On its first public appearance, “The Welsh Evangelist” had perhaps better, to some extent, outline the why and wherefore of its existence; and it is easier to do that by roughly mapping out the course upon which it enters, than by attempting to delineate the defects which it is intended to endeavour to rectify.
Whilst we feel that there is a crying need for some means of communication between Welsh Evangelical workers and the general public, and a medium of communicating to the outside world some information as to what is going on in the Revival, Mission, Temperance and Social fields of work in Wales, and of bringing to the notice of Welsh readers, articles and notes upon what is being done in other countries, there is not the slightest intention, on our part, to disparage the efforts put forward by other organs, either of the religious or secular Press. Practically every journal has its aims, its objects and its methods, but it is very generally admitted that there is a vacancy in the direction we have indicated. Why should this be so? is a question which naturally arises.

The recent great Revival movement in Wales - a movement which has spread its effects, in a greater or less extent, to many countries, some of them very distant indeed from the land in which the Revival itself originated, and which was so signally blessed by that Revival - was, beyond question, considerably furthered by the aid of the Press - call it the Secular Press, if you like - but it was the Press which was the principal means of spreading the glorious news of the wonderful doings of the Spirit of God in the course of the mighty movement, and by spreading it, acted as an incentive to many to come to see and hear, and thus receive blessings which were carried to the four corners of the earth.

That the same amount of space should not now be allocated to religious movements is not the be wondered at, seeing that the great outward manifestations produced by immense central gatherings do not attract attention, or create interest, amongst those whose duty it is to record and comment upon public events.

The tone of the country has, however, been to a very marked extent altered by, and since, the Revival; and, notwithstanding lapses and a certain amount of falling off in the aggressiveness of leaders and churches, there is no tendency to fight shy of active good work, or of public acknowledgement of the people’s interest in, and adherence to, the Gospel of Love, which drew so many scores of thousands to lead a better life during the height of the Revival fervour.

In South Wales, especially, it is pleasant to be able to note that the leading men in all directions are people who identify themselves openly and freely with the work and duties of the followers of “the Man of Galilee.” Not merely are the workers - the masses as they are sometimes called - devout, and, in thousands of instances, enthusiastic followers of the Carpenter of Nazareth, but men holding high positions of all kinds come well within the same category.