[138] This man's name was William Aglionby--in all respects a disreputable fellow. (Stephens's "Journal of the Proceedings in Georgia," vol. i.) He had been "a thorn in the flesh" to Wesley. (See "Life and Times of Wesley," vol. i., p. 157.) [139] This was not the only instance in which Whitefield took ecclesiastical law into his own hands. A few weeks before, he had informed a man at Savannah, that, for the future, he should refuse to "give him the cup at the sacrament," because the man "denied the eternity of hell-torments." The other event was of a more pleasing kind, namely, the opening of a newly built school-house at Highgate. Only three months had passed since Whitefield's first visit there. In the interval, one of the settlers had given him a site for the erection; the rest had given labour; and now the building was completed. Whitefield consecrated the edifice by reading the Liturgy, preaching, baptizing an infant, and catechising the children. "After the service," says the happy minister, "we refreshed ourselves together, thanked our good God, and ate our bread with gladness of heart." Whitefield's departure from Savannah, which took place on August 28, was widely different from that of his friend Wesley eight months before. He writes:-- "1738, August 28. This being the day of my departure, it was mostly spent in taking leave of my flock, who expressed their affection now more than ever.[140] They came to me, from the morning to the time I left them, with tears in their eyes, wishing me a prosperous voyage and safe return. They also brought me wine, ale, cake, coffee, tea, and other things proper for my passage, and their love seemed to be without dissimulation. My heart was full, and I took the first opportunity of venting it by prayers and tears. I think I never parted from a place with more regret. I have great hope some good will come out of Savannah; because, the longer I continued there, the larger the congregations grew. I scarce know a night, though we had divine service twice a day, when the church-house has not been nearly full." [140] Stephens, the Secretary of the Trustees of Georgia, says: "The congregation was so crowded that a great many stood without the doors and under the windows to hear him, pleased with nothing more than the assurances he gave of his intention to return to them as soon as possible." He adds, that, when Whitefield left Savannah, he appointed Habersham, the Savannah schoolmaster, to read the Church Service to the people during his absence. Habersham did this for two months, when the Rev. Mr. Norris came and took Whitefield's place. ("Journal of Proceedings in Georgia," vol. i.)