County Armagh
As the flood tide of the revival rose, the county of Armagh, lying between the counties of Down and Tyrone, was soon engulfed.
Lurgan
This important town was the first in Armagh to receive the outpouring. Here the Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian ministers went hand in hand and were abundant in labours. So numerous were the cases of stricken ones that it was necessary to summon by telegraph Rev. L. E. Berkeley from the meetings of the General Assembly in Dublin. Mr. Berkeley himself writes:- The first meeting for united prayer in which any of the Episcopal ministers took part, was held in the Presbyterian church, on the 28th June. Hitherto the brethren had rather kept aloof, doubting the real character of the movement, but from this period, their doubts seemed to vanish. At that meeting, one public conviction took place. It turned out a case, as far as man could judge, of real conversion to God. The court in which the individual who was the subject of it dwelt, resounded for many days with the voice of singing and prayer. It had produced a solemnising effect upon the whole neighbourhood, and it became evident that if Satan was working, it was for the overthrow of his own kingdom.
“I left for the Assembly in Dublin on the 4th July, having made arrangements for the meetings during that week. On Tuesday evening the second meeting for united prayer, in which all denominations were represented, was held. A student of theology addressed it. There were six cases of public conviction. On their way home, and after reaching it, many were brought to their knees. The next day the people were giving way in all directions. No meetings had been announced for that evening, but the young people and others assembled voluntarily, filled both the schoolrooms as well as the church, and continued till two or three o’clock in the morning in singing and prayer. On Thursday it was the same. United exercises were almost impossible. Every pew was a prayer meeting. Some were prostrated under agonising conviction. Others were rejoicing as having found Jesus. As in Israel of old, it was almost impossible to ‘discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people.’ It is believed that hundreds were impressed during those two nights, and many of them truly converted to God.”
Portadown
Portadown is the largest town of the county. A great revival open-air meeting was held here in a field by the side of the River Bann on the 11th July. A young male convert from Belfast addressed the vast multitude assembled, telling of the tremendous happenings he himself had witnessed in Co. Antrim. As he spoke, a wave of power swept over the gathering. Scores were stricken down under conviction of sin, including the most notorious sinners present.
Following this meeting, the revival spread through the whole town.
Dr. Paisley’s book relates accounts from Tullyallen, Tartaraghan, Armagh, Keady, Drumbanagher and more.
