. The origin and history of the primitive Methodist Church . at the time when the curtains of evening, like the doors of a sanctuary, were shutting the people up with God. The voice of praise, sometimes from the family alone, at others from collected neighbours, could be distinctly heard ascending at the same moment from many a family hearth. The reformatory power of religion was soon strikingly manifested. That which civil laws and magisterial authority had failed to effect, after many a trial, was accomplished by the religion of Christ. A great number of the pests and plagues of a large neig
. The origin and history of the primitive Methodist Church . at the time when the curtains of evening, like the doors of a sanctuary, were shutting the people up with God. The voice of praise, sometimes from the family alone, at others from collected neighbours, could be distinctly heard ascending at the same moment from many a family hearth. The reformatory power of religion was soon strikingly manifested. That which civil laws and magisterial authority had failed to effect, after many a trial, was accomplished by the religion of Christ. A great number of the pests and plagues of a large neighbourhood were converted to God; and several of them, to our knowledge, after having lived for years as becometh the gospel of Christ, have been gathered to their rest in heaven, and many others continue in well-doing to this day. In all this the village of Messingham appeared to be the most favoured of people journeyed thither to witness the strange things which hadcome to pass; and not unfrequently some returned home new^ creatures, making. HOUSE IN WHICH FRIMITIVE METHODISM COMMENCED ATBROUGHTON— W. NEALs HOUSE. 424 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. the roads and lanes vocal with the song of praise. All classes of society were excited. On the village-green, in casual intercourse, or among the busy scenes of the market, the usual topic was the great revival in Scotter Circuit,* It is a pleasingpicture the writer draws of what he himself had seen and known a picture which almost involuntarily starts the prayer— Haste again, ye days of grace ! Equally pleasing is the biographers description of Atkinson Smiths absorption in this great revival. He was happily circumstanced both for furthering and enjoying it, being at the time foreman on a large farm at Messingham, occupied by a Wesleyan local preacher who, like himself, was fully in the spirit of the revival. Master and man would often take the lead in services held in the large farm-kitchen, in the presence
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