274 OUR HYMNS :
but Mr. Kelly was encouraged in his evangelistic purposes by the visit of Rowland Hill to Ireland in 1793. For a tijne the young evangelical clergymen gave the Sunday afternoon lectures at St. Luke s Church, in Dublin, till their success awakened the oppo sition of the rector. Then afterwards they preached on Sunday morning at the Episcopal Church, at Irishtown ; but the Arch bishop of Dublin, Dr. Fowler, on hearing of the new doctrine, summoned Mr. Kelly and his companions before him ; and having reproved them, issued a decree, closing the Dublin pulpits against them. In consequence, the brethren betook themselves to two non-episcopal chapels in the city Plunket Street and the Bethesda where they preached with much fervour. Mr. Kelly also preached in the house of Alderman Hutton, in Luson Street. This meeting was kept up for many years, and issued in the erec tion of the chapel in York Street.
Soon after his ordination Mr. Kelly had felt scruples about his connection with the Established Church. These increased with his extended study of the Scriptures, until he was a dissenter, not from persecution, but on principle. Possessed of ample means, Mr. Kelly built churches at Athy, Portarlingtou, Wexford, Water- ford, &c. They were not actually connected with the Congrega tional body, but they were really Independent, and were conducted on what was substantially a congregational plan. Besides preach ing at other places, Mr. Kelly acted as pastor at Athy and Dublin.
Mr. Kelly was a man of great and varied learning, skilled in the Oriental tongues, and an excellent Bible critic. He was possessed also of musical talent, and composed and published a work that was received with favour, consisting of music adapted to every form of metre in his Hymn Book. Naturally of an amiable disposition, and thorough in his Christian piety, Mr. Kelly became the friend of good men, and the advocate of every worthy, benevolent, and religious cause. He was admired alike for his zeal and his humility ; and his liberality found ample scope in Ireland, especially during the year of famine.
About his thirtieth year, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to
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