Hugh Bourne greatest gifts were organizational, and he guided the movement in its early days with spiritual discernment and wisdom. He was a formative influence in the establishment of the notable camp meetings held on Mow Cop and elsewhere. The principles and rules which governed the life of the Primitive Methodist chapels were drawn up by him.Like many great pioneers and leaders he tended to be autocratic and he did not find it easy to accommodate the views of others. This gave rise to problems in his latter years. He was inclined to impose upon others the iron discipline of his own life. But his perseverance in the face of adversity, his herculean labours and his consistent and steady determination to maintain the early spiritual principles of the revival ensured its success as one of the greatest converting movements in the first half of the nineteenth century.Bourne was convinced of the necessity of Pentecostal showers being perpetually poured out on ministers and people to sustain the life and piety of the church. Without it he believed that ‘Zion would never arise and shine’ as God intended. ‘For a promotion of this he preached, visited, conversed, believed, and importuned the throne of God’s mercy’ (vol.2, p.348f).In the past, denominational insularity prevented Christians of one tradition learning of what God had done for others. It is to be hoped that the Arminianism of Primitive Methodism will not prevent Christians of a Reformed persuasion in our day from reading these volumes. They contain some of the most moving accounts of the wonderful works of God this reviewer has ever read. The publishers are to be congratulated on producing these handsome volumes at so reasonable a price.