And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads.” Gen. 2:10

“No man can find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even unto the end.” Eccles. 3:11(R.V.).

“The thing that is hid bringeth He forth to light.” “God understandeth the way thereof.” Job 28:11,23

“The hope of the Church is in the holiness movement.”

Though every Revival ultimately culminates in a form which attracts the attention of all, no Revival is of sudden origin. Behind the startling outburst is a process which sometimes goes on for years, a purifying and preparatory process. It was so in connection with that of 1904. It has already been hinted that the Revival goes back beyond November, 1904. Not many will care to contest that statement. Indeed, in most of the few records of the movement it is found that there were small burstings forth, more especially in New Quay, Cardiganshire, in the earlier part of the year. The writer had the privilege of visiting New Quay in August, 1904, and found indisputable signs of the grace of God that had been poured forth upon several young people. They greedily devoured every bit of teaching from the Word, a sure token that the life begotten by that same Word was within. Earlier in the year—in February, so runs the story— at a meeting of young Endeavourers, a young girl was lifted from her seat, and, in spite of her natural and pronounced shyness, with trembling lips was inspired to say fervently in Welsh, “Yr wyf yn caru Jesu Grist a’m holl galon” (“I love Jesus Christ with all my heart”). It was all so unexpected, so beautifully simple and sincere, so manifestly of the Spirit that it acted like a spark on tinder. The weeks that followed were unforgettable and, in August, 1904, after several months, as the writer himself saw, the fire burned brightly.

BACKGROUND OF PRAYER

Of course, it goes without telling that, like every other Revival, this also had its springs in prayer. God seems to have so ordained that most, if not indeed all, of His activities in the moral and spiritual realms should be the responses of His heart and power to the prayers of His people. No axiom seems surer than that. At the same time, if one is asked to probe to the praying that lay back of the Revival of 1904, that is, such praying as would seem adequate to account for the tremendous things that followed, one would be compelled to confess inability. Doubtless, there were those in Wales itself who pleaded for Revival, and, there was also the universal praying for Revival that belongs peculiarly to the year 1902. Beyond this the writer has knowledge of nothing in the form of adequate prayer that might explain the copious showers that fell.

UNPUBLISHED FACTS

THE YEAR 1896

All this is increasingly interesting when it is recalled that the first known outburst of the Spirit of God which led to the Revival of 1904 also took place beyond the Atlantic, and with which another of the name of Jones is concerned. This, briefly told, is the story. In the year 1896, in a Church in Scranton, Penna, U.S.A., laboured a pastor who had settled there from Wales a few years previously. It was a thriving church, and the pastor ere he left Wales was, though young, one of the two most eminent preachers in his own denomination. Well-read, cultured, possessed of a mind penetrating and analytical to a degree, he delighted his American audiences as he had his Welsh hearers. Still, his preaching, as he confessed in later years, was something far beyond his experience. Divine and eternal realities to his then somewhat sceptical and rationalistic mind were so many postulates of thought and nothing more. Then came a variety of trials which led to a more serious thought than ever concerning God and the meaning of life. The fallow ground in his own heart was being dealt with. A day came when the reality of God as a Person and a Holy Presence seemed to dawn on his soul: that God was his own Father, and that underneath him were “the everlasting arms” were facts so borne in upon him that life seemed altogether new and the joy of his heart was boundless. How great his wonderment at his erstwhile blindness! All things had become new. It was only a beginning, and yet his preaching took on a new note and there was a new power.

CARMARTHEN

THE SECRETS OF GOD

Over these things, in the case of the brother referred to is drawn a veil, and if ever that veil which covers those sacred and marvellous dealings of God with his soul is to be drawn aside, he himself must be the one to do it. Maybe he is wise in not divulging them; they may have been for him alone; “pearls” and “holy things” which few, if any others could fully appreciate and understand. And, surely, it is right that the Father should have some “secrets” with His children without risking their being bruited abroad from every housetop. God does not give His servants marvellous experiences in order that they might appear to others to be marvellous people. Speaking of “transports”, Professor James insists that “mystical truth exists for the individual who has the transport, but for no one else”. Paul, obviously, agreed with him, for he kept to himself his “third heaven” rapture until he was forced by the folly of his antagonists to divulge it. The brother referred to, although he could tell a story as wonderful as any connected with the Revival, has probably followed the Lord’s will in letting it be known to but a few of his closest friends.

A FAVOURED CHURCH

FIRSTFRUITS

“only a broken vessel
For the Master’s use made meet.”

Brethren in, the town, ministers of his own and other denominations, became inquirers as they heard of the preaching and witnessed the life. The wife of one of these “came through” into definite blessing and, some time later, her husband also.

THE SPREADING LIGHT

REINFORCEMENTS

THE FIRST LLANDRINDOD CONVENTION

A NEW MINISTRY

The letter from Dr. Meyer was the first intimation the young ministers referred to received of the proposed first Llandrindod Wells Convention. They decided to go. That Convention was an utterly new and strange experience to them. Much could be written of the struggle. Suffice it to say that the Lord gloriously prevailed and that those young men returned to their pulpits altogether changed. A new vision had dawned on their souls; spiritual truths had become articulate to their minds; an unwonted power had come into both life and ministry. They knew what putting away of sin was; they had found their way in surrender to the altar; they had entered into the experience which follows the receiving of the Holy Spirit in faith. They were cleansed; cleansed from habits which had long defied their best resolves. Of course, they had much yet to learn, but they were at least conscious of having been ushered into a world altogether new, and that things could never be again the same. The testimony of each in his own church made a deep impression and caused intense questioning. Their new attitude toward things which once were easily tolerated convinced their flocks that something of importance had happened. Soon, in some at least of their churches, there were signs of real awakening, and many were converted. Many of their members, the young people especially, were led into full surrender to Christ as King and became bold open-air witnesses.

VISION OF HOLINESS

REVIVAL MISSIONS

It may be helpful if one of these missions were described. Typical of the rest, let us think of one in the first month of 1904. The pastor of the church was himself deeply exercised about his own life and ministry, and longed for blessing upon himself and his people. The young and inexperienced missioner (it was his first mission) began the series of meetings in much trembling. He hardly knew what to do or to expect, but, from the first (there were so many praying) there were impressive manifestations of the Lord’s presence and work. Every succeeding meeting fastened still more securely the Spirit’s grip on the hearts of the gathered ones. The young members of the church were specially moved. Let it be remembered that the message and its appeal were almost exclusively to those within the church. The call was to holiness. After a few nights, the “after-meeting” method was adopted. Those desiring definite blessing were urged to remain after those who had to leave had gone. A surprisingly large proportion of the congregation would stay. These were then further taught the simple truth of the Lordship of the Saviour, and urged, first of all, to put away all known sin and, if necessary, to be reconciled to others of God’s children, and make restitution where the latter was, required and possible. Then the simple way of faith in the matters of surrender to the rule of the Lord Jesus and of the reception of the Holy Spirit was laid before them. That done, while all knelt, one after another would speak out his or her confession, decision, and faith, the Holy Spirit wondrously enabling. Can any pen describe those meetings—their pure, tense, warm atmosphere? No sensationalism: such meetings were hardly reportable; they provided no passable “copy” for the press. All was so still, so silent, so deep, and yet overwhelming; as overwhelming as when Elijah, hearing the “still, small voice”, hid his face in his mantle. In the many meetings such as that first described, men and women—many of them still with us—entered into a blessed experience of the Lord which has stood the stress of years and continued to grow.

THE FIRE BURNING

A PRE-REVIVAL REVIVAL

“Not so, however; the praying on the mountain continued, and those attending increased in number; even those who never entered a place of worship were attracted and remained to pray. And, as numbers increased, so also did the fervour. Presently, the flame reached the whole church, and we were moved with the Spirit of prayer and with a passion for souls. In an incredibly short time the whole neighbourhood was ablaze with the divine fire. A special feature was the part taken by the young women who prayed and sang swayed by the Holy Ghost. On Sundays as many as six meetings would be held; thirty souls on one Sunday coming to the Lord.

“Never shall I forget that summer; it was a time of unspeakable joy. For fully six months we continued in prayer every night, and the effect of that blessed time is evident even now when the wave of another general Revival has almost submerged everything. The after-effects upon God’s people were very great. Speaking for myself, my own heart and life were searched as never before. Was I fully surrendered to the Lord? Where was the power that should be in my ministry? Was I fully assured of salvation? Had I received the Holy Ghost? The outcome of it all was that I yielded wholly to God, casting away all known sin, and making God’s glory the one aim of my life and ministry. What an experience followed! What joy!
Yours in Christ, E— T—.”

AN UNMISTAKABLE AWAKENING

“Then came the missionary prayer week, a week whose every night was spent in praise and prayer. Following this came the week of thanksgiving for the harvest. The Sunday preceding these special weeks, at my invitation, those who were ready to yield entirely to the Lord and to go out seeking the lost, were met together. They were but a few, but they were used for the kindling of the fire. Ever since souls have been saved every day. The church had entered upon the blessing of Pentecost. There is, of course, no doubt that the whole movement has a vital connection with my own awakening. Now I have a new church with a large number of men and women filled with the Holy Spirit, and who are used to win souls.
Yours in Him, O—M.O—.”

WEST WALES CONVENTIONS

The outburst at New Quay (mentioned on a previous page) and these Conventions were intimately related. The whole of that countryside in West Wales was now in a large degree awakened. It should also be stated that the preparatory school, where Mr. Evan Roberts studied at that time, is situate in that district. The story has already been told how it was that, in one of those Conventions—the one at Blaenanerch in September, 1904—Mr. Roberts and some of his colleagues entered into definite blessing, the blessing of I being “bent” to the Lord and His will. It was thus that the Revival, already existent, brought forth its most prominent figure and leader.

MORE CONTRIBUTORY STREAMS

The former, one of the mightiest Welsh preachers of his day, a Wesleyan Methodist, and always a great evangelist, was so wrought upon by the Spirit of God that he obtained freedom from the ordinary plan of his Church in order that, by adopting new methods, he might win the masses of his people to Christ. His own spiritual quickening and the consuming zeal of his mission work, especially at Pontypridd—the town chosen as centre—created a deep impression throughout the Principality.