A BUSY DAY AT DINGWALL.
A Glasgow paper remarked, one day last week, that there was much curiosity and some anxiety as to the reception the evangelists would get at Dingwall. This was presumably because the Free Church minister had taken up an unfriendly attitude to Messrs Moody and Sankey's mission. If there had ever been any real anxiety on the point, however, the three crowded meetings of Sunday settled the question. Provost Ross, one of the Free Church elders, had a seat on the platform of the Established Church in the evening.
The Dingwall meetings, morning and evening, held in the Established Church, of which Mr Macallister is the pastor. He welcomed Mr Moody to the town seventeen years ago, and he is as warm-hearted as ever. The evangelists are the guests of Mr Arras, a farmer, near Dingwall, and a leading Christian worker in the district.
The morning meeting was a very full one, and Mr Moody's sermon on "Regeneration" was a plain and deep-cutting utterance. He was very strong on the question of human responsibility in the matter of repentance and faith, and doubtless in the eyes of some of his hyper-Calvinist hearers his words savoured of flat heresy. Mr Sankey grandly sang "Man of Sorrows," and "When the mists have rolled away." The prejudice against an instrumental accompaniment is pretty dead now in the Established Church, though in many of the Free Churches it is well alive.
This was manifest in the afternoon, when the service was in the Free Church, Maryborough, a village three miles distant. Rev Mr Mackenzie, the pastor, probably stands alone in his Presbytery in welcoming the evangelists. Mr Moody proceeded thither at the close of the morning service in Dingwall, but Mr Sankey rested. There was a very good congregation, and the sermon on the forsaking of sin as a prelude to salvation was listened to with the deepest attention. Some heavy blows were dealt in the course of the discourse at the drink traffic. Mr Moody told of a Scotch distiller with whom he had lately conversed, and who had boasted to him of having given 130 tons of coal to the poor, as though that could be a set-off against the havoc he had wrought through his "hellish business," as Mr Moody bluntly calls it.
The arrows of protest were, of course, shot at a venture, but in more cases than one they found their mark. All the three sermons of the day were memorable for the way in which the evangelist found occasion to condemn "the infernal stuff." Somebody, he seems to feel, must speak out, and he does not shrink from the task. In the evening the Established Church was crowded an hour before the time of service, and there was an overflow in the Masonic Hall, whither Mr Sankey went, after singing two solos in the church, and where he again sang and spoke. Mr Moody preached for nearly an hour and a half on “Sowing and Reaping.” Many stood in the lobbies and aisles all the time, and the atmosphere was anything but invigorating, but there were no signs of fatigue or restlessness. In a twenty-minute' after-meeting Mr Moody again spoke, and much impression was evidently made by the liberal seed-sowing of the day.
Only two days are left for reaping in Dingwall, as the workers pass on to Tain on Wednesday. Afterwards, they visit Invergordon, Cromarty, Fortrose, Nairn, Wick, Thurso, Helmsdale, Brora, and Gospie, that will bring them up to Christmas.
THE CAMPAIGN IN ROSS-SHIRE.
The county of Ross is famous, historically and otherwise, among Scottish shires. In bygone days it produced not a few defenders and expounders of the Reformed faith, who were giants among their fellows. The name of Hogg stands out in the records of Covenanting days, as of one who would not bow the knee to Erastian Prelacy, and who suffered for his fidelity to enlightened conviction. Later, and within living memory, there came Macdonald of Ferintosh, Stewart of Cromartie, Sage of Resolis, Macrae of Knockbain, and other " Men of the North," who were not only great in power of popular address, but rich in intellectual gifts. Ferintosh and other parts of the county had been the scenes of remarkable movements of spiritual revival. This northern district, therefore, has an unusual wealth of historic religious memories. Today Ross-shire is, perhaps, more noted for its fertile farms than for pulpit orators and philosophers; but there are among its preachers and Christian laymen many good men and true, as the American evangelists have experienced in their rapid Gospel tour through its borders last week.
Much could be said of the special difficulties that have been encountered. The Celtic is a prevalent type among the native population, and the modern men of that ilk retain much of their superstitious reverence for the antiquated in matters of religious form. Some of these ancient preferences have been crystallised into principles that are placed on a par with their belief in the inspiration of Scripture. Such things would scarcely be worth referring to in a report like this were it not that unworthy prejudice hinders that manifestation of unity which ought to characterise all true Christians in hastening and helping on a special effort for the reviving of spiritual life and the bringing of the unsaved multitudes into the valley of decision.
It is more pleasing to turn to the meetings themselves, and here we can state that there has been the most ample ground for encouragement. At Dingwall the evangelists experienced the first approach of genuine winter weather. One evening there was a sudden fall of snow that made locomotion disagreeable to the healthy and even perilous to the delicate. Still the people came out in large numbers, and they always drank in the speech of Mr Moody and the song of his fellow evangelist. The same may be said of the two meetings at Tain on Wednesday. The people of that ancient burgh had exceptional opportunities of attending, for all the public schools got half-holiday, and the shops were shut at an early hour. There was a very good audience in the afternoon in the Town Hall, while in the evening the large parish church was crowded, a thing probably unique in its history; certainly unique since Disruption days. The two services of the following day in Rev Colin Sinclair's fine Free Church were fully attended, as were also the two on Friday in the Established and Free Churches of Cromarty. The primary object of the week's work - that of gathering large masses of men and women to hear the simple Gospel message - was therefore amply fulfilled.
There is no one to whom the gift of "thought reading" would be of more value than to the reporter of evangelistic gatherings. If he possessed it what a romantic story he could weave out of the tangled skein; the play and interplay of emotion, of silent criticism, of self-accusation, of self-excusation, of melting down, of stiffening up, of yielding to the Spirit's striving, and of resisting or grieving that Spirit away. How often it is sadly true of those that are impressed by faithful Gospel appeal and testimony. that "he who hesitates is lost." After all it is well for our peace of mind that we cannot read the thoughts and intents of the hearts of our fellows. One day, when we can bear it, the pages will be unfolded for all to read.
PULLING THE NET.
At Mr Moody's meetings everything works up to this. But the inquiry meeting does not seem to be an indigenous institution in most parts of Ross-shire soil. That is scarcely to be wondered at if the prevalent public teaching approaches to that of a well-known minister now deceased, who would plainly tell his hearers that they had not in themselves power to accept the Gospel message in a saving way; and who would never personally press its acceptance on an anxious one because that would be interfering with the sovereignty of God! At Dingwall Mr Moody and the other workers had hard work to extract from those who remained for the after-meetings any indication of their real feelings. Yet the power of God was manifestly present to convict and to convince, though the process did not always appear to go on to its proper fruition. When the special meetings closed, however, a goodly roll of names of those who had either decided to receive God's gift or were desiring to do so, was secured. At both meetings in Tain, Mr Moody essayed to draw the net, and if the number of the fishers had been nearly equal to the number of fish not unwilling to be caught, the haul would have been more gladdening. As it was the cases of interest were fairly numerous. The lack of workers was also felt at the evening meeting in Invergordon, where nearly everybody stayed for the second meeting. The ascertained results, it may fondly be trusted, were not equal to the results unascertained "by a good deal," as Mr Moody is wont to phrase it. Cromarty came out well, on the whole, by comparison, in the matter of its after-meetings, which were held both afternoon and evening.
The inquiry-room work in the North is strangely fascinating in the insight it affords into the workings of the human heart, and the extraordinary excuses that are offered for not closing instantly with the offer of salvation. One will tell you, while anxiety is written on every feature of the countenance, he is "waiting for the promptings of the Spirit." Another is "waiting for the power." Thus the responsibility is cast back in God's teeth, and despite is done to the Spirit of Grace, who is ever striving with the sons and daughters of men. Or another will say that "he feels so unworthy," putting out of sight the fact that the unworthy are the very ones to whom the worthiness of the Divine Saviour is offered. "How do I know that I am one of the elect?" was a reason seriously advanced by a young and very intelligent lady to one who urged her towards decision. Her troubled face showed that she longed for assurance and rest of soul but this insubstantial ghost of "fore-ordination barred the way. When a middle-aged woman was asked to trust the naked of God, her answer was, "I will try." These are samples of the many hiding places into which those who are truly anxious for salvation will run in the hour of their soul-crisis. The prevalence of this type of excuse is a grave impeachment of the current pulpit-preaching. How one longs that every ambassador of Christ would imitate Mr Moody in calling on the unsaved to come out of their refuges of lies, and accept God's gift "right here this very minute." Is it possible that the real hindrance must be moved a step further back, and placed to the account of defective college training? One thing is as clear as a sunbeam - that so long as people are instructed from the pulpit that they have not the power to accept salvation the moment it is offered to them, just so long they will remain in the darkness and the misery of doubt, and their testimony will be not only useless, but positively mischievous.
Notwithstanding this dead wall of uncertainty that one finds erected among them in the north of Scotland, it has been most encouraging to find that many have stepped clear into the light. A single day's visit to a town hardly enables the workers to find out all these cases, but at Dingwall, where the Mission extended to three days, the good Lord gave not a little encouragement. Much, of course, depends on the way in which the
FOLLOWING UP
of the special gatherings is attended to. That part of the work is being vigorously looked to. Mr W. Robertson, of the Carrubber’s Close Mission, has been in attendance from Ardrossan onwards, and has done valued service in helping the local friends to gather and garner the young converts and others at Inverness on Monday week. Then he came on to Dingwall and guided the workers there in the same direction. On the last evening of the Dingwall meetings Mr Moody got Mr Robertson to tell something of his own conversion, and the recital proved very helpful. The Dingwall friends have been singularly active and earnest in the after-glean - having held successive meetings last week for instructing and edifying the converts. Some who were still halting when the evangelists left for the north have since come out and confessed Christ openly. The earnest workers there, of whom there are not a few, are "as happy as the day is long," to quote the words of one, in finding that the work is being consolidated.
The "Committee of Religion and Morals" in the Free Church of Scotland has come splendidly to the help of Mr Moody and Mr Sankey. They have released several pastors for the work of going before and also of following after the American brethren. Rev J. J. Mackay, Trinity Church, Glasgow a most energetic and successful pastor, has wondrously helped the work, more especially at Invergordon.
He addressed several meetings there before the great gatherings of Thursday, and his messages were greatly owned of God. Mr Sinclair, the pastor of the Free Church, speaks most enthusiastically of his visit. He was to preach at Tain on Sabbath; at the time of this the results of his labour there were not known.
Another co-worker has been Rev W. Johnstone, of Marnock, a little town, some ten miles from Banff, famous in Disruption annals. Mr Johnstone prepared the way at Cromarty, then passed on for a couple of meetings at Tarn after Messrs Moody and Sankey had left, proceeding thence to Invergordon for Sabbath. Mr Robertson, of Carrubber's Close, was at Cromarty on Sabbath on the same errand of keeping alight the flame.
FORTROSE,
a Ittle town on the eastern shore of the Black Isle, and ten miles from Cromarty, was favoured with a visit from Mr Moody on Saturday. On account of a slight indisposition, and as the weather was very wintry and rough, Mr Sankey
slipped the Cromarty and Fortrose meetings, and on Friday went on to Nairn to rest there till Sabbath. Mr Moody was driven to Fortrose on Saturday forenoon, and spoke to a very large gathering in the Free Church. People had come from the adjoining villages of Avoch and Rosemarkie, as well as from Cromarty. Both the
Established Church ministers and the Congregational pastor of Avoch were on the platform. This little town was almost virgin soil in the matter of special evangelistic work, and Mr Moody's visit, though of the shortest, will long be a memorable one. At the close of his hour's address, the whole of the congregation stayed for a second meeting. Some considerable time was spent in personal conversation, and the truth seemed to have taken such a hold that Mr Moody ascended the pulpit again, and still further explained to the people the way of life. Perhaps for a single meeting, the circumstances and probable outcome have never been more hopeful in all Mr Moody's career as an evangelist. Following up is to be vigorously sustained, and much fruit is yet expected.
THE CHILDREN
have not been forgotten on this Ross-shire tour. At Tain, in the afternoon, Mr Sankey, having sung two solos in the Town Hall, sang at a meeting of young people in the United Presbyterian Church, which was also addressed by the pastor of the church and Mr Robertson. Mr Sankey taught the young people to sing his new song, “Throw out the Life-line," and it was taken up very heartily. At Cromarty, also, there was a children's meeting, conducted by Mr Robertson and others. Many young folks, of course, attended the great public meeting, and they were among the most attentive listeners. Numbers of them remained for the after-meeting, and it was refreshing to see the simplicity with which they responded to the invitations of the workers. In one meeting a fresh looking fair-faced lad of thirteen sat between his father and mother. On being spoken with he showed considerable anxiety, and said he was quite willing to give himself to the Saviour. His father was appealed to that he might give his boy a gentle push towards the clear light of trust and assurance. To the astonishment of the worker the father replied, "Don't you think he is ‘most too young?” Who can wonder that a brood of doubting Thomases is continually growing up when such an attitude is taken by Christian parents.
SOWING AND REAPING.
The crusade against whisky went on all the week without a break. Even if Mr Moody were not himself all alive about it, the subject is continually forcing itself on him. On the Monday afternoon at Dingwall a stalwart man, with piercing eye and rugged countenance, entered the Established Church while Mr Moody was speaking. Some of the workers, seeing that he was the worse for drink, sought quietly to persuade him to leave. He returned, however, and finally sat down near the door, keeping pretty quiet meanwhile. At the close of the service Mr Moody made pointed reference to the condition of the poor man, who had been muttering, as clearly as he could through his cups, "I'm reaping what I sowed; I'm reaping what I sowed.' He had heard the discourse of the previous evening, and not even the whisky could banish the text from his mind. Mr Moody offered special prayer for the poor victim and asked Mr Sankey to have a talk with him. After some conversation he was safely conducted to his place of lodging close by.
In the evening he appeared again, sobered down, accompanied by his wife. Both earnestly conversed with and pressed to give themselves to the Saviour. They signed the temperance pledge, and things began to wear a hopeful aspect. The man attended both services next day, and professed his determination, by God's help, to lead a new life. He and his wife moved on to Inverness the day after the meetings closed. Through the kindness of some Dingwall Good Samaritans his immediate wants were provided for, and he has since found work in Inverness, where, it is hoped, he will retrieve, to some extent, at any rate, his lost position. He is said to be well connected, and was once studying for the medical profession, but he got caught in the maelstrom of intemperance, and fell so low that he was doing any odd jobs that he could secure in the intervals between his drinking bouts.
SINGING THE GOSPEL.
Slowly but surely the music of the Gospel is making its way through the crust of prejudice that prevails so largely in these northern regions. It is getting to be felt and recognised that Mr Sankey's part in the work is no mere performance, but is the vehicle for an enlightened, expressive, and telling presentation of the Gospel story, and of the primal elements of Christian testimony. There are whole expanses of distinctively Christian thought and experience that find no expression in the good old Hebrew Psalter, and which have found articulation in the "hymns and spiritual songs" of modern times. To deny these a place in our Divine praise and our mutual exhortation is equivalent to saying that we have not escaped from the legalism of the old dispensation. Mr Sankey by his songs, sung and printed, is bringing about a wholesome reformation,and is helping to create a rejoicing as well as a believing church. A well-known worker in Ross-shire, who had hitherto shared the common distrust of this new-fangled agency, has not hesitated to express his conviction that the solo singing of these sweet experimental and hortatory songs, with a soft voice-sustaining accompaniment, are an undoubted channel of grace.
It is often forgotten that these Songs and Solos are very varied in character and are well fitted to convey truths suited to all the moods and tenses of the Christian life. Many choir conductors have regarded them as being all of the light and airy sort, and have sung them accordingly, much to their detriment. There is great room for improvement in the rendering of these songs by evangelistic choirs, so as to make the highest possible use of them. Much more intelligence and judgment, as well as more skill and consecration of musical talent, are needed in many cases before the resources of modern hymnology are exhausted. Mr Sankey's visits and his unique rendering of these sacred lyrics are bringing about the dawn of a brighter day in the matter of Gospel sermon in song.
From, "The Christian," December 10th and 17th, 1891.