Dr. Coke became the apostle of Ireland after the death of Wesley. He visited the country twentj'-five times at his own cost ; gave freely of his own money to the preachers and the new erections of chapels; trav- elled and preached all over the country; and the society advanced rapidly under his superintendence. In 1782, when he first presided at their Conference, the\' had only 15 circuits and GOOO members. In 1813, after a lapse of thirtj'-one years, there were 56 circuits and 28,770 members. All this was in spite of ditficulties, persecu- tions, and resistance almost insurmountable. From 1795 to 1798, during the prevalence of the Rebellion, the suf- ferings and even tortures of the Methodists, perhaps the most loyal people in the country, were too horrible to relate. Their very loyalty caused the malignity of the rebels; but God was on their side, and had raised up among them two or three ministers whose labors saved the societies. Especially were the untiring labors of the Rev. Adam Averell made a great blessing to the whole country. Educated for the Church, after a few years' service in that body, he became a Methodist, and, having abundant means of his own, began to itinerate all over Ireland, much in the same way as Mr. Wesley had done, encouraging the members, administering the sacraments, attending and presiding over quarterly meetings, opening new chapels, and introducing IMeth- odism into new localities. During half a century that devoted servant of God ceased not to exert all his en- ergies and influence on behalf of Methodism, while he himself, like Wesley, as an ordained clergyman, was permitted occasionally to preach in churches, and with- out permission preached continuously, often dailv, in the open air to listening multitudes. In those excursions which he made he witnessed many extraordinary man- ifestations of the divine power, both during his sermons and in prayer-meetings afterwards. During the twenty years of Dr. Coke's superintendence of Jlethodism in Ireland, INIr. Averell was generallj' appointed their rep- resentative to the English Conference, and for many years accompanied Dr. Coke from Ireland to England for that purpose, the two taking turns in preaching in the towns through which they passed on their journeys. When, in 1818, the Irish societies were divided on the sacrament and Church question, Mr. Averell took sides with those who formed " The Primitive Wesleyan Meth- odists," thought by some to be the seceders. He was appointed their president, organized their societies, es- tablished for them a magazine and book-room, and re- mained true to their society and interests till his death, Jan. 16, 1847, at the ripe age of ninety-two years.
Methodism, while struggling with poverty', opposi- tion, and cruelty, yet was often favored in a remarkable manner by Divine Providence. At the time of the great Rebellion Methodism saved Dublin from being sacked by the rebels, whose intention to march on that city was secretly made known to a Methodist citizen. He
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at once communicated with the lord-lieutenant, who sent out the soldiers to meet the rebels, and they were de- feated and the city saved. Dr. Coke came to Dublin, interceded with the authorities, found that Alexander Knox, Mr. Wesley's fjreat friend, was [>rivate secretary to lord Castlcreagh, then lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and through him obtained permission for the Conference to meet in Dublin, when bylaw more than five persons were forbidden to meet for any purpose, and secured safe-con- voys for the preachers to travel. At that Conference it was resolved to establish home missions, in order to pro- vide preaching for the people in their native language. The two missionaries first appointed were James M'Quigg and Charles Graham. The former was both a scholar and an able preacher. He toiled as a missionary till his health broke down, then devoted his energies to the preparation and editing of the Bible in the Irish tongue, which the British and Foreign Bible Society published. lie brought out a second edition, and, while preparing a third edition for press, closed a career of toil and suf- fering, leaving behind, in that Irish Bible, a work which was a blessing to thousands after his death. Charles Graham was a man of dauntless Irish courage. At twenty-five his eyes were opened to see his lost con- dition. He had been both Churchman and papist, but, finding no soul-rest till he found Methodism, his char- acter was soon discovered by Mr.Weslej^, who sent him out as a missionary in Kerry County. Few of the Irish evangelists had more trials than Graham, and few knew better how to meet and conquer them. Bartley Camp- bell was another who had been an ardent papist, and became an eccentric but enthusiastic missionary. More extensively usefid than any who had preceded him in mission work was Gideon Ouselc}', who devoted a long life to spreading divine truth in the form of Methodism among the Irish people. The Life and Labors of that eminent preacher and defender of truth, by the Eev. William Arthur, has perpetuated his character and work. He and Graham often travelled together and assisted each other; butOuseley will always be consid- ered the chief Methodist Irish missionary, which posi- tion he occupied for forty years. He labored as hard with his pen as his tongue, and his writings, Avhen pub- lished, were at times more helpful to the cause of God than his verbal utterances. The improved religious character of Ireland now is largely due to Gideon Ouseley's labors.