THE AWAKENING IN WALES
By Mrs. Jessie Penn- Lewis
ABOUT THIS BOOK
The name of Jessie Penn-Lewis often occurs in works related to the Welsh
revival of 1904, not surprisingly, as she was a major chronicler of the
movement. She wrote an article each week in the "The Life of Faith,"
tracing the course of the spiritual movement first throughout Wales, and
then through many lands and by many individuals. She contributed to a
number of periodicals and produced her own history of the revival called
'The Awakening in Wales - and Some of its Hidden Springs.' She is also
well known for her extreme caution regarding what she perceived to be
possible demonic intrusions in the developing Pentecostal work of her
day, and her later involvement with Evan Roberts.
© Copyright:
The original work is in the public domain
Preface
IN the days of the primitive Church it was considered necessary that a
full and authentic record should be written concerning the coming of the
Holy Ghost, and all the mighty workings which followed His descent into
the upper room at Jerusalem.
When the right time comes such a treatise concerning the outpouring of
the Holy Ghost in Wales in 1904-1905 will be found necessary, for Wales
is "making history "—Divine history—these days. Doubtless, also, the
Lord Himself is preparing a "Luke" for this service!
In view, then, of future history, it becomes the bounden duty of each one
with authentic information to contribute his or her quota to the common
fund. Such a duty lies on me because I have for the past few years been
on the "watch-tower," watching the movements of God, and I may not
withhold from the Church of God what my eyes have seen of His
"mighty works" preparing and leading up to this awakening, which we
trust and pray may be the beginning of the wider fulfilment of the
prophecy of Joel.
The greater part of all that I have written in the following pages is from
first-hand information, which has come in such a way that I could not fail
to see the Lord directing it to me for the purpose of this story, and I am
greatly indebted to the clergy, ministers, and others, who have sent me
various accounts of the work, in some instances having to translate from
Welsh to English—demanding no little labour and time in the midst of
other pressing claims. I have thought it best to omit all names with the
exception of those already publicly connected with the Revival, although
I recognize that in the days of Pentecost the story was told in all its
simplicity of truth— with no thought of honour to the instruments of God
as "they rehearsed all things that God had done with them."
To obtain a wide vision I have also sought to write from the view-point of
the Mount of God. The Spouse in Canticles cries to the sister-bride,
"Come with Me (and) look from the top." May we heed His call, and"
ascend into the hill of the Lord," and "stand in His holy place," whence
we may watch in the world" The voice of the Lord hewing out flames of
fire," and "breaking the cedars." But it is obvious that the following pages
cannot possibly unfold all that the Lord has wrought in the prayermovement,
or His inner workings in the Principality of Wales. Indeed, the
story of His marvellous workings in each of the few centres I have briefly
referred to would easily fill a Chapter of themselves.
I have only placed on record what I know of some of the springs of the
Revival—springs to a great extent hitherto unseen by the world, and I do
this not only for the sake of future history, but because it is of the most
vital importance that the people of God should discern the true
inwardness of God's workings, lest they be occupied with the outward
manifestations, and seek to copy that which only can be produced by God
Himself when His people obey the conditions of blessing. With this
special object in view I have chosen, out of the quantity of material in my
hands, to record those instances of the working of God which emphasise
the aspect I have enlarged upon in my last chapter, i.e., that God works
from the midst of a Spirit-filled people out upon the world. If the "Revival
Dawn" in Wales is to increase to noon-day power, all who long for worldwide
Revival must see to it that they hasten the day by personally
entering the Spirit-filled life, whilst congregations must seek—what may
never have entered their minds before as possible—to have their
"Pentecost."
As I close I cannot refrain from referring to a "romantic coincidence"
which has come to me personally within the last year in the renewal of
my childhood's friendship with Dr. Cynddylan Jones. As a girl of
fourteen I was the little companion of Dr. Jones and my father, who
together were convalescents in a Hydropathic Establishment near Bath,
after serious illness. My father was taken to the heavenly home, and Dr.
Jones was left to continue his ministry for God, little dreaming that the
child who played around him in those days would, in later years, have
the privilege and joy of linked service with him in telling the story of a
great revival in their native land
May the Eternal Spirit use the messages toward the fulfilling of His desire
to lead the Church of God back to Calvary and to Pentecost. Then shall
"the glory of the Lord be revealed, and all flesh see it together, for the
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
Jessie Penn-Lewis
GREAT GLEN, NEAR LEICESTER, April, 1905.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Wales is a land of periodic revivals. In the middle of the eighteenth
century "a love coal from off the altar" touched the lips of Daniel
Rowlands, a clergyman of the Church of England, and inspired him with
a fervour which no opposition could quench. The genteel and respectable
Christians of the period called him the "cracked clergyman" of
Liangeitho. But if he were cracked, the Welsh nation has reason to be for
ever grateful, for through the "cracks" he beheld God and Eternity, and
the vision filled his soul with boundless enthusiasm. In a few years all
Wales was ablaze. People from far and near came to witness the stirring
effects of his preaching; the hearers wept and shouted, thus outraging all
the proprieties. Did that marvellous Revival leave anything behind it of
permanent value to the nation? Yes. First, as the Revival in England left
behind it a new religious Communion, the great Wesleyan Methodist
Church, so in Wales it created a new denomination, the Calvinistic
Methodist Church, which in numbers, influence, and learning, ranks with
the foremost of the denominations in the country. Second, it gave Wales
its Hymnology. Till then the nation had no hymns. Now we have a
heritage of hymns rich beyond compare. These hymns revitalised the
religious life, and as a consequence the nation has moved on a higher
level ever since.
That movement in course of time expended its force. But in the beginning
of the last century another Revival started. John Elias with his theological
sermons, Christmas Evans with his poetical sermons, and Williams of
Wern with his philosophical sermons, travelled the country, proclaiming
the doctrines of grace, each in his own way, overpowering their hearers,
throwing them into a religious ecstasy, and once again the large
congregation shouted and sang with joy. All Wales was like a boiling
cauldron. Gradually the flames of emotion died out. What was left—
ashes? By no means; that convulsion in the spiritual experience of the
population raised the national life to a higher level. Emotionalism? Aye;
but it fed the roots of intellect, infused new life into the Tree of
Knowledge as well as the Tree of Life.
However it be among other nations, in Wales the Life is always the Light.
As the first Revival gave us our Hymnology, so the second gave us our
Theology. Probably there were not men learned enough to write standard
books of their own, but there were many able to translate the standard
works of other authors. Accordingly, under the influence of this Revival,
were rendered into the vernacular of Wales, Dr. Owen on the "Person of
Christ," "Justification," and the "Work of the Holy Spirit "; Matthew
Henry's Commentary, and a number of other Puritan books. Under its
influence Bunyan's Pilgrim learned to speak Welsh on his journey to the
Celestial City! In the absence of light literature, the farmers and the
peasantry spent their long winter evenings pondering over these books,
discussing their teaching in their adult Sunday Schools and their week
evening meetings, with the inevitable result that they became thoroughly
grounded in the fundamental doctrines of Salvation. Puritanism entered
the blood of the Welshman, it still colours his every thought, and can
never be expelled. Hence his aversion to rites and ceremonies—to all
appeals to his aesthetic nature, and his readiness on the other hand to
respond to all appeals to his spiritual nature.
In 1850 the enthusiasm of the former days had quite died out. Church life
was placid even to torpidity. The elderly men and women were calling to
mind the years of the right Hand of the Almighty, and sighing for a wee
bit of a breeze. And in 1859 the third Revival broke out. Humphrey Jones,
a young Wesleyan minister, catching the fire of the American Revival,
crossed the ocean to convey the flame to his native land. He held prayer
and preaching meetings; all the countryside in North Cardigan was
talking of the young Revivalist. Alas! his bodily frame could not stand the
strain, and in three or four months his nervous system broke down, and
he could never face a congregation again. But he had not laboured in
vain, for before his collapse he had imparted the fire to a neighbour of his,
the Rev. David Morgan, a Calvinistic Methodist minister, a man of
splendid physique. The transformation wrought in the latter was simply
miraculous. That which I know I speak, for I was an eye-witness of it all.
He toured the country from Holyhead to Cardiff, spoke as one inspired,
towered high above all his compeers during the three years of his strange
uplifting. Crowds hung upon his lips, the ungodly cried out in agony of
soul, the saints shouted for joy—their noise was like the noise of many
waters. All the country was aflame. It is computed that about 100,000
converts were added to the churches.
There were critics and scoffers then as now. "If, therefore, the whole
church be come together into one place, and all speak, and there come in
those that are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
" (1 Cor. xiv. 23). Literally, will they not say that ye are under the
influence of a demon? That probably was the criticism of unbelievers on
the revival in Corinth; that certainly was their criticism on the revival of
rang in Wales! Fortunately there were others, more sensitive to spiritual
influences, who replied, "Well, well, if this be the work of the devil, he
must be a very new devil to Wales. The old one sent the people to the
public-houses, the new sends them to the churches; the old made them
dance and swear, the new makes them leap and praise."
By their fruits ye shall know them." Emotionalism, extravagance—yes;
but they burnt out the old impurities. Wales was lifted high on the crest
of that revival wave; when the wave subsided, what was left—froth? No,
but higher aspirations after holiness and an intense love of learning. Since
then the number of worshipping places has been doubled, thousands of
schools have been built, and three national colleges established— all
having their roots in the revivification of the religious life of nearly fifty
years ago. The first Revival gave us our Hymnology, the second our
Theology, the third our educational system, which competent authorities
pronounce to be second to none in the world to-day. Every Revival, like
the overflowing of the Nile, leaves a rich deposit behind to fertilize the
national character.
That memorable Revival in the roll of the years spent its force. For the last
ten years the spiritual life in our churches was becoming more and more
depressed. Our best spirits were lamenting the impending lapse of our
fatherland into barbarism. Earnest crying was made unto heaven. For
months we felt there was a vague, indefinite, mysterious something in the
air—a going in the top of the mulberry trees. The godly mothers and
maidens were the first to feel the return of the tide, which for the last few
months have swept all before it. The story of this fourth Revival will be
told in the following pages by one in complete sympathy with all
spiritual movements, and possessing the advantage of understanding
thoroughly the generous impulses of the Celtic heart and the subtle
windings of the Celtic brain. But I may be allowed to indicate two or
three of its outstanding features.
It is independent of all human organisations – straight from heaven.
Missions are revivals. Men can organise the former, not the latter, and it is
a pity the distinction should be so often over-looked. Man's method of
saving the world is by costly and complicated machinery-salvation by
mechanics; but God's method is by vital energy-salvation by dynamics.
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power, the
dynamic, of God unto salvation" (Romans i.16). St. Paul, the missionary,
relying upon prayer and the dynamic power of the Gospel, changed the
face of the Roman Empire. And in Wales to-day all is spontaneous. The
dynamite is working, explosion follows explosion, and already scores of
thousands of rough, hard stones have been loosened from the quarry of
corrupt humanity, and where explosion frequent and powerful take
place, is it to be wondered at that there is tumult and confusion? Better
the confusion of the city than the order of the cemetery.
Much importance is attached to the work of the Spirit, at least in its
initial stages. Heretofore the work of Christ has been the all-important
truth, to the exclusion to a large extent of the doctrine of the Spirit. Much
emphasis has been laid on receiving Christ, scant stress on receiving the
Spirit. Now, however, the question is coming to the forefront, "Have ye
received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (Acts xix. 2). There were
thousands of believers in our churches, who like the disciples St. Paul met
at Ephesus, had received Christ, but had never received the Holy Ghost.
The mark of Christ's blood was upon them, but where was the mark of
the Spirit's anointing? Saved themselves, they made no attempt to save
others. The present Revival, however, whilst not obscuring the doctrine of
the Cross, has brought into prominence the doctrine of the Spirit.
Thousands of Christians, who had received the Christ, have now received
the Holy Ghost, and as a consequence they are filled with the spirit of
service—no task seems to them too hard for Christ's sake.
Whilst this doctrine is by no means new to theology, in the present
movement it has assumed a new forms at least in experience. Orthodoxy
has always conceded that conscience speaks within us; but in practice we
have effected too wide a separation between conscience and the Holy
Spirit. This Revival has again united these. " Something tells me to do this
and avoid that," says the man. "Some Thing," answers the young
Revivalist, "why don't you be honest? Why don't you say Some One? "
And the Revivalist is right. A Thing can never speak. It is not Some Thing
but Some One who speaks, none other than the Third Person in the Holy
Trinity. Does not this invest conscience with grand sacredness? We all
believe in the need of the Spirit to regenerate and sanctify—— to
accomplish the great tasks of life, the works which we know no human
power can effect; but alas! We are not in the habit of introducing the
Spirit into the common acts of our every day life. But the Scripture
teaches us to seek the Spirit's guidance in all things—He is the source of
all prudence and wisdom.
The third feature is enthusiasm, a feature common to all Revivals.
Many Christians who love gentility and moderation would like to receive
the baptism of the Spirit without the baptism of Fire. But what God has
joined cannot be sundered. "He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and
fire " (Matt. iii. II); there is the verse—what will you do with it? There is
only one preposition in the original, not two as in the English, to show the
identity of the two baptisms, or rather that there is but one. Wherever the
Spirit descends He brings fire in His train. "There appeared unto them
cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Hearts of Fire and Tongues of
Flame. Is enthusiasm permissible in every department of life, but
forbidden in church life? A thousand times, No. How speaks the Apostle ?
"Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Fervent, literally, boiling. " Boiling
in spirit." Let none be ashamed of "boiling" in the service of the Saviour.
At all events I prefer the congregations that boil over to the congregations
that will not boil at all. "The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much." Literally, the boiling prayer. The cold prayer even of a good man
will avail nothing in heaven or on earth, but the boiling prayer of a
righteous man has ere now performed wonders, and will perform them
again.
How very cold and formal the prayers of the Church have been for many
a long year! But for the last four months there has been everywhere a
marked change—the prayers have been boiling and whole multitudes
have been thrown into a state of extraordinary fervour. It rejoices me to
see the rising generation boiling with a great enthusiasm in the service of
Christ—the mark of the " boiling will be on them as long as they live.
None are the same after boiling as before. Hundreds of our young men
and women had been brought up religiously in the home and the church;
but their religion was cold, format, following routine. Hardly any of them
had courage enough to bow the knee in public; prayer, with the inevitable
consequence that only aged men engaged publicly in the weekly prayer
meetings.
Behold the difference! Now our young people flock to the services,
prayers flow spontaneously from their lips like water from the spring,
praise ascends to heaven like the carol of birds in spring. No forcing, no
inviting— spontaneity characterises the proceedings from beginning to
end. No one is ashamed of confessing Christ as his or her Saviour—
rather the shame is on the other side. All the chapels are crowded, the
valleys and mountains ring with praise. The following story will show
how gamblers refuse money won by bets made before conversion, how
prize-fighters are now soul winners, how thieves restore stolen goods,
how husbands return to their deserted homes, how enemies are made
friends. Scores of pages can be filled with as striking conversions as any
in the annals of the Christian Church.
Do we justify the extravagances? Not more than Paul justified them at
Corinth (I Cor. xiv.)! We know what they mean, are able to interpret the
tongues. Out of the confusion will emerge order and beauty and life. All
criticisms are met by the prophet's question, "What is the chaff to the
wheat? " (Jer. xxiii. 28).
J. CYNDDYLAN JONES
Dyma Gariad
The "love song" of the Revival.
(English rendering by Principal Edwards, Cardiff)
Here is Love, vast as the ocean,
Loving kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life our ransom
Shed for us His precious blood;
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can newer be forgotten
Through Heaven's everlasting days.
On the Mount of Crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Though the floodgates of Gods mercy
flowed a vast and gracious tide;
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And heaven's peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
Chapter I
The First Pentecost In Jerusalem And Joel's Prophecy
The Prayer-Movement
The Prayer Circles In 1902
The
Renewed Preaching Of The Cross
AFTER the tragedy of Calvary, and the magnificent Resurrection and
Ascension of Him Who is now alive for evermore, the Ascended Lord sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on High, and received of the
Father the "promise of the Holy Ghost" for His redeemed ones as the
fruit of His Cross and Passion. He then poured Him forth upon the
company of men and women gathered together with one accord in the
upper room in Jerusalem—the city where He was crucified.
Giving them commandment "through the Holy Ghost," almost His last
words to them before He ascended had been "I send forth the promise of
My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with
power from on high."
Returning from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem they set themselves to obey,
and with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer until at last the day
dawned, and the Holy Ghost came as the "rushing of a mighty breath."
The word used to describe His advent is significant. The breath of the
Spirit is spoken of by the Lord Jesus to Nicodemus when He told him that
men dead in sin must have a new birth—a birth from above which would
come by the breathing of the Spirit of Life upon them, so that they are
begotten of God. And "the Spirit breatheth where He listeth! Men could
hear and see the effects as with the wind, but not know "whence it
cometh and whither it goeth."
Later on we read that on the first Easter Day the Risen Lord stood in the
midst of His disciples, and, showing them His hands and His side scarred
with the marks of Calvary, breathed on them, saying "Receive ye," or, as
it is literally, "Take ye the Holy Ghost."
We cannot doubt that the disciples received the Holy Ghost when the
Risen Lord breathed upon them, but their immediate after-life shows that
it was not the energising for service and clothing with Divine power,
which the Lord so expressly bade them tarry for ere they attempted
witnessing for Him. The breathing upon them of the Holy Ghost on the
first Easter Day seems to have been the "earnest," or preparation for the
Pentecostal fullness of the Divine Spirit, and they would have sorely
failed to enter into His greater purposes for them had they said "But we
received the Holy Ghost on the day of His resurrection!" and not waited
at Jerusalem until they were "baptised in the Holy Ghost," or clothed
with Him, as the Lord had promised.
But they obeyed and tarried, possibly scarce knowing what the outcome
would be, until suddenly there came from heaven a "rushing mighty
breath." The breath of God which gives the new birth to every believer,
now came forth with such force and volume that it filled the very
atmosphere of the house where they were sitting. The believers were now,
so to speak, submerged in the Holy Ghost, as well as indwelt by Him. In
this intensely surcharged atmosphere the Divine Spirit became
manifest— apparently to sight as well as hearing—and there appeared
unto them tongues like as of fire "distributing themselves," and resting
upon each one present, until each—no matter what the temperament,
education, training, position, sex, or age might be—" began to speak" as
the Spirit gave them utterance.
The city of Jerusalem knew nothing of the little company quietly meeting
and praying in the upper room! But now they could not be hid. Hearing
the sound of voices the multitude came together, and saw the Spirit-filled
company so manifestly under the control of some power which lifted
them out of themselves that some said "They are filled with new wine,"
whilst all were amazed and marvelled, saying, "Are not all these which
speak Galileans? "— untaught, uncultured people from the province of
Galilee.
The world had been going on its way, ignorant of all that God was
silently working in the spiritual realm to bring about the counsels of the
ages.
But now! "What meaneth this? " cries the gathering multitude. Ah,
momentous things had happened in the unseen realm, and all that had
been wrought by the death of the God-Man at Calvary must now be
made manifest to the world that crucified Him! The Third Person of the
Godhead, the Eternal Spirit of the Father, comes forth to bear witness to
the Crucified and Risen Lord, and clothe human beings with Divine
authority as His messengers.
In answer to the charge of being filled with wine Peter rose to speak—the
very man who just a fortnight before had denied his Lord in that same
city. Speaking under the constraint of the Divine Spirit, he said, "This is
that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel:- "And it shall be in the
last days, saith God, I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all flesh; and your
sons and your daughters shall prophesy . . . . on My servants, and on My
handmaidens in those days will I pour forth of My Spirit; and they shall
prophesy."
Let us mark the words, for they vitally concern the people of God to-day.
"This is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel," said the
Apostle. Not "this is the entire fulfilment of the prophecy." It is written "
I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all flesh," and this speaks of a larger
circle than one hundred and twenty men and women. Yea, a larger circle
than even the three thousand and five thousand souls, and "multitudes"
more of men and women so quickly "added to the Lord." The words
undoubtedly foretell a wider fulfilment of the prophecy than took place
at Pentecost.
Joel said "in those days will I pour out My Spirit." The expression "is in the
long Hebrew tense, expressing continuance of action, literally an
incoming, unfinished, and continuous outpouring.' It therefore appears that
the words '' in those days cover the whole dispensation of the Spirit,
beginning with the day of Pentecost. The purpose of God was manifestly
a beginning in the upper room; and a continuing upon wider and wider
circles as the overflowing stream of life reached the "uttermost parts of
the earth "; but alas, alas, the Church, instead of abiding in a Pentecostal
condition, drifted further and further away from it. Nevertheless the
Word of God standeth sure. The Church shall be brought back to her
Pentecost when she knows her need and turns to the Lord.
In the prophecy of Joel we see foreshadowed under the figure of "rain"
the work of the Holy Ghost. Joel speaks of the Lord's response to the cry
of His people, when He would cause to come down for them the "former
rain " and the "latter rain", then AFTERWARD should come the
outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh, and a time of such manifestly
supernatural workings of the Spirit, that whosoever would simply "call"
on the name of the Lord should be delivered. The "former rain" was
always given in Palestine to cause the seed sown to germinate and grow
into maturity. The "latter rain" was looked for as essential to the
plumping out of the grain for its ripening and fitting for harvest. How
clear the forecast of the purposes of God toward His people in the Gift of
the Holy Ghost.
We need not now attempt to trace the Divine movements in the world
preceding the first Pentecost. Were we to do so, we should find them
strikingly parallel with those in recent years, when the condition of the
professing Christian Church has become similar to the Jewish Church at
the close of the dispensation before the Messiah appeared.
It will be sufficient for us to emphasise that Joel's prophecy clearly sets
forth the preparation of the people of God by a seeking unto God in
prayer. We read that they are brought by His providential dealings to a
consciousness of their need, and are summoned to leave all their interests,
and with one accord to seek His face; then would come the Lord's
response in overflow of personal blessing, and the pouring out of His
Spirit in such measure that the world should be touched, and sinners call
upon the Lord. The first Pentecost at Jerusalem exactly fulfilled this
forecast. Bereft of the One Who had been with them in bodily presence as
Teacher and Guide; faced with His command to go forth and disciple all
nations; conscious of their powerlessness to fulfil this commission, and of
their lack of position, culture, knowledge, and all the resources which
would command the attention of the world to their message, the little
company of disciples gathered with one accord to pray until they were
equipped with power from on high.
PRAYER preceded the first Pentecost, and PRAYER must precede the
wider outpouring of the Spirit in the last days, therefore the true
members of Christ all over the world must be drawn by the Spirit within
them into one accord in asking God to pour forth His Spirit according to
His word. The extent of the one will govern the extent of the other, for
prayer prepares the channels for the Holy Spirit to fill, and flow out
through into the world.
The question therefore arises as to whether there has been in recent years
any indication of the special preparation of the Church for the wider
fulfilment of Joel's prophecy. If we find this to be so, our faith will be
strengthened, and our vision cleared, to see that the Revival in Wales may
be the beginning of the "latter rain" which shall prepare the Church of
God for the Lord's appearing, and draw into the kingdom all who willeth
to be saved.
To obtain a wide vision, let us in heart and mind now ascend into the
secret place of the Most High, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the
blood of Jesus, and look out with Him upon the world, and watch the
movings of His Spirit among His people. We may only find the veil lifted
here and there, and obtain but glimpses into His workings, but these will
suffice to give insight into His preparations over the earth for the
fulfilment of His purposes toward men.
We will go in thought back to the year 1898 or 1899, and glancing into an
Institute in America see gathered there three to four hundred children of
God, meeting every Saturday night to pray for a "world-wide revival." In
this Institute we find men and women from every clime seeking
equipment for the preaching of the Gospel. Their hearts yearn over their
own lands, and "world-wide" must be the blessing which they seek. After
a time a few began to stay in prayer late at night, and ceased not until the
early hours of the Sabbath morning. Among them was one who was their
Leader. Conscious that they who pray must be ready to be instrumental
in answering their own prayers, he offers himself to God for any special
service in the bringing about of the prayed-for Revival.
Rapidly we cross in vision to another far-away land, and in Australia find
a band of ministers and laymen who have met for eleven whole years
every Saturday afternoon, pleading with God for a "big revival." In the
wondrous chain of the Divine workings, we next see a messenger called
out from the heart of the praying company in America, to be one of the
instruments in Australia, of God answering these prayers—the very one
who had laid himself at the feet of the Lord of the harvest, ready for all
His commands.
In 1901 we look into the great city of Melbourne, and see fifty missioners
holding services in fifty different centres of the city, whilst 40,000 praying
souls meet in two thousand homes for "home" prayer meetings,
encircling the city with prayer. Many meet for half nights of prayer, and
Melbourne is moved from end to end by the mighty movings of the Spirit
of God.
We come again in swift thought back to Great Britain, and look in at the
huge meetings of five thousand Christians gathered at Keswick in July,
1902. Hark! The story of the "home prayer circles" around Melbourne is
being told. Hearts of workers are burdened and sad. Weary of
organisation and effort, no fresh "Prayer Union" would appeal to them,
but quickly the spark from the fire in Australia falls into many hearts.
"Home prayer circles!" The "twos and threes" of those who are truly
burdened for "world-wide revival!" Ah, this is the call of God! If a city
may be thus girdled with prayer, why not the world? Quickly are the
names of those who are drawn of God to pray sent in from all parts of the
earth, until thousands of praying hearts were circling the globe with
prayer. It is God's prayer union gathered and guided by Him, with no
organization, no membership fee, no staff, but just the few who register
the names as a labour of love for souls. And the prayer was now for the
"outpouring of the Spirit!" In other words, a Pentecost to the Church of
God.
Just one month earlier, in far-away India the Divine Spirit laid the same
burden upon the servants of God, and guided them—without any
conscious connection with the prayer-movement in other lands —to form
a prayer-circle of those who would unite to plead for the outpoured Spirit
upon that dark and needy land. Manifestly the Spirit of God was
simultaneously moving the people of God in various parts of the world to
pray for the same thing, and creating the cry for that which He was
preparing to do.
Later we shall see how the year 1902, when the circles of prayer were
formed, stands out as the time when world-wide the praying people of
God—— including, we doubt not, many prayer-groups, and praying
hearts, not visibly linked with the world wide circles—united in one
accord to ask for the promised Pentecost.
It is significant also that in this year of 1902 a pamphlet entitled "A
Revival Call to the Churches" was issued, and obtained a wide
circulation, and another pamphlet called "Back to Pentecost," issued the
same year, showed how God was leading the thoughts of His people, and
preparing them for His purposes of grace.
Can we discern any immediate effects of the world-girdling prayer?
Within a year there began to be signs of awakening in various quarters,
and the "Voice of the Lord" was "upon the waters," but not yet any
movement of the Spirit which could be said to bear to the eyes of the
world the characteristics of Pentecost.
As in the days of Anna and Simeon, there were many hidden souls in the
secret of His counsels. One such was present at Keswick at the time of the
call to prayer. She had offered herself to Him some two years before this
for the special service of intercession, and the story of His dealings is best
told in her own words:-
"I had read words to this effect, 'If even one life could be fully
surrendered to God to use as He wanted for prayer, most wonderful
results would follow—and He needs such an one.' Then I knelt down,
and very humbly told Him if He would take me and use me for prayer, I
would be willing. When I said fully from my heart, 'Yes, Lord,' it seemed
as if a hand was placed on me pressing me lower and lower, until I had
no life left in me—and I wept.
For some months I was used for prayer in small things, but one day about
six months later all was utter darkness. As usual I went to Him, but the
darkness continued for about a week. Then one morning, about ten
o'clock, the agony became terrible, and I cried, 'Lord, what is it?' He
answered, 'Come with Me, and I will show you the sin in this place.' We
seemed to go into all the worst parts of the district, and I saw sin as never
before. I cried out for the people. The prayer was, '0 Lord, send a Revival
into this place.' Then came perfect peace until the next morning at the
same time, when the Lord called me again, and took me further afield.
The same thing happened for a whole week until I was agonizing for a '
World-wide Revival,' as He took me into places where the Gospel had
never been heard. Then all this ceased.
From this time I was watching for the Revival, and wondering how the
Lord would send it. When we heard of any special one being used, I went
to the Lord and said, 'Is this Thine instrument, Lord?' and He answered, '
Only one, child. Again I went about another much-used soul, and the
same answer came, with this addition, 'I have something more than this.'
At Keswick in 1902—the first I had ever attended—'Prayer Circles' were
announced for a 'World-wide Revival.' Then I went to the Lord and cried,
'Lord, why must they pray for what Thou hast already promised?' Then
He said, 'This Revival is an accomplished fact in My Kingdom,' and I
said, 'Why does it not come, Lord, without these Prayer Circles? He
replied, 'I am ready, but My children are not. Before it comes they must
preach the word of the Cross—the message of Calvary.'
"I am ready, but My children are not," shows that the world-wide circles of
prayer were mainly necessary for the purpose of creating desire among
the people of God, and preparing the channels for the coming "rain."
"They must preach the Cross," tells us also that God Himself cannot send
"Revival" until the Gospel of Calvary is proclaimed.
But now with one accord the cry has ascended to heaven. The Christ
upon His Throne is ready to bless. The blood of the Son of God which has
been "trodden under foot," and counted "a common thing," shall be
borne witness to from heaven.
Whither shall we now turn our eyes to see His workings. Can we perceive
a marked renewal of the preaching of the Cross? Yea, verily. Early in 1903
the records in the papers showed on every side that the messengers of
God were being led by Him to proclaim afresh the message of Calvary. At
annual meetings, opening services, and special conferences, the key-note
again and again was the "Need for direct preaching of the Cross," whilst
a well-known religious paper remarked that there were "welcome signs
of reversal to the old Gospel of Calvary."
In the light of all this it is significant to find that at the Keswick
Convention of 1903, when the windows of heaven were opened, and the
Holy Spirit swept as an overflowing stream over the huge gatherings of
five thousand men and women—many of them come from distant parts
of the earth to seek the power of the Holy Ghost—He unveiled to them in
fresh and vivid power the Cross of Calvary, for almost every servant of
God entrusted with His messages proclaimed with one accord the "Word
of the Cross" as the power of God to save from the bondage as well as the
guilt of sin, and "crucified with Christ" as the secret of deliverance was
the theme on every hand.*
In 1902 the Holy Ghost had drawn His people to pray for a World-wide
Revival, and in 1903 the Eternal Spirit broke forth upon the people of God
gathered from the ends of the earth, and leads them back to CALVARY.
Moreover, in this same year of 1903, in far-away India the Spirit of God
unveiled to one of His honoured servants the Cross of Calvary in new
and vivid power, revealing to him that for forty years He had been
preparing him for the work of sending forth the "Word of the Cross to
every tongue and tribe and nation," in millions of booklets containing the
full-orbed message of Calvary.
Yes, truly prayer must prepare God's people for the moving forth of the
Spirit in Pentecostal power, and when the Holy Spirit comes forth He
bears witness to Calvary, as in the days of the first Pentecost in Jerusalem.
"O! ANFON DI YR YSBRYD GLA N."
Oh! send Thy Holy Spirit, Lord,
In Jesu's blessed name,
Oh ! let Thy Spirit now descend
In tongues of sacred flame!
According to Thy promise, Lord,
Shed freely from above
The Holy Spirit in His strength
To manifest Thy love.
Chapter II.
The Principality Of Wales
The Prophet Of The Revival
- His Last Message To Wales In 1903 - The First
Llandrindod Convention In August, 1903.
"The sound of abundance of rain." I KINGS xviii. 41.
BUT where in these days can be found the conditions necessary for the
mighty working of God? It must be, and can only be, where the
Atonement of Christ is proclaimed, and the Scriptures accepted sincerely
as the Word of the living God.
We look towards the little Principality of Wales, and find these conditions
there. Speaking generally the pulpit has been true to the Evangelical faith
in all its essentials, and the gospel of the grace of God has been faithfully
preached to the people. The nation has clung, as a whole, to the faith of
their fathers—the exception being the few who have been touched by the
spirit of criticism and unbelief so prevalent in other lands. True the
people may have been living upon the traditions of the past, yet there has
not been departure from the "faith once for all delivered to the saints."
Wales has also had special advantages in its Sunday schools, where
people of all ages gathered to learn the Word of God, and earnest efforts
were directed to make the teaching effectual by systematic study and
Scripture examinations. Then, again, we find the congregational festivals
for singing placing the words of hymns full of the message of Calvary
into the people's memories. Groups of churches would practice the same
selection of hymns through the winter, and then a day would be set apart
for a festival under the conductor-ship of a leading musical teacher. The
late Joseph Parry, Mus. Doc., said, in conducting one of these festivals not
long before he died, that the coming revival would be a singing one! With
the Gospel of Calvary in their minds, and the hymns about Calvary in their
memories, the nation needed but the breath of God to quicken their
traditional faith into living power.
The All-Wise God looks forth upon the world, and finds here in this little
country the conditions necessary for the breaking forth of His Spirit in
Pentecostal power.
Let us see whether there are traces of the "prayer movement" in the
Principality. We do not know whether the story of the world-girdling
prayer circles reached many in Wales, but we find the Holy Spirit
creating in individuals, and groups of twos and threes, the very same cry
He was calling forth all over the world.
In 1901 the Lord drew near to one of His servants in the ministry, and
gave him such a revelation of His glory that he cried, like Isaiah, "Woe is
me," and entered on a life in God unknown before. Then, in a quiet spot
on the banks of a Welsh river, burdened over the spiritual condition of
the country, he spent hours in prayer, pleading with God with many tears
that He would come forth in power and work in the land. Again, in a
quiet town in the western part of Wales, we hear of two and three women
meeting together for prayer during several years, pleading for "Revival"
among the women of the town.
We go to the Rhondda Valley, where afterwards the Spirit of God swept
with great power, and hear of some who for years had been pleading for
a Revival which should "sweep over the whole world." We do not
wonder that such souls are taken in to the secrets of God, the Holy Spirit
saying to one of them just three days before the valley was moved by the
mighty tide of life, " Get thee up . . . there is the sound of abundance of rain."
We find in Monmouthshire the hand of the Lord upon two sisters, one an
invalid, who, during 1903-1904, were burdened over the prevalence of
sin, and the increase of crime in the county, one sister saying, tearfully, "I
cannot sleep day nor night because my dear Lord is despised and set at
naught." Another child of God—a retiring, timid lady— bemoaning the
deadness of the churches, said, "I shall die unless God exerts His power,
and sends a Revival!"
We hear of three ministers of the Gospel meeting together in May, 1903,
for prayer and conference, drawn together by a sense of need; utterly
dissatisfied with their own Christian experience, and distressed at the
condition of their churches, with worldliness and apathy among their
officers and members. Once again we see it is a group of three! They
decided to form a "prayer circle," and fixed 10 o'clock each morning as
the time to pray for each other and their churches. This prayer-group we
shall refer to again, but just here it throws light upon the Spirit drawing
forth prayer in Wales in unconscious accord with the world-wide circles
of prayer. The Spirit of God was manifestly brooding over the land, and
doubtless there are many names recorded in heaven of others burdened
with a similar consciousness of need, who were drawn out in Spirittaught
prayer, both in the ordinary prayer-meetings of the Churches, and
Young People's Societies, as well as alone, with God.
In the momentous year of 1902—the prayer-movement year, we may call
it—as we look toward Wales we see also a figure standing out like Moses
on Pisgah's mount, beholding the land of far distances. One who has
since been called the "prophet of the Revival." The late Dean Howell, of
St. David's, or "Llawdden,"—to use his bardic name. A dignitary of the
Church of England, like Solomon, he had "largeness of heart even as the
sand that is on the sea-shore!" so that he was beloved of all sections of the
people as a saintly man of God, a patriot, preacher-orator, and bard.
In the closing month of 1902, in his far-away home on the extreme
western point of the Principality, at the age of 83, " Llawdden" looks out
upon his beloved land. Conscious of standing on the brink of eternity,
with earth-born things fading from his gaze, and the light of heaven
shining upon him, he sends out a message to his countrymen, since
realised to be wondrously prophetic of the Revival.
The Dean first gave a vivid sketch of the spiritual dearth in the land, and
then in powerful language emphasised he only remedy to be a spiritual
awakening. He appealed to all to "create a circle of implorers" who would
cry to God in the words of Isaiah, "Oh, that Thou wouldest rend the
heavens, and come down." Then beseeching his readers to consecrate
themselves to make a revival the chief end of their desire, he closed with the
following memorable words :— "Take notice, if it were known that this
was my last message to my fellow-countrymen throughout the length
and breadth of Wales before being summoned to judgment, and the light
of eternity already breaking over me, and it is this—the chief need of my
country, and my dear nation at present is a SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
THROUGH A SPECIAL OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY GHOST."
The message was issued in a Welsh Magazine in January, 1903, and
caused a deep impression throughout the Principality. It proved indeed
to be his last message, for shortly after its issue the aged Dean passed to
his heavenly reward.
"A spiritual revival through the outpouring of the Holy Ghost" was just what
God was leading His people all over the world to pray for, and even then
beginning to send upon the Principality of Wales. But before we watch
the rising of the tide we must again return to the "Prayer Circle,"
Keswick, of 1902.
At Keswick that same year were found two Welsh ministers who told
how thirteen Welsh people, gathered in 1896 at the Keswick Convention,
met together one afternoon for a prayer meeting for Wales, asking God
Himself to give to Wales a similar Convention for the deepening of the
spiritual life. For six years this petition lay before the Lord, until in the
seventh year—which in the Scriptures always speaks of God's fulness of
time—the Lord's time to answer had come.
Again without using any of the usual "machinery" the Spirit of God
immediately began to move toward the arrangement of a Conference for
Wales, by a series of steps of such remarkable guidance, and wonderful
coincidences, that so far as anything can be said to be wrought of God,
with the least touch of human hand, so far can it be said that God Himself
arranged, and brought to fruition, the Convention which became one of
the channels for the rivers of life to Wales. When in September, 1902, the
aged Dean was asked whether, in his judgment, the time was ripe for
such a Conference for Wales, he stood, and with his hands raised, and his
eyes lifted heavenward, he said, "I am an old man on the edge of eternity,
and I say that if such a Conference could take place, God-given and not
man-made, it would be an incalculable blessing to Wales."
From this time on, with much prayer and wise counsels, he entered into
all the detailed arrangements for the Conference, giving his very last
strength and labours to the furthering of what he believed would tend to
bring about the "spiritual high tide" which he, at this very time, urged
upon his countrymen as " the chief need of Wales."
Meanwhile the Spirit of God was working in the Principality. We have
referred to the group of three ministers who banded together for prayer
in May, 1903. They were conscious that the first step to blessing for their
churches was to get right with God themselves. They agreed to pray
daily, but they could not see clearly the way of the better life. In their
perplexity they decided to write to a well-known London minister,
begging him, if possible, to find time to meet a company of ministers in
Glamorganshire to give them spiritual counsel and help. He replied that
he could not come just then, but told them of the coming Conference,
when he would gladly give them a private interview.
At the very same time—the spring of 1903—in a district in
Glamorganshire, four young men, only 18 years of age, were found on a
mountain-side holding a prayer-meeting, and pleading with God for a
revival in their church, which was in a cold and formal state, converts
being few and far between. It transpired that these young men had held
their prayer-meeting on the mountain every night for a month past!
When this prayer-circle became known, the majority of the church
viewed the proceedings with suspicion, and some ignored or mocked the
"enthusiasm" of the lads. But they continued to pray on the mountainside
for two whole months, and, to the astonishment of the church,
people joined them, and prayed with them, who never visited any place
of worship! Some twelve or fourteen were now praying fervently for a
revival, until at length the church members were touched, and all became
moved with a spirit of prayer and passion for souls. The meetings
attended only by four at first now increased to scores, and all testified to
the power of God in a special manner.
By this movement among the young people the Pastor himself was drawn
to the searching of his own heart and life, asking himself whether he was
fully surrendered to Christ, and had received the Holy Ghost. Finally he
entered a new plane of spiritual experience and knowledge of the power
of God.
There are many other indications of the river of God beginning to rise in
the early months of 1903, and unmistakable signs of God working in
preparation for some mighty movement of the Spirit. At this crucial
point, by the providence of God, came the long-prayed-for Conference,
which was held at Llandrindod Wells in August, 1903.
The gatherings were strikingly representative, numbers of clergy and
ministers from all parts of the Principality being present, together with
some forty of the ministers and evangelists of the "Forward Movement"
of the Presbyterian Church of Wales.* So noticeable was the ministerial
attendance that a well-known missioner involuntarily remarked, " Wales
may be the cradle of the evangelists for the coming Revival!"
There was no set programme for the meetings. The messages of the
Lord's messengers bore directly upon the experimental aspect of the Holy
Spirit's work in the believer. The putting away of all known sin,
deliverance through identification with Christ in His death, and the
definite reception of the Holy Ghost as an absolute necessity for all in the
service of God, was emphasised, and carried home to hearts by the power
of God in such intensity, that on the last two days it was manifest to all
that the Spirit of God had come down in the midst.
And what of the group of three who had sought the help of the London
minister? One wrote: "Six of us went! [to the Conference.] But the history
of that week can never be written—some believed, some doubted, some
rebelled! But in a few days each one entered the promised land. We have
met once a month ever since, coming from long distances, and we spend
a quiet day with God. Our meetings have been indescribable, and we
have had a number of Pentecosts."
Many of the ministers and workers returned to their various spheres of
labours with new visions and new hopes. As one said, "a new world" had
opened to them—and they could not but lead others in! Local
conventions began to be held in various places, and the ministers
themselves became channels of blessing to their fellow ministers. One
Pastor writes that later in 1903, he came in contact with one of these, and
saw at once that he had a spiritual experience which he himself had not,
but which he had for months been seeking. It was not long before he, too,
received the fullness of the Holy Ghost.
Chapter III.
The Life-Stream At New Quay In February, 1904
The Second Convention At Llandrindod, August, 1904
- A Midnight Prayer-Meeting
- The Rivers Rising In The Autumn.
"Waters issued out from under the threshold." — EZEK. xlvii, I
ON the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem the Spirit of God came upon all the
company gathered in the upper room, but when the multitude came
together it was Peter whom He chose to interpret to the people what had
happened, but Peter could not have reaped the three thousand souls
without the co-service of the one hundred and nineteen who, with him,
had been filled with the Holy Ghost.
It has been said of the Awakening in Wales that it is the "Acts of the
Apostles up-to-date." And we cannot but think that this is so, not only in
its manifestations, but in the way in which the Pentecost has come upon
the land. The movement is Divine and Heaven-born—and so was
Pentecost. Yet in Jerusalem the Spirit of God did not come first upon the
multitudes, but upon the company in the upper room, and through them into
the world in exact fulfilment of the Lord's words, "I will send Him unto
you. And He will convict the world." (John xvi. 7, 8).
The law of the Holy Spirit's working has not changed, and we should
doubtless find, were we able to see all as known to God, that He has had
His "120" in Wales, prepared by Him to be channels for the outflowing
Spirit in this great awakening. It is important for the children of God in
other countries to realise this, so that they may yield themselves to Him,
that through them He may send rivers of life to " all nations" in this day
of His power.
Let us look again from the Mount of God, and watch the way that the lifestreams
began to break out in divers places.
We will turn our eyes first to Cardiganshire, to a little township called
New Quay, lying on the fringe of Cardigan Bay, and fifteen miles from a
railway station. Here in this out-of-the-way place the Lord had quietly
been preparing instruments for the coming Pentecost.
With one of the strange coincidences which makes partnership with the
Holy Ghost in service more romantic than any earthly romance, the Allseeing
Lord ordained that one of the mightiest rivers should have its rise
in the native place, and childhood's church, of one of the ministers who
asked of God at Keswick blessing for his native land!
In the momentous year of 1902 a minister in New Quay—whose great
grandfather was one of the first band of preachers organised by Howell
Harris—had been aroused to spiritual need by the words of a friend from
India, and of another who told him he feared he was "backsliding," as he
noticed the absence of pathos in his voice when preaching! Aroused to a
sense of need for greater blessing in his ministry, he sought this through
Bible Study and books on prayer, until at last he entered into a fuller life
in reading Dr. Andrew Murray's book, "With Christ in the School of
Prayer."
The conviction grew upon him that the Spirit of God alone must save the
church and the world. Meeting another minister in November, 1903, they
exchanged confidences over the burden on their hearts about the
churches, and their need of more abundant life. Neither of these brethren
had attended the Llandrindod Conference, but after prayer they
determined to recommend to the Presbytery that a Convention for the
deepening of the spiritual life be held. The Missioners chosen were three,
who received, to use the words of one, "fresh inspiration at
Llandrindod." In the choice of these messengers God again showed
Himself far above the ways of men. The whole district of South
Cardiganshire is essentially Welsh, scarcely more than one English chapel
being within a radius of twenty to thirty miles, yet one speaker was a
minister who rarely preached in anything but English, the other was one
who never preached in Welsh, and the third—the wife of one—a lady
who had never spoken in public, excepting once at the " Forward
Movement" meetings following the Conference at Liandrindod !
The Convention was for delegates, and there was only one public
meeting, but at this meeting, through the words of the handmaid of the
Lord, the heart of a young girl was touched, the consequences of which
she, or others, little dreamed of at the time.
Meanwhile the Pastor of the church had been moved of God in the same
November (1903) to commence a Young People's Meeting in order to
counteract the worldly spirit growing among them. One Sunday evening
in January, 1904, the pastor preached from the text "This is the victory
that overcometh the world." He was strangely drawn out to describe the
world as he saw it then depicted before his spiritual vision. To his private
house that evening the afore-mentioned young girl wended her way. Shy
and retiring, she knew not how to tell him the burden on her soul. She
walked up and down outside the house for half-an-hour, and then,
gaining courage to enter, said, "Oh, how can I tell you! I cannot live like
this. I saw the 'world' in your sermon to-night. I am under its feet. Help
me." After some conversation the Pastor found that she thought she was
saved, but she was afraid to yield entirely to the Saviour, and own Him as
Lord. "He may ask me things difficult," she said, and she would not that
night commit herself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
On the following Sunday morning, in February, 1904, the Spirit of God
bade the Pastor introduce some new feature into the Young People's
Meeting held after the morning service, and then it came to him to ask for
testimony, definite testimony, as to what the Lord had done for their own
souls.
One or two rose to speak, but it was not testimony. It was just then that
the same young girl— shy, nervous, intelligent—stood up in tears, and
with clasped hands simply said with deep pathos, "Oh, I love Jesus Christ
with all my heart." Instantly the Spirit of God appears to have fallen upon
the gathering, and all were deluged with tears. It was the beginning of the
visible manifestation of the Spirit breaking out in life-streams which
afterwards would touch thousands of souls.
As at Pentecost, the blessing was soon noised abroad. Doors began to
open on every hand, and the young people, led by their minister,
conducted meetings throughout the south of the county, the Lord
working with them in manifest power. But as yet the world knew little of
what was going on.
In August, 1904, the second Convention at Llandrindod took place, when
the testimony meeting revealed how deep a work had been wrought in
1903. A minister, writing to the "Goleuad "—a Welsh paper—said that at
the 1904 Conference many saw a door of hope for revival in Wales in the
near future." Referring to the testimony meeting he said :—
"It was a luxury to hear ministers and laymen giving expression to the
change that had taken place in their ministry and in their own personal
lives since the Convention of 1903. Reference was made to a more intense
consecration, to habits set aside, to a fuller dependence on the power of
the Holy Ghost, and the many souls born in consequence thereof. Some
testified that the Bible was a new book to them; others that prayer was
easier and more powerful than it used to be . . . . .It is manifest that better
days are about to dawn, and blessed are those believers who are willing
now to consecrate themselves as worthy mediums for the Holy Ghost in
the next revival."
The Spirit of God broke forth again in glorious power that momentous
week in 1904, and none will ever forget the closing morning meeting,
when overcome by the revelation of the fullness of redemption purchased
for the sinner by Jesus Christ our Lord, with hands raised and bowed
heads, the audience sang again, and again, and again, "Crown Him Lord
of all." Neither will the message that night on '' Exuberance of life in
Jesus Christ '' ever be forgotten. Truly God was leading His people into
open vision of Himself, and preparing them for the exuberant life which
He has since shown in object-lesson before the eyes of the world.
All through 1903 and 1904 the underground currents were quietly
deepening and sometimes breaking out to the surface, until the time drew
near when the flood-gates opened and the Spirit of God broke out upon
the land as a "tidal-wave" sweeping all things before it, or, to use another
figure, as a "forest fire" consuming all things it touched.
We have seen the beginning of the life-streams in New Quay in February,
1904. Let us follow to their churches some of the ministers who entered
into the Spirit-filled life in August, 1903. They tell of a midnight prayermeeting
at the 1904 Conference, when they all consecrated themselves
afresh to God for His use, and definitely asked the Lord to raise up some one
to usher in the Revival! A month later two of their churches were in the
midst of a mighty awakening, when scores were converted!
One returned to his people, and urged upon them the fullness of the
Spirit for every believer. This soon aroused attention, and the subject
became talked about by the colliers at work. Some opposed, but some
yielded, and several young men surrendered to be possessed by the Holy
Ghost. At the end of September prayer-meetings began to be held on
every week-night, until the schoolroom was filled, and they had to
adjourn to the chapel, where again they gathered every night for three
weeks longer. The prayer-meetings were then intermingled with
testimony meetings, and afterwards special services were held conducted
by one of the ministers who had entered the Spirit-filled life. At these fifty
found the Saviour, and large numbers of young people received in actual
experience their "Pentecost." By the end of the year one hundred and
twenty souls were added to the Lord.
Another minister who entered the Spirit-filled life in 1903 returned to his
church fervently praying for an outpouring of the Spirit, and slowly signs
began of better things approaching. People in the church who had taken
offence with each other were reconciled. Unity prepared the way of the
Lord, and then on November 20, 1904, the Spirit of God broke out. The
Pastor had been preaching at a mission station in the morning, but
passing the mother-church on his way home, he entered, and found the
service still on. Something had occurred! There was not a dry eye in the
place! The people were shedding tears and smiling at the same time. One
of the elders, in a broken voice, said that they had experienced a most
wonderful meeting. The Holy Spirit had come in such mighty power that
they decided to dispense with Sunday school and sermons and spend the
day in prayer and praise. "Under normal conditions it would be
necessary to give due notice of re-arrangements of this kind, and to have
them sanctioned by a church meeting," writes the Pastor, " but now the
Holy Spirit took possession heeding not our arrangements, and no one had
the courage or the desire to protest!" From this time meetings were held
every night, and some of the young people became possessed by the
Spirit to such a remarkable degree that the "Acts of the Apostles became
more intelligible" to all. Many were led into full surrender to Christ as
King, and gave soul-stirring testimonies. Those who had hitherto taken
but a passive interest in the work of the church sprang forward, and
became bold witnesses for Christ. Open-air meetings were organised
when even young women raised their voices in testimony, and those who
had been too diffident to take part in public service, now did not hesitate
to speak even to drunkards coming out of public-houses, and kneel down
and pray for them in the open streets.
Another minister returned to his church bearing witness to the Spiritfilled
life, and signs of blessing began in September, 1903, as a deep thirst
for better things slowly grew among the members. In July, 1904, the
Pastor commenced a special meeting after the ordinary evening service,
particularly for those who desired to live the Spirit- filled life. The Holy
Spirit came upon that meeting in such manifest power that all present
were overwhelmed, and remarkable testimonies were afterwards given
by many. On a later Sunday evening, the Spirit of God broke forth again
in the ordinary service. Strong men were broken down, and said
afterwards that they felt as if they must shout to relieve their pent-up
feelings. Several young men gave themselves to Christ in this service.
Sunday after Sunday the place was filled by the Holy Ghost, and several
conversions took place. At the close of one service held in October all who
desired to consecrate themselves to the Lord, and go out and seek the
lost, were asked to meet in the schoolroom, and here the "Revival" began.
Souls were saved night after night for weeks succeeding.
"But," writes the Pastor, "although we had completed ten weeks of
prayer meetings, and many souls were gathered in, I still felt the church as
a whole had not received her Pentecost. Early in December 1904, in a
memorable prayer meeting several crossed the line, and entered the
promised land. Some men were so literally filled with the Spirit that
others could have said 'They are drunk with new wine.' A great passion
for souls took possession of many hearts from this time, and in one week
seventy souls were gathered in. Many made public confession of sins, and
consecrated themselves to Christ. After 11 o'clock one Saturday night ten
men yielded to the Saviour, and over one hundred and fifty confessed
Christ ere 1904 closed. The whole movement without doubt had its origin
in my own awakening. After I surrendered all conscious sin and yielded
entirely to Christ, a new power was immediately felt in my ministry.
Now I have a NEW church, with a large number of men and women who
have been filled with the Holy Spirit, and are used to win souls."
Chapter IV.
New Quay In September, 1904
The Blaenanerch
Convention
- The Spirit-Baptism Of Evan Roberts
- Loughor In November, 1904
- The Tidal Wave And Its Results.
"The waters were risen, waters to swim in." EZEK. xlvii. 5.
We now go back to Cardiganshire to watch the outcome of the blessing
given at New Quay in February, 1904. In September, 1904, the Rev. Seth
Joshua, the Connexional Evangelist of the "Forward Movement," visited
New Quay for a Mission, and found the Holy Spirit working in such a
remarkable way that he at once said he felt it betokened a great Revival.
The Presence of the Spirit in the meetings was like the "wind" moving
upon the people. The singing, prayers, testimonies, and exhortations were
all full of vital breath. The meetings would be closed two or three times,
but others would cry for mercy or break out in joyful thanksgiving.
Strong men and women wept under the power of a young girl's prayer.
Many of the young people had manifestly received a baptism of power.
The love among the believers was intense, and the tenderness of prayer
for others irresistible.
From New Quay the Evangelist went to Newcastle Emlyn, wherein there
was a Preparatory School for students for the ministry. At the services
conducted by Mr. Joshua some students manifestly received the power of
the Holy Ghost, among whom was Sydney Evans, the fellow-student and
friend of the one whom God had been preparing as a special instrument
for the Pentecost of blessing now close at hand.
In the same Preparatory School was Evan Roberts, a young collier student
of twenty-six years of age, preparing to enter the ministry. For eleven
years he had prayed for a "Revival," and for thirteen years he had prayed
for the fullness of the Spirit.
Just a word dropped by a deacon in a church-meeting thirteen years
before, caused him to determine to know the Holy Ghost. "Be faithful,"
said the deacon. "What if the Spirit descended, and you were absent!" So
through all weathers and difficulties, refusing to be tempted by the boys
and the boats on the river near his home, the lad wended his way to
prayer meeting, and other chapel services, year after year.
Evan Roberts came from a typical Welsh home, and is the son of godly
parents. At twelve years old he became his father's right hand in the
mine, and shortly afterwards commenced regular work underground in
the colliery. He was never without his Bible, which he studied in the
intervals of work, and so the time went by, until one night in the spring of
1904 God seems to have drawn near to him in a very special way. He says
that as he prayed by his bedside at night, he was taken up into a great
expanse—without space or time—into communion with God.
This was manifestly a crisis in his spiritual life, for hitherto, he says, God
was to him " a far-away God," and he was afraid of Him. But after this
the Lord awakened him night after night, a little after one o'clock, and
took him up into Divine fellowship for about four hours. He would sleep
until nine o'clock, when again he would be rapt in communion with God
until about noon in the day.
Three months this sacred fellowship lasted, and then came the time—
September, 1904—for him to go to the Preparatory School at Newcastle
Emlyn.
In the providential leadings of God just at this time a Convention was
being held at Blaenanerch, some eight miles from Newcastle Emlyn, the
messengers with the Loid's message being the same three who had been
sent to New Quay at the close of 1903.
The Rev. Seth Joshua had now commenced his Mission, and on the
Thursday morning took a party of about twenty young people, including
a group from New Quay, Evan Roberts, and Sydney Evans, to
Blaenanerch to attend the meetings. The Lord wrought in the brake on
that early morning drive as they sung, "It is coming—It is coming—The
power of the Holy Ghost—I receive it—I receive it—The power of the
Holy Ghost" Singing and praising, they reached Blaenanerch in time for
the seven o'clock service which was being conducted by one of the
Missioners. Evan Roberts was already deeply moved, but he quite broke
down when at the close Mr. Joshua led in prayer, and used the words
"Plyg ni, O Arglwydd "—" Bend us, O Lord." The soul in travail heard
no words but these. "This is what you need," whispered the Spirit of
God. "Bend me, 0 Lord," he cried, but even yet the fire had not fallen. At
the nine o'clock meeting the Spirit of God led one and the other to pray,
and then Mr. Roberts says:— "I fell on my knees with my arms over the
seat in front of me, and the tears freely flowed. I cried, 'Bend me! Bend
me! Bend us!' What bent me was God commending His love, and I not
seeing anything in it to commend." The Holy Ghost had come and melted
his whole being by a revelation of the love of God at CALVARY, for "God
commendeth His own love to us in that—Christ died for us."
The young man returned to Newcastle Emlyn and prayed God to give
him the seal of six others set on fire of God, and—the six were given.
Then the Holy Spirit bade him return to his own people, and speak to
them, but he did not obey, although he grew more and more troubled
and ill at ease. One Sunday in chapel he could not fix his mind on the
service, for always before him—as in a vision—he saw the schoolroom in
his own village, and all the young people and his old companions sitting
in rows whilst he addressed them. He tells how he shook his head
impatiently, and sought to drive all this away, but God would give him
no rest; back and back it came whilst the Holy Spirit whispered clearer
and clearer, "Go and speak to these people."
At last the pressure grew stronger, until he could no longer resist, and he
said he would go. Instantly the glory of the Lord so filled the chapel that
he could not "see for the glory of that light."
After this the young man went to an aged minister to ask him whether
this was of God or the devil, when he replied that the devil was not given
to sending people to work like this—he must obey the heavenly vision.
And to Loughor the young student went in obedience to the voice of God.
What God wrought through him we shall see later on. We will first pause
a moment to see how God answers prayer. In the brake that morning on
the way to Blaenanerch, Mr. Joshua told how it had been laid upon him
four years before, to ask the Lord definitely to take a lad from the coalmine
or from the field, even as He took Elisha, to revive His work in
Wales. He prayed God to raise an instrument whereby human pride
might be humbled—not one from Cambridge, lest it would minister to
their pride, nor one from Oxford University lest it would feed the
intellectualism of the Church. Not once had this prayer been mentioned
until this morning, and it was then revealed, little knowing that the very
instrument chosen of God was listening to the words.
Let us recall, too, the midnight prayer meeting at Llandrindod just two
months before, when the Lord was asked to raise some special instrument
to usher in the Revival. Yes, God answers prayer.
To Loughor, his native place, early in November, 1904, Evan Roberts
went. He says that he consulted the Pastor of his church, who told him
that he might try and see what he could do, but he would find the ground
stony and the task hard!
The young people came together, and they all sat before him as he had
been shown by God. At first they did not seem touched, but presently the
Spirit of God began to work, and six came out for Christ. Then the
"Pentecost" began. Soul after soul came forward, and the most
extraordinary results followed. The whole community was shaken.
Meetings lasted until four in the morning, and at six the people would be
awakened by the sounds of the crowds going to the early morning prayer
meeting. The work went on until, a local minister said, the entire
population had been transformed into a praying multitude. Men and women of
whom he had despaired had voluntarily come to Christ. The lives of
hundreds of colliers and tinplate workers were transformed. The men
went straight to chapel from the mills, and the public-houses were
practically deserted.
On November 10th the first public reference to these remarkable scenes
was made in a Welsh secular paper, which, from this time, to the
wonderment of all, devoted columns to the reporting of the work, and
did much in the providence of God to noise abroad that which God was
doing among His people. Other secular papers did the same, and all men
marvelled at the sovereign power of God in thus moving the secular
Press to report the work of God! From Loughor, the Revivalist, as the
young student began to be called, went on to Trecynon and other places,
manifestly carried on the crest of a mighty wave of the Spirit, which
swept like a cleansing tide along the mining valleys of Glamorganshire.
Everywhere the people thronged in multitudes to hear this Spiritbaptized
young student! At Loughor he spoke, it is said, with
impassioned oratory, but once the overflowing stream had broken out the
Spirit of God appeared to put aside "preaching" and use the voice of
testimony. "YE slew, hanging Him on a tree, Him did God exalt," and "
we are witnesses," was the burden of the message of the Spirit-possessed
souls in the days of Pentecost. And this was the Holy Spirit's message
through His people, as He bore co-witness by "signs and wonders"
wrought amongst the thronging multitudes.
Under the constraint of an unseen power the chapels were filled with
eager people at all hours of the day, and the services took their own
course under the control of the Holy Ghost, presiding as the "executive
power of the Godhead." Prayers, testimonies, and singing broke out in
seeming disorder, yet acknowledged by all to be the most harmonious
order. The Revivalist would enter during the meeting, sometimes
unknown to those present until he rose with some word to the people.
The burden of his message would be, "Obey the Holy Ghost," and when
one in the meeting would break out into prayer whilst he was speaking,
he would calmly "give place," and show to others his acknowledgement
of the presidency of One greater than he.
At some point perhaps Mr. Roberts would "test" the meeting, and put to
it the four definite steps necessary to salvation, which, he said, the Holy
Spirit had given to him to urge upon the people.
The past must be made clear by sin being confessed to God, and every
wrong to man put right.
Every doubtful thing in the life must be put
away.
Prompt and implicit obedience to the Holy Ghost.
Public confession of Christ. Forgiveness of others as an essential to receiving the
forgiveness of God was often emphasised, as well as the distinction
between the Holy Spirit's work in conversion, and in baptising the
believer with the Holy Ghost.
In truth, the Revivalist was giving the full Gospel as preached at
Pentecost, and like Peter's message, it received the co-witness of the Holy
Ghost, and produced Pentecostal results. "Repent "—change your mind
toward God, and put away wrong to your neighbour. "Remission" of sins
will then be given you, and ye shall "Receive" the Holy Ghost if ye will
obey Him, and publicly bear witness to Christ.
Indescribable scenes took place at the meetings. Sometimes a very torrent
of prayer, and then of song, would sweep over the audience, and
hundreds of souls would rise to declare their surrender to God, the
congregation bursting out into joyous thanksgiving in hymns of gladness.
But the Revivalist's special burden always was the "Church." "Bend the
Church, and save the world," was his cry." The word "bend" in Welsh
conveying the meaning of submission to God, and the taking away of
resistance to His will. And his one aim seemed to be first to get the
Christians right with God so that the Spirit might break out in converting
power upon the unsaved. And CALVARY was the power both for sinner
and saved. The Revivalist would break down in heart-anguished sobbing
when he touched the theme. "You would not be cold if you had come
here by Calvary," he would say. "Thanks, thanks for Calvary," was the
burden of many prayers. The hymns rang with Calvary, the one most
often sung was "Pen Calfaria "—the Mount of Calvary—an exultant song
of triumph telling of Christ's victory over death and hell at the Cross.
Another hymn sung with melting power was "Dyma Gariad "—" Here is
love vast as the ocean." The people sang without books, for these hymns
had been in their memories from childhood, but now quickened and used
by the Spirit they rang out as never before. Many of the "sweet singers of
Wales" were drawn by the Spirit of God into His service, and often
would be heard a sweet warbling voice like a nightingale's trill breaking
out into a hymn whilst the people were bowed in prayer. A "Singing
Revival" it truly became. Souls were sung to Christ, and exulted over in
song when won. The spirit of gladness and praise filled all hearts, as
thousands rejoiced in a new-found assurance of salvation. The Spirit of
God did His own work of convicting, and many were the evidences of
His power working through hymn and testimony. A young man would
return his prize medal and diploma because he had gained it unfairly. A
grocer would return money picked up in his shop, and kept although
knowing the one who dropped it. Long-standing debts were paid. Stolen
goods returned. Prize - fighters, gamblers, publicans, rabbit-coursers, and
others of the class rarely touched by ordinary means came to Christ, and
quickly the world knew the results. Magistrates were presented with
white gloves in several places because there were "no cases." Publichouses
were forsaken. Rowdiness was changed to soberness. Oaths
ceased to be heard, so that, it was said, in the collieries the horses could
not understand the language of their drivers. The reading of light
literature was exchanged for Bible reading, and shops were cleared of
their stocks of Bibles and Testaments. Prayer-meetings were held in
collieries underground, in trains and trains and all kinds of places.
All the world bore testimony to these practical evidences of the power of
God. "Seeing the man which was healed standing with them, they could
say nothing against it." "A notable miracle hath been wrought . . and we
cannot deny it," said many an one previously sceptical of the practical
power of the Christian faith. Managers of works bore witness that the
amount of work turned out by the men since the "Revival" had been
more than they had known for years, and Magistrates did not hesitate to
make known their approval of the ethical fruits of the awakening.
Far and wide the influences spread, affecting all classes. Miners'
Associations decided to hold their conferences no longer on licensed
premises. Political meetings had to be postponed, and Members of
Parliament were found taking part in "Revival meetings." Football teams
were disbanded because the men had been converted, and had other
attractions now. From one district a Theatrical Company felt it necessary
to depart, as there was no hope of audiences, for all the "world" was
praying. With one accord the converts put aside the "drink," and the
temperance workers saw the Spirit of God accomplish in three months
what they had laboured to do for forty years! At the conclusion of a
service dozens of young men would be seen marching to the front to sign
the pledge.
The mighty tidal wave swept hither and thither— men knew not how or
why. The Spirit of God found His own channels; and districts unvisited
by Mr. Evan Roberts had extraordinary manifestations of the power of
God. Lists of converts were sent to the newspapers, giving a record of
professed conversions of over 70,000 names by December, 1904—just two
months only since the life-streams broke out at Loughor, the number
reaching over 85,000 by the end of March, 1905! Many of the young
people were thrust out by the Lord to share in the service—Mr. Sydney
Evans, Mr. Dan Roberts and many others, leading Revival meetings with
the manifest blessing of God. Visitors from all parts of Britain and the
Continent began to flock to Wales to see the "great sight" of God
breaking forth in supernatural power upon the sons of men.
Chapter V
The Overflowing Streams Through Divers Channels
How The Holy Spirit Wrought In Many Centres—The
General Effect On The Churches.
"Every thing shall live whithersoever the river cometh."—Ezek. xlvii. 9.
THE glimpses we have had into the preparatory work of the Spirit
explains why the river of God appeared to break out in so many districts
at the same time in November, 1904. Taking a bird's-eye view of South
Wales, we might go to centre after centre, and watch the rising tide.
In Carmarthen we find the Spirit of God at work in preparation for
months beforehand, some of the ministers of the town having entered the
Spirit-filled life in 1903, one afterwards being one of the missioners at the
New Quay Convention, and in many others in the months that followed,
as well as at Blaenanerch in September, 1904.
A drawing together of the Free Churches in unity was the first
preparation of the Spirit, until early in November He began to manifest
His presence in supernatural power. A Convention for the deepening of
the spiritual life had been convened by the united churches, but on the
Sabbath evening preceding the Convention, in three places of worship in
the town the Spirit of God broke out, strong men weeping, and young
and old praying and praising in a most unheard of fashion.
On the Monday night in one church about eighty adults were studying
Luke iv. in a Bible Class, when suddenly there grew upon the whole
company a vision of Christ unique in His Person and claims. All fell to
praying and praising God unaware to themselves, crying with joy and
praying, as one said, "as if our souls would escape from our bodies." The
Convention was held the same week, and another the week after, in
Welsh only, for the benefit of the country churches, when delegates came
in large numbers, and here indeed the flood-gates of heaven were
opened. Between the meetings that second week, it was said that in every
class-room and available corner of the chapel grounds, groups of women,
young people, ministers or elderly men were seen in prayer, many
sobbing and pleading with God in utter oblivion of all that was around.
That night the whole congregation marched in procession to the market
square for a jubilant open-air service of praise.
In Morriston we hear of the minister of one church, consisting of over five
hundred members, deeply burdened over his people—so burdened that
he had sent in his resignation, and determined to seek a secular calling.
There had been trouble among the deacons, and a meeting was called to
deal with the offending officers. But at this stage the Pastor came across
John McNeil's (of Australia) book on "The Spirit-filled life." It was a
message from God to him, and revealed his need. Just then he heard of
the Revival flame bursting out at Mountain Ash, and he went across to
one of the meetings. At the close of the service, alone in a back street, he
surrendered fully to God, and on the following Sunday told his people
what had happened to him. The Spirit of God at once broke out. The
Pastor's resignation was not accepted. The deacons had no need to be
dealt with. The overflowing stream reached many souls until, on the last
Sunday of 1904, one hundred and thirty-eight were received into church
fellowship, one hundred and eighty-five converts being registered in five
weeks.
In another district, not far from Loughor, the Vicar of the parish tells of an
indefinable influence at work for some time before November, which
very quickly rose into full tide when the Spirit of God broke forth in the
land. He writes that at the opening services of the parish church on
November 14 there was not a single dry eye among the congregation, and
yet no Revival services had been held. Two laymen in this church seem to
be men filled with the Spirit, having great power in prayer and utterance.
About seventy have been led to the Saviour. After-meetings are held,
when quite boys and girls, twelve years old and upwards, pray or sing,
and a marvellous change is seen in the lives of the people.
In Swansea and district we hear of church after church, both Church of
England and Nonconformist, where the Spirit of God broke out in rivers
of life. In some cases unexpectedly, and in others after long and faithful
preaching of the Gospel of Calvary, and the fulness of the Spirit for every
believer as promised by the Lord.
In the Neath district we find the Holy Spirit moving in a large mission
hall holding two thousand people. The Pastor received the "anointing"
some thirteen years ago, and hence was ready for the tide when it came.
Hearing of the blessing at Loughor, early in November, a fortnight's
prayer-meetings were at once held asking God to send a Pentecost upon
the work. During the fortnight of prayer the Spirit of God dealt with the
church members, and then, at the Sunday evening service, the blessing
broke out. At the close of his address, ere the Pastor could even ask for
decisions, men and women rose from the crowded congregation amidst
intense stillness and no excitement, and pressed into the enquiry rooms
until they were filled, and one hundred and nineteen souls had found the
Lord. Thirty-eight souls were given the next night, and the reaping went
on until over a thousand converts were gathered in, amongst whom were
many men and women who never went to a place of worship; many who
had been to prison; drunkards, prize-fighters, gamblers, and one clog
dancer who had won gold medals in his calling. Women quite drunk
would stagger into the meetings, and be soundly converted whilst
standing in the hall. How truly the work was of God was seen in many
cases. One publican offered a convert a fortnight's free "drink" if he
would break away, but he answered "No, I have had enough of it, for it
kept me in Swansea jail." Another man passing a public-house saw the
landlady come out and hold up a pint of beer, saying, "Come along," but
the convert held up his Bible and replied, "No, we're going with this
now. This is the key to heaven, and that to hell!"
Other churches in this town have also much to tell of the Lord's grace and
blessing.
In the Bridgend district we find again the Spirit of God at work many
months before the spiritual high-tide came upon the land. Several of the
ministers received the power of the Holy Ghost in August, 1903. One was
the Pastor of a prominent church, the worldly reputation of which was an
almost insuperable obstacle to aggressive Christian work. When he
entered the Spirit-filled life his church immediately felt the change. Some
members were attracted, whilst many declared the standard of life to be
too high. At last in 1904 there commenced remarkable "demonstrations of
the Spirit," and the Spirit of God faced the Pastor with the painful duty of
dealing personally with the officers of the church. Among the deacons
was an able solicitor, a man well-known in his profession, and prominent
in the political world, whose whole life (afterwards acknowledged by
himself) was an utterly worldly one. A private interview was arranged,
when the Lord stood with the faithful Pastor, and spoke through him in
such power that the deacon was broken down, and came as a penitent to
the foot of the Cross. Not many days after he called together his fellowdeacons,
and told them he had found Christ, and was a new man. The
same testimony was given to the Bible Class, and afterwards to the public
congregation, and each time he spoke of the mercy of the Lord, and the
music which filled his heart, his hearers were deeply moved. His fellowdeacons
at once consecrated themselves to the Lord, and the effect upon
the church was as the "breaking down of an obstructing dam up among
the sources of power." A flood-tide of the Spirit broke out among the
congregation, and a fervent piety and passion for souls took the place of
the former deadness. Not only was the church blessed, but the conversion
of such a soul—like Saul of Tarsus— produced great effect in the district.
He publicly confessed that the change meant to him the whole outlook of
life transformed, affecting his home and his business, and in the latter
sphere his numerous publican clients were requested to find another
advocate for their interests.
It was not long after this that the church had its "Pentecost." On a sabbath
morning the Pastor had read the second Chapter of Acts when a woman
rose and said, "Let me seal that with my testimony," and then she told
how the Lord had come to her in the night, and told her He had given her
a mission to speak for Him.
The husband sat by her side sobbing, as the woman spoke with her face
lit up, for the first time in public. Testimonies followed until the whole
church was moved. At night the Spirit of God so wrought among the
people that in different parts of the building many were falling on their
knees crying out, whilst rough men of the town rose from every side, and
accepted Christ. This Pentecost Sunday was followed by a steady work of
the Spirit among Church members and the unsaved. Scores of enquirers
poured in, week by week, drawn by the Spirit of God, many of them
characters long ago pronounced as "hopeless," and it has been an
affecting sight to see the solicitor and leading politician pleading with
rough and fallen men and women, as a brother, and a fellow sinner, God
using him mightily in winning souls to Christ. No less than one hundred
and fifty converts have been gathered in to this church, giving every
token of a deep inward change of heart.
In another district, the river of life broke out some time in the middle of
November. Preparatory work was done in July last by the visit of one of
the ministers who knew the Indwelling Spirit. Many members of the
church then entered the Spirit-filled life, and were prepared to
understand the work of the Spirit when He came in Pentecostal power. A
marvellous prayer-meeting one Saturday night in November preceded
the opening of the flood-gates of heaven, and it was not long before two
hundred and sixty converts were added to the church. Added to the
blessing among the unsaved, many of the Christians who had opposed
the message of the Spirit-filled life in July, now publicly confessed that
they had been wrong, and some gave remarkable testimonies of the Holy
Spirit's working in their lives.
In Dowlais the river of life had commenced to flow some time back in the
summer of 1904 through the visit of some to New Quay. In one Dowlais
church, the Pastor writes that for months past the "visits paid" to the
church by the Holy Spirit were "wondrously powerful and significant."
At several distinct periods the congregation without ~ any apparent
reason would simultaneously burst into tears. Often had the Pastor
himself sought with tears at the throne of grace a greater influx of power
in his own life. At the close of the month of August 1904, three ministers
who knew the Spirit-filled life conducted services in the church, when
many received the filling of the Spirit after a definite surrender to Christ,
and God at once began to use them powerfully. The Pastor writes that his
own life became a radically changed one, the spiritual 7 sphere becoming
to him transfigured and very real. The river of life flowed on from that
time in August, and conversions took place at every meeting until, by the
close of 1904, one hundred and seventy had been added to the Lord, and
believers were continually being brought into full surrender to Christ,
and the knowledge of the Indwelling Holy Ghost.
Passing on to Monmouthshire the Pastor of one church writes that after
his return from the 1904 Llandrindod Conference not a prayer meeting,
church meeting, or any other service took place without the message
concerning the whole-hearted reception of the Spirit being urged upon
his people, until in October two ministers in the experience of the Spiritfilled
life came to conduct special services, when the whole church was
transformed, the entire diaconate receiving blessing. Seventy-four
converts were also gathered in, and in the afternoon meetings for
Christians, three women who came from another Church, entered into
the fulness of blessing, receiving a baptism of love for souls. These
became channels of the life-streams in their own church, where two
hundred converts were quickly won to Christ.
In another district we find special services of the same class, when
everyone who attended the afternoon meetings surrendered fully to
Christ, and received the Holy Ghost, whilst souls were brought to Christ
at every meeting. These services were held at the very time that the Spirit
of God broke out at Loughor.
In Cardiff, with one of the romantic coincidences so frequently
experienced by souls led of the Spirit, we find in October, 1904, a great
Mission conducted by the very one called out from the prayer-company
in Chicago for the service of God in "world-wide revival," and there is
evidence that he was used of God especially to ministers and workers in
his messages concerning the Spirit-filled life. Thus was the Lord through
many channels preparing His people.
When the high tide came upon the land later on, we find in Cardiff a most
unique work of God in one centre, a large chapel being filled night after
night with people of all classes, and some of the very hopeless outcasts of
the town brought by the power of God into newness of life. Agnostics
have given testimony to faith in Jesus Christ, and drunkards have been
delivered from their bonds. Midnight meetings have been held revealing
the horrors of sin, and the power of Christ to save. Other churches in the
town have also been deeply moved by God, whilst at Penarth we find
another centre of blessing, over six hundred converts being added to one
church, drunkards, thieves, gamblers, and others had been rescued, and
are now among the best workers in the service of Christ.
The Spirit broke out in November when no special evangelist had visited
the Church, which had been praying for Revival for about two years. The
Pastor tells how God prepared him by reading books on the Spirit-filled
life, which life he entered upon at the aforesaid Mission in Cardiff in
October.
These instances—and they are but instances of the way that the Spirit of
God was working in places far distant from each other—show that He
was moving in different parts of Wales at the same time, and the lifestreams
which had been quietly rising appear to have silently joined their
currents in November, 1904, and swept in "high tide" over the land. We
find all sections of the Church affected by it, for the Holy Ghost is no
respecter of denominations any more than persons, and He freely
wrought in every place where He was welcomed when He began to work, and
was given room.
We have summarized briefly some of the effects upon the masses and
upon the world, in watching the course of the mighty river of God which
swept from Loughor through the mining districts of South Wales. Let us
now look out upon the whole of South Wales, and view the broad effects
of the Pentecost upon the people of God.
What has the spiritual high-tide accomplished? It not only swept down
the mining valleys as a torrent, cleansing and healing as it went, but it
silently enveloped the machinery of the churches, and lifted them, so to
speak, into a new spiritual sphere. The traditional bonds of years were
broken. Prejudices of the past vanished. Not only in the meetings held by
Revivalists, but in ordinary services, the Spirit of God—hitherto often
considered but an influence—was honoured as the Third Person of the
Trinity, and given His place of presidency over the church. Pastors
allowed the services to take any form that might arise from the movement
of the Spirit. Anyone might rise to speak or lead in prayer without fear,
and sermons were put aside when the need arose.
In the overflowing tide denominational barriers between the people of
God were submerged, as when the sea sweeps in upon the shore, and
swallows up in its glorious fulness all the pools of sea-water separated far
from each other on the sand. Wondrous scenes were witnessed that must
have caused the heavenly spheres to ring with the joy of the angels.
Churches on unbrotherly terms for many years were reconciled, and
united meetings held, in one case the two ministers shaking hands before
the people. In some districts—would God we could say all—clergy and
their Free Church brethren freely met together in the worship of God.
Families were re-united; long-severed friends reconciled; children were
restored to parents; offended church members re-took their places among
the people of the Lord. And in place after place the "Ministers' fraternal
meeting" became fraternal in very truth, for hearts flowed together in
true fellowship in the presence of the Lord.
With the spirit of unity and love, came also the spirit of sacrifice.
Churches hitherto divided on the question unanimously decided to put
away all danger to the weaker brethren in the using of fermented wine at
the table of the Lord. In other churches large numbers of old members
signed the pledge for the sake of the weaker ones rescued from the drinkfiend,
and in another church we read of members vacating their own
pews in the body of the building, and retiring to the gallery that the area
might be used for the aggressive work of gathering in the souls.
We find, also, a wondrous spirit of liberty, which strikingly bears the
marks of Pentecost, for in the surcharged atmosphere in the upper room
in Jerusalem, all began to speak! The young people, hitherto shy before
their elders, have had their tongues loosed, to speak or pray without fear
of rebuke. It is now no uncommon thing to see a young girl of eighteen
speaking under the evident control of the Holy Ghost, whilst in the big
pew sit ministers and elders, oftimes with tears coursing down their
faces. The servants and handmaidens are prophesying, as foretold by Joel.
Again we find that the prophesying takes the form of witnessing—the
special mark of Pentecost. In Wales for many years it has been considered
too sacred a thing to speak of the inner dealings of God, yet suddenly we
see all changed, and sermons put aside for testimony, and public
confession of what the Lord has done for the soul.
Another remarkable change is the attitude to the prayer-meeting!
Hitherto shunted, as one said, for any social event, and none but elders,
when called upon, solemnly took part! But now social events must stand
aside for the prayer-meetings, which are more attractive than all else! The
spirit of prayer, too, is given in a very travail for souls, and narrow
bounds are swept away, as prayer is made for "all nations."
We have referred elsewhere to the way that the Holy Spirit made Calvary
the centre and source of blessing, and there are many traces of a
remarkable revelation of the Cross to the "eyes of the heart"— Ephes. i.
18. An evangelist tells how he was praying with others in a certain house
one day, when the Lord revealed himself to the servant-girl in a "clear
vision of the Cross with herself at the base," and her "experience and
power in the service which followed, was most touching." In a meeting
too, at Carmarthen, a worker rose and asked why it was she saw the
Cross of Calvary before her vision night and day.
There are other Pentecostal marks discernible in places where the Spirit of
God has worked in mighty power, in "signs and wonders" being
wrought among the people. "Signs and wonders" in miracles of physical
deliverance for souls wrecked by the demon of strong drink. One convert
who had been a gambler and drunkard, with his bodily frame shattered
by his life, gave testimony that since the day of his conversion he had
been perfectly restored to his normal health. Another, who had not been
sober one "week-end" for thirty-five years, said he could not now smell
alcoholic liquor without sickness—the revulsion was so great.
In this day of His power we find others, too, proving the healing power of
God. A minister tells how he was taken ill in the midst of the work, but he
appealed to the Lord, and found himself instantly healed! He did not
hesitate to bear witness to this in a meeting, when quickly many others
sprang to their feet, and said what the Lord had done for them in the
same way, one being a minister's wife who entered the Spirit-filled life
but a few months before. At one place, too, in a meeting the power of the
Spirit was so intense, that the Missioners could not pray for deliverance
for souls manifestly held in bondage by the evil one, but were constrained
irresistibly to "command" the adversary to release his captives, and
numbers were thus set free by the power of God.
If we speak of the converts swept in by the spiritual high-tide, we might
describe them in the very words of Scripture! They who have "received
the word" have "continued steadfastly" in "fellowship" and in prayers —
great numbers being baptized and received to the table of the Lord. All I
that "believe " now continue " with one accord" in the various church
meetings, and are filled with "gladness" and "singleness of heart," for
they have lost the desire for the things of the world which they have
come out of, and long to fully serve the Lord! They are "praising God"
with "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," and are "having favour
with all the people." And the Lord is "adding' to them day by day"
others who also are "being saved."
But it must be remembered these converts are but babes, many utterly
untaught, although born into the kingdom in this day of Pentecostal
power. It remains for the Pastors to lead them on into the fulness of the
life in the Spirit so that they become established in the knowledge of God,
and the Church of God in Wales be in deed and truth after the pattern of
Pentecost.
Chapter VI
The Life Streams In North Wales—Some Traces At
Ponkey In June, 1904—The Tidal Wave At Rhos,
November, 1904—The Healing Of The Breach At Bethesda.
Northward . . behold there ran out waters."—Ezek. xlvii. 2.
We have watched the rivers of living water breaking out in many
directions in South Wales; let us now turn our eyes to North Wales, and
see how the Divine Spirit has been working in the northern part of the
Principality.
We will look into the district of Rhos, which has been as mightily moved
as any part of Glamorganshire. We find that some signs of an awakening
occurred as far back as June, 1904, at anniversary services in a church at
Ponkey. One of the special preachers two months before had been to
South Wales, and had come in contact with two of the ministers who
entered into the Spirit-filled life in August, 1903, and returned to his
nort
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