BY “AWSTIN”

In introducing the fifth pamphlet to the public, it is as well that a survey should now be taken of the position and prospects of the Revival, apart, to some extent, from the reports of meeting and the diary of the seven days’ silence of Mr. Evan Roberts.

Although there have not, since the issue of the last pamphlet, been many great meetings addressed by the man around whose personality so much has necessarily centered, his continues to be the name definitely associated with the movement, and the anxiety to see and hear him by his own countrymen and by British and foreign visitors alike is as great as ever. My own increasing correspondence, especially now, on the eve of the visit to Liverpool, conclusively proves it to me, and this can be confirmed by the correspondence of the evangelist himself, by that of the Rev. D. Mardy Davies, and by the staff of the “Western Mail”, who are all inundated with inquiries as to the next step, and “where, in the meantime, to see the Revival?”

The position of the Revival movement is, therefore, of great interest to all; and it is pleasant to be able to record the conviction that upwards of 100,000 converts have been enrolled in Wales alone, and that the “fire” has, unquestionably, spread to many of the large cities and towns of England and Scotland; to America, where the mere retailing of the “Story of the Revival”, outlined from these pamphlets, has helped to spread the enthusiasm, and to some of the cities of the Continent.

To me, the most interesting visitors who have yet been among us are the French and Swiss delegates, linked, as they were, with the history of the Piedmontese of the Lutheran Reformation by the presence of Mddle. d’Aubigne, the daughter of historian. To hear those people describe the scenes at a Paris meeting, convened to hear the report of four French pastors who had visited the Welsh Revival, was touching; while to hear the same people declare that the Revival had not actually broken out in France and Switzerland (notwithstanding their wonderful experiences and their own determination to come to Wales to catch some of the “fire”), reminded me strongly of the early days of the Revival in Monmouthshire, when my friends there, with hundreds of converts then enrolled, were “waiting for the Revival.”

In Glamorganshire although in few places the intense of the first few weeks has toned down into steady work, the Revival as going on as strongly as ever. While in some of the “cooled” places the past fortnight has witnessed a re-kindling of the flame, it is remarkable that some Churches which had not previously been active, have recently entered upon a campaign of open-air work and nightly services, so that in the absence of the great gatherings, there has been no difficulty in directing strangers to places in which they may see the Revival in its most useful and permanent aspect - carried on by members and converts attached to the particular places of worship visited - and without the distracting (if sometimes exciting and invigorating) influences of crowds of visitors and sightseers.

The Revival within the Churches is just what Mr. Evan Roberts has, over and over again, expressed as his object - or, rather, as all he can expect to bring about - and the revived Churches, with their active converts - thirsting for the salvation of others - are rapidly solidifying the ranks of the conquering army of Jesus Christ in Wales.

Churches are realizing their own responsibilities. Ministers (those of them who previously halted) are realizing that a change in the order of the services does not mean personal antagonism to them. The co-operation so essential to secure best results id thus attained, and people generally are getting to understand the secret of the Revival, which is to be found in II Chronicles, vvi., 14: - “If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” In Mr. Evan Roberts’s Bible this text, marked about four years ago, bears the three points which it conveyed to his mind, and it, no doubt, influenced him in the direction which he gave to the character of the seemingly uncontrolled services which have in a few months, revolutionized public worship in the Principality of Wales and initiated a new order of things destined to spread over countries and Continents.

What has been accomplished by the “Western Mail” and “Evening Experts Revival Edition” accounts of the Revival in spreading the movements in Walea and across the borders into England and Scotland, is also being done by the tens of thousands of these Revival pamphlets which are sent to practically every country in the world, and while, on the one hand, Colonel Sir Frank Younghusband, the hero of Tibet, during his visits to Pontypridd and Cardiff assured me of his own belief in the probability of the extension of the Revival to Hindoo and Mahommedan countries, and his own idea that we might expect to see men come from India to witness the Revival and to meet the Revivalist ,we have from Mrs. Penn-Lewis, of Leicester, the assurance that a little pamphlet containing extracts from the “Western Mail” and a leading religious newspaper has been translated into Tamil and Telegu languages of India!

Translation into French, German, Spanish, and other languages we had previously heard of, but this additional information indicates that efforts are being made to satisfy the yearning for a spiritual awakening which are said to prevail in far-off countries, linked to our own by many ties, not the least of which is this simultaneous yearning for prayer - “seeking My God’s face”, and so getting God to “hear from heaven, to forgive their sin, and to heal their land.”

In several places practical steps have been already taken to cope with the needs and aspirations of Churches in view of the position created by the Revival, and there is much yet to be done, for, in order to make the best use of the material placed at their disposal, ministers and Church officials must so arrange the work of the enlarged” membership as to provide accommodation, fellowship, scope for activity, shepherding, teaching, training &c., for all - old workers, revived idlers, and new converts - so as to utilize them on “revival lines” - no small task.

No cast-iron rule can be laid down. The needs of Churches, as well as of towns and districts, vary, and, whether the promoters of the new “shepherding” movement deem it necessary to deal with the recreations of the people or not, there is ample scope for all to enter into, plan, and carry out methods for equipping recruits with the weapons best adopted for use in the triumphant march of the Church militant in the glorious campaign so strikingly outlined in the hymn -

“Marchog Iesu, yn llwyddianus.”

(“March victorious, blessed in Jesus.”)

there are many of us who believe that Isaiah’s references to “the isles” are meant for the British Isles, and that we are destined to fulfill the prophesy by sending the Gospel from here to the furthermost parts of the earth, and no one who knows what is going on in Wales to-day can deny the peculiar applicability at the present time to our own country of the verses

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”

“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

“Lift up thine eyes round, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee; they sons shall come from far, and thy daughter shall be nursed at thy side.” (Isaiah, 60th Chapter - 1st over 4th verses.)