church of America. During 
 the past year, Almighty God has blessed the labours of our 
 general missionaries with considerable success. There is no 
 doubt but their side-way conversations, preaching in the open 
 air, at markets, fairs, and at other times, have contributed to 
 the wider diffusion of the Gospel, and gradually tending to 
 leaven the masses of the people with principles which make 
 men free. The missionaries have had opposition and persecu- 
 tions last year. The spiritual necessities of our country, and 
 the success with which the labours of our general missionaries 
 have been uniformly favoured, by the blessing of Almighty 
 God, justify the Conference in commending this department 
 of our work to the earnest prayers and liberal support of the 
 members of our Church, and of the true friends of Ireland.' 
 
 William M 'Arthur, Esq.,* now Sheriff of London, made the 
 following judicious observations on the state of the mission 
 
 *Mr. M 'Arthur is the son of the late Rev. Johrr M 'Arthur, of whom 
 honourable mention is made in the Minutes of the Irish Conference for the 
 year 1840. We feel great pleasure in inserting the following extract: 'As 
 a Christian his piety was deep and uniform, a kind and faithful friend, an 
 agreeable and intelligent companion, a good experimental and practical 
 preacher. His sermons were enriched by numerous portions of Scripture, 
 which he quoted with the strictest accuracy. With a hope full of immor- 
 tality, and surrounded by an affectionate and pious family, he fell asleep in 
 Jesus, March 2nd, 1840. " Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, 
 for the end of that man is peace." ' We will here take the liberty of adding, 
 that his excellent wife was one of the finest specimens of Christian matron- 
 hood the writer ever met with. God greatly honoured them, both in life 
 and in death, and in their family as well. Their other son living is the well 
 known and beloved Honourable Alexander M 'Arthur, now of London, and 
 their two daughters are the devoted wives of two of our worthy ministers, 
 for all of whom the writer entertains the highest respect and esteem. No 
 wonder Sheriff M' Arthur so frequently quotes the following lines — 
 
 * My boast is not that I derive my birth, 
 From loins enthroned and rulers of the earth ; 
 But higher far my proud pretensions rise, 
 The son of parents passed into the skies. ' 
 
270 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 work in Ireland, in a speech delivered by him in New York, 
 during the late celebration of the Centenary of Methodism on 
 that Continent He first spoke thus of the Rev. Robert Wallace, 
 whose lamented death took place a short time previously at 
 Cincinnati — 
 
 1 He taught us how to live, and, oh ! too high 
 A price for knowledge, taught us how to die. ' 
 
 He then said, 'About eight hundred of the Irish members, 
 representing at least 4,000 congregational members, left yearly 
 for your country. There are now more Irish Methodists in 
 New York than in the city of Dublin. At least three hundred 
 of your ministers have been the fruit of Irish Methodism, and 
 yet with its diminished numbers it is obliged to keep up the 
 same ministerial staff. They could not give up a single country 
 station, although lessened in numbers by emigration. Districts, 
 formerly wild and unpromising, had given Dr. Elliott to the 
 United States, Dr. Richey to Canada, Dr. Clarke, and now 
 William Arthur to the British Conference, and yet they raised 
 a short time ago, with your assistance of ,£7,000, to enable them 
 to increase their aggressive power in various ways, and to 
 strengthen all their institutions, no less a sum than ^20,000. 
 What they needed now was a College where their youth could 
 be trained, and which also would serve as an institution for 
 their rising ministry. The deputation (of which he was a 
 member) had come to join in their Centenary celebration, and 
 to convey the fraternal greetings of their brethren in Ireland, 
 and to ask their sympathy and aid. They are with you, of the 
 same Anglo-Saxon race, and boast a common and noble 
 ancestry. Their literature was the same, Milton, Locke, 
 Newton, Bacon, Shakspeare, Howe, Wesley, Watson, Clarke, 
 were household names in England. They were equally so in 
 America. Their glorious language was the same. The same 
 Bible as the foundation of their faith, the palladium of their 
 liberty, and the source of all their prosperity and greatness. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 271 
 
 England and x\merica, the two great Protestant powers of the 
 earth, led the van in the cause of humanity, civilization, and 
 religion. Their respective flags float in every breeze. Their 
 sails whiten on every shore. If to England was given the gold 
 of Australia, to America was given that of California. Let each, 
 then, fulfil the high and holy mission assigned to it — emulate 
 each other in spreading the glorious Gospel of the blessed God 
 — one proceeding eastward and the other westward, until en- 
 compassing the world, they would meet to celebrate the 
 triumphs of the cross, and rejoice in the advent of that day — 
 
 " When He shall come 
 And, added to His many crowns, 
 Take yet this one — the crown of the whole earth, 
 For He alone is worthy." 
 
 He rejoiced that he had arrived there, when the cause of truth 
 and righteousness had been triumphant, and when slavery was 
 no more.' 
 
 The writer may now say, and he does it with delight, that 
 America North may sing of her happy, man-elevating, and God- 
 honouring country, in the words, slightly altered, of one of 
 England's poets, in which he long since sung of Britain's 
 freedom : — 
 
 ' Slaves in Columbia cannot breathe ; if their lungs 
 Imbibe our air, that moment they are free. 
 They touch our country, and their shackles fall. 
 That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud 
 And jealous of the blessing ! Spread on, then, 
 And let it circulate through every vein 
 Of all your empire — that, where Columbia's power 
 Is felt, mankind may feel her mercy too.' 
 
XXV. 
 
 ' Being reviled we bless. ' — St. Paul, 
 
 LINES WRITTEN BY CHARLES WESLEY, AFTER A DELIVERANCE FROM AN 
 ASSAULT IN ATHLONE, ABOUT 120 YEARS AGO. 
 
 1 All conquering king, 
 
 Thy triumph we sing; 
 
 Redeemed from the foe, 
 We publish our mighty Redeemer below. 
 
 The omnipotent name 
 
 Of Jesus proclaim, 
 
 And joyfully raise 
 Our voices and hearts in a concert of praise. 
 
 From the malice of men 
 
 Thou hast saved us again, 
 
 And broken the snare, 
 And scattered the folk that delighted in war. 
 
 Athirst for our blood 
 
 In ambush they stood, 
 
 Our lives to surprise, 
 And hurry us hence to our friends in the skies. 
 
 But God on the throne 
 
 Protected His own ; 
 
 The danger to ward, 
 He planted around an angelical guard : 
 
 Their wings were outspread, 
 
 And covered our head ; 
 
 Their arms were beneath, 
 And bore us aloft from the weapons of death. 
 
 With angels above 
 
 We sing of Thy love, 
 
 With saints in the vale, 
 The unsearchable riches of mercy we tell. 
 
 Till admitted among 
 
 The glorified throng 
 
 We look on Thy face, 
 And eternity spend in a rapture of praise. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 FRUIT. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Stevens' description of the labours and fruit of 
 the General Mission. — Dr. George Smith's (of Cambourne) 
 account of the english home mission. — mission under dr. 
 Coke, as the result of the success of the Irish Mission. — 
 The conversion of the Dairyman's Daughter. — Also of Mrs. 
 Slacke of Annadale. — Sudden death. — Mrs. Whittaker of 
 sligo — a remarkable woman — sudden death. 
 
 employed on the general mission in Ireland and of 
 their labours in a very attractive style. Of Graham he speaks 
 thus : — ' He is still revered in Ireland as one of its chief 
 Methodistic characters. In 1790, Wesley commissioned him 
 as a missionary evangelist in Kerry, where he is still venerated 
 as its "Apostle."' 
 
 Speaking of the joint labours of Graham and Ouseley, Dr. 
 Stevens states : — ' They generally rode into towns with hats 
 off, and Bible in hand, when immediately they were followed 
 by a procession. They sung a hymn, or a translation of one 
 of Wesley's, in the Irish. The pathos of the lyric and of the 
 language touched the hearts of the rude crowds, who sobbed 
 aloud and waved to and fro, swayed by the simple music even 
 
 UR first extracts will be from Dr. Abel Stevens' 
 incomparable work on 'The Methodism of the 
 Eighteenth Century.' He writes of the agents 
 
274 THE LIFE OF THE REV C. GRAHAM, 
 
 before the prayer began.'* We may thus tolerate what a cer- 
 tain writer calls music — 
 
 1 The sweet delusion of a raptured mind. ' 
 
 No wonder a great man was induced to say, ' I care not who 
 governs a country if I am only allowed to make the ballads.' 
 Such is the sympathy of sound and song. Dr. Stevens goes 
 on to say, in his description of those marvellous street services, 
 that — ' Others fell in the streets on their knees, calling upon 
 the Virgin and the saints. Some shouting questions or defiance 
 to the preachers ; others throwing sticks or stones at them ; 
 some rolling up their sleeves in defiance of them, others in 
 hostility to them. Frequently the confusion culminated in a 
 genuine Hibernian riot, the parties rushing pell mell upon each 
 other, roaring and brandishing shillelahs, and only brought to 
 order at last by the intervention of troops from the barracks. 
 
 1 Whatever doubts such occasional tumults might suggest 
 respecting the expediency of the mission, they were borne 
 down by its triumphant results. The Gospel w r as heard by 
 the Irish masses. How otherwise could they be reached was 
 a question which none could answer, unless it was "not to 
 go near them at all." They will not come to Protestant 
 churches. They believe it a sin to do so. Shall they, then, 
 be left to perish ? You cannot conduct your elections, 
 
 * The author is here reminded of the story told of Orpheus by Virgil, 
 ' That' when he played on his lute the stones rose from the quarry, and 
 danced till they arranged themselves in the building; and likewise the 
 timbers from the forest came together to their proper places in the roof 
 under its magical tones, till the whole building stood in its completeness, a 
 monument of its power. ' To this, no doubt, Charles Wesley alludes, when 
 he makes Virgil's dream a glorious reality. 
 
 ' Thus would I charm the listening throng, 
 And draw the living stones, along 
 
 By Jesus' blessed name. 
 The living stones shall dance and rise, 
 And form a city in the skies, 
 The new Jerusalem. ' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 275 
 
 or even, in many instances, administer law without tumult 
 Must we, therefore, argue that government should be aban- 
 doned ? And shall not the administrators of the Gospel have 
 courage as well to confront the indignities and perils which 
 the magistrates face ? In the midst of all such disorders it was 
 frequently seen that incalculable good was done. Not only 
 scores and hundreds, but thousands of the wretched popula- 
 tion were savingly converted, and brought into the Methodist 
 and other Protestant Churches. These brave itinerants were 
 evidently grappling with the monster evil of the land. They 
 were doing what Protestantism had hitherto failed to do. Some 
 of the clergy of the establishment, who saw that there was no 
 other way to conquer Popery, began to take sides with the 
 missionaries, and welcomed them to their parishes, and fre- 
 quently with their congregation stood faithfully round them. 
 M'Quigg's Irish Bible, and Ouseley's controversial tracts, 
 especially his " Old Christianity" did good service, but the 
 living voice was the grand agency. 
 
 ' "Truth from their lips prevailed with double sway, 
 And those who came to mock remained to pray." 
 
 ' This mission gained strength continually. The Irish Con- 
 ference saw that it was opening a new and grand field of 
 evangelization before them, and gave it their heartiest interest. 
 It is hardly now a contingent calculation, that Ireland, after so 
 many struggles and sufferings, will yet, and before many years, 
 become one of the most fertile fields of Protestant Christianity. 
 In that day Graham and Ouseley, and their fellow-labourers, 
 will not fail to be recognised as among the chief apostles of its 
 evangelization. Such labourers, together with the hardly less 
 energetic exertions of the regular circuit preachers, would have 
 rendered Methodism mighty in the island, had it not been for 
 continual emigration to the new world. The Irish itinerants 
 were virtually labouring for American Methodism on the Celtic 
 population. The popular tumult and rebellion, the wretched 
 
27^. 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 accommodation of the itinerants, and the continual drain upon 
 their congregations by foreign emigration ; and yet their per- 
 sistent labours and success. It may, indeed, be doubted 
 whether the energy of Irish Methodism has had a parallel in 
 the history of its wide-spread denomination. Its blessings, not 
 only to America, but to the Wesleyan foreign missions, and to 
 England itself, in the gift of many eminent preachers, entitle it 
 to the grateful admiration of the world.' 
 
 We do sincerely say, all thanks to Dr. Stevens for this 
 appreciation of our work in Ireland, and its relationship to his 
 own and kindred Churches ; and we must, here state, that the 
 recognised obligation is not expressed in word merely, but in 
 noble deeds and godly doings. Their financial sympathy, during 
 the last few years, is above all praise. Our extension fund, 
 our college fund, and now our general mission fund, all prove 
 that they do not forget their Hibernian parentage, nor yet The 
 Living Supplies whom we now and again send them, which 
 gold could not purchase, and are far above rubies. We 
 have given them Dr. Elliott, Dr. Butler, Dr. M'Clintock, and 
 many others of note ; and also our representatives, both from 
 the English and Irish Conferences — Wm. Arthur, Robinson 
 Scott, Wm. Reilly, and Robert Wallace, as if, by his death, to 
 cement the bond of an undying union and brotherhood. And 
 surely, not least, the Rev. W. M. Punshon. We will still hail, 
 as we have done, the future representatives from that world- 
 wide wonder, 'the Methodist Episcopal Church of America.' 
 
 4 All hail, Columbia ! all hail, thou great and free ! 
 Thy land a Goshen, thy banner Liberty ! 
 
 We will merely add the following gems, principally taken 
 from Dr. Stevens's inestimable work : — 
 
 'Graham died in the victory of faith. Last words, "I am going to 
 sleep" {in Jesus). 
 
 « Ouseley— A triumphant end. Last words, " God's Spirit is my support." 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 277 
 
 'William Hamilton — Career triumphant Last words, "Not a cloud, 
 not a cloud Glory, glory to God." 
 
 ■ Andrew Blair — Eminently useful. Last words, " Let God be mag- 
 nified. Amen." 
 
 ' James M 'Mullen and excellent wife died in Gibraltar, in the full triumph 
 of faith. 
 
 'William Robertson died declaring, "Tell my friends I am going io 
 heaven. " 
 
 4 William Peacock departed to his reward ; the martyr of Kerry. 
 'Thomas Edwards — "I have fought the good fight; I am saved by 
 graoe." 
 
 'John M'Adam praised God without intennission for forty -eight hours 
 before he departed. 
 
 ' Thomas Johnston died in the fall assurance of fahh. 
 
 'John Price travelled five miles to preach, called his friends, shook 
 hands, and lay down and fell asleep with Christ. 
 
 'George Brown proved, for forty-three years, that the blood of Christ 
 cleanseth from all sin. 
 
 'Samuel Steele — Rare abilities. Departure triumphant. 
 
 'John Hamilton, "who will have hundreds to be his crown of rejoicing. " 
 
 'James Magee, who did important service for nineteen years. 
 
 'Walter Griffith — Deep piety, strong abilities. Last words, "I have 
 gamed the victory." 
 
 'Thomas Barber, Adam Clarke's early guide, and Charles Graham's 
 also. Agreeable in eccentricities, indefatigable, great success, constant 
 visitor. Fifty years a member of die Conference. Always met classes. 
 " Instant in season," &c. 
 
 ' Matthew Lanktree — Fifty-five years a member of the Conference. 
 
 ' Matthew Tobias — Forty-two years a prominent labourer. 
 
 * William Stewart — A veteran of commanding abilities.' 
 
 We might add a host of worthies, if time and place permitted. We must 
 add J. F. Mathews, faithful above many. William Crook, the fruit of 
 Graham's ministry. Fossy Tackaberry as well, and a saint indeed. J. 
 Feely, a second Thomas Walsh. Samuel Johnston, the fruit of William 
 Starkey's ministry. 'Irish missionaries sleep,' says Dr. Stevens, 'in mis- 
 sionaries' graves in nearly all parts of the globe.' 
 
 The next extract will be* from Doctor George Smith's History 
 of Wesley an MetJwdism. We find that the plan of the general 
 mission in Ireland worked so well, and gave Doctor Coke so 
 much satisfaction, that he devised a plan for carrying the Gos- 
 
2 7 8 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 pel to the more neglected parts of England. Doctor Smith 
 
 says : — 
 
 1 Success had abundantly crowned the efforts made to spread 
 a knowledge of Christ among the hitherto neglected native 
 Irish and Welsh, and these triumphs kindled in the pious Doctor 
 earnest desire for further conquest He saw many parts of 
 England where great religious destitution prevailed — places 
 which could not be reached by ordinary circuit action, or by 
 any agency, except by some means analogous to missionary 
 operation. He had to contend with great opposition, arising 
 from die financial consideration * but the mind of Doctor Coke, 
 however, knew not how to quail before difficulty or opposition 
 but rose in godly energy to grapple with every obstacle. He 
 succeeded in obtaining eight men for different parts of England, 
 or what was called missionary districts ; these were to act under 
 the superintendent minister nearest to those stations. They 
 were called home mission stations, and the men appointed 
 were called home missionaries. The plan was carried out for 
 several years, but ultimately discontinued ; and it was only 
 after the most patient and enduring perseverance the plan was 
 revived a few years ago. The Lord raised up the Rev. Charles 
 Prest, and laid this subject on his heart, and nobly has he car- 
 ried out his plan, and happily, from year to year to year, those 
 who strenuously opposed the measure, are cheered by the marked 
 success attending those home mission efforts. To an appoint- 
 ment of a former class we must especially refer, as supplying one 
 of the richest fruits of the early mission of Methodism — namely,, 
 that of the Dairyman's Daughter. This occurred about the 
 year 1795, m Southampton, on this wise: — Her name was 
 Elizabeth Wallbridge, the story of whose simple but earnest 
 piety has been diffused through the world by the beautiful 
 tract of Leigh Richmond. She was a native of the Isle of 
 Wight, and at the time of her conversion she was in the service 
 of Mr. Rolstone, a gentleman resident in Southampton. 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 279 
 
 There were two other female servants with her, and Robert 
 Taylor, who was a Methodist Elizabeth was proud, vain, and 
 particularly fond of dress. Her brother resided on the island. 
 He had been brought to God, and joined the Methodists. He 
 wrote to Elizabeth, and besought her to give her heart to God. 
 She appeared to entertain a great prejudice against the Metho- 
 dists. Robert Taylor came in one day, and said, "Maids, will 
 you go this evening and hear preaching in the Methodist 
 chapel ? Mr. Crabbe, the missionary- from the Isle of Wight, 
 is to preach. I think you would like him." Elizabeth was 
 silent for a time, but soon curiosity began to work. She 
 had just purchased a new gown, and now a fine opportunity 
 presented itself to exhibit it ; besides, she w r ouid like to know 
 something about these people her brother had joined. She 
 and one of her companions attended Mr. Crabbe selected 
 for his text, "Be clothed with humility." It bore hard upon 
 poor Elizabeth, but still they resolved to attend again. They 
 liked the preacher the next time. Mr. Crabbe preached from 
 "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou 
 shalt become a plain," &c. (Zech. iv. 7.) Elizabeth felt the 
 arrow — that although her sin of pride was like a mountain, it 
 would give way before the Prince of Peace, who says, " Learn 
 of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart" The mountain 
 flowed down. She returned home deeply convinced. The 
 fineiy* fled. Foolish talking ceased She earnestly sought, and 
 soon realized the pardoning love of God shed abroad in her 
 heart She immediately joined the Methodist society. About 
 a year after this her health failed, and she returned to her 
 parents. Again she rallied, and went to reside in a Methodist 
 family at West Cowes, 'but at length was confined to her father's 
 cottage, where Mr. Richmond found her, and ministered much 
 religious consolation to this dying saint Her Methodist 
 friends, however, were her constant companions ; they sur- 
 rounded her dying bed, and followed her remains to the grave' 
 
280 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 The remarkably decent-looking woman, of whom Mr. Richmond 
 speaks, was Mrs. Prangnell, Elizabeth's class leader ; whether 
 Leigh Richmond knew all about Elizabeth being a Methodist 
 cannot now be ascertained, but, most assuredly, he was greatly 
 mistaken about the instrument of her conversion. It may be 
 that he did not know that any of the Wesleyan ministers were 
 called missionaries, but the one stationed at the Isle of Wight 
 was regarded in that light. Mr. Crabbe asked Mr. Richmond 
 one day, did he know who it was whom Elizabeth heard first. 
 The other said, " No \ but I suppose it was under a missionary 
 who was going abroad. I think it must have been Mr. Marsden." 
 " I said no more," said Mr. Crabbe, " only rejoiced that God 
 had converted her." Let it be so now, the day shall declare it. 
 All will rejoice that the pious and amiable subject of the tract, 
 of which more than four millions of copies have been circu- 
 lated, and which, it is said, has been the means of converting 
 three hundred and fifty persons, was the direct fruit of Metho- 
 dist preaching in the bricklayer's loft in Southampton.' 
 
 We will record another instance, which occurred in a different 
 sphere in life in Ireland. It is taken from the manuscripts of 
 the late Rev. Mr. Ferguson : — 
 
 ' Mrs. Slacke, the lady of a gentleman of station and pro- 
 perty, residing in Annadale, County Leitrim, Ireland, being on 
 a visit to Dublin, took lodgings at a respectable bookseller's, 
 whose two apprentices were Methodists. These young men 
 slept in one room, and it was their constant practice, before 
 retiring, to read a portion of God's Word and pray together. 
 Another apprentice in the house was generally with them on 
 those occasions. This room was immediately above Mrs. 
 Slacke's apartments, and she frequently heard sounds, which 
 for some time she could not understand. Prompted by 
 curiosity, she went quietly upstairs, and listened at the room 
 door. She was much impressed at first with the novelty of the 
 thing. Her heart became deeply affected, and she was led to 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 28l 
 
 repeat her visits. She was a lady of accomplished manners, 
 and had mixed in the most fashionable society ; but she now 
 discovered there was something in religion to make the soul 
 happy, and which she had not experienced. She ventured to 
 hear preaching at Whitefriar Street, and on her return home, 
 resolved to exert her influence to introduce Methodism into 
 her family. Fully aware of her husband's high church princi- 
 ples, she proceeded with great caution. She induced Mr. 1 
 Slacke to invite Mr. Creighton, a pious clergyman, to preach 
 in Annadale ; he did so, and promised to come again. Mr. 
 Creighton being very friendly with Andrew Blair, the Methodist 
 preacher at Sligo, engaged him to accompany him on his next 
 visit. They came, and Mr. Creighton preached in the morning; 
 after which he asked Mr. Slacke if he had any objection to 
 hear a Methodist preacher in the evening. "Where is he?" 
 said Mr. Slacke. Then Mr. Blair was introduced. "What! 
 that boy a preacher ? " Mr. Blair, who possessed more than 
 ordinary ministerial talent, delivered an impressive sermon, 
 which was blessed to Mr. Slacke and his family; from that 
 period Annadale became the home of the preachers. In the 
 year 1795 she became delicate. One evening she retired, as 
 usual, for reading and prayer ; but not coming down stairs at 
 the accustomed time, one of the family went to ascertain the 
 cause, when she was found on her knees in the attitude of 
 prayer, but her spirit had entered into " the joy of her Lord." ' 
 A similar circumstance took place with the devoted and never- 
 to-be-forgotten Mrs. Whittaker, of Sligo. We deeply regret 
 that her memory is not handed down in a tangible form. We 
 scarcely ever knew a more highly talented Christian lady so sanc- 
 tified for the Master's service. Oh, what a blessing was she in 
 Sligo at the time of the first cholera, in 1832, and at a subse- 
 quent visitation likewise. She stood fast, when nearly all fled 
 She was the fruit of the general mission. In early life the 
 gayest of the gay. But after her conversion a pattern of 
 
282 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM. 
 
 neatness, truly and genuinely ornamented with 1 a meek and 
 quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.' 
 
 It is to Mrs. Slacke, no doubt, that Mr. Graham refers, when 
 at the time he was so earnestly seeking the blessing of a 
 ' clean heart ; ' and the morning alluded to, when he found that 
 prize, is most likely the one mentioned in the following 
 paragraph* : — 
 
 ' I heard of a pious and respectable female about thirty miles 
 distant, who continually lived in the enjoyment of this great 
 blessing. I resolved on visiting her, and conversing with her 
 on the subject, hoping I might be encouraged in the pursuit of 
 its attainment; accordingly, I rode off, and stopped the first night 
 on the way with a friend, and preached. In the morning, just 
 as I arose, the Lord visited me in a most remarkable manner, 
 and forcibly impressed my mind with the 103rd Psalm, and 
 2nd verse. This was heaven on earth ; and in this spirit I went 
 on to see this lady j but when I arrived and told the object of 
 my visit, how was I surprised to find that she lost the sweet 
 sense of that hallowed blessing, and her mind was greatly 
 clouded. If God had not met me before I met her, I should 
 be miserably disappointed. Surely — 
 
 " ' God moves in a mysterious way, 
 His wonders to perform." 
 
 Our meeting was made a blessing to her; for, although the 
 evidence of the blessing, purity of heart, was gone, she again 
 took courage, and I trust she will have cause to bless God 
 through all eternity for my visit to her. She was fully restored, 
 and truly our fellowship was with the Father, and with His 
 Son, Jesus Christ.' 
 
 # See page 29. 
 
I 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Ireland's evangelization. 
 
 ' O land of my fathers ! when wilt thou arise 
 
 From the slumber of death which has bound thee — 
 From the mist of delusion long shrouding thine eyes, 
 
 While thy children are weeping around thee ? 
 O sweet harp of Erin ! when wilt thou awake 
 
 By the side of some life-giving fountain ? 
 Oh, when shall the peals of thy melody break, 
 
 To gladden each valley and mountain ? 
 
 Oh, soon, very soon, thy day-star shall shine, 
 
 And soften thy night into morning ; 
 Thy tears shall then sparkle with radiance divine, 
 
 Like dew-drops the landscape adorning. 
 Yes, dearly loved Erin, the bosoms that mourn, 
 
 Again shall with rapture behold thee ; 
 And the Lord, who averted His face, shall return — 
 
 With the blaze of His presence enfold thee. 
 
 Though the thorn and briar of error and feud 
 
 Have tortured for ages thy story, 
 Ere long, by the truth shall thy vales be subdued, 
 
 And burst forth in millennial glory. 
 Then the story of peace, in the spirit of song, 
 
 Shall swell the devotions of heaven ; 
 And roll the full tide of her harpings along, 
 
 When washed, and renewed, and forgiven.* 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 CONCLUSION THE GENERAL MISSION. 
 
 N bringing this unpretending volume to a close, the 
 writer humbly hopes that the expectations which he 
 led his readers to indulge with regard to the his- 
 torical and incidental character of the materials of which it 
 is composed, have been in some measure realized. The special 
 providence of God, which runs through the whole of Mr. 
 Graham's history, verifies the two following Scripture decla- 
 rations : — ' The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord 
 and, 1 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee 
 the desires of thine heart.' 
 
 We will now glance at the history and future prospects of the 
 General Mission. As to the past, we may truly say, 1 The half 
 has not been told,' nor will the full volume of its records be 
 opened until the day of eternity. Its utility, however, has 
 been fully established as a means of spreading Divine truth 
 throughout the length and breadth of this benighted country. 
 Had it been continued and carried on with the same vigour, 
 and without intermission, as in its earlier days, it is hard to say 
 what would have been the results. In looking over the dates, 
 it will be seen that it is now seventy years since its commence- 
 ment. Only thirty of these were occupied by men appointed 
 to what we may call 'The General Mission proper.' During 
 the other forty we had missions, but they were limited to 
 certain localities, and had all the responsibilities of Church 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 2S5 
 
 organization — ministerial, pastoral, and financial — to fill. For 
 many years, during the latter period of Mr. Ouseley's life, he 
 was the only general missionary in Ireland. ' He assumed,' 
 said Dr. Hoole, 'the apostolate of all Ireland.' Seven years after 
 his death it was resumed for a year, by the appointment of two 
 of our ministers for the South of Ireland — just at the time of 
 the famine, 1846 — and God greatly blessed and owned their 
 united labours, as He generally does when we take His own 
 method of sending them out, ' two and two, before His face,' — 
 proving that 
 
 ' Work, divided aptly, shorter grows.' 
 
 The English Minutes for the following year (1847) have 
 these observations in reference to their labours. In answer to 
 the Irish Address it is said : — ' While itinerant friars, in some 
 parts of the world, conduct their missions in squares and 
 market-places, and on the high roads, with ostentatious zeal, 
 and thereby work on the passions of the people, and sustain 
 their cause, it cannot be thought unbecoming that you should 
 solemnize your missions throughout neglected districts as our 
 fathers did. Gird on your armour, and hasten to engage in 
 this holy and peaceful warfare, and God will preserve you from 
 every evil.' 
 
 In fact, Methodism can only exist on the aggressive prin- 
 ciple, as was stated a year or two ago in the English answer to 
 the Irish Address, on the appointment of the writer and the 
 Rev. J. Wilson to the general mission — ' In order to gather in, 
 we must first go out.' There are difficulties still, there have been 
 difficulties, and there will be difficulties, very likely for many 
 years to come. But, as in mathematics difficulties are of no 
 weight against demonstrations, so it is here. The carnal mind 
 is the same now as ever, but, as Graham said of Mallow, ' The 
 deeper sunk, the greater need to rise.' What we want to pre- 
 pare men for this work is the baptism of fire. In the year 185 1 
 
286 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 the writer was appointed to this hallowed enterprise, and was 
 shortly after joined by Messrs. Hewitt, and Samuel Johnston 
 for a few years. The latter fell in harness, but fell triumphantly, 
 to die no more. The work was then suspended until the Con- 
 ference of 1865, which was held in Cork, when the providence 
 of God seemed to smile and favour it again. The Lord laid 
 this agency on the heart of an Irish lay gentleman, now in 
 England. He orlered to give the Irish Conference ^100 
 a year for four years, if it appointed two men who were total 
 abstainers to the work of the general mission. The Conference 
 complied with the request, not stopping to inquire into the 
 habits of the men in reference to drink, not wishing to infringe 
 on the rights of liberty of action ; but it so happened that the 
 choice fell on two rigid abstainers from alcoholic liquors. The 
 key-note thus struck' called forth other generous responses — 
 such as a handsome annual offering from the Rev. Dr. Butler, 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America, who was just 
 then returning from India, after establishing a very prosperous 
 mission there, and with spoils of victory, of which neither 
 Lord Clive nor Lord Clyde could ever boast. Bishop Janes, 
 of America, was also at that Conference, and the ever-to-be- 
 lamented Draper, from Australia, who shortly after met with a 
 watery grave by the loss of The London steamer. All advo- 
 cated the re-establishment of the mission, and we would hope 
 the results justify the Conference in so doing. 
 
 The Rev. Charles Prest, from England, stated that all his 
 domestic happiness might be traced to the Irish general mis- 
 sion, inasmuch as it was under the ministry of the Rev. Gideon 
 Ouseley that his sister-in-law was converted to God, who, in 
 turn, brought his good wife to an acquaintance with the truth 
 when young. Two of us were then appointed for north and 
 west. Last year another was added to our ranks, and, we trust 
 in the Lord, a fourth will be sent out with us next year. 
 All thanks to the Methodist Episcopal Church of the 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 287 
 
 United States for their liberal help towards this, as well 
 as towards many other Irish objects, not forgetting their aid 
 towards the splendid Methodist college in Belfast, which has 
 just been opened. That there is as great a necessity now, 
 if not greater than ever, for some more enlarged aggressive 
 movement, must be patent to any one who seriously looks at 
 the signs of the times. Satan rages ; errors abound ; Churches 
 are convulsed ; and the nation itself seems to upheave with 
 the dread of events which loom in the distance, and cast their 
 shadows so very palpably before them. In fact ' men's hearts 
 are failing them for fear;' but it is to the moral aspect 
 of affairs especially we would direct special attention. The 
 morals of our country are bad. Witness the Sabbath-breaking, 
 the profanity in regard to swearing, the lying, the drunkenness, 
 and blood touching blood. ' Shall not my soul be avenged on 
 such a nation- as this, saith the Lord?' And still more, the 
 solemn question, in regard to the responsibility of both the 
 Church and the State — ' Who will rise up for me against the 
 workers of iniquity?' Was there ever such a time for the 
 Church of the living God to rush 1 between the living and the 
 dead?' Most assuredly, we deserve wrath. The simplest 
 principles of morality are trifled with. Some declare that, to 
 steal small things is no sin at all ; and that, to tell an official 
 or a jesting lie, is a trifle \ and that, to break the Sabbath day, 
 in case of apparent necessity, such as saving crops, when 
 danger from bad weather is apprehended, is a virtue. This 
 was awfully the case on last Lord's day (August 16th, 1868), 
 at least in many places. And as it regards vital piety, or its 
 antecedents, such as genuine repentance and saving faith, they 
 are in general out of the question. It is to be deplored, that 
 natural feeling, and artificial and temporary reformation, or 
 momentary excitement, are the fallacious substitutes for those 
 graces ; and, no wonder, where the Holy Ghost is neither sought 
 nor scripturally preached. There may indeed be a temporary 
 
283 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 excitement and emotion, when the scenes of Calvary and the 
 torments of the lost are exhibited, but have we not reason to 
 fear that, after all, even this is only ' knowing Christ after the 
 flesh.' The sensation and sentimentality soon evaporate. The 
 question now arises, What is to be done ? or what can we, as 
 a Church, do, in addition to what we are doing ? That Metho- 
 dism has done, and is doing a good deal, is not at all ques- 
 tioned. It has its thousands of Church members in Ireland, 
 and its tens of thousands of congregational hearers. It has 
 also a large number of self-denying and laborious ministers ; 
 and it may be safely stated, that error rarely meets with more 
 able or temperate antagonists. Yet, it must be understood that 
 its efforts, as far as the masses are concerned, are more casual 
 than direct All our labour is chiefly expended on one class 
 of the community. But, as it regards the Irish speaking portion 
 of the population, we are doing little or nothing j and unless 
 this subject is grappled with speedily, and a suitable agency 
 raised up, the present million, to whom the language is ver- 
 nacular, will be gone. The exclusively Irish-speaking people 
 are, according to the last census, 155,000, and those who speak 
 both English and Irish, are 800,000 ; but to all the latter, it is 
 vernacular, as well as to the former. They think in Irish, and 
 would prefer speaking in it if they could. And who that knows 
 the power and pathos of that language, would wish it to be 
 extinguished. It is emphatically the language of feeling, and 
 of the heart. For instance, when in the ordinary forms of the 
 English language, we would merely express a welcome, in the 
 native Irish the greeting would be, ' Cead mille faltha roath,' — 
 an hundred thousand welcomes before you, or await you. This 
 may be regarded as hyperbolical, but the meaning attached to 
 it, and the manner in which it is generally delivered, have an 
 influence on an Irishman's heart that the colder English could 
 never convey. When an English mother expresses the full tide 
 of her fondness for her child, it is 'My little dear.' But how 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 289 
 
 far short does this fall of the expression of an Irish mother to 
 her offspring. She calls it a cushla mo chree — the vein, the 
 pulse, the beating voice of my heart. Any one can appreciate 
 and admire this — a mother only can feel it. It is equally expres- 
 sive in theology. For instance, the word 'reconciliation' signifies 
 second friendship ; the word ' atonement ' signifies the same. 
 An English reader has the idea of sacrifice attached to it, but 
 it really means the friendship resulting from the sacrifice, or, 
 as it has been expressed, At onement. The attachment of the 
 Irish to their own language was frequently proved in successfully 
 quelling a mob. At one time, in Clonmel, a rabble of blood- 
 thirsty men rushed into the Methodist chapel, at the time of 
 holding an anniversary missionary meeting, while the Rev. Philip 
 Garrett, the English deputation, was speaking. They interrupted 
 him with all the signs of hostility and every appearance of 
 murder, until the Rev. John Feely, who was at the meeting, rose 
 and appealed to them in Irish, in such affectionate and powerful 
 strains as completely disarmed them. We had this from his own 
 lips. 
 
 He mentioned part of the address which he gave them. It was 
 something like the following : — ' O my friends, my countrymen, 
 my kinsmen — this gentleman is a stranger, but he has a message 
 of love in his heart to you. I would be ashamed of you if you 
 would treat a stranger, a Christian, and a gentleman so rudely. 
 You would only disgrace your country by so doing. Our 
 country is always kind to strangers,' &c. In this way he com- 
 pletely subdued them, and they left the house quietly, applaud- 
 ing him. We believe he went on his knees while address- 
 ing them. We may imagine the Englishman's perturbation, 
 surrounded by the rabble shout and uproarious yells of an Irish 
 mob. In vain he strove to pacify them even in his broad 
 Yorkshire tones, which could at best only touch their ears; 
 but the Irish touched their hearts. They are also as remark- 
 able for their ready wit as for their attachment to their language. 
 
 T 
 
290 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 It is stated of one, who sent his children to an Irish school to 
 learn the language, that he was forbidden, on pain of being 
 denied the rites of his church on his death-bed if he perse- 
 vered 'Well, well, your Reverence,' said Pat, 'it's a hard 
 enough case, to be sure, but plase (please) God, I '11 just try to 
 outlive you.' When the Rev. Elijah Hoole was superintendent 
 of the Irish Mission schools in this country, he contemplated 
 the translation of the Wesleyan Catechisms into the Irish lan- 
 guage, but, no doubt, his short stay among us prevented him 
 from carrying out his purpose. He wrote a very valuable 
 letter on the subject of our young ministers cultivating a know- 
 ledge of the language. In it he says — ' If, in the course of 
 Divine providence, the people should throw off their yoke, 
 would it not be of importance to have men prepared, by a 
 knowledge of their tongue, to take them by the hand, and 
 guide them to a purer worship and a holier faith. Some of the 
 younger preachers might be assisted and directed to rum their 
 attention to that tongue ; and if a deeper feeling and a more 
 lively interest be awakened on the subject, and more prayer 
 offered up, fruit may be expected in this, as in other depart- 
 ments of evangelical labour, in the conversion and salvation of 
 this interesting people.' There were then two millions who 
 spoke the language. The population was at least seven 
 millions. One million has passed away — we may say a gene- 
 ration — since jhe wrote that letter. It will be found in the 
 February number of the Magazine for the year 1834, now 
 nearly thirty-five years ago. The writer was then stationed on 
 the Boyle circuit, and in answer to a communication which he 
 wrote to the Doctor on the subject of his letter, he had a kind, 
 and an immediate reply, of which the following is an extract : — 
 
 'Limerick, Wi March 1834. 
 'My dear Brother, — I shall be truly thankful if the few remarks I 
 sent to the Magazine should induce you and others of our brethren to 
 qualify themselves for usefulness among the Irish. Surely we ought to do 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 29 1 
 
 something for them ; and in what way did we ever exert ourselves for God 
 and fail to gain His blessing? I am persuaded that it would be regarded 
 by the Conference as much to your credit, and worthy of imitation, if you 
 could state that you had read such and such portions of the Scriptures in 
 Irish, and that you were improving yourself in that means of usefulness. 
 May God bless you, and make you a more extensive blessing. 
 
 * Yours affectionately, 
 
 ' E. Hoole.' * 
 
 This made a deep impression on the author's heart, and he never 
 rested until he could at least read a little, speak a little, and sing a 
 little, in that sweet tongue ; and, thank God, many an Irishman 
 has since heard, in his own language, ' the w r onderful works of 
 God,' especially those of redeeming love and saving grace. 
 The writer records, with gratitude, the kindness and anxiety of 
 the Conference, in granting him, some years after the above 
 letter was written, a few months for closer application to 
 the better cultivation of the language, which, at a late period of 
 life, is not easily acquired Bishop Bedell was, however, sixty 
 years of age when he acquired a knowledge of it A little know- 
 ledge of it serves greatly, if it only proved to the Irish that we 
 sympathize with them in their national predilections. We may 
 say, also, that the Oughterard mission rose out of this desire to 
 become better acquainted with that language ; in that district it 
 is spoken freely. An Irish class is formed there, and the master 
 paid by the Rev. William Arthur. How delighted would the 
 writer be if in the Belfast College this subject were taken up, 
 and some of the young men encouraged to cultivate a know- 
 ledge and iove for the Irish tongue ! If the observations, 
 
 * The author takes this opportunity of expressing his many obligations to 
 the writer of the above letter, the privilege of whose friendship he has had 
 for nearly forty years. To him he is indebted for several of Mr. Graham's 
 letters inserted in this volume, but never published before. The Doctor 
 has proved himself to be an unwavering friend of Ireland, and he will have, as 
 he has had, a sincere and warm interest in prayerful remembrance, that he 
 may be long spared to the Church of God, especially to its missionary 
 departments. 
 
2 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM, 
 
 as recorded in the Wesleyan missionary notices for the year 
 1852, on the subject of the Irish College in Ballinasloe for 
 the sons of the clergy who wished to learn that language, 
 and what was therein stated, in reference to a Methodist 
 college, had even remotely anything to do with our present 
 one in Belfast, the writer would rejoice greatly. But he does 
 hope and pray that it may contribute its share, at least, in 
 spreading to some extent the knowledge of the truth, in the 
 native tongue, among a large portion of our countrymen. Now 
 is our time for increased action in this and every department, 
 but in this especially. God can still give the spirit of utter- 
 ance, and of martyrdom, too, if necessary. Duty is ours ; 
 events belong to God. How far the present distracted state of 
 the land may be attributed to the want of fidelity and zeal on 
 the part of the Church of Christ, is only fully known to God 
 But let us, as Wesleyan ministers, more than ever, sustain the 
 character given us in what is technically called ' The Liverpool 
 Minutes' — ' Home Missionaries.' 
 
 We cannot improve on our venerable founder's recommen- 
 dation. 'First,' said he, 'our call is to save that which is lost' 
 Now, we cannot expect them to seek us, therefore we should go 
 and seek them. Secondly, because we are particularly called by 
 going into the highways and hedges, which none else will do 
 (query now ?), to compel them to come in. Thirdly, because that 
 reason against it is not good, ' the house will hold all that come.' 
 The house may hold all that come to the house, but not all that 
 would come to the field. Whenever the weather will permit, go 
 out, in God's name, into the most public places, and call on all to 
 repent and believe the Gospel, every Sunday, especially where 
 there are old societies, lest they settle upon their lees. The 
 stewards will oppose, lest they should lose their usual collec- 
 tions [and now, lest they should lose their custom also]. 1 But,' 
 says that apostolic man of God, ' shall we barter souls for 
 money?' 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 293 
 
 Doctor Chalmers well stated, that the Church which had 
 not the great ' go ' in it, was no Church at all ; and again 
 he observes — ' He who wins a soul to Christ, ranks higher on 
 the roll of human beneficence than he who unshackles a king- 
 dom from thraldom.' Doctor Coke called the Irish general 
 mission 'the noblest and most important charity.' 'The 
 whole empire,' said he, ' is concerned, even in a political point 
 of view, in its success.' We want, just now, another band of 
 men like the missionary band of the year 1799, whose hearts 
 the Lord may touch with the hallowed 1 tongue of fire ; ' and the 
 power of convincing speech can be given again in answer to 
 prayer, as well as that recorded in Acts iv. 29-30 — ' And now, 
 Lord, . . . grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they 
 may speak Thy word; and that signs and wonders may be done 
 by the name of Thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, 
 the place was shaken where they were assembled together ; 
 and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake 
 the word of God with boldness.' "We have the same access to 
 the throne of grace as they had. May the Spirit of grace be 
 speedily and abundantly vouchsafed. Then we may expect men 
 to be raised up who shall take the Word of life in one 
 hand, and natural life in the other, and go forth everywhere 
 preaching ' Christ and Him crucified ' — men whose motto will 
 be that written on the ingenious device selected by an American 
 missionary society — an altar on one side, and a plough on the 
 other, with an ox in the middle, and the words of the motto 
 underneath, 'Ready for either,' either to suffer or to serve. 
 Let us have two such men of this stamp for each province in 
 Ireland for some few years to come, and, with the blessing 
 of God, we shall soon sing as they did in olden time — 
 
 ' Jesu's love the nations fires, 
 Sets the kingdoms on a blaze.' 
 
 Something ot great importance is in store for this country, and 
 
2Q4 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C. GRAHAM, 
 
 for us as a Church that suffered so much, laboured so long, 
 and waited so patiently in the Lord's vineyard- Who can 
 tell, but from our new College, opened yesterday in Belfast, 
 August 19th, 1 8-68, and under very auspicious circumstances, 
 will come forth the very men required for the times as flames 
 of heavenly fire, and in the spirit of self-consecration and 
 sacrifice, singing as they go, the language of the immortal 
 bard of Methodism — 
 
 ' In a rapture of joy, my life I employ, 
 The God of my life to proclaim ; 
 'Tis worth living for this, to administer bliss 
 And salvation in Jesus' name.' 
 
 Oh, that I could speak to my fathers and brethren in the 
 ministry, and to all the Churches throughout the land, I would 
 in all plainness and fidelity ask, Are not the signs of the 
 times perilous as well as hopeful ? And while cheered by the 
 latter, should we not, like one of old, be ' moved ' by the former, 
 with 'godly' fear, not only to the saving of ourselves and house- 
 holds, but also to the saving of the nation at large in which we 
 live. There seems to be a respite of delay, as if to give 
 us the opportunity of 'warning the ungodly of all their 
 evil deeds,' and at the same time of directing them to the only 
 ark of safety, from a flood more terrific in its elements 
 than that which once swept the world round. Oh, what a time 
 for immediate action on some large scale, worthy of ourselves 
 and of our country. Let us claim it for Christ, whose right it is to 
 reign. Let all our literary institutions, let all our prayerful and 
 financial appliances, be brought to bear upon this one object — 
 The conversion of Ireland. If this can be accomplished, the 
 world's conversion will the more speedily follow, for its influ- 
 ence is world-wide. And what is to hinder, but unbelief and 
 indecision? Let us, in the Lord's name, be up and doing, while 
 we have such a promise, — 'Lo 1 I am with you alway* &c. And, if 
 
THE APOSTLE OF KERRY. 
 
 295 
 
 we have not mistaken the genius of the Gospel, the command 
 of the Saviour — the spirit and policy of the Church to which 
 we belong — the purity of her faith — the harmony of her princi- 
 ples, and the mutual confidence of her lay and clerical members, 
 as well the character of her resources, — may we not reason- 
 ably and scripturally hope for better days to dawn on this ' our 
 own, our native land ? ' Who would hesitate or delay, if they 
 thought thereby that millions would be excluded from the 
 kingdom of glory and of God who might otherwise be there ? 
 and how solemn the thought, that millions have passed away, 
 even from our own country, unwarned and unwept, and millions 
 more are swelling the legion roll of mortality, and appearing 
 constantly before a holy God, constrained to exclaim, ' No man 
 cared for our souls !' A generation has passed away since the 
 faithful Ouseleyused to cry with weeping, and in pathetic tones, 
 ' Oh ! my country, my beloved country; my ruined, my unhappy 
 country I' And a generation and a half gone since Graham's 
 voice, sweet as the music of the spheres, used to proclaim, 
 'And Ireland shall be free!' Here was patriotism of the 
 purest and noblest quality, in comparison with which all the 
 pseudo professions of nationality by demagogues sink into 
 nothingness. And we, too, are passing away. Shall the work 
 cease ? If we ' come not to the help of the Lord, to the help 
 of the Lord against the mighty,' others will. But God seems 
 to lay His burden at our door. If so, let us not only 
 do it, and do it well, but let us transmit it also to hearts 
 in which it shall be faithfully and affectionately embalmed, 
 to hands by which it shall be steadily prosecuted, and 
 it may be that for them, if not for us, the privilege and 
 the honour are reserved of rejoicing over our country ran- 
 somed from error and from sin ; and if we are faithful, 
 we shall be permitted to hear the hallelujah chorus swelling 
 up before the throne — ' The kingdoms of this world are become 
 the kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ' Then the din 
 
296 THE LIFE OF THE REV. C GRAHAM. 
 
 of carnal weapons, the tumult of deadly battle, the strifes, the 
 discords, and the feuds of earth, shall all retreat to their native 
 hell, and the hymn of angels, ' Glory to God in the highest, and 
 on earth peace and good wall towards men,' shall again be 
 sung, and responded to by a regenerated earth.' 1 Now is come 
 salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the 
 power of His Christ' (Rev. xii. 10). ' The great trumpet shall 
 be blown, and they that were ready to perish shall come the 
 banner of truth and victory shall be unfurled ; the nations shall 
 gather and press into the Gospel kingdom • and the shout of 
 universal triumph shall be heard 'from the rivers unto the ends 
 of the earth.' Thus standing high on the mount of prediction, 
 and on the vantage ground of eternal truth, and in ' the full 
 assurance of hope,' we may look along the vista of the future 
 to a glorious day of millennial freedom for Ireland, yea, and for 
 all the world. ' By faith we already behold that lovely Jerusalem 
 here' — 
 
 ' Then every heart shall be a Saviour's throne, 
 And every land Messiah's sway shall own ; 
 Then from all nations, hymns to heaven shall rise, 
 And earth shall join the chorus of the skies — 
 
 " Hallelujah! the Lord God omnipotent reigneth !" ' 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
IRISH HYMN, WITH TRANSLATION. 
 
 The following is one of those Irish hymns to which Dr. Steevens so 
 touchingly refers, as producing the most thrilling effects on the Irish 
 people. It is Common Measure, and may be sung to the tune called 
 'Martyrdom.' The writer has translated it as literally as he possibly 
 could, but he must depart from the correct orthography, for the sake of 
 coming as near as possible to the Irish pronounciation : — 
 
 IRISH. 
 
 Oh, thaw mo chree go dorough a throra, 
 
 Is sconroo an mo lawr, 
 Mor thaw an baus eg dhrid a lum, 
 
 Is bye me fose er clawr. 
 
 Au^h fose nee foor, an baus an chad, 
 
 Dho liggoo unsa grey. 
 O yia, mo yia humpium lath. 
 
 Dheean throughey 'sauv/all me. 
 
 Oh, 'sagam fein, thaw'n thauwor more, 
 
 Na doriv shil go throm ; 
 Mur is packhough, kinthough donna me, 
 
 Is an thiriought foddoo rome. 
 
 Oh, dulling thoo er cron na paush* 
 An baus gach packhough boghth, 
 
 Oh, feagh an-ish le throkore, 
 Agus mauhoo mo hillia loghth. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 Oh, thuan ag dhia, an dthulling thuan, 
 
 An thuan er cron na paish : 
 An thuan fuar baus eg dthiree a-risth, 
 
 Eg denoo urny* me. 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 Oh, 'tis my heart that's weigh'd with gloom; 
 
 Within, terrific fear, 
 And death, to lay me on the board, 
 
 Is swiftly drawing near 
 
 But, as full power he has not yet 
 
 To lay me in the clay. 
 O God, my God, to Thee I 'II turn : 
 
 Save, pity me, I pray. 
 
 Just cause have I, and truly great, 
 
 To shed the heaviest tears ; 
 I 'm sinful, guilty, and undone, 
 
 In view of boundless years. 
 
 O Thou who didst for sinners die, 
 
 A victim on the tree, 
 Look now in mercy, and forgive 
 
 My faults beyond degree. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 O Lamb of God, the surT'ring Lamb, 
 The Lamb on the passion tree : 
 
 The Lamb that was slain, is risen again 
 To intercede for me. 
 
 * Literally, to make prayer for me. 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 APPENDIX A, 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 CONDENSED specimen of Mr. Graham's mod 
 of sermonizing will here be given ; and, we must say, 
 one of the plainest of his written sketches, of which he 
 
 wrote perhaps not less than five hundred in a distinct hand. 
 
 Text — Luke xi. 21, 22. 
 
 'When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods 
 are in peace : but when a stronger than he shall come upon 
 him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour 
 wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.' 
 
 [Here we must remark that he seldom spent more than a 
 minute or two on the introduction of his subject, but entered 
 immediately on the discussion of it : his great object was to 
 deliver 1 the message' contained therein.] 
 
 Division L The strong man armed ; II. The palace in 
 which he rules; III. The armour in which he trusts; and IV. 
 Who the stronger is, and his victory. 
 
 L The strong man armed. — Doubtless this is the being whom 
 St Paul calls ' the god of this world,' i the prince of the power of 
 the air,' — the leader of the rebel 4 angels, who kept not their first 
 
300 
 
 APPENDICES. 
 
 estate, but left their own habitation, and are now reserved in 
 everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great 
 day.' As to the strength of this fallen spirit, we find he had con- 
 fidence that he would overcome Michael and his angels. Hence 
 it is said he fought with them, ' but prevailed not, neither was 
 his place found any more in heaven.' But we learn that he has 
 great power on earth, even over the sons and daughters of men, 
 for he is said ' to rule in the hearts of the children of disobe- 
 dience.' We find also, in the case of Job, what strength he pos- 
 sessed. He commanded the elements of fire and wind, and called 
 the Sabeans, and appointed them their work of destruction, 
 sparing neither property, servants, nor children. No wonder they 
 are called ' Principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness 
 in high places.' But we not only see their strength, but their 
 hatred as well. Satan smote Job 'with sore boils, from the sole 
 of his foot to his crown ;' and, having stripped him of all earthly 
 comforts, leaving him nothing but a wicked wife to torment 
 him — for she bids him 'curse God and die.' We also see his 
 power in the woman whom our Lord cured, and who had been 
 bound by Satan for eighteen years. Many others were pos- 
 sessed with, and tormented by him in the days of our Lord. 
 His power and his wrath are so great in this world, that were 
 it not he is restrained, he would overthrow the earth itself. I 
 doubt not but that he is at the root of all the wars, and mur- 
 ders and depredations which are carried on in this sinful world, 
 leading its children captive at his will ; who are not only sold 
 under sin, but have sold themselves to work wickedness in the 
 sight of the Lord. We need not wonder, then, that ' the dark 
 places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.' Like 
 Solomon's madman, ' casting forth firebrands, arrows, and 
 death, and saith, Am I not in sport?' 'He blinds the eyes of 
 them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of 
 Christ should shine unto them.' 
 
 II. The palace.— This he keeps in peace. This is the heart 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 301 
 
 of man, which is the seat of all emotion and feeling. Here he 
 dwells and works. Our Lord states — 'For out of the heart 
 proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, 
 false witness, blasphemy,' &c. As long as these goods remain, 
 the devil has peaceable possession. There is no struggle, no 
 opposition to him. He keeps his palace. But what an awful 
 palace — ' deceitful above all things and desperately wicked' — 
 'An evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.' 
 No wonder the warnings. ' Take heed,' and ' Take heed, 
 brethren,' &c. Satan not only keeps his palace, but fills it with 
 his goods — tmbelief, pride, anger, self-will, covetousness, deceit, 
 envy, hatred, malice, revenge, prejudice, ignorance, darkness, 
 blindness, error, evil surmising, whispering, talebearing, back- 
 biting, evil speaking. While all these ' goods' remain, the house 
 or palace will be at peace ; for conscience will not be allowed 
 to speak or disturb the deceitful calm. ' They are not in 
 trouble like other men.' 
 
 III. In what consists his armour V — It consists in what 
 first cast himself away from God, namely, pride. His language 
 was and is — ' I will ascend above the heights of the clouds ; I 
 will be like the Most High' (Isaiah xiv. 14). This is a grand 
 piece of his armour, which he abundantly supplies to his fol- 
 lowers. It has done terrible execution. No wonder he trusts 
 in it. Another piece of his armour is wrath — 1 great wrath,' 
 compared by Saint Peter to the ' roaring of a lion,' going about 
 ' seeking whom he may devour.' Another is malice — 
 
 ' He comes, with hellish malice filled, 
 
 To scatter, tear, and slay, 
 And takes up every straggling soul 
 As his own lawful prey. ' 
 
 Again, he is armed with envy. Having lost his own angelical 
 glory which he had when one of the morning stars, ' who sang 
 together,' and as one of ' the sons of God who shouted for joy,' 
 he cannot but now envy his former companions their happi- 
 
3 02 
 
 APPENDICES. 
 
 ness, and envies all the saints on earth also, on account of their 
 love and joy, their harmony, and future hope of glory. He cannot 
 be changed from being ' an adversary] and ' an accuser of the 
 brethren.' With this armour, and with the above goods, he has 
 little trouble in reigning in the palace of the human heart But 
 he will finally despise those over whom he now domineers, and 
 when he secures their eternal perdition he may well be regarded 
 as saying to his once willing slaves and subjects thus — 
 
 * Our envy once, ye are now become our scorn; 
 In vain for you the Son of God was born ; 
 That mighty favour, that peculiar grace, 
 Too glorious for our fallen angelic race, 
 Serves only to exasperate your doom, 
 And gives the infernal shades a darker gloom. 1 
 
 IV. Who is 'the stronger' than the strong man armed? and 
 how does he conquer? This is none other than He to whom, 
 as Mediator, ' all power in heaven and in earth is given' — 1 the 
 seed of the woman,' and the serpent bruiser — 1 He who was 
 manifested to destroy the works of the deviL' 'Thou hast led 
 captivity captive.' ' He must reign until all His enemies are 
 put under His feet' ' l^e is exalted a Prince and a Saviour.' 
 
 * He conquered when He fell, 
 And at His chariot wheels 
 Dragged all the powers of helL' 
 
 ' He came upon him' when He dispossessed the legion, and 
 when He cast out the seven devils out of Mary Magdalene, and 
 loosened the daughter of Abraham, and healed the daughter of the 
 Canaanitish woman, and the nobleman's son. And He overcame 
 him when He was seen falling from heaven like lightning, and 
 when, after His resurrection, He gave His disciples ' power over 
 devils and unclean spirits,' and invested them with armour 
 which pulled down some of the strongest holds of darkness, such 
 as Gentile vanity and Jewish opposition, and brought all into 
 captivity to the obedience of Christ They were 'to turn 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 3°3 
 
 men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto 
 God,' &g This was ''taking his armour from him] wherein he 
 trusted And now to '■divide the spoils.' That is, Christ 
 divides or scatters the spoils of Satan. This He does when He 
 scatters the darkness by introducing light — convincing the spell- 
 bound conscience of its guilt, and breaking the power of sin by 
 the converting grace of God, and thus destroys the very roots 
 of sin altogether by the sanctifying power of the Spirit The 
 cursing, swearing devil is cast out ; the proud and angry devil is 
 dismissed ; the lying and cheating devil banished ; the unclean 
 and lustful devil exterminated. And thus the spoils on which 
 the devil revelled are divided — completely scattered. The 
 heart, once the hold of every hateful and unclean bird, is 
 become the habitation of God through the Spirit, and all the 
 powers of body and mind are become servants of righteousness 
 unto God — yea, the believer ' serves God now in holiness and 
 righteousness before Him all the days of his life.' Once ' the 
 servant of sin, now the servant of God, having his fruit unto 
 holiness, and the end everlasting life ; ' and in fact that former 
 palace of Satan is now the temple of the Holy Ghost 
 
 Permit me now, in fine, to inquire of you — Does '.the strong 
 man armed ' keep your hearts ? Are his goods in peace ? Are 
 you the willing slaves of sin ? Are your hearts the palaces of 
 the prince of hell ? Do you bear his mark ? Do you plead his 
 cause? Do you wear his livery? Does he work in your 
 hearts? Does he lead you captive at his will? Are you 
 ranked among the children of pride ? Are your lives among 
 the unclean ? Do you company with the workers of iniquity ? 
 Has he put out your eyes from seeing your danger ? Has he 
 hardened your hearts from dreading everlasting punishment ? 
 What shall I say more to open your eyes ? What shall I do 
 to alarm your fears? God is angry with you; heaven is 
 frowning • hell is enlarged, and moving from beneath to meet 
 you at your coming; and devils are longing to have you in the 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 lake of fire and brimstone. ' Now consider this, ye that forget 
 God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.' 
 ' Kiss the son lest he be angry with you and ye perish from the 
 (right) way.' -'Turn, oh, turn to the stronghold, ye prisoners 
 of hope, and the Lord will deliver you, and save you from the 
 hand of all your enemies, and you will see them no more for 
 ever.' 
 
 We will close in Mr. Graham's words on another text — 'There 
 is help laid on "one that is mighty to save," and, believing on 
 His name, with an heart unto righteousness, we obtain pardon 
 for all our sins, or justification through the blood of the cove- 
 nant; peace with God ; power over the world and sin; joy in 
 the Holy Ghost ; an interest in all the promises of the Gospel ; 
 deliverance from the fear of death and the grave, and from the 
 damnation of hell; and lastly, an earnest of the inheritance 
 "incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away."' 
 
 The following may be applied to the preacher of the 
 above : — 
 
 • A fathers tenderness, a shepherd's care, 
 A leader's courage, who the cross can bear ; 
 A ruler's awe, a watchman's wakeful eye, 
 A pilot's skill, the helm in storms to ply. 
 A fisher's patience, and a labourer's toil, 
 A guide's dexterity to disenthral ; 
 A prophet's inspiration from above, 
 A teacher's knowledge, and a Saviour's iove.' 
 
 Bishop Ken. 
 
APPENDIX B. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN'S PRAYEB AGAINST THE SPREAD OF ERROR. 
 
 ' Dark are the shadows o'er thy children's path ; 
 Dangers are near the fairest home and hearth ; 
 But, Lord, Thy tender love and mighty power 
 Can shield and save us in each treacherous hour, 
 From error's thick and ever gathering cloud, 
 Which strives the radiance of Thy truth to shroud ; 
 From all false doctrine and dark heresy ; 
 From every hope that is not linked with Thee ; 
 From systems that would bid us place our trust 
 In frail and sinful creatures of the dust ; 
 From those who would in fatal thraldom bind 
 The noble powers of the immortal mind ; 
 From all that would our Saviour's glory dim, 
 And turn our anxious hearts from faith in Him ; 
 From all prescriptions man has proudly giy,en, 
 By which the guilty strive to purchase heaven ; 
 From all these errors rife, which dim the mind, 
 Deliver, Lord, lest truth we ne'er should find. 
 In Thee alone, O Christ, "The life, the truth, the way," 
 We trust for guidance to the perfect day. 
 Thou Triune Godhead, Father, Spirit, Son, 
 From grace to grace, help us to labour on, 
 And when dark tempests o'er our land shall sweei\ 
 In holy confidence thy children keep.' 
 
 U 
 
APPENDIX B. 
 
 REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS OF ROMAN CATHOLICS. 
 
 EFORE we give an account of Bartley Campbell's 
 conversion, we will first introduce a description of 
 the lake and the island, including the origin of its 
 superstitious attraction. 
 
 The celebrated Lough Derg is about two miles long, and, 
 from its irregularity, about fifteen miles in circumference. It is 
 situated in the county of Donegal. From the town of Donegal 
 it is five miles distant, and about three from Pettigo. A more 
 solitary place for devotional purposes could not possibly be 
 selected, being in the centre of a wild and mountainous tract of 
 country, on whose surrounding hills not a trace of vegetation is 
 to be seen ; adding to its gloomy solemnity. It is well adapted 
 for religious contemplation. The mind is excited to an obli- 
 viousness of worldly cares, feeling, as Selkirk describes Juan 
 Fernandez — ' out of humanity's reach.' In the lake are several 
 islands; the one resorted to by 'the pilgrims' is about half a 
 mile from the shore, and called 1 St. Patrick's Purgatory.' It is 
 only 126 yards long and 42 broad. The cave is seventeen yards 
 long and two yards wide, and so low that a tall man could not 
 stand erect in it. The floor is the natural rock, and scarcely 
 any light enters the place. This is one of the places for 
 devotion. There are two chapels, a good house for the clergy, 
 and a few cabins have been erected. These nearly occupy 
 the whole extent of the surface of the island. The ' stations ' 
 commence on the 1st of June, and end on the 15th of August, 
 during which time multitudes of ' pilgrims ' of both sexes are 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 3°7 
 
 seen flocking to it from all quarters to do penance. From ten 
 to twelve thousand annually resort to it, each person paying 
 sixpence for being ferried into the island, which is done by a 
 man who keeps boats for the purpose, and to whom the ferry is 
 let at £,260 per annum. When pilgrims arrive in the vicinity 
 of the holy lake, they take off their hats and shoes, and go 
 bareheaded and barefooted, always carrying beads, a staff, or a 
 cross in their hands. The time generally taken to perform ' a 
 station ' is three days, unless in cases of extraordinary turpitude, 
 when it requires six, or nine. They commence by asking tbe 
 prior's blessing at St. Patrick's altar, say one Paternoster, one 
 Ave Maria — Hail Mary, and one Creed. Rising up, they kiss 
 the stone of the altar, and from thence go into the chapel, when 
 they say three Paternosters — 'Our Father,' or the Lord's Prayer, 
 ten Ave Marias, and seven Creeds. They then go round one 
 of the chapels seven times, saying ten Ave Marias again, and 
 seven Paternosters every round. Thrice they surround and 
 kiss a large stone cross, fixed in the centre of a bed, saying the 
 same number of prayers as before. This course must be 
 repeated every day. The last twenty-four hours of the 'station' 
 must be spent in one of the chapels, called 'the prison,' during 
 which time no food is allowed the pilgrims but oaten bread and 
 'wine;' but the wine is only the water of the lake made lukewarm, 
 and is said to have the property of real wine. Sleep is 
 denied them, and if any drowsiness appears, they get a friendly 
 twitch of a rod from persons appointed for that purpose. In 
 this last place (the prison) they say a decade, that is, ten 
 Paternosters, ten Aves, and ten Creeds. A dip in the water 
 was formerly necessary to complete the purgation, but is 
 dispensed with latterly, because of its injurious effect. There 
 is a burying ground on an island close by, called ' The Saints' 
 Island,' for those who die when on station, which, through 
 privation and fatigue, frequently happens. 
 
 It was to this place poor Bartley Campbell resorted to 
 
APPENDICES, 
 
 expiate his guilt He had to come forty Irish miles. The 
 following account of the circumstances attending his conversion 
 is taken from Dr. Stevens' work on Methodism, who, it appears, 
 • transcribed it from Reilly's Ouseley : ' He went through the 
 required ceremonies, and received absolution from the offici- 
 ating priest, but his conscience was more disquieted than ever. 
 Before he left he once more applied to the priest. 
 1 " Did I not give you absolution?" said he. 
 ' " You did, father," said Eartley. 
 
 ' "And do you deny the authority of the Church?" said the 
 
 priest* 
 
 ' " By no means," said poor Bartley, "but my soul is in misery ; 
 what shall I do?" 
 
 1 " Do," said the priest, M why, go to bed and sleep." 
 
 1 " Sleep," exclaimed the bewildered pilgrim, " no, father : 
 perhaps if I did, I might awake in hell." 
 
 ' The priest threatened with the usual pastoral punishment. 
 The awakened penitent hastened to a retired spot, threw 
 himself on the ground, and with tears and groans prayed to 
 God for light ; and, like poor Cowper, soon found peace, so 
 well described : — * 
 
 ' " I was a stricken deer, that left the herd 
 Long since ; with many an arrow, deep infixed, 
 My panting side was charged, when I withdrew 
 To seek a tranquil death in distant shades. 
 There was I found by One who had himself 
 Been hurt by the archers. In his side he bore — 
 And in his hands and feet — the cruel scars. 
 With gentle force soliciting the darts, 
 He drew them forth, and healed, and bade me live. " 
 
 At once he began to exhort the pilgrims, that they too should 
 obtain the same peace of mind The priest was alarmed and 
 drove him from the place. Bartley returned home "rejoicing 
 in the God of his salvation," and was ever afterwards known 
 as " the Lough Derg pilgrim and preacher." He became a 
 
 * See Appendix D, page 318. 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 309 
 
 witness for what he called "the cure" of the soul, which he ceased 
 not to proclaim to priest and people wherever he went He 
 became remarkably useful, and was a great favourite with Dr. 
 Coke. He heralded him from place to place, as an official 
 would a judge of assize, and, with amazing influence, obtained 
 crowds to hear the Doctor.' Henry Moore, in his Autobiography, 
 states that he admired Bartley's simple but devout character ; 
 that he had a strong understanding, and great ardency of 
 spirit; that he perfectly understood the Irish language, and 
 became a means of great good to the Roman Catholics, from 
 whom he separated. ' He walked,' says Mocre, 1 a hundred 
 miles to see me when I was stationed in Dublin. He gave me 
 an account of the work of God in those parts near the place 
 where he lived. I admired " the grace of God in him," and 
 rejoiced for all the good that he had received from the Lord, 
 and for what He had enabled him to do, considering his un- 
 cultivated mind j and I was amused with some of his strong 
 expressions. At any meeting where no conversions took place 
 he called it a " sham fight" ' 
 
 The foregoing account of Bartley Campbell reminds us of an 
 almost similar case, but not so successful, as far as Lough Derg 
 was concerned. It is related by Doctor Adam Clarke,* in the 
 December number of the English Methodist Magazine for the 
 year 1823 : — 
 
 * The writer cannot allow Doctor Clarke's name to pass without advert- 
 ing to his experience, as expressed in the following lines a short time 
 before his death, in 1832 : — 
 
 ' I have enjoyed the spring of life, 
 I have endured the toils of summer, 
 I have culled the fruits of autumn, 
 I am passing through the rigours of winter, 
 And I am neither forsaken of God, nor abandoned of man. 
 I see at no great distance the dawn of a new day, 
 The first of a spring that shall be eternal ; 
 It is advancing to meet me ; I haste to embrace it ; 
 Welcome, welcome, eternal spring. Hallelujah!' 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 1 Bryan M'Maken was a poor ignorant Roman Catholic, who 
 acted as herd for a number of families near Newtownstewart, 
 in the county of Tyrone, in the north of Ireland. The Metho- 
 dist preachers visited the place to which he belonged, and 
 Bryan, under the preaching of Mr. Joseph Armstrong, was so 
 deeply convinced of his sinful state, that when he returned to 
 his cabin, after the sermon, he was unable to conceal his dis- 
 tress from Madge, his wife. On her inquiring into the cause of 
 his grief, he said, "I think God Almighty is looking at me every 
 minute, and is angry with me." After several fruitless efforts 
 to pacify him, she said, " You should go to the priest" He did 
 so, and told his reverence all about his state. 
 
 ' " Oh," said the priest, " you have been to the Methodists ; 
 nothing better could come of you." 
 
 ' "Oh," said poor Bryan, "it is they that have done it on 
 me ; but, sir, what shall I do, for I cannot live in this way ?" 
 
 1 The priest, regarding his disease as lowness of spirits, recom- 
 mended him to " cheer himself up, to go to the dance at John 
 
 's to-night, to drink a hearty glass, and to get Madge to 
 
 sing him a song, and all would be well." 
 
 ' Bryan carried out the advice to the letter \ but he was not 
 long at the dance, when he started up and said to the wife, 
 "Come away, I am worse and worse." He drank the glass, 
 however, and heard the song ; but all to no purpose. In the 
 morning, after a night of woeful distress, Madge encouraged 
 him to go to the priest again. He did so, and said " he was 
 no better, but worse ; that God was still looking at him, and 
 angrier and angrier." The priest then advised him to go to 
 Lough Derg, and prescribed a long class of penances. Bryan 
 accomplished this painful task, but he was not so successful as 
 Bartley. After he returned home, he went and told the priest 
 that he was no better. The priest sent him to a warm corner, 
 and said, " Mind that you must never go hear the Methodists 
 again." " Oh," said poor Bryan, " there is no fear of that ; 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 they have done enough on me already." However, some time 
 after, his employment brought him close to the preaching-house 
 door, during the time of service. He ventured to listen to the 
 singing, and, like Mr. Reilly's Pat, thought it very "purty." He 
 heard the prayer, thought it no harm, and at last ventured in. 
 The preacher, knowing nothing of the case of Bryan, was led 
 to describe the state of awakened sinners, and the advices often 
 given to such to relieve them from their distress. Bryan ex- 
 claimed, " That's just what he said to me !" and there and then 
 detailed all the interviews between himself and the priest. The 
 preacher said he never would be happy until he obtained pardon 
 from God, through faith in the death of Christ, at the same time 
 saying, "Kneel down, and we will all pray for you." They did 
 so most earnestly, and Bryan, who was in deep distress, was 
 pointed to bleeding Calvary. Very soon he started to his feet, 
 exclaiming, " I have got it, I have got it ; I know God is not 
 angry with me now." "Oh, sir," said he to the preacher, 
 "will you come and speak to Madge?" "I will," said the 
 preacher. Bryan returned in rapture, exclaiming to his asto- 
 nished, but now overjoyed wife, " Oh, Madge, I am converted; 
 I am converted. God is not angry with me now." "Oh," said 
 Madge, " I am as bad as you, and I want to be converted 
 too." The preacher visited her, and explained the way of sal- 
 vation by Christ. She, also, soon obtained the comforts of 
 religion. Nothing would do Bryan but go on the Sabbath to the 
 Roman Catholic chapel, and tell the whole tale to the priest 
 and congregation. Of course he was ridiculed, and threatened 
 with excommunication ; but Bryan cried out, "You may save 
 yourself the trouble, you could do nothing for me, and I '11 
 never come near you again." They suffered much persecution, 
 but they held fast ; they are long since lodged in the Paradise 
 of God. Their son became a local preacher, and some of their 
 descendants are still near Newtownstewart. 
 
APPENDIX C. 
 
 TALENTS. 
 
 ' And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one 
 to every man according to his several ability.' — Matt. xxv. 5. 
 
 ' God, who gave us each a talent, 
 
 To employ it gave command ; 
 If we hide it in a napkin, 
 
 He will claim it at our hand. 
 Let us, then, be vip and doing, 
 
 Keeping still this truth in view : 
 Though our path be e'er so humble, 
 
 We have all a work to do. 
 
 With the heralds of the Gospel, 
 
 If we cannot bear a part, 
 We can drop a word of kindness, 
 
 That may reach some careless heart ; 
 We may touch a chord of feeling, 
 
 Guilt and sin have lulled to sleep ; 
 To the blessed fold of Jesus 
 
 We may bring some wand' ring sheep. 
 
 If among the older people 
 
 We may not be apt to teach, 
 " Feed my lambs," said Christ, our Shepherd, 
 
 Place the food within their reach ; 
 And it may be, that the children 
 
 You have led with trembling hand, 
 Will be found among your jewels, 
 
 When you reach the better land. 
 
 These are precious, golden moments, 
 
 Kindly lent us to improve : 
 Are we faithful to our calling — 
 
 Earnest in our work of love ? 
 Ever at our post of duty, 
 
 Wheresoe'er our call may be, 
 Let our lamps be trimmed and burning, 
 
 And the world their glory see. ' 
 
APPENDIX C. 
 
 AMERICAN CAMP-MEETINGS. 
 
 HE following letter is in character with the one to 
 which Mr. Ouseley refers. It was written by Airs. 
 Anne Cook, of Philadelphia, to her mother, near 
 Sligo. She was the fruit of Mr. Graham's early ministry, and 
 aunt to our venerated friend, Mr. Jackson Hawksby, of Bally- 
 mote, County Sligo, who has lived to see nearly three genera- 
 tions pass away. 
 
 'Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1806. 
 ' Dear Mother, — This comes with my love, and to give 
 you an account how the work of the Lord prospers here. 
 About eighty miles from this city, we had one of the greatest 
 camp-meetings that was ever known on this continent. We 
 remained eight days at it. The ground, containing twenty 
 acres, was enclosed with a boarded fence. There were four 
 hundred and seventy tents, besides waggons, carts, and twelve 
 dozen of "official guards, and seven persons to blow trumpets 
 to sound round the camp every morning and evening, when 
 reports were made of the numbers brought to God. You 
 would think the praises of God would rend the heavens. 
 There were about eight thousand of white people, and four 
 of blacks. The preachers were in the middle, of whom there 
 were about thirty-five, besides class-leaders, &c. There was a 
 boarded enclosure round the stand. This was called " The 
 Mourner's Aisle." After public worship, all those who felt 
 
314 
 
 APPENDICES. 
 
 distress were invited to come forward. The crowds who did 
 so were astonishing. Scarcely any who knelt down but were 
 blessed, in answer to the fervent prayers of the people of God. 
 On one occasion the overwhelming power of God came down, 
 and set hundreds of souls at liberty. The proud, the grand, 
 who came in their coaches, were convinced of sin, and con- 
 verted to God before their return ! Glory be to God for ever, 
 that I was born to see this day ! What I have seen and what 
 I felt, pen cannot describe, or tongue explain. The number 
 of souls computed to have been blessed with pardon, or purity, 
 at this meeting amounts, in all, to 2,240 ! Hallelujah ! 
 Please show this letter to Mr. Charles Graham, as he was 
 the first instrument in bringing me to God in my young days, 
 at about the age of seven. I would count it a favour if he 
 would write to me. 
 
 ' I am, dear mother, your affectionate daughter, 
 
 ' Anne Cook.' 
 
 The following extract, in reference to camp-meetings, is of 
 a more recent date. » It is taken from a work by the Rev. James 
 Shaw, formerly a member of the Irish Conference, and now 
 belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church of America. 
 We had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Mr. Shaw in this 
 country last season, when he wrote his work called Twelve Years 
 in America, the perusal of which will, no doubt, do good to 
 head and heart. The Irish Primitive Wesleyan Magazine speaks 
 of Mr. Shaw's book thus : — 1 This is a charming book. The 
 writer enters minutely, and at the same time with remarkable 
 brevity, into the history of several states, cities, and towns in 
 the States of America ; beautifully delineating their origin, 
 increase of population, wealth, literature, and Church organi- 
 zation ; also, the soil, produce, railway communication, natural 
 history, mines, minerals, lakes, rivers, and works of art, are 
 described so fully, so graphically, and in a style so chaste, as 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 315 
 
 to charm and instruct the reader. We have felt unmixed 
 pleasure in reading Mr. Shaw's admirable book. We strongly 
 recommend it to our readers, and hope it may have an exten- 
 sive circulation. It is written in an excellent Christian spirit, 
 and is full of interest throughout' Mr. Shaw, in this work, says, 
 — ' It was on a Wednesday evening, in September i860, that the 
 carriages and waggons bore several families, with their tents, 
 to the scene of the encampment, in a beautiful grove on the 
 banks of the Sanagamon river, near Illiopolis. Soon the stroke 
 of the woodman's axe was heard felling down trees, and putting 
 up tents, seats, and the preachers' stand. The ground was 
 cleared, the tents were fixed, with the seats and stand in the 
 centre, and aisles were formed for the congregation to pass to 
 and fro. Lamps were hung to the trees, stoves were adjusted, 
 and fires kindled for cooking. About four thousand people 
 assembled to hear the Word of life. Soon the voice of prayer 
 and the song of praise were heard in this "forest sanctuary." 
 Brothers Lapham and Honnold assisted in preaching and 
 conducting the meeting. By Friday and Saturday several 
 other families, with their carriages, had come and pitched 
 their tents for the remainder of the meeting, which lasted about 
 eight days. The power of God fell on the congregations. 
 The judgment day was the theme of discourse. When the 
 invitation was given to come to Christ, the wounded, stricken, 
 and penitent rushed from all parts of the congregation to the 
 altar of prayer. The slain of the Lord were many ; and there 
 were mingled with the voice of song and worship, the cry of 
 distress and the sob of the penitent. Rejoicing parents knelt 
 beside their weeping children ; wrestling Jacobs and praying 
 mothers pleaded with God on behalf of their families, and 
 soon one after another emerged out of darkness into marvel- 
 lous light, and from bondage into liberty.' 
 
 Our dear friend and deeply lamented brother, Wallace, was 
 most anxious to witness one of those camp-meetings in America. 
 
316 
 
 APPENDICES. 
 
 In this he was gratified, and took part in the services of one 
 shortly after his arrival, but soon joined the innumerable host 
 who have crossed the flood. The following verse suits the 
 views alluded to in the extract from his sermon, and which he 
 has since gloriously realized — 
 
 1 The harvest home is near, 
 
 The year delays not long, 
 And those who sow in many a tear 
 
 Shall reap with many a song. ' 
 
 H is last words — worthy of his life — were, ' I leave all with Jesus.' 
 
APPENDIX D. 
 
 LINES ON THE BIBLE, 
 
 As a source of comfort to the Christian at all times, especially in every hou 
 of tribulation, while passing through this vale of tears. 
 
 ' How sweet to the Christian the Bible is found, 
 Its doctrines and precepts so richly abound ; 
 How sweet are the promises written therein, 
 To the heart that is weary and laden with sin ; 
 How sweet to the soul that in Jesus believes ; 
 How sweet to the heart that salvation receives ; 
 How sweet to the mind, when the first dawn of light 
 Breaks in and begins to dispel the long night; 
 How sweet to the soul that is panting for God ; 
 How sweet to the guilty His pardoning Word; 
 How sweet to the soul, when contending with foes. 
 By the Word it prevails and sings as it goes. 
 In the day when the billows of trouble arise, 
 How sweet is the hope which the Bible supplies. 
 It comforts the mourner; it hushes his fears; 
 It strengthens his heart, and dries up his tears. 
 How sweet to the pilgrim when tempted and tried ; 
 'Tis his "rod and his staff," his counsel and guide : 
 Confiding in Jesus alone as his friend, 
 He safely holds on, and holds out to the end. 
 How sweet to the soul is the Word day by day ; 
 How sweet when earth's treasures have all fled away; 
 How sweet to the sick, the afflicted, the poor ; 
 How sweet to the dying, till dying is o'er.' 
 
APPENDIX D. 
 
 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE. 
 
 HEX referring to the conversion of Bartley Campbell 
 at Lough Derg, we mentioned that the priest who 
 conversed with him, soon after said — ' Do you denv 
 the authority of the Church?' This was denying poor Bartley 
 the right of private jndgme?it, and establishing the infallibility of 
 the Church, a doctrine taught and believed as necessary to 
 salvation. But where its seat is, or in what part of ' the Church' 
 it is to be found, its advocates are not yet fully agreed. Some 
 affirm that it is in the Pope, as the head of the Church. Others 
 deny this, and say his absolute infallibility has not yet been 
 received, but it is exp'ected that the General Council to be held 
 next year will fully establish it as a new dogma. Others say 
 that infallibility is only to be had when cardinals and bishops, 
 with the Pope at their head, sit in council. Others say all 
 the clergy have it. Others, that it is in the whole body of the 
 members of the Church, including clergy and laity. That this 
 claim to infallibility has no foundation in Scripture is sufficiently 
 clear to all who read the Bible attentively. Even supposing for a 
 moment that St Peter was the head of the Church — who is now 
 said to be represented by the Pope — yet we find he erred most 
 painfully, no less than on three different occasions : once before 
 his fall, at his fall, and once afterwards. First he denied our 
 Lord's sacrificial character ; secondly he denied with awful oaths 
 that he knew Him at all: and after his full restoration, and 
 after he had used the keys of authority and privilege on the 
 
APPENDICES. 319 
 
 day of Pentecost, in opening the door of the Gospel kingdom 
 to the Jews, as recorded in the Acts ii., and to the Gentiles, as 
 in the case of Cornelius, Acts x. — yet after all this, it is stated in 
 Gal. ii. 11, * I withstood him' (Peter), says St. Paul, 'to the 
 face, because he was to be blamed.' In fact, 'the keys' 
 meant nothing more than the declarative power of proclaiming 
 the simple terms of salvation, such as ■ Repentance towards 
 God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ' All the apostles 
 had equally this power and privilege, which merely meant that 
 all to whom they preached, and who complied with those con- 
 ditions of * repentance and faith,' entered into Gospel liberty, 
 and obtained salvation, as three thousand Jews did on the day 
 of Pentecost. The apostles were infallible when under the 
 plenary influence of the Holy Ghost, as when they were writing 
 the sacred Scriptures ! But at other times they themselves said, 
 ' Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel 
 unto you than that which we preached, let him be accursed;' 
 and it was only on condition of their ' teaching to observe all 
 things whatsoever He commanded] that either they or the Church 
 in after ages could claim His continued presence. It was only 
 then that ' Lo, I am with you alway ' could be realized ; so 
 that any Church teaching otherwise than He 'commanded' 
 forfeited His presence of approval and of power. 
 
 We consider that many of the doctrines believed by the 
 Church of Rome were never 'commanded' by our Lord, or 
 taught by His apostles, especially the doctrine of ' human 
 merit,' or salvation by works. On this subject the Council of 
 Trent declared — ' That whosoever shall affirm that the ungodly 
 is justified by faith only, let him be accursed.' And again — 
 'That whosoever shall affirm that faith is only a trust in the 
 Divine mercy remitting sin for Christ's sake, let him be 
 accursed.' This speaks for itself. We shall presently see how 
 far His presence could be continued with such teaching as 
 this. 
 
3 20 
 
 APPENDICES. 
 
 The origin of at least some of the& may be accounted' 
 for thus : — When our Lord commanded His apostles to 
 'go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every 
 creature,' they were surrounded by two forms of worship, 
 namely, Heathenism, Paganism,* or Gentilism, on the one side, 
 and Judaism, as professed by the Jews, on the other hand- 
 After the death of some of the apostles, the converts from 
 these two systems began to introduce the traditions of the one 
 (the Jewish), and the idolatry of the other (the Gentile), and to 
 interweave them with the doctrines of the GospeL Even in 
 Saint Paul's time, what he calls 'the mystery of iniquity' 
 began to work, and it is working still in various forms, 
 and never more rife than now. The apostle, if living in our 
 day, might change the expression, ' In the latter times some shall 
 depart from the faith,' and say, ' many shall do so. ' Witness 
 the fearful strides of ritualism in the Church of England, and 
 rationalism in the German Churches — their name is Legion. 
 Thank God for the Bible, the infallible and sufficient rule of faith 
 — the palladium of our rights and privileges, and that by which 
 'life and immortality are brought to light' 'The Bible alone is 
 the religion of Protestants,' said Chillingtvorth, but we would say 
 of genuine Protestants, for there are many now, alas ! who only 
 bear the name. It is the great breakwater against error, and the 
 sole standard of doctrine and of morals. It should be constantly 
 and prayerfully perused, and widely circulated. It is the best book 
 which was ever written against every form of error. It leads 
 
 * The terms 1 Heathen' and ' Pagan' are synonymous, both signifying a 
 country person or peasant ; perhaps from the circumstance that learning and 
 religion were generally confined to cities and large towns. The masses and 
 the millions in the rural districts even of the Roman empire were 
 awfully neglected, after Christianity was recognized; and the apostles 
 themselves were, for the most part, only planters of churches in the principal 
 centres, allowing those churches to spread and hold forth the word of life 
 to those around, among whom they were to shine as lights in the world. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 321 
 
 into all truth, especially on the doctrine of justification or sal- 
 vation by faith alone — the test of a standing or a fallen Church; 
 for the Church which does not hold it, in opposition to justifi- 
 cation by works, is fallen indeed. The author does not use 
 this language with any acrimonious feeling towards those who 
 hold this doctrine, but the very opposite ; he suffered before, 
 and is willing to do so again, if necessary, to promote their 
 welfare for time and eternity. 1 His heart's desire and prayer 
 to God for them is, that they may be saved,' by faith which is 
 in Christ Jesus ; for he bears them record that many of them 
 ' have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.' 
 
 As various meanings are attached to the word justification 
 we may explain that, in a legal or forensic sense, it signifies to 
 declare a person innocent ; but, in a Scriptural and evangelical 
 sense, it signifies to declare a penitent sinner J>ardoned,who relies 
 by faith on the atoning blood of Christ, and by faith alone is 
 justified, without the deeds or work of the law. This is a rela- 
 tive act on the part of God the Father. The Holy Ghost bears 
 immediate and satisfactory evidence of it to the heart of the 
 penitent believer. There is a divine order in this great doc- 
 trine. Its origin or scource is grace, — c Justified freely by his 
 grace? (Rom. iii. 24). Its meritorious cause is the blood of 
 Christ, — 'Justified by his blood.' (Rom. v. 9). Its instrumental 
 cause is faith alone, — ' Therefore we conclude that a man is 
 justified by faith, without the deeds of the law.' (Rom. iii. 28). 
 And lastly, its outward evidence, by which we are said to be 
 justified by works, as St. James states Abraham was. (J a 
 ii. 24). But this Justification was merely declarative of the 
 genuine character of his former justification by faith — when 
 'he believed God' in reference to the promise of the Messiah 
 ' in whom all the nations of the earth' were to be blessed ; and 
 God ' counted it to him for righteousness,' or justification, or 
 pardon. The justification to which St. James now refers is the 
 act or work of Abraham offering up his son Isaac — thus proving 
 
322 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 that the faith by which he was originally justified was not a 
 dead faith, but a living and fruitful one, producing obedience : 
 for ' faith without works is dead.' In a word, his works justified 
 or proved his faith to be evangelical aud genuine. This justi- 
 fication by works is also spoken of as taking place again on 
 the day of judgment, — 1 For eveiy idle word that men shall 
 speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment : for by 
 thy words thou shalt be justified, — declared to be a genuine 
 believer, by the evidence of evangelical fruit; 'and by thy 
 words thou shalt be condemned.' ' Not by works of righteous- 
 ness which we have done, but according to His mercy He hath 
 saved us :' ' for by the works of the law shall no man living be 
 justified.'' In fact, the fallacy of supposing that justification or 
 pardon could be obtained by good works will plainly appear when 
 we consider the nature of a good work in itself. It must have 
 three qualifications in order to be pronounced such. First, there 
 must be a right principle ox source, according to 2 Cor. v. 14, ' The 
 love of Christ constraineth us/ &c. Secondly, there must be a 
 right rule or standard, as in 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17, ' All wScripture is 
 given . . . and is profitable ... for instruction in righteous- 
 ness/ &c. Thirdly, a right motive or end, as in 1 Cor. x. 31, 
 ' Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, do all xoihz glory of God,' 
 iizc. Now that such a work as this must be the fruit of a 
 renewed heart, and not the condition of salvation, is as plain 
 as noon-day ; for if not, it would imply that the tree must bear 
 fruit before it is plantrd at all, or the streams made pure before 
 the fountain itself is made such, which is absurd. ' Good works 
 never grew in nature's garden ; they belong to the Lord's hus- 
 bandry, and are His planting.' ' Thou, Lord, hast also wrought 
 all our works in us.' (Isa. xxvi. 12). The apple does not 
 produce or make the tree, but the tree produces the apple. 
 
 Such fruit as this will never grow 
 On Nature's barren soil ; 
 
 All we can boast till Christ we know 
 Is vanity and toil. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 323 
 
 Thus we have five particulars clearly revealed as confirmatory 
 of this great blessing of evangelical justification. First, grace as 
 the source or root ; secondly, Christ as the ground; thirdly faith 
 as the medium ; fourthly, the Holy Ghost as the revealer ; and 
 fifthly, a holy life as the outward evidence, both here and in the 
 day of judgment. We may, in fine, remark, when speaking ot 
 justification by faith, that we do not mean faith to be in anywise 
 meritorious ; it does not confer, but appropriates, or conveys, the 
 blessing. God requires its exercise, and yet gives the grace 
 which enables us to do so. And this He does in order to sus- 
 tain our dependence on Himself, and to secure His own glory * 
 for our salvation, from first to last, as far as merit is concerned, 
 is of the Lord, — ' By grace are ye saved, through faith ; and 
 that not of yourselves : it (the salvation) is the gift of God.' It 
 is an important consideration properly to blend human agency 
 with Divine influence and power. It will greatly assist us to 
 keep our own unworthiness always in view, as well as the infinite 
 merit of the atonement — available ' to all them that believe.' 
 But ye are washed, but ye are justified, but ye are sanctified, 
 in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' 
 k For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten 
 Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but 
 have everlasting life.' (John hi. 16.) 
 
 Perhaps the poet throws some additional light on the subject 
 of faith, thus : — 
 
 * 'Tis not for coming saves, yet come thou must, 
 
 'Tis not for looking, nor yet for thy trust, 
 
 Nor for believing ; Christ doth make thee whole ; 
 
 Nor yet for hearing, He doth save thy soul, 
 
 It is through faith, not for believing Him 
 
 That thou art justified from guilt and sin ; 
 
 It is the Object upon which we rest 
 
 That brings salvation to the burdened breast. 
 
N. B. — The author cannot close this volume without expressing his obliga- 
 tions for the advantages he derived from the following works in writing it: — 
 The memorial of Mr. Ouseley by the Rev. W. Reilly: Dr. Stevens' History 
 of Methodism in the eighteenth century; Dr. Smith's History of Methodism : 
 and the Minutes of Irish Conference, lately published in three vols., all of 
 which he would strongly recommend to every family and friend of Methodism. 
 
 It will, perhaps be thought by some that the writer has introduced too 
 much poetry into this work. He is free to confess that in this respect he- 
 has indulged strong predilections ; but not, however, to fill the volume or to 
 make a book. This will appear from the quantity of small type made use of. 
 He does, however, indulge a hope that many will regard those pieces in a 
 pleasing and edifying aspect : they are distributed as suitably as he possibly 
 could do according to the character of each chapter. ' When poetry,' says Dr. 
 Adam Clarke, in his note on Ex. xv. I, is consecrated to the service of 
 God, and employed to communicate His acts, then it becomes a very useful 
 handmaid to piety, and God honours His own gifts.' Mr. Wesley also writes — 
 ' When Poetry thus keeps its place as the handmaid of Piety, it shall attain 
 not a poor, perishable wreath, but a Crown that fadeth not away.' Besides, 
 we may remark, that it seems to enter largely, as far as sound and song are 
 concerned, into the employments, and the language, of the heavenly throng. 
 St. Paul heard some of the words when in a rapture, but was not allowed to 
 communicate them. In Rev. v. 9 it is said, 'They sung a new song,' 
 perhaps called new on account of its superlative excellence. In Rev. xiv. 1, 
 2, 3, it is said, ' And the hundred and forty and four thousand (no doubt 
 a definite used for an indefinite number) sung, as it were, a new song.' And 
 in Rev. xv. 3, i And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God 
 (in allusion to Ex. xv.), and of the Lamb,' — the Son of God. Then, let 
 Mr. Phillips, the American hymnist and sacred songster, who so lately 
 charmed us in Dublin, preach, as he calls it, the Gospel in sacred song, 
 especially as he ' does it all for Jesus,' yea — 
 
 ' Let every kindred, every tongue, 
 
 On this terrestrial ball, 
 Now shout in universal song, 
 
 And crown Him " Lord of all." 
 O that with yonder sacred throng, 
 
 We at His feet may fall, 
 Bring forth the royal diadem, 
 
 And crown Him " Lord of all." 
 So prays the Author with all his heart. — Amen and amen. 
 
 DUBLIN STEAM PRINTING COMPANY.