Burghead (1860)



No extraordinary circumstances of an external nature have for the past week characterized the progress of the great work going on in Burghead. One hopeful and beautiful phase of the movement is, that the exercises of religious duty have to a great extent been confined, or rather transferred, to their strongholds—the closet and the family circle. Within these few days many altars have been erected for the first time, and dwellings where formerly nought but the sounds of un­hallowed mirth were heard, now resound with the praises of God. The agency at work has reached the most depraved members of the community, some of whom were observed to have attended Divine service on Sabbath for the first time for years. Prayer meetings still continue to be held in private houses, and in the churches during the day and in the evenings. — Elgin Courier.

From 'The Revival Newspaper,' Volume ii, p117

At Burghead, although there has been less external excitement than at Hopeman, a large portion of the people appear to be under deep and serious impressions. During the last three days, public prayer meetings have been held in the Free and United Presbyterian Churches, presided over by the ministers of the village, aided by several brethren. These meetings were well attended, a deep earnestness pervaded the people, and parties took part in the public services who had never been known to engage in prayer publicly before. There had been no bodily prostrations, but many were labouring under intense agony of mind; young men and young women, in particular, appeared to be under serious impressions; and in many houses throughout the village, the whole of the younger members of the family were found engaged in earnest and almost continuous prayer. It was impossible for a spectator not to be struck with the earnestness, the fervour, the fluency, and, in general, the propriety, of the prayers offered up, in public and private, by parties who had never been in the habit of engaging in such exercises. Public prayer meetings continue to be held; and so deep is the interest of the people, that it is almost impossible to persuade them to leave the church, even after three or four hours of religious services. The attendance at all the meetings was large. The movement began here with some people who went to Hopeman on Monday. Several of them were struck down there: - returned to Burghead, and commenced private prayer meetings; and our accounts from Burghead this (Thursday) forenoon say:—"It is the fishing population chiefly that are affected; and it is impossible to go into any house almost, night or day, in which you do not find the family, or some of them, engaged in prayer."

"The Scottish Guardian," March 20th, 1860.

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