During the weekend after the 4th of July the North Carolina mountains are filled with people who are proud of their Scottish ancestry. The Highland Games played at Grandfather Mountain attract thousands of visitors and competitors. The visitors and spectators wear their clan colors, and all participants compete wearing Scottish kilts. There are dance competitions and all sorts of sporting events featuring many sports few ever see anywhere other than at these Scottish gatherings. It’s a delightful family weekend I have enjoyed on several occasions. However, I must admit that at times I have a difficult time understanding all that I am hearing and observing.
As I read about John Wesley, I find I am not alone in that. Wesley found that it was more difficult to communicate with the Scots than with the English. Part of the difficulties to be sure are the different nuances of the King’s English as spoken in England, in Scotland and certainly in America. John Wesley’s WORKS show us how he dealt with it in his characteristically direct way.
Wesley had received criticism by some Scottish ministers for some of his practices. He went to Dundee June 2, 1766, where he reportedly drew large crowds, preaching two times a day. Wesley obviously had difficulty understanding the Scots and being understood by them. He reverted to a very simple, straightforward style. He said, “I love plain dealing. Do not you?  I will use it now. Bear with me.”  And then he said:

I hang out no false colours, but show you all I am, all I intend, all I do.  I am a member of the Church of England, but I love good men of every church.  My ground is the Bible. Yea, I am a Bible-bigot. I follow it in all things, both great and small.

Therefore,

I always use a short, private prayer when I attend the public service of God. Do not you? Why do you not?  Is not this according to the Bible? I stand whenever I sing the praise of God in public. Does not the Bible give you plain precedents for this? I always kneel before the Lord my Maker when I pray in public. I generally in public use the Lord’s prayer, because Christ has taught me when I pray to say….

Wesley then used his experience in Scotland to give suggestions to his ministers. He writes, “I advise every preacher connected with me, whether in England or Scotland, herein to tread in my steps.”