Chapter 11

BURGHEAD & HOPEMAN

 

Snugly situated at the top of the Moray Firth are the fishing villages of Burghead and Hopeman.

 

Boats belonging to these ports proudly display the Inverness registration.  This is also the registration of boats from Avoch and the Black Isle.  Many from these three villages were greatly blest by the revival.  Their hearts burned with the fire of God as they sailed home along the Moray Firth.

 

There were impressive scenes at Hopeman and Burghead as the men returned from Yarmouth, and likewise among the women as they made their journey home by train and bus.  Eyewitnesses at the harbour state that what they saw and heard was fantastic.  As the boats waited for the tide to allow them to enter the port, songs of a new experience that had taken place in many hearts wafted across the water.  The tide of God's blessing was about to flow into and through these villages.  Sceptics were able to see with their own eyes drunkards who had been saved, and self righteous souls who had relied on their works had taken their stand as guilty sinners.  Now all rejoiced in the knowledge of salvation by grace alone.  Broken homes had been mended and that all through the work of Christ on the Cross at Calvary.  Truly this song could be sung in these villages:-

"The broken strands of life can all be mended,

By the dear hand of Christ my Lord."

 

A service was held in a hall at Hopeman on the first Sunday of December, 1921, when a large crowd attended.  There about twenty men and women came forward in answer to the appeal.  On the Monday five or six responded to the altar call.  God was working.

 

An open-air meeting held one Tuesday in December drew a large audience.  After this a march of witness moved along Harbour Street when well known hymns were sung.  As new converts walked alongside stalwarts, a deep impression was made on many hearts as the question, "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?" rang through the town. "Yes I'm washed in the blood of the Lamb," echoed through the air, and Hopeman witnessed the power of the risen Christ in the hearts of men. 

In an interview a fisherman convert revealed this amazing story. 

"I attended a meeting in Yarmouth which lasted four hours.  The Rev. Douglas Brown preached that night and the presence of God was overpowering.  I saw men and women openly weeping over their sins.  There were about two hundred converts that night.  It was the best four hours I ever spent, but best of all, I went back the next night and was saved."

 

Burghead was not moved to the same depth that Hopeman was.  Nevertheless, the revival was hailed with great enthusiasm.  A middle aged convert was asked what he thought of the revival. 

"I believe God is working.  The meetings are creating a great impression.  People are locking their doors and leaving the mending lofts.  They are making for the meetings to hear the young fishermen speak.  Some people are sceptical, but just look at the drunkards who have been converted.  It is evident that they have met the Master, and the joy expressed on their faces show it is a work of the Lord."

 

An estimate given at the time of the revival stated that there were well over one hundred converts who were genuinely saved.

 

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