That the religious revival is increasing its scope and embracing more and more of the people of Wales was plainly demonstrated by the remarkable services held at Pontycymmel tonight. Never before in the history of the Garvi Valley have such services been seen. Mr. Evan Roberts, to whom the title, of “The Wesley of Wales” is now generally applied, and the young ladies from Loughor who accompany him were early astir, and between five o’clock and 5.30 were on the road, intercepting the night-shift, men returning to their homes from the collieries and inviting them cordially to a prayer meeting to be held at 7.30. There was no need, however, for any invitation to be extended to these miners, for the remarkable experiences at Pontycymmer on Wednesday night were the sole topic of discussion throughout the day.

There was a large attendance at the morning prayer meeting, and all who were present will long remember the fervour of the meeting. Almost everyone present loudly raised his or her voice in praise. Another prayer meeting held in the afternoon was characterised by the same deep religious feeling.

Long before the hour at which the evening service was to commence great crowds of people from all parts of the Garw Valley and the surrounding districts, including a large number from Bridgend, belonging to all denominations and no denomination at all, had flocked to Bethel Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, and hundreds failed to obtain admission.

The meeting opened quietly, but there was a subdued feeling which gradually found expression in various ways. The singing of “Diolch iddo” (“Thanks to Him “) was repeated over and over again. Mr. Roberts then invited the people, with his peculiar wave of the hand, to accept the eternal grace which was freely offered to all, and, finding little response read with great effect a few verses from the Book of Revelation, commencing with, “I saw a large multitude which no one could number.” He interspersed the reading with appropriate remarks, and before he had completed the passages someone near the door said that an old lady had fainted, and he could not get her out. Then someone in the gallery struck up “Lead, Kindly Light,” in Welsh to the tune of “Sandon,” and the refrain was taken up with remarkable enthusiasm and repeated several times. This was followed by the rendering of “Eto unwaith mi ddyrchefais,” to the tune of “Llanidloes.” Before this was finished “Throw out the life-line” was struck up from the gallery, and the rendering of this had a remarkable effect on the congregation. The Rev. J. T. Rees, Pontycymmer, offered a most impressive prayer, asking for a downpour of the Holy Spirit, especially on the young people. The responses were general, and disclosed intense feeling. “Showers of blessing” was followed by “Ni fuasai genyf obaith,” a female in the audience repeating the refrain. Another woman struck up “A welsoch chwi Ef?” which was the means of further intensifying the feeling.

The Rev. Mr. Evans, Blaengarw, then offered prayer, in the course of which he remarked that they were too moist with the Heavenly dew to be damned. Miss Cranogwen Mess, the well-known lecturer, who has taken an active part in connection with the services, followed with an eloquent appeal to the young people on the subject, “Place your trust in Jesus.”

Mr. Roberts then resumed the conduct of the meeting, smilingly inviting all to receive the great and eternal fortune offered them. From all parts of the building cries could be heard from penitents, With tears coursing down their cheeks, they declared their acceptance of the offer. Prayers were invited, and a middle-aged man under the gallery immediately responded. There was no half-heartedness about the prayer. The man’s eyes were closed, his fists clenched, higher end higher rose the voice, supplicating, entreating, bursting now into agony, now into overwhelming grief. Then a question was asked which created a convulsion throughout the building. “Who will accept Jesus?” exclaimed a young wife. Another shouted “Diolch, diolch!” The enthusiasm now was unbounded. Rough, uneducated colliers spoke with a fluency that nothing could check. A middle-aged woman sitting in the aisle declared, “I have fallen as low as it is possible for anyone to fall, and He has received me. Come unto Him all of you.”’ A chorus of “Amens” followed, and the majority of the congregation burst into tears. A large number now announced their conversion, some shouting, “O Arglwydd, cymer fi!” (“O God, take me!”). At eleven o’clock the meeting had not lost any of its fervour.

What was to follow was even more remarkable, and at a quarter-past twelve the enthusiasm was maintained to the fullest degree. A large number of new converts was announced, and after each confession the congregation would burst into singing “Diolch iddo byth am gofio llwch y llawr,” which was repeated on some occasions a dozen times. Ministers of the Gospel were to be seen weeping for joy, and prayer after prayer went forth on behalf of some of the penitents. One of the penitents was an old man in the eighties. Shortly after stop-tap a man slightly under the influence of drink entered the chapel, and immediately prayers were offered on his behalf. One of the young ladies who accompany Mr. Roberts rendered the solo, “Calon Ian,” the chorus of which was sung over and over again. Another of the young ladies, who was formerly a school teacher, came across one of her old pupil’s, who is now working underground at Pontycymmer, and he became a convert.

Within the past fortnight two very remarkable cases of conversion have occurred. The first was that of a collier whose besetting sin was excessive fondness for the drink, and who seldom attended a place of worship. One night last week he went to the lobby of the Baptist Chapel, and the noise he made there attracted the attention of the minister, the Rev W. Saunders, who went out to see what was happening. This man was there in a state of great mental perturbation, and when spoken to by the minister said that he wished to confer with him privately. Mr. Saunders took the man into his private room attached to the chapel, and there full and ample confession of sin was made. “The black clouds of the Day of Judgement are hanging over me,” he said, “and I want to live a better life.” Minister and penitent knelt in prayer there and then, and the man has now forsaken all his old haunts and lives up to the standard of a good, respectable citizen.

Then on Wednesday evening, while Mr. Evan Roberts was holding a service at the Tabernacle Chapel, a Church meeting was being held by the officers of the Methodist Church in the village. Here, again, the Rev. W. Saunders was summoned from outside, and, going out, he was approached by one of the most notorious characters in the Garw Valley. He was taken into the minister’s private room and asked what his message was. The man first took out a card of membership of one of the local institutions and said, ‘I want you to burn that first of all.” Mr. Saunders hesitated, and asked the man if he was quite determined in his desire.

“Yes,” he replied, “burn it, and don’t look at it. Here are three more cards; burn these also, I have felt terribly uneasy within me since I heard you preach a, fortnight ago, and I can’t go on in this way any longer.” After a prayer, this man said that he had called at a public-house for a pint of beer but he could not put his hand to touch it. “I tried my best to take it in my hand, but it was no use, and I left it on the counter before coming here.”