History of The Religious Society of Friends in Lurgan

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

At the beginning of the eighteenth century Friends in Lurgan were a well-established group. It is difficult, however, to establish the precise numerical membership at this period. No formal initiation was required through baptism or acceptance of credal statement; no communicant list was drawn up, as outward sacraments were not practiced. Those who were in unity with Friends declared it by regular attendance at Meeting for Worship, the avoidance of tithes and oaths, simplicity of dress and refusal to bear arms.

DISCIPLINE

One of the most frequent ways of incurring the censure of the meeting was by accepting the services of a priest or clergyman. The marriage regulations for Friends were lengthy and cumbersome. Young people grew weary of the tedious procedure and sometimes married in the local church, especially where one of the parties to the marriage was not associated with Friends. The minute books of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries are full of entries about marriage arrangements and disownments of those who failed to follow the regulations.

Another matter which frequently occurs concerned disputes over land ownership, debts and loans. Friends encouraged arbitration between their members to be conducted internally without recourse to the civil courts of law.

CHARITY

Although a number of Friends, especially those in the linen trade, were very wealthy, it is clear that many were in very poor circumstances. Failure of harvest at recurring intervals produced real suffering and waves of emigration to North America were evident about 1729, 1750 and 1770. Practical support for those in need is found frequently in the minutes. A collection was made for Thomas Harland after his home was destroyed by fire in 1723. In twelfth month of 1721 a minute records action to assist a man who lived at some distance and who was experiencing difficulty with the persistent problem of rent: 'Whereas John Murdogh, a poor Friend who lives between Loughbrickland and Newry, near widow Macamons, being under some difficulty for the loan of 40 shillings to prevent his cattle being driven for rent, this meeting desired Alex Mathews, John Hoope, James Bradshaw and John Walker to lend it, which they did, each ten shillings and if the said John Murdogh do not pay all the said 40s. at or before the first day of the sixth month next then this meeting is to pay the same to the said Friends who lent it.'

Cases of men emigrating to America and leaving their wives and families caused Friends much concern and action was taken to assist in these instances. Legacies by Friends with means were often applied directly to cases of need. John Hoope on his death in 1740 left £5.00 to the poor of the Monthly Meeting to be divided between Rathfriland (£1.2.9.) and his home meeting (£3.17.3.). In a gesture of ecumenical generosity rare for that age he bequeathed a further £5.0.0. to the poor of Lurgan to be divided equally between 'the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterians and the Papists'.

LURGAN MONTHLY MEETING

Lurgan Monthly Meeting continued to have oversight of Moyallon which grew steadily as members moved there and established businesses along the Bann. Rathfriland was another meeting in its care, but in this case its existence was much more precarious. It suffered by the migration of three families to Connaught in 1721, presumably to the Quaker settlement in Newport, but continued to be supported by Lurgan Friends throughout the century. Milecross meeting near Newtownards was also attached to Lurgan on its foundation in 1734, although later transferred to Lisburn. Later in the century the meetings at Cootehill and Grange were transferred to Lurgan Monthly Meeting to provide them with greater pastoral support.

Throughout the period Friends were meticulous in recording their general business in Preparative and Monthly Meetings and these minutes provide a rich source of information on the social life of the community. They noted carefully details of marriages, births and burials and continued opposition to the payment of tithes and church dues. Those who had means and opportunity travelled as representatives to the Province and National Meetings. Surnames which occur frequently in minutes include Bell, Bradshaw, Christy (Moyallon), Greer, Turner and Truman and, as the century progresses, other names such as Henderson, Murphy (Rathfriland), Pedlow, Sinton and Wakefield are found.

SIMPLICITY OF LIFE

The distinctiveness of the Friends community was ensured by their emphasis on simplicity in dress and the avoidance of worldly pursuits. This posed a problem for many of the new wealthy class whose affairs caused them to move in different circles. John Nicholson, the bleacher, was censured for his practice of hunting and fowling and David Sinton had a minute of disunity passed upon him by the Monthly Meeting after attending horse-races. A young man who had taken part in the County Armagh game of 'road bullets' was similarly admonished.

In 1723 we read: 'Friends whether young or old who wear their hats much cocked, powder their hair or periwigs so as it is easy to be seen on their shoulders; and wear their shirts too visibly to be seen about their necks and arms and their neckcloths hanging out too long, may be lovingly admonished and advised to avoid the manner of such habit, and to more nearly conform to the ancient plainness of their fathers and grandfathers who walked becoming the plainness of the Gospel yearning for spiritual vigour in outward rules.'

Later in 1768 in response to the Annual Queries a cautious answer was offered: 'We hope most Friends are careful to avoid sports and places of diversion, gaming and unnecessary frequenting of alehouses etc., yet can't say all are so careful as could be desired.'

VISITING MINISTERS

Much of the spiritual vigour was preserved by Friends 'travelling in the ministry'. These visitors often kept detailed journals of their travels and through them we learn much of the condition of the meeting and the community. Almost all make reference to the large size of Lurgan meeting and so it must have seemed in comparison to one such as Rathfriland which was also often visited in the course of the itinerary.

JONATHAN BURNYEAT, son of John Burnyeat who visited Lurgan so frequently, described it in 1705 in ecstatic terms: 'a meeting of divine consolation, indeed, surpassing all others in the North - a heavenly meeting it

BENJAMIN HOLME of York noted the reputation Friends had acquired in the community. In 1724 he writes: 'Many very considerable men in this country, chat have great quantities of land to set, do very much covet to have Friends for their tenants; for many of our Friends have been so diligent and industrious, and have made such fine improvements upon the farms that they have taken, and have also been so punctual in paying their rents that they are very much respected by their landlords.'

DANIEL STANTON, a Friend from America, who came in 1749, recorded of Lurgan: 'so many people of great note and behaved extraordinarily sober, .... favoured with a good meeting.'

Many of the visiting Friends were disturbed by a lack of devotion. In 1752 an American, JOHN CHURCHMAN, wrote that 'pride, and a worldly spirit much prevails'. He also was critical of Lurgan meeting's neglect of business matters and records with satisfaction that, while he was there, matters of discipline concerning irregular marriages and attendance at cockfights and races had been attended to.

In 1760 JOHN GRIFFITH of Essex gave his impressions of the Province Meeting at Lurgan: 'My spirit was deeply affected therein, with a sorrowful sense, that some of the leaders of the people had caused them to err, and by their love for, and eager pursuit after worldly enjoyments, had largely contributed to destroy the way of the Lord. Alas! they are gone from the way of religion.'

RUTH FOLLOWS of Nottingham in 1782 recorded of her visit to Lurgan: '...a large number, but the want of weight is sorrowful'. Moyallon is described as 'a trying meeting'.

The following year JOB SCOTT from New England is no less complimentary about Lurgan for he writes: 'a painful meeting. Friends are in a low state.'

The most illuminating comments about the general conditions of the country are found in the Journal of the Philadelphia Friend WILLIAM SAVERY. The entry for 17th of llth month (November) 1797 states: 'Went with our Friend Louisa Conran two miles to dine, after which proceeded to Lurgan, about eight Irish miles, through a populous country; the people on the way-side dwell in wretched hovels of mud and straw, many children almost naked, and this in the midst of a fertile country, abounding in the produce of the earth; but the poor live very poorly indeed, perhaps in every way more distressed than in any country I have seen; and the rich lamentably oppressive. It being market-day when we arrived, the market people were packing up their stockings, linen, yarn, etc.: many of them were intoxicated with strong drink, which is said to be a common case on market-days. The houses are all white, being overcast with lime, which is much the case in this country'.

He continues his diary for the following First Day (Sunday): 'Though unwell I went to meeting at Moyallon, and through infinite condescension it was thought to be a favoured time. Attended the evening meeting at Lurgan, though quite poorly with the cold I had taken - the house was supposed to contain seven hundred persons, and was filled; it appeared as open a time as I have had in Ireland'.

Another visitor to Lurgan on a religious mission had a profound effect on the Quaker community. JOHN WESLEY came to the town eight times between 1756 and 1785, seeking to bring his hearers to a knowledge of Christ as Saviour and preaching a message of scriptural holiness. It is clear that many families who had been associated with Friends joined the new Methodist Societies formed in Lurgan and also in the country districts of Bluestone and Ballinacor where Quaker influence had been strong. Those who remained Quakers were influenced too by the enthusiasm of the new movement and its effect can be traced even to modern times.

Lurgan Meeting itself contributed but few to the Quaker itinerant ministry. Robert Hoope, as we have seen, devoted the last years of his life to this service. Involvement in business pursuits may have been a hindrance for some; for the very poor the economic pressures of daily existence seemed to rule out this vocation. One remarkable woman Friend who lived near Lurgan in the middle of the century was SUZANNA HUTTON, nee HUDSON. She had grown up in the meeting at Lower Grange, near Toome, and when barely in her teens she went as a servant to the Courtney family nearby. As a girl of eighteen she accompanied her mistress, Ruth Courtney, on a visit to Friends in America, which lasted almost two years, and later on visits to meetings in Britain. Her ministry in America and Britain was well received and, in fact, was more highly valued than that of her mistress.

She married a Friend named Hutton and came to live on a smallholding in the Lurgan area, but life was far from easy for her, as we can judge by references in the Journal of JAMES GOUGH, brother of the first Headmaster of Friends' School, Lisburn, John Gough. He writes of a visit in 1749:

"Robert Richardson and I went to see Suzanna; we found many Friends of the better sort in her cabin; a sweet silence arose amongst us, after which she preached the Gospel to us with such penetrating energy, that there were few or any dry eyes present."

Sadly the high rents in the Lurgan area caused the family to consider leaving the district. James Gough continues:

"Her husband kept two looms going, and she kept two cows, and they saved money; but seeing no prospect of land to be taken thereabouts, except at an exorbinant rent, they concluded to remove themselves and children to America: but divers Friends were so affected with the thoughts of her leaving them, that they contributed their cares and endeavours to get her resettled amongst them. Yet trials and troubles were to attend her. Sometimes she had not a bite of food for herself or her children, nor a farthing to procure any; but when reduced to the last extremity, and ashamed to make her case known, sudden relief would come from one quarter or another. Through all these things she grew brighter' and more excellent in her ministry. Her situation continued in this destitute way, until it was discovered by Friends of Leinster and Munster, on a visit appointed by the Yearly Meeting. She had then several invitations; but her way opened to Waterford, whither she was assisted by her friends to remove herself and family. She left Ulster, much regretted by the religious part of Friends in that province, among whom she had been a bright and shining instrument. Not one in those large meetings in the North rose up with that Divine authority and dignity as she did."

POLITICAL UNREST

In the course of his travels William Savery had much evidence of the activity of the United Irishmen and the generally lawless state of the country. The records of Lurgan Monthly Meeting give some hints of the pressures Friends felt in the latter part of the century.

One popular protest movement against the burden of rent charges was the 'Hearts of Oak' and was supported by some tenant farmers in the Lurgan area. In 1772 the following minute was passed:

'There being advice given both in our Public Meeting for Worship and privately to Friends soon after the arising of the riotous unlawful people who call themselves HEARTS OF OAK, not to join or assemble with them, notwithstanding one or two young men who profess with us have unguardedly assembled with them, as they say by compulsion, but it is contrary to the peaceable and holy profession we make to lift up arms to fight on any occasion much less on such an unlawful one as this. The following named Friends are desired to give advice to any who they think in danger of joining with them, viz. John Turner, James Greer, John Hartley, Michael Harland, James Christy sen, Joseph Richardson, Thos. Christy, Thomas Sinton, James Christy jun, Abraham Bell.'

Service in the armed forces offered employment and an opportunity to escape from the tedium of life on the farm and in the weaving shop. Recruitment was stepped up during the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars, but true to their testimony Friends discouraged their members from joining up. In 1778 we read:

'This meeting being informed that John Kirk, Richard Bell and James Calvert went on board a vessel of war and that John Kirk remained on board a vessel of war, the other two having deserted and James Calvert being now in the neighbourhood John Greer and James Greer to visit him.'

When the United Irishmen's uprising broke out in 1798 Friends in Lurgan did not fare as badly as those in other parts of Ireland. Antrim was the scene of one of the battles, but Friends there escaped unscathed. Co. Wexford Quakers suffered much distress and loss but were wonderfully preserved from injury or death and were tireless in giving food and shelter to the innocent and oppressed on both sides. Friends throughout the Yearly Meeting were instructed to destroy any guns or other weapons which they held and thus bear witness to their trust in a God whose way was characterised by peace.