A Visit to Kilsyth

By REV. A. A. BODDY, of Sunderland

We read of the Queen of Sheba, after she had seen Solomon’s wonders at Jerusalem, that “there was no more spirit in her.” (2 Chron. ix., 4.)

The Writer was so overwhelmed by the sights and scenes which met him on some of the last days of March, that he could say, ‘‘Behold, the one half was not told me.” Friday night’s meeting and those of Saturday and Sunday (March 28-30), were like his Norwegian experiences of just a year before, in those Spirit-swept gatherings in Christiania. In March, 1907, when he returned from the Norwegian Revival, there were perhaps five persons in Great Britain speaking in Tongues as a sign of the Pentecostal Baptism. The March of 1908 tells of probably 500 in Great Britain so Baptized. What hath God wrought in these wonderful twelve months?

As to Kilsyth, it is a small Scottish town twelve miles or so from Glasgow.

Resounding detonations shake the windows as they blast stone in the hillside quarries. Many of the men are miners. (We praise God for the Spirit-filled miners.)

Some critical investigators arrived one day by train. They agreed to test this thing by putting questions to the first Kilsyth man they met. It was the porter who opened the carriage door.

“Any Meetings being held here?”

“Aye, sir, there are.”

“Have you been to any of them?”

“Yes, I’ve been.”

“Is it true that some folks are speaking in Tongues?”

“It’s true enough.”

“Do you know anyone?”

‘‘Yes, I’m one myself.”

Yes, all ranks are represented in this movement, and we have a Policeman, an Engine-driver on the North British Rail-way (John McNicol, of Kirkintilloch; God bless him), and Miners who have received their “Pentecost” at their work.

A fireman at the Colliery, as he was leaning on his shovel at work, began to speak in Tongues.

A pitman at Motherwell (John McPhee, a Reservist), broke out in the face of the coal--that is, while at work filling his waggon or tub. He was singing,

“How I love that sweet story of old.”

He said he felt something go down and then come up. Then, for two hours, he sat on his pile of coal, speaking in Tongues as the Holy Spirit gave him utterance.

The men in the adjoining working soon heard him, and one cried, “There’s Jock through in Tongues, and me no saved yet.”

A number have been converted just through hearing others speak in Tongues. It was so with young H. He loved cycleracing, etc., and kept away from the meetings, but when he heard his sister in the house “speaking mysteries,” praising God in an unknown tongue, he was broken down. In the Mission Hall, from 3 one afternoon until 2 the next morning, he dealt with God and was saved, sanctified, and Baptized with the Holy Ghost with the Scriptural evidences. He and his dear young brother are now longing for an opening for missionary work, if the Lord makes the way clear.

A POLICEMAN.

In a village in this part of Scotland the little Chapel got on Fire, and about 20 received their “Pentecost” with Signs following, and 13 have been soundly converted. They were holding a “Fellowship Meeting” for those who had been fully anointed. Outsiders, hearing the vehement cries of praise and the speaking in Tongues, gathered round. A sympathetic policeman kept the door (his wife and daughter, who had received the blessing, were inside).

At last he cried, “Lads, I can stand it no longer, here goes,” and he flung open the door, and, putting down his helmet, was soon pleading with God for the Full Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and he received it then and there and came through speaking in Tongues.

From: Confidence, No. 1, April 1908, pag. 8, 9, Sunderland, England

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