Chapter 16
PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE PORTSOY REVIVAL
The following article is a personal account of the awakening at Portsoy in 1923, by one of the two men God was pleased to
use. William Leed became a powerful instrument in the
hands of the Holy Spirit. Both of these men became high ranking officers in the
"Army" they served and loved.
I am deeply indebted to Mr. James Slater of Portsoy
for access to this personal account.
William Leed. Salvation Army Captain at Cullen. He was one of the leaders of the revival at Portsoy in 1923.
(Picture: J. Slater Portsoy.)
THE STRATEGY OF GOD
WILLlAM LEED
The
editor suggested that I tell something of the story of the North Scottish
Awakening 1921-23, and I do so hoping that our faith may be strengthened that
the "God Who lived at Pentecost is just the same today'" Why not a
world-wide revival in our time?
My title
is borrowed from Commissioner Brengle and his
observations of God strategically using human events to accomplish His
purposes for the salvation of mankind.
Surely
Divine strategy arranged three
independent spiritual spearheads to simultaneously attack
I believe
God's strategy with those events was aimed at far wider issues, for the annual
invasion of the fishing ports by thousands of Scottish fishworkers
happened when Revival was getting into its stride. Douglas Brown had prolonged
his Campaign, all places of worship being thronged with seeking souls, great
numbers of Scots among them.
The
fishing season ended, the Scots carried the Revival Fire north and North
Scottish towns and villages were aflame, converts "went everywhere
preaching the Lord Jesus", thousands being saved. At Peterhead 600 seekers
were registered, and Wick Corps saw at least 500, and great numbers of
professing Christians were revived; practically all denominations pulsated with
new life, and eager converts carried the Gospel to their neighbouring villages.
At Cullen, outpost of Findochty,
Lieutenant Reg. Woods (late Commissioner), led some little girls to Jesus and
told them to ask their mothers to pray for them. Golden haired Anna Gardiner
did so, and her war-widowed mother, stricken to the heart, replied, "My quinie (wee girl) I canna' pray
for masel' yet'" Said Anna, "Mither, ye can be saved. too!"
That was a troubled night for Mrs. Gardiner, and it was no co-incidence led
Lieutenant Woods to bring a group of converts for an open-air next day almost
outside her door. Mrs. Gardiner left her washtub, arms full of soap-suds, and
standing in the ring with uplifted hands cried, "I want you all to know I
accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour!"
Her
witness electrified Cullen Seatown; the Lieutenant
announced a meeting in the hall which was filled, and that afternoon a soul saving
work began that never ceased until very many converts were won.
A few
months later my Lieutenant (Col. Albert Towns) and I were appointed from
Clapton to. Cullen. These wonderful days - crowded meetings in the hall which
was filled, and that meetings weekdays and Sunday - 24 meetings weekly outdoors
and inside including Y.P. - great enthusiasm - everyone anxious to pray,
sing and testify. Our first open-air comprised eighty in the ring, and I felt
"surely God is in this place!" That was the night of our arrival and
that impression never left me.
To
organise the Corps was a glad responsibility, but we were anxious to win souls,
but this was difficult - everyone seemed already saved. The D.C. reminded us
there was a time for ingathering and a time for
building them up in our most holy faith.
1922 was a wonderful year.
To watch these newly-born Christians grow in grace and in the
knowledge of Christ was an inspiration. It
did much for ourselves also. A Training Officer had
advised me
to give my very best in my first address and to improve on that standard in
every meeting following. He little realised what he was laying upon me. We had
eleven senior meetings weekly besides five Y.P. meetings and ten open-airs,
besides constant visitation. We had to
wrestle in prayer. Certain sects
challenged the converts on Army doctrine, which made us search the Scriptures
even more thoroughly than when in training, but this confirmed our confidence
in the Scriptural foundations of our movement. After a lifetime of prayerful
consideration of "the faith which was once delivered to the
saints", my convictions thereon are deeper than ever.
Somehow,
despite seeming improbability of another great ingathering of souls, we
believed we would again see God's hand mightily at work. For our New Year motto
we chose General Osborn's song "Greater Things", and in our Watchnight Service issued a challenge. After much prayer we
asked all who believed the coming year would show "even greater
things" to sing the chorus with uplifted hands. I see them now -
the packed hal1 - uplifted faces, same tear-stained - hands outstretched to God
- a sublime moment of childlike faith in God. We little realised how it should
come - another Great Awakening.
Portsoy, one-time
busy little sea part, six miles east of Cullen, was our responsibility.
We more than once held a two-man open-air there, but there seemed little
interest. We were later told the folk prided themselves that in former times
when revival swept the coast Portsoy remained
untouched. Duncan Mathiesan and James Turner were
reputed to have laboured there in vain.
Delivering
SD envelopes there early in 1923 I was twice challenged; a woman told me Portsoy
could go to hel1 for all the Christians cared, and an elderly fisherman
implored me to hold meetings there. Deeply concerned, while cycling home that
day, I felt a distinct urge that something must be done. But
how? Our Cul1en itinerary was heavy. Owing to a clause in letting of the
hall, we dared not close it for one night. Others were keen to use it, and once
they got in we would be on the streets.
On the
following Tuesday, however, we arranged for someone to hold the fort at Cullin whilst a party of us invaded Portsoy
where a hall was engaged for a
meeting. At the preceding open-air a
young man knelt in the ring causing a sensation. The hall was crowded. There
was obvious conviction, but none came forward indoors.
Next
Sunday a young Portsoy man came to Cullen and claimed
Salvation. Begging me to come to Portsoy for a Sunday
meeting, he said many there were under conviction and he was sure they would
respond. Again local difficulties confronted us, but I asked the Lord if this
was of Him would He cause the Lieutenant to offer to go with a. party. To my
joy, walking home that night the Lieutenant said, "Let me go with some of
the fellows, Captain." I immediately secured the hall and announced the
meeting. Next Sunday we turned our Cullen services into prayer meetings for Portsoy.
During
one night meeting I was distinctly convinced souls were surrendering at Portsoy .
Later I met the Lieutenant on the road home and said, "Before you tell me
anything, you have had souls."
"Yes,"
he replied, "three young men came forwards in the open-air, and six more
men indoors."
"Thank
God," I answered. "Now you will return tomorrow and others will
follow." One of the party said later, "You
often speak about the Holy Spirit, Captain. I saw Him at work in the Lieutenant
in that open-air. He was truly filled with the Holy Ghost!"
Next day
six young men surrendered. God now wonderfully helped with arrangements for our
Cullen meetings, and we had nineteen seekers at Portsoy
on Tuesday. On Wednesday the D.C. came. We engaged the Town Hall and twenty-six
souls were registered.
And so it
went on; the Town Hall was packed nightly, floor and gallery, many unable to
gain admittance. Often folks were at the penitent-form before the meeting
commenced as the people gathered long before commencing time, singing and
praising God.
There
were so few to help us with the penitents, we frequently had to leave the
prayer meeting to run itself. Eighty year old grannie
Pirie, olden-times Salvationist kept things goin’. I
see her now walking the aisle singing, "There are angels hovering round to
carry the tidings home."
The town
seemed transformed; one somehow felt spiritual atmosphere everywhere; the
glory of the Lord seemed upon the place. Singing could be heard from the houses
as converts gathered to praise God everywhere. I recall a wonderful occasion when
an elderly lady pulled me from the street into her home, saying, "Pray wi' me, Captain; I want tae mak' ma peace wi' God!" her
kitchen table became a hallowed altar. Many were pointed to Christ in their
homes.
One
memorable night when a hefty R.C. lady came to the Mercy seat a young woman
rushed forward embracing her. Enquiring later, I found the girl was her niece.
There was bitter estrangement between the families - family dispute - violence
- the lady had broken her brother's arm. For twenty years they had not spoken
to one another. Two years later I saw both families walking to the Holiness
Meeting with Bibles under their arms. "What a wonderful change in their
lives had been wrought since Jesus came into their hearts."
The
elderly fisherman and his wife who first challenged
me, were converted and their home became the first Corps quarters. The lady
challenger of that day also came to the Lord. Later she became the Home League
Secretary. Her husband was a wonderful trophy of grace. Sixteen years afterwards
he thumped me on the back when I briefly visited the town, saying,
"Captain Leed you are my spiritual
father!" I was deeply moved as I also was that day on visiting a grand
soul who at conversion was unable to read owing to unfortunate circumstances in
childhood. She learned to read in order to understand the Bible and Song
Book. Greeting me with her Song Book in
her hand she joyfully said, "Oh Captain, listen tae this lovely sonie I've jist been readin As she read a thrill of joy came over me.
There was
no great preaching, just a simple presentation of the Gospel with earnest
appeals to yield to Christ. Sometimes no address was given, seekers came to the
penitent form as soon as the meetings commenced. An outstanding feature was
that the large proportion of elderly folk who were saved - aged married couples
particularly, and faithful Christians they became. There was no undue excitement,
they not being an over-emotional type. Prior to the Awakening it seemed a
spiritually indifferent town. .
Lack of
space prevents further reminiscences but many times I have thanked God for the
gracious privilege of sharing in that wonderful work of grace, for a lifetime
friendship with my Lieutenant of those great days, and
the memories of those converts the majority of whom are now in the Gloryland.
"And
the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto
the Lord." (Acts 11:21)