Scotland had been approached by the evangelists in 1873 with considerable misgivings, for organs and "human hymns" long had been forbidden in Scottish churches. The Presbyterians were assured, however, that Sankey's harmonium was quite small, and it was admitted along with the musician. At the first meeting in Edinburgh, Sankey had to appear alone because Moody had a severe cold. Everything considered, the singer was understandably fearful when he suggested at the end of the service that the packed house join him in the chorus of "Hold the Fort." What followed "sounded like the clans a'gangin' to war!"[61] Apparently, Edinburgh approved.
Describing a meeting in Dublin in 1874, for which between four and five thousand persons assembled in the Free Trade Hall at eight o'clock one "frosty" December morning, a reporter remarked that as Sankey began to play "Hold the Fort," which was "a tune well known at these meetings," the congregation struck into it "with one mighty voice. . . . The words have a martial, inspiriting sound, and as the verse rolled forth, filling the great hall with a mighty and musical noise, one could see the eyes of strong men fill with tears."[62]
The names of Moody and Sankey seemed to be on almost everyone's lips. Sankey recalled that a clown in a Dublin circus said to his partner: "I am rather Moody tonight; how do you feel?" To this the second clown replied: "I feel rather Sankey-monious." According to Sankey, "this by-play was not only met with hisses, but the whole audience arose and joined with tremendous effect in singing . . . 'Hold the fort, for I am coming.'"[63] Apparently Sankey and his admirers who repeated the story were not much more amused by it than the Irishmen who found in Bliss's song an eloquent reproof of a couple of waggish clowns who, if not of a Catholic persuasion, were just plain put out because the revival had interfered earlier with circus attendance.[64]
It was also in Dublin that a body of Catholic priests heard the revivalists. Although we have not found it recorded that they sang "Hold the Fort," they are said to have expressed the view that if Moody and Sankey stayed a little longer St. Patrick surely would be displaced by a Yankee.[65] As a matter of fact, the hierarchy finally took notice. "Cardinal Cullen, seeing his flock straying in such large numbers . . . published an interdict forbidding such conduct," which, however, "did not prevent the conversion of sinners of Romish proclivities."[66]
In Belfast, Moody "spoke to six acres of Irishmen,"[67] and Sankey was later told that a prisoner in the local gaol heard "Hold the Fort"
