04 - The Dawn of a New Day

Chapter 4 THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY As we have seen from our last chapter a new day had dawned for Wales.

God was now visiting and redeeming His people. As many as 40,000 desperate believers, unknown to each other in the majority of cases, in various parts of the land had been waiting on the Lord and were now about to see even a greater demonstration of the mighty power of God.

Yes, it was a dark day. Everywhere the bar-rooms flourished. Football, cock-fighting, prize fighting, pigeon­flying, and betting and gambling reigned supreme especially among the working classes.

Among the chosen instruments which God in the secret place had been preparing was a young, half­educated miner, who was to be the outstanding voice of his generation. It may be debated whether he was the most God-used or not, but he was by far the most known of all the preachers in this mighty awakening. Very soon the whole world would have their eyes focused on this young man.

Evan Roberts was born on June 8th, 1878, in an ordi­nary working-man’s cottage called "Island House", in the little town of Loughor, some 210 miles from London, 50 from Cardiff, and 8 from Swansea. It is an unpretentious home, having eight very small rooms. For fifty-nine years now it has been a pilgrimage spot for the Lord’s dear people from around the world, for in this house the heavens were opened to this young man.

Evan began work at a very early age in the mine. His father, Henry, broke his leg in the pit and so his son had to help him in his job. After a few months Evan himself took up the work of a door-boy whose duty it was to look after the doors around the pit. For this he received the modest sum of seventy-five cents a week! From the coal mine he went to the trade of a blacksmith in connec­tion with the mine.

Evan felt the burning passion to preach. His pastor and others encouraged him even though he had very little education. So, at twenty-six years of age he entered the preparatory school at Newcastle Emlyn to prepare him­self to enter the Trevecca College examination. For a long time God had been dealing with him in a most remarkable way. William Davies, a deacon at the Moriah Chapel which young Evan attended warned him not to miss the prayer meetings in case the Holy Spirit would come and he would be missing. Thus it was that on Mon­day evenings he would attend the prayer meeting at Moriah, Tuesday at Pisgah, Wednesday at Moriah, and Thursday and Friday at other prayer meetings and Bible classes. HE HAD PRAYED FOR THIRTEEN YEARS FOR A MIGHTY VISITATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Before going away to school, in the spring of 1904, Evan found himself, as it were, on the Mount of Transfiguration. In his own home and out on the countryside, his loving Heavenly Father revealed Himself to his child in an amazing overwhelming manner which filled his soul with divine awe. At these special seasons every mem­ber of his body trembled until the bed was shaken. One night his brother Dan awoke and shouted, "Are you ill, Evan?" For weeks God visited his young servant in the early watches. When his family would press him to tell of these experiences he would only say it was something indescribable. When the time came near for him to enter Grammar School at New Castle Emlyn, he was naturally afraid to go, less he would lose these blessed seasons with the Lord. In the providential leadings of God, just at this time a convention was being held at Blaenanerch, some eight miles from his school. The evangelist there at the time was Rev. Seth Joshua. On Thursday morning, September 29th., 1904, Evan Roberts and another nineteen young people, including his closest friend Sydney Evans, went to Blaenanerch to attend the meetings. The Lord began working in their hearts in that early morning drive as they sang "It is coming, it is coming - the power of the Holy Ghost - I receive it - I receive it - the power of the Holy Ghost."

Still singing and praising, the party of young people reached the town in time for the 7 o’clock service. Evan was deeply moved and he broke down completely when at the close of the service Mr. Joshua led in prayer. When the evangelist used the words "BEND US, OH LORD", the soul in travail heard nothing more. "This is what you need", whispered the Spirit of God.

"Bend me, Oh Lord," he cried. But even then the fire had not fallen.

"It was not Mr. Joshua who emphasized the words, "Oh Lord, bend me’, but the Spirit of God Himself", said Evan Roberts later. At the 9 o’clock meeting the spirit of intercession was powerful. Evan was just bursting to pray. Then the Spirit of God told him to do so publicly. Let him describe this crisis experience which took place in his life at this moment; a crisis which resulted shortly in 100,000 pro­fessions of faith:

"I fell on my knees with my arms over the seat in front of me and the tears flowed freely. I cried, ’BEND ME! BEND ME! BEND ME! BEND US’. What ’Bent me’ was God commending His love and my not seeing anything in it to commend." The Holy Spirit had come and melted his whole being by the revelation to his heart of Calvary love. Thus the theme of the entire revival became "Calvary’s Love".

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Rom 5:6)

He continues, "PERSPIRATION POURED DOWN MY FACE AND TEARS STREAMED QUICKLY UNTIL I THOUGHT THAT THE BLOOD CAME OUT. SOON, MRS DAVIES CAME TO WIPE MY PERSPIRATION AWAY. WHEN I WAS IN THIS FEELING THE AUDIENCE SANG HEARTILY, ‘I AM COMING, COMING LORD, TO THEE!’ NOW A GREAT BURDEN CAME UPON ME FOR THE SALVATION OF LOST SOULS". So it was, in this simple country place the longing for the fulness of the Spirit reached its maturity, after fifteen years of earnest prayer. This was a never-to-be-forgotten service for Evan Roberts and for the whole of Wales; Blaenanerch’s great meeting, he thereafter called it. The man who was to later marry his young sister Mary, was Evan’s closest companion at the school. One midnight after walking in the garden in communion with God, he came into the bedroom with a holy light on his face that astonished young Sydney. "Evan, what has happened to you?"

"Oh, Syd, I have got wonderful news for you. I had a vision of all Wales being lifted up to heaven. We are going to see the mightiest revival that Wales has ever known - and the Holy Spirit is coming just now. We must get ready. We must have a little band and go all over the country preaching."

Suddenly he stopped and with piercing eyes he looked into his friend’s face. "DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN GIVE US 100.000 SOULS NOW?" he asked.

Sydney Evans had entered into a glorious experience with the Lord, himself, and heartily agreed with all Evan had told him. He was twenty-one years of age at this time and Evan Roberts was twenty-six.

One Sunday as he sat in the chapel at Newcastle-­Emlyn, Evan could not fix his mind upon the service and ever in his mind arose in a vision the Sunday school room in his own church at Loughor. There sitting before him in the pews were his old companions and many other young people. He shook himself impatiently, trying to drive away the vision, but in vain. In his inward ear he heard a voice saying, "GO TO THESE PEOPLE".

Suddenly he said, "Lord, if it is Thy will, I will go". The whole chapel then became filled with light so dazzling that young Evan could only faintly see the minister in the pulpit. He was deeply disturbed and wanted to make sure that this vision was of the Lord, and so he consulted with his tutor who encouraged him to go.

Thus we find the young prophet, on October 31st. returning to his home by train. On the train he wrote the following letter to Miss M. Cerevig Evans, a deeply spiritual young lady from Cardigan.

Newcastle-Emlyn Monday morning, Oct. 31, 1904.

Dear Miss Evans, _ Just a line to let you know that I am on my way home for a week to work with our young people. The reason for this is the command of the Holy Spirit. He gave the command last night at the meeting. I could not concentrate my thoughts on the work of the service. I prayed and prayed so that I could follow the service, but of no avail. My thoughts were wandering, and my mind riveted on our young folk at Moriah. There seemed a voice, as if it said, "You must go, you must go"! I then told Mr Phillips about it, and I asked whether it was the devil or the Spirit. He answered, "No, no. The devil does not give such thoughts. It was the voice of the Holy Spirit."

Therefore, I have decided to obey, and I feel as if the Spirit testifies of a blessed future. And the main object of this note is to ask you and your friends to pray for us. I ask you in the name of the Saviour, to be bold at The Throne of Grace, and oh! endeavour to impress this indelibly on the mind of your friends - the importance of prayer, and espe­cially on this occasion.

I have written to New Quay, and have asked them to do the same. Oh! what a blessed band! going boldly to The Throne of Grace!

I pray God that He will ere long pour His Spirit abundantly upon your young people.

I should like to have a word if possible from you this week. We had some awful meetings yesterday at Bethel, and a blessed meeting last night at Mr Phillip’s house.

Please excuse the lead and writing. This has been written while the train was in motion from Newcastle ­Emlyn to Pencader.

Yours in The Lord

EVAN J. ROBERTS To my mind, this return of the young prophet to Loughor is the most thrilling of the whole story of the Welsh revival as I have heard it first-hand from the lips of his sister Mary, and others of his family. His mother met him at the door and exclaimed in great surprise, "Where have you been? Why are you not at school? Are you ill!"

"No".

"Then why have you come back home?"

"Oh Mother, the Spirit has sent me back here to work among our own young people at the chapel at Moriah."

Then turning to Dan, his younger brother, he said, "You shall see that there will be a great change at Loughor in less than a fortnight. We are going to have the greatest revival that Wales has ever seen".

Evan immediately went to his pastor and asked permis­sion to hold services for young people. On this night, after the evening adult prayer meeting, he invited the young people to stay behind as he wanted to speak to them. Alas! sixteen adults and only one little girl remain­ed behind. This was the first "revival service" in the strict sense of the word, for Evan Roberts to conduct. Although at a loss to understand the strange ways of Evan, his mother and his two sisters, Sarah and Mary, with their brother Dan, attended. He began to explain in a very quiet voice his object in coming home. He was simply obeying the Holy Spirit, and here at Moriah he believed large numbers of young people were going to be saved. And above all, a mighty revival was coming to Wales! THUS BEGAN THE MOST EVENTFUL MEETINGS IN WALES LASTING FROM OCTOBER 31st. TO NOVEMBER 12th. Such two weeks have never been known in Wales since 1859. Who can despise the "day of small things"? God’s chosen instrument was not discouraged with the difficult beginning.

NOVEMBER 1st. The services were held at Pisgah, a small chapel near by which was really a mission of Moriah. This Tuesday night the audience had greatly increased. Evan spoke on the importance of being filled with the Spirit. This meet­ing lasted from 7 till 10 p.m.

NOVEMBER 2nd.

Back in Moriah, Evan spoke for the first time on THE FOUR GREAT TENETS which formed such an important part in his message at the beginning of the revival. They became known later as THE FOUR POINTS: Did they desire an outpouring of the Spirit? Very well; four conditions must be observed, and they were essential:

I. Is there any sin in your past that you have not con­fessed to God? On your knees at once. Your past must be put away and yourself cleansed.

II. Is there anything in your life that is doubtful? ­- anything you cannot decide whether it is good or evil. Away with it! There must not be a cloud between you and God. Have you forgiven everybody, everybody, EVERYBODY? If not, don’t expect forgiveness for your own sins. You won’t get it.

III. Do what the Spirit prompts you to do. Obedience - prompt, implicit, unquestioning obedience to the Spirit.

IV. A public confession of Christ as your Saviour. There is a vast difference between profession and con­fession.

NOVEMBER 3rd At this meeting he taught the children to pray "Send the Holy Spirit to Moriah for Jesus’ sake". He spoke in the evening on "Ask, and it shall be given you".

"These things must be believed", he said "if the work is to succeed. We must believe that God is willing and able to answer our prayers. We must believe in a con­quering Christ who is able to defeat all opposition."

Just as the comments on prophetic Scripture by our Saviour in His own synagogue at Nazareth astonished the hearers, so this night the church members who had known Evan all his life sat in amazement at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

NOVEMBER 4th.

After speaking for awhile, he threw the meeting open for prayer and testimony. This went on till midnight.

NOVEMBER 5th.

Although the meeting was announced for young people it was attended now also by the fathers and mothers, as the older people were astonished to hear of the marvelous conversions of their children. Once again Evan spoke on Eph 5:18. This meeting lasted from 7 p.m. till 12: 30 a.m. The young prophet now saw the vision he had received being fulfilled before his eyes. At first the word did not seem to penetrate the hearts and consciences of the young people and the meetings were even cold. But now the whole atmosphere had changed completely.

NOVEMBER 6th. Sunday To my mind this was a most remarkable day. An ordained clergyman from another town occupied the morning pulpit, as such had been arranged beforehand. Young Evan sat and listened to the message. The reader must remember that these meetings, which were to mark the mightiest manifestation of the revival, were neither advertised nor organized. The pastor was simply giving the young man Evan an opportunity to obey God in giving his witness. On this Lord’s Day morning it was announced that Evan would preach in the evening. That evening the subject of the revivalist was THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE. He emphasized the following:

"I commit this meeting into the hands of The Holy Spirit. Remember, the Holy Spirit is not "something", but a Person. By giving the meeting into His hands I give it into the hands of a PERSON." At the close of his message, some sixty young people responded for salvation. Then he taught the people to pray, "SEND THE SPIRIT NOW FOR CHRIST’S SAKE". This meeting lasted until well past midnight and left its mark on the whole of Loughor, for it thrilled the neighborhood with divine awe. This was the turning point of the series of meetings.

NOVEMBER 7th. The ordinary Monday evening prayer meeting was announced to be held at 7 o’clock as usual and this time the old Moriah chapel was filled to the door, a thing that never occurred in the history of the prayer meeting before. At 8 o’clock the revivalist arrived. He opened the Bible and read the last chapter of the prophecy of Malachi. The people again were astonished at his holy boldness as he emphasized that this blessed Scripture was going to be fulfilled right now in Loughor in Wales!

"But unto you that fear my name, shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and ye shall tread down the wicked: for they shall be as ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts."

Almost all were moved to tears and many cried in agony. It was in this meeting that the "Revival Love­-song" was first sung - "Here is LOVE, vast as the ocean".

About twelve o’clock the atmosphere became intolerable for a time and the meeting was boiling with fervor. It was 3 a.m. before any attempt at closing was possible.

NOVEMBER 8th. The meeting on this evening was quite cold and the young preacher, with others, agonized fervently in prayer for God to melt the atmosphere with Calvary’s love. Be­tween 3 and 4 o’clock on Wednesday morning, some left the chapel, among whom was the preacher’s mother. He followed her in order to close the door. (These weeks he could not bear the door open, as he felt the world enter at once). At the door he asked his mother, "Are you going home now, Mother?"

"Yes", she answered.

"It is better for you to come back", said he, "the Spirit comes nearer now."

"The people are sleeping" she replied "and it will soon be time for them to go to their work." His mother went home, undoubtedly with a heavy heart, owing to the hardness of the meeting and the strange ways of her son.

Between 6 and 7 this Wednesday morning, Dan and Evan arrived home and went to bed, but between 10 and 11 o’clock he was suddenly awakened by a voice. "Oh. I am dying! I am dying! I am dying!"

He swiftly got up and ran downstairs and saw his mother with clasped hands, closed eyes and great agony of soul. Having gazed upon her face, he diagnosed her case and understood her burden. Thereupon he threw his arm around her and prayed and sang with her.

"What weighed on my mind", she said later, "after leaving the chapel, was the thought of His agony in the Garden and my not staying in the chapel until the end of the service." The whole community was now shaken. At 6 a.m. the people would be awakened by the sound of the crowds going to the early morning prayer meeting. The entire population of the town was being transformed into a praying multitude.

NOVEMBER 9th.

Evan Roberts preached at BRYNTEG Congregational chapel.

NOVEMBER 10th. The revival meeting was held at Brynteg again. At this meeting the audience was completely carried away by spiritual emotion. It was on this day that the first public reference to these remarkable scenes was made in a secular paper, which from this day onward for several months devoted almost the entire paper to the amazing scenes taking place in their midst. A short article appeared in THE WESTERN MAIL of Cardiff. We know the read­ers will treasure it as it was the first of thousands which would come later in papers all over the world.

GREAT CROWDS OF PEOPLE DRAWN TO LOUGHOR Congregations Stay Till Half-past-two In The Morning. A remarkable religious revival is now taking place at Loughor. For some days a young man named Evan Roberts, a native of Loughor, has been causing great surprise at Moriah Chapel. The place has been beseiged by dense crowds of people unable to obtain admission. Such excitement has prevailed that the road on which the chapel is situated has been lined with people from end to end. Roberts, who speaks in Welsh, opens his discourse by saying that he does not know what he is going to say but that when he is in communion with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will speak, and he will simply be the medium of His wisdom. The preacher soon after launches out into a fervent and, at times, impassioned oration. His statements have had most stirring effects upon his listeners. Many who have dis­believed Christianity for years are again returning to the fold of their younger days. One night, so great was the enthusiasm invoked by the young revivalist that, after his sermon which lasted two hours, the vast congregation remained praying and singing until two-thirty in the morning! Shop-keepers are clos­ing early in order to get a place in the chapel, and tin and steel workers throng the place in their working clothes.

NOVEMBER 11th.

Moriah is overcrowded again with some 800 people overflowing into the old chapel. Many were on their knees for a long time, owing to their distress and agony of soul. A young girl in her early teens cried out, "Oh, what will Heaven be like if it is so wonderful down here!"

NOVEMBER 12th. Saturday. This is an amazing day in the history of the small town of Loughor. Prayer meetings were held in the homes of the people. The longing for the salvation of their loved ones was uncontrollable. There was only one theme of conversation and that was THE GLORIES OF THEIR WONDERFUL LORD. By early afternoon wagons and carts drove into town from all the surrounding countryside and the meeting houses were overcrowded hours before the time for which the meeting had been announced. Both chapels were crowded, with Sydney Evans preaching in one and Evan Roberts in the other. In this meeting the voice of Sam Jenkins, the Welsh gospel singer, was first heard in reviv­al. Failing to restrain his feelings, he broke out singing from the gallery, "SAVED BY GRACE". The words of this hymn were sung by the people again and again. For the first time in the Welsh revival, too, on this night "THROW OUT THE LIFELINE" was sung.

Evan was brimming with joy as he announced, "God has brought Sydney Evans home from school to take care of the meetings here". He, himself, was leaving now for Aberdare where he had been invited to speak.

It was past 5 a.m. Sunday morning when the people dispersed and Evan was not in bed at all, although he had to start very soon for Aberdare. On this day all the grocery shops in town were cleared of food. The people had come from long distances, had lost all consciousness of time, and had no inclination to go home!

NOVEMBER 13-15th. TRECYNON, ABERDARE. This Sunday morning, Evan Roberts and five young ladies (Priscilla Watkins, Mary Davies, Livinia Hooker, Annie M. Rees, and Anne Davies) were driven with horse and coach by Mr David Hughs of Loughor to meet the train at Swansea for Aberdare. These young ladies were from nearby Gorseinon and had each entered into a blessed experience of the Spirit-filled life. They were to carry the flame of the revival all over Britain during the next eighteen months. The opening meeting on Sunday was a disappointment. The Spirit was grieved because of the criticism of the Christians against the youthful revival party. What could these young women of eighteen and twenty years of age know and tell of the deep things of the Lord? On Monday, Ebenezer Congregational Chapel in Aberdare was crowded with one thousand people. There was no sign in this service of anything exceptional. But on Tuesday the whole neighborhood was aroused and people remained home from their work so they could attend the early morning prayer meeting, which lasted for four hours. Immense crowds gathered from all direc­tions. In the evening service, young Evan gave out an opening hymn which was to become one of the glorious hymns of the revival:

Heavenly Jesus, ride victorious, Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh.

There was a spontaneous outburst of prayer and praise. The revivalist walked through the chapel clapping his hands with holy ecstasy. When the meeting was in an intense state, Roberts clearly and positively proclaimed that a mighty revival was coming to ALL Wales and they in Aberdare were only opening the gates for it. By the end of these meetings, the whole of Wales and Britain knew that THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD COME TO THE PRINCIPALITY. From Aberdare the young prophet went to Pontycym­mer, a mining town in GARW one of the western valleys of Glamorganshire; then to Bridgend, Abercynon, Mountain Ash, Ynysybwl, Cilfynydd, Porth, Treorchy, Pentre, Caerphilly, Ferndale Mardy, Tylorstown, Mer­thyr Vale, Pontypridd, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, Penygraig, Treherbert, Clydach, Morriston, and then on to the great industrial city of Swansea. From there he travelled on to the other surrounding parts.

It was plainly evident now to everybody that God had answered the agonizing prayers of His people and had sent a mighty spiritual upheaval. A sense of the Lord’s presence was everywhere. His Presence was felt in the homes, on the streets, in the mines, factories and schools and even in the drinking saloons. So great was His Presence felt that even the places of amusement and ca­rousal became places of holy awe. Many were the instances of men entering taverns, ordering drinks and then turning on their heels and leaving them untouched. Wales up to this time was in the grip of football fever when tens of thousands of working-class men thought and talked only of one thing. They gambled also on the result of the games. Now the famous football players themselves got converted and joined the open-air street meetings to testify what glorious things the Lord had done for them. Many of the teams were disbanded as the players got converted and the stadiums were empty. Beneath the ground the miners gathered for worship and Bible study before they dispersed to the various sections of the mines. Even the children in the schools came under the spell of God.