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THE RELIGIOUS REVIVAL IN WALES - Issue 1. Awstin |
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3. The Revival Spreads | |
LOUGHOR, Sunday,
November 13th.
The publication given to the, great “revival” in progress at Loughor and the surrounding district has been the means of attracting thousands of people to the various chapels at which these remarkable gatherings are held. I described the meeting heId on Thursday night, which did not conclude till close upon five, o’clock on Friday morning. Friday’s meeting, was equally protracted, while the meeting on Saturday night even exceeded this length, the lights in the chapel not being extinguished until after five o’clock. All the gatherings were alike in that they were marked by the same ecstatic fervour, as distinguished the meeting already described. By this time Mr. Evan Roberts who is the guiding spirit of this wonderful mission, has come to dispense with the address with which, in the earlier days of the movement, he commenced each gathering. His impassioned oratory has done its work, and now the conduct of the proceedings is left almost altogether in the hands of the congregation. How thoroughly they enter into it may be gauged by the length to which each, meeting is carried on. As might have been expected, some extraordinary incidences are taking place each day outside the chapel walls. On Friday afternoon, for instance, a young man engaged on a farm in the vicinity was sent by his master with a cartload of turnips to Loughor. Earlier in the week he had come under the spell of the missioner, and might be described as one of his converts. When nearing Loughor he was approached by a woman in deep distress, who, with tears in her eyes, besought him to come and pray for her husband. Like the disciples of old, he forthwith “left all,” and followed the woman to her house. Over an hour elapsed when his employer came to town, and found his horse and cart in charge of two young children. He was directed to the house, and the scene that presented itself there so affected him that he remained to join his prayers with those of the woman and his servant. During the whole of Saturday prayer meetings were held in various houses, these being continued up to the time of the evening meeting at Moriah Chapel. On Saturday afternoon two young women who are prominently identified with the revival, went on a preaching mission to Gorseinon. They were joined by other enthusiasts and they preached and sang outside several public-houses. Crowds quickly gathered. Here again there were heard heart-broken outbursts of contrition among the listeners—men and women sobbing like children. But, perhaps, the most remarkable service of the day was that held in the middle of a, large gipsy encampment on Kingsbridge Common. The dwellers in tents received the missioners with a degree of suspicion, which augured ill for the success of the service. Before the meeting had been long in progress, however, this suspicion gave way to wonderment, and later on to devout awe. Then came paroxysms of grief from the female members of the encampment, some of them tearing their hair in their self-denunciations. When the meeting came to a close a collection was made on behalf of the poor gipsies, and a promise was given them that another service would be held on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday night Moriah Chapel was besieged by a tremendous crowd anxious to obtain admission. Hundreds of people had some from Llanelly, Swansea, Gowerton, Gorseinon, and other places, and after the chapel had been filled to its utmost capacity there was yet a surging mass of people in the roadway. Mr Roberts, seeing this, ordered the old chapel, which is close by to be opened, and services were then simultaneously held in the two buildings. The scenes that I described on Saturday were re-enacted at these two meetings. On all hands it could be seen that the people had been moved to their very heart core. What could not fail to impress even the most callous was the impassioned eloquence of men and women who up to this juncture in their lives had never uttered a word in public. It was thrilling to see young colliers—uneducated, ignorant, if you like—rise from their pews and speak as if inspired. Mr. Roberts was joined on this occasion by a fellow-student. Mr. Evans roused his hearers to new enthusiasm with his account of the revival in Cardiganshire. Mr. Evans described his visit to Cardigan Fair, and how the crowd at first refused to hear the message, preferring to go on with their business. By-and-bye, however, the people gathered around, and they had a most successful meeting. The high-water mark of fervour was reached at the meeting in the old chapel, where, after a young woman had asked the audience to pray for her brother, a man rose in the gallery and, speaking with passionate eloquence, described the vision which appeared to him on the previous evening. He said that he was alone in his bedroom, when he suddenly felt that, he was not alone. At the same time a voice seemed to be calling upon him to pray, but he could not pray. This command was thrice repeated, and he fell on his knees, but not a word escaped him. Then, however, the voice bade him to “Throw out the life-line!” ‘Upon this the entire audience rose as by some common instinct and sang as it has been rarely sung before the well-known hymn of which those words are the refrain. The experience of a young man engaged as a clerk in a Llanelly office is worthy of notice. Like many others, his curiosity was attracted by these meetings, and he determined to be present on Saturday evening. “By reason of the throng” it was nearly three hours before he gained admittance. Seated next to him was a man whose prayer so affected him that he implored the prayers of the congregation in his own behalf, and later on he rose and spoke as a newly-made convert. |
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