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

THE PERIOD OF CIRCUIT PREDOMINANCE AND ENTERPRISE. 39
made a blessing to our society in the Island," and that " we preachers believe the Lord
sent him." Finally, Sharman goes for a month to more distant Peel, "a place noted
for its wickedness and hardness, which gave him some concern." Land had already
been secured for a chapel at Douglas. Just before the Christmas of 1823 Castletown
chapel was opened ;
four other chapels are said to be in course of erection, and the
number of members in the Island is reported as six hundred and forty-three.
For two years only Castletown stands on the stations, then it is simply " Isle of
Man." Evidently Douglas soon began to take the lead, and became the residence
of the superintendent. In 1842, differentiation began to show itself. We have
Douglas; Eamsey Branch; and Peel Mission. In 1849, Ramsey
is a circuit, with
Peel as its branch; later, Peel is re-absorbed. In 1851, Castletown is a branch; and,
in 1868, both Castletown and Peel have become independent stations. Finally, when,
in 1887, Laxey was made a station, the present number and order of stations were
arrived at. These changes reflect the vicissitudes through which our Church in the
Island has passed, and the numerical returns bear similar witness. In 1832, the
number of members given
is 339 ;
next year the number is 1,000, which is also that
of 1842 ; but, in 1837, the number had sunk to 756. It is singular that our present
numerical position in the Island is practically the same as in 1842, viz., 1,089, while
the number of ministers is also the same. Seasons of spiritual declension alternating
with seasons of revival do not altogether, or perhaps even mainly, account for these
fluctuations. Of course they have operated and left their mark on the periodic
returns. But the chief explanation will probably be found in the action, more or less
acute, of economic and industrial conditions determining the flow of emigration from
the Island, which has right along been a serious hindrance to the steady advance of
the societies. Yet, despite this hindrance, the Isle of Man still contributes one-ninth
part of the total membership of the Liverpool District, and it has strongly rooted
itself in the religious and social life of the Island, as the advance the Church has made
on the material side during late years strikingly
shows. Illustrations of this later
phase of our history we hope to give hereafter ; but, even confining ourselves to the
earlier period, Bolton's mission to the Isle of Man must be pronounced a success
both in its direct and indirect results. Names which at once betray their Manx
origin are found on the muster-roll of our workers, past and
present, both in the Isle and out of it. They stand side by side
with the plain Saxon patronymics we know so well. The blend
and association of racial qualities in Christian communion and
service thus indicated has been all for good. Names such as
Clucos, and Quayle, and Cain are unmistakeably Manx, and they
are the names of some out of many who might be named, who
served the- interests of our Church in the Island during the
earlier days. Philip Clucos (born 1809, died 1885) was a noted
pioneer worker and evangelist in his day, and as such he traversed
MR. PHILIP
the Islan(i
CLUCOS.
> winning many converts. The hospitality of the
Quayles, of Glenmaye of which society Mrs. Quayle was
the first member is reported of to this day. Of John Cain, of Rinshent, Foxdale,