Sabbath, 9th August.
We have had a series of evangelistic meetings here for several summers past. This year they began on Tuesday, the 4th August. Mr Moody, while on a short visit here, kindly consented to address the meeting on Sabbath evening; but he also took the meeting on Friday evening speaking from the words, "The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." It proved a precious and never-to-be-forgotten meeting. Many embraced the opportunity presented to request special prayer for their conversion.
The Sabbath evening meeting was in every way a most remarkable one. Seldom has Mr Moody spoken with greater power. The weather, which was very wet up till four o'clock, broke up, and the scene on my green was one I shall never never forget. Crowds flocked from all quarters until about 3,000 were present. The subject of discourse was the Gospel feast. The usual vividness, directness and intensity characterised the address, the speaker's graphic description, apt illustrations and striking anecdotes telling with irresistible force upon the audience - the power being of God.
Mr Moody dwelt fully upon the miserable excuses made by men for not coming to the Supper; and all were struck with his saying in conclusion, that though he had failed to keep many engagements here below, he would rather be torn limb from limb than fail in the engagement to meet the Master at the marriage supper of the Lamb above. There was a very large and interesting after-meeting in the barn, there being about 100 anxious; and very many found peace there, and many since.
The meetings this week have been very precious, every night souls remaining behind to be conversed with, and many, I believe, saved. The Lord's own people here are very much rejoiced and we are so thankful the Master is smiling upon us. This district has long been a very dead one. The work having now begun, we expect a great ingathering.
Another, writing of the meeting at Craig Castle on Sabbath evening, says:-
Every valley and hamlet within a radius of ten miles sent its company, in gig, cart, or afoot. The gathering resembled somewhat one of the Covenanter hill-side meetings, save that, while the Bibles were still present, the broadswords were altogether absent; and the rendezvous, instead of being a wild, rocky pass, was a hospitable castle, with its fairy dell and leaping linn, celebrated in song, and known as one of the loveliest spots in Scotland. The beauty of the scene seemed specially to move Mr Moody, who referred to it again and again in his discourse, which was one of peculiar beauty, power, and pathos. Standing in an open carriage placed near a towering tree, the preacher spoke for nearly an hour from the parable of the Marriage Feast. A very marked impression was produced, and many retired at the close of the service for conversation with the preacher and other ministers and friends. The Craig gathering of August 1874 will, we believe, be ever memorable to not a few as "the beginning of days" to them.
"Times of Blessing," Aug 20th, 1874