"Fifteen months since some friends, belonging to a coal pit at Drumclare, a village near Slimanan, eighteen miles east of Glasgow, wrote to Mr Abercombie to come over from America to his native country and become the teacher of the children belonging to the pitmen. He came, but soon had reason to regret the step and heartily did he wish and pray that God in his all wise Providence would open to him the way of escape.
He had been useful as a teacher, and also as a certified preacher in the States; and here he found no congenial spirits, but was imprisoned in a small hamlet of about 300 souls, who seemed to be sunk far below the moral level of his countrymen. The filth of the houses; the degradation of the entire people; the cursing, obscenity, drunkenness, open desecration, and the incidental poverty and misery, were too much for him. He opened a meeting for prayer and preaching; almost no one would attend. At length, resolved while he was there that he would work, he began to preach outside, and near enough to the houses to be heard by the inmates.
Thus he continued preaching, exhorting, and praying; and when he was well nigh weary - about six months ago - he found two or three evincing much concern, who were ultimately led to trust in the Saviour and rejoice in Him, - these with great heartiness helped on the work. Mr Abercombie is a baptist, and as soon as a few, six or seven, gave evidence of a change of heart, he invited Rev. Mr Dunn, baptist minister of Airdrie, to go over and they were baptized in the Black Loch. At this ordinance, at which there were many witnesses great solemnity prevailed, - many were pricked in their heart, and very shortly afterwards a goodly number desired to confess Christ, and were also baptized into His name.
Last Saturday, August 13, twenty-three were added to the number - in all about sixty souls, out of an adult population of about 100. The afternoon was stormy, with wind and rain; but the great interest felt on the occasion brought above 300 people together at the loch, which is miles away from any town,- some from Slamanan, Falkirk, Glasgow, &c. The candidates were arranged in order, 11 females and 12 males (all the previous baptisms had been males), and the whole assembly joined in singing. Prayer was then offered, and a short address embracing the Gospel and Primitive Christian Baptism. As the converts came "up out of the water" ever and anon, a verse of some cheerful hymn was sung. And the good pastor, with an affection which must have been witnessed to be fully appreciated, would welcome them with "Come along, my good brother!" "Bless the Lord, sisterl" and another and another embracing the hand with a grip that only a pitman could give, would say, "Bless the Lord brother, thank the Lord!"
Thus the whole character of the village has been changed, radically and completely. No whisky is drunk in it, the houses are clean and comfortable, a prayer meeting goes from house to house every evening; there are only eight houses without a convert. Seven are still asking for baptism, - they pray and sing with a fervour, a solemnity and a delight that is truly wonderful to behold, and the good pastor now recognised God's providence and is very thankful for being led to this sphere of usefulness, and that his labours have been so eminently and signally blessed.
...For fully half an-hour did he stand with a Christian brother of the village, in the water on Saturday; but they were amply repaid - for the scene was most, elevating; as the melodious ring of the voices ascended upwards, and the glorious sun shone from the clear blue sky - for Heaven seemed visibly to smile upon the happy scene!
From, "The Baptist Reporter," October 1859, page 316.
The marker is based on this link https://canmore.org.uk/site/84113/drumclair