SIXTY-SIX NEW MEMBERS ON TRIAL

There are various and unmistakable signs of the revival in this Mission. In one town, under the ministry of the resident minister, a new spirit has come over the church, which can be traced in every department; prayer meetings are largely attended, class-meetings are alive and are remarkably powerful and blessed, open-air services are held with manifestations of divine awe and influence. A few items in detail may be of interest. The annual tea-party in one place usually accompanied by innocent games had to be turned into a prayer and testimony meeting where souls were quickened and converted. An open-air meeting was held in one of the market-places preparatory to an indoor service, but such a wave of power came upon the crowd of some three hundred people that for two hours the meeting continued, believers singing solos, bearing their testimony and praying in the Holy Ghost, some of whom have been silent and timid in the past. One class leader tells how the room was full of persons, but better still, the persons were filled with a divine enthusiasm, and it was impossible to close the meeting until after eleven o’clock.

A wonderful story might be told of what has occurred in another town, especially if all the details were given. It started with the conversion of one of the students of a Welsh university at the ordinary Sunday evening service conducted by the Superintendent of the Mission. Recently this student with five others who have been saved visited the united prayer-meetings held in the town, and among other strange things that have happened in connection with these students has been the conversion of the Calvinistic minister. He has made a public confession which has caused quite a sensation among the religious community, to say nothing of the inhabitants of the town. He tells how he left one of the meetings determined to burn all his sermons, and how the devil tempted him to save two for Sunday, but amid shouts of praise he told how he got the victory, and burnt the lot. The Holy Ghost has so filled his soul that he is preaching, praying, working, and living in a new world of light, liberty, and power.

The effects are widespread, enemies are becoming friends. Opposition and bitter feelings in church services have ceased. Unity, harmony, are working miracles. Over one hundred persons have already publicly confessed Christ at one of our chapels, and the number of believers is being multiplied. Everybody sings now in wonderful power with heart and voice, the more verses the better. It is thrilling to hear them singing, There shall be showers of blessing, in the open air and indoors, with or without the musical instrument, Hail, Thou once despised Jesus, to the tune Hyfrydol; Jesus, Lover of My Soul, to Aberystwyth; For you I am praying, and The Glory Song.

The old Methodist hymns are quite new in this gracious spirit of revival, and God is blessing them to crowds.

On Thursday the Quarterly Meeting of the Mission was held in the Lecture Hall, which was full. The local preachers were delighted to authorize the formation of two more Mission Bands to help to evangelize the villages, and one excellent young man was received on trial. One of the ministers gave an earnest appeal to the brethren to seek the burden of souls and strive to bring persons to immediate decision for Christ in their services, The great official meeting was held in the afternoon, and the opening hymn was sung with real Welsh revival spirit, and the praying was mighty, and unitedly joined in. The business was entered into with a beautiful spirit, and various forward movements were adopted. A commission was appointed to investigate the affairs of the small places in one of the sections of the Mission, and a committee appointed to arrange a United Musical Festival for the purpose of helping congregational singing and stimulating the various choirs. A very gratifying numerical statement was presented showing another increase in membership, with no less than one hundred and four on trial, being sixty-six added during the quarter. The finances shewed a much healthier state, with brighter prospects for the future. The doxology was sung most unitedly and heartily. After an enjoyable tea a capital open-air demonstration was held under the big lamp in the town, and was carried on half-an-hour after time, but no one complained. The power of God was with us, and the attention of the crowd of working people was remarkable. The best-attended public meeting we have seen here was held in the chapel. It was easy to speak, pray, and sing, and the power of the Lord was present to heal. — Methodist Times