MacRae on Revival

Kenneth MacRae, someone who took a keen interest in revival felt that a careful discrimination needed to be exercised in evaluating revivals.

He noted in revival there was :

Increase zeal and devotedness to Christ among believers.
The spread of conviction and alarm among the spiritually careless.
This change is spiritual condition may be gradual or as suddenly as a thunderbolt.
The existence of numbers who are awakened some who unfortunately fall back while others try to drown conviction and fail.
Converts are established in a good hope of their salvation although the manner of their conversions differ considerably some are slowly brought to a sense of peace and cannot identify a time then they first came to Christ; others are suddenly changed and may experience immediate joy and ecstasy.

During the Lewis revival of 1936 he wrote "Matters seem to be definitely improving" he was cautious about reports. By 1939 a wide revival work was present in Lewis. At the Free Church Assembly he recorded "evidences... that the Lord is effectively working in the hearts of men".

Concern over certain phenomena presented itself. At Point meetings were reverent and with solemnity. There was elements of excitement and hysteria. Yet clear evidence of lasting conversions.
By 1938 the phenomena of swooning, of out cries, of temporary paralysis of limbs and muscular spasms or jerks drew much attention. The press searched for stories. People would collapse, others rise together, some weep or call in Gaelic on their relatives. Some lost all power to their limbs and would be carried to other rooms to recover. These things caused controversy. Some ministers affirmed the physical effects as god's. In their thinking All the phenomena was linked to revival. Others were concerned how the media were presenting the situation.