Simpson, Jonathan, J. P. Annals of My Life, Labours, and Travels; By Rev. Jonathan Simpson, J.P., Portrush. Belfast: William Mullan & Son, 1895. First Edition.
Worn cloth hardcover, binding with amateur repairs to end paper hinges and evidently pasted to the backstrip, some splits to the backstrip at the hinges still visible. 6 x 9 inches, several owner's signatures to fep. Calling card of Geo. T. W. M'Cann, Portrush. 1960's ALS of M'Cann laid in, written to a Mr. Clark thanking him for a book by J. C. Ryle and lamenting the lack of revival. 714 clean pp., shaken. Fair. Hardcover. [3739]
No. 4908 in Roberts, Revival Literature: An Annotated Bibliography.
Scarce, with only 6 library locations, 3 of which are in the USA.
Jonathan Simpson b. 1817 in Derry Co., Ireland, into a Presbyterian family. Some of Jonathan's relatives has already emigrated to Pennsylvania before his birth. He became a Presbyterian minister at Portrush, Ireland, in 1842. He made travels to the United States to raise money for building a church, manse, and school house in his parish. It is said that on his first trip he visited some part of twenty-two States and both Canadas.
"Revival of 1859 came on, and the church was so packed it was resolved to enlarge it."
He was appointed a delegate to the Second Council of the Presbyterian Alliance in Philadelphia, 1880.
Simpson is a vivid writer and he pulls no punches in recounting events, pointing out opposers to the work of God, opposition by Established Church leaders, and the necessity of a guard of soldiers at times for his congregation. His travel accounts are full of comments on the customs of Americans, "Though smoking and spitting be so abominably prevalent in U. S., America, no one is allowed on this Yankee steamer to spit on deck of ship!" pp. 434-487 & 658-678 are account of revivals and the Irish Awakening. They mention Brownlow North, open air meetings, people stricken with conviction, prayer-meetings, in fact a complete diary of events with days and places recorded.