Joseph Glancy

Joseph Glancy was born May 13, 1872 in Clones, Monaghan, Ireland to Malachi (b. 1827) and Mary Reilly (b. 1843) Glancy, baptized with his parents into the Catholic church. His father was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary and transferred to Belfast soon after Joseph's birth.

Conversion

Joseph was saved in June of 1909 at the age of 37 while living a short while in Dun Laoghaire, near Dublin, where he was befriended by Miss Corr, who ran a small mission hall. She read Scriptures to him and other Catholic youth, and shared the Gospel, which is where Joseph first heard (and responded) to it. Upon returning to Belfast he joined an assembly. He was once asked why he didn't join a Protestant church upon leaving the Catholics, versus a Brethren one, and he replied, "I had seen so much of the mother I had no desire to see the daughters."

Canada

In 1913, he moved to Canada, and as previously, he was bi-vocational, balancing self-supported business with ministry.

Lusitania

Upon returning to Ulster in 1916 he was sailing aboard the Lusitania, whcih was sunk by German submarines. Some hours before it was sunk, he was busy giving out gospel tracts among the passsenger, including one man who scornfully twisted it up and threw it upon the deck, with little realization he would soon meet God and eternity.

Marriage

He married Lavinia Williamson in 1919 in Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland.  She died on Dec. 20, 1940.  Joseph then married Beatrice Lillian Glancy in 1942.  He died on Dec. 31, 1949 in Belfast at the age of 77.

Itinerancy

He resigned a lucrative secular position with a publishing company in Belfast to dedicate his time and energy to the Lord's work. His first meetings were held in Whitehaven, Cumberland, and God "set His seal upon the effort." He labored with Mr. Bailie, Mr. Diack, Mr. Campbell, Mr. J.G. Hutchinson, and Dr. G. Wilson. Throughout the British Isles he travelled adn carefully visited each locality in which he preached, endeavoring to give personal inviation to neighbors of the Hall or tent. He kept careful record of visit and conversations.

Two special subjects drew large crowds to provide the Gospel:

• "My deliverance from Rome"
• "My deliverance from the Lusitania disaster"

He was also an excellent letter writer, and in later years when less physically able for public speaking, he conversed by letter with members of the Royal Family, the Pope, the Prime Minister and many others from a diversity of walks of life.

Fruit

• 1930: James Martin's mother, the first of their family. 

Later years

Later years were spent in Ballyhackmore, Belfast where he fellowshipped with the assembly there, until weakness confined him to home. His wife, from England, nursed him until "the call came" on Dec. 31, 1949.

Funeral

The funeral was large (indicating the esteem he was held) and took place from his home to the Dundonald Cemetery, with Dr. G. Wilson and Mr. Campbell conducting the services, and at the grave Mr. J.R. Diack and Mr. F. Knox gave words of appreciation, comfort and gospel.

Sources

• Believers Magazine obit
• Assembly Testimony 2000 January-February, "My Conversion and Call", by James Martin