William Irvine (; 1863–1947), sometimes Irvin or Irwin in contemporary documents, was an evangelist from the late nineteenth century, and continuing through the first half of the twentieth century. He is regarded as the founder and early propagator of the Two by Twos movement. Rapid growth was experienced in its initial decades, and Irvine eventually came into conflict with the regional overseers whom he had appointed to administer the now worldwide religion. Irvine was excommunicated by the overseers in 1914 and eventually moved to Jerusalem, supported by loyalists who followed him out of the movement. He spent his remaining years writing apocalyptic and prophetic letters to his remaining followers around the world from Jerusalem, where he died in March 1947. Early life Irvine was born in Kilsyth, located in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, the third of eleven children of a miner. The town of Kilsyth counts Irvine as one of its "famous sons". He was raised in the Presbyterian Free Church of Scotland. His education was at Kilsyth Academy and later worked as a quarry manager at a coal mine. After a conversion experience at a revival mission held by Moody evangelist John McNeill, Irvine left his position as General Manager of Baird's Bothwell Collieries in Lanarkshire and began two years studies at John Anderson's Bible Training Institute, Glasgow (1893–1895). Career For convenience, William Irvine's career as an evangelist may be divided into 3 periods, though they would have been seen as a continuous stream with considerable overlap during those years. Faith Mission William Irvine joined the evangelical Faith Mission movement in Scotland in 1895. During the following year, he was sent to head the organization's missions in the south of Ireland and had enough success that he was named superintendent. Personality Irvine met John Long, a Methodist colporteur, in March 1897 in Kilrush, S. Ireland. "At this time, Irvine had a big reputation as a Faith Mission evangelist "remarkable for saying, 'Praise the Lord,' no matter what happened". John Long describes Irvine as "In either secular or religious matters, he was a born leader of men; he was a holy man, and practical. In personal dealing, he was preeminently the best conversationalist I ever met, and skilful in soul winning. He had a marvelous insight into the deep things of God's word, and like his Master, was an apt teacher of all who received the truth with pleasure. He always