Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1876-04-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

IREADINGS BY THE REV. DAVID MACRAE. On Wednesday night the Rev. David Macrae, of Gourock, author of " Aniericans at Home," "George Harrington," "Danvarlich," ac., gave a eeleetion of readings frem these works in the O&MBows' Hall. The rev, gentleman's visit to Middlesbrough was in aeon &igen with the anniversary services of the United Presbyterian Church, Newport-road. His fame in Ike northern kingdom is a temperance orator, and the thrilling lecture he delivered on ~ American Peculiarities," induced an appeal being made to him to give an evening's readings from his works, and hence the great intellectual treat last (Wednesday) night. The Rev. R. A. Watson occupied the chair, and the hall was well filled with an audience which the reader kept spellbound with his thrilling eloquence, or convulsed with laughter at his pleasure. Being gifted with a natural faculty of mimcicry his rendering of "After Dinner Oratory (from " Dunvarlich") was inimitable, and when the Rev. Mr Damps, in proposing the health of the Rev. Mr Birks, referred to his family connection, made the mistake of allying him with the notorious Edinburgh kidnapper and murderer Burk and his accomplice Hare the effect on the audience was overpowering. The affecting scene in George Harrington's life, when he yields to the temptation of drink at a dinner pat, returns home to his disconsolate mother, and in his mad rage for more chink, lift i his hand against her and strikes her to the ground, is told with all the power and pathos of one who has laboured zealously and with a will to uproot the evil of our social drinking customs. The "Railway Chase" is of a similar character, the moral to be drawn from each' being the necessity that exists for a check being put to the enormous evils of tbe drink traffic. "A Leap Year Wooing," aid "Spectacles in Church: A quiz on the organ question," were rendered with powerful effect, especially the latter, in which the voice and manner of different Scotch ministers were brought out. The introduction of organs into the Presbyterian and other dissenting churches in Scotland has caused—indeed, is E till causing—violent opposition, and affords, as Mr Macrae said, a favourable subject for pleasant hinter. Instrumental music in church was not the oniy subject on which there was no direct guidance front the Scripture'. One Elighland minister was made to prove—to his own satisfaction—that spectacles i were invented—or supposed to be invented—by a Roman Catholic monk, that they must be evil, and to their introduction to church he attributed the Reformation, the massacre of Glenooe, and other calamities. The caricature was complete, and ought to convince many narrow-minded Christians on the other side of the Border that everything now existing within their own particular Zion cannot be upheld by direct Sciiptural injunction. The frequent and hearty outbursts of applause testified to the high appreciation of the audienoe..—Mr Macpherson, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Macrae, assured him that if he visited Middlesbrough again, he would receive a still more hearty reception. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close.