Chapter 17
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS
The newspapers, local and national, gave quite a
coverage to this awakening by the Spirit of God.
Local papers reported the ebb and flow of the blessing in the lives of
the people.
By and large they gave an accurate account of the events that took place
in their towns and villages.
One national paper carried the statement that pipes, tobacco, tobacco
pouches and cigarettes were placed in a given spot in the middle of the
villages of Cairnbulg and Inverallochy. The articles concerned were then set alight
in bonfire style and the converts sang hymns and prayed, but as far as I have
endeavoured to trace this event, I have been unable to find anyone to
corroborate it.
In the Christian press coverage was given to the revival and reports
show that Professors and Ministers had to acknowledge that it was "of
God".
I am indebted to the editors of the papers concerned for access to their
back numbers and for permission to quote freely from them.
Jock Troup's Interview
with the
This interview was
conducted in
"Having a grand time in
last weekend, meetings have been held in the
Another extract from
the
"The prairie fire of religious revival is raging along the coasts
from Wick to Peterhead. It was kindled by a torch lit at
Meetings started in the open-air, then the
churches opened their door and hundreds professed salvation. 'It won't last
long,' they said, but the fisherfolks are home from
The above articles are
reproduced by kind permission of the Editor of the
Peoples Journal of
10th December, 1921
"At testimony meetings these weather-hardened fishermen speak of
'The Great Captain', call Christ 'The Skipper' or of 'Having the Pilot on
board' because they are bound for the .
The chart is the Bible, so with such a CHART and such a CAPTAIN,
'We canna' gang rang.,
they say. The songs sung are old favourites, such as 'Old Hundredth, Will your
Anchor hold in the Storms of Life?, and When the Roll
is called up Yonder',
A stirring incident took place at the Monument in
Peoples Journal of
"People are thronging the streets going to Church,
nine out of ten can be counted on being bound for a place of worship. They are
not the conventional type of Churchgoer. With them religion is part of
themselves, not to be confused with the donning of fine raiment. So one
discovers them in the garb of their calling, the men in blue jerseys and caps,
the women in shawls, but there are well-dressed people
sprinkled amongst them, which shows that the movement is not confined to
only the fisher class. Where the church should hold 500, a 1000 or more
contrive to find an entry and the doorway is blocked with others who would fain
get in.
There is no waiting .for the fixed hour for the beginning. Prayer is
offered spontaneously -without a break, the worship switches again into hymn
choruses. Voluntary testimonies are frankly and eagerly made by young
converts." Tales of drink and gambling, of domestic unhappiness, of soured
existence, flow from the lips of men and women who passionately" plead
with the unconverted. The messages are simple. there
is insistence on one point - the acceptance of Christ as the only road to
salvation.
Figures in tens and twenties move down the aisles of places of worship
to prostrate themselves at the stool of repentance. More come to increase the
number of motionless figures at the front. It is an experience that sends a
thrill through you veins. The people refuse to leave the building, and once
more the singing breaks out, as full-throated as ever.
The villages along the
'We are not revolting against the churches', says Jock 'But the Almighty
is.' The ministers have left the Bible to a new theology which is not based on
the Bible. God has lowly and humble instruments .to .guide people back to the
truth which is in Christ. It is a revelation to hear the songs sung in the
Spirit."
The above extracts are
reproduced by kind permission of the Editor of the Peoples Journal.
Buchan Observer -
Peterhead -
"Religion of an evangelical nature has always appealed to fisherfolks. At
Buchan Observer -
"Religious Revival still continues to spread in Peterhead. The
movement has been taken up with great enthusiasm by the Salvation Army. During
the past week open-airs have been held every night, and young fishermen and fishergirls have given personal testimony to the experience
of salvation. A stimulus has been given to the revival through a united effort
by the Congregational and United Free Churches having a Campaign by an
evangelist named Mr. John Moor."
Buchan Observer
"There are I believe deeper truths in this revival movement than
meets the eye of the casual observer for men and women, young and old have been
swept off their feet in 1000' s as the movement has swept up the seaboard of
the Aberdeenshire Coast. Life has been radically changed, and the old
valuations are gone. Something big and overwhelming has happened to them, and
we stand by and gaze wonderingly and perhaps half CONTEMPTUOUSLY at the
PHENOMENON
and ask ourselves, 'What is it, what is the power
that has changed our ordinary PLACID and quiet living neighbours into praising,
praying, prophesying evangelists?' I have met them personally and collectively
and can say it is not EMOTION. One thing has impressed me and that is that the
gatherings are mostly acts of praise.
I wish it well, and will be delighted if the march continues and turns
the cold critics into convinced supporters and admiring friends. "
The above extracts are
reproduced by kind permission of the Editor of the Buchan Observer.
Northern Ensign, Wick,
of 30th November 1921
During the weekend services were conducted by local Salvation Army
Corps, when a number of Pultney fishermen who were
converted at
Northern Ensign of
"The air is electric with revival enthusiasm these days. A remarkable
awakening has taken place particularly amongst the fisherfolks,
many of whom once believed as they say in having a good
time, and who were outstanding characters. They
have abandoned their old way of life, and have .identified themselves with
Christian Service particularly the Salvation Army. I have been present at
several open-air meetings at the Market Place and at one inside meeting in Zion
Hall and ~ave been greatly impressed by the amount of
spiritual fervour manifested. Unlettered lads spoke in homely
language telling of their change of heart. 9ne said his
chum had declared it was like a 'Flu' and was
spreading. Another convert said he had joined the ship of salvation. It was. not an eight-man crew craft, it was not a small packet, but
a ship that could take all onboard. Another said he was once full up of
dancing, pictures, drink, gambling and several other things, now he was full up
of salvation."
Northern Ensign of
14th December,. 1921.
"The revival INAUGURATED in Wick by the local fishing community at
Northern Ensign of
2lst December, 1921. .
"The meetings in the Salvation Army Hall continue with marked
success with many wonderful conversions taking place. Several fishermen
converts have left for West Coast fishing. On boat, the Mizpah
is manned entirely by men who have professed Christianity, and their departure
last week for the Stornoway fishing was a scene of
great interest at the harbour. The boat sailed with the Salvation Army flag
flying from her masthead and the crew and their friends sang revival hymns. It
was really a scene unexampled in the history of the
The boat was stormbound at Scrabster and the
crew went to Thurso Salvation Army and held meetings
where a number professed conversion.
The meetings continue in Zion Salvation Army Hall, and the work shows no
sign of abatement. Of late the parents of young fishermen have been following
their offspring into the
The above extracts are
reproduced by kind permission of the Editor of the John O' Groats
Journal.
The Railway Signal,
Magazine of the Railway
"David Cordiner does not mention his
experiences at Peterhead very often - he is afraid lest people think he is a somebody, when he knows, 'Jesus did it all'.
He was in the fishing fleet at
He had to bear the hardships of the poor fishing that was experienced
when the fleet went out day after day and often returned with hardly a fish.
Jock Troup heard the voice of God in the trouble and began open-air
meetings, at which David stood as a listener. David had been converted some two
years previously, but had never come right out for God. One night, however, he
faced the matter, and he felt within him a great deliverance had come. Now he
could take part in the meetings, and began by bringing his mates and the fishergirls to the meetings, and many were saved. Soon the
boats turned home once more to
One Saturday night he was compelled to go along to the corner where the
men usually gathered. He had never preached before, and had neither heads nor
tails to his address; but the Lord filled his mouth with words, and soon a
crowd gathered. For nearly two hours David held on his burning appeal. That night seven men came out and knelt down on the stones of the
street, confessing their sin and committing themselves to the Saviour.
Next day, Sunday, was a day usually spent mostly in prayer. When night came, he
went forth again to the street, and again a crowd gathered. The night was
cold, and after a time a march was formed, and the crowd went into the
Salvation Army Hall. Here a great scene was witnessed, when over twenty anxious
souls sought the Saviour.
For six weeks meetings went on every night, David bearing the greater
share of the work, but others also came to help, and hundreds professed
decision for Christ. Some news of this movement reached us in
that, whilst he would take part in the meetings, I
must also take part. We went to the Mission Hall and knelt down in the vestry
to pray. While we were kneeling, the door opened, and someone knelt
down near me, and I knew it was David Cordiner. When we got up from our knees, I shook hands with
this serious-faced young man. I said, 'You will take the meeting tonight?' 'No,
you must fulfil your programme,' he said."
Extract from the
Railway Signal, Magazine of the Railway