MONDAY the 15th inst. was a day to be remembered at Chillingham Castle. Some months ago, a petition, signed about 2,000 persons, of those living over a wide surrounding district, had been sent to Mr Moody asking him to come to Chillingham and address the people there. Lord and Lady Tankerville were most earnest and hearty in their efforts to make the petition successful, and though the difficulties in the way seemed great, Mr Moody was at length able and glad to say, Yes.
A refreshing breeze, with sunshine, continued till about the hour of the afternoon meeting, and the people gathered in large numbers, filling the tent to its utmost capacity, and leaving many standing or sitting outside its open front. Mr Moody, on his way from the railway station some miles off was doubtful from the comparatively few houses he noticed on the way, whether there were people enough to make a meeting, but the crowd gathered from the neighbourhood as well as from Wooler, Alnwick, Newcastle, and even across the Scotch border as far as Kelso quite dissipated his doubts. The farmyard near the castle was an interesting sight, with its vehicles of all descriptions, from the aristocratic carriage and brake to the humble plebeian long cart with its plank boards for seats, arranged over the open space. The horses and ponies stood in rows under cover of stables and sheds.
Much prayer and expectation preceded the day fixed for the meetings, and when Mr Moody arrived from Newcastle, there was the prospect of an excellent day. Tents had been erected on the beautiful lawn in front of the castle, near the flower garden with its wealth of many coloured blooms and sheltered by grand old trees, the growth of many generations. The view stretched away to the Cheviots on the one side, and on the other to the wooded slopes where are the famous wild cattle of which Chillingham is justly proud, as the only pure herd left in this country. The largest tent was for the meetings and there was another for refreshments, kindly supplied to the visitors between the afternoon and evening services.
Just as the service was commencing, it seemed as because they did not believe a thing that thing was if the day was to be spoiled. Dark thunderclouds gathered and the rain fell in heavy showers, making those outside the tent flee to the castle and the trees for shelter. Singing was begun, however, followed by prayer, and soon after Mr Moody began his address the rain passed off, and the sun shone forth again. Mr. Moody spoke at length, and with much power, from the words, "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God," His address was listened to with rapt attention, and produced a deep impression.
Many of the visitors left immediately after the meeting, having considerable distances to go, but there were still at the evening meeting enough to crowd the tent and leave some with only standing room outside. After singing and prayer, Mr Moody, who seemed as fresh as ever, delivered a most solemn and touching address, starting from the words of Mark vi 20 "And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly." The denunciation of Herod's sin and the sin of any present was very striking, and the earnest appeals which followed, copiously enforced by telling incidents in Mr Moody's experience, must have gone straight to many a heart. At the close of the meeting, when the names and addresses of those seeking Salvation, or, at least, desirous of knowing more of the way of life, were taken down, Mr Moody promising to send them a book he has prepared for such, it was evident that not a few were deeply affected. The Great Day will doubtless show that some were born again of the Spirit to eternal life.
Those who belonged to the Castle and its immediate neighbourhood had a rich treat on the following morning when a number met again in the tent for praise and prayer. Mr Moody read the ciii. Psalm, and commented specially on the first five verses. emphasising the words forgiveth, healeth, redeemeth; crowneth, and satisfieth.
At all the meetings, solos were sung with much pathos and clearness of utterance by Mr Burke, who also led the singing, accompanied at the harmonium by Lord Bennet. Soon after the meeting, Mr Moody left for Sunderland, where he had to speak in the afternoon.
From, "The Christian," August 25th, 1892.