Under Billy’s original theories the people were warming up, and becoming a little responsive, and “Billy” himself was getting excited.  In reference to some remarks which had been made by a previous speaker about Samson, he said that he felt as happy and strong as Samson; then suddenly he put his arms round me, as I was standing gesticulating and making signs to the people to be still, and taking me up as he had done once before, he carried me down the schoolroom, crying out, “Here go the postes!  Glory! hallelujah!” It was useless to resist, for he held me with an iron grasp; so I remained still, hoping at every step that he would put me down.  I suppose he imagined himself to be Samson carrying off the gates of Gaza.  ’The people got what they called “happy,” and shouted and praised God most vociferously.  I gave out a hymn, but the joy of the Cornish people could not be restrained within the bounds of a tune, or form of words.  Some of them became very excited and unmanageable; only those who have witnessed such scenes can understand what I mean.  The power of God was great, though the demonstrations were very human.  My visitors trembled with fear, and made their escape as precipitately as they possibly could.  To those who are not in the power of the Spirit such rejoicings are unintelligible; lookers-on are stumbled or offended because they only see and feel the human manifestation, and not the Divine power; they are like people who get all the smoke, and none of the warmth of the fire.

I made up my mind for the worst, for we had a reporter there, and some others who were only too ready to make the most of such a scene.  Nevertheless I would rather have the same thing over and over again, than have the most stately and orderly ceremonials conjoined with spiritual death.  These things, with all their proprieties, are very chilling to living souls, and all the more hurtful because dead souls are satisfied by them instead of being disturbed.

Dear Mr. Aitken was very angry with us, when he heard the things which were reported; and, like a good spiritual father, he came over to teach us better.  He preached one of his own strong sermons, on the difference between emotion and principle, and after beating us down very hard, his dear heart relented, and he tried to cheer and lift us up.  This last is always an easy thing to do in Cornwall.  The people soon responded to his efforts, and began to praise God; and then he took fire, and praised too.  Mutually exciting and being excited, his powerful voice could be heard above the din of hundreds of shouting voices.  The dear man was happy in his soul, and so was I, and we did not care a halfpenny for the outside world, newspapers, or anything else.

We had obloquy with opposition; and even to my personal friends I could not give satisfactory explanations of these things.  One suggested that I should read a paper at the next Clerical Meeting, and give a statement in exposition of my views and practices.  This I consented to do, and Mr. Aitken kindly helped me to write it.  On the appointed day I undertook to read it, on condition that no one interrupted me till I had finished.  It was a hard task for them to sit still, but they managed to do so; and at the end, burst out upon me in a volley of censure and disapprobation.  I was obliged to tell them that they were not converted, and therefore could not understand these things.