ABOUT a year ago, some of those in this place who "feared the Lord" agreed to unite in special, and, if need were, in continued prayer for an outpouring of the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit upon the district. At the same time, means were employed to diffuse information respecting the blessings which were apparently being granted in so many other places and to excite in the minds of the people a desire to become partakers of like precious favours. Towards the end of August, special congregational prayer meetings were held in the Free and United Presbyterian churches, to plead for the divine blessing on a series of evangelistic meetings which were about to be held, and on other special efforts for the advancement of Christ's kingdom which were about to be made. On the Sabbath following this week of prayer, the evangelistic meetings were commenced in the Mission Hall and were continued daily during the month of September. From night to night various aspects of gospel truth were presented to the "eager, anxious throng;" and nearly every night the unconverted were earnestly and affectionately urged to flee from the wrath to come and to lay hold upon the hope of eternal life set before them in the gospel.
From the outset the meetings presented characteristics which were an occasion of thanksgiving to many. The attendance was large: the deportment, even of the young, in the large mixed audiences was exemplary; and the tokens of the divine presence and blessing were numerous, and in some instances peculiarly striking. Night by night anxious inquirers waited to be conversed with at the close of the meetings. Night by night souls seemed to be added to the Redeemer's kingdom. As some of those who professed to find peace in believing may have been deceived or deceiving, it might be an exaggeration to affirm that "the Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved;" but persons of Christian discernment, who were favourably situated for forming a correct opinion, do not scruple to say, that in connection with the meetings, and partly, at least, as the result of them, sinners were led to rejoice in a newly found Saviour, saints were quickened and stimulated to seek anew the things "so freely given them of God," while Christians of different denominations were knit more closely together in the bonds of a holy fellowship. Here, as elsewhere, a large proportion of those who received blessing at the meetings were young persons. Prudence prevents me from saying anything about individual cases, although some of them are peculiarly interesting; while caution suggests that it is too soon yet to say much about the manner in which the new life is displaying itself.
'Times of Blessing," Dec 3rd, 1874.
Probably this church.