The present religious awakening, from the point at which it first came under public notice is not yet (January 31, 2025) three months old, and during this period its progress has been simply phenomenal. It has swept over the greater part of South Wales, including Monmouthshire. Mid?Wales in many districts has felt its influence, and whole neighbourhoods in North Wales have come under its sway, the places most deeply affected in Glamorgan. There is little doubt that the movement is destined to bring the whole of Welsh-speaking Wales, at least, within its sweep. Many districts in England, also, have come under the influence of a similar upheaval. Speaking only of Wales, it is estimated that the number of converts who have publicly renounced a life of sin cannot be far short of 80,000, a figure which gives an average of from 6,000 to 7,000 per week.

Turning for a moment to the great Revival of 1859-60, we are told that the movement kept stirring for some eighteen months or more, and that the number of men and women who sought Church membership in consequence was about three weeks, that is if the present rate of progress is maintained. But though such remarkable results have been achieved, there is no reason to believe that the Revival is about spending its force. On the contrary, it shows signs of increased vigour and life week by week. Indeed, in the opinion of men of great judgement the movement as yet is only in its infancy.

The rapid progress which the Revival has made is due to a variety of causes. The press has given it a powerful impetus. Men of standing in various walks of life have extended to it their sympathy. Distinguished men from England, Scotland, and elsewhere have come to see and hear what the movement is like, and have expressed their admiration of it. Religious leaders - those of the Church of England as well as of the Free Churches - with the New Year have given it their blessing. Above all, the moderate spirit which animates it is the movement’s best stimulus, and its surest safeguard extravagance, and consequently public condemnation and failure.

A Revival on a large scale like this is only another name for a revolution. The social and religious life of Wales has undergone a vast change and, in all probability, a greater change still is in store for it. Football teams in many places have been disbanded, and football matches have been turned in some cases into prayer meetings. Many concerts have had their programmes changed for psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, the temper of the audiences being unable to endure popular music. Eisteddfodau have been postponed, even connexional gatherings have had to give way, and have been turned into Revival gatherings. Political meetings have been held, but in districts where the spirit of the Revival was strong political leaders became Revivalists. Lectures have been a complete failure. At one university college the students, young and light-hearted men and women, felt a sudden impulse, and held prayer meetings instead of attending lectures. The Revival has changed the tone and character of Sunday services in numberless cases, the formal having given way to the spontaneous and free. It is now for the first time hundreds and thousands of professing Christians have had any experimental knowledge of Gospel truth.

It is not in the ways we have just indicated, however, we find the greatest and best results of the Revival, but in the life and conduct of the new converts. There is not a police-court in the county which does not give the movement a good name. Drunkenness has greatly diminished everywhere; in many places it may be said to be non-existent. The Revival teaches people a new way of paying old debts. Thousands of husbands and wives now find pleasure in their homes for the first time in their lives. Their children are clothed and fed and brought up as they never were before. Workmen are more satisfied with their wages and surroundings, and the Revival has exorcised the evil spirit of disaffection from the mine and workshop. Collieries in many instances have been turned into temporary places of worship. It is in this uplifting of the people, in the regeneration of the masses, the Revival is seen at its best, and its results in this respect are beyond cavil or criticism. Let men of superior knowledge call it what they may, they cannot dispute or explain away the fact that it is the greatest moral force, the greatest power for good, that has come into the life of the people in their living memory. And all this, it should be understood, is but a beginning. Later on the influence of the movement will deepen, and will affect the national character in a manner of which we can form no conception at present. All we know is that Wales will emerge from its present baptism stronger and better equipped for any task that lies before it. Such, however, has been the case in each former revival.

This, the third of the series of Revival Pamphlets issued by the Western Mail Limited, brings the story of the great revival in South Wales down to the end of January, 1905. The first pamphlet contained descriptions of the start and early growth of the movement, and early growth of the movement, and a specially-written preface by “Eilir” on “Past and Present Revivals in Wales”. The second gave detailed reports of Mr Evan Roberts’s daily meetings up to the end of 1904, together with an article by the Rev. Cynddylan Jones, D.D. entitled “Danger Signals”, a pastoral letter on the subject by the Bishop of St David’s, statistics showing “The Revival Harvest”, a remarkable cartoon by Mr J M Stanforth, the subject of prolonged controversy, and English versions of favourite revival hymns. Both pamphlets are still on sale.