My dear sir,
I did not receive yours of the 19th till Saturday owing I suppose to the stormy weather preventing our packet from getting out sooner and as our sacrament of the supper was yesterday I could not attend to your request to let you know something of the remarkable religious excitement that prevails in the island till now, Monday evening.
That the work going on is the work of the Spirit I have no doubt and it seems to me to be in some respects more striking and wonderful than any revival I have heard about unless it be that which has taken place in some parts of Ireland. The account given in the Herald of the 20th of the scene in the Free Church on Wednesday is not exaggerated if indeed it comes up to the reality and the meeting that took place in our church on the following evening was in some respects still more astonishing and the excitement greater that it has ever been. I cannot describe it to you apart altogether from my want of space and time my pen cannot. I believe no pen could give a full idea of it but I shall endeavour to present to you what will be a faint sketch.
The church was filled in all its parts by the hour of meeting - 5 o’clock; the devotional exercises were begun and preceded for some time without interruption. These exercises consisted of praise and prayer; the latter conducted by 2 individuals who had been deeply impressed and portions of scripture were read between these services by myself and Mr Armour. As these were preceded with I perceived symptoms of great excitement all around me: some were trembling from head to foot, others rubbing and wringing their hands, some were whispering in an agitated manner to their neighbours and others started as if about to rise then trying to settle themselves again.
A portion of scripture was about to be read, and introducing the subject the name of Jesus was mentioned; when a young-man who had been deeply impressed and was sitting before the pulpit started up and stretching out his arms and looking eagerly in the direction in which he pointed cried out in ecstasy, ‘Jesus, Jesus, see Him, I see Him. He is altogether lovely.’ And in turning to the audience he proceeded with great fluency and power to speak of Jesus’ suitableness as a saviour for sinners but his voice although a sectorian (loud) one was drowned by a tremendous outburst of feeling: piercing cries of agony, loud exclamations of joy, prayers uttered audibly and with great earnestness the persons running through the passages and addressing friends and acquaintances on great interests of their immortal souls.
The whole proved a scene I had never witnessed and was to me perfectly over-powering. I think I can restrain my feelings as well as most people but on this occasion I was completely overcome. I laid my head down upon the desk and sobbed awhile and I’m sure I was not singular. I felt powerfully the sentiment of the patriarch – how dreadful is this place – here God is working wondrously. He is present in almost visible manifestations I have felt awe and fear as well as joy.
During the part of the evening that followed and the meeting that was protracted till midnight, the excitement continued unabated and it’s leading features were much the same as I described. All were more or less impressed, but very differently. Some were on their knees praying, others were lying on their faces moaning in agony, some running about apparently wildly with joy, and others in groups singing hymns and psalms of praise. The Session-house had been set apart for those who wished to retire, but to be there was no great retirement for it was crowded during the evening with praying-people and so were the porches of the church and the backseats of the gallery and many were found prostrate on the floor of the church between the seats and out on the way in the corners in great mental agony. And I have seen 2 or 3 little girls apparently about 8 or 10 years of age kneeling on the floor with their faces on the seat-board and 1 of their number about the same age praying most earnestly over them and for them. And there were many instances of juvenile earnestness.
As numbers had left the Free Church during the previous evening for the purpose of being more completely alone than they could be in any part of the church I was anxious to know if anything of this kind was occurring this evening and in going out and looking about me I found many about the church and the dyke-sides, some of them standing but many kneeling on the cold-wet ground praying earnestly.
Some were suppressed voices and others so loudly as to be easily heard at a distance. In the corner of the back garden there ensued forth a girl’s voice, evidently suppressed at first but gradually waxing louder and she was bewailing the sins and the shortcomings of herself and her companions some of whom were likely with her from the way with which she spoke. And in short, the spirit of supplication was remarkable displayed throughout the evening and one of the best features of the whole scene.
There had been several meetings in Mr Armour’s church and ours since that evening and although the excitement is a little subdued the audiences are increasing to such an extent that the church cannot conveniently contain them.
The movement is now universal – all denominations attending.
These are only a few instances, I could go on even with 1 night’s experience giving you cases of this kind that would more than take up your available space but I think that is enough and enough has been said to show even the most unbelieving that God is working a great work here.
That there is not a great deal of hysterical excitement – aye – and some hypocrisy, I am not prepared to deny. Time will show this - I am one of those that would rather see a quiet deep conviction of sin than a boisterous outward one but I also know that God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.
Yours truly,
A letter written from the island of Sanday, Orkney, 26 November 1860
I did not receive yours of the 19th till Saturday owing I suppose to the stormy weather preventing our packet from getting out sooner and as our sacrament of the supper was yesterday I could not attend to your request to let you know something of the remarkable religious excitement that prevails in the island till now, Monday evening.
That the work going on is the work of the Spirit I have no doubt and it seems to me to be in some respects more striking and wonderful than any revival I have heard about unless it be that which has taken place in some parts of Ireland. The account given in the Herald of the 20th of the scene in the Free Church on Wednesday is not exaggerated if indeed it comes up to the reality and the meeting that took place in our church on the following evening was in some respects still more astonishing and the excitement greater that it has ever been. I cannot describe it to you apart altogether from my want of space and time my pen cannot. I believe no pen could give a full idea of it but I shall endeavour to present to you what will be a faint sketch.
The church was filled in all its parts by the hour of meeting - 5 o’clock; the devotional exercises were begun and preceded for some time without interruption. These exercises consisted of praise and prayer; the latter conducted by 2 individuals who had been deeply impressed and portions of scripture were read between these services by myself and Mr Armour. As these were preceded with I perceived symptoms of great excitement all around me: some were trembling from head to foot, others rubbing and wringing their hands, some were whispering in an agitated manner to their neighbours and others started as if about to rise then trying to settle themselves again.
A portion of scripture was about to be read, and introducing the subject the name of Jesus was mentioned; when a young-man who had been deeply impressed and was sitting before the pulpit started up and stretching out his arms and looking eagerly in the direction in which he pointed cried out in ecstasy, ‘Jesus, Jesus, see Him, I see Him. He is altogether lovely.’ And in turning to the audience he proceeded with great fluency and power to speak of Jesus’ suitableness as a saviour for sinners but his voice although a sectorian (loud) one was drowned by a tremendous outburst of feeling: piercing cries of agony, loud exclamations of joy, prayers uttered audibly and with great earnestness the persons running through the passages and addressing friends and acquaintances on great interests of their immortal souls.
The whole proved a scene I had never witnessed and was to me perfectly over-powering. I think I can restrain my feelings as well as most people but on this occasion I was completely overcome. I laid my head down upon the desk and sobbed awhile and I’m sure I was not singular. I felt powerfully the sentiment of the patriarch – how dreadful is this place – here God is working wondrously. He is present in almost visible manifestations I have felt awe and fear as well as joy.
During the part of the evening that followed and the meeting that was protracted till midnight, the excitement continued unabated and it’s leading features were much the same as I described. All were more or less impressed, but very differently. Some were on their knees praying, others were lying on their faces moaning in agony, some running about apparently wildly with joy, and others in groups singing hymns and psalms of praise. The Session-house had been set apart for those who wished to retire, but to be there was no great retirement for it was crowded during the evening with praying-people and so were the porches of the church and the backseats of the gallery and many were found prostrate on the floor of the church between the seats and out on the way in the corners in great mental agony. And I have seen 2 or 3 little girls apparently about 8 or 10 years of age kneeling on the floor with their faces on the seat-board and 1 of their number about the same age praying most earnestly over them and for them. And there were many instances of juvenile earnestness.
As numbers had left the Free Church during the previous evening for the purpose of being more completely alone than they could be in any part of the church I was anxious to know if anything of this kind was occurring this evening and in going out and looking about me I found many about the church and the dyke-sides, some of them standing but many kneeling on the cold-wet ground praying earnestly.
Some were suppressed voices and others so loudly as to be easily heard at a distance. In the corner of the back garden there ensued forth a girl’s voice, evidently suppressed at first but gradually waxing louder and she was bewailing the sins and the shortcomings of herself and her companions some of whom were likely with her from the way with which she spoke. And in short, the spirit of supplication was remarkable displayed throughout the evening and one of the best features of the whole scene.
There had been several meetings in Mr Armour’s church and ours since that evening and although the excitement is a little subdued the audiences are increasing to such an extent that the church cannot conveniently contain them.
The movement is now universal – all denominations attending.
These are only a few instances, I could go on even with 1 night’s experience giving you cases of this kind that would more than take up your available space but I think that is enough and enough has been said to show even the most unbelieving that God is working a great work here.
That there is not a great deal of hysterical excitement – aye – and some hypocrisy, I am not prepared to deny. Time will show this - I am one of those that would rather see a quiet deep conviction of sin than a boisterous outward one but I also know that God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.
Yours truly,
A letter written from the island of Sanday, Orkney, 26 November 1860
