Arran (1800)



It was during the same summer of 1800, that, after visiting the little island of Cumbray, and the beautiful shores of Bute, they sailed over to Arran and preached in all its villages. The ignorance of the Celtic inhabitants was great, and as an instance of their rude manners, Mr James Haldane mentioned, at his Jubilee Meeting, in 1849, that on a sacramental occasion he had been present in a parish church, where there was a pause, and none of the people seemed disposed to approach the tables. On a sudden he heard the crack of sticks, and looking around, saw one descend on the bald head of a Highlander behind him. It was the ruling elders driving the poor people forward to the tables, much in the same manner as they were accustomed to pen their cattle at a market. Had this happened in a remote corner of Popish Ireland it would have been less wonderful, but the Gaelic population of Presbyterian Arran seemed accustomed to submit to this rough discipline without a murmur.

From 'The Lives of Robert & James Haldane,' by Alexander Haldane, p283.

It does not say that there was revival but revival usually followed him, and he preached in every village, which he probably would not have done had there been no encouragement.