The Aberdare Leader

The Revival. j THE ABERDARE VALLEY ABLAZE, j The Pentecost is still with us. Trecynon and the neighbourhood have witnessed re- markable scenes, surpassing even those of the 1859 Revival. Up to the time of writing it has been since the middle of last week j practically one long, continuous meeting. 1 The gatherings are kept up nearly all day, ¡ and when the sun sets, the moon takes up the wondrous tale, and to the wonder- ing earth relates the story of the great revival. The doors of some of the chapels are never closed, day or night. In Bryn Seion, Trecynon, where the Loughor evan- i z;1 gelist initiated his mission in the Valley, and historic Ebenezer, most strange events have occurred. Under the spell of some mystic power strong men have been seen falling prostrate in their pews, women have been carried out fainting, and young chil- dren with glib tongues have made their confessions. Sons and daughters offer up prayers for their erring parents, fathers and mothers make earnest supplications on behalf of their children, young women pray eloquently for the spirtual welfare of their lov- ers. Workmen kneeling at the throne of grace mention the names of their backsliding "butties," and at Ebenezer on Sunday night one toiler pleaded with fervour on behalf of the managers and >1 gaffers." Eti- quette is discarded, and conventionalism is cast to the winds. Some young collier gets up suddenly in his seat, and thanks the Lord for saving his neighbour and fervently appeals to the Spirit to visit John Jones, his next-door neighbour. Then he proceeds to enumerate those who have been con- verted in his own immediate neighbourhood, and beseeches the Spirit to touch the heart -of some whom he names. Then someone in the congregation gets up and recites a portion of Scripture, or relates his spiritual experiences. It is a hard-and-fast rule of the meetings to allow every participant to have his say in his own way, and every attempt to veto one's flow of speech or song is regarded as nothing less than an attempt to quench the Spirit. However, when an individual, overwhelmed with emotion, forgets himself; and takes up a good share of the meeting, the congregation generally, with tactful diplomacy, strike up Gad im' deimlo, or some other well-known Welsh hymn, and the voice of the speaker is soon drowned in song. It is wonderful what fluency of speech is displayed by some young men and women who never spoke in public until last week. The register of the converts is most varied, and includes all sorts and conditions of men, women, and children. A publican and his wife are among the saved. It is said that a doctor came to see one of the meetings with the object of having a diagnosis of what he termed a mental disease, but went away with his own soul vivisected. However the great army of the converts are drawn from the working classes-colliers, tin-workers, and artisans. On Saturday night one deacon announced that they had captured a number of the football lads, the boys of the boxing saloons, and the girls of the dance." Someone in the congregation recognised among the converts a back- sliding comrade who had long been the object of his prayer, and he now returned thanks to God. One tall, well-dressed young lady was busily engaged in assisting some who were in the grip of indecision to release themselves therefrom. She had long been vainly endeavouring to persuade one man to give himself to the Saviour, and at last she, with a faltering voice, entreated the congregation to pray for him. There was immediate response, and ultimately the glad news of his conversion was an- nounced, to the sweet accompaniment of Diolch iddo." She found in one young manijof about 16 a very hard subject. A number of believers formed a cordon around him, and prayerful men and tearful women earnestly appealed to him to confess," but he was impregnable, and they gave up the siege. He reasoned his objection, and stated that he could not accept the theory of the resurrection. It is the reasoning stoic and the intelligent sceptic that are most vulnerable to the shells of the revival. Impulsive, passionate natures surrender easily. Motion springs from emotion. People of phlegmatic tendencies declare that the movement in all its fervour does not appeal to them at all. The metaphors used by some of the speakers in the heat of religious ecstacy are very singular, striking, and sometimes crude. One passionate man with a powerful voice exclaimed, We are told that we are drunk. So we are, drunk with the Spirit, Oh, let us have a good spiritual spree Later on the meeting appeared to cool, and the hwyl" subsided, when the same voice was heard crying out, We thought it had become a stop-tap here, but thank God the Holy Spirit has turned the tap on again." And he reeled like an intoxicated person. The effect of the mystic power on some susceptible natures is wonderful. At Bryn Seion on Saturday night one young lady was beside herself with religious ecstacy. She would clutch convulsively the persons nearest to her, saying, I am so happy are you not ?" All efforts to restrain her frenzy were ineffectual. Some would approach strangers whom they thought were unconverted, and would direct the most impassionate appeals to them and relate with unaccountable fluency and eloquence their own thrilling experience. Sectarian bi' "ness is for the most part forgotten, buti lsionally the cloven hoof displays itself, ■. one of the Trecynon meetings a Meth s deacon from Llwyd- coed requested at ichad accepted reli- gion-all from the atholics to the Meth- odists-to rise to tl; feet. Unitarians he considered outside tneir pale. However, one lady in the congregation rose and said she was surprised at Mr Rogers making, such an uncharitable distinction. They (Unitarians) considered themselves as good Christians as their Trinitarian friends. The deacon then proffered an apology for woun- ded feelings, but appeared to adhere to his exclusion of Unitarians. A MINISTER AND THE" CHIMNEY FIRE." At the outset of the meeting at Ebenezer on Sunday evening, the Rev J. Gra.vys Jones earnestly entreated all present no to say Hush to the Spirit of God. If the speech or conduct of some brothers or sisters were not in entire accord with the refinement of civilisation, let them not try to restrain them, because the Holy Spirit was speaking through them. Councillor Tom Lewis next addressed the meeting with great fervour. Subsequently the Rev J. I Grawys Jones spoke and said that the society of Aberdare was very indifferent regarding the revival. He regretted the attitude of the Aberdare Press towards the movement. A local paper had referred to it as a chimney fire." But would to God the promoters of that paper felt the effects of that fire. However, he felt inclined to thank the Western Mail." "God bless the Western Mail' he added. CONVERT ATTACKS THE "LEADER." SCENE OF WILD DISORDER. At Ebenezer, shortly after 1 a.m. Monday morning (Sunday night), a scene that baf- fles description took place. It seemed at one time that the meeting was drawing to a close—so many people were leaving the building. Groups of seven or eight young men and maidens, however, were kneeling together in different parts of the gallery, praying and exhorting one another. Sud- 1, z;1 denly the frantic cries of a young girl were heard on the floor. Apparently she was 14 years of age. About 200 people who were still left on the floor of the chapel quickly crowded around her. One man was obliged to hold her right hand-she was beating the back of the seat so furiously that it was feared she would hurt herself. Her wild and passionate declamation was punctuated with laughter and shouts of joy by the ministers and others present. She ex- claimed (in Welsh) Oh Jesus save us all, and make the Devil jealous." This con- tinued for seven or eight minutes, and then she fell back exhausted, in the arms of a woman who sat beside her, By this time the pulpit was unoccupied. The people filled the aisles and front seats. In less than five minutes after the above incident all eyes were turned towards a man who had jumped on one of the seats. To say that he had lost all self-control is to con- vey a very'faint idea of the state of this man. He was waving his arms frantically. Two men caught hold of him or he would have fallen headlong across the seats. He foamed at the mouth, and in a hoarse, hideous voice, shouted with all his might Oh Oh I Oh I" The people appeared to be greatly rejoiced, and it was at once evident that a valuable convert had been won. Again, he spoke, breaking out in disconnected phrases that could not possibly be understood-all the time waving his arms and clenching his fists as though he were suffering unspeak- able agony. He descended, and for a while there was comparative silence. The writer was seated on the gallery and enquired who the new convert might be. The reply came that he was a Tom Williams, of Ebenezer street, a critic; who had often raised his voice against orthodox religion. The conversion is wonderful," concluded my informant. Shortly afterwards the same individual again jumped on a seat. The ministers and others standing around him looked up to- wards the writer as though they were aware of what was going to be said. His wild harangue was accompanied by the same unseemly gesticulations. He commenced by referring to some remarks in last week's LEADER re the Revival. He continued, A oes un o honynt hwy yma heno ? A oes un o gwmni yr ABERDARE LKADER yn y gallery yna ? (" Is there one of them here tonight ? Is there one of the ABERDARE LEADER Company in the gallery ? ") "What is the philosophy of the ABERDARE LEADER?" he asked, and proceeded to make some in- coherent remarks. The Rev W. B. Richards, late of Deri, privately apologised for the convert's con- duct. He is excited and does not know what he is doing." Of course I understood that, but I could not help thinking that he had been goaded on to speak the second time by someone near him. Great commotion and jubilation prevailed one evening in Trecynon when a local Atheist named Tom Hughes announced that he had renounced Atheism. He never tired of telling the congregation of his conversion and how he had burnt his books. Stories of the conversion of sceptics and the sub- sequent burning of their books are con- tinually coming to hand. The latest who has consigned his freethought literature to the flames is an Abercynon man. At one of the Trecynon meetings a convert shouted out to his wife, between whom and her husband there had not been much domestic felicity, No more separations A woman who has always been a thorn in the flesh of peace-abiding neighbours, shouted her in- tention of being at peace with all men and women in future. The scene at Eben- ezer on Saturday night was a never-to-be- forgotten one. All the speakers anticipated a glorious Sabbath on the morrow, It was announced that a certain missioner would be at Llwydcoed on the morrow. The spirit will be at Hirwain retorted another. He will be at Pontneathvaughan" ex- claimed a third with a voice like thunder, at the same time waving his arms frantically. Pray for the descent of the Spirit cried someone in spiritual agony. He is here already, take hold of him," replied a dozen voices in unison. At that moment there was a general uproar, some voices could be heard invoking the spirit, others denouncing the devil. Men beat the seats violently and women sobbed hysterically. The torrential hubbub was at last brought to an end by someone striking Etto unwaith mi ddyr- chafaf," and ultimately the whole congrega- tion joined. On Saturday and Sunday nights it was noticed that a great many of those who strove to sing or speak were very hoarse. And what wonder Unlike his fellow ministers in Trecynon the Rev J. Richards, Bethel, has kept aloof from the revival, although he has made no attempt to checkmate it. Prayer meetings were held on Sunday at Bethel in common with all the other chapels, but the minister insisted upon observing order,'and in plac- ing under restraint some enthusiasts who had come there to pray for the down- pour of the Spirit. He sternly objected to forced confessions, and urged the necessity of giving the religious feeling an opportu- nity to develop, The sequel was that at Ebenezer the same night many of the revi- valists complained -1 0 mae hi'n galed yn Bethel," and 'impassionate prayers for I tony-hearted Bethel were given vent to. The English churches have not yet caught the infection to any great extent and their ministers have not identified them- selves with the movement. However at Carmel English Baptist Church on Sunday very fervid prayer meetings were held, and several converts were made. The revival wave has reached Cwmaman. Last Sunday several prayer meetings of a very inspiring nature were held at various places of worship. At Aberaman also the power of the revival is being felt. At Siloh Wesleyan Chapel very fervid prayer mee- tings were held on Sunday. On Monday evening a prayer meeting was held at Saron Chapel which was crowded. Several of the converts who have loomed large in the Trecynon meetings attended, and added vigour, vehemence and enthusiasm to the meeting by relating their experiences and appealing passionately—almost hysteri- cally for the visitations of the Spirit. Our Cwmaman correspondent writes: The revival wave has reached Cwmaman, and is causing a large amount of excitement, which is not appreciated by a large number of the inhabitants. A united prayer meet- ing was held at Moriah Aman Congre- gational Church on Sunday evening last, and the building was literally packed with revivalists and sightseers. On Monday evening a young men's prayer meeting took place at 5. whilst at 7 another united meeting was held at Soar Calvinistic Methodist and also at Seion Welsh Baptist on Tuesday evening. The chief character- istics of the meetings are intense excite- ment, endless singing and loud prayers. In the opinion of the elders of the village who remember previous revivals, this one stands alone as being totally difterent from any other. It is the fervent prayer of many Christians who are holding themselves aloof, that the Creator may reveal himself as a God that heareth the prayers of his people, and that the country may be blessed with a revival of God and not of man. MR EVAN ROBERTS AT MOUNTAIN ASH. Mr Evan Roberts arrived at Mountain Ash shortly after ten o'clock on Monday morning, in obedience, he said, to a sum- mons he had received from the Holy Spirit during his stay at Abercynon. Although the news of his coming was only slightly known, large throngs of people had congre- gated at the railway station to receive the young revivalist and his lady supporters, who proceeded at once to the Bethlehem Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, where a ser- vice was held forthwith. The building was quickly crowded to its utmost capacity. Our Mountain Ash correspondent writes :— The spirit of the new revival has undoub- tedly caught on at Mountain Ash. On Sun- day last at most of the places of worship reference was made to the great wave of re- form which is sweeping over South Wales. At Bethania Welsh Congregational Church, some stirring scenes were witnessed, both at the morning and evening services. Bethlehem Welsh Calvinistic Church also shared in the general feeling. On Monday morning at 9 o'clock a prayer meeting was held at Bethlehem when a large number of people attended. The chapel was filling gradually up to ten o'clock when Mr ENan Roberts arrived from Abercynon. The young revivalist quickly went to work and proceeded to address the congregation. He narrated the history of the revival and said it was the outcome of a call from God to his people on earth. Miss R. A. Thomas, the famous contralto next gave a very effec- tive rendering of 0 rest in the Lord." A very touching scene was witnessed when a well-known drunkard who has been im- prisoned for beating his wife, stood up and confessed his conversion. In the afternoon, meetings were held at Bethlehem and Bethania, At the former place, Mr Roberts addressed the crowded congregation for a few minutes before pro- ceeding to Bethania where the-overnow mee- ting was held. At Bethlehem an ex-publican declared himself for the Master, which occurrence had a decided effect on those present. In the evening, meetings were held at Bethlehem, Bethania and Duffryn-st. Chapel, At Bethlehem Mr Roberts ad- dressed a crowded congregation, hundreds being unable to gain admittance. The pro- ceedings were marked with great fervour, the spontaneous prayers and exhortations being interspersed with the singing of some of the old Welsh hymns. A very telling effeet was produced when one of the young lady converts sang Where is my wander- ing boy to-night." A striking scene was also witnessed when a young man stood up in the side of the gallery, and in 'broken English sang Whiter than snow," after- wards declaring that he was a Turk and had travelled round the world. He had come to that meeting quite unconcerned, but it had a most wonderful effect on him. Alto- gether 58 converts were made at Bethlehei-ii alone during the day. At Bethania also the proceedings were marked with very great fervour, and conti- nued until a late hour. At Duffryn-street Chapel the service was conducted by a young Penrhiwceiberite, who thrilled the congregation with an account of his experiences. On Tuesday morning at half past ten, Mr Roberts was announced at Bethania, but long before that hour the place was filled to its utmost capacity. Here also the proceedings were animated and continued until one o'clock. The afternoon meeting was held in Bethle- hem, when the chapel was again filled, many failing to get admittance. The meeting was a very inspiring one. The spontaneous prayers being often inter- rupted by the singing of hymns. Miss R. A. Thomas again made a great impression as also did Miss Annie Davies, one of the Maesteg converts, by their singing of well- known sacred songs. In the evening three meetings were held simultaneously at Bethania, Bethlehem and Duffryn St. Mr Roberts was present at Bethlehem throughout the evening, except for a short interval when he visited Duffryn St. Chapel. A strange looking person was seen to rise in the gallery he was attired in a corduroy suit; he prayed that the revi- val might spread across the borders to England. The young Turk, who prayed and sung the evening before, made a great impression on everybody present, in giving his expe- riences from the pulpit. A lady in the con- gregation asked for prayers for the spread of the revival to Llantrisant, and sang, To save a great sinner like me." At Bethania, the congregation was won- derfully inspired by the prayers of some of the young ladies, who also for the most part led the singing. It was announced at Bethlehem when the meeting ended on Tuesday night at half past twelve, that the total number of those who had expressed their willingness to fol- low the master was 128, but the results of this extraordinary revival are not to be judged by the number of confessed converts, but rather by the very far-reaching influence which it has had and is having on all classes of the community in the district. The one subject in pit. shop and factory is the revi- val and the Bible. THE YOUNG REVIVALIST AT ABER- CYNON Mr Evan Roberts reached Abercynon late on Saturday night, and when the meetings commenced at ten o'clock at the Welsh Methodist Chapel, the central figure of the movement was absent In the big seat were five young ladies who have taken part in the services elsewhere. During the first half hour the proceedings were somewhat cold and formal, and few if any, present foresaw that in less than an hour they would be in the throes of deep religious ecstasy. Mr Roberts delivered a simple but effective address. When speaking of the sufferings of Christ he broke down and resumed his seat. Then a voice started a hymn, and the congregation, the chapel now being crowded, sang it with great feeling. A middle aged woman began to sob, and in- stantly one of the lady evangelists started Diolch iddo." Several conversions fol- lowed, each being accompanied by ecstatic cries of Diolch iddo." Mr Roberts ex- plained that 27 conversions had taken place the previous night at Abergwynfi, and ap- pealed to the women to take their stand on the side of Jesus, adding that the women remained faithful to Him when His disciples deserted Him. Then he spoke to three men in the gallery, a young lady meanwhile praying in Welsh and English. A young lady's voice was heard singing, "I am pray- ing for you," after which Miss Stephens, one of the evangelist's helpers, gave a soul- stirring rendering of "Dyma gariad fel y moroedd." It was announced that 19 con- versions had taken place. The afternoon meeting was held at Bethania Welsh Con- gregational Chapel, and it was speedily filled. An overflow meeting was held in the schoolroom beneath. This meeting was quite different from the one in the morning, and was not characterised by the same stirring scenes. The fame of the evangelist attracted a tremendous crowd in the evening to Bethania Chapel. At that time there was a surging mass outside endeavouring to gain admission, but during the opening prayer a deep silence prevailed, both in and outside the chapel. Then a hymn was sung, in the rendering of which those outside joined. An overflow meeting was again held in the large schoolroom. Among those present were a large number of people who had come from the Rhondda, Pontypridd, and other places. The stirring incidents which occurred during the morning meeting were repeated, a con- siderable number of conversions taking place. The meeting was continued until a late hour. An Abercynon minister writes :—" The Revival has reached Abercynon. Sunday, Mr Evan Roberts, the revivalist, was at Tabernacle Methodist Chapel. The edifice was crowded in the morning, and many proclaimed themselves for Christ and Chris- tianity. In the afternoon the meeting was held at Bethania Welsh Congregational chapel. It was a memorable meeting. Without any persuasion a hymn was sung. Diolch Iddo filled the large building. Then again, under the guidance of the Spirit, a portion of Scripture was read. An- other hymn, many prayers, Amens, and Hosannas filled the whole place. It was evident that all sang, prayed and spoke from their heart. Evan Roberts gave a short address as to the manner of receiving the Spirit. Obedience, he said, was to be given—unquestioned obedience. There was another great meeting in the evening, as well as an overflow in the schoolroom under the chapel. The manner of this meeting was quite different to the others. For a long time the Evangelist called it a hard and heavy meeting. The Spirit was long in making itself felt. But it came at last, and led 63 to proclaim themselves for Christ. In this number were many noto- rious characters. Diolch Iddo" was never sung with greater enthusiasm than at this time. It was grand. The Evangelist was now all smiles and all persuasion. 63 was worthy of a great struggle at the throne of grace. This meeting closed about 10.30. Meetings were again held Monday, Tues- day, and Wednesday. It was very pathetic to listen to a mother's prayer on behalf of her sons, two old drunkards-one for 45 years, the other for 20 years. Really their story was a grand testimony to the power of God's grace. The converts up to the present number over 200, and no doubt by the end of the week this number will be greatly increased. The meetings are really indescribable. To visit them is to feel and to realise the Truth of God. The movement is beyond criticism. It works for good, and what works for good should have the sup- port of all. Onward and possess. Go forth and conquer. Rev. Geo. Eyre Evans, Aberystwyth, "Phillip Sydney" of the Welsh Gazette, preaching at Highland Place Unitarian Church on Sunday, referred to the Revival Movement. Preaching on the words, "And there was silence in heaven for the space of half an hour," he said that the revivals of the churches under John Wesley, and the Oxford Movement under Keble and Newman were movements of real worth. He did not believe there was anything in the present revival that was taking place in their midst. It was by quiet work that good could be accomplished not by the swaying of peo- ple by great revivals, The only revival of real value would be that of personal righteous- ness-a striving after a higher and holier personal life-a revival to make workmen better, to make women sweeter and nobler. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, well-attended prayer meetings were held at Sil a, Bethania. and Seion, Aberdare, res- pectively, conducted by the Revs J. Griffiths, D. Silyn Evans, and T. Manuel. On Wed- nesday evening meetings were held at Ynys- lwyd, Libanus, and Saron Vestry in Aber- aman. All were largely attended and a good many were converted.