A considerable amount of religious fervour is manifested here at present, and indeed has been for some time past, principally in Forsyth Street and Johnstone Street,
where prayer meetings are held nightly, at which the Rev. Mr Innes and lay-men, to the amount of four or five, take part in the proceedings; and so numerously are they attended that every available spot of standing room is occupied in the houses in which they are held: as also the passages leading thereto, and even on the street and around the windows, which are run up to let the parties outside These meetings commence about half-past eight each evening, and are frequently continued till midnight. At several of these meetings very sudden and extraordinary conversions have taken place; people have been stricken down suddenly, exhibiting physical prostration similar to that narrated of the Irish awakening. At a mid-day meeting, or rather we should say the meeting was held the greater part of the day, three such cases occurred. Last night
a meeting was held in the large temperance hall, High Street. The place was completely crammed. The Rev George Dunn officiated. A deep and earnest feeling pervaded the meeting. At the close three parties remained to be conversed with, and for prayer, being under deep conviction, and anxiously seeking the way of salvation. Our correspondent, writing yesterday, adds -The revival is decidedly on the increase here. Last night there were six prayer meetings held in Johnstone Street and its vicinity.
The Rev. Messrs Innes, Wilson, and Dunn were officiating at three of them. The number of persons in and about the places where the meetings were held was greater than on any former occasion. Many persons were stricken down in these meetings. In the one where the Rev. Mr Wilson was speaking no less than four persons were stricken down. The piercing cries of some of them must have been heard to convey an idea of it. The meetings were continued during the greater part of the night, and were resumed again early this morning, and are continuing when I write. — Bulletin of Saturday.
This work continues to increase in importance and interest. Both in the town and neighbourhood the attendance at the meetings is still increasing, and the interest is deepening daily. meetings were again held in Johnstone Street on Friday night. The street was crowded with parties who could not be admitted into the houses, but who patiently remained outside as close to the doors and windows as they possibly could get, listening with deep attention. It is astonishing to see how earnest and anxious
all parties seemed to be. Of the fruits of this night's work in all the meetings we have not been able to learn; but we are aware that there was but one case of physical prostration, which occurred in the meeting addressed by the Rev. Mr Dunn. It was a young female who was stricken down while Mr Dunn was engaged in prayer at the close of the service. This was at 10 p.m. She became speechless and prostrate, and continued so until 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, at which time she sat up in bed and spoke to those in the house of the peace that she now enjoyed in believing. She addressed them with such fluency and fervour for the space of 40 minutes that everyone present were weeping like children. The effect produced upon all present will not soon be forgotten. After which, she fell back again in the bed into her former state, in which condition she remained the greater part of the day. She was able, however - though in a very exhausted state - to be at the meeting last night, in the house in which she stricken down. At the close of this meeting also another female was stricken down.
At a place called Hillhead, a little south of the town, while an Irish convert, who came here lately, was addressing a meeting, five parties were struck down. —Bulletin of yesterday.
"Scottish Guardian," September 2nd, 1859.
Some months ago the hearts of many of God's people were made glad by the joyful tidings that the " revival" had visited our town. Nor was it false, for there, indeed, in a destitute locality, were the longed-for warmth and zeal in sacred things. Private houses were thrown open. Prayer meetings were established, and crowded to the street with anxious listeners, whenever a person could be had to address them - minister or layman. Praise, prayer, and preaching were the demand, and nothing else seemed to satisfy the people. Many became deeply anxious. Several were prostrated, and not a few professed to find peace in Jesus. Our ministers established a united prayer meeting every night in connection with the churches, which for a time was well attended. A few weeks, however, at most, and the locality above referred to presented its former appearance; no crowds of eager listeners; few psalms of praise; united prayer meetings were discontinued for lack of attendance. The gainsayer, of course, took advantage of this state of things; and many who stood aloof before became more unfriendly to revivals generally. Nevertheless good has been done, good is being done still, noiselessly it may be yet more hopefully than we dare expect. One and another are being brought into the fold, who, with some others, form a group of praying souls, who wait diligently, expecting, prayerfully.
"Scottish Guardian," January 5th, 1860.