The Year of Grace

Rev. William Gibson

The proceedings of the meeting, from the outset, were so arranged as that a prominent place was assigned to the revival movement. It was resolved accordingly that an early day should be set apart, in the first instance, for private conference, and subsequently for public recognition of this great work of God. The adoption of this course was deemed of primary importance, as the awakening was itself a new thing in the midst of us, and certain of its attendant circumstances were so peculiar as to demand the gravest consideration of the highest judicatory of the Church. It was necessary therefore that an opportunity should be afforded in private for a full statement on the part of those who were more especially conversant with the work in its characteristic aspects; and, in the next place, that a mode of dealing with it should be adopted which could approve itself to the “collective wisdom.” The conference thus entered on what was felt throughout to be an eminently seasonable and edifying occasion. One after another of the members, for nearly four hours, rose in his place to contribute to the general interest, either by a narrative of what he had witnessed in his own congregation, or by the expression of a judgment in regard to what had been communicated by others.

Reference has been made, in proceeding portions of this narrative, to the visit of Mr Brownlow North, and the seasonable character of his addresses to all classes of the community. This eminent evangelist, although a member of the Episcopal Church, had at the meeting of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland been publicly recognised as an honoured servant of Christ, and had been formally invited to occupy the pulpits of its ministers. Having witnessed on that occasion, in company with the Rev. Dr Johnston, then moderator of our Assembly, the very impressive exercises connected with his recognition, I took the opportunity of inviting him to visit us at the period of our annual meeting. Although he had many engagements in Scotland, Mr North acceded to our solicitations, and received a cordial greeting from our highest ecclesiastical judicatory.

In consequence of the awakening, and the desire of the great majority of the ministers to return to their respective flocks before the Sabbath, it was found necessary to adjourn the meeting before its business was more than half concluded—a circumstance which was in itself a striking attestation to the movement. And thus this memorable occasion passed. It was felt throughout that the deliberations of our Assembly were pervaded by an overawing solemnity never realised before, filling the soul with a profound sense of Jehovah’s presence, subduing personal prejudices and prepossessions, and infusing a spirit of mutual forbearance and generous conciliation. The Lord had visited His Church as a court in His own house, so that, even in its ecclesiastical procedure, there had been realised as pure delight, as sweet communion, and as ennobling aspirations as could be hoped for in the most favoured times of visitation. It is impossible ever to forget those hours of blessing that flew by on rapid wing, when the theme of every tongue was the Spirit’s wondrous grace and power, and when every heart was melted, as under the descent of a heavenly influence. It was with feelings such as these that the - proceedings were suspended, and that the brethren returned to their several flocks.

Nearly three months after, their consultations were resumed, not on this occasion in Dublin, but in Belfast. The great effusion, which before had fallen on, so considerable a portion on the field had meanwhile widely extended in its range, and many who before had been in heaviness, because as yet their congregations had been unvisited by the “gracious rain,” were now rejoicing in its abundant and pleasant fruits. Nor were there any indications that the clouds of heaven had exhausted their stores of blessing. Other lands had also shared the joy with which so many had been gladdened, and from the ends of the earth had arisen songs of thanksgiving for what in this far-distant isle of ocean God had wrought. The period, which had elapsed since the adjournment in Dublin, had furnished a more extended opportunity of testing its real character, and of forming a judgment of all its attendant features. The Church, accordingly, having discharged her primary obligation of acknowledging the favour shown in this great work of God, it was now felt that her more immediate duty was to consider how the work itself might be directed, so that it might be preserved, as far as human effort could accomplish that result, from the weakness and fatuity of man, and from the devices of the great adversary.

As on the former occasion, a conference was held, and various resolutions were adopted—one of which was to the effect, “That the Assembly appoint a special day for public worship in all our churches, and for prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His gracious mercy vouchsafed in the revival of religion; and that supplication be offered for the extension of this gracious work to all churches and all lands;” and further, “that our moderator be requested to prepare an address, including reasons for the observance of such day, to be printed and circulated immediately amongst the brethren.”