THE CAMPBELTOWN MISSION.
Mr Moody is deeply attached to old friends. Among the many true and tested friends of bygone years are Mr and Mrs Peter Mackinnon, who have not only entertained the evangelists at their Argyllshire home but have worked earnestly in their meetings in London and elsewhere. Mr Mackinnon met them in London soon after their arrival, and invited them to visit Campbeltown, pending other arrangements. It was thought that rest might be combined with work, but of the former the evangelists have found little. To men of such abounding vitality as Mr Moody, variety in work is excellent recreation, and, thanks to the planning energy of Mrs Mackinnon, that variety has not been lacking. By a free use of the telegraph, she arranged for the meetings at Killean and at Southend, noted in a later part of this report. The carriage drives, undertaken, happily, in fine, bracing weather, enabled our American brethren not only to visit outlying places with the Gospel message, but made them acquainted with some very interesting facts in the past religious history of Scotland. The Kintyre peninsula is by no means so thickly peopled today as it has been in former times, but there are still remaining some descendants of those who fled thither from Ayrshire during the persecutions of the Covenanting days. The ecclesiastical records go much further back than that, and throughout the peninsula there are frequent antiquarian traces of the labours of that great preaching friar, St. Colomba. Southend is the modernised name for Kilcolmkill, of St. Colomba's time, and the adjacent "mull," or point, was the Epidium Promontorium of the ancient Romans.
On Friday, Nov. 13, the evangelists, accompanied by Mrs Mackinnon and Mr and Mrs Oatts, of Glasgow, drove to the famous Mackrihannish Links, perhaps the largest golfing ground in the kingdom. A fine hotel and a number of modern villas have been erected here, and the splendid qualities of the air, purified by the sweeping Atlantic breezes, enhance the growing attractions of this remote and restful corner of Scotland as a summer resort…
Mr Moody, especially, revels in abundance of fresh, keen air, and he expressed in no stinted terms his enjoyment of the long drive northwards along the western rockbound coast of Kintyre laved by the blue Atlantic, and giving distant views of Islay, Jura, and some of the lesser isles of the South-west.
The meeting at Killean was held in the very pretty Mission-room attached to the estate of Mr J. M. Hall, who, with his sister, has done much for the social and spiritual welfare of the dwellers in that district. A very few hours' notice was all that could be given, but it was sufficient to enable Mr Hall to publish abroad widely the fact of the visit of the American brethren. The room was well filled, and the hour was a singularly impressive one. Probably the majority of those present threw aside their daily tasks in order to be present, but they must have felt amply rewarded in the stimulus conveyed through the burning speech and the moving song of the two evangelists. At the close of Mr Moody's address, which was as earnest and impassioned as though he was facing an audience of ten thousand instead of some sixty or seventy persons, the call for a confession of soul concern was well responded to. Mr Moody and Mr Sankey had to return as quickly as possible for the evening meeting at Campbeltown, but certainly their flying visit to the country folk about Killean will be long remembered.
On Tuesday morning, the evangelists were again under way, and reached the village of Southend in good time for a meeting in the new U.P. church, summoned by Mr Young, the minister, chiefly by postcard late the previous evening. Considering the circumstances, the attendance was good, a number of the congregation having
FORSAKEN THEIR FARMING DUTIES
and driven to the place of meeting. We heard one "knight of the road" lodge a good-humoured complaint next day to the effect that he could do very little business, as his customers had gone off to hear Moody and Sankey. The former preached his best, and the close proximity to the ocean suggested to Mr Sankey the appropriate hymn, "Throw out the Life-line," which he has been singing frequently and with rousing effect. Among the congregation were two of the Faith Mission evangelists, who had been holding meetings in the sparsely populated district for some time, and to whom the sudden appearance of the renowned Gospellers seemed as refreshing and invigorating as an Atlantic breeze. At the close of the Southend meeting, Mr Young, the pastor, warmly expressed the gratitude that he and his fellow minister of the Established Church felt for the unusual event that had stirred the placid life of the parish. He told how he had met Mr Moody in Farwell Hall, Chicago, twenty-two years ago, and prayed that the delightfully simple message they had heard might bear abundant fruit. From Tuesday onward, the meetings in Campbeltown were held both afternoon and evening: The afternoon Bible Readings were fairly well attended, and the richly suggestive expositions of Mr Moody were much enjoyed. On the Monday evening he had spoken powerfully on the endowment of the Spirit for consecration of heart and for power in service. This subject he followed up the next afternoon by an incisive and practical address on "The Elements of True Prayer. Wednesday afternoon's subject was "Christ as a Shepherd," a message fraught with practical bearing on the daily life and walk of the believer.
Thursday being the half-yearly horse fair and feeing market at Campbeltown, there was great invasion of the peninsula. The sturdy rustic damsels, dressed in garments of bright blue or scarlet, bonnetless, and in some cases with ruddy bare arms. promenading the narrow streets in groups, presented a most picturesque appearance. On these occasions, the friends of the Y.W.C.A. provide a social cup of tea for their girl visitors in rooms at Lochend, when the opportunity is seized of giving them some friendly and serious counsel. For this there is need enough, in view of the temptations to indulgence in strong drink that abound in the town. We are bound to say that, so far as our observation went, the youths who had come from the country in shoals, monopolised this unhappy indulgence. It was truly painful to witness the extent to which these mere lads had succumbed to the influences of the potent liquid, and were thus early laying the foundations of a dishonoured present and a darkened, ruined future. In order to catch as many visitors as possible, a service was arranged in the large Victoria Drill-hall for half-past two. A free distribution of slips and personal invitations in the streets secured a large and miscellaneous congregation, to whom the Gospel was faithfully preached and sung. Mr and Mrs Oatts of Glasgow, who had come down on the Tuesday to render help in the mission, were very active. Mr Oatts scoured the thoroughfares with bills and persuaded many to attend the meeting. Mrs Oatts sang and spoke to the girls who gathered in the YMCA rooms. One of Mr Sankey’s solos was the “Ninety and Nine," the notes of which pealed through the great spaces of the building with wonderful effect. Mr Moody's sermons on ‘Christ saving and seeking the lost’ held the closest attention of the motley throng and altogether the special effort had its full reward. The seeds of Gospel truth were plentifully sown and watered with the earnest, beseeching prayers of the Christians present, and watered with the earnest, beseeching prayers. Many stayed at the close for some friendly conversation.
All the week meetings were held in the fine Lochend Free Church, the pastor of which, Mr McQueen, worked with a will, and spared no effort in order to bring his fellow townspeople within the scope and influence of the movement. One difficulty that M. Moody has in these short missions is the choice of subjects that will so focus, and condense the spiritual influences at work as to bring the bearers to the point of conviction and of decision. He was manifestly guided in this respect, and the large after-meetings held in the lecture-hall showed that a spirit of soul concern was present in large measure. It is impossible to tabulate results, but probably the best result is the fact that the local ministers and workers are banding themselves together to continue the special effort. We trust that they will reap largely as the fruit of so much faithful sowing and prayerful watering of the seed,
FIGHTING THE WHISKY FIEND,
Campbeltown, with its twenty-two distillers, might aptly be named "Whisky town,” at the same time, we do not know that there is more actual drunkenness among the inhabitants than in other Scotch towns of the same size. The publicans impartially exhibited the posters of the mission in their windows. The temperance sentiment, it is said, has a good hold of the more educated classes; but the fact that the profession of Christianity and the possession of office in the churches by whisky manufacturers are not thought incongruous must inevitably hypnotise the conscience and deaden the sensibility to the fearful havoc wrought by the drink. Mr Moody has not gone out of his way to denounce the trade and the traders, but when occasion arose he expressed himself faithfully and boldly on the subject. Occasion did arise more than once. On the Tuesday evening a man under the influence of the drink repeatedly interrupted Mr Moody in his discourse. The preacher was in no way disconcerted, but with fine generalship pushed home the advantage which the incident afforded him. He appealed to the Christian churches to step out of their slumberous indifference, and seek to redeem these poor victims of the fiery cup.
Thursday evening’s meeting was marked by a very striking and dramatic episode that will be memorable in the experience of every worker present. The facts are worth narrating with some fullness. Mr Moody was about to commence his sermon when a man in the audience, evidently in the grip of the drink fiend, startled the crowded congregation by loudly requesting Mr Sankey should sing "The Ninety and Nine,” adding that he was "the worst man in Campbeltown.” Mr Moody promptly told the interrupter that his request would be granted, and asked him to keep perfectly quiet while the hymn was sung. Mr Sankey thereupon sang the well-known hymn with more than usual feeling, having asked the people to pray that this lost one might be brought home by the heavenly Shepherd. The man remained quiet throughout Mr Moody's sermon, which was singularly impressive one based on the words, "Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God.” When the after-meeting was held the drunken man was handed over to Mr Oatts, who had a long conversation with him in one of the anterooms. By this time the man was considerably sobered, and seemed anxious to renounce his evil ways and give his heart to God. Mr Oatts prayed with him and gently guided him in prayer on his own behalf. He was then taken into the larger inquiry meeting that Mr Moody might see him and give him a parting word of counsel. After prayer Mr Moody suggested to him that he should at once sign the total abstinence pledge, as an indication of his desire by God's help, to turn over a new leaf. Mr Sankey took him into another room for this purpose. Again they knelt down for prayer, and for about ten minutes the man poured out his heart in supplication. The bench in front of him was wet with the tears that streamed from his eyes while he cried to God to save him from the depths into which he had fallen through strong drink. He rose and signed the pledge with a trembling hand, and Mr Sankey wrote his own name on the pledge as an attesting witness, and also wrote a verse of the "Ninety and Nine," which he had sung, which seemed to please the poor man very much. All this time his only son, a bright Christian youth of eighteen, was standing by encouraging his father and joining in prayer on his behalf.
During the man’s conversation with Mr Sankey, it transpired that he had started out that evening with some small article of apparel belonging to his wife, intending to pawn it for a few coppers with which to obtain a dram. He was passing the place of meeting when he heard the singing, and (as he described it) a voice seemed clearly to say to him, “Go in and hear Moody and Sankey. He replied, “I will." He thereupon entered the church and cried out as we have already narrated.
The man and his son were about to leave the meeting to go home when it was discovered that he had left his hat and the little bundle of clothing in the larger inquiry-room. On entering that room with Mr Sankey, it was found that Mr Moody and a group of ministers were engaged in eager discussion with another man under the influence of drink who had found his way to the after meeting. This man was stoutly resisting all the arguments brought to bear upon him to sign the pledge and give up the drink. On ascertaining what was going on, the first man went up to his fellow-victim of the drink and begged him to sign the pledge. The other replied that he would not. He then urged him to get down on his knees and pray to God. This also the man stubbornly refused to do. “Then I will pray for you,” and with all the zeal of a new-born recruit, he knelt at a bench beside his brother sinner and prayed at some length in most eloquent and pathetic terms, making a lavish and wonderful use of scriptural phraseology in his heartfelt petition. It was a scene never to be forgotten. The other man seemed to remain as hard as steel, and, after some further conversation, the first man went home, leaving his impenitent friend sarcastically answering all the arguments and entreaties addressed to him by the interested group of workers. It was well on to eleven o'clock before the second man was let go, but as far as we could learn, no saving impression was made upon him. He is well known in the town, and we can but pray that in more sober moments he will yet repent and turn to God.
The last Bible Reading on Friday afternoon in Lorne St Free Church was on “Obedience” and Mr Moody's words were very comprehensive, deep-cutting, and far reaching. He dealt some straight blows at the prevailing industry of the town-distilling. Speaking on the necessity of whole-hearted obedience, he said that if there were anything in one's business that was not right, true obedience demanded that it should be given up. If a man could distil whisky to the glory of God let him go on distilling. Let him manufacture thousands of barrels of whisky and send them out to Africa or China and pray that God would make them a blessing to the people there. Let them send hundreds of barrels of whisky and a couple of missionaries along with them and pray for God's blessing on both- if they could.
THE CLOSING MEETING
of the mission was held on Friday evening: The church was so packed that the large number of very young people present had to be drafted into the lecture hall, where Mr Watts conducted the service, being joined later on by Mr Sankey. It was found that many of these boys and girls had really given up their young lives to God and, were seeking to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Some two years ago, Miss Tyson, from America, held a mission in Campbeltown for young people and the fruits of her earnest labours are yet apparent. The proportion of children who attended the meetings last week was larger than we remember having seen at any mission of the size.
It is impossible to describe the intensity and earnestness of Mr Moody's final message to the Campbeltown people as he pressed home the truths of the Gospel, and urged his hearers to close with the offer of Christ. The after-meeting was crowded and a very solemn time it was. Then came the lingering good-bye, and many expressions of personal thanks to the Evangelists for their visit.
THE GOSPEL IN SONG
has been well to the front during the week. Mr Sankey's solo sermons have been as telling and powerful as ever. He sang many favourites and some new ones that are sure to become favourites when they are familiar. Mrs Oatts assisted Mr Sankey and also sang solos, while the most efficient local aid was given in the service of praise. Mr Sankey has met with several friends in Campbeltown who were brought to the turning-point of decision for Christ by one or other of his songs heard on previous visits to Scotland. They are now earnest Christian workers. These instances of fruit appearing after many days is a source of great encouragement to the singer to go on planting the seeds of saving truth in the minds and hearts of the masses through the vehicle of sweet song.
Mr Moody and Mr Sankey left Campbeltown by the steamer at eight o'clock on Saturday morning. A number of friends were there to say farewell among them being the hero of the Thursday evening meeting who seemed quite a new man. As he stood on the quay waving a heartfelt goodbye to those on the receding boat, Mr Moody constrained to remark to a bystander on the deck that it was worthwhile coming all the way from America to influence that one man for God and for eternity. Saturday was an exceptionally lovely day, one of calm after a week of storm. The evangelists and their travelling companions were able to enjoy to the full the manifold delights of the sail through some of the most varied and beautiful coast scenery of which Scotland can boast. Gourock and Glasgow were duly reached, and after a flying call on the venerable Dr. Andrew Bonar, the American friends left for Ardrossan at four o'clock to enter on the second mission of their third British campaign.
From, "The Christian," November 25th, 1891
Was this a revival? Were there many salvations? The report says that the after-meeting was crowded and they had a very solemn time. Is this Christianese for "a lot of people gave their lives to Jesus?" Difficult to tell. The visit was the first of about 100 in Scotland and many came to the Lord by the end of the Mission.