Vol 2, pages 1-100 - My Primitive Methodist Ancestors

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24 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. God. For many years before his death he was a complete invalid, and a great sufferer, but in all his affliction he witnessed a good confession, and died in triumph." Another member of the goodly fellowship of workers was Thomas Holden, who, Mr. Parker tells us, at an early date in the history of the society, came from Todd Hall, near Haslingden, and was, for thirty years, a most successful " class leader. His was a constant and conspicuous figure in the congregation of Jersey Street. His fine, manly form and his sweet but powerful voice made him a desirable leader in open-air work. A prayer meeting without his presence or without his prayer was not to be thought of." When James Holden, his eldest son, at last yielded to the convictions he had long resisted, that son's demonstrations of joy at his new-found liberty were like those of the healed paralytic, or like theirs whose captivity was turned. Others rejoiced with him in song and shouts of triumph. The scene MR. JAMES HOLDEN. was one no fc easily to be forgotten, and was often recalled. James Holden retained his active connection with Jersey Street until his lamented death in 1896. As recently as 1901, there passed away one whose life more than covered the entire history of Manchester Primitive Methodism. As a girl, Mrs. Hannah Me Kee received her first class-ticket in 1824, and was thus the contemporary of them who formed the remissioning bands, and she may well have assisted in their efforts. Not on this ground alone does she merit reference here, but because, for sixty years, she was a teacher in Jersey Street and New Islington Sunday Schools; a contributor on a somewhat large scale to the funds of the Church ; at the time of her death the oldest Primitive Methodist in Manchester ; and because she has left descendants, even to the fourth generation, who are closely associated with our denomination. Jonathan Ireland was undoubtedly the leader of the band. It was from him Hugh Bourne learned the facts about the " remissioning system," which he gave at length in the Magazine for 1835 ; and though no names are mentioned (by J. I.'s own request, it is it said) is clear that Hugh Bourne regarded him as the "founder" and leading spirit of the movement. Jonathan Ireland was by aptitude and preference "a determined street-preacher," as he has been well called. He began his religious life in association with the Church of England, in " gay Preston." But even then his native bent showed itself. He was restive under restrictions. The contemplative life had no charms for him ; nor could the observance of routine, however decorous, satisfy. He must do MRS. HANNAH MC KEE. something, and something out of the common. So he rang the church bells, and planted shrubs in the churchyard. He even took part in house prayer meetings, where each one read his prayer out of the book ; and once, when he made a burst into free prayer, he chastised himself by self-reproaches for having given way to what was Methodistic and improper. But he broke free from his fetters, and became a Methodist and a successful class leader, and an active sick visitor. Then he
THE PERIOD OF CIRCUIT PREDOMINANCE AND ENTERPRISE. 25 came to Manchester, and- found his true vocation when he joined the Primitives. This was in November, 1823, when Jersey Street Chapel was a-building. When, in 1832, Manchester, like so many other towns and cities, was being ravaged by the cholera, Jonathan Ireland was moved to put forth special efforts to carry the gospel of salvation and consolation into the " streets and lanes of the city." He was nobly seconded by Jonathan Heywood, Thomas Hewitt, and others like-minded'. Their method was, beginning at the house-door of one of the band, to go singing through the streets to a suitable stand in some populous quarter, and then halt, while a short, pointed exhortation was given. The like procedure was repeated again and again, until the time for morning or evening service had come, when they sang their way to the chapel. These remissioning efforts were continued all through that fateful summer with good results ; but and this is the noteworthy thing they were not laid aside when the cholera had ceased its ravages. Each time the cholera has visited this country it has swollen our annual returns on the right side. An increase of 7120 stands to the credit of 1833 ; and the increase for 1850, following upon the fearful visitation of 1848-9, when more than five thousand persons perished, was still higher, amounting to 9205, a figure never reached before or since. But closer scrutiny would show that in some localities, the year of ingathering was followed by a year of wastage; that re-action followed revival ; that many whom the cholera had frightened into the Church rather than driven to Christ, withdrew ; and that even the Church itself, now that the scourge was overpast, too frequently relaxed its efforts to save men. But, as we have said, it was not so in Manchester ; rather was remissioning carried on more energetically than before. The planting of our Church in Salford grew out of the unremitting efforts of Jonathan Ireland and his co-workers. The first headquarters were in a room in Dale Street; then, in 1844, King Street Chapel was opened (afterwards Blackfriars Street, and now Camp Street, Broughton). One cannot read Jonathan Ireland's "Autobiography"* without being impressed with his tireless zeal and, no less, with his tact and resourcefulness. He was a true disciple of Hugh Bourne in never failing to notice the children. Even the slatterns and viragos of a "mean street" were mollified, as they saw the preacher shaking hands with the bairns at the close of a service. When he went into an Irish quarter, he knew better than to lead off with a denunciation of the Pope and all his works. He sought rather to begin by finding some common ground of agreement with his hearers. One quotation we will give, to show his methods and the kind of work that was being done during those earlier ;< set, One Sunday morning at nine o'clock (it was the Sunday following the races, years : and so drunkenness was peculiarly prevalent), I went into Wood Street, which runs out of Brown Street, to mission, several friends being with me. You When I got up to preach I looked at the people, and cried out : ' are a sorry without comfort and character ; no credit, for nobody will trust you a farthing. Now, I'm here as your friend ; and I'll tell you a way in which you may, in twelve *" Jonathan Ireland, the Street Preacher. An Autobiography." Edited by Rev. J. Simpson, his son-in-law.
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Vol 2, pages 1-100 - My Primitive Methodist Ancestors

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