<< 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

Useful And Obedient

Evan was always an obedient child, honoring his father and mother: attentive to his teachers at school -- as one who had been a schoolmate said: "However difficult the lesson, Evan knew it." He was fond of play, like other boys; brave withal, and ready to defend the weaker ones from any youthful tyrants who would take advantage of them.

As he grew he found many ways of being useful to his mother: when he was twelve years old his father's foot was hurt by an accident in the mine, but as soon as the injury permitted of his return to work, Evan begged to be allowed to go also. Thus it was found that he could be helpful to his father, who held a responsible position, and could not be spared longer than was absolutely necessary.

Describing the position at this time of the future evangelist, a con-temporary says: -- "So Evan Roberts, the little Welsh boy of twelve, laid aside his childhood. Almost literally he became his father's right hand, until Mr. Robert recovered from his accident.

"Evan began to know the hard perilous life of the miner, for, after some months under his father, he commenced regular work as a mine boy. "It was at this time apparently that his thoughts began to turn toreligion. He did his work under-ground at the colliery cheerfully and well, and soon was put on to the ordinary shifts.

Studious And Religious

"`No,' his father told a man at work in the same stall with him, `the lad belongs to no choir or club. He just goes home and works at his books. It's hard to get him to bed before three or four in the morning.'

"One day came his first opportunity for doing active religious work. The Wesleyan chapel at Gorscinon did not include in the Sunday-school a miners' children's class. Evan Roberts set to work to form such a class. He went to Mr. Thomas, the manager of the mine, and asked if he might use the mine offices on a Sunday.

"`What for?' asked the manager. "`For a Sunday-school,' was the reply.

"The offices were lent, and the class started. Evan became secretary, and threw his whole soul into the work. Within a few weeks, the `mine school' was known through-out the district. Many of the children were ragged and shoeless. Evan gave himself and induced some of his friends to help. Presently the minister of the chapel was willing to include the mine children in the ordinary Sunday-school.

"The mine work continued, but ever before this boy, now growing into young manhood, was the one object. He would be a preacher. The religion of the home was his, that deep, abiding reverence and fear of God which is frequently met with in cottage homes of the Welsh miners. But as yet that mysterious awakening, that strange call to the service of God had not come.

"He and his brother Dan played and sang together on the organ in the trim little house overlooking the bleak Llangannack Hills. On Sun-day evenings the family gathered together in those reverent, informal home services."

Loved Bible Study

As to a subject of study, he seems to have been devoted to the Word of God.

"The Bible was almost the entire study of Evan Roberts in these days. He was never seen without a Testament near him. It was a familiar sight in the Mountain Colliery to see him going down in the cage with his Bible in his hand. During the intervals of work, he studied by the light of his Davy lamp. He was just preparing for the future, and there was no attempt at preaching or anything but study at this time.

"`I will be a preacher,' he said definitely, and was willing to work and wait for the appointed time. The money he earned -- some 30s. or £2 a week -- after he had contributed his share towards the home, he saved or expended on books. It was a strange life. For eight hours out of twenty-four he was a miner, giving all his physical energies to the work: for the remaining sixteen he was an earnest young student, slowly climbing into the heights of religious thought. So the boy grew almost to manhood."

But Evan never liked a miner's life, though he worked conscientiously and well. Every spare minute, out came his New Testament, and standing or sitting on a piece of coal, he would forget everything else.

When he was nearly twenty, he began to think of further education. A deacon gave him a list of books to read, in addition to his Bible, which was always his chief study. He also thought shorthand would be of use to him. Accordingly Evan found a friend living three miles offwho could teach him, and for three months he walked the six miles until he knew shorthand. He neglected none of his work in the mine, and was reading books which required close thought.

He had an uncle to whom he now bound himself to learn the blacksmith's trade, insisting on paying £6 of money which he had saved. In a few months he became a capable worker, and valuable to his uncle.

Then came the beginning of his career as a preacher. He had been asked to preach at one of the chapels, but had refused, for he had not yet received the call from above. An earnest young deacon preached one night, and said that if any one de-sired the Spirit of God for service, He would come by constant and unwearying prayer. Evan went home and prayed long and earnestly, and towards morning rose from his knees with his mind fully made up to go to the Ministers' Training College at Newcastle Emlyn. His mother was overjoyed. The desire and prayer of her life was about to be fulfilled. The family contributed to the fees, which were lightened by his assisting in some of the minor duties of the college. After he had been there about a year, he received the wonderful call which has resulted in the present revival.

With the great movement which grew out of those first meetings at Loughor our readers are familiar. The long-prayed-for revival is with us, and there will assuredly be much prayer, and fervent, that its gracious power may not only spread throughout the length and breadth of our own loved land, but that all nations may come to feel the hallowed influence of these "breezes from Calvary's hill."

-- M. in London Christian

Revival Spreads In All Directions
(From the London Christian)

When Mr. Evan Roberts visited Resolven last week, all the neigh-boring collieries were idle, and from the outlying hamlets people crowded into the pretty Neath Val-ley township. Mountain and valley lay covered with snow, the white mantle prompting an ardent Welsh-man to exclaim, "Wales is physically white now; she is going to be morally and spiritually white."

The revival fire has burned brightly at Resolven, and 600 converts are reported. Last week an impressive revival service (promoted by all the Resolven churches, Established and Free), was held at St. David's (parish) church. The vicar, Rev. William Lloyd, was unable to attend, owing to ill health, but the meeting was most fervent and was conducted entirely on revival lines.