These two towns were visited on Friday, the last working day of a very busy week. The evangelistic party were driven over from Coleraine to the former place and were entertained at breakfast at the hospitable manse of Rev J Armour, one of the Presbyterian pastors, who had invited a number of his feliow ministers from the surrounding district to meet Mr Moody. There was a large assemblage in one of the churches at 11 a.m. Ballymoney reminds one very forcibly of the remoter part of the far north of Scotland, where the "kist of whistles" is a rank offence and the metrical version of the Psalms is the highest, if not the only true, vehicle of human praise. There was no organ, and therefore no Gospel solos, but Mr Moody's words were weighty and powerful, the drink coming in for some staggering blows. There was not much time left for drawing the net, but time enough to show that the arrows of truth had gone home.
Train was taken for Ballymena, or rather Cully-backey, where Mr Young, Fenaghy, met the party, and took them off to luncheon, afterwards driving them to the afternoon Ballymena meeting. This was for an open-air one in a field belonging the "horse jumping" fraternity. A large raised wooden platform used for the accommodation of spectators at the equine jumping feats did excellent service and gave seats to a thousand people or so. As many more stood on the grass in front of the temporary covered rostrum that had been erected for Mr Moody. The rain that had threatened for some time rather marred the occasion by cutting short Mr Moody's discourse and dissolving the gathering. A number repaired to one of the churches, where earnest and faithful exhortations were given by Dr Williamson and Mr Montgomery. The church was crowded again in the evening, and Mr Moody gave the continuing portion of his sermon, which was the always telling one on "Excuses." There was a great breaking down of hearts of the people and an opening of their lips, for at the second meeting between 200 and 300 confessed themselves as desirous of having done with manufactured excuses and of accepting the royal invitation to the banquet of salvation. Thus closed the labours of the first week in Ireland, and certainly Mr Moody will never forget it.
On Saturday he rested with Mr Young, at Fenaghy, preparatory to entering on the week's work in the Great Ulster Convention Hall, that stands on The Plains in Belfast.
MR. BURKE
has been an important factor in the week's work. Though feeling rather tired from the continuous labours of the last nine months, he has entered with spirit into the Irish meetings, and his rendering of the Gospel songs has been with manifest acceptance to the people. He sings with much skill and intelligence with a happy combination of musical emphasis and distinctness of enunciation. He has sung new songs as well older favourites. Everywhere he has been heartily and efficiently supported by the local united choir, which have been brought together for the occasion at short notice. Not the least of the benefits that accrue from these special missions is the way in which they open the floodgates of consecrated song. And a singing church, as Mr Moody takes pains to show, is a fruitful as well as a rejoicing church.
From, "The Christian," September 1st, 1892
I do not know where the outdoor meeting took place.