REVIVAL IN EDINBURGH
At all the meetings is heard the joyful roice of the reapers as they give thanks, bringing their sheaves with them: "Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember Thee in thy ways." When we think whose arms it is that are stretched out to receive each sheaf, redoubled joy flows back into the heart of the weary servant.
On Monday night the subject of the address was the power of the Gospel to save from intemperance. On Wednesday the special invitation was to soldiers and sailors, and Mr McGranahan sang " The storm at sea."
Rev W. Grant gave interesting details, at today's (Feb. 3) noon meeting, of conversations in the lobby with several individuals who were detained there last night by the pouring rain. Three Norwegian captains were standing among the sailors, rejoicing in the great salvation, and in the good news they brought of work among their crews. A young man, deeply impressed, asked leave to go with the minister, through the heavy rain, in the opposite direction from his home, to get guidance Christward. Another told in a glad whisper of the joy newly found and introduced his sister to the minister as a participator in the blessing.
Rev J. G. Cunningham, of St. Luke's, bore testimony of many instances of blessing which had come under his own observation. Another minister rose in a distant part of the hall and said, "My work hinders me from being often present in this scene of blessing, but its results meet me in my work daily. Two students from the University called yesterday to tell me of the light having reached their companions. I was visiting a servant in Edinburgh, in my congregation this week, who said, "My fellow servant, who admitted you today, after long seeking rest, found it on Saturday."
Rev Dr Macdonald Leith, who has taken part in most of the noon meetings for the last month, said yesterday, "Health prevents me from attending the evening services, but I have not to go far to hear of the results. Before I came out this morning one waited in the study under deep anxiety, and another in the tram car bore testimony to what he had seen here last night."
Today, one rose to tell of the confession of a young man the other evening, who for seven years had been prayed for in the Hall. "Well do I remember the night in Mr Moody's time when the line came from England asking prayer for him. Ever since, all the years round, lines have come in for him, and he never was forgotten. Who can describe the joy of seeing him sit there, while in few words he so clearly told, 'I have come to Jesus—I have no feeling, no experience, but I have come to Him'? Let us pray for him." Let us pray for him, that the Lord, who has been faithful, will now be everything to him.'
As an old friend passed me on her way out before the second meeting, she said, "Rejoice! Who has come home but our son, safe into Christ only last week!" This had been besought by his father and us in our dining room about six weeks ago - an unlikely request it then seemed.
MARGARET F. BARBOUR.
FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.
Both meetings on Sabbath week, addressed by Major Whittle and Dr Moxey, were crowded, and the ingathering of souls was greater than on any previous occasion. Among others, the three children of a missionary in Asia, and three sons in a wealthy family in Edinburgh, gave their hearts to Jesus. The students' afternoon meeting was largely attended, and Mr McGranahan received very efficient help from the services of a male choir. The noon meeting for workers was well attended and ga he refreshing time it proved. The noon prayer meetings have been drawing large and attentive and audiences and Major Whittle has continued to give them an evangelistic tone. Many precious hours have been spent and the after-meetings have been marked by deep earnestness, and many souls have been brought into life and light.
The nightly evangelistic meetings at eight o'clock, with a song service for the preceding twenty minutes, have progressively increased in numbers, interest, and conversions. A kind friend has been sending a little book to each of the young converts, and over 170 names have been handed to him this week. The workers meet every night at half-past seven or prayer to God for blessing on the work of the evening.
On Monday, Major Whittle delivered a powerful address on " The Power of the Gospel to save from Intemperance, and a number of poor inebriates entrusted their sad burden to Him mighty to save. Mr McGranahan sang "Where is my wandering boy tonight?" and the pathos of the song seemed to touch many hearts, and I believe helped to prepare them for the thrilling words that followed, from Rom. i. 16. The after-meeting was first thrown open for testimony from anyone who had been rescued from intemperance by the power of God. As no convert had come under notice who had been so redeemed, prayer was asked that the Lord would dispose some witness (if there were such in the meeting) to rise and give testimony to the saving and keeping power of Jesus in the case of a drunkard.
The Rev Ninian Wight led in a most earnest prayer, and a man of about forty rose up, and in a simple, natural, and earnest manner told a tale that almost broke down the listeners, and was then, and has been since, used by God to convict others of sin and lead them to decision. He told that he was a sailor, that he had been a drunkard all his life, and on being paid off from a ship a few weeks ago he had received over £35, all of which had gone in drink and vice. He had come into the meeting on the previous Friday, where he had been convicted of sin. "Just there," he said, pointing to a place in the hall close to where he stood, "I accepted Christ as my Saviour, and I got deliverance from the drink. God took away the taste for it, but I have been much on my knees praying for grace to be still delivered, and I humbly ask the prayers of God's people that I may continue to be kept." Other testimonies followed; and a lady at a subsequent meeting said to a Christian worker - "That man's experience was just like mine, and if I had not been a woman I would have testified to the power of the Gospel of Christ."
On Wednesday night, a special invitation had been given to soldiers and sailors to attend, and, although it was raining heavily, the immense hall was filled to overtlowing. The sailors greatly outnumbered the soldiers, and Mr McGranahan sang "The storm at sea," assisted by a male choir of twenty voices. Major Whittle drew his illustrations from flood and field, and narrated some incidents in his own experience in the field of battle. At Mobile, where the Northern army had captured a Confederate, the Major found one of the enemy with a bullet through his spine, lying on his face, groaning. Death was very near and the major turned the poor fellow on his back, and said, "Have you accepted the Lord Jesus?" "No," feebly responded the dying man, "but oh! I wish I had!"
On Thursday night, the address was on "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? (Heb, ii 3). There was great power in the preached word, and many weary ones found rest in the after-meeting.
"The Christian," 10th February 1881.
Unfortunately, this long account does not mention any venue.