Mr Mackay, superintendent of the North-East Coast Mission, and of his own knowledge, that a remarkable movement has been going on for some weeks at Footdee. No fewer than one hundred of the fishing population located there have made a hopeful profession of faith in Christ within the last few weeks. Mr Mackay states that the most of those who profess to have been converted are young men and women. They are also, he mentions, for the most part the sons and daughters of
praying parents. It is now five years since the last work of grace in Footdee.
"Times of Blessing," April 25th, 1874
THE INGATHERING OF 1869.
But the calm was a calm before a storm. During the months of March and April in the year 1869 there fell from a heaven of blessing a locally unprecedented, or since unequalled, deluge. In the month of February two deaths in the village had seemingly touched the consciences of many. One afternoon, at the Sunday school, to the astonishment of the teachers, all the children broke down, crying for salvation. The "zymotic disease" of soul trouble soon swept over the village. Mr Ross, who was labouring at some of the Kincardineshire villages at the time, came quickly to the scene. The fishermen, because of deep inward conviction, were unable to go to sea; their fleet of yawls was beached and lay uncared for during five or six weeks. Men, women, and children were seen at all times of the day dropping on their knees - indeed, oftentimes lying full-length on the snow-covered ground, crying for mercy. Donald Ross and Andrew Allan preached with unction to a nightly overcrowded "school," while to those unable to gain admittance (for the Aberdeen townspeople flocked to the village) the Gospel was proclaimed in several of the fishermen's houses. At least three meetings were conducted simultaneously each night during the months of March and April 1869. Mr Ross has estimated that about six hundred souls passed out of darkness into light during those six weeks.
HOW THE MEETINGS WERE CONDUCTED.
How were those meetings conducted? During March and April there was a daily and largely attended prayer meeting at three o'clock. Between six and seven o'clock a simple Gospel was told out to the children, amongst whom the revival had begun; and after seven o'clock the maturer in years heard the Word. The meeting being declared "over," those deeply anxious remained, while the Christian women went out and assembled in an adjoining house for prayer; and likewise the men apart, those only being retained in the hall in whose ability to lead anxious ones to Christ Mr Ross had the fullest confidence. The hall door was then shut, and entrance was allowed to only those whose spirituality and ability was undoubted.
A conversation such as the following took place nightly between the doorkeeper and Mr Ross:- "Someone is knocking, Mr Ross." "Who is he?" "Mr Williamson, minister of the Free High Church." "Let him in; he loves the Gospel." While sin-burdened souls were being led to the Sin-bearer no singing was indulged in, though at the breaking-up of each " anxious meeting " the "songs of Zion " were heartily sung. Prayer during this, after meeting was offered only by those who were impressed with particular cases.
HELPING ON YOUNG CONVERTS.
How were the young converts helped on? Mr Ross conducted a Bible class for a year afterwards. This class was continued some years further by the successors of Mr Ross in the Coast Mission. Nor were the converts left idle. Some forty young fisher-men accepted responsibility for the weekly Gospel meeting - three for each meeting, the triplets being rotatory. The original "School" hall, being found too small, a large mission hall was erected in the centre of the North Square, and opened in November 1869, mainly through the efforts of Mr Ross.
PLATFORM REMARKS.
The platform remarks of Mr Ross were always pithy, often personal. He once privately asked one of his Footdee converts to go through the streets of Aberdeen on a "fair" day carrying, like a sandwich-man, two boards with such words as "Prepare to meet thy God." The request was refused. Some time afterwards, the same fisherman asked Mr Ross to give an address on the text, "Let us go forth therefore, unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." On the following night Mr Ross declared while preaching, "Some of you asked me to preach on Heb. xiii.,13. God help you! Ye wouldna pit yer taes whaur yer heel was for the Lord, and ye say, 'Let us go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.' " At another time, G. R. Masson and a sceptical baker sat together near the door. At the close of his address, Mr Ross, in commanding tones, said, "Masson, you pray; and pray for the baker."
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE VISITATION.
Apposite were his personal remarks. The question, "Are the hooks getting into your soul? " would be hurled at a woman baiting her lines; or "Are the herring choking your pipe?" would be asked of the fishermen during the herring-fishing season. We have said the children were affected. In one of the fisher houses one day he was met by a lisping infant, looking in his face, saying, "Man, are 'ou 'verted?" Planting his hand on the shoulder of the young questioner, Mr Ross said, "Yes, my little man; I am converted. You put your father to shame. He never asked me if I had a soul! " and, turning to the child's father, between whom and Mr Ross there was a strong friendship, he said, "Andrew, your boy is the third person who has asked me if I am converted."
REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS.
Two cases of conversion may here be recorded:-
One night in April 1869, five or six young men met in "Sponkie's " to pray for the salvation of their friend.
All kneeled but the determined old tar, who said to the young men, "Boys, dinna, pray for Sponkie. He's made up his mind tae ging tae hell!" During the night he passed through much soul trouble, and probably then found peace with God, and in the following night he passed into soul liberty in the "Auld School." He was of a mechanical turn, and immediately proceeded to erect a large wooden revolving triangular pyramid, on the sides of which he painted, despite the fact he could barely distinguish the letters of the alphabet, these texts, "God is love," " Ye must be born again," " Escape for thy life! " " Prepare to meet thy God! " This structure turned every way, to show the way of life to all that passed by.
While going through the village one day, Mr Ross was met by a woman named " Crannie," who asked, "What time is it, Mr Ross?" "Exactly twelve o'clock." "I'm saved just this minute." He often told of this case - and it was a real one - in many parts of the world.
STRONG DRINK.
Mr Ross at all times spoke strongly on the drink question. He once told of an old woman who declared she wished her throat a mile long to feel the whisky going down. At one time in Footdee there were three public houses. In a few years all three were closed. The news of the ancient warrior's decease was received in Footdee with much regret and some tears. "He'll have many stars to his crown," was a common remark.
From, "Donald Ross, Pioneer Evangelist," pages 141-6.