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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

At Hirwain

The two-days' mission con-ducted by Mr. Evan Roberts at Hirwain attracted a stream of visitors from London and other parts of the United Kingdom. Among those who took part in the meetings were a number of converted Jews.

On the second afternoon, the missioner attended Nebo Welsh Congregational Church. "Gawn ni gwrdd to draw i'r Afon," was sung with great fervor, and was repeated again and again. When some of the singers seemed inclined to stop, Mr. Roberts remarked, "Go on singing, it is blessed to be here."

The missioner again emphasized the duty of complete submission to the commands of the Spirit. He urged all to bend. Would they not rather bend under the tender hand of God's love than to be bent by His anger?

An appeal to the missioner on behalf of the English friends present for a few words in English was met with the prompt reply, "I will be guided by the Spirit. I will speak in English immediately the Spirit commands me to do so."

He referred in tremulous tones to a wonderful experience on the previous evening. This led him to deal with the ministry of suffering. Hymns and prayers followed, a feature of the prayers being the appeals of mothers for the conversion of prodigal and impenitent sons. The missioner read from the Book of Joel, then appealed for confessions. A few commenced here and there to testify of their love for Christ, and were soon joined by a great host, the scene being indescribable.

Many rushed from the afternoon meeting to Bethel Chapel in hope of hearing Evan Roberts in the evening, but even then the chapel was crowded. So dense was the throng that a constable had to assist the missioner in gaining admission. The chapel has seating accommodation for 900 people, but there were about 2,000 packed in the building. There were again many stirring scenes and confessions of Christ.

At Dowlais

At Dowlais, on Sunday last, the morning service was held at Elizabeth Street English Methodist Church, and fully an hour before the missioner made his appearance, the building was taxed to its utmost capacity. The congregation included many visitors from various parts of the kingdom, among them Lady Wimborne.

Mr. Roberts spoke for some time in English, and his words made a deep impression. The meeting waspervaded with a feeling of solemn reverence. The missioner dwelt feelingly on the necessity of a public declaration, and appealed to the congregation not to be afraid to ex-press their thoughts, either by singing or praying. "Let us," he said, "pray to become full of faith for Christ."

A young man in the gallery started a pathetic Welsh hymn, and it was sung with inspiring effect. A fervent prayer from the same quarter followed, and a young woman, whose voice was choked with sobs, rose and prayed softly in Welsh. "Come to save, Lord!" was the bur-den of her cry, and she sat down, overcome by her feelings. Hymn after hymn followed, English and Welsh commingling.

The meeting in the afternoon was somewhat "hard," and Mr. Roberts was deeply pained. The evening meeting was held at Hermon Congregational Chapel, and the crush here was tremendous. Police officers helped at guarding the entrance to the chapel, and gates had to be locked long before the time of the meeting. Notwithstanding this, however, a huge crowd congregated outside the chapel, and carried on a service of their own. Inside the building there was a lack of fire, which moved the missioner to ask for greater fervor, and this had the desired effect for a time. The meeting, however again grew cold, and Mr. Roberts brought it to a conclusion.

At Pentir

With the Bishop of Bangor's sanction, an eight days' mission --on January 15-22 -- was held in the parish of Pentir, near Bangor. The parochial missioner was Rev. James Davies, St. David's, Liverpool. The mission commenced by the Dean of Bangor preaching a mission ser-mon, and giving an address at the after-meeting. The work of the mission had a powerful effect upon the parishioners. Many joined the church, thus renewing the life and adding to the strength of the church in this slate-quarry district. A good and solid preparation had been made by the vicar, Rev. Herbert Jones, assisted by Rev. John Pryce-Jones, curate. To every appearance the result of the mission will be more vigor in church work and a marked increase in the congregation.

At Bangor

In the course of a smoke-room conversation at Bangor University College last week, among half a dozen of the students, one of them touched on the subject of revival, expressing the opinion that it was a real thing. A second student there-upon started a hymn tune, another prayed, and ere long hymns and prayers were in full swing. The singing attracted other students, and presently the smoke-room was crowded to its utmost capacity. The students "cut" lectures, and remained in this impromptu prayer-meeting from 11 to 1:30.

In the afternoon, from 300 to 400 of the students attended a prayer-meeting at one of the chapel school rooms, at which five lady students in turn en-gaged in prayer. At night the students formed a procession and marched, singing through the streets to the Tabernacle, the largest chapel in the town, which was soon filled with a fervent crowd of worshipers. The interest of the students is remarkable, as hitherto they have, as a body, manifested no particular interest in the revival.

The Revival of Bible Study

A meeting of the Ebbw Vale auxiliary of the Bible Society partook largely of the character of a revival meeting. Dr. Cynddylan Jones said Wales had a revival 150 years ago, when the inhabitants flocked to hear Daniel Rowlands, who was after-wards known by the nickname of the "cracked clergyman of Llangeitho." In 1859-50 they had another revival, and now they were experiencing another. During the last three months there had been a great moving of the people. Who among them anticipated the country would be shaken by a boy from school?

The revival would be judged by results. From the chief depot of the Bible Society, during November and December, 300 pounds worth of Bibles had been sent to Wales and Monmouthshire, as compared with 80 pounds for the two preceding months. This was evidence that the revival was not emotionalism. No revival would last without the Bible. After Dr. Jones had concluded, there was prayer and praise, and a number of seekers were pointed to Christ.

In an earnest address on mission work, given by Dr. Henry Soltau at a drawing-room meeting at the residence of Mr. W. H. Vellacott, West Thurrock, Essex, the speaker alluded to a recent visit by some of his friends to the Welsh revival districts. First of all, they went to the locality where Mr. Evan Roberts was present. The Spirit of God was manifest in a marked degree. Then, traveling many miles away, where Mr. Roberts had not been, they found similar deeply spiritual manifestations. Unable to get lodgings at a private house, they reluctantly took up their abode at a hotel, where drinking was going on in a bar at the front of the house. "We had bet-ter stay," said one of the visitors; "perhaps God has sent us here" The chapels in the district were denselycrowded, and the meetings pro-longed to a very late hour. It was past midnight before the party re-turned to the hotel.

About two o'clock in the morning one of the visitors was aroused from his sleep with a message that the landlord urgently desired to see him. The proprietor of the hotel was in his room in deep agony of mind, and exclamations such as "Oh, I'm a great sinner," "Tell me how I can be saved," came from his lips.

"If you are in earnest," replied the evangelist, "you will cry to God" The man did so; and while the Gospel was being simply and lovingly spoken, he rose from his knees and declared that, great sinner as he had been -- ("I've been on the drink," he added "for weeks") -- he knew he had now received the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. The next day he made an open confession of Christ, and two men in his employment, who had also been great drunkards, went down on their knees, confessing their sins, and professed to find the Lord.

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