Q n n Thus it was at Aberdeen. The labors of the evan- gelists commenced on Sabbath, the 14th, by a nine o'clock meeting for Christian workers, admission by ticket. There were three thousand issued, and the Music Hall was quite filled, every available place being occupied, either sitting or standing. The singing of the Hundredth Psalm opened the proceedings, after which the Rev. T. Gardiner, Old Aberdeen Free Church, engaged in prayer. Mr. Moody then rose, and, after reading a short portion of Scripture, spoke for about three quarters of an hour from the text, "Here am I; send me." Mr. Sankey, assisted by a most efficient 176 AT ABERDEEN. choir of male and female voices, effectively rendered several hymns, among which the principal were, " Hark, the Yoice of Jesus Calling," " Go, work in my Vineyard," and "Nothing but Leaves." The meeting was a most solemn one, and the audience was most attentive. The evening meeting, at 5 p. m., was on the Links, in the natural amphitheatre of the Broadhill, where a platform had been erected for choir and speakers. It was here that the deep interest in these gentlemen — arising, of course, from mixed feelings of curiosity and desire to know more of that better way of which they speak — showed itself. One may be allowed to say that the town was moved to come, and see, and hear. Some ten thousand were in position before and around the platform long before the hour of meeting ; and yet from before five till past six there were continuous streams of men, women, and chil- dren, from the city, Footdee, Woodside, Old Aber- deen, and as far as Dyce, flowing to the one point on the Broadhill. There could not have been fewer than twenty to twenty-two thousand oru the Links that evening. Mr. Moody spoke from the words, u The wages of sin is death," and was listened to with THE CITY MO VED. 177 rapt attention, while the hymns were distinctly heard over the vast crowds in the stillness of a quiet summer evening. The next meeting was announced for eight, in the Music Hall, but it being filled before seven, Mr. Moody began at that hour. Prayer was led by Mr. Walter, of Free Trinity Church, Mr. Moody speaking on the subject of the prodigal son. There was much power. The chief hymns were, "Jesus of Nazareth," " Come Home," and "Almost Persuaded." There were many inquirers. The crowd outside was very great, and Free West Trinity and the Baptist Chapel, Crown street, had to be opened, and were more or less filled; while several ministers conducted an open-air service in one of the squares. " We have never at any time, I may say, seen the city so moved as it was this day." The next day, Monday, the meeting was in the South Parish Church, and a prayer-meeting at 3 p. m. Amongst the audience there were between twenty and thirty ministers of various denominations. Pend- ing the arrival of the evangelists, various hymns were sung by a cltoir which has been organized to assist Mr. Sankey in singing. Two hours before the time announced for com- 178 . ENEMIES VANQUISHED, mencing the evening meeting in the South Parish Church, a crowd had gathered at the door, and no sooner was admission gained than every seat and corner of the large church began to be rapidly filled. The people seemed contented to wait any length of time for an opportunity of hearing the singing of Mr. Sankey and the preaching of Mr. Moody. It was soon seen that the numbers waiting outside could not gain admission into the church, and provision was immediately made for having an open-air meeting in the quadrangle of Marischal College. After devotional exercises, interspersed with hymns and Scripture expositions of a brief and pointed char- acter, Mr. Moody preached from Luke ii. 10 : " Be- hold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day a Sa- viour." "His love for the Gospel," he said, "had taken out of his way four of his bitterest enemies. Before he was converted, death to him was a horrible monster, but now he had no fear of it. He had re- ceived several letters from people who were probably out of their mind, threatening to take his life, but fear of them never gave him a thought, for he went through the world crying, ' O Death, where is thy AN OPEN AIR TEXT. 179 sting?' and he heard a voice rolling down from Calvary's cross, saying, ' Buried in the bosom of the Saviour. 5 He had attended the wounded at the American War, and had seen death under many phases. In illustration he told an anecdote of the war, so graphically, and with so much pathos, that a consid- erable portion of the audience was deeply affected. The other enemies which the knowledge of the Gos- pel had removed from his path were the grave, sin, and the judgment, all of which were bitter enemies to his peace of mind previous to his conversion." Later in the evening, another and yet larger con- gregation, including a greater number of careless persons, heard another sermon on "the Gospel." He expressed himself greatly pleased with the character of the meeting ; he liked open-air meetings on week days, because all kinds of people could come to them, while, no doubt, a good many came all eyes and mouths open for curiosity's sake. The text he had chosen was an open-air one, and commanded them to preach the Gospel to every creature, and in a few sentences he pointed out how comprehensive was this injunction of the Saviour's. Throughout both his evening discourses, Mr. Moody showed a wonder- 180 TO THE SOLDIERS. ful power of seizing the circumstances around him to illustrate his meaning, thereby giving a kind of personal interest to what he was saying. Then fol- lowed a prayer-meeting in the Free High Church for about half an hour, those who desired private con- versation retiring to the hall below the church, the prayer-meeting being continued in the church by several clergymen until after ten o'clock. The in- quirers' meeting lasted still longer. Among the side-meetings held in this neighbor- hood, was one of special interest for soldiers and sailors, in the Aberdeen School of Song. It is a new hall ; and this was the first meeting held in it. The meet- ing was arranged through the exertions of Sir Francis Outram and Dr. Thomas Farquhar. The wives and friends of the soldiers and marines were also present ; and the company was a large one, numbering many hundreds. Mr. Sankey and his choir attended. Sir Francis Outram presided, and the Rev. Mr. Greig engaged in prayer. Mr. Sankey gave a short and effective address, and sang the hymn " Hold the Fort,' 5 the audience joining in the chorus. Major Ross then addressed the meeting. The Rev. Mr. Sloan spoke on the text, " Endure hardness as a good soldier of APPLICATION OF TRUTH. 181 . Jesus Christ.' 5 Mr. Sankey followed with the hymn " The Life-boat." After prayer, he again sang, with great power, the hymn " Ninety and Nine." The meeting lasted for an hour, and was intensely inter- esting. We trust much good was done through it. Several of the officers were present. At Peterhead two meetings were held, one at five p.m., a second on the Links — an open-air gathering continued in the church, of which one of the min- isters writes thus : " The large church was quite filled in the after- meeting, some standing in the passages. Mr. Moody addressed the anxious. In closing, he asked those that knew they were unsaved but wished to be prayed for to stand up. This being a new thing for Peter- head, it was some time ere any had the courage. At length one, then another, and another, then twos and threes, rose, till between thirty and forty stood before that vast audience to be prayed for. It was a solemn moment. They soon got company, however, for no sooner had God's servant requested the children of God who felt the desire for greater spiritual blessing to rise, than up stood a throng. The front area seats were then cleared for the anxious. Many men on 182 RESPONSIBILITY. one side, and young women and boys and girls, came forward, and, after the assembly was dismissed, were spoken to personally. I believe great good was done by that short visit, — an impression made on the town that will not soon leave it ; many convictions planted in breasts, and former impressions deepened, and not a few led to Jesus. The children of God, too, have received a blessing indeed. The constantly expressed desire is, ' If we could only have had him a week just ; ' others, * Well, it is clear we can't have him, and why do we not bestir ourselves and be blessed still more ? ' " The impression produced by the " Bible-readings " is thus described in a letter to The Christian from Aberdeen : " We cannot over-estimate the benefit and enjoy- ment which the privilege of being present at these lectures occasioned to many. We can only hope that the method of studying the Scriptures so attractively illustrated by these lectures may be largely imitated by private Christians, along with the steady consecu- tive reading and study of books and portions of the sacred word." After a week's labor in the city, the following re- WATER OJST THE THIRSTY, 183 suits are reported, all the more remarkable because the time had now come when both ministers and peo- ple began to leave for summer holidays. "In Free Trinity Church, as usual, an overflow meeting was held during the earlier part of the even- ing; and at nine o'clock the meeting for the men began. The audience having been consulted as to whether this meeting should be continued for another week at least, all present, apparently, expressed their desire that it should be so. About the same number of anxious inquirers remained in both places of meet- ing each night. The average each night throughout the week may be reckoned roughly at one hundred and fifty. This is truly ' great things' done for us and among us by the Lord ; and many of God's peo- ple are filled with joy at His mighty doings. " In addition to these results, there are blessings received which come not always to view. There are the reviving and quickening of God's people ; the enriching of the experience of the large staff of Chris- tian workers ; the tightening of the cords of Christian love and unity ; the increase of the spirit of prayer and hopefulness ; and largely a new view of the sacred function of praise in the service of Christ, and as a 184 FLOODS OJST DRY GEO TTND. means of winning souls to Him, of comforting the downcast, and of warring against the assaults of the wicked one." Among the incidents in the inquiry-room was that of a young lady, who, in speaking with Mr. Moody, said, " You made it so plain last night, that I now know the way and the scheme of salvation thoroughly, and there remains but the surrender of the will." The brethren commenced their second and last week's labors in Aberdeen, June 21, 1874. Mere curiosity had had time to be gratified, but still large audiences flocked to hear them. " Many," says a writer in The Christian, " who, with. Scotch caution, were inclined to stand aloof from the movement for a short time, have come round to recognize that there is good being done, and that the men are not mere butterflies, fluttering in a breeze of religious excite- ment. Their influence has gone beyond the gather- ings that they themselves bring together. There has been created a renewed interest in evangelistic work, which is bearing fruit in numerous well-attended meet- ings being held throughout the town, conducted by clergymen and laymen. At the same time there is an absence of that emotional excitement which was MUTUAL HELP. 185 greatly in vogue in some previous revivals, and which, in a measure, is to blame for the indifference of not a few good church-goingpeople to evangelistic-preaching. A vigorous lecture on Daniel in the morning, a ser- mon in the cathedral, Old Aberdeen, which was densely crowded, a closing meeting on the Links — the Scottish " Common" — an evening meeting in the Music Hall, and separate meetings with the men and women who had received a blessing — these were the farewell services on June 28, 1874, in Aberdeen. " Perhaps in no place which he has as yet visited," says the Rev. John M. Sloan, " have his ministrations been attended by greater or more interested crowds. The Music Hall, larger, we believe, than the City Hall, Glasgow, and capable, when crowded, of accom- modating close on three thousand five hundred — was full every night during the fortnight of the evangel- ists' stay among us. Not only so, but the overflow sufficed to fill at times more than one of the adjacent churches. The Bible lectures, which were held in the South Parish Church, were attended by close on two thousand ; while the daily prayer-meeting in Belmont Street Chapel was attended by one thousand or more." Of the manner in which young men influenced one 186 YOUNG MEWS RESOLVES. another, no better illustration could be given than from the closing meeting in Aberdeen, though, simi- lar facts had occurred elsewhere. u During the evening, a young gentleman rose and said, ' Mr. Moody, if you can tell me how my soul can be saved, you will be the greatest benefactor of my life. 5 Another immediately rose, and said, ' That gentleman has exactly expressed what I feel.' Another young man rose, and spoke to this effect : 'Some few evenings ago I was in Free Trinity Church at the men's meeting. At one point in the proceedings I was taken aback by the person next to me in the pew rising up and saying, " I want to let this large company of young men, many of them my friends and acquaintances, know that I am a Chris- tian, and that by God's grace I mean to stand on the Lord's side. It will save trouble my telling you all this at once." When he sat down, the young man sitting in the same pew, but on the other side of me, rose and made a statement to the same effect. I felt some- what uncomfortable sitting between two making such , a declaration, in the full view of all the congregation. The place was unpleasantly hot for me. But God blessed the testimonies of that evening to the awaken- DTSGR1MINA TIOJST. 187 ing of my soul, and ultimately to my conversion; and now I am here before this audience to tell them that I too am on the Lord's side, and mean by His grace to live for Him." ' Huntly received a visit — reawakening memories of the efforts made by the excellent Duchess of Gordon. Montrose, where the earnest and zealous Mr. Nixon has lived and labored for a genera- tion, welcomed even a day's work, and Rev. G. S. Sutherland reported that though the visit was " painfully brief, it had left behind lasting fruit : " and Brechin, once the scene of Eev. Dr. McCosh's labors, had its crowded meetings. Forfar and Arbroath were visited. It may illus- trate the observant discrimination with which Scot- tish Christians followed the steps of the American evangelists, that a most appreciative writer in the Times of Blessing, a journal originated for the dif- fusion of revival intelligence, thus describes Mr. Moody's address in the latter place : " The first meeting was held in the Old Church (Established); and though the hour — three o'clock, afternoon — was one at which none of the working classes could attend, the large building, capable of 188 TRUTH RIGHTLY DIVIDED. holding two thousand people, was well-nigh full. The meeting was opened with the One Hundredth Psalm, led by Mr. Sankey and the organ ; and Mr. Irvine, the pastor of the church, engaged in prayer. ' Nothing but Leaves,' and ' "Whiter than Snow ' followed, divided by the reading of Rom. iii. In this section was found the theme of Mr. Moody's address, ' There is no Dif- ference,' — words which he held up as testifying that all men everywhere stand on the same platform as sinners in relation to the law of God. The audience listened with rapt attention, the illustrations being specially telling. The writer of this notice heard the same address in Glasgow ; but on the present occasion Mr. Moody seemed to take a firmer grasp of his sub- ject, and preserved more unity of structure in the ad- dress itself. He seems also to be more careful in his way of explaining what faith in Christ is than before, showing by this that if he have given benefit to Scottish ministers by the exhibition of his method, he has also been reaping some benefit from their well- weighed style of expression." That this kindly criticism accompanied the most cordial and- enthusiastic estimate of the man, will appear from another paragraph — almost the only CORDIAL APPROVAL. 189 eulogistic description we have thought it good to in- sert, for, " he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord." "Mr. Moody's voice has suffered a good deal by his exposure on a wet Sunday on the Links at Aberdeen ; when he addressed an enormous audience under um- brellas. It was very husky to commence with, and only got back its old power and sharpness, as he worked it clear. When a man gets a bad cold, and goes on with such colossal work, without intermission, one comes to ask : i Is he made of iron only in a figure, oris he really so?' 'The more one sees Mr. Moody, the more one is amazed at the nervous power and the unwearied spiritual and mental activity. Did he only do what he does as an inspirer and organizer of young men's associations, or of work among the young, he would be doing a splendid life-labor ; but he is doing the work of three or four evangelists into the bargain, and that with the force of a locomotive engine. One would almost fear him as an embodiment of half a dozen agencies condensed into one person, did one not see unmistakably, every here and there, traces which tell that the masculine nature has the humility of a child and the tenderness of a woman." Blairgowrie had been praying, and when, early in 190 B LAIRG WB1R July, the evangelists appeared, seven thousand eager hearers met them, and the Rev. Mr. Baxter reports : "After devotional exercises had been engaged in, Mr. Moocly spoke. The discourse abounded in rich utterances of a free gospel. The glad tidings of mercy through Christ were clearly enunciated. The offer of immediate salvation was pressed on every one with great seriousness and solemnity. By means of evan- gelical truth luminously stated, anecdotes pointed and most graphically given, illustrations fresh and felici- tous, attention was arrested and sustained, and many a countenance betrayed in its expression the interest which was being felt and the deep emotion which was being awakened. A wave of divine influence seemed to pass over the immense audience, and so stirred were the hearts of many, that they were ready to say, ' Surely the Lord is in this place. 5 It was a marvelous, and will be a memorable, meeting. The vast congregation, the glorious proclamation of God's grace, the eagerness with which the truth was listened to, the widespread concern about everlasting interests, will be long remembered with no ordinary degree of pleasure and profit." At Inverness, the next field, from the beginning of INVERNESS. 191 the year a prayer-meeting had been held daily at noon in the large hall of the beautiful building erected a few years ago by the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, and the people were expectant of a blessing. We shall allow the Rev. G. Robson to describe the closing meeting only taking the liberty to abbreviate : "The closing meeting, Free High Church, at 8 p. m. ; densely packed ; the Hundredth Psalm sung, and prayer. Mr. Sankey sang the hymn, ' We shall Part, but not forever,' the choir joining in the chorus. Mr. Moody delivered a most arresting and solemn address. The close of his appeal, when he deplored his in- ability to speak for Christ with the earnestness he desired, and with tears entreated the unsaved to close with the Saviour, was listened to amid a silence broken only by the irrepressible signs of deep emo- tion on the part of his audience. There were not many dry eyes in the vast congregation, and many heads were bowed. At the close of the address, the Rev. Dr. Black engaged in prayer, and then Mr. Sankey sang a farewell hymn, beginning, ' And now, dear Friends, we must bid you adieu,' in which he ad- dressed the different classes present. He sang it with 192 -PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION." even more than his usual distinctness, and the sin- gular appropriateness of these farewell utterances lent to them additional effect. "While the Twenty-third Psalm was being sung the meeting separated, the men being invited to an after-meeting in the Con- gregational Church, and the women to remain in the Free High Church." It is impossible to give any idea, by words, of the deep solemnity and holy emotion which characterized this closing meeting. ' The Lord has been in the midst of us to-night,' said Mr. Moody, as the meeting was separating. i Ah, yes ; glory to His name ! ' was the reply. The after-meeting was the most solemn I ever witnessed. Pew after pew was cleared for those who professed to be seeking Christ, and still they pressed forward. There were upwards of a hundred of them; and their earnest attention while Mr. Moody, in simple, tender words, pointed out to them the way of salvation — the per- fect stillness which prevailed, as, with their heads bowed upon the book-board, they engaged in silent prayer — the manifest anxiety, reverence, and sincerity which animated their behavior during the subsequent solemn exercises — the spirit of prayer manifestly per- vading the Christian ladies who filled the pews on "IF YE HAVE FAITHS 193 either side of the church — all testified to the presence of the Holy Ghost in that hallowed hour, never to be forgotten. The men's meeting in the Congregational Church, conducted by Mr. Sankey, was also greatly blessed of God, and a very large number of inquirers were conversed with. It was late at night before Messrs. Moody and Sankey slipped away from the scene of labors which have been owned of God for the conversion of many souls and the quickening of many believers." In N"airn and Elgin the same scenes were repeated. At the latter place Mr. Moody urged faith and effort on the Christian people ; he read a portion of the ninth chapter of Mark, in reference to the case of the father whose son was possessed of a devil. From it he en- treated Christians, like the man in the chapter, to bring their friends to Jesus, to whom no case was too hopeless. "K"ow," Mr. Moody continued, "if there is going to be a blessing in Elgin, we must have faith. All know Christ can do it, and what we want is to get the 'if 3 in the right place. 'If 3 we can believe, that moment we get the ' if ' in the right place. Un- belief was the greatest obstacle that Christ encoun- tered, both on that and this side the cross." Mr. 9 194 ELGIN. Moody then very earnestly appealed to *God's people to have faith, to come as empty vessels, devoid of self-conceit and everything selfish, so that they might be filled. To Nairn the visit was made on the 21st July (1874), the Rev. Dr. Cunningham, of Philadelphia, giving some aid in the meetings. "An inquiry meeting was held at the close, and about sixty or more were conversed with, while many retired to their homes with an arrow in their hearts. Some professed to close with Jesus, and some left undecided for the Lord. Mr. Moody and his fellow-laborer left the town next morning, while the services were carried on by the ministers in town and an evangelist. The in- quiry meeting on Wednesday evening was full of interest, many professing to close with Jesus. The whole town was moved." The ancient town of Elgin received a two days 5 visit. An open-air meeting was held on Ladyhill. The Elgin Courier thus describes the scene : " The sun, as he sank to rest in the west shed his dying glory over the most picturesque scene on the hillside. It was estimated by some that there were between five and six thousand persons present, it being the REV. R. 8. MACPHAIL. 195 largest gathering of the kind we ever remember having seen in Elgin. Tempted by the fine evening all classes of the people turned out, many arriving from all parts of the surrounding districts. At the foot of the hill a platform was erected, which was occupied by the choir and speakers. The whole hill- side, for a great distance up and round about was cov- ered with the dense multitude, that presented, with their varied dresses, a most imposing spectacle." The Tiev. E. S. Macphail gives his ideas of the moral and spiritual results as indicated by the ad- journed meeting: "In the parish church the scene was unprecedented. Much as we had prayed for seven months and expected, we were not prepared for the results our God gave. Not only did the num- bers exceed our most sanguine expectations, but per- sons remained seeking salvation whose presence filled our hearts with thanksgiving and rejoicing. This has been so at all these meetings, but on Sabbath night most strikingly. On the Thursday previous about two hundred and fifty inquirers were dealt with. How many there were on Sabbath night I do not venture to indicate, as there were fewer means of computing the great gathering. Such a Sabbath 196 A GLAD SURPRISE. Elgin never saw ; and the results of that day's work will, I believe, remain, not only in the lives of very many in Elgin and for miles around, but in the tone and religious character of oar city. The power of the word originated influences which, by God's blessing, will tell very powerfully in our midst. We found our way to our homes that night at a late hour ' like men that dreamed.' Truly we might, as we did, say, ' The Lord hath done great things for us.' r Of a second visit made to Elgin one of the Young Men's deputies from Edinburgh writes in cordial ap- preciation of the zeal and fervor of the Highlanders : " How the Elgin people pounced upon Mr. Moody when they heard, three days after he had left them, that he had one more free day in the midst of his busy life ! Of course they never dreamed of him tak- ing a rest ; and there was great joy on Wednesday afternoon when it was flashed through the country side that on the following evening there was to be another great open-air gathering. I cannot tell you who were there, or how many, or what a good choir there was, or what Mr. Sankey sung, or which digni- tary prayed. I cannot tell you how beautifully the sun was setting, or how fresh the background of COME AND HELP US. 197 woods looked, or how azure the sky was. But these old men penitent, these drunkards petrified, these strong men's tears, these drooping heads of women, these groups of gutter children with their wondering eyes ! Oh, that multitude of thirsty ones — what a sight it was ! What could the preacher do but preach his best ? And, long after the usual time for stop- ping, was it a marvel to hear the persuasive voice still pleading on with, these Christless thousands ? " It is useless to attempt to give even an approxi- mate idea of the extent of the blessing which fell upon Elgin on Thursday night. The whole of Mo- rayshire has shared it, and a powerful hold has been gained in nearly every farmhouse and village through- out the country side ; a hold which, it is earnestly hoped, the members of the new Young Men's Christian As- sociation will take immediate steps to develop, and which, with the prayers of the Christian friends of this corner of the vineyard, may yet be fertile of great and enduring blessing." They could not well pass by Banff, for " a memo- rial signed by two thousand two hundred ministers, elders, members, and adherents of the various churches in Banff and Macduff had been forwarded to 198 TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? them. An unusual interest was consequently mani- fested on their arrival. The railway station was quite crowded with people who were waiting to give them a warm welcome." Open-air meetings, Bible-readings, sermons, in- quiry-meetings, for men exclusively, filled up the greater part of a week. The Rev. J. W. Geddie says of the results : " Mr. Moody's words seemed to pierce like arrows, much emotion was manifested in the congregation, and the number of inquirers was greater than before. The meeting for men was also more largely attended, and not a few of the anxious seemed to decide for Christ. " Thursday, 6th Aug. (1874), was Mr. Moody's last day in Banff. At twelve o'clock he appeared in the prayer-meeting, to the evident delight and satisfac- tion of all present. He gave what he calls the key- note of the meeting in a few earnest and encouraging words, chiefly in the question, ' Is there anything too hard for the Lord ? ' Several brethren then prayed with great power and unction. It was felt that surely the Lord would very specially bless the word in the evening. " And so it was. Thursday evening will be long CRAIG CASTLE. 199 remembered by many in Banff. The discourse was pointed, powerful, and pathetic. At the close he thrilled the audience, as he bade them farewell, and with tears urged the unconverted to close with Christ at once. " We are truly grateful for the visit of these hon- ored brethren. They have been instrumental in giv- ing an impulse to Christian life and work here, which, we trust, will lead to still greater results. "We bid them God-speed." At Craig Castle, the residence of J. S. Gordon, Esq., a series of evangelistic meetings has been held for many summers. The Sabbath evening meeting, 9th August, must have been of unusual interest. "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 re- 200 UNCERTAIN NA VIGATION ferred 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 im- pression 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." In one of the intervals between engagements, a hurried run was made to Aberdeen, but other towns, like Wick and Thurso, awaited the coming of the evangelists. In that region, the navigation is often uncertain. Midnight on Monday (10th August), found Mr. Moody steaming slowly out of Aberdeen harbor, after a hard day's work, in which he held four large and successful public meetings. Tuesday morning found him close in shore, opposite Wick, with a contrary wind, and most violent contrary currents, making things on board the St. Nicholas about as disagreeable as possible. On the shore, a large party awaited his arrival, but it was soon apparent that the heavy sea JOHN O'GBOA T'S HO USE. 201 which was running in the bay would make any at- tempt to land quite out of the question. But the good people of Wick were no losers by the misfortunes of the first day, for Mr. Moody soon in- timated his intention to devote two extra days to Wick, and one of these a Sabbath. On Wednesday, of course, the whole country-side poured into Wick to hear Mr. Moody, and by six o'clock, the commodious Established Church was crowded to the door. The aid of Mr. Somerville, of Glasgow, was enjoyed here. A monster meeting for the fishermen was held on the Saturday. They were there in thousands, just then, from all parts of Scotland. The fishermen do not, of course, go to sea on Saturday night. The meetings on Sabbath were most successful, one hundred and fifty men pro- fessing decision. John O' Groat's House is famous as the most north- ern point of Scotland. On Thursday, the 13th, Mr. Moody, with a party of friends, visited John O' Groat's and Duncansbay Head. The news of his presence spread rapidly amongst the inhabitants of the neigh- borhood, and a considerable gathering of men and women, attired in their Sabbath dress, with Bibles in 9* 202 AN EAGER COMPANY. their hands, intercepted him as he stood upon the site of John O'Groat's House, and urgently requested that he might address a few words to them. Mr. Moody made passing allusion to the circumstances of his visit, to the probability of his never meeting his audience again in this world, to the scenery, the situation, and the tradition of the place. The speaker, standing as he did on the northmost mainland of Britain, with the blue waters of the broad Atlantic rolling between him and his home, seemed as a link binding the two nations together in that unity and brotherly love which are the main characteristics of his doctrine. This was, probably, the first sermon ever preached on John 0' Groat's House. A scene in Wick, whither he returned, is thus de- scribed by Rev. George Renny : " He requested those who were yet unsaved and anxious, to cross the platform where the pulpit stands, and retire to the hall below. Slowly one, and another, and another rose, and, in the face of the audience, moved to the place appointed. It soon became full of inquirers, so much so that there was not standing- room. Mr. Moody then intimated that the church would be cleared for them to return, but that if there THE GLOPJO US GOSPEL. 203 were others before him still anxious, they should, in the meantime, move below. The minister's vestry was thrown open and was filled. Thereafter, the back stair, which leads to the pulpit, was also crowded. It was found that not fewer than, two hundred men — a few of them with silvery locks, and a few young in years, but the vast majority in the full vigor of man- hood, and occupying various positions in the social scale — confessed themselves unconverted, and anxious for salvation. Christians accustomed to speak to the anxious were requested to occupy a certain place in the church; other Christians were asked to adjourn to the Baptist Chapel, and pray for direction, and the revelation of Christ to those who remained, and the promiscuous assembly separated. The inquirers then returned, and took their seats in front of the pulpit. The way of salvation was explained by Mr. Moody, in a very simple and forcible manner, and the texts of Scripture which had been most blessed in the way of delivering and assuring his own soul, were dwelt upon. The gospel was brought home with such sim- plicity that one felt how true it \% The wayfaring men, though fools, need not err therein. Regret was expressed that the souls before him could not be 204 A SOLEMN HOUR. spoken with individually. He then requested that all would engage in silent prayer, and that as many as were enabled to trust in Jesus should in these solemn moments receive Him as their Saviour. This done, he then asked that those who had now committed their souls to Christ for salvation, should rise up ; when slowly, one by one, there rose one hundred and fifty, or thereby — every countenance bearing the imprint of seriousness, every eye bedimmed with a tear, but no excitement and no outburst of feeling. It was a sight for angels to witness. Mr. Moody after this requested them to repeat audibly the words of a dedication prayer, so full of directness and simplicity, that as every lip, quivering with emotion, slowly echoed the words, we seemed carried back to the days of the Covenant. This concluded, there burst from the heart of the audience a prayer from a young man who has been much identified with this work of grace, such as told of the tremulous joy which was present to the minds of all of us, and the earnest desire that all who had witnessed the good confession might by grace be found faithful to the end. " In a brief time, the newly-professed converts re- tired, and those who had kept their seats and were still THE GROUND PREPARED. 205 anxious were conversed with, some of whom seemed to find their way to the light. Never, never will that night be forgotten. Many, doubtless, will watch for the halting of these men. Let us continue instant in prayer that they may be kept steadfast and immova- ble, always abounding in the work of the Lord." " It is now," says Rev. "W". E. Taylor, of Glasgow, who was at "Wick and in the neighborhood with Mr. Moody, " fifteen years since Thurso was visited with a marked blessing, and of that happy period I retain a record, which tells of upwards of four hundred in- quirers, and of one-half of these becoming members of the church within a few months thereafter. May God grant like and even greater things in this year of grace." This hope was amply realized. The encouraging state of things on Monday and Tuesday evenings, combined with the urgent request of friends, led Mr. Moody to decide on remaining here till the end of the week, instead of giving only two days, as first arranged. On the following (Thursday) evening, Mr. Moody preached on Faith. "When min- isters and other workers dealt at the close of the ser- vice with inquirers, they found that the way had been paved for them to an unusual degree, and that many 206 OBAN. who had been previously seeking hope among their own feelings, were now prepared to close, in the strength of grace, with the offered and offering Saviour. For example, as one man was being con- versed with, after the Christian friend speaking to him had said a few words, he suddenly bowed his head on the bookboard, and poured forth from an overcharged heart a fervent prayer, expressive of immediate acceptance of the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and of thanksgiving for the light received. To speak to inquirers under such circumstances was a work as easy as it was blessed. A most useful Convention was held in Inverness in the end of August. Of the last week in Scotland, we should be glad to give more ample details did our space admit. The following is a concise account of the meetings : After the Convention at Inverness, Mr. Moody, with a company of local friends, went down the Cale- donian Canal to Oban, and there, on Friday the 28th, gave an address with much apparent blessing in the United Presbyterian Church. There had been much preparatory work in the town, not only in the open-air meetings, but also in other special services ; and in GAMPBEL TO WJV. 207 the two preceding months the Rev. H. Bonar and the Rev. A. Bonar, had ministered the Word in the Free Church. From Oban Mr. Moody went to Campbel- town, by way of Tarbert, on Loch Fyne, and remained from the 29th to the 3d of September, when he left for Rothesay, taking the Tarbert route, and staying on his way at the house of the Rev. W. Mackinnon at Ballinakill, where many were gathered from various parts of Kintyre to meet him. His work at Camp- beltown was deeply interesting, and was crowned with remarkable blessing. He commenced on Sun- day the 30th by three services ; speaking first to workers, then on the Blood, and lastly on the grand command, " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." The result after that last address was most striking. Upwards of fifty stood up to ask to be prayed for, and to declare their desire to be Christians. The meeting had been overcrowded, and some went to the Drill-hall, where the gospel was preached by willing helpers ; but in the great after-meeting in the church, all were united, and it was felt to be a time of wonderful enlargement and power. On the three following days the interest was deepened at successive meetings ; till at the last, 208 THE VOICE OF REJOICING. on Wednesday night, when Mr. Moody had preached on God's invitation and man's excuses, a very large number were gathered into a hall, either as converts or inquirers ; and it was manifest that much fruit had been gathered to life eternal. There is the joy of seeing many now rejoicing in Jesus, who were wont to walk in the shadow of death, and believers are learning to work when God is calling in the harvest, as it is written, " He is a wise son who gathereth in summer." It is well known that the Highlanders are intensely strong in their religious convictions and preposses- sions ; hence many who knew the Highlands were afraid that Mr. Moody's preaching would not suit the Celtic mind; while Mr. Sankey's songs, it was feared, would stir up a perfect storm of opposition in the minds of the people. Happily, neither of these pre- dictions was verified. Mr. Moody's addresses melted the hearts of thousands, while Mr. Sankey's hymns have become as great favorites in the Highlands as they are in the South of Scotland. In the remote Highland glen you may hear the sound of hymn-sing- ing ; shepherds on the steep hill-sides sing Mr. Sankey's hymns while tending their sheep ; errand FAREWELL TO SCOTLAND, 209 boys whistle the tunes as they walk along the streets of the Highland towns ; while in not a few of the lordly castles of the north they express genuine feeling. A clergyman of the Church of England heard a Scotch minister speak of the work in Scotland at the Mildmay Conference. He was just on the eve of starting for Norway, where he intended to spend his holidays. He decided to come to Scotland instead ; it was his first visit to the North, and he enjoyed the magnificent mountain scenery very much. But he enjoyed the spiritual work still more. u Never," said he, "have I enjoyed a holiday like this — such breath- ings of the Spirit, such holy joy, such delightful meet- ings as I have seen during my visit to "Scotland. Truly this has been a memorable year for Scotland. Let the readers of Times of Blessing pray that Messrs. Moody and Sankey's labors may be abundantly blessed in their visit to Ireland, and that the winter of toil in our great centers of population, to which they are looking forward, may be productive of even more glorious results than have followed their labors in Scotland." The farewell to Scotland we must give in the words of an eye-witness. It was at the close of the Inverness 210 HEARTY THANKS. Convention. "Mr. Moody referred with very much feeling to the work in Scotland. His sentences were interrupted by bursts of tears ; he bent over the pulpit sobbing, and buried his face in his hands. Among the audience the flood of emotion was overpowering ; the whole meeting was bathed in tears. It was a moment of inexpressible tenderness ; the thoughts and feelings of past months came rushing back in a tor- rent. Mr. Moody said if he had given offense to any one since he came to Scotland, he now asked to be forgiven. He would leave Scotland with a sigh, and he hoped that he and his dear friend Mr. Sankey would be remembered affectionately in prayer at many a Scottish hearth, as they went further in their work. The last nine months had been the dearest in his life. He was leaving friends who would be ever dear to him, and whose kindness he could never for- get. Some had departed, especially the honored friend (Principal Fairbairn) who had opened the Glasgow Convention, and had there delivered a speech that stirred every heart, and was said to be the speech of his life. In conclusion, he wished to do what he had not done before — to thank briefly those who had furthered his work. First, he had to thank DWELLING IN UNITY. 211 the ministers. From them he had received nothing but kindness ; all denominations had cordially worked with him. " As a layman, I did not expect it. And Mr. Sankey and I have received far warmer welcome than we deserved. Secondly, we owe our gratitude to the Press. Little has been written we could object to. Wherever we have gone, the Press has given us a helping hand, and aided in the success of our work. Thirdly, I have to thank the young men of Scotland, who, wherever I have gone, have rallied round me in such a remarkable way. To officers of the church, to parents, and all others who have aided us, I return my thanks. There has not been one word of strife or discord among the fellow-laborers all these months ; and even in the open meetings, which some supposed would open the door to animosities and stupidity, there has been nothing objectionable. God has won- derfully kept us. And now, will you let God's Spirit go on working? Very much more may be done. Dear friends, farewell ! May God bless you, and by and by may we meet on the eternal shore ! " Of the spirit in which the work had been prose- cuted, and in which he now looked toward Ireland, a hint was given in his Bible-reading, when he said 212 DWELLING IN UNITY. that in considering what should be the subject for the Bible-reading, he thought what was it he wanted most himself. When nine months ago he came to Scotland a perfect stranger, he felt utterly powerless, and could only have been sustained by the Holy Spirit's help ; now when he was going to Ireland he felt just the same ; and if he attempted to go there resting upon the grace given for Scotland he should fail. He needed a fresh anointing for this new service. In this spirit of entire reliance upon the Lord, Mr. • Moody contemplated the Irish field. God honors those who honor Him. We shall see how much this confidence in the Lord was justified by the results of effort in Ireland. CHAPTER V. THE NORTH OF IRELAND. Belfast is the capital of Ulster, the northernmost of the four provinces of Ireland. It is also the capi- tal of the Presbyterianism which has become a prom- inent feature of Ulster, and of which the United States contain so many representatives, the emigra- tion to the Western world having proceeded for a century and a half. Belfast has, probably, a popula- tion of over one hundred and fifty thousand persons ; it is marked by much enterprize and activity. It is not only nearest to Scotland, but it is more like Scot- land in habits and feeling than any other town in Ireland. As far back as the month of January, the people of Belfast were promised a visit from Messrs. Moody and Sankey in May. But other duties interfered. They reached Belfast on Saturday the 5th of Sep- tember (1874). A local committee had made arrange- ments for their services. 214 BELFAST. On the first Sabbath an early meeting at eight a.m. was announced for Donegal Square Wesleyan Church, of Christian workers, chiefly Sabbath-school teachers and office-bearers in churches. By the time the hour for opening arrived, the aisles were occupied as well as the pews. Ministers of all the evangelical denom- inations were present. The One Hundredth Psalm — so often employed in Scotland ; Mr. Sankey's hymns ; prayers by Rev. W". Park ; an address by Mr. Moody, on the things God employed, base, weak, foolish; a sermon in one of the largest Presbyterian churches at noon ; the building over-crowded ; the service be- gun before the time, and a similar service in St. Enochs', the very largest church-edifice in the place — these gave to at least five thousand persons the oppor- tunity to hear the truth, many of them neglectors of the sanctuary. Next day, a noon prayer-meeting was begun, and Mr. W. A. Breakey thus describes the progress of the evangelists' labors. The Donegal Place Wesleyan Church was the place. " The building was crowded long before the hour of commencing. There were present Rev. J. W. M'Kay, Rev. Dr. Applebe, Rev. Henry Osborne, Rev. EXTEMPORIZED SERVICES. 215 George Shaw, Rev. J. B. Wylie, Rev. William John- ston, Rev. William Park, Rev. H. M. Williamson, and many ministers from the country districts around. It was felt that it would be necessary in future to move to the largest of our central churches; and it was temporarily arranged that the noon meeting should be held in the May Street Presbyterian Church till further notice. Mr. Sankey sang as usual, both in leading the congregation and solos, accompanied by the organ. The address by Mr. Moody on prayer was well-timed and earnest. Mr. Johnston, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Sankey, and others led in prayer. The evening meeting was announced for Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church at eight p. m. This church is capable of accommodat- ing about two thousand persons, and at seven it was quite full; and those who arrived afterward could barely get inside the porch, just to hear that there was no possibility of their getting into the church. Messrs. Moody and Sankey having arrived at half- past seven, commenced the service immediately, it having been announced by the Rev. Mr. Park that two more churches would be opened, viz., Donegal Street Independent Church, and Donegal Square 216 SEPARATE GATHERINGS. Wesleyan Church. Thither many went; but not- withstanding the crowd remained. Mr. Sankey sang two of his solos, and led the congregation in two other pieces. Mr. Moody addressed the people from the text, i There is no difference.' The manner in which he applied the numerous anecdotes he tells made the message most powerful, and a great many remained to be spoken to on the all-important question. There was also an after-meeting for inquirers in the Inde- pendent Church, to which Mr. Sankey went just be- fore Mr. Moody commenced his address. Rev. Mr. Johnston, Rev. John White, Rev. James Robertson, Presbyterian, Independent, and Wesleyan respective- ly, addressed and took part in that meeting." A meeting for women only was tried in Fisherwick Place Church ; Rev. H. M. Williamson, pastor, pre- sided. The large church was crowded. Mr. Moody addressed the assembly. An evening meeting, for men only, was tried in Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church. About fifty inquirers remained for an after conversational meeting. Both were continued. On Wednesday, 9th September, the noon meet- ing was held in May Street Church, which was crowded, as was the meeting for women assembled in AVOWING CONVICTION. 217 Fisherwick Place Church. At eight p.m. another crowded meeting for men was held in Rosemary Street Church. The Donegal Street Independent Church was opened for a general meeting of men and women, and it too was largely attended. Mr. Sankey and others addressed it. Many in both places re- mained for the after-meetings. This being the usual evening for prayer-meetings in the various Presbyte- rian churches, it was remarked that the attendance at them was if anything larger than usual. There is an evident stirring among God's people to keep pleading w r ith Him. While Mr. Moody preached, many prayed. The committee of arrangements announced a week in advance the chairman and the subjects for the noonday prayer-meeting. At the evening meeting for men only (the division became necessary from want of a larger building,) the attendance was very large. Mr. Moody, after prayer, asked the body of the house to be cleared, and requested those who wanted to be Christians, and those who had professed to become Christians the night before, to come into the place reserved for them. During the singing of the hymn, " I Hear Thy welcome Yoice," he asked those who really were anxious not to be afraid to 10 218 AVOWING CONVICTION show it. Almost the first who came forward were two soldiers, — one a color-sergeant of the Thirteenth Regiment, stationed here. This had a good effect, and gave courage to several more timid ones. There were, say, forty at least who thus came forward, and several ministers and Christian friends conversed with them — sometimes individually, sometimes in groups of twos and threes. It was very solemn to watch them anxiously stooping forward, listening to the old, old story of the way of life. It was noticeable how easy speaking was to the class ef young men who are in Sabbath-schools — how useful their stock of scrip- tural information is in such circumstances ; an intelli- gent faith is the simplest mode of description which can be given of their grasp of the truth. It was felt that this was indeed a blessed night to many. Some went away still anxious ; others with beaming coun- tenances, in which might almost be read that ttey had found peace. So the meetings proceeded from day to day. The little boys who used to be seen selling newspapers on the streets, supplied themselves with a stock of Sankey's melodies, and plied the passers-by with, " Hymn-books with songs sung at Moody and San- THE WOMEN'S MEETING 219 key's meetings ! " Large numbers of these were put in circulation. On Saturday a children's meeting was held in May Street Church at noon — Mr. Sankey presiding. The church was crowded, the day being fine. Perhaps a little better than one-half were children, a great many of their parents being present with them. Rev. Messrs. Shaw, Park, Robertson, Dr. "Watts, "Woods, etc., and Charles Finlay, Esq-., J.P., were present. Rev. John White and others led in prayer. Rev. Mr. Robertson (Wesley an), gave an excellent address. Mr. Sankey was there, sang " When He cometh," and addressed the children suitably. Mr. Charles Finlay prayed. Among the requests for prayer read, was one which Dr. Watts stated was for a young man who had recently adopted materialistic views. At the end of the first week the Rev. Wm. Park writes : " The meetings have been immense. With the exception of the first two evening meetings, when the crowd was overwhelming, they have been calm, quiet, earnest, almost beyond description. The wo- men's meeting at 2 o'clock has been most popular. But the deepest impression seems to have been made 220 m THE OPEN AIR. on young men. Fifty or sixty would be a very moderate average of those who have attended from night to night the inquirers' meeting, and on last evening the number seemed larger than ever. It was most interesting last night to go from seat to seat, and, in answer to questions asked, to hear such replies as these: 'Yes, sir, I think I found Christ here on Monday night ; ' ' I gave Christ my heart on Wednesday night;' 'I should so wish to trust in Christ, but I cannot come.' It is hard to move young men in a busy town like Belfast; and the presence of so many in the inquiry rooms, and the tears which so many were shedding freely, proved plainly how deeply they are moved now. We do not know, of course, how this movement may pro- ceed, and we must be very cautious in counting up results, but we thank God for what He is doing." On Sabbath, the 13th September, Mr. Moody held a second meeting for Christian workers, at the early hour of eight, and the place was crowded, so that the overflow filled an adjoining room. The address was touching entire consecration to God, and more whole- hearted activity in his service. An open-air meeting was held at half -past two o'clock in an open space, in MILL-WORKERS. 221 the midst of the mill-workers of our town. The attendance was estimated variously at from ten to twenty thousand ! The weather was exceedingly favorable. Mr. Moody's address was founded upon Mark xvi. 15, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mr. Sankey sang " Jesus of Nazareth passeth by," and the glistening eye, and the deep sighs of many, showed that it was even so. In the evening, Mr. Moody held a meeting exclu- sively for inquirers; none else were admitted : the attendance was upwards of three hundred. At the meeting for women, on Monday, in Fisher- wick Place, there were present about fifteen hundred. An evening meeting for women was held, to give to workers in mills and warehouses opportunity to attend. More than an hour before the time of meet- ing, the streets around were packed with a dense mass of women ; and when the gates were opened, the place was filled almost in a moment; and after that, with the overflow, three large churches. In all these meetings, the anxious, willing to be spoken to, were more than could be overtaken. Strangers from long distances visited Belfast to attend the meetings, and in this way the work was widely extended. 222 MILL-WORKERS. The most marked features were desire to hear the "Word of God, willingness to be spoken to upon the state of the soul, frank confession on the part of many that they do not savingly know Jesus ; and most blessed of all, the equally frank confession on the part of many that they have " found Him of whom Moses, in the law and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth." On Thursday, 17th September, the number waiting to be spoken to was so great, that an attempt to speak to each individually was scarcely made. Two or three addresses w T ere given with the view of pointing them to the Lamb of God. The Friday mid-day meeting was for professing Christians — the subject " Assurance." The work began, meantime, to spread to the adja- cent towns. Meetings were held for some four nights in Bangor, ten miles from Belfast, by H. Moorhouse, Rev. II. M. "Williamson, and some others, and consid- ering the size of the town, the attendance there was equally remarkable. An intelligent observer, from the center of Ireland, thus described his impressions of the meeting on the second Sabbath. It may stand for the description of many similar occasions : MILL-WORKERS. 223 "The opening prayer, by the Moderator of the General Assembly, could be heard everywhere, and distinctly too, by all that vast multitude. It was really in the Holy Ghost. All were brought unto God's presence for a blessing. To be in the open air, it was extraordinary; the people must have felt them- selves being lifted up right into the presence of God. " Mr. Sankey then sang, alone, ' Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.' It was not difficult to hear him every- where, as there was scarce a stir, and God was really arresting the people, who were eagerly drinking in every utterance of that sweet hymn, so full and so fragrant of i Jesus only.' " During the address, it seemed as if some mighty spell was binding the people, and riveting their atten- tion. Mr. Moody preached from ' Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' I never heard the gospel outside preached with such power before ; all could hear ; all might take. As I stood listening, I could not help saying to myself, ' Oh, if I was a sinner unsaved, I could be saved here to-day a thousand times over,' as the Lord Jesus was set forth in such a variety of ways. But I am certain as the faithful word was proclaimed with burning 224 MILL-WORKEBS. heart and Up, that not a few were taken out of them- selves and put right into ' the arms of Jesus.' God's dear children, too, were surely quickened and blessed. I could hear the ' Amen,' and /praise,' and ' thank God,' as the word came down in the power of the Holy Ghost upon that great audience, going up from the hearts of many of them. " Mr. Moody said, ' God has put it into the hearts of these ministers to call this meeting to-day. Now, I have a full and free salvation for every one of you, for the worst of you, and the best of you. The gospel is for the very dregs of sin and sorrow ; the apostles might reason concerning this man and that man, and this people and that people ; and say, i Oh, there's no use in my going there.' But, in the face of the com- mand, all must vanish, for they had a gospel for all, i for every creature.' Those who will not take eternal life, their damnation is sure." Some idea may be formed of the interest felt in the meetings from the circumstance that for the second daily meeting for women, in Rosemary Street Church, an immense congregation assembled an hour before the time for commencing, when it was found necessary to close the gates. By this time a disappointed crowd A PROTRACTED MEETING. 225 had assembled, and. after some delay, it was announced that May Street Presbyterian Church, Donegal Place Primitive Wesleyan Church, and Donegal Square Wesleyan Church would be opened for the " overflow." To these both men and women were admitted. After the Friday evening meeting, when the Rev. T. T. Killen had closed with prayer, Mr. Moody asked those in the assembly who had not accepted Christ, and yet wished to do so, to stand up. Mr. Moody said, truly, " Thank God, I can't count them, there are so many !" He then invited those in the gallery down, and directed the spectators and others present to leave, and clear a space in the body of the church, in order that the inquirers might be conversed with. A large number came forward, far more than at any preceding meeting, and it was with difficulty the church could be cleared at a reasonable hour, owing 1 to the groups in conversation with troubled ones scattered through the church. Rev. Hugh Hanna dismissed the meeting, after prayer. The Saturday (19th September) meeting, in May Street, was for the young, and was conducted by Mr. Sankey. The attendance was so great, that after the aisles were filled, the doors had to be locked, and many 226 AN AWAKENED TEACHER. turned away. Mr. Sankey was followed by Revs. Dr. Knox, Hugh Hanna, and George Shaw. Several hymns and the Twenty-third psalm were sung. It was a delightful meeting, and the children seemed to enjoy it heartily. The Rev. "William Park, the faithful chronicler of the work (successor to Eev. John MacNaughton), writes at the close of the second week : " The after meetings are, in their own way, as crowded as the regular services. The lecture-room and two class- rooms of Rosemary Street were filled each evening with men and women waiting to be spoken to person- ally ; and, on two occasions, personal dealing with in- dividual souls could not be carried out on account of the vast numbers to be dealt with, and general state- ments of the plan of salvation, by one after another, had to be resorted to instead. Many will come out, under the influence of feeling no doubt — especially in an assembly of women. But the private conversa- tions we have had with many, both men and women, show how wide-spread, and, in a multitude of instances, how deep is this religious earnestness, this longing after Christ. ' I have been teaching a Sabbath-school class for years,' said one young lady, ' and the awful VISITORS. 227 thought laid hold of me the other evening here, that I have been teaching what I knew nothing about ; but I have really given myself to my Saviour now.' ' Pray for me/ writes a mother, ' that my unfaithful- ness to my own sons, none of whom are converted, may be forgiven, and that my mouth may be opened to speak to them about salvation.' ' I believe I found Christ here two nights ago,' said a voung man one evening, ' and I have brought two of my companions here, to be talked to to-night.' * I knew the truth,' writes another, ' But I never seemed to feel it before. I trust I can now say and feel that Christ has found me, even me, cold-hearted and dead as I was.' Need I tell you there are difficulties and hindrances ? And yet the Lord has been pleased, so far, wondrously to open the door for His servants ; and, as far as I am aware, at no time has there been so deep a religious feeling abroad in our town and province since 1859, as there is at this moment. Ministers, elders, Christian men and women, are coming from far and near to hear the good news, to see the good work. We have several ministers and friends from Scotland here at present. May they carry home with them good tidings ; may they be stirred up themselves, and be 228 CHBIST1AN UNION. used by the Holy Spirit as the means of stirring up others." In the Witness, a weekly religious paper which has done good service in diffusing information, the catholicity of the movement is emphasized : " Not the least gratifying feature of the movement is the happy bringing together of all evangelical de- nominations to which it has given rise. In all the meetings, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Metho- dists are mixed and mingled without distinction. On Monday night, in Rosemary Street Church, the Rev.Mr. Dickson, incumbent of the Mariners' Episcopal Church, was one of the busiest among the inquirers ; and on Tuesday evening, the Rev. I. H. Deacon, incumbent of Trinity Episcopal Church, occupied the pulpit of Eglinton Street Presbyterian Church. If the present stirring do nothing more than help to banish the bitter- ness of sectarianism, and lead Christian men to live and work in accordance with the truth that we are all one body in Christ, it will have wrought unquestionably a work for which none can be too thankful." On the third Sabbath the " overflow " from the 8 o'clock morning meeting filled two other large buildings. A second open-air meeting was held, as WORKERS WANTED. 229 before ; and, at a meeting of anxious inquirers in the Ulster Hall, the largest building in town, at 7, the area of that building was as full as it could com- fortably be for the purposes of the meeting about half-past 6. Rev. Mr. Park, Rev. Dr. Murphy, and subsequently several other ministers in town, and many Christian workers, were in attendance to con- verse with them. Many professed to have had their doubts removed. Mr. Moody and Mr. Sankey left the meeting in charge of the ministers, and at 9 o'clock went to May Street Church, to a large meet- ing of men assembled there, which Mr. Moody stated he had specially convened in order to enlist young men in active Christian work. Four crowded meetings were held on Monday (21st Sept.), and the Tuesday evening meeting was announced for St. Enoch's at 8 o'clock, but as early as half-past 5 there were persons "waiting for the gates to be opened. The meeting was commenced by the Rev. Mr. Hanna, pastor of the church, at a quarter-past 7. Rev. Mr. Ballard, Rev. Dr. Knox, Mr. Sankey, and others took part in the meeting. About one-half of the assembly waited for an after meeting. This was taken charge of by the Rev. 230 SCRIP TUBE-SEARCHING. Messrs. Hanna, Henry, Carlisle, and Shaw. Mr. Moody asked the anxious to retire to Ekenhead Church, which was speedily almost filled. There cannot have been less than a couple of hundred who came over here to be talked to by ministers and Christian workers, and among them were many in- teresting cases. Eglinton Presbyterian Church was opened about half-past 7 o'clock for the " overflow " from St. Enoch's, and the Rev. Mr. Deacon, Episcopal Church, took the chair there. Rev. Mr. Macintosh and others spoke. The Frederick Street Wesleyan Church was also opened for the " overflow." On the 23d, a new feature was introduced to Bel- fast, namely, a Bible-reading by Mr. Moody at 2 o'clock in Fisherwick Place Church. He urged upon all the necessity of systematic and regular Bible- reading, recommending the plan of reading and com- paring the various passages on a particular subject, and exhausting it before proceeding to another. In the evening, more than an hour before the time appointed, St. Enoch's Church was crowded, so that the meeting practically commenced at a quarter-past 7. Rev. Messrs. Hanna and Robertson took part in the service, and Mr. Sankey led the singing. Inquirers, as be- 9* CONCURRENT MEETINGS. 231 fore, were directed to retire to Ekenhead Church, while the young men were sent to the men's meeting in May Street. About one-half of the assembly in St. Enoch's remained for an after meeting, conducted by Rey. Messrs. Simpson, Spence, Black, and Han- na. Ekenhead Church was filled with inquirers. On Saturday, 26th September, the noonday meet- ing for children was held in May Street Church. The attendance was so large that it was necessary to close the gates, and many left disappointed. The Rey. TV. Park says, after the third week's la- bors : " St. Enoch's, Mr. Moody says, is one of the largest churches, if not the largest, he has preached in, in Europe, and it is full every night an hour be- fore the time. A separate church has now been taken for the inquirers, and they pass to it from St. Enoch's as soon as Mr. Moody's address is concluded. Minis- ters and Christian workers make their way to it about the same time, and no one else is admitted. Thus perfect quiet is insured. The 2 o'clock meeting is no longer set apart for women. It is a Bible-reading, and all are admitted. And eyery evening there are now five meetings in fiye different churches, including the inquiry-meeting and the young men's meeting. 232 LONGING SOULS SATISFIED. u There are one or two things which maybe noticed with regard to the week's work. Christians are be- ing deeply moved and roused to diligence and duty. Last Sabbath morning the meeting for Christian workers, which had been removed to May Street Church on account of its size, filled every corner of the building ten minutes before 8 o'clock, and its overflowings filled two other places of meeting besides. Many are now offering themselves, Christian women as well as men, to engage in the work of directing inquirers, and they now find their own souls stirred t and their faith strengthened in their efforts to guide and comfort others. I believe that in no other town which Mr. Moody has visited has there been such a number of anxious inquirers from the very outset as in Belfast. There seems to have been a mighty movement at work unseen for months past among young men and women — an anxious longing after Christ, w T hich made itself felt and seen at once when these special services began. The meeting in the Ulster Hall on last Sabbath evening was one of the most precious and happy services I have ever attend- ed. It was held at 7 o'clock, to prevent ordinary church-going people coming to fill up the space which " OTHERS MOCKING." 233 was required for others. £J"o one was admitted at the door but those who wished to be talked with about salvation, and those who had tickets from the committee as workers. The immense hall was not too large for the numbers who came. Two hours were spent in earnest private conversation. Then all gathered into the floor of the hall, and every one who had a text to repeat was asked to rise and give it. Many of the most precious promises of God's word were thus brought out, accompanied sometimes with a single sentence of explanation or illustration. One or two hymns were sung, and some prayers offered up ; but even after Mr. Moody left many remained, unwilling to leave till they could find rest in Christ. I do believe that many in that meeting were enabled by the Holy Spirit to receive and rest on the Lord Jesus Christ as He was freely offered to them in the gospel. If, from this circle of seekers and believers, we pass to the outer circle of mere spectators, their feelings and words are of the most varied kind. Some hate this revival work with a bitter hatred. Some mock it and caricature the workers and their work. But not a few feel solemnized as they see God's hand so plainly in this movement. They are 234 REPORTS BLESSED. willing to be spoken to about religion, and willing to think about what is said. Not a few young men who seemed given over to the world and sin, are now asking the way to heaven ; and it is touching to see these youths, to many of whom we should scarcely have ventured to speak about religion before, with tears in their eyes, waiting so earnestly to be talked to by any Christian about the way of life. Here is one of the requests for prayer handed in last Friday : i Pray for a young man w T ho has been in deep dark- ness and strong temptation, so that he has had thoughts of drowning himself, but has now found his way to the inquiry-meetings/ Here is another : f A young man who is deeply anxious about his state de- sires the prayers of this meeting, that he may be able to see Jesus as a personal Saviour.' Last Sab- bath morning in my own Sabbath-schools, three young men presented themselves as teachers. They had been brought to Christ at these meetings, and wished to work for Him. " Nor is the blessing confined to those who hear the word w T hich is sung or spoken by those friends who are now in the midst of us. In the General Hospital at present a young man is lying, suffering THE SEARCHES OF THE LORD. 235 from a severe accident. He had not been at any of these meetings. A medical man, who is earnest in God's service, went to see him, and talked to him about his soul and his sin. On Thursday last he put into my hand a letter which he had received from him in which he says : : — ' This morning a terror seized me, and I am in awful anguish of soul. I see how great a sinner I have been, and there is a great weight upon my soul. I would like to see you soon.' From places at a distance we receive letters, saying that the first drops of the blessing have been felt, and are being anxiously waited for." When men are in earnest in inviting attention to God's word, they become ingenious in making fresh presentations of its truth ; so, when the Rev. William Fleming Stevenson of Rathgar, Dublin, presided at a noon-day meeting in May Street, he addressed the meeting on the subject of ' ; The Searches of the Lord," viz., the search after the lost referred to in Luke xv., and the search into the heart referred to in Psalm cxxxix. Mr. Moody followed up this by a practical address on the necessity of Christians searching their hearts, whether they were as actively engaged in Christian work as they might be. 236 jjfEW HEARERS SECURED. At the Bible-reading in Fisherwick Place Church Mr. Moody's subject was the seven " Beholds," begin- ning with Job's confession, " Behold, I am vile," and ending with the statement as to Saul of Tarsus, " Be- hold, he prayeth." A new feature in Belfast was a boys' meeting, com- menced in the Linen-hall Church Schools, and ad- dressed by Christian gentlemen. The correspondent, of whose, judicious and discrim- inating reports we have already availed ourselves, says, after the fourth week's labor : " On two occasions this week we have tried the plan of admitting by ticket to the evening service in St. Enoch's Church, and have found it to work admi- rably. These tickets are given out in some central place, and the only condition necessary for receiving them is, that the persons who apply have not yet been able to hear Mr. Moody and Mr. Sankey. In this way these ticketed meetings bring in a new class, and enable our brethren to reach three thousand on each occasion who have not been reached before." At a special meeting for converted young men, to which admission was by ticket, nearly four hundred appeared. THANKS GIVEN. 237 On Monday Fisherwick Place Church was thrown open to inquirers from 2 till 10 o'clock at night. These eight hours were divided into three parts, and a separate set of ministers arranged to be present at each. Other Christian workers came in large num- bers; and, though the inquirers were many, there was not one but was personally dealt with about salvation. Those who took part in it felt it to be one of the most profitable evenings since this good work began. In more than one case young men from a distance — in one or two cases from Scotland — have come to Belfast on business, or to attend these meetings, and have found the pearl of great price. To-day, at the noon prayer-meeting, thanks were returned on behalf* of a mother in Edinburgh for the conversion of her son in Belfast. This request for prayer was presented yes- terday : "A young man who came into town to attend these meetings is afraid of returning home without Jesus. In the inquiry-meeting last night he was pointed to Christy but has not yet found peace." There have been instances of Roman Catholics and Unitarians convinced of sin at these services, and brought to the feet of Jesus. There does not seem, speaking generally, to be the same deep and awful 238 FO TJRTEEN HUNDRED SO ULS. sense of sin among those who are awakened as there was in 1859, but there is a true feeling of the need of Christ as our Sacrifice and our Saviour. A young man in one of our large business establish- ments found Christ about a fortnight ago at an even- ing in Rosemary Street Church. Next day he gathered some of the men who are employed in the warehouse round him, and spoke to them about the meetings. One of them said lightly to him, " What sort of meeting had you last night?" "I thought a moment," he said, " what reply to make, and then I answered, ' That meeting has changed me for life, at any rate.' " Less than a week after that man came back to tell him that those words had been ringing in his ears ever since, and that now he too had become a changed man for life. The blessing spreads. In Bangor and Carrickfer- gus very interesting meetings have been going on, and, in the former place especially, there are many anxious inquirers. At the noon meeting on October 4th, Mr. Moody said, " When Mr. Sankey and he were about to leave Edinburgh, one thousand four hundred persons pro- fessed to have been converted since their arrival. MEN CONVEBTED. 239 People who did not believe in the work, however, asserted — with what truth he did not know — that one thousand one hundred of these were women, obviously hinting that this kind of thing conld only make prog- ress among females and weak-minded men. When he and his friend went to Glasgow, therefore, they made it a special prayer that they might be able to refute this notion by being honored in the conversion of young men, and this wish was so far gratified, that when they were about to leave that city, they held a meeting of those who believed that they had been brought to Christ since their coming ; and out of the three thousand two hundred who attended, one thou- sand six hundred and thirty were men. Foiled in this point, the enemies of the work now found a new cause of fault-finding. They could not deny that many men had been blessed, but they affirmed that these were not of the class which most needed to be wrought among, the abandoned class of the com- munity. "When coming to Belfast, therefore, Mr. Moody prayed that he might be specially owned in doing good to this class ; and his prayer had so far been answered, that on the preceding Sabbath even- ing, at the meeting of converts held in the Assembly's 240 A HUNDRED YEARS OLD. Hall, May street, the first three who rose to tell that they had become changed men were men who had been drunkards, one of them acknowledging that he had been twice drunk on the previous Sabbath. He had also heard of another case where a mother, whose heart had been broken by a son who almost nightly was brought to her door drunk, now had the comfort of seeing him in his right mind. Nowhere, in all Europe, had he met with more encouraging re- sults than in Belfast." At the mid-day prayer-meeting on Friday, a young man, well known some time ago as one of the finest scholars in Queen's College, Belfast, who carried off with ease every honor for which he competed, stood up before the crowded assembly, and with deep feel- ing, said, " Many here know how careless and prayer- less I was, yet some of my Christian friends never gave me up, but continued to pray for me. Blessed be God, He has heard their prayers, and last Sabbath, having sent the arrow of conviction into my soul, He enabled me to rejoice in my Saviour. It pleased our God and Father to enable me to be much in prayer since then ; and thanks be to God, though it is not one short week, it seems as if I had lived almost a FISHERS OF MEN. 241 hundred years of Christian life.' 5 Nor is this the only literary man of repute that has come under the influence of the present movement in Belfast. Whatever attracts notice in Belfast, especially in religious matters, interests the entire province of Ul- ster. Many had heard of, many had seen the work. It was no longer confined to Belfast. In Bangor, Donaghadee, Carrickfergus, and Bandalstown meet- ings were held nightly, and deep religious earnestness appeared. The want of a sufficiently large building was felt, and a great open-air meeting to supply this want was held on October 8th. The Rev. H. M. Williamson, successor to the late venerable Dr. Mor- gan, writes of it, and also of Mr. Moody'.s last work in the town : " The joy of last week has almost been forgotten, by reason of the greatness of the blessing bestowed upon us this week by the God of all grace. It has been to us as the waters of the sanctuary in Ezekiel's vision, ever increasing in depth until now, when the waters are risen, 4 they are waters to swim in.' It is a most glorious sight to witness the fishers standing upon it from one end of the city to the other, and the fish, according to their kinds, exceeding many (Ezek. xlvii. 1-10). 11 242 SOULS IN DISTRESS " Sabbath morning dawned upon us very wet and windy. We had fears that it would be impossible for the masses of the people to meet in the open air ; but a little while before the hour of meeting the rain ceased, the sun shone out, and the weather became most auspicious. Here let me say it has been most noteworthy that, during the last weeks, while we have had most inclement weather, every Sabbath-day, and at the hour of our great gatherings, it has been all that could be desired. To-day, while I write (Octo- ber 8th), the day of our great meeting in the Botanic Gardens, the sun is shining brightly, and the weather more than we asked or expected. Doubtless some will say, ' A happy conjunction of circumstances ; ! the children of the heavenly Father know Him ' who hath gathered the wind in his lists.' "Mr. Moody held his usual meeting on Sabbath evening for those in deep distress about salvation, and for those who had found eternal life during the past weeks through faith in Jesus. The meeting was ex- clusively for men, and admission solely by ticket. The hall in which it was held was completely filled. Mr. Moody stated in the noon-day prayer-meeting on Monday that, in his judgment, it was the most remark- PRAISE TO GOD. 243 able meeting lie has had yet in Europe. To God be all the praise! One after another of these young men — and they comprise the very flower of our youth — rose, and, with clearness and wonderful felicity of expression, in burning words, declared what God had done for their souls. At length, at nine o'clock, the meeting was closed. "Meanwhile another meeting of men was assem- bling in my church. It was already very nearly filled when we heard the tread of a large company approaching. It was a phalanx of these redeemed youths. They sang the new song. In a spontaneous burst of praise they were telling forth the wonders of redeeming love. ]S T o language can describe the scene. The heavenly echoes of that burst of praise, I think, will never be forgotten by any who heard it. The meeting that followed, consisting of some two thousand men, I need not say, was one of profound interest — Jesus was felt to be in the midst. " During each day of this week and at every gath- ering, more and more of the presence of the God of salvation has been manifested. Let me in a sentence or two, describe one, which, in sober language, was most wonderful. Mr. Moody addressed on Monday 244 ACCEPTING CHRIST. evening in Fisherwick place Church, a meeting of men. At the close of his address, all who had re- cently been found by the Good Shepherd, and also all who were seeking Him, were requested to retire to the adjoining lecture-room. Some six hundred men did so. Mr. Moody again sifted them, by requesting that those only who were deeply anxious to be saved should adjourn to another room. Probably nearly three hundred did so. In breathless stillness Mr. Moody addressed them, very briefly stating that he could do no more for them — that they had heard the gospel, and that it was for themselves to decide. He called upon them to kneel and pray for themselves. They bowed as one man, and now here and there might be heard the short cry for mercy — a few earn- est words of supplication, probably about thirty or forty so cried to God one after the other. Surely the Lord is in this place ! was the thought which rose in holy fear in the hearts of all. " After a short prayer by Mr. Moody, he addressed them very faithfully. He again held forth Christ, and invited all to rise who felt that they could there and then accept Jesus. All of that large company, save twenty or thirty, stood up, and solemnly avouched SmJUTEEF EXCUSES. 245 the Lord to be their God. This wonderful sight can- not be described. The glory of it cannot be realized even by those best acquainted with divine things. £ Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made lis kings and priests unto God and his Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever. Amen ' (Rev. i. 5). " Thursday, October 8th, was the gathering of the masses in the open-air. The weather was splendid ; everything as regards order and decorum, all that any of us could wish. It was the largest open-air meet- ing I ever attended. I cannot pretend to fix a limit to the numbers. He who counts the stars knew the history of each present, and what were the dealings of his heart with Christ and the free offers of his sal- vation. The only regret that seems to be expressed by any was, that the services were so short. "Mr. Moody addressed the vast multitude from the words, ' I pray thee have me excused.' With graphic felicity, great clearness, and soul-piercing power, he exposed the miserable pretenses by which sinners impose upon themselves in refusing a present offer of present blessedness. The address seemed to strike with convicting power many consciences, and, 246 REV. DR. KIRKPATRICK. from many instances coming under my own observa- tion, at the inquiry-meeting in Fisherwick-place Church, I have reason to believe in salvation power." One of the wisest, purest, most experienced and also most cautious clergymen in Ireland is the Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick, the senior minister of Rutland Square, Dublin. In a letter to the Irish papers, he said : " It is understood that the American evangel- ists, Messrs. Moody and Sankey, whose labors in Scotland and in the North of England have been followed, it is believed, by great spiritual benefit to hundreds and thousands of persons, are about to visit Dublin, and that the Exhibition Building has been engaged for their reception. In prospect of this visit, it may interest many of your readers to be furnished with some brief account of the services which they have been conducting for the last few weeks, in the North of Ireland. Having had occa- sion to be recently in Belfast, I went to attend one of the evening meetings, at which Mr. Moody was to give an address. On reaching St. Enoch's, the place of meeting, half an hour before the time of service, I found the gates locked, the house having been filled for near an hour previously. On obtaining ad- USE OF AFTER-MEETINGS 217 mission through the gate, by special favor, I was still unable to enter the church, the doors having been se- cured to prevent the entrance of a crowd of people who had scrambled over the railings. After some time I was admitted, and I observed that every avail- able spot was occupied in a church which Mr. Moody says is larger than any church in which he has ever preached in Europe or America. He had proceeded towards the conclusion of his address. His words were not eloquent in the ordinary acceptation of the term ; they were homely, vigorous, pungent, setting forth the ( old, old story ' of the cross, and bringing it to bear with directness of appeal and intense ear- nestness of manner on the consciences of his hearers. The immense audience was held in fixed attention, nor was there the slightest appearance of levity, in- attention, or disorder in any part of the house, that came under my observation. Immediately after this service I attended a meeting of persons — most of them young — who waited to converse with Mr. Moody, and with others whom he employed to assist him — most of them being ministers — in giving instruction to these inquirers. The object proposed by these private conferences was to answer questions, to re- 248 THE MINISTRY HONORED, move difficulties and doubts, to confirm purposes of good, and to lead to decision in the service of Christ. These meetings are uniformly held after Mr. Moody's addresses, and there are often fifty or a hundred, and sometimes two or even three hundred, who re- main for these conferences. " On the next day I was present at the mid-day prayer-meeting, at which there were from one thou- sand two hundred to one thousand five hundred per- sons in attendance for an hour every day in the week. One of the local clergy presided, and others besides Messrs. Moody and Sankey led the assembly in prayer. These evangelists always recognize the ordained min- istry, and avail themselves of clerical aid in every place which they visit. I observed many of the clergy mingled with the general audience. " At two o'clock, an hour after the close of the prayer-meeting, Mr. Moody held what he calls his Bible-reading service. On this occasion he read a chapter of the Old Testament, illustrating and en- forcing its lessons w r ith characteristic energy. Imme- diately at the close of his address, Mr. Sankey fol- owed with an appropriate hymn, which was sung with the most touching pathos, and was well calcu- RESULTS IN BELFAST. 249 lated to deepen the impression made by the appeal of Mr. Moody. There are many other special ser- vices held by Messrs. Moody and Sankey, but I con- fine my statement to what I have myself seen. " In reference to this great movement, I remark : — " 1. The amount of solid good accomplished, time will tell ; but it is surely a matter of vast moment that multitudes of people should be roused from their ordinary state of spiritual insensibility to inquire about the interests of eternity. " 2. There are none of those doubtful physical ac- companiments which characterized the awakening of 1859. There is no other excitement than that which is produced by the truth of God, brought home to the hearts of a listening multitude of awakening sinners. a 3. The great object of these evangelists seems to be to turn sinners from the error of their ways, and to bind in loving union believers of every Christian denomination. "4. The ministers of religion and many of the most intelligent and sober-minded Christians recog- nize these men as faithful and honored servants of the Divine Master. 250 LONDONDERRY. " 5. Messrs. Moody and Sankey go from place to place, expecting that God will bless His own truth, proclaimed by their lips, and they desire and hope that a similar spirit of prayerful expectancy may take hold of the people of Dublin." Next to Belfast, Londonderry is the most impor- tant city in Ulster. It retains the old walls, which its siege made memorable, and while a large Roman Catholic population finds employment in its manufac- tures and trade, the spirit of the place is strongly Protestant. The place has long enjoyed very faith- ful ministrations in its pulpits. It was visited in the early part of October. With much cordiality the ministers of all denomi- nations joined in the original invitation to Messrs. Moody and Sankey, and also assisted iu the further- ance of the work. Presbyterian, Wesley an, and In- dependent seemed to have but one object and one desire — to make the work of revival among the peo- ple as general and wide-spread as possible. The First Presbyterian Church was selected for holding the meetings, as it was the largest and therefore best able to accommodate the numbers likely to be present. Messrs. Moody and Sankey arrived in Derry from AID IN SONG. 251 Belfast on Saturday evening, and commenced their labors on Sunday the 11th Oct.. with the same spirit of energy and enthusiasm which carried them through so much in Belfast. There were in Mr. Moody's discourses the same fertility of illustration and pointed application, the same earnestness and sim- plicity, the same zeal and enthusiasm, and the same intense desire to win souls for his Master. Three services on the Sabbath, and the same number on each of the following three days of the week, with inquiry- meetings each evening, made up his programme, and he never seemed to fail either in body or mind. He appeared conscious of the shortness of his visit, and seemed to grow more earnest in consequence. While Mr. Moody faithfully presented the gospel Mr. Sankey was no less faithful in his lessons in song. "He was so admirably assisted by a local choir as to draw a special eulogium from Mr. Moody at one of the noon meetings. He said he had heard a great many choirs assist at these meetings, but he had never yet heard one which sang so sweetly and so well as the one which had been organized to assist in singing the praises of God in Londonderry. On the same occasion he referred to the importance of the 252 NEW SONGS. Church paying greater attention to the subject of praise. Some were only for singing the psalms, but he thought they should also sing " new songs." A new hymn was just as good as a sermon. They could sing the gospel into many a man's heart. He hoped the Church would feel alive to its duty in this matter of praise, and not be hindered by prejudice, which is the twin sister of unbelief. The opening meeting was intended for Christian workers, and Mr. Moody dwelt especially on the sub- ject of Christian work, and gave some earnest and practical counsel. On the same day two meetings were held in the First Presbyterian Church, one at four and the other at eight o'clock. The ordinary congregational services were conducted in the church at twelve o'clock, without, of course, any instru- mental accompaniment in the praise. At both special services the church was crowded to overflow- ing, and the gates had to be closed half an hour be- fore the commencement of the service. Indeed, at the evening-meeting, the church was filled at seven o'clock, the people crowding in such numbers to the service. Overflow-meetings were held in the "Wes- leyan Chapel, and were well attended, though better in the evening than in the afternoon. EXCURSION-TRAINS. 253 On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, three ser- vices were held each day, including one children's ser- vice. Owing to the heavy downpour of rain on Monday, the church was not so well filled as on the other days, when the congregations were very large ; but on each evening fully two thousand found accommodation in the church, filling it from floor to ceiling, while the hundreds unable to gain admission went to the Wes- leyan Chapel, where they were suitably addressed. The concluding meeting on "Wednesday evening was especially large, and the services particularly solemn. On each occasion the meeting was conducted after the style of the meetings in Belfast, — already fa- miliar to our readers. The audiences were thoroughly representative. Young and old of all classes, not only of the inhabi- tants of Derry, but of the surrounding districts, for miles around, attended. Excursion-trains on the Irish North-western Railway and Northern Counties Railway brought many into the town, while hundreds walked and drove many miles, in order to be present at the meetings. The attendances steadily increased to the close, and as the last of the services approached, there seemed to be a general expression of regret. 254 SAPPERS AND MINERS. A noticeable feature of the meetings was the large number of clergymen present at them. The prevailing characteristic of all the meetings was intense solemnity, but without any undue excite- ment. The services seemed to awaken the liveliest interest in the public mind, and to produce a marked impression. The inquiry-meetings after the first night were w T ell attended, large numbers of both sexes remaining for conversation and prayer with Mr. Moody and the Christian workers who were admitted (by ticket) to converse with the anxious. In this re- spect every precaution was taken that none but duly qualified persons should be admitted. The time oc- cupied at these meetings was brief, but the addresses and conversations earnest and impressive. The upper room was set apart for female inquirers, and the lower schoolroom for males. The Rev. A. C. Murphy, one of the ministers of Londonderry, gives his impressions of the men and their aptitudes in such a way as indicates that min- isters have something to learn from them. "Better sappers and miners of spiritual indiffer- ence, and the infidelity that is born of sinful living, could not be found. In addition to his astonishing THE TWO BOOKS. 255 vigor and versatility of thought, and his keen sympa- thy with all the familiar movements of the human heart, the speaker's organizing faculty and instructive wisdom give him an all but absolute sway over large assemblies; while the ' sweet singer 5 who accompa- nies him always manages to hit the mood of the mo- ment by some appropriate cadence of joy or tender- ness. The audience are never allowed to weary, and wish one part of the service ended before the next part has begun. Even the least affected go away rather regretting than relieved that the exercises are over. It would do a world of good if those who are in the habit of conducting public prayers would learn from Mr. Moody the triple virtue of brevity, of point, and of confining themselves more or less closely to the matter in hand. Ministers, as a rule, have little idea what damage is done by long, vague, expository prayers. The Bible lecture, again, is, in its way, an excellent mode of instruction, substituting as it does for the logical treatment of a subject the more popu- lar treatment by association of ideas. It is, besides, peculiarly appropriate in Mr. Moody's mouth, as his two principal studies are the word of God and the book of the human heart." 256 THE ANXIO US ONL Y. After this four days' visit to Londonderry, the evangelists returned to Belfast. The Rev. Mr. Park thus describes two further meetings : " Admission was to be by ticket, and for four days we were busily engaged giving out these tickets. Great care was exercised that none but anxious in- quirers should receive them for the one evening, and none but those who made a credible profession of having been brought to Christ during the past few weeks for the other. The name and address of the applicants were taken down, and the name of the con- gregation with which they professed to be connected, so that every minister may obtain a correct list of his own people who have been moved and blessed. As far as we can judge, we gave out somewhere about two thousand two hundred tickets for the first meet- ing, and about two thousand for the second. That is to say, more than four thousand persons profess to have been brought under serious concern about salva- tion, or to have accepted Christ, during the past few weeks. We cannot pronounce on all, or indeed on any of these cases ; we must wait to see the fruit of the new birth in the life and conduct. But the mere fact that such a vast number have professed to be ILLUMINATING TEXTS. 257 anxious or to be converted shows how wide-spread and mighty this movement must have been. " Among those who came to get tickets, there were many cases of the deepest interest. One man had attended some of the services at the beginning. He had then fallen iH of fever, and as he lay in the hos- pital, he thought over what he had heard, and came out of it, he believed, a new man. By far the great- est number who told us about themselves were able to point to some text or texts of Scripture which had been to their souls a window through which they saw the truth. John iii. 16 and John vi. 37, seem to have been useful to hundreds; John i. 12 and 1 John i. 7, were very precious to many : John iii. 14 and 15 had enabled others to see the simplicity of the way of sal- vation. Matt. xi. 28 and John xiv. 1 seem to be not only full of comfort for Christians, but full of guid- ance and comfort also for the anxious and inquiring. Isa. liii. was often quoted as the passage on which the soul was resting, and sometimes 1 Pet. ii. 24. Rev. iii. 20 was mentioned by others who had opened the door to the Saviour who knocked so long. It is well that those who have to instruct inquirers should know these passages, which have been useful to so many. 258 A SOUL WAITED FOR. "How can I describe these two great meetings? On Thursday night 'I After those who had inquirers' tickets and those who had workers' tickets were ad- mitted, five or six hundred of the general public were accommodated in the galleries. Amid breath- less silence, Mr. Moody preached to an audience of nearly three thousand persons, taking up text after text, trying to make the way of salvation plain and easy, and pressing home the truth upon every heart. Earnestly did he urge the duty of immediate de- cision. When he had finished, Mr. Sankey sang i The farewell hymn,' and the assembly was at once dismissed, to go home, and think, and pray. Great numbers were in tears. Many were unwilling to leave the church. At length all seemed to have gone away, and the lights were put out, when the minister of the church (Mr. Hanna), passing down the aisle, thought he saw dimly some figures in a pew. He found two women waiting with a companion, who was in deep anxiety about her soul. He took them into the vestry ; he talked to her and prayed with her. He asked her companions to pray for her also, which they did ; and before she left the room the darkness had passed, and the brightness of pardon and peace was shining in her face." DUBLIN. 259 From Belfast, the brethren proceeded to Dublin. It was a hopeful sign that a well-attended noon prayer- meeting was in operation, that a great body of the ministers had agreed together as to the mode of opera- tions. At a prayer-meeting during the week before the arrival of the evangelists, the Rev. Dr. Marrable, Rector of St. Andrews, read the opening of Ezekiel xxxvii., which, by a happy coincidence, formed part of the Scripture for reading in the Episcopal service, on the Sabbath when the evangelists were to commence. The preparations had been very thorough. A central building, called the Metropolitan Hall, was secured on the north side of the city for the daily noon prayer-meeting. It has capacity to seat almost two thousand people. On the south side £500 had been paid for a month's occupancy of the Exhibition Palace, also central, where were held the daily evening meet- ing, and the afternoon service on the Lord's day. This is a huge glass building, capable of seating in its center aisle and transept about twelve thousand per- sons, and affording numerous rooms for after and in- quiry meetings. Part of it had been screened off, suf- ficient to accommodate five or six thousand people, and seats had been made for four thousand, to be added to as the demand for accommodation increased. 260 THE EXHIBITION PALACE. There was a thorough working committee, com- posed of ministers and laymen of all the evangelical churches, and the unity prevailing was an excellent beginning and foretaste of the blessing we expect. We infer from the reports that concerning no town yet visited had there been such deep anxiety. It was the first where the Protestants are few and the Roman Catholics many; it is the capital of the country, and especially of the Roman Catholic population of the country. "For the first time," says the Rev. James S. Fletcher, Incumbent of St. Barnabas, Dublin, " and in connection with this movement, have we seen the clergy of all the evangelical churches working cor- dially together, without the least shade of envy or party spirit — all feeling that they are workers in the same holy cause, children of the same Father, servants of the same gracious Master. "On Sunday last the Christians of Dublin wit- nessed a sight to gladden their hearts. It has been estimated that at the first service at 4 o'clock from twelve to fifteen thousand persons , were in the palace. Never before was it put to so blessed a use. I am persuaded that in future years many a dear child THE REV. HAMILTON MAGEE. 261 of God will remember it with, deepest gratitude, and will say, ' I was born there. 5 "The weather being beautifully fine, the attend- ance increased each succeeding evening. On Monday evening, and again on Tuesday evening, Mr. Moody spoke of Jesus coming 'to seek and to save that which was lost, 5 interspersing his discourse with many forcible illustrations. The following evening his sub- ject was the powerlessness of the Law to save, and then he set forth Jesus as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. Thursday and Friday evenings were de- voted to showing the necessity of Spiritual Regenera- tion. On all these occasions the Lord Jesus was lifted up, and every eye and every heart directed to Him. Will He not fulfill His gracious promise — ' I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me ? 5 Blessed be His name, already we can tell of many having been so drawn. 55 The Rev. Hamilton Magee writes : " The noon-day prayer-meeting in the Metropolitan Hall continues to grow in numbers, interest, and power. At the meeting to-day Mr. Moody presided ; and the hall, which accommodates more than two thousand three hundred persons, was filled in every 262 THE UNIVEBSAL DISEASE. part. The eagerness of the people to be present is something wonderful, and there are abundant and increasing tokens of the presence of the ever-blessed Spirit of God. " Mr. Moody seems jealous lest the attention of the people should be directed too much to him. He is ever pointing them to God himself as the Author of blessing and Source of power. Indeed, it is this losing sight of himself in God which seems to me to constitute one of the great secrets of his success. " In all our meetings hitherto, little or no reference has been made, by name, either to Protestants or to Roman Catholics. This is, in the judgment of most of us, as it should be. Mr. Moody is exceedingly careful in this matter not to give needless offense, or provoke opposition that might be avoided. He ad- dresses sinners as such — telling them the very same ' old, old story ' of redeeming love, or, as a good man known to us has put it, he deals with the catholic or universal disease of sin, and the catholic remedy pro- vided in the gospel. The disease has affected us all equally; the remedy is provided for and offered to us all equally. There is here no distinction of persons. His method in this matter constitutes one great secret REV. J. G. PHILLIPS. 263 of Mr. Moody's peculiar adaptation for evangelistic work among the mixed audiences that gather around him in a city like ours." In Times of Blessing, November 12, 1874, the Rev. J. G. Phillips writes : " To a stranger attending one of the services of these American evangelists, it would seem as if they were addressing a Dublin audience for the first time, the crowds are so great and the interest evinced is so intense. Day after day every meeting is crowded. Neither time, distance, nor weather, appears to have much effect in diminishing the number of those who attend. On Monday morning, the 2d inst., as the rain was coming down very heavily at the hour for the noon gathering, and had been doing so for some time previously, I thought there would be but a very small attendance at the prayer-meeting; but when I got there I was agreeably disappointed to find that the audience was not much smaller than usual. And last night, Friday, the attendance at the Exhibition Hall was larger than I have seen it on any week- night since these meetings began. And not only is the work growing broader, but I believe it is also growing deeper ; it is becoming a more personal 264 SOUTH AND WEST. thing with many. It is not simply what Messrs. Moody and Sankey have to say ; but it is, "What have Christ and Christianity to do with me? To many hearts this question is now brought home, and many, very many, with deep earnestness are asking: ' What must I do to be saved ? ' " The inquirers' meeting, which I have already mentioned, held in the Metropolitan Hall at half -past 8 o'clock, was a most interesting one. A large num- ber was present, and many went away rejoicing in Christ. " The meetings of Sabbath were an index to those of the whole week; for, from the prayer-meeting at noon on Monday, to the children's service in the Exhibition Palace at noon to-day, Saturday, all the meetings were most interesting, solemnizing, and edi- fying, and were all very largely attended. The in- terest attaching to these meetings is not confined to the people of Dublin and its immediate neighborhood. Persons are coming from some of the most southern and western counties of our island to be present at these services. I myself was speaking at one of them to a man who had brought his son, a boy about four- teen years of age, a distance of one hundred miles for REV W. FLEMING STEVENSON. 265 this sole purpose. And when these persons go back, in many cases they go not unblessed, but carry gracious sheaves with them, and thus their own neighborhood comes in for a share of the blessing which is now falling so richly on Dublin." The Rev. W. Fleming Stevenson, author of Pray- ing and Working, and minister of a large Presbyterian church in Dublin, gives his general impressions after three weeks' observation and hearty co-operation : " A third week has in no way diminished the at- tendance. Instead of lesser numbers, additional seats for nearly a thousand have been provided in the Ex- hibition Palace, and even the passages in the Metro- politan Hall are now thronged. Once or twice the quietness prevailing has been slightly broken ; but it is marvelous that when so many must stand, and even then perhaps not hear, the stillness is so deep. There are some who do not miss a meeting ; but the even- ing audience is a very shifting one, and the faces are always changing. The number who have heard the gospel at this time must therefore be enormous. In- deed, there are scarcely any that one meets who either have not been at the meetings, or who are not plan- ning to go. In tram-cars, omnibuses, railway carriages, 12 266 ROMAN CATHOLICS. the services are a subject of universal conversation, and of universal interest. The visitors from the country are always on the increase. The other day some people in a small southern country town organ- ized an excursion-party of thirty, and a second of sixty has been organized since in the same place. Chris- tians come two hundred miles to rejoice and help in what is done. A gentleman came seventy miles, found the Saviour, went back for his family, and now they are all here. " Some of the abandoned have stolen in, and many drunkards have been brought by their friends. The motley character of the evening crowd is striking: every section of the population is represented, even to the outcast ; and surprises are constantly felt as one and another are recognized of the most unlikely to be there. Two Roman Catholic servants noticed, not far from them, faces with w T hich they w r ere curiously familiar. The men were disguised, but it did not need much penetration to discover the two priests who con- fessed them. The other night a Roman Catholic clergymen, hymn-book in hand, was among the most earnest of the worshipers. Another, who was asked by one of his people if it was wrong to go, is said to A BEEPER WORK. 267 have replied that there could be no harm in hearing about Jesus. The reporter of a paper unfriendly to the movement is among those whom that movement has carried toward Christ. There is not an evening that Roman Catholics as well as Protestants have not found their way to the inquiry-room. Probably one reason is that there is no denunciation. Men are not addressed as by their particular Church, but as sinners. Roman Catholics are not even mentioned by name at the evangelistic service ; and feeling no hurt, and not having opposition forced upon them, those who go once are pretty sure to return." Having regard to the character of the impressions produced on the mul- titudes addressed, Mr. Stevenson further says : " The lack of depth that was noticeable at first, the absence of any great breaking down of men's hearts, seem to be now signs of the past. It is, at last, as if God's word had got a grip of those that came to hear. Those who remain are more deeply concerned, more willing to speak because more sensible of their burden; and their number is rising rapidly. The area of the large concert hall is now occupied with the anxious and those who deal with them, and additional meetings have been held for them in the Metropolitan Hall. 268 AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR. There is not a day but some evidently pass from death unto life, and the crushed and miserable depart to their own house in the joy and peace of believing. An officer of rank in the artillery was in Scotland during Mr. Moody's visit, but did not attend the meetings. He has come in Dublin ; there was earnest prayer for him by his friends ; and from a very worldly life he has now been brought to Jesus. An open skeptic was constrained to remain, had his doubts swept away as the Lord Jesus drew him to His feet, and on another evening came bringing three more persons with him. Thanks were returned one day for a young minister who had found Christ. A young man had been three months seeking rest. Hearing at a meet- ing that the gospel is the gift of Christ to sinners, it struck him with so much force that he said quite out, ' That's beautiful.' He apologized afterwards, saying he could not help it just at the moment when he found what he had almost despaired of finding. An ungodly man, whose friends and companions were like himself, came to one of the meetings. It was the only one, for a few days after he died, joyfully confessing to his ungodly acquaintances that Christ had found and saved him at that meeting." THE HYMNS. 269 Mr. Stevenson singles out some special features of the work as specially noteworthy : " Here, as elsewhere, several of the hymns sung by Mr. Sankey alone have been wonderfully blest. An old man of seventy came into the inquiry-room in tears, saying he had found no rest since he heard 'Jesus of Nazareth Passeth by.' A cabman, the other evening, asked that prayer should be offered for himself and his comrades. He had heard the first sermon in the palace, and the same hymn had made him uneasy then, and he had been uneasy ever since. In a country w^here party-feeling has always been strong, one notices w T ith pleasure the following : "The brotherly unity among the ministers is main- tained unbroken, and a delightful illustration of the breadth of this unity among all classes was given at a public breakfast this week. Nearly two hundred ac- cepted the invitation to meet Mr. Moody and Mr. Sankey, and among them were over fifty clergymen, some well-known noblemen and military men, and many of the principal citizens of Dublin of all profes- sions. Two hours after breakfast passed only too quickly in brief addresses from representatives of almost every denomination, bearing a united testi- 270 THE SPREADING MOVEMENT. mony to the singular good that has been done, and expressing a united resolve to carry on the work after the American brethren have left in the same harmony in which it was now begun. The inquiry was very naturally raised, What results have followed elsewhere ? Here is the answer : " Although the movement was to gather no greater force, it would still be the most remarkable that there has ever been in the city ; but there are many who believe that we see only the beginning, that probably even next week will witness far greater things than these, and that spiritual blessings will be showered down on our land. The last tidings from Ulster speak of just such a fullness of blessing there. It is not con- fined to one or two cities, but the news comes from country towns and hamlets, and lonely prayer-meet- ings. The presbyteries over the north are stirring, and arranging for special evangelistic work, for the people are everywhere moved. The joy that is thus quickened prompts to but one request for our Irish churches and our Irish people, that prayer be made without ceasing unto God for us." Mr. Magee gives some illustrations of the force of truth : "FAIR PLAT!" 271 " Our Roman Catholic brethren, as a rule, have acted a noble part. They have been respectful, and to a certain extent, sympathizing. In this week's number of the Nation — an organ at once of National (as it is called) and Ultramontane principles — an article has appeared, entitled, 'Fair Play!' which is exceedingly creditable, and which indicates the ad- vent of a new day in Ireland. The editor informs his constituents that i the deadly danger of the age comes upon us from the direction of Huxley and Darwin and Tyndall, rather than from Moody and Sankey. Irish Catholics desire to see Protestants deeply im- bued with religious feeling, rather than tinged with rationalism and infidelity ; and as long as the relig- ious services of our Protestant neighbors are honestly directed to quickening religious thought in their own body, without offering aggressive or intentional insult to us, it is oiir duty to pay the homage of our respect to their conscientious convictions ; in a word, to do as we would he done hy? " One very marked feature in the movement is the number of men that are influenced. Many people have remarked the large proportion of them that are inquiring. 272 THORO UGHL Y BIBLICAL. " A few nights ago an old gentleman, more than seventy years of age, threw himself down on his knees and sobbed like a child. He said, 'I was utterly careless about my soul till last night, but I have been so unhappy since, I could not sleep. I seemed to hear ringing in my ears, " Jesus of Nazar- eth is Passing by," and if I don't get saved now I never shall be.' " Already the influence of this work has begun to tell upon the most remote districts of the country. Parties of thirty, fifty, sixty, etc., are being organized from the most distant parts to Dublin. Many of these carry back with them much, blessing. We hear of the young converts witnessing for Christ fearlessly in the trains on their way home from their meetings. "Mr. Dowling, an Episcopal clergyman, one of the best expositors of Scripture we have among us, said he had heard and read much of the work carried on by our brethren, when they were in Edinburgh and elsewhere, and he had thought much of it; now that he had seen it for himself he thought much more of it than ever. He regarded it as the noblest testimony to the power of evangelical truth ever given in this country. He was delighted, he said, A PUBLIC BREAKFAST. 273 with the thoroughly Biblical character of the move- ment. It put honor upon the Personal "Word, and honor upon the Written Word, and honor upon the Holy Spirit, the great mediating Energy between the Personal and the Written Word. Speaking of Mr. Moody's preaching, he said that the Bible seemed a quiver in his hands, and every text a sharp, polished, glittering arrow that God gave him for us to shoot straight into the heart and conscience of his hearers." A novel feature in Dublin was the public breakfast in the Shelbourne Hotel, with Sir E. Synge Hutchin- son in the chair, addresses in admirable spirit from Lord Carrick, Lord James Butler, Dr. Craig, Rev. Charles Dowling, of the Irish Church, and many other clergymen. Two of the largest rooms in the Shelbourne Hotel were completely filled by the com- pany, which numbered about two hundred. The object the gathering evidently had in view was the en- couragement of Christian unity, which every speaker in the course of the proceedings warmly advocated, in the belief that it is especially needful at the pres- ent time, and essential to the further spread of the gospel in this country. The company was thoroughly representative in its character, both clerical and lay. 12* 274 CONCERT WITH MINISTERS. Mr. Moody said that was the first meeting of the kind he had ever attended. The question had been asked, " What was to be done to keep up Christian unity ? " He would tell them. Keep preaching Christ, and don't talk about their church, creed, or doctrine, and then people would be attracted to them as surely as iron filings to a magnet. By this should all men know that they were Christ's disciples, that they loved one another. He hoped they would preach Christ simply, treating men not as of this de- nomination or that, but as sinners. He would leave them one word, ' Advance.' When General Grant, after a career of victory in the West, was put in command of the Potomac Army, which had been be- fore invariably defeated, he was asked to retreat. Retreat had been the constant word, and at his coun- cil of war all his commanders were in favor of falling back ; but he remained silent, and an hour after, the army were astonished to receive from him the command, ■ Advance in solid column at day- break.' This was his counsel to them." One of the aspects of Mr. Moody's work, which gave special satisfaction to the most judicious Chris- tians in Dublin — and among its fifty or sixty thou- REV. DR. MARRABLE. sand Protestants, are many most earnest and devout believers — was the concert maintained with the min- isters. The effects were of the happiest kind. Rev. Dr. Marrable mentioned that " on their Com- munion Day the number of those who remained to partake of the Lord's Supper was nearly double what it used to be. This was a good sign and a source of much happiness to him. He felt deeply interested in these meetings, and especially the conversational meetings for anxious inquirers. So eager was he to get into the room that no sooner was the preaching service at the Exhibition Palace concluded with the benediction, than he hastened to the inquiry-room with the avidity of an army surgeon who ran to bind up the wounds of soldiers after a battle. The work of grace that was manifested at these meetings was truly wonderful. Some of those who became con- verted belonged to Dublin, some came from distant parts of the country — people of all classes — young and old, high and low — are finding the Lord, and re- joicing in Him as their precious Saviour. On the previous night (Sunday) they had a conversational meeting for men — none but men — and there were upwards of fifteen hundred present. The attendance 276 BESULTS IN DUBLIN. was astonishing. He was diffident about alluding to particular cases ; but he could not help referring to the case of a divinity student — he was sure that was not too personal — who came to him and said he was about to enter the ministry, but he did not feel happy about his own soul ; but before he left he was brought to rest in peace in Jesus." Fourteen years ago the Bev. Denham Smith, then a Congregational minister, did a good Evangelistic work in Dublin. He was, like Mr. Brownlow North in Scotland, and Mr. Grattan Guinness in England — able to give some aid in the meetings — pleasing evidence that the fire kindled so long ago had not ceased to burn. After witnessing five weeks' labor in Dublin the Eev. W. Fleming Stevenson gives the following ac- count of the results : " No one would question now the magnitude and importance of the spiritual work which has gathered round our American brethren in Dublin. No similar movement has ever produced a like impression. At any previous time of revival, the interest was con- fined within a narrow circle, but at present it pene- trates the entire city ; and the country — and not the serious people in the country only — is as much VARIED TESTIMONY. 277 moved as the city. Those who spoke lightly at first — those who thought they could ignore it — those who were persuaded it was only a new sensation, have slowly altered their mind. It is seldom that in a company it is not mentioned with respect. Men who had laughed and sneered at first are now the first to rebuke others if they sneer. The newspapers con- tinue to chronicle the meetings with a fullness never displayed before ; special articles are occasionally written, and now and then a thoughtful and favor- able editorial draws everbody's attention. Three of the bishops have been at the meetings, and one of them, the Bishop of Kilmore, has warmly commended ' the wonderful work in Dublin ' when presiding over his Synod. The eloquent Bishop of Derry, when lately preaching at the re-opening of York Minster, and illustrating the place and power of praise, said that ' in Scotland and Ireland a strong fervor had been awakened, and hundreds and thousands had been made earnest by a single voice as expressed by him- self, " singing the gospel of Jesus Christ." ' The Rev. Lord Plunket, 'while not personally relishing all the accompaniments of their teaching,' ' blesses God for the good which is being done by our American vis- 278 VIFFIC UL TIES V BECOME. itors,' and ' rejoices that Christ is being preached and souls are being*saved. ? Men of all the church parties attend the halls, and having come once are apt to come again ; and one of the most constant workers is Dr. Sydney Smith, the Professor of Biblical Greek in Trinity College, whose daughter wrote the simple and wide-spread hymn,