02.06. Chapter 6
Chapter 6. The Life Streams in North Wales--Some Traces at Ponkey in June, 1904--The Tidal Wave at Rhos, November, 1904--The Healing of the Breach at Bethesda.
Northward . . behold there ran out waters."-- Ezekiel 47:2.
We have watched the rivers of living water breaking out in many directions in South Wales; let us now turn our eyes to North Wales, and see how the Divine Spirit has been working in the northern part of the Principality.
We will look into the district of Rhos, which has been as mightily moved as any part of Glamorganshire. We find that some signs of an awakening occurred as far back as June, 1904, at anniversary services in a church at Ponkey. One of the special preachers two months before had been to South Wales, and had come in contact with two of the ministers who entered into the Spirit-filled life in August, 1903, and returned to his northern home with his heart deeply moved, and fully persuaded that the experimental knowledge of the fulness of the Holy Ghost would usher in a "new era in the history of the Welsh ministry."
The following Sunday will long be remembered in the Church as their "Day of Pentecost." At the Sabbath morning service the Pastor asked for testimony instead of preaching his usual sermon, and a big sturdy man in the congregation rose and asked the minister if he would baptize him there and then on his profession of faith in Christ, and would he do it without doubting? The whole congregation was moved, and, to the music of his mother’s prayer, the young man was baptized, shouting, "Praise God for the privilege of following Jesus before the Day of Pentecost is passed."
Another from the crowd followed this one, and an after-meeting was held, when a young man who was the "black sheep" of his family was seen on his knees in tears; whilst two young men in the choir, old friends of his, offered up praise and prayer, mingled with joyous tears. His father, who was present, shouted for joy, and thanked God that the Gospel had done what father and mother had failed to do! The whole congregation were sobbing aloud. At night the service was so extraordinary that the people lost all consciousness of time and place, the minister "lost his sermon," and relying upon the Spirit, was used in a remarkable manner. From this time on, prayer meetings were held every night during July, and the church was ready for the tidal wave which was to burst over the land in November.
In November, 1904, some churches at Rhos invited a South Wales minister to conduct special services for them--one who entered the Spirit-filled life in August 1903!
In giving the account of the extraordinary movement in Rhos, the correspondent of a Liverpool paper says:-
"If I had been asked a month ago whether a revival was probable in Wales I should have answered No. It seemed to me that the Higher Criticism had wrecked the ordinary machinery of a revival, and that until theology had been reshaped . . . nothing could be done to disturb the prevailing apathy, but oddly enough the Revivalist [Rev. R. B. Jones] is one who, according to his own story, was at one time deeply interested in the Higher Criticism, and preached the ’new theology.’ He felt, however, emptiness and coldness in his sermons. Attendance at a Convention held in Liandrindod led to a crisis in his life. He felt himself to be a new man, and since then the writings of the higher critics have lost their attraction for him.’’ The services at Rhos began on the very day that the Spirit of God broke out at Loughor through the ministry of Mr. Evan Roberts! They were held in the largest church, the united churches giving up their ordinary services for the time. The first week’s meetings were devoted to dealing with the professing Christians, leading them to the removal of hindrances in the life, full surrender to Christ, and the reception of the Holy Ghost. At the close of the week Christian workers stood confessing their powerlessness, others their lack of assurance of salvation, and seventy professing Christians rose and walked to the vestry, in token of their full surrender to Christ. After this the flood-gates of heaven were opened, and the Spirit was poured out mightily. The congregations grew and grew until places of worship became unable to accommodate them. Thousands were eager to take part in the meetings. The "revival" had come! Four weeks after the Missioner had left, a Wrexham paper said that "the whole district was in the grip of an extraordinary spiritual force which showed no sign of relaxing its hold! " The meetings were carried on by the people themselves, although the ministers were present. From ten in the morning until six in the evening some meetings went on. From the lips of the humblest and lowliest poured forth passionate appeals in prayer which quickened the whole being. Men and women continually rose, often more than one at a time, to pray with a fervour which was inspiring. In the street, in the train, in the car, even in the public-houses, this strange power upon the town was, in hushed and reverential tones, the theme of conversation.
In the evenings there were great processions, joined in by all classes, marching through the town singing hymns, and occasionally stopping for prayer. The place was visited by great numbers of visitors, and prayer meetings held three times a day were attended by crowds, with souls coming forward to Christ at every meeting.
A minister writes at the end of March, 1905, that the general result has been that the churches are on a far higher level and in a spiritual atmosphere. He says that prize-fighters and the biggest drunkards of the place are among the converts, and many of the now most useful church workers have been lifted from the very depths of degradation; also that large bands of workers are now filled with the Saviour’ s passion for souls.
The Vicar of Rhos has thrown himself heart and soul into the work, and the Welsh church at Rhos has been the scene of a unique Revival prayer meeting. Every Free Church minister of the district was present, and the building was full to overflowing. The Vicar said he had attended many meetings, but never felt such a thrill of emotion as he did on this occasion; the walls and hedges of disunion had been broken down; they were now fully united and knew no distinction! The Baptist minister opened with prayer, and the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist minister closed the service.
At Bangor the Spirit of God broke out in November, 1904, in one of the lowest and poorest parts of the city. Theological students have been at work here, led by a young Baptist student named Morgan Jones, who had been in the South Wales district, where the revival was at its height. In the afternoon the ministerial students from the Baptist and Congregational Colleges met together for prayer, and had wondrous times, and then at night proceeded to Kyffin Square--the "Whitechapel" of the Cathedral City. The Spirit of God has so wrought in this spot, in a little schoolhouse, that it is said that all the poor--very poor--inhabitants will be saved in a short time, and the character of the locality changed. The work of the Spirit in this poor centre has moved the churches of the town, and the people who "sat in darkness" have become the light to lighten the professing people of God.
In February, 1905, special services were held in Bangor by another of the South Wales ministers knowing the Spirit-filled life, when large numbers of professing Christians were brought to full surrender, and found for the first time full assurance of salvation. The Missioner found many of the theological students and others at the University manifestly filled with the Spirit of God. A memorable service was a consecration meeting held after the close of one of the public meetings, commencing about 10.30 and lasting until 2.30 a.m. About eighty believers were present, and the Spirit of God "fell" on everyone with overwhelming power.
It is at Bangor University College that we hear of a prayer-meeting in the "smoke-room," which arose through the humming of the familiar Welsh tune "Aberystwyth." The students present broke out into fervent singing, and all fell on their knees. Others came whistling or shouting to the room, opened the door, and saw the sight, and fled, or knelt among their kneeling comrades.
In Carnarvonshire, the movement of the Spirit appears to have been first manifested at Bethesda, the scene of the historical Peurhyn strike which produced social, domestic, and religious disunion.
"The records of the police-courts showed how families were divided, life-long friendships were shattered, and so bitter was the feeling generated that in a large number of cases men would not worship together. Scenes sometimes occurred on the most solemn occasions, and those qualified to judge unanimously believed peace could not be restored during the present generation. But a week’s "Revival" services held by a Wesleyan minister (Rev, Hugh Hughes) were greatly used of God. Old friends have been reconciled. Members of churches have returned to pray by the side of those who had driven them forth. Women who had summoned each other go together to the daily prayer-meeting where five hundred women gather every afternoon. Members of the same family who have not spoken to each other for two years now meet happily together. The meetings last practically from 2.30 in the afternoon until midnight. Visitors from other districts attend and carry back the blessing." (S.W. Daily News)
At Nantile Vale, in the south of the county, prayer-meetings were held, started voluntarily by the young people. Villages followed the example, so that practically by the middle of December the whole county might be said to be one great prayer-meeting.
The Isle of Anglesey was visited in January, 1905, by Rev. R. B. Jones, who conducted meetings at Holyhead, again dealing first with the Christians, and then through the believers brought into harmony with God, seeing the Spirit of God falling in converting power upon the unsaved. The Holy Spirit wrought mightily, and the services became a veritable Pentecost. A deacon confessed he had now received the baptism of the Spirit, which he had sought for ten years. About forty went to the vestry surrendering fully to Christ, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Many were quite prostrated by the intense presence of the Lord. At the close of the week, on the Sabbath morning, every single soul confessed a complete consecration to the Risen Lord, and some unsaved found the Saviour. The closing testimony meeting showed that the entire church had been lifted into a new atmosphere, and many had realised their "Pentecost." God had wrought marvellously in one week, and the church was a "new" church. The Pastor witnessed before his own people that he had entered into the experience of Galatians 2:20, that the life of Christ might be manifested through him.
At Llanerchymedd the Missioner held only three days’ meetings of the united churches. Again he dealt with the Christians, his message being "The Holiness of God." On the first evening sixty-seven souls were brought to Christ, and on the second night remarkable scenes took place. The Missioner, looking from the pulpit, saw a college student full length on the floor of the "big pew." Suddenly the young man arose, and putting his hand in his pocket, he took out his pipe, and publicly handed it to the Missioner. Another student was on his knees groaning aloud and crying "Oh God, give me strength; shall I have strength to do it?" Finally he, too, arose, and took out his pipe and his pouch from his pocket and threw them on to the pulpit desk. Others followed, until the whole of the desk was covered with pipes and pouches of tobacco, yet the Missioner had said no word about these things, but simply proclaimed the Holiness of God which demanded a holy life on the part of those He owned.
Whilst these scenes were occurring the news was noised abroad, and people outside flocked in from their homes, and even the public-houses, until right up to 12.45 at night souls poured in to give themselves to God, no less than one hundred and eleven converts being gathered in at this one meeting.
At a consecration meeting on the Saturday morning two hundred came forward for definite surrender and the reception of the Holy Ghost, after being taught what it meant. Again the Spirit of God descended in power, for whilst they were on their knees in full surrender, the Spirit "fell" upon them, and all broke out in audible prayer at the same time.
At Amlwch three days’ united meetings were held, the message again being Isaiah vi., and the people were manifestly convicted by the Holy Ghost. When the messenger came to the "live coal from off the altar "--the cleansing fire from the place where the blood was shed, CALVARY--suddenly, without one word of explanation, the Spirit so unveiled the truth that the majority of the large congregation of twelve hundred people simultaneously sprang to their feet shouting "Dioich Iddo!" (" Thanks be to Him "), whilst the glory of the Lord so shone upon the pulpit that the Missioner fled to the vestry completely overcome.
At Cefnrnawr, near Rhos, the united churches held services in September, 1904, but it does not appear that the Spirit of God broke out in any torrential power until February, 1905, when a South Wales Minister visited the place. On the second night of the February services, the power of the Spirit became so intense that the Missioner was scarcely able to speak at times. Once the whole congregation burst out into singing, and then for a whole hour many gave testimony for the first time in their lives. The climax was reached on the Friday of that week, when sixty to eighty gave themselves wholly to Christ, making a complete surrender, and definitely accepting the Holy Ghost.
The Colleges of Wales have also been greatly moved. At Bala College, Professor Edwards says, that if ever he saw the subduing, melting, abasing, elevating effects of Divine power, he saw them now among his students.
Space forbids our attempting to record the movement in other parts of North Wales. We hear of three weeks’ prayer-meetings in Merionethshire in the middle of December, the people uniting in prayer all over the villages and valleys of the county, until, at the Christmas season, a young man came home for his holidays from Glamorganshire--a changed man, praying for his old friends, and telling of the Lord’s mighty working, until scarcely an unconverted "hearer" remained all through the valleys.
Other messengers of God have been used by Him, some from South Wales, and others called out and equipped by Him for service in their own districts. We hear of a farmer’s wife at Egryn, and a young quarryman, as well as numbers of university students.
Rev. Elvet Lewis says: "I am more than ever convinced that the ’half will never be told.’ It is a continual surprise even to those who know the land and the people intimately. There may be a few remote places still untouched, but I have failed to hear of one."