THE last notice of the evangelistic work in Thurso concluded with the prayer "that the blessed work of these weeks past will continue to spread and deepen. This prayer has been wonderfully answered, giving us cause to say, "The Lord of us hath mindful been, and He will bless us still." The daily prayer meeting continues to be well attended and is highly valued by many and there is reason to believe that the general and special prayers presented from day to day have been, and still are being, graciously answered. The evangelistic meetings, conducted by the ministers of the town, though not so large or numerous as when Mr Moody and Rev. Mr Taylor, Glasgow, were with us, are still very encouraging and hopeful, both in respect of the numbers attending and the earnestness manifested. Those who have recently tasted the good word of God are desiring more of it, that they may grow thereby; while many who are still strangers to the peace of believing are eagerly inquiring the way of salvation.
Alongside of all this, a movement of a very earnest and gladdening kind has begun in a quarter of the town known as the "Fisher Biggings." The people in this part of the town are generally the poor in this world, and very many of them have been exceedingly careless and even hostile to any influence of a religious kind. But on the evening of the Sabbath, 13th, Mr Charles Taylor, whose name has already appeared in connection with meetings of children, along with Mr George Sinclair, Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, conducted an open-air service and afterwards adjourned to the "Bethel" a hall connected with the Scottish Coast Mission. The hall was immediately crowded to its utmost capacity by about 150 persons eagerly listening to the words that were addressed to them, and a considerable number remained at the close of the meeting for personal conversation. The meetings were repeated with even increasing interest every night during the week. Last Sabbath evening the meeting had to be transferred to the Town Hall (capable of containing about 500), which in a few minutes was nearly filled. About half of those present remained to an after-meeting and again a large number of these remained to be dealt with personally. It was a real privilege to be present and take part in this meeting. The meetings continue to be held nightly in the Bethel, which is regularly filled with an earnest and attentive audience of men and women in their everyday attire, with a fair proportion of boys and girls, many of whose hearts we believe the Lord has touched. This place has indeed been a "Bethel" - house of God to many during the last ten days.
ALEX. M. FINLAYSON.
"Times of Blessing," Oct 22nd, 1874
Fisher Biggins is just to the west of the mouth of the river.