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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 Llanfair-Caereinion

The Free Churches of Llanfair-Caereinion have started aggressive work with earnestness. Crowded prayer-meetings resolve themselves into musical processions along the main streets, and some local publicans are already beginning to complain. The landlord of one hotel recently said he had lost 35 pounds in a few weeks. Some retaliatory measures were adopted. One night 150 men and women assembled on Llanfair Square. The procession marched past the hotel, opposite which a young lady started "Bydd canu yn y nefoedd" (There will be song in heaven).

On the return journey, made in some places through snow six inches deep, the crowdstopped near the hotel, singing "Diolch Iddo" (Thanks Be to Him). As soon as the hymn was finished the street was filled with the sound of dance music, emitted from a powerful gramophone placed in the front window. The sound was immediately drowned in a volume of "Yn ydyfroedd mawr a'r tonau" (In the waves and mighty waters), and the singers resumed their way.

At Mold And Llanfairfechan

The revival continues to gather force in North Wales. A meeting held at Mold was remarkable for its power and effect. The leader was Rev. Seth Joshua (who was used of God in leading Evan Roberts into a glorious experience). Mr. Joshua called upon all the men present to sing a verse of "I Surrender," and urged them to let the surrender include football, billiards, drink, and everything that kept them from Jesus Christ. Then he called upon the women to sing a verse, and asked them to let the surrender include attendance at dances, chit-chat, gossip, and back-biting, all expensive forms of dress and living, and whatever hindered their progress as Christians.

At the close of the meeting a large number of converts came for-ward. Prayer-meetings are being held in all Nonconformist places of worship at Mold. It has now been ascertained that the number of con-versions as a direct result of the revival movement in the Nantile Vale district alone, reaches the total of 480.

Rev. T.C. Roberts, Llanfairfechan, says: "The revival was first felt in Llanfairfechan during the last week in November. The following week all the chapels had special prayer-meetings, which were well attended, and were the means of arousing the whole place. Hardly a night passed in any of the chapels without some converts. The following week we had united prayer-meetings, and special services. The week after all the chapels had their own meetings.

Every Saturday evening from the commencement we have had a united prayer-meeting, either in one of the largest chapels or in the Public Hall, and, wherever it is held, the place is always packed. Every Saturday evening, previous to the meeting, there is al-ways a procession through the whole place. The women also are having a united prayer meeting twice a week, which is well at-tended, and a great means of blessing. The workmen also are having prayer-meetings in the Penmaur Quarries at the dinner hour. Since the revival came there is a vast improvement in the moral tone and behavior of the whole place."

At Menai Bridge

Rev. T. Charles Williams, Menai Bridge, says: "The meetings are characterized by much spiritual fervor, and many dozens have taken part in public worship for the first time. There are over sixty converts. The prayers of the children in some of the meetings have been remark-able in their effect. The revival broke out in this place without any visible human agency, and the movement is not directly guided by any one. The ministers have thrown themselves heart and soul into it. Prayer-meetings are to be held every evening this week, and the Welsh Methodist Chapel, the largest building in the place, has on more than one occasion proved too small. The force and reality of the movement here is not challenged by any one, and there can be no doubt that its effect will be lasting and beneficial."

At Risca, Fleur-de-lis, And Llangefui

The movement is making great progress at Risca and district, and many conversions are reported: Bethany (Baptist), 130; Glyn (Congregational), 150; Primitive Methodist, 15; Wesleyan, 14; Moriah (Baptist), 300. At Cross Keys: Hope (Baptist), 165; Trinity (Congregational), 280; Primitive Methodist, 130; Wesleyan, 40.

A pathetic scene that brought tears to the eyes of many who witnessed it took place at New Salem Chapel, Fleur-de-Lis. Among the converts was an old man who went to kneel at the penitent form. He was almost immediately joined by his crippled daughter, who had to come up the chapel on crutches. The silence, for a moment, was most impressive, and then the singing of "Diolch Iddo" seemed to shake the very building.

A party of half a dozen Bangor Baptist and other students visited Llangefui on Thursday last. It was market day. They started a prayer-meeting in the center of the crowded market, and the marketing was instantly abandoned, the people enthusiastically joining the religious service. Mr. William Jones, M.P., associated himself with the proceedings.

An Incident Of The Revival
From statement by Rev. T. Ferrier
Hulme, in London Methodist Times

I must give yet another splendid story of a different type of man which my kind friend, the C.M. pas-tor of Brynseion, narrated to me in our long and pleasant interview last Saturday morning.

It is the case of David Jones, aman of fifty-eight, and a noted character in that locality. He has long been a comic singer, a man of fluent speech and ready wit. As a co-median he was the center of attraction wherever he went. It paid any publican to give him drink. He could always pack any public-house, and make the trade hum.

One day at the end of November, after the revival had been in progress about a fortnight, a publican met this man's daughter, a fine girl of eighteen, and said, "Miss Jones, where is your father? Is he from home? Is he unwell? I haven't seen him for a fortnight." She said, "He's not from home, and he is not unwell, but he is very comfortable on his own hearth, and you are not likely to see him again."

"What's the matter?" he asked. "Has this silliness taken hold of him?" "Silliness! What do you mean?" "Why the revival, of course" "Oh, if that's the silliness, then I am in the midst of it, and my father is on the eve of being captivated by it as well." He scoffed at her, and said: "I'll take good care to have my bird in hand again in less than a week. I can't afford to lose your father, and won't."

"Do you mean to say that you are going to influence him to come back to the drink when he is doing his utmost to resist it?" "Oh, yes, I do," he said. She stamped her little foot vigorously, and said: "Well, it will be a terrible struggle between Jesus, my Saviour, and Satan: and I warn you of this, Jesus has not yet lost one battle with Satan, and He won't."

A week later, however, she came to the service, and bursting into tears said to the people, "I'm sorry to say the publican has verified his statement and got my father back, and on Saturday night he came home again under the influence of the cup. But I am satisfied he has come home for the last time in that state. Are you willing for Satan and the publican to have my father? Isn't it right for Jesus, who has suffered and died for him, to have him? I am now going to pray God to save him this very moment, and I want you to pray silently with me" It was a most moving speech, and then she prayed like an angel -- a prayer that was more moving still. Everybody said that prayer must have gone straight to the throne and to the Father's heart.

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