A SABBATH ON THE BORDER.
Berwick-on-Tweed is the Border town par excellence, and one can scarcely be certain whether it is in Scotland or in England. The greater part of the town lies on the northern side of the Tweed, yet in its Parliamentary representation, it is regarded as part of Northumberland. Moreover, it has a "mayor" instead of a "provost," and it also possesses the doubtful English privilege of keeping up its liquor saloons on the Lord's Day. But whether its inhabitants be Celt or Saxon, Norman or Dane, a large proportion of them were extremely anxious to be present on Sabbath last at the services held by the American brethren. The townspeople were reinforced by visitors from the surrounding country, many coming from places as far distant as Newcastle.
Six meetings were held during the day. Soon after eight a.m. streams of people could be seen flocking downtown to the Corn Exchange, where the first service of the day was fixed for 9.30. By that hour the large room was filled with some 1,500 people or more, many of them standing. Mr Moody delivered a rousing address on the Bible, maintaining boldly that the Old and New Testaments must stand or fall together. Christians were earnestly exhorted to feed continually on the Word if they would be strong to suffer and to serve. Some of the leading truths of salvation were lightly touched on, and the audience were refreshed and strengthened.An immense throng, mostly of men, crowded every nook and corner of the Corn Exchange at the evening hour, while the overflow was accommodated in one of the churches of the town.
The original arrangement was to have three meetings in the day, but Mr Moody, finding that his voice was recovering its timbre, announced an additional service at two p.m. open to all. The Exchange was crowded, and Mr Moody's words of Gospel appeal were with great power; the great waves of feeling seemed to sweep over the assembly as the autumn breeze sways the standing corn. The evangelist had to leave early to address a crowded company of women in Wallace-green Church—the place hallowed by the ministry of the lately departed Dr Cairns. Mr Sankey had meantime been singing and speaking there and he afterwards proceeded to an overflow meeting in another church. Three meetings were thus in progress at the same time. Mr Richard Hill, of Melrose, and Mr Robertson, of Edinburgh, took up the threads that Mr Moody had dropped in the Exchange, and most of the people waited till Mr Sankey by-and-by returned for more song and speech ere the gathering finally dispersed.
As noted in our last issue Berwick-on-Tweed had only one day allotted to it - Sabbath, March 20 - but the interest and the influence of the meetings were by no means confined to the town itself. The people came from far and near, and not a few, it may well be hoped, carried back with them impressions and impulses that will colour all the rest of their lives. As samples of the fruit that was gathered, two cases met with one experienced worker may be mentioned. A farmer drove in some miles, and several of his family accompanied him. At the evening service for men in the Corn Exchange, a son was brought to decision for Christ. The father was overflowing with joy at the outcome of the day's services and declared that it was "better than two farms." Another parent, a missionary, had a son with him who entered into joy and peace in believing, and the father went away full of tearful gladness.
From, "The Christian," March 24th, 1892.
Now an apartment block.