accurate_ statement may be given of this
fact, which has been already referred to in many public places in
connection with revival-meetings, and which likewise has been several
times stated in print.

In November, 1856, a young Irishman, Mr. James McQuilkin, was brought to
the knowledge of the Lord. Soon after his conversion he saw my Narrative
advertised. He had a great desire to read it, and procured it
accordingly, about January, 1857. God blessed it greatly to his soul,
especially in showing to him what could be obtained by prayer. He said
to himself something like this: See what Mr. Mueller obtains simply by
prayer. Thus _I_ may obtain blessing by prayer. He now set himself to
pray that the Lord would give him a spiritual companion, one who knew
the Lord. Soon after, he became acquainted with a young man who knew the
Lord. These two began a prayer meeting in one of the Sunday schools in
the parish of Connor. Having his prayer answered in obtaining a
spiritual companion, Mr. James McQuilkin asked the Lord to lead him to
become acquainted with some more of his hidden ones. Soon after, the
Lord gave him two more young men, who knew the Lord previously, as far
as he could judge. In autumn, 1857, Mr. James McQuilkin stated to these
three young men, given him in answer to believing prayer, what blessing
he had derived from my Narrative,--how it had led him to see the power
of believing prayer; and he proposed that they should meet for prayer,
to seek the Lord's blessing upon their various labors in the Sunday
schools, prayer meetings, and preachings of the gospel. Accordingly, in
autumn, 1857, these four young men met together for prayer in a small
schoolhouse near the village of Kells, in the parish of Connor, every
Friday evening. On January 1, 1858, the Lord gave them the first
remarkable answer to prayer in the conversion of a farm servant. He was
taken into the number, and thus there were five who gave themselves to
prayer. Shortly after, another young man, about twenty years old, was
converted; there were now six. This greatly encouraged the other three
who first had met with Mr. James McQuilkin. Others now were converted,
who were also taken into the number; but only believers were admitted to
these fellowship meetings, in which they read, prayed, and offered to
each other a few thoughts from the Scriptures. These meetings, and
others for the preaching of the gospel, were held in the parish of
Connor, Antrim, Irel