Berriedale (1860)



In these earlier days of February and March, a like impres­sion was made on the more southerly seaboard of Caithness. The inhabitants of the fishing villages there had heard tidings of the awakenings in the south with great expectation, but though there had been deep impressions, nothing unusual had taken place. The coming of the Buckie and Portessie men precipitated the blessing.

"By and by," says the Rev. George Davidson of Latheron, "they found their way to our meetings and took part in them. Hitherto there had been no violent demonstrations, though a good deal of subdued feeling was manifested by tears and sighs, but soon several became so affected as to relieve their pent-up feelings in loud cries and fervent prayers for mercy and pardon, and this, too, from night to night, for now the meetings had become nightly and often continued till morning. Many of both sexes were wont to stand up in rapid succession as if under an irresistible impulse and to utter the most earnest and fervent supplications, both for themselves and others, so that it was with difficulty that order could be maintained. The violent agitation only lasted for a few nights during which there were some cases of prostration and fainting. Afterwards, matters assumed a more quiet and edifying appearance and the work went on calmly and agreeably." The movement soon embraced the villages of Lybster, Dunbeath, and Berriedale


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