02.05. Chapter 5
Chapter 5. The Overflowing Streams Through Divers Channels--How the Holy Spirit Wrought in Many Centres--The General Effect on the Churches "Every thing shall live whithersoever the river cometh."-- Ezekiel 47:9. THE glimpses we have had into the preparatory work of the Spirit explains why the river of God appeared to break out in so many districts at the same time in November, 1904. Taking a bird’s-eye view of South Wales, we might go to centre after centre, and watch the rising tide.
In Carmarthen we find the Spirit of God at work in preparation for months beforehand, some of the ministers of the town having entered the Spirit-filled life in 1903, one afterwards being one of the missioners at the New Quay Convention, and in many others in the months that followed, as well as at Blaenanerch in September, 1904.
A drawing together of the Free Churches in unity was the first preparation of the Spirit, until early in November He began to manifest His presence in supernatural power. A Convention for the deepening of the spiritual life had been convened by the united churches, but on the Sabbath evening preceding the Convention, in three places of worship in the town the Spirit of God broke out, strong men weeping, and young and old praying and praising in a most unheard of fashion.
On the Monday night in one church about eighty adults were studying Luke iv. in a Bible Class, when suddenly there grew upon the whole company a vision of Christ unique in His Person and claims. All fell to praying and praising God unaware to themselves, crying with joy and praying, as one said, "as if our souls would escape from our bodies." The Convention was held the same week, and another the week after, in Welsh only, for the benefit of the country churches, when delegates came in large numbers, and here indeed the flood-gates of heaven were opened. Between the meetings that second week, it was said that in every class-room and available corner of the chapel grounds, groups of women, young people, ministers or elderly men were seen in prayer, many sobbing and pleading with God in utter oblivion of all that was around. That night the whole congregation marched in procession to the market square for a jubilant open-air service of praise.
In Morriston we hear of the minister of one church, consisting of over five hundred members, deeply burdened over his people--so burdened that he had sent in his resignation, and determined to seek a secular calling. There had been trouble among the deacons, and a meeting was called to deal with the offending officers. But at this stage the Pastor came across John McNeil’s (of Australia) book on "The Spirit-filled life." It was a message from God to him, and revealed his need. Just then he heard of the Revival flame bursting out at Mountain Ash, and he went across to one of the meetings. At the close of the service, alone in a back street, he surrendered fully to God, and on the following Sunday told his people what had happened to him. The Spirit of God at once broke out. The Pastor’s resignation was not accepted. The deacons had no need to be dealt with. The overflowing stream reached many souls until, on the last Sunday of 1904, one hundred and thirty-eight were received into church fellowship, one hundred and eighty-five converts being registered in five weeks.
In another district, not far from Loughor, the Vicar of the parish tells of an indefinable influence at work for some time before November, which very quickly rose into full tide when the Spirit of God broke forth in the land. He writes that at the opening services of the parish church on November 14 there was not a single dry eye among the congregation, and yet no Revival services had been held. Two laymen in this church seem to be men filled with the Spirit, having great power in prayer and utterance. About seventy have been led to the Saviour. After-meetings are held, when quite boys and girls, twelve years old and upwards, pray or sing, and a marvellous change is seen in the lives of the people.
In Swansea and district we hear of church after church, both Church of England and Nonconformist, where the Spirit of God broke out in rivers of life. In some cases unexpectedly, and in others after long and faithful preaching of the Gospel of Calvary, and the fulness of the Spirit for every believer as promised by the Lord.
In the Neath district we find the Holy Spirit moving in a large mission hall holding two thousand people. The Pastor received the "anointing" some thirteen years ago, and hence was ready for the tide when it came. Hearing of the blessing at Loughor, early in November, a fortnight’s prayer-meetings were at once held asking God to send a Pentecost upon the work. During the fortnight of prayer the Spirit of God dealt with the church members, and then, at the Sunday evening service, the blessing broke out. At the close of his address, ere the Pastor could even ask for decisions, men and women rose from the crowded congregation amidst intense stillness and no excitement, and pressed into the enquiry rooms until they were filled, and one hundred and nineteen souls had found the Lord. Thirty-eight souls were given the next night, and the reaping went on until over a thousand converts were gathered in, amongst whom were many men and women who never went to a place of worship; many who had been to prison; drunkards, prize-fighters, gamblers, and one clog dancer who had won gold medals in his calling. Women quite drunk would stagger into the meetings, and be soundly converted whilst standing in the hall. How truly the work was of God was seen in many cases. One publican offered a convert a fortnight’s free "drink" if he would break away, but he answered "No, I have had enough of it, for it kept me in Swansea jail." Another man passing a public-house saw the landlady come out and hold up a pint of beer, saying, "Come along," but the convert held up his Bible and replied, "No, we’re going with this now. This is the key to heaven, and that to hell!"
Other churches in this town have also much to tell of the Lord’s grace and blessing.
In the Bridgend district we find again the Spirit of God at work many months before the spiritual high-tide came upon the land. Several of the ministers received the power of the Holy Ghost in August, 1903. One was the Pastor of a prominent church, the worldly reputation of which was an almost insuperable obstacle to aggressive Christian work. When he entered the Spirit-filled life his church immediately felt the change. Some members were attracted, whilst many declared the standard of life to be too high. At last in 1904 there commenced remarkable "demonstrations of the Spirit," and the Spirit of God faced the Pastor with the painful duty of dealing personally with the officers of the church. Among the deacons was an able solicitor, a man well-known in his profession, and prominent in the political world, whose whole life (afterwards acknowledged by himself) was an utterly worldly one. A private interview was arranged, when the Lord stood with the faithful Pastor, and spoke through him in such power that the deacon was broken down, and came as a penitent to the foot of the Cross. Not many days after he called together his fellow-deacons, and told them he had found Christ, and was a new man. The same testimony was given to the Bible Class, and afterwards to the public congregation, and each time he spoke of the mercy of the Lord, and the music which filled his heart, his hearers were deeply moved. His fellow-deacons at once consecrated themselves to the Lord, and the effect upon the church was as the "breaking down of an obstructing dam up among the sources of power." A flood-tide of the Spirit broke out among the congregation, and a fervent piety and passion for souls took the place of the former deadness. Not only was the church blessed, but the conversion of such a soul--like Saul of Tarsus-- produced great effect in the district. He publicly confessed that the change meant to him the whole outlook of life transformed, affecting his home and his business, and in the latter sphere his numerous publican clients were requested to find another advocate for their interests.
It was not long after this that the church had its "Pentecost." On a sabbath morning the Pastor had read the second chapter of Acts when a woman rose and said, "Let me seal that with my testimony," and then she told how the Lord had come to her in the night, and told her He had given her a mission to speak for Him.
The husband sat by her side sobbing, as the woman spoke with her face lit up, for the first time in public. Testimonies followed until the whole church was moved. At night the Spirit of God so wrought among the people that in different parts of the building many were falling on their knees crying out, whilst rough men of the town rose from every side, and accepted Christ. This Pentecost Sunday was followed by a steady work of the Spirit among Church members and the unsaved. Scores of enquirers poured in, week by week, drawn by the Spirit of God, many of them characters long ago pronounced as "hopeless," and it has been an affecting sight to see the solicitor and leading politician pleading with rough and fallen men and women, as a brother, and a fellow sinner, God using him mightily in winning souls to Christ. No less than one hundred and fifty converts have been gathered in to this church, giving every token of a deep inward change of heart.
In another district, the river of life broke out some time in the middle of November. Preparatory work was done in July last by the visit of one of the ministers who knew the Indwelling Spirit. Many members of the church then entered the Spirit-filled life, and were prepared to understand the work of the Spirit when He came in Pentecostal power. A marvellous prayer-meeting one Saturday night in November preceded the opening of the flood-gates of heaven, and it was not long before two hundred and sixty converts were added to the church. Added to the blessing among the unsaved, many of the Christians who had opposed the message of the Spirit-filled life in July, now publicly confessed that they had been wrong, and some gave remarkable testimonies of the Holy Spirit’s working in their lives.
In Dowlais the river of life had commenced to flow some time back in the summer of 1904 through the visit of some to New Quay. In one Dowlais church, the Pastor writes that for months past the "visits paid" to the church by the Holy Spirit were "wondrously powerful and significant." At several distinct periods the congregation without ~ any apparent reason would simultaneously burst into tears. Often had the Pastor himself sought with tears at the throne of grace a greater influx of power in his own life. At the close of the month of August, 1904, three ministers who knew the Spirit-filled life conducted services in the church, when many received the filling of the Spirit after a definite surrender to Christ, and God at once began to use them powerfully. The Pastor writes that his own life became a radically changed one, the spiritual 7 sphere becoming to him transfigured and very real. The river of life flowed on from that time in August, and conversions took place at every meeting until, by the close of 1904, one hundred and seventy had been added to the Lord, and believers were continually being brought into full surrender to Christ, and the knowledge of the Indwelling Holy Ghost.
Passing on to Monmouthshire the Pastor of one church writes that after his return from the 1904 Llandrindod Conference not a prayer meeting, church meeting, or any other service took place without the message concerning the whole-hearted reception of the Spirit being urged upon his people, until in October two ministers in the experience of the Spirit-filled life came to conduct special services, when the whole church was transformed, the entire diaconate receiving blessing. Seventy-four converts were also gathered in, and in the afternoon meetings for Christians, three women who came from another Church, entered into the fulness of blessing, receiving a baptism of love for souls. These became channels of the life-streams in their own church, where two hundred converts were quickly won to Christ.
In another district we find special services of the same class, when everyone who attended the afternoon meetings surrendered fully to Christ, and received the Holy Ghost, whilst souls were brought to Christ at every meeting. These services were held at the very time that the Spirit of God broke out at Loughor.
In Cardiff, with one of the romantic coincidences so frequently experienced by souls led of the Spirit, we find in October, 1904, a great Mission conducted by the very one called out from the prayer-company in Chicago for the service of God in "world-wide revival," and there is evidence that he was used of God especially to ministers and workers in his messages concerning the Spirit-filled life. Thus was the Lord through many channels preparing His people.
When the high tide came upon the land later on, we find in Cardiff a most unique work of God in one centre, a large chapel being filled night after night with people of all classes, and some of the very hopeless outcasts of the town brought by the power of God into newness of life. Agnostics have given testimony to faith in Jesus Christ, and drunkards have been delivered from their bonds. Midnight meetings have been held revealing the horrors of sin, and the power of Christ to save. Other churches in the town have also been deeply moved by God, whilst at Penarth we find another centre of blessing, over six hundred converts being added to one church, drunkards, thieves, gamblers, and others had been rescued, and are now among the best workers in the service of Christ.
The Spirit broke out in November when no special evangelist had visited the Church, which had been praying for Revival for about two years. The Pastor tells how God prepared him by reading books on the Spirit-filled life, which life he entered upon at the aforesaid Mission in Cardiff in October.
These instances--and they are but instances of the way that the Spirit of God was working in places far distant from each other--show that He was moving in different parts of Wales at the same time, and the life-streams which had been quietly rising appear to have silently joined their currents in November, 1904, and swept in "high tide" over the land. We find all sections of the Church affected by it, for the Holy Ghost is no respecter of denominations any more than persons, and He freely wrought in every place where He was welcomed when He began to work, and was given room.
We have summarized briefly some of the effects upon the masses and upon the world, in watching the course of the mighty river of God which swept from Loughor through the mining districts of South Wales. Let us now look out upon the whole of South Wales, and view the broad effects of the Pentecost upon the people of God.
What has the spiritual high-tide accomplished? It not only swept down the mining valleys as a torrent, cleansing and healing as it went, but it silently enveloped the machinery of the churches, and lifted them, so to speak, into a new spiritual sphere. The traditional bonds of years were broken. Prejudices of the past vanished. Not only in the meetings held by Revivalists, but in ordinary services, the Spirit of God--hitherto often considered but an influence--was honoured as the Third Person of the Trinity, and given His place of presidency over the church. Pastors allowed the services to take any form that might arise from the movement of the Spirit. Anyone might rise to speak or lead in prayer without fear, and sermons were put aside when the need arose.
In the overflowing tide denominational barriers between the people of God were submerged, as when the sea sweeps in upon the shore, and swallows up in its glorious fulness all the pools of sea-water separated far from each other on the sand. Wondrous scenes were witnessed that must have caused the heavenly spheres to ring with the joy of the angels. Churches on unbrotherly terms for many years were reconciled, and united meetings held, in one case the two ministers shaking hands before the people. In some districts--would God we could say all--clergy and their Free Church brethren freely met together in the worship of God. Families were re-united; long-severed friends reconciled; children were restored to parents; offended church members re-took their places among the people of the Lord. And in place after place the "Ministers’ fraternal meeting" became fraternal in very truth, for hearts flowed together in true fellowship in the presence of the Lord.
With the spirit of unity and love, came also the spirit of sacrifice. Churches hitherto divided on the question unanimously decided to put away all danger to the weaker brethren in the using of fermented wine at the table of the Lord. In other churches large numbers of old members signed the pledge for the sake of the weaker ones rescued from the drink-fiend, and in another church we read of members vacating their own pews in the body of the building, and retiring to the gallery that the area might be used for the aggressive work of gathering in the souls.
We find, also, a wondrous spirit of liberty, which strikingly bears the marks of Pentecost, for in the surcharged atmosphere in the upper room in Jerusalem, all began to speak! The young people, hitherto shy before their elders, have had their tongues loosed, to speak or pray without fear of rebuke. It is now no uncommon thing to see a young girl of eighteen speaking under the evident control of the Holy Ghost, whilst in the big pew sit ministers and elders, ofttimes with tears coursing down their faces. The servants and handmaidens are prophesying, as foretold by Joel.
Again we find that the prophesying takes the form of witnessing--the special mark of Pentecost. In Wales for many years it has been considered too sacred a thing to speak of the inner dealings of God, yet suddenly we see all changed, and sermons put aside for testimony, and public confession of what the Lord has done for the soul.
Another remarkable change is the attitude to the prayer-meeting! Hitherto shunted, as one said, for any social event, and none but elders, when called upon, solemnly took part! But now social events must stand aside for the prayer-meetings, which are more attractive than all else! The spirit of prayer, too, is given in a very travail for souls, and narrow bounds are swept away, as prayer is made for "all nations."
We have referred elsewhere to the way that the Holy Spirit made Calvary the centre and source of blessing, and there are many traces of a remarkable revelation of the Cross to the "eyes of the heart"-- Ephes. i. 18. An evangelist tells how he was praying with others in a certain house one day, when the Lord revealed himself to the servant-girl in a "clear vision of the Cross with herself at the base," and her "experience and power in the service which followed, was most touching." In a meeting too, at Carmarthen, a worker rose and asked why it was she saw the Cross of Calvary before her vision night and day.
There are other Pentecostal marks discernible in places where the Spirit of God has worked in mighty power, in "signs and wonders" being wrought among the people. "Signs and wonders" in miracles of physical deliverance for souls wrecked by the demon of strong drink. One convert who had been a gambler and drunkard, with his bodily frame shattered by his life, gave testimony that since the day of his conversion he had been perfectly restored to his normal health. Another, who had not been sober one "week-end" for thirty-five years, said he could not now smell alcoholic liquor without sickness--the revulsion was so great.
In this day of His power we find others, too, proving the healing power of God. A minister tells how he was taken ill in the midst of the work, but he appealed to the Lord, and found himself instantly healed! He did not hesitate to bear witness to this in a meeting, when quickly many others sprang to their feet, and said what the Lord had done for them in the same way, one being a minister’s wife who entered the Spirit-filled life but a few months before. At one place, too, in a meeting the power of the Spirit was so intense, that the Missioners could not pray for deliverance for souls manifestly held in bondage by the evil one, but were constrained irresistibly to "command" the adversary to release his captives, and numbers were thus set free by the power of God.
If we speak of the converts swept in by the spiritual high-tide, we might describe them in the very words of Scripture! They who have "received the word" have "continued stedfastly" in "fellowship" and in prayers --great numbers being baptized and received to the table of the Lord. All I that "believe " now continue " with one accord" in the various church meetings, and are filled with "gladness" and "singleness of heart," for they have lost the desire for the things of the world which they have come out of, and long to fully serve the Lord! They are "praising God" with "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," and are "having favour with all the people." And the Lord is "adding’ to them day by day" others who also are "being saved."
But it must be remembered these converts are but babes, many utterly untaught, although born into the kingdom in this day of Pentecostal power. It remains for the Pastors to lead them on into the fulness of the life in the Spirit so that they become established in the knowledge of God, and the Church of God in Wales be in deed and truth after the pattern of Pentecost.