Citations:watchnight

English citations of watchnight

1. (Christianity, historical) A monthly religious service participated in by Methodists which extended past midnight.
   • 1807, Joseph Nightingale, “Letter XXII”, in A Portraiture of Methodism. Being an Impartial View of the Rise, Progress, Doctrines, Discipline, and Manners of the Wesleyan Methodists. In a Series of Letters, Addressed to a Lady, London: Printed by C. Stower, 32, Paternoster Row, for Longman, Hurst, Ress, and Orme, Pater-noster Row, →OCLC, pages 214–215:

     It has often been asserted, that a watch-night lasts until day-break in the morning; and that during the soft and silent hours of midnight, when all is dark, and calm, and soothing, a full loose is given to the passions, and the sensual desires are gratified without shame or restraint. I do assure you, Madam, that such representations are false and wicked. I have attended at many watch-nights, and scarcely ever knew them to last longer than one o'clock in the morning, and very seldom to that hour, unless there happened to be a remarkable out pouring of the Spirit, a great revival of the work of God; […]

   • 1815, Jonathan Crowther, A Portraiture of Methodism: Or, the History of the Wesleyan Methodists. Shewing their Rise, Progress, and Present State; Biographical Sketches of some of their Most Eminent Ministers; the Doctrines the Methodists Believe and Teach, Fully and Explicitly Stated; with the Whole Plan of their Discipline, including their Original Rules, and Subsequent Regulations. Also, a Defence of Methodism, Containing Remarks on Toleration, &c., 2nd edition, London: Printed and published by Richard Edwards, Crane Court, Fleet Street; and sold by T. Blanshard, City-Road, →OCLC, page 43:

     April 9, 1742, the first watch-night was held in London. The custom originated with the colliers of Kingswood, near Bristol, who had been in the habit, when slaves to sin, of spending every Saturday night at the ale-house. They now devoted that night to prayer and singing of hymns. Mr. [John] Wesley hearing of this, and of the good that was done, resolved to make it general. At first, he ordered watch-nights to be kept once a month, when the moon was at the full: and afterwards fixed them for once a quarter.