Two Follow Officers Home
In 1874, with the corps less than 1 year old, the Christian Misson magazine published the following report, writes Peter Wood.
Peter Wood
On two nights persons followed the ‘Dowdles’ home following the meetings to ask what they must do to be saved. One man came to the door, and wept like a child as he told me how his two sons came to our meetings and got converted. He, himself, has been to chapel for years but is now grey-headed but unconverted, like a great number in this wicked town. O Lord, send deep conviction. So that they cannot eat, drink, work, or sleep until their souls are saved!
On Wednesday, one of the new converts, a fighting man, played the concertina in the street that he used to play in the tap-room, and it attracted great crowds, emptying the two public houses at the end of Military Road, where we hold our Open-Air meetings. A greater testimony we could not have than some of the new converts standing by us, whom the people knew to have been such notoriously wicked characters. The cross-roads were filled for two hours; there was no interruption, all stood as quiet as if in a chapel.
We have cottage prayer meetings on Tuesday evening, and blessed time we have; the unction of the Spirit rests upon us; we want to pray and prevail with men and sinners. The people are beginning to feel the effect of this meeting in the street.
Thursday, a believers’ class meeting, we have twenty members all, I believe, consistently walking in the way of life. These meetings are seasons of joy; as the converts tell their experiences, we cannot but praise the Lord with them, for what He has done for their souls. Hallelujah!