Life
1841-1928 [‘Armour of Ballymoney’]; Presbyterian minister
and nationalist; b. Lisboy, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, 20 Jan.; ed. Genaby
School, Ballymoney Model, and RBAI; QUB (Classics) and Cork; minister
in 1869; asst. at Magee Coll., Derry; his speech on self-government with
full protection for Presbyterian Church at the Assembly in March 1893
met by jeers; gained support of 3,535 Presbyterians for Home Rule as a
memorial to Gladstone; supported Tenant Right movement and condemned landlordism,
arguing vigorously against Provost Traill of the ascendancy party; unofficial
channel for representations to Dublin Castle under the liberals, 1906;
at the Assembly in 1912, when moving an amendment to limit the anti-Home
Rule element in the Presbyterian consensus, he said, ‘If you deny
the right of private judgement and of free speech, how much do you keep
of Protestantism worth keeping? Nothing at all’; defeated 921 votes
to 43; condemned Carson’s ‘wicked bluff’; condemned gun-running;
honorary chaplain to Lord Lieutenant during the War; spoke against the
Govt. of Ireland Bill at the General Assembly, 1920; retired Sept. 1925;
d. 25 Jan; there is a biography by his son W. S. Armour (Armour of
Ballymoney, 1934). DIB DIH DUB
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)