Who can tell how much God’s spirit has wrought in this brief space of time, the only measure that could be allotted the provincial towns of Montrose and Brechin.
“One more day's work for Jesus” means a great deal in the hands of those heaven-impelled servants of the Lord, who at present are breaking up new ground and going forward in the work with unabated zeal.
On Tuesday, the Parish Church of Montrose was crowded at two meetings upwards of 3,000 gaining admittance on each occasion and nearly as many obliged to go away.
Mr Moody traced the Blood of the Lamb from Genesis to Revelation. This faithful testimony to the infinite preciousness of the Blood of Jesus is most apparent in the conversions to God that immediately result and can hardly be less useful in its tendency to overthrow those fatal doctrines of the day that oppose the cross and throw dishonour on the sacrifice of Christ.
The evening meeting was even more crowded than the afternoon and notwithstanding the torrents of rain that fell throughout the evening, the overflow meeting was largely attended, at which Mr Sankey presided and sang some of his touching solos with exquisite sympathy and persuasiveness.
At the central meeting, Mr Moody held forth the Saviour of the lost, mighty to save on the spot and the attracting love of the seeking Saviour drew weary ones to the inquiry meeting where some entered into life, and the hearts of the dear resident labourers rejoiced in the confident expectation of more to follow.
“The Christian”, July 9th, 1874.
MONTROSE. BY REV. G. S. SUTHERLAND.
For several months past there has been a deepened spiritual interest awakened in Montrose, specially since the week of united prayer at the beginning of the year, in connection with the general invitation to the Churches. A monthly united prayer meeting of most of the congregations in town has been held throughout the year, in addition to some special weeks of prayer. But besides the influence of the ordinary means of grace, not a few of the ministers and people had visited and shared in the religious movement in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen.
On Tuesday afternoon Messrs Moody and Sankey arrived in Montrose from Huntly by the train at 2.15 pm; and by three o'clock, the meeting which had been advertised to have been held in Free St George's had to be adjourned to the Parish Church, which was crowded with an audience of not less than 2,500 souls, many remaining outside who could not obtain admission. Most of the ministers in the town and neighbourhood met Messrs Mr Moody and Mr Sankey in the vestry, where prayer was led by Rev Mr Nixon, after which the service in the church was opened by singing the 100th Psalm, and prayer by the Rev. Mr Duncan, the minister of the church. Mr Sankey then sang the hymns, "Nothing but leaves," and "The lost sheep," with thrilling interest. Mr Moody followed with his valuable and impressive address on " The Blood," which at once caught and held fast for an hour the attention of the large audience. There seemed to be a deep and solemn feeling produced.
In the evening, at seven o'clock, the crowd in the Parish Church was still greater; many having come from great distances to be present at the evening service. Free St. George's Church had to be opened and was occupied by a large and attentive congregation. Mr Sankey, after singing "Jesus of Nazareth" in the Parish Church, withdrew, and for the rest of the evening conducted the service of song and spoke very effectively in St. George's. Mr Moody's address in the evening meeting, from Luke xix. 10, was listened to with deep interest, and a good many remained behind to be spoken with. The religious community of Montrose feel greatly indebted to Messrs Moody and Sankey for their visit, and there is reason to believe that, though it was painfully brief, it has left behind some lasting fruit.
"Times of Blessing," July 9th, 1874.