LIKE many other country towns, Crieff has been visited with a time of blessing. Without giving any details of cases, many of which are deeply interesting, the general features of the work may be briefly mentioned. Since the beginning of the year a meeting has been held daily for prayer. The interest in this meeting, which steadily increased, has latterly been greatly quickened by the multiplying requests for thanksgiving. Evangelistic meetings were held in November when they were addressed by agents of the Scottish Evangelisation Society, and also in the beginning of January, in the United Presbyterian
Church. Though the attendance was not great at these meetings, some impression was made and some fruit gathered. It was in response to the call for special prayer and effort on behalf of young men, that meetings were held for them during the week from 22nd to 29th March. The attendance was very encouraging, and almost from the first indications of deepest interest were manifest. It was resolved to continue the meetings for young men alone during the following week, and to hold meetings for young women thrice a week the latter being held in the Free Church at 7 P.M. and the former at 8 P.M. in the Independent church. This arrangement has till now been adhered to, and those who have been taking part in the meetings have been convinced of the advantages of this separation. The work of dealing with the anxious in the after-meetings is divided, and thus more effectually overtaken. The young men have shown more willingness to come to meetings for themselves, and more freedom in waiting when by themselves; while it is no small additional advantage that it removes one temptation to levity and distraction, which has not been unattended with evil at other times, in the case of those whom curiosity or excitement drew to the meetings. Other features of the work have been the extent to which those brought to Christ have laboured to bring others also, and the number of instances in which the blessing has come on several members of one family. While there have been one or two excellent deputies from Edinburgh and Glasgow, the meetings have been chiefly conducted by ministers and others belonging to the town, and have been throughout marked with the deepest solemnity.
It is too soon to speak of numbers, but one fact may be stated. At the after-meeting for young women, the number of those waiting to be spoken with was so great, that it was necessary on Monday last to ask those who had decided for Christ to come and sit together that they might be addressed as a company, and those still undecided be spoken with individually. It was thought well thus to give them the opportunity of becoming acquainted with each other. "The result was, that a number which greatly surprised all present took their places as requested, thereby professing to have been brought to the Lord since these meetings began. This was told at the young men's meeting the same evening, and it was suggested that the same should be done there. A yet larger number of young men at once came forward and took their places, openly confessing Christ. The proposal, designed in the first instance to facilitate the dealing with those waiting to be spoken with in the inquirers' meeting, led to a result that was most deeply impressive. The number of those who thus avowed their new-born faith in the Lord Jesus was very large; and many who have professed through His grace to have made the same were not present. It is only possible to rejoice with trembling. Some may have been led by impulses of feeling or sympathy; but the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, "The Lord knoweth them that are His" By all interested in this town, may the apostolic request be in continual remembrance, "Brethren, pray for us."
A. HENDERSON.
"Times of Blessing," April 18th, 1874.
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