John Edgar(Rev.)
Encyclopedia
Rev John Edgar D.D, LL.D (1798-1866) was a presbyterian minister, Professor of Theology, and moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland in 1842. He was Honorary Secretary to the presbyterian Home Mission during the Famine in 1847.
He was born near Ballynahinch on the 13th of June 1798, the eldest son of a minister the Rev. Samuel Edgar (1766-1826) and Elizabeth McKee (1771-1839).
He attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
where he excelled as a student, in was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian church in 1820, he D.D. of Hamilton, USA in 1836, was elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland from 1942-1943 and obtained LL.D of New York in 1860.
some years before Fr Mathew, who (Edgar)poured his stock of whiskey out of his window in 1829,, on the 14th of August 1829 he wrote a letter in the Belfast Telegraph advocating Temperance.
He formed the Ulster Temperance Movement with other Presbyterian clergy, initially enduring ridicule from members of his community.
In 1834, Edgar addressing a parliamentary committee inquiring into the causes and consequences of drunkenness in the United Kingdom that there were 550 “dram shops” in Belfast and 1,700 shops selling intoxicants in Dublin as well as numerous illicit distillers “even in the most civilised districts of Ulster”.
He was also the founder of the Ulster Female Penitentiary, a residential home for fallen women and was instrumental in getting the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute set up in Belfast.
Perhaps due to his contact with Irish speaking areas at this time, he was interested in Gaelic language and culture, he was critical of other protestant faiths particularly the Church of Ireland
(Anglican) for not preaching in the Irish language.
He died aged 88 on the 26th August 1866, in Rathgar, Dublin, where he had gone to get medical treatment. His was survived by his wife Susanna, he was buried in Balmoral Cemetery
, Belfast.
He was born near Ballynahinch on the 13th of June 1798, the eldest son of a minister the Rev. Samuel Edgar (1766-1826) and Elizabeth McKee (1771-1839).
He attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
where he excelled as a student, in was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian church in 1820, he D.D. of Hamilton, USA in 1836, was elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland from 1942-1943 and obtained LL.D of New York in 1860.
Temperance Movement
Dr. John Edgar is known for originator of the Temperance MovementTemperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
some years before Fr Mathew, who (Edgar)poured his stock of whiskey out of his window in 1829,, on the 14th of August 1829 he wrote a letter in the Belfast Telegraph advocating Temperance.
He formed the Ulster Temperance Movement with other Presbyterian clergy, initially enduring ridicule from members of his community.
In 1834, Edgar addressing a parliamentary committee inquiring into the causes and consequences of drunkenness in the United Kingdom that there were 550 “dram shops” in Belfast and 1,700 shops selling intoxicants in Dublin as well as numerous illicit distillers “even in the most civilised districts of Ulster”.
He was also the founder of the Ulster Female Penitentiary, a residential home for fallen women and was instrumental in getting the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute set up in Belfast.
Home Mission and Famine Relief in Connaught
He was also involved in the relief effort by the presbyterian church in Connaught during the Irish famine. Although the church was accused of Proselytizing during the famine,,. but showing the humanitarian nature of his efforts, in the May Street Presbyterian Church he said, I hope soon to have an opportunity of directing public attention to spiritual famine in Connaught, but our effort now is to save the perishing body ... Our brother is starving, and, till we have satisfied his hunger, we have no time to inquire whether he is Protestant or RomanistPerhaps due to his contact with Irish speaking areas at this time, he was interested in Gaelic language and culture, he was critical of other protestant faiths particularly the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
(Anglican) for not preaching in the Irish language.
He died aged 88 on the 26th August 1866, in Rathgar, Dublin, where he had gone to get medical treatment. His was survived by his wife Susanna, he was buried in Balmoral Cemetery
Balmoral Cemetery
Balmoral Cemetery is a cemetery in the Malone area of South Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was opened in 1855 by Presbyterian church men Rev. Henry Cooke and Rev. Joseph Mackenzie, on land owned by Mackenzie, after they had been refused burial by a Church of Ireland rector in another cemetery...
, Belfast.