The evangelists paid a visit to Forres today and held three meetings in the Agricultural Hall. In the town the day was generally observed as a holiday, and large numbers flocked from the surrounding country districts, At the first two meetings, held at noon and 3 P.M., there were between 2,000 and 3,000 present. On both these occasions, as well as at the meeting held in
the evening, Mr Moody spoke for about an hour in his usual impressive and earnest manner. Several hymns were sung at intervals, Mr Sankey leading. On the platform, along with the evangelists, were a number of clergymen and laymen belonging to the district.
"Times of Blessing," July 30th, 1874
Messrs Moody and Sankey visited Forres on Friday, July 24, and addressed audiences varying from one to three thousand in the Agricultural Hall. Extraordinary interest was manifested by all classes of the community and surrounding country, and on the platform in the course of the day might be seen ministers of every denomination. The day was generally observed as a holiday, and large numbers were present from the outlying districts. About thirty special requests for prayer were read, some of them of an affecting character.
In the morning, Mr Moody gave a powerful address on "Prayer," interspersed with those characteristic anecdotes of an illustrative character that he knows so well how to use. In the afternoon he devoted himself to combating, in a most effective way, the specious excuss put into the hearts of the unsaved by the evil one for not embracing the Saviour.
Many listeners were visibly affected, and at the close, numbers of anxious enquirers met in the U.P. Church and were conversed with.
In the evening, when the immense place of meeting was literally crammed, Mr Moody preached from the words, "Except a man be born again," &C., with telling effect. There were many enquirers at the after-meeting. Mr Sankey's solo singing seemed to impress as deeply as the preaching. At the noon and afternoon meetings, there were about 2,000 people present, but there were not so many at the evening meeting, as some had long distances to return on their homeward journey.
"Signs of our Times," July 30th, 1874.
It looks derelict.