GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY.
Public attention is, of course, chiefly concentrated on the great meetings held by Mr Moody and Mr Sankey, which have the advantage of being fully reported day by day in The Scottish Leader.
But one of the most remarkable visitations of reviving and converting grace that has marked the past months has been that at the pretty little country-town of Grantown-on-Spey, in Inverness-shire. Passing reference to the work there was made in a recent issue, but the story deserves a fuller recital. It is one that ought to give heart and hope to all true evangelists, and also to all consecrated workers who are earnestly seeking to build against their own houses, without much encouragement or help, it may be, from fellow Christians near at hand.
Some of the good folks at Grantown were very anxious to have a visit from the American evangelists in December, but it was found impracticable to arrange for that, in view of other engagements entered into. There was disappointment, of course, but the failure only threw the local friends more unreservedly on God, who can work by whom He will. It is only stating a patent fact to say that one of the most zealous Christians in the town is Mr Grant, a leading business man in the drapery line. His brother, Rev. Mr Grant, of the Free Church, Helmsdale, who was paying a short New Year's visit to Grantown, was induced to hold some Gospel meetings. The snostorm that came at that time prolonged his stay for several days, and these were well utilised. No striking results were seen at the time, though it has since transpired that some decided for Christ at those first services.
A committee was formed to continue the special effort, and flying visits followed from Rev A. Lee, Nairn; Rev Mr. Lister, Dundee; Rev Mr Martin, Stornoway; and Rev Mr Paterson, Edinburgh. The work had thus gone on for three weeks, with much evident interest in the matter of attendance, but with little sign of breaking down or definite conversions. It was then resolved to seek the co-operation of Rev J. J. Mackay, of Free Trinity Church, Glasgow, one of the most living evangelistic preachers that Scotland possesses today. He superintends a large and successfully aggressive work in his own district, and, of course, there are many calls on him from other places to "come over and help." He was able to arrange for a four-days' visit to Grantown, and entered on the work in the assured confidence that God was about to manifest his saving power.
Indeed, the Spirit of God had already been moving deeply in the hearts of the people, but the crust of Highland reserve, and prejudice against open profession of salvation, had not been broken. Avoiding minute detail as to what followed, it may be said that for the first two nights there was shown a wonderful spirit of hearing; the people would patiently sit through two consecutive addresses, but they still kept their resolves and councils locked up in their breasts.
One evening the preacher took the unusual step of asking those who were Christians to manifest it by rising. Some of those present professed to be very angry at this, and declared they would not go to any more of the meetings. But some were like the son in the parable who changed his mind and went. Indeed, this was done at the cost of absenting themselves from a public ball, which they had previously agreed to attend. Though no one had yet openly declared for Christ, Mr Grant, the business man, had encountered and spoken with several young men in the dark street, and had discovered that they were seeking the Lord, Nicodemus fashion.
It so fell out that the next evening Mr Mackay, at the close of his address, went down among the audience, ans without knowing it, but clearly guided by God, found himself speaking to some of those very young men who had been spoken with the night before. He asked the general congregation to retire and the young men only to remain. A dozen stayed, and before the little company broke up nine out of the twelve had stepped "over the line" of definite decision. The workers had been on the stretch for three and a-half hours without a break, but they went home with thankful hearts.
The ice was now broken, and next night, which was the Saturday, there were further decisions at the after meeting. The specified time for Mr Mackay's visit had now almost concluded, and he purposed to return and fulfil Glasgow engagements on the Monday. Just then came the sudden thaw, and the floods in the River Spey that washed away part of the railway and blocked all trafic for several days. The evangelist was storm-staid; and surely the hand of God was in that - turning a seeming evil into a certain good.
What remains to tell must be very briefly stated. The Sabbath was a very busy day for the preacher and the other workers. In the evening the hall was crammed with a congregation of some five hundred persons—a third of the entire population of the town. It is computed that at that service as many as forty made the great decision; many of them having done so during the address and without any other human intervention. On Monday night there were more accessions to the ranks of the open confessors. The whole place was now thoroughly stirred; the revival was the theme of talk at railway stations, at the doors of the public-house, and everywhere. The fact that there were opposers, and that some of the converts had to bear the brunt of ridicule, only showed the reality of the movement.
Tuesday night saw more ingathering, and on the Wednesday night the same test was put as that which had roused such searchings of heart six nights before - the professors of Christ were asked to "stand up for Jesus." The contrast in the response may be faintly imagined. The Highland reticence was fully broken down, and the people seemed glad of the opportunity to declare themselves. Before Mr Mackay was able to leave for Glasgow the list of converts had greatly swollen (like the Spey), and numbered between eighty and ninety. In many cases there was no mistake about the change. Young men politely but manfully cancelled engagements, made before conversion, to attend balls, and did not scruple to give their reasons.
Mr Paterson, of Edinburgh, was on the scene again for one evening after Mr Mackay had gone. For the present the special meetings have ceased, but means are being taken to consolidate the work and keep the converts true to their profession. The local Y.M.C.A. has been reorganised, with a large accession to its membership; and a Y.W.C.A. has been started, in addition to a weekly fellowship meeting for all the young Christians. At a social thanksgiving service recently held there were close on one hundred converts present and some thirty older Christian friends. All the three pastors of the place were present and spoke.
Some exceedingly interesting facts could be told; but, perhaps, specific. it is wiser not to be too specific. It may be said, however, that Mr Grant has a large number of persons in his employ in one capacity or another, and many of these are among the converts; so that he, at any rate, has had a full reward for his devoted labours in the movement. Country relatives of converted residents have been invited to visit the town, and have come within the circle of blessing. In one case, a young lady, living in a distant city, hearing that so many of her former companions in Grantown had become disciples of Christ, wrote to her parents there, and gave them the joyful news that she, too, had cast in her lot with the company of believing souls. Surely every reader of these lines will praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful working among the folks at Grantown.
From, "The Christian," March 3rd, 1892.
I do not know where the meetings were held - possibly the Free Church as Grant's brother was a Free Church minister.