London city Blackfriars

Thought you would like a picture of London to show we are not parochial in the Highlands. Recent business trip . View of St Pauls cathedral from Blackfriars.

Typical the day I was in London it was two degrees warmer in the Highlands. If you are reflecting on London and city life What does the bible say about cities? That would make an interesting study.

Separately Citylife is working to eradicate unemployment in cities. See the website on the column. Based in Cambridge they are looking for investors to lend money for 5 years to projects that generate jobs. One forfeits the interest and gets the money back in 5 years. That's a different way of charity giving!

Caithness , Sutherland Revival 1922

From the recent research here is some stuff from the local paper.



Northern Times
26/1/1922
30 converts from Helmsdale visited Brora and conducted service at the Fountain and the United Free Church
2/2/1922
Revival spread to Golspie. Positive article of Gods Goodness and YMCA helping young converts.
23/2/1922
Revival in Wick
“The revival in Wick is still progressing John Troupe's presence was an additional attraction, He is now almost well after his illness, but still to refrain from much exertion....one of the converts a young man died recently after a short illness,The hymns and prayers also bearing pathetic terms. A solo sung by Miss Lara Rosie was much appreciated.”
9/3/1922
Reference to Hymn singing conflict.
23/3/1922
Letter to editor of enquiry as to use of Pitgower Hall for meetings. Revivalist meetings (with hymn singing) got use of hall but not the Free Presbyterians
30/3/1922
Page 5 writer to paper recalls a “time of refreshing” in Rogart 50 years earlier 1870's when there were 70 converts. Wrote from Canada.
6/4/1922
3 weeks mission closes by Mr Dowie in Brora- moving to Golspie
20/4/1922
Page 4 col 3
Evangelistic meetings Golspie YMCA
Mr Dowie Aberdeen.
“Presentation to Mr Dowie at fisherman's Hall Brora presented with a roll of Treasury notes from the public of Brora. In reply and thanks “requested the revival meetings continue under Rev Thomson.”
See also additional sheet.
13/7/1922
Mr Mackenzie in Embo
People from Helmsdale going to take revival meetings in Balintore.
3/8/1922
Brora news: Rev Thomson Ill
Messrs Fraser Stewart and Robertson close two weeks mission in the Fishermen's Mission.

Observations

Several leading revivalists .
Troupe
Mackenzie
Dowie
Thomson: Rev Donald United Free Church settled previous year Feb 1921
In a few months revival has come right down the coast in to three counties...and we have never heard of this ...Why not???.

Oh and the tractor just a nice picture. You make up the link "Ssssleeping tractor... sleeping tractor like Scottish church hiding in the heather.. bracken. Rusty ineffective unit...

Revival Brora 1922

I was carrying out some research for an Historian yesterday in Brora
Here is some interesting stuff from the local paper of 1922.

Northern Times, 20 April, 1922 p8.
Col 2.
Brora News.

Presentation to Mr Dowie, Evangelist " at the usual Evangelistic Meeting held in the Fisherman's Hall, Lower Brora on Saturday evening. Mr Dowie of Aberdeen who is now leaving the District was presented with a roll of treasury notes from the public of Brora, as a token of esteem for the helpful addresses he delivered at the recent revival meetings in their midst. The Rev D Thomson in making the presentation on behalf of the subscribers thanked Mr Dowie for his valuable services both at the Open Air Meetings and elsewhere. Mr Dowie in reply said that this came unexpected but he hoped they had derived some lasting benefits through the Meetings held in the past and that they would continue to hold them under the guidance of the Rev Mr Thomson and helpers in the future.

Special Easter Communion As the result of the revival meetings held in their midst, a scene unparalleled in the history of the Parish, if not in the Highlands, was witnessed in the Clyne United Free Church, Brora at the morning service on Sunday last. A special Easter Communion was held at which the Rev Mr Thomson, Minister officiated. There were 195 persons partook of communion, the average communicants number about 100, but on Sunday there were 80 new members belonging to the United Free Church. 30 belonging to the Free Church who partook of it for the first time. As the revival only started after the New Year it speaks volumes for the good work done for the Master that so many young people belonging to different denominations should sit down together for the first time. The scene was a most inspiring and impressive one and will long live in the memory of all who witnessed it.

Lettie update 2

Lettie

Abhain Leataidh
58.02 degrees N
4.23degrees W
NC 680058

Pity there is no Earl of Lettie. But the Lethandy, Perthshire is a possibility, any connection??

Music

For all those getting bored with the Scottish scene ( Notice no tartan on this site try Scottish family history for tartan.) here is a photo to get you smiling.

Will the angels play Fender guitars in heaven when the harps are laid up?




Curtesy of Calvarychapel.com

Music praise...

Psalm 150 says.

Praise God in the sanctuary...
with sounding of the trumpet...
with harp with tambourine and dancing...
the strings and the flute...
clash of cymbals...resounding cymbals...praise the lord



The Free Church of Scotland is know for its Psalm only singing, in Scottish churches.

John Macdonald ( The Apostle of the North) 1779-1849 Ferrintosh, was a Gaelic spiritual verse writer and Free Church minister. Interesting to have an hymn writer in a Psalm singing denomination.

Opposition to Hymns and instruments is not restricted to this arm of the Presbyterian Church. But James Begg was a promoter of the use of Psalms and no instruments.

In 1866 the Free Church voted 3 to 2 for the use of hymns. In 1869 Begg was unsuccessful in Curtailing hymns. In 1872 the Church accepted the New Hymn book 213 votes to 61. In 1877 Prof Bruce wished to have their Own Free Hymn Book with Begg supporting a defence of no change in the position.
Then in 1892 the assembly withdrew permission to use instruments for worship and uninspired Hymns in public worship- the current position- as far as I know!

Here are some dates of interest.
There are 350 currently used Hymnals in the UK

Moravian Hymns (8) 1501
Hymns and Spiritual Songs Sinclair- Caithness 1750
Glassite collection of songs 1749
Scotch Baptist Psalms and Spiritual Songs 1786
Psalms and Hymns 1866
Baptist Hymnal 1900
Scottish Psalter 1923
Methodist Hymnal 1933
Youth Praise 1966
Sing to God (S.U.) 1971
Mission Praise 1 1981
Songs of Fellowship 1991
Source 1 1999
Church of Scotland CH4 2005

There is a long heritage of Hymns and spiritual songs in Scotland. Unfortunately some denominations have put their heads and legal books in the sand. Scripture shows us and instructs us to sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs and to use various instruments.

Make a joyful noise!

Many years ago their was a compliant in a church about new types of instruments being used in worship. It was not felt right and proper to use instruments that synthesised the sound of proper musical Instraments. When was this 1980? 1990? 1966? No the 12 Century when the pipe organ was introduced!

Lettie update 1

"Rogart" (Rogh ard) is the Gaelic for the very high land. (hi-land)

Lettie seems to be confusing?

Spelling I have come across recently

Leataidh -Sheep Club
Lettie -river
Lettaidh
Lettaid -As in deeds

A comment recently to my wife suggests that the grave at LETTIE is in fact an old joke. But I am not deterred yet.

Lettie's grave

Post to the grave

Not much but what lies behind the story?

Seasons in the sun...

The Sutherland broom is fully yellow as we near the end of May. I think it flowered a few weeks later than the last few years. It has been a wet spring and this may have delayed the flowering.

Marking the lambs
Our Saturday walk took us to parts never before viewed. Most crofters here have marked their lambs ready for the hill again. I helped some one last week to mark his flock. The separating and counting, the "branding" and other unmentionable aspects! Marking lambs is a diary marker of the year on the croft. Its the recognition of spring new life the lengthening of the day and a shaking off of the winter and its darkness. Where you live does have an effect on you. Living in the city the winter is just colder. The central heating keeps things constant. In the Highlands? The wet is wetter and for longer. The wind seems sharper the darkness deeper. But the spring time does come.

I have often felt that Lairg as a place shows off the extremes of the Scottish weather. When its cloudy and grey Lairg seems desolate depressed dying on its feet a miserable place. But in the sun it rises like the butterfly from its crusty skin in to beauty and life. When the sun shines on the water at Lairg and the granite of the dam sparkles its the place to admire.

Yet conversations in the last week or so excite me regarding the life of the Church here in Sutherland.

Yes there are historic trenches, misunderstandings but, there are meeting of various church brands there are people praying and equipping themselves for something. There is an expectation of something good. Its like the spring is turning the broom yellow after it lay dormant for so long.

"The fig tree is budding the vine beareth fruit..." will soon come to pass.

As we walked up the hill we came across the signpost clearly marked as Lettie's Grave. Its indicated on the map but I do not know anything about him. I saw him because there is reference to Earl of lettie.
Have you ever got that fascination to find out about something. The curiosity gets the better of me and I commit to find out who he was and what he did in Sutherland. This will be at the same time as I search out for mission work of the 17, 18 and 19 Century in Sutherland. There is a lost heritage in the Highlands, of those reaching the people of the North for the gospel. I dont suppose Lettie was a missionary but he may of spoken to a mission worker many years ago.

Scottish Baptists were working in the Highlands before the Free churches existed! and that will surprise a few in the Highlands and further a field.

Anyway Dornoch library Northern Times I am coming your way.

Was this Letties house or just a sheep fank (pen, stell). Map indicates a sheep fold but the stone work and door posts and lintels suggest otherwise.

I will get to the music bit ...read on.

Near Lettie's grave. Who was he Earl of lettie?

Church leaders pray for revival. Inverness

I was encouraged by the meeting in Inverness on Thursday where church leaders from across the Church met to pray and engage. I am thankful for those people who are visionary and for those from Perth who instigated these meetings. I am even more convinced we will see a great happening soon...

Too busy...Still

Can you see the loch?

Just like it can be difficult to see, it can be difficult to hear.

I often heard people saying they were waiting for the Lord. It struck me that perhaps they had gone ahead or that they were just hanging around till God caught up!


I can see no place where Jesus was late. He may have not been where certain people wanted him to be at a certain time but he was never late. Yet even at the close of the day or early in the morning after a long previous day he had time to wait, to listen, to ponder, to meditate.

visionbyprayer is worth a look

Ann Lee ..who she? Shake, rattle, and roll...

Ann Lee

Ann Lee is one of interest to us in this quest, despite having no direct connection to Scotland or its Church.
Born 29 February 1736 in Toad Lane Manchester, to the blacksmith father John lee she lived with him until she embarked for America.
At the age of 23 she joined a group lead by James and Jane Wardley known as “"Shakers" ”an off shoot of the Quakers order.




Shakers... more than just kitchens and checked aprons.



This group was known for its moral discipline strictness blameless deportment and "“swiftness of their testimony against sin"”. From an early age she received visions and divine revelations.
In 1774 she moved to New York but before hand in 1770 she had been imprisoned with some of her followers for blasphemy, a charge that was far from the truth. Yes she had danced yes he had spoken in a strange tongue. She had confounded church scholars examining her, by speaking in 72 separate tongues.
One of her visions was of a burning tree , her call to a new church, and to take the church to America.
Her church growth was slow until 1789 when "“Charismatic"” new light Baptists appeared.
She was beaten several times and in 1784 as a result of beatings died.
There survives to this day groups of Shaker dissenters from the Quakers.
As a mother of spiritual things mother Ann was often testifying with a delivery of mighty power. Her conversation would quicken the hearers. She had suffered from those who were ignorant and one of the many stoning in which she was caught.
"“ While they throwing the stones I felt myself surrounded by the presence of god, and my soul was filled with love. I knew they would not kill me for my work was not done..."

The reason I make mention of her is that at the time society could not comprehend her or the Shakers and as a result turned to violence.

Today it would seem we are more tolerant and accept that her "“style"” was different, but of God.


Now think of this coming soon

Would your Church allow David to play the Harp!?