TTT Editor's Note:   Following is a collection of quotes taken from all the newspaper articles in the TTT archive regarding Wm Irvine's role in the 2x2 sect. He was called the founder and supreme authority, leader, one of the founders, co-founder, originator; leader, co-leader, recognized leader; chief pioneer.  Some statements regarding Edward Cooney's role are also included.

This collection is provided to make it easier for the reader to analyze or study the actual words on record.  These statements are taken from articles printed by the Impartial Reporter Newspaper of Enniskillen, N. Ireland.  The full article is available by clicking the date of the quote.  

NOTE:  William Irvine's last name is sometimes mispelled as "Irwin."

Wm. Irvine, the founder and supreme authority of what is known as Cooneyism, is a Scotchman. His native place is Kilsyth, a small town near Glasgow. Before he became a Tramp he had attached himself to the sect know an the Faith Mission or Pilgrims, and was the manager of a coal mine under Baird & Co., Glasgow, and enjoyed a salary of £300 a year. William Irvine left this employment and joined the Faith Mission, under the control then of J. G. Govan, of Rothsay, who still holds conventions after the manner followed at Crocknacrieve, but on a much smaller scale. It is often addressed by evangelical Clergy. Wm. Irvine gave up his connection with that sect for two reasons, according to my information—1st, because the leader was alleged to have been a ‘hypocrite,’ in that while teaching Pilgrims to live by faith he himself had over hundreds of pounds. 2nd, because Mr. Irvine’s converts always lapsed and were lost among the clergy by going back to their own congregation or what is known as the churches. Consequently a small number of preachers and some from the Faith Mission, along with one named John Long (who was rejected three years ago, because he would not maintain that John Wesley had gone to hell) and about a dozen stood by Wm. Irvine…However, the chief motive power was latent until Edward Cooney heard Wm. Irvine, and offered him money and even a salary yearly, which was refused by Irvine. At all events, £1,300 from Mr. Cooney alone was applied to the cause, and has been preached as having been ‘given to the poor,’ on the authority of, ‘Sell all that ye have, &c.’ Yet as a matter of fact, this sum was mostly paid to transport preachers to places abroad, and not to the poor, as is sometimes understood, the fruit of which even yet in some measure returns annually to Crocknacrieve Convention. Edward Cooney soon made converts, and spoke of his relatives in a manner not after the style of the Gospel. But because of his sincerity and earnestness, many were influenced… (Impartial Reporter August 25, 1910, p8)

Cooneyite Convention. The Cooneyite "Dippers" or "Tramp Preachers" have just opened a Convention at Crocknacrieve, the residence of Mr. John West, near Enniskillen. This is a "record" assembly, as delegates come from all parts of the world, and elaborate preparations have been made for housing them and providing food supplies. The proceedings are to last six weeks, and during that time it is calculated 10,000 adherents will participate. Mr. Wm Irvin the founder of the sect, is in attendance and Mr. Edmund Cooney, his chief Lieutenant, is returning from Canada to take part in the deliberations. (The Irish Independent pg 5, July 5, 1910; and The Nenagh Guardian pg 6, July 9, 1910)

A few years ago a religious movement was started in the North of Ireland by a few former members of the Scotch organisation—the Faith Mission. These ‘Pilgrims,’ or ‘Tramp Preachers,’ as they are commonly called, being dissatisfied with the quieter methods of Christian work advocated by the parent society, seceded from it, and developed what may best be described as a new sect, distinguished for its bitter hostility to all existing Churches, and to a regular paid ministry of any kind, reminding one not a little of the Plymouth Brethren on these and other points. It is believed that the originator of this somewhat erratic development was a Scotchman called Irwin, [Irvine] who at an early stage of this work enlisted the sympathy and help of an earnest young man, a native of Enniskillen, Mr. Edward Cooney, formerly an Episcopalian, who devoted himself to evangelistic work in various parts of Ireland, and member of a most respectable family, several of whom have long been distinguished for their zeal in many branches of religious and philanthropic work. (March, 1905 issue of The Irish Presbyterian, Heading ‘A New Sect’)

The annual Convention for the ‘Pilgrim’ community was opened on Sunday at Crocknacrieve, the residence of Mr. John West, near Ballinamallard. In the absence of Mr. Wm. Irvine, founder of the Pilgrims, the Convention was opened by Mr. Edward Cooney, formerly of Enniskillen. (Impartial Reporter, July 3, 1913)

William Irvine, one of the founders of the Go-Preachers’ Society, said it was Protestant evangelical. Its tenets containing nothing relating to the sexes that was different from the teaching of other denominations. (Impartial Reporter, July 17, 1913)

A hard-faced Scotsman followed in about nine months. He was William Irwin, the founder of the Tramps, and Chief Baptiser. Alice, with her sweet voice and wily ways did the converting, and William lured the victims to the nearest brook or horsepond and completed the business. (Dublin Sunday Independent, June 10, 1906)

Services are held daily and the principal preacher is Mr. Wm Irvine, one of the founders of the sect, who was formerly an engineer in Scotland. Mr. Edward Cooney, the son of a wealthy Fermanagh merchant, who joined the sect some years ago, and who for the past four months has been preaching the non doctrine in Canada, is expected to arrive at Crocknacrieve before the convention closes. At each service two or three members of the sect relate the story of their "conversion" and renounce their former religious associations. The "Pilgrims" do not believe in any of the Christian churches and at the principal meetings clergymen of all denominations are vigorously denounced. (The Freeman's Journal, July 7, 1910)

The closing scene at the meeting in the gloaming was impressive. All the arrangements had been made for the departure of the ‘preachers’ to different parts of the world, and it only remained for the Go-Preachers’ founder to give to all the last words of counsel and farewell. Mr. Irvine dealt mainly with the duty of those in fellowship towards one another and towards the outside world. (Impartial Reporter, July 31, 1913, p. 8)

They were both members of a community known as the ‘Go-preachers,’ who took this name from Scripture, in which the apostles were exhorted to go forth and preach to all the world. Mr. Cooney was one of the pioneers or founders of the community, and the libel was headed ‘The Cooneyites.' Mr. List complained that he was described as a ‘Bishop’ in the sect. Mr. Edward Cooney also gave evidence that the statement complained of was untrue. Mr. Justice Darling—Were you the founder of this sect?—No, William Irvine was the first, about sixteen years ago. I cast in my lot with him as a fellow-preacher, and preached a good deal in the north of Ireland. I recognise the name, but others have nicknamed us ‘The Cooneyites.’ I do not like it myself. (Impartial Reporter, December 18, 1913, p. 3)

Their founder was really a Mr. William Irvine…and his doctrines, of course, do not differ essentially from those of the various heretical millenarian sects which have arisen in the history of Christianity. (Impartial Reporter, July 19, 1917, p. 6)

[Following is a quote of Wilson McClung (early worker)]
And who are ‘we?’
‘We have no name,’ he replied, ‘but the ribald multitude give us many. Some call us Cooneyites, some call us Tramps, Faith Missionaries, No Secters, Women-Thieves, and so on. Well, we are Cooneyites. We are also McClungites, for Cooney is no greater than I. We have no established leader in this world. ‘Our mission was started by William Irwin, a Scotchman, seven or eight years ago. Others followed him. I myself was a Civil Servant in Dublin. I resigned my post, sold all that I had and gave to the poor, and went out to preach. (Impartial Reporter, June 21, 1906, p. 3)

"The allegation was that plaintiffs carried on the White Slave traffic under the guise of a religious movement...Mr. Cooney was one of its pioneers or founders...Mr. Cooney...said he was not the founder of the sect." (The Irish Independent, December 12, 1913)

It is believed that the originator of this somewhat erratic development was a Scotchman called Irwin, who at an early state of this work enlisted the sympathy and help of an earnest young man, a native of Enniskillen, Mr. Edward Cooney, formerly an Episcopalian, who devoted himself to evangelistic work in various parts of Ireland, and a member of a most respectable family, several of whom have long been distinguished for their zeal in many branches of religious and philanthropic work. ( Impartial Reporter March 23, 1905)

Their founder was really a Mr. William Irvine, who lived near Enniskillen, and his doctrines, of course, do not differ essentially from those of the various heretical millenarian sects which have arisen in the history of Christianity. (Ideas July 13, 1917)

Impartial Reporter Newspaper of Enniskillen, N. Ireland

Articles containing the phrase Mr. Wm Irvine is the Standard

The Tramps do admit, however, that there are ‘hypocrites’ among themselves, according to their speeches at Crocknacrieve.  But who is right in all those matters?  They have no standard of interpretation of Scriptures, like the Churches.  With the 29 Articles or Westminster Confession of Faith a man knows where he is:  with the Tramps no one knows definitely what they believe.  Mr. Wm. Irvine is the Standard.  Even Mr. Edward Cooney has been declared not to be sound.  I am now stating what several of the Tramps know to be fact, that Mr. William Irvine rebuked Mr. Cooney several times for ‘the balderdash’—(those were the words)—which Mr. Cooney had uttered during some public addresses.  Now, since Mr. Edward Cooney, one leader, be wrong, who is right?  Apparently, Mr. Irvine only.  He is the only one who can interpret the will of God correctly!  Poor Mr. Edward Cooney, even, is not right!  Is not the whole thing absurd?  (Impartial Reporter, September 9, 1909) 

We have had a lot of these ‘ahead’ men from time to time, who have all obtained a following of some sort, but of all the uncharitable men we have ever heard of, there has been none to equal Mr. Irvine. The hallmark of Christ-likeness is not there. He is no doubt, sincere, earnest, and full of enthusiasm in the cause which he has started, but as the tree is known by its fruit, as our correspondent says, so the uncharitableness and far fetched ideas of Irvineism are to be avoided as being un-Christlike and not being authorised by Holy writ. (Impartial Reporter, September 16, 1909, Letter to Editor)

Dear Brother Ferguson, — I would like through the “Treasury” to call attention to what may be a danger, especially to small assemblies. Visiting such an assembly some time ago we were pained to see it still further weakened by some of their number walking no more with them. Some time previously two lady preachers belonging to a sect of recent origin came into the district to hold meetings. (July 1907, New Zealand Treasury, Letter to Editor)

On the first Sunday one missed the familiar face of Edward Cooney, the one whose personality is most inseparably associated with the new Church. (Impartial Reporter, August 12, 1909, p3)

They (the Pilgrims) had not started a sect because of their hatred of the clergy. They did not hate the clergy but they HATED THE CLERGY’S WAY because they had been shown the better and truer way. They had been led to know that God could not be worshipped in a building or with men’s hands. (Impartial Reporter July 14, 1910)

Faith Mission Official List of Workers shows Wm Irvine left Faith Mission in 1901. The reason given was: "founded Cooneyites in S. Ireland."

John G. GOVAN, Founder and Director of FAITH MISSION wrote in the August 1901 issue of their monthly publication Bright Words: "When in Ireland I came into closer contact with a movement that has been going on for the past year or two.  A number of young people are going out on quite independent lines, holding missions in various parts both of Ireland and Scotland.  While there may be much that is good in the devotion and earnestness of those who thus leave all, believing that the Lord has called them thus to follow Him, a number of features of this movement do not commend themselves to us.  There is no one to judge of the fitness of these workers except themselves; being independent, they are not able to profit from the experience of others older in the work, as they would if there was some organisation; and then some of them have not been long enough converted themselves before going out, and, wanting in Christian experience, are very apt to be unbalanced and one-sided.  While we can quite believe that a few of those who have gone out have been truly called of God, we fear that a number of others have been more called of man, or moved by their own impulses, and are really not fitted for the work.  As some have been mistaken for pilgrims, we think it necessary to say that the Faith Mission is not responsible for this movement." (August 1901, pp. 175-6)

JOHN G. GOVAN, Founder and Director of FAITH MISSION, wrote in the December, 1903 issue of Bright Words: "We regret that it seems necessary to again point out that missions are being held in various parts by persons who represent themselves to be "Faith Mission" workers, but who are not in any way under our control or direction.  This movement which has almost no organisation and little method, was started by Mr. Wm. Irvine, at one time much used as a pilgrim in our Mission, and some of whose converts we are glad to have as efficient workers among us today.  Though somewhat on our lines there are various points, both in method and teaching, that we do not approve of, and in which they widely differ from us.  Then we hear of instances in which some of these irresponsible workers have misrepresented and spoken against the Faith Mission, while taking personal advantage of it by holding missions in places we have already worked, and seeking the support of our Prayer Unions." (December 1903, p. 275)

REV. C. N. PECKHAM, Principal, FAITH MISSION:  "From these references, you can see that William Irvine definitely did not leave the Faith Mission to take over or become a part of an existing ministry.    There certainly was no movement of that kind existing over here before Irvine's break-away movement.   As William Irvine spent some time in the Faith Mission before leaving it, there is no possibility that he founded the Cooneyite sect before 1886 as it was in October 1886, that John George Govan began the Faith Mission." [See copy in TTT Photo Gallery - May 29, 1991 Letter to Cherie Kropp]

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