<< Back to
The Revivals
Classic Books for Today
Index Page

King James Bible

Return to Revivals Main Index >>

The Revivals
From: Classic Books for Today #156
By S. B. Shaw (1905)
(Used by Permission)

"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"   Psalm 85:6

It was nearly 10 p.m. when the most thrilling and beautiful incident of our visit occurred. A respectably dressed young man of about nine-teen came down from the gallery, crying like a child, the tears streaming down his face as he tottered through the aisle toward the "set fawr" He was nearly fainting when he got to the entrance to the big seat, and he threw his arms around the neck of the Rev. William James, the pastor of Ebenezer, which is the church he attends.

"Pray for me! Pray for me!" he shouted as he embraced the minis-ter, who was moved to tears. The young man dropped into a chair. Mr. Roberts, who had been sitting on a chair in the pulpit, was on his feet. Something seemed to have told him what was the matter, and his face beamed with joy. Down the pulpit stairs he proceeded, and, on reaching the young man, threw his arms around him in a most affectionate manner. Mr. Roberts talked to him, and in a few minutes both were on their way to the pulpit. The young man was in first. What a change! The symptoms of being overcome had disappeared. His face had never worn a brighter appearance! "Is mother here? Is mother here?" he shouted. A voice from the back of the chapel answered, "Yes! Yes! She's here!"

At this point every one in the audience was so deeply touched by the affecting scene that there wasscarcely a dry eye to be observed. Some one started the Welsh hymn which is always sung when a per-son yields completely to God, and which has become the chant of victory of the revival. In thrilling and triumphant tones they sang fervently:

Diolch Iddo, diolch Iddo, diolch Iddo, Byth am gofio, llwch as llawr.

Which being interpreted means --Praises, praises, praises to God Who has remembered such as we are.

When all was quiet, he said, "Mother, I have had to give in! Yes indeed! I tried to refuse, but I was compelled to submit!"

A little later on he was calling for others to surrender, as it was "grand" He would not give his mother any more trouble! The mother broke into prayer, and when her son recognized her voice, he shouted, "Well done, mam!" (Well done, mother.)

It is little wonder that Gipsy Smith, a prominent English evangelist, after spending a Sunday in the midst of the revival witnessing the remarkable scenes said: -- "My visit to Wales last Sunday deepens my conviction that the movement now passing over Wales is a great and blessed Scriptural revival, and ought not to be called `The Welsh Revival' but `The Religious Revival,' for I believe it will shake England, and why not the world? This is the Acts of the Apostles up to date"

Numerous accounts have been given of the beginning of the mighty awakening, no two of which agree. Some attribute it to a young girl who spoke at a Christian Endeavor meeting with such fervor that her hearers were melted into tears, and the flame started there. Others declare that it began when Evan Roberts went back to his native town of Loughor, two months ago, and set it on fire with his Spirit-filled pleading to accept Christ. But the fact is that the revival broke out in a score of places almost simultaneously, and Evan Roberts and the other young and fiery evangelists who have arisen during the last few weeks are largely the products rather than the causes of the awakening.

The true origin of the movement is probably to be found in the prayer circles which have honeycombed Wales for the last eighteen months. The people who had banded them-selves together were crying out mightily for a revival, and God at length graciously answered the prayers of His saints. And it is interesting to Americans to know how the prayer circles were started. A lady living in Australia read a book by Dr. Torrey in which he reiterated the statement that we must "pray through" At that time Dr. Torrey and Mr. Alexander were conducting their great revival in Melbourne, the success of which was largely due to the 2,000 prayer circles which existed throughout the city. Shortly afterward the lady came to England, and was the means of starting thousands of prayer circles throughout the United Kingdom, the object of which was to pray for a world-wide revival. The answer has come in part in the Welsh awakening, and may God speed the day when the fire will spread over all the United Kingdom, and over America, and throughout the entire world!

--From New York Weekly Witness

Drunkenness And Blasphemy Disappear
Correspondence of London
Methodist Times, in issue of January 5

Reports from all the districts in South Wales affected by the revival show that the Christmas holidays, so dreaded by new converts who formerly devoted the whole of the time to drink and revelry, have passed by without the defections from the faith loudly prophesied by the unsympathetic and unbelieving. South Wales has never known such a quiet and peaceful Christmas.

In Cardiff alone, as yet only slightly moved by the revival, police reports show that drunkenness has diminished by 60 percent, whilst on Saturday last the Mayor was presented by the chief Con-stable with a pair of white gloves, there being no case at all on the charge sheet -- an unprecedented fact for the last day of the year.

The same thing happened at the Swansea County Court on the previous Saturday, and the magistrate said, "All the years I've been sitting here I've never seen anything like it, and I attribute this happy state of things entirely to the revival"

The streets of Aberdare on Christmas Eve were almost entirely free from drunkenness, and on Christmas Day there were no prisoners at all in the cells.

At Pontypridd, mirabile dictu, there were no assaults on the police, and throughout the mining area generally drunkenness was the exception and not the rule.

At Abercarn Police Court, responsible for a population of 21,000, there was not a single summons on Thursday -- a thing unknown since the court was formed fourteen years ago -- and here, too,was enacted the ceremony of the white gloves.

Bridgend Station, usually the scene of much debauchery on the part of drunken excursionists going to and from Cardiff, has never known such orderly behavior, and the streets of the town, too, have been free from rowdyism. Similar reports come from Carmarthen and other important centers, such as Merthyr.

Many of the miners in Glamorganshire come from small towns and villages in North Wales, and the trains conveying them to their old homes for Christmas were jubilant with revival song. At Machynlleth, on the Cambrian, where the Aberystwith and Barmouth portions of the train had to be divided, the passengers from both congregated on the platform and held a prayer meeting. Throughout the holiday season the chapels in most places were open for prayer and praise meetings morning, afternoon, and night, and to these places the people thronged with delight, and spent their time and energies in strengthening the weak and rescuing the tempted. Railway returns show that the excursion holiday traffic has been reduced by one half, the people evidently preferring to remain at home to pray and sing in company with those recently reclaimed.

There has been a correspondent reduction in public-house takings and in attendances at low-class places of amusement. Third and fourth rate theatrical touring companies, who usually reap such a rich harvest in these regions at Christmas, have found it advisable to keep clear of the Rhondda this time.

Continue >>

Back to Top

<< Back Home