We have received the following account from Rev. W. M. N.
In compliance with your request, I now forward to you this short account of the origin and progress of the present movement in Linlithgow. It was begun and has been carried on in implicit trust in the efficacy of united prayer. During the week of prayer in January, recommended by the Evangelical Alliance, united services were held daily in the Congregational chapel, which were well attended. Towards the end of February, a united prayer meeting was held daily in the same place, from half-past one to two o'clock. In the beginning of March, evangelistic services were begun at eight o'clock every evening. The first evening about 140 was present, the next evening the number rose to 160, and afterwards between 200 to 300 were present. Mr Sankey's hymns were used along with the Psalms; and some ladies, who had been present at the meetings in Edinburgh, and Mr Shield, precentor, gave valuable assistance in training a choir. The daily prayer meeting also was continued in the afternoon for about five or six weeks, at which also Mr Craig, the esteemed pastor, was present daily. Partly by the kind services of the Edinburgh Evangelistic Committee, a large number of ministers and laymen of all denominations came nightly to address the meetings. The results have been most gratifying.
It would be injudicious to enter into minute details of the movement. Suffice it to say, that persons of all ages and classes are to be found among those who appear to have been savingly impressed. As in other places, not a few of those most unlikely to be affected by such a movement have been reached, and professed to have decided for Christ. A seal has been set upon earnest and particular prayer by the fact that the conversion of some can be traced to that influence as an antecedent means. The parable of the Pharisee and Publican has been amply illustrated. Here, as elsewhere, God has been demonstrating the real existence and almighty power of the Holy Spirit; for there is reason to fear that among professing Christians there were those who, like the disciples at Ephesus (Acts xix. 1), had not realised the power, if they had heard of the existence, of the Holy Ghost. Men are now coming to see that the first Pentecostal effusion of the Spirit is not to be regarded merely as an isolated historical fact, but is rather to be studied as a permanent encouragement and incentive to Christians to pray for such ever-recurring times of blessing.
So deep and widespread does the interest seem to be, that the meetings are still being continued on two or three evenings of each week; while the attendance is smaller, the results are more marked and numerous. Meetings have also been commenced in Linlithgow Bridge, a village half a mile to the west. The attendance and interest are there, too, very
encouraging. The work is commended to the earnest prayers of all Christians; for it is not by might or by power, but by
the Spirit of the Lord, that such work is to prosper and difficulties are to be surmounted.
14th May
"Times of Blessings," May 21st, 1874.
Location unknown