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

64 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.
of his first landing in Europe to publish the gospel.
Our chief source of information as
to these preparatory conditions and happenings accounting for Clowes' entry into Leeds,
is a communication addressed to George Herod by the Rev. Samuel Smith, who was
one of the most prominent actors in the events he describes.
It may
be claimed for the
facts detailed by S. Smith, that they are not only interesting in themselves as throwing
light on the origins of Leeds Primitive Methodism, but that they have a still higher
value, as serving to relate Primitive Methodism to that type of religious activity and
phenomenon of the time we have called "Revivalism." After all that has been written,
we need not once more indicate what is sought to be conveyed by that word, or stay to
show again
that Revivalism was largely a survival and recrudescence of primitive
doctrine and experience, and of old-time methods of evangelisation. It will be enough
to remind ourselves that, right along our course thus far, from Mow Cop to the Humber
VICTORIA BAR CHURCH, YORK.
and back again by the Peak to the Mersey, we have seen this fervid aggressive type of
religious life manifesting itself, in ways regular or irregular, banned or tolerated. It
would be strange indeed were we to miss in Leeds, of all towns in England, what we
-
met with in.
Nottingham and Hull and Manchester. We think of Leeds as a freedom
loving town. At this particular time it was a stronghold of Nonconformity. Methodism
had struck its roots deep in the life of the people. Not many years before, the town
and neighbourhood had been set on fire
by William Bramwell's ministry of flame. In
such a town one would naturally expect to find those whose proclivities lay in the
direction of Revivalism to be, not less but rather more numerous than elsewhere, and
a knowledge of the ecclesiastical history of Leeds would but justify the expectation.
But narrowing our view : it was a band of Revivalists, Primitive Methodists in spirit,