"More than twenty praying societies have been established in
this place. Amongst them are several meetings of boys and girls.
There are also several meetings of young women. There are
numbers of young men, who meet for the purpose of glorifying
God, and promoting Christian knowledge. A good number of old
men, substantial, standing Christians, meet for edification
and instruction, and are thereby often revived and very much
refreshed. Upon the whole, we hope, there is such a flame
kindled as shall never be extinguished. This is not all: for
several country people are beginning to assemble together in
little meetings, to worship God; particularly about two miles
from this place, where several ploughmen and other illiterate
persons meet for the most noble purposes, and greatly increase
in numbers, grace, and knowledge. About Old Cambus, six miles
from Dunbar, many are meeting together for social prayer and
mutual conversation respecting matters of religion. There are
several other societies for prayer prospering very well."[484]
[484] Prince's _Christian History_, No. xxxiv.
Another minister, the Rev. Mr. McCulloch, informed Whitefield, that
fifty persons had been converted by his ten sermons in Glasgow;
and that many others had been convinced of sin, and were seeking
salvation.[485] The Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, at Aberdeen, stated, that
Whitefield had been the means of reviving, in that city, "a just
sense and concern for the great things of religion. I often think,"
says the writer, "that the Lord sent him here, to teach me how to
preach, and especially how to suffer. His attachment to no party,
but to Christ, appears to me a peculiar excellency in him. While he
stayed among us, he answered our expectations so much, that he has
scarce more friends anywhere than here, where, at first, almost all
were against him. The word came with so much power, that, I hope,
several of different denominations will bless the Lord for ever,
that they ever heard him."[486]
[485] _Glasgow Weekly History_, No. xiii.
[486] Ibid., No. xxvii.