Welsh Newspapers
Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles
7 articles on this Page
The Revival.
The Revival. A REVIVAL OF SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK, TEMPERANCE AND PEACE NEEDED. Speaking at Trinity last Sunday morning the Rev. J. L. Jenkins, pastor, remarked that although they had a revival, there was a great deal to do yet. There was organised injustice to attack, and work waiting on all hands. To the Sunday School little ones came week after week to find no teacher there for them. To how many in these days they could address the words, Under- standest thou what thou readest ? An awful responsibility rested upon them re- garding the cause of temperance. When they assailed the drink traffic they were accused by persons whose material interests were at stake of attacking legitimate property. and the vulgar, immoral, brewer-millionaire, who had grown fat on the ruin of the people, protested. Again it was sad to realise that two countries were being de- populated and two armed nations were dis- sipating their energy and wasting one another's life-blood at the present time. He hoped that God would send a revival everywhere, so that truth should not be forever on the scaffold and wrong forever on the throne. A MIDNIGHT REVIVAL SERVICE AT TRECYNON. Last Sunday, the atmospheric conditions being favourable, there was a very strong muster of Revivalists on parade in the Tre- cynon streets. The procession approached the chief public houses, and there was much singing and praying in front of them. The police were vigilant lest any attempt at obstruction be made, but the processionists kept the pavement clear and there was no boarding of licensed houses this time. Meanwhile there were prayer meetings at Siloh Chapel and Ebenezer Hall. When the processionists returned to the latter place, it was found that the accommodation it afforded was far too limited, and a trek was made for the spacious Ebenezer Chapel, which was opened and illuminated about twenty minutes before midnight, and in a very short time it was filled. The service commenced, the Revs J. Grawys Jones, J. Morgan, and J. Cynog Williams occupying the pulpit, which partakes more of the nature of a rostrum. Five minutes before twelve the Rev J. Morgan enjoined all present to engage in silent prayer as the mood best befitting them during the passing of the old year and the advent of the new. There was a general response, but before the hand of the clock had reached twelve the prayers had become anything but silent. The syrens, the hooters and bells tolling the knell of the parting and welcoming the coming guest were unheard, and the hand on the dial commenced its downward course unobserved. It was not long before the meeting was ablaze with fervid praying. Many of the prayers, although eloquent with enthusiasm, were verbally barren, but the monotonous repetition of hackneyed platitudes was oft relieved and brightened by a good deal of originality and even brilliancy of speech. One young man-a mere boy-who prayed in English, evidently experienced as much difficulty in trying to find words wherewith to garb his thoughts as the others did in trying to find ideas to clothe their verbosity with. One young lady who utilised the occasion to philosophise on the flight of time, the brevity of life and the ever-echoing voice of duty, quoted from Longfellow's Psalm of Life that impressive verse :— Not enjoyment and not sorrow Is our destined end or way, But to live that each to-morrow Finds us farther than to-day. Considering the enthusiasm that waged at that midnight gathering the meeting was more subdued in tone than many of its pre- decessors. There were no vehement har- angues bristling with personal abuse and uncharitableness. When the Rev J. Grawys Jones appealed for silence in order to im- press upon the enthusiasts some topical lessons and thrust home some practical advice, there was immediate obedience. He asked all who were prepared to make the following vows to signify by raising their hands. (1) To strive to love and serve Jesus Christ during the new year. (2) To read and study the Word of God. (3) To frequently attend the House of God. (4) To sanctify the Lord's Day. (5) To render assistance unto man. The Rev J. Morgan then intercepted Mr Jones, saying that 7 was the perfect number, and he wished to add two more to Mr Jones' five, namely, (1) To meditate daily upon the Bible. (2) To bring sinners to Jesus. The entire congregation by means of a forest of hands, expressed its readiness to adhere to the conditions laid down by the speaker. Two young men, who were obviously in an advanced state of intoxication were sur- rounded by prayerful men and women and were the subjects of many entreaties and supplications. At last one of them stag- gered to his feet and commenced in an in- coherent speech to make a confession. I am only a young chap he said. but God help me." He could say no more, and sank to his seat sobbing. Then there were loud and jubilant notes of thanksgiving in every corner of the building, which, how- ever, was modified when a young lady got up to pray. She observed that the con- verted drunkard was one out of seven she had on her list and she thanked God devoutedly for his salvation. The other in- toxicated man was now besieged with the most earnest supplications, and ultimately he gave way, stood up with difficulty ex- claiming Yes, I will confess." He mut- tered another sentence and then collapsed, Diolch iddo was then repeated over and over again with intense fervour. During the meeting one man got up and announced the conversion of two young men who had only a few days previously been released from prison where they had been paying the penalty of the law for com- mitting a brutal assault. The same person announced later on that another man had accepted salvation, and asked him to stand UP- He half stood reluctantly, but made declaration. His Christian name was jot, and no sooner was his name mentioned than an elderly deacon shouted exultantly and triumphantly "Thank God for saving There is a lot more to come Rev J. Morgan now recited the old hymn Ti gedwaist Noe rhag Diluw, 11 Ti gedwaist Lot rhag tan. Songs of praises now filled the edifice and the strains of Diolch iddo drowned every other sound for a considerable time. Just then a man wearing a G.W.R. uniform prayed that his cousin should be saved. He confessed that he had aided and abetted that man to do evil. The con- gregation having joined with him in prayer for sometime, the Rev J. Grawys Jones announced that they were going to put the meeting to the usual test. Many were observed to keep their seats and were ap- proached by solicitous friends, but the majority expressed their desire to give the matter of changing sides a longer and more serious consideration. In justice to the ministers it must be said that they made no attempt to coerce them into con- version, but stated that while they invited all they forced none. Considerable caution was shown by those who appeared to realise the responsibility of the step which they were asked to take, and their action con- trasted vividly with that of the converts who were under the influence of drink, who most deliberately, and even hurriedly, accepted salvation We very much doubt the discretion of trying to convince men who are in a state of intoxication, and there- fore incapable of realising what they are doing. We really think it would be a better policy to sober them first and try to convert them afterwards, instead of vice versa. It was a pathetic spectacle, and let us hope that the seed cast upon the waters will bear fruit in the reflection of sober moments. TO RELIEVE DISTRESS. At a revival meeting held at Bryn Seion Chapel, Trecynon, last week, one of the ministers announced that the sum of over £3 had been collected and handed over to a man who was in pecuniary distress. 141 PLEDGES AT LLWYDCOED, At a revival meeting held at Horeb, Llwydcoed, on Sunday, 141 church mem- bers signed the pledge. This means that almost every member of the church is a total abstainer. ABERCYNON MEETINGS. f The anniversary services of Bethania Welsh Congregational Chapel, Abercynon, were held on Sunday. The preachers were the Revs. J. Miles, Aberystwyth, and J. J. Williams, Siloh, Pentre, and the first meet- ing on Saturday night continued until half- past 10. A procession was then formed, and meetings were held in front of some of the hotels. The open air meetings were continued until half-past 1 on Sunday morning. Many then proceeded to the Welsh Methodist Chapel, where a very im- pressive prayer meeting was conducted until 4 o'clock. On Sunday afternoon the feeling was so intense that the preacher was unable to proceed with his sermon. The congregation burst into song, and hymn- singing and prayer alternated until the close of the meeting. The evening meeting was conducted on revival lines, the two sermons being dispensed with. ACTIVITY AT CWMBACH. Cwmbach, no less than the other out- lying districts of Aberdare, have been wit- nessing extraordinary meetings in connec- tion with the present religious Revival. On Monday week, a service, characterised with much fervour, was held at Bethania Baptist Chapel. Several striking incidents happened, and many persons gave themselves to Christ. Last Sunday morning, the three Welsh Churches—Baptist, Methodist and Congregational ist-beld a united service in Bethania, In the afternon again, another united service was held at Bryn Seion. In the evening from 5.30 to 6 o'clock, they paraded the streets, after which each sec- tion went to its respective chapel, separate services being held in the evening. The ordinary service was dispensed with in each instance, and a Revival meeting held, which lasted until midnight. A number of con- verts are reported from each chapel. Very enthusiastic meetings have also been held at the English Primitive Methodist Chapel, and a number of backsliders have returned to the fold. United processions were in- augurated on week nights, and we are told by people from Aberaman that they could hear the singing, and understand the words, especially those of the popular martial hymn-tune, 11 Marchog, Iesu, yn llwydd- ianus." The" fire" has not caught on at the local Unitarian Church, but the pastor, Rev David Evans, has taken part in some of the Revival meetings held at Bryn Seion and other chapels. This week he joins the Revs David Rees, Bridgend, and J. T. Jenkins, Gellionen, in conducting Revival services at Wick, where a remar- Kable series of meetings have already been held. SHOULD THE EISTEDDFOD BE ABANDONED FOR REVIVAL MEETINGS ? In his presidential address at Llangollen Eisteddfod on Monday, Mr J. P. Edwards, Liverpool, dilating upon the Revival, re- gretted that in some places Welsh eistedd- fodau had been abandoned through the Revival. That was a great mistake, because history and experience showed that human nature required reasonable and proper recreation, and. deprived of that, reaction came and produced a worse state than the first. The eisteddfod had pro- vided evening recreation in villages and towns with marked success. Music was unquestionably the highest form of pleasure and the handmaid of religion. They should nourish and foster all those national institutions and customs which had been characteristic of Wales and had contributed to the intellectual, moral, and religious welfare of the Principality, Wales need not be ashamed of her admirable eistedd- fodic amusements. AMONG THE CHURCHES. ABERDARE. Last Sunday at Carmel English Baptist Chapel 50 converts were baptised. Prayer Meetings were held in many of the Chapels on Sunday all day, and on Saturday night revival services were sub- stituted for the usual watchnight services. ABERAMAN. At Saron Welsh Congrega- tional Church 20 new members were re- ceived into communion on Sunday, and the ordinary preaching services were converted into revival meetings. PENRHIWCEIBER.—At Jerusalem Welsh Baptist Church (Rev. W. R. Jones) meet- ings have been held twice daily for some time. The converts number over 150. Many drunkards have been converted, and these are now engaged in holding prayer meetings in the houses as well as open air services. MOUNTAIN AsH.-Our Mountain Ash cor- respondent writes :—Fifty-seven converts were received into membership at Providence English Congregrtional Chapel (Rev T. Anthony) last Sunday evening. Twelve converts were also announced at the after meeting. The Rhos Baptist Chapel (Rev T. T. Hughes) has obtained a decided in- crease in membership as a result of the revival. The meetings held every night are characterised with much warmth, 15 new members being baptised last Sunday. Over 150 converts have been received into mem- bership at the Nazareth English Baptist Church (Rev E. V. Tidman); of these 120 have already been baptised. Bethania Welsh Congregational (Rev Owen Jones) has given the right hand of fellowship to over 70 converts. It is a pity that a few of the older deacons of this church are not wise enough to drop their custom of inter- fering with the spontaneous character of the meetings,
--__--------New Year's Day…
New Year's Day Services. TRINITY, ABERDARE. Last Sunday morning at Trinity, the Rev J. L. Jenkins preached from Exodus xl. 2, on the words, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation." The message of the new year, the preacher observed, was, What thou doest do quickly." He ex- horted his congregation to begin the year with serious reflection, with devout medi- tation on moral and spiritual truth. A solemn obligation rested on every moral being to master every moral truth, and make it his own. They should all begin the year with self-examination—not morbid introspection. Some people were always feeling their own spiritual pulse, and watching -the thermometer of the soul, as it were. Sometimes it was good to get away from one's self. There would be less dyspepsia and indigestion in the world if people brooded less over themselves and thought more of others. They could dispense with a doctor or two if they gave more thought to the salvation of other people. However they could do some self-inspection without resorting to morbid broodings. ST. ELVAN'S, ABERDARE. The annual distribution of Sunday School prizes took place on Sunday (New Year's Day). The vicar being unable to attend through illness the duties of distributing the prizes were undertaken by the Rev Henry Thomas, B.A. At the evening service the sermon was preached by the Rev W. H. Jones, B.A. At the close the choir sang several Christmas-tide carols under the direction of Mr J. Williams, organist.
--__"---Serious Accident on…
Serious Accident on the Bwllfa Dare Line. Many Injured. A serious accident, fortunately unatten- ded with loss of life, occurred on the Dare branch of the Taff Vale Railway last Friday evening. The workmen employed at the Bwllfa and Nantmelyn Collieries live at Aberdare and travel to and from their employment in a special workmen's train. This train consists of some 12 coaches, and after completing the morning journey nine of these are left on what is known as the Watercourse or reservoir siding at Nant- melyn. whilst three of the carriages and the engine return to the Gadlys Yard, the siding being not large enough to contain the whole train. On Friday evening the men, according to their wont, had seated them- selves in the nine carriages at the siding. However it appears that the shoe :which kept the coaches in a stationary position was dislocated, with the result that the carriages started away. Most of the men realised their position at once, and jumped out before the runaway coaches had attained any great speed. There was a scene of terrible confusion in the carriages. Many who were unable to open the doors smashed the windows, jumped through, and fell headlong on the line. The runaway coaches rushed down the line for about 50 yards, where they collided with the three remaining coaches which were to complete the train, and which were being pushed up the line by an engine. The engine driver noticed the approach of the runaway coaches, and instantly shut off steam, thereby greatly lessening the force of the collision. The men who remained in the carriages fared the best, for they escaped with a severe shaking. From thirty to forty of those who. jumped out were injured more or less, but the majority of them were able to walk home. Mr Walters, the T.V.R. stationmaster at Aberdare, Mr Capron, the traffic inspector of the branch. PC. Welsby, who is sta- tioned at Gadlys, and others, were imme- diately on the spot. Later on, Dr Bankes arrived on the scene and attended to the injured persons. Those who had been most seriously injured were taken to the Bwllfa Colliery Company's Offices, and attended to by Drs. Bankes and Turner, Other injured men were conveyed home and received the attention of Dr Scale and Dr Trcfor Jones. The coaches attached to the engine were all thrown off the metals and were badly damaged. The other nine coaches how- ever, were, with the exception of the fore- most one, not much the worse. The engine kept to the rails. There was a breakdown gang on the scene immediately, and there was no dearth of willing hands ready to give assistance. The night men working at both Nantmelyn and Bwllfa declined to go to work that night owing to the accident. The derailed coaches were replaced on the rails, and the road was cleared before mid- night. Amongst those who were injured were Thomas Evans, 10, Bankes-street, Aber- dare Frederick Lewis, Daniel Jones and Thomas Thomas, all from Whitcombe- street, and Ben Harris, Jenkin-street. One man from Trecynon had his arm injured so badly as to render an amputation necessary. The question of what caused the removal 'I of the shoe which kept the coaches stationary is a mystery.
Advertising
MARY, elo Ii i1 II [§ £ ^0 /^S^35 YEARS' PROVEN EFFICACY: 11 AN EVER READY HOUSEHOLD REM EDY- LOOSENS PHLEGM. •' ALLAYS CaUGH- GiVES IMMEDIATE RELIEF pLINUM C.ATiiARTICUM PILLS. FOR INDIGESTION <3. ITS EVILS. SICK-HEADACHE BILIOUS DERANGEMENT Sc. AN AGREEABLE APERIENT. j II KA YS TIC PILLS* ] CURE FACEACHE & NEURALGIA. t REFUSE SUBST/Tares. f1 ALL CKEM 15T5 TH ROUG HOUT GR EAT THE COLOllIB
CHIPS OF NEWS.
CHIPS OF NEWS. The sender of the packet which exploded at the Mount Pleasant depot of the G.P.O. sav-s it contained a preparation for the production of photographic flashlight. He did not think this substance could be exploded by concussion. A flock of 1,000 wild geese alighted at Nagy- Becskerek, in Hungary, and could fly no further. It is supposed that the birds suddenly passed from a moist fnto a very cold layer of atmo- sphere, and their feathers became coated with ice. With reference to the story that an English nurse in the Czar's household' has been expelled, Miss Margaretta Eager writes to point out that she is the only English nurse who has recently left the Palace. For purely private reasons she returned to England in October, and received from the Russian Imperial family signal tokens of their regard for her. Action is being taken in Carlisle to have the carcase of the wolf which was killed by a train at Cumwhinton preserved and placed in thp Natural History Museum. Eighty negroes, mad drunk on whisky, fought with razors and revolvers at the railway station at Roanoke, Virginia. Eight were killed and forty seriously wounded. A witness at an inquest at Lambeth on the month-old baby of a couple named Rosetti, said that the child was too "knowing," as it laughed a few hours after it was born. Betting men have relieved the rates of one of the Stourbridge parishes to the extent of one peony in the pound. Half the amount of the lines for illegal betting goes to the parish in which the convictions occur. The Swansea Education Committee have decided to appoint a Superintendent of Educa- tion for the schools in the borough at a salary of £ 350. The new officer will have the general management of the system of teaching in the whole of the schools. Mr. John Henry Lock, who died on December 29th, of pneumonia, at the age of sixty-two, was the younger brother of the late Mr. George Lock, who, in conjunction with Mr. Ebenezer Ward, started the publishing business of Ward, Lock, and Co., in 1854. During the storm that raged on Friday the body of a man, much decomposed, was washed ashore at Parton. It was identified as that of William Swainson, Whitehaven, aged about thirty, married, who had been missing since November. He had been employed as a canvasser for Singer's Sewing Machine Company. Miss Beatrice Frost, forty-three, a Derbyshire lady, in lodgings in Leeds, has been fatally burnt. She was found sitting in her bed, which was in flames, and was wearing at the time a flannelette nightdress. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. When taking a loaded gun out of a cart at Bir- mingham on Saturday, a farm labourer named Jesse Lloyd was shot dead. From the house of Mr. Aldridge, Highbury- terrace, Highbury, burglars have carried away a safe which held property valued at £ 200. Before going to bed, apparently in good health, at his home in Cook-street, Poplar. John Evans, a stevedore, kissed his wife, who was ill, turned on his side, and died. Another death from anthrax is reported, that of a Bradford wool-sorter named James Hudson. This is the sixth death from anthrax reported in the United Kingdom within the last few weeks. With her throat cut, a young woman of about twenty-two was found dead on Sunday in the roadway at Combe Park, near Coventry. Near her lay a young man, also suffering from a wound in the throat. It was explained at the South-Western Police- court on Saturday that it is a well-known thieves' trick to prevent noise when breaking glass by covering the pane with brown paper over which golden syrup has been smeared. Through being thrown from a motor-car in which he was riding along Finchlev-road, London, Thomas Couchman, aged seventy-one, received such injuries that he died. At the inauest the, verdict was accidental death.
Advertising
New Market Hall, Aberdare A Grand Sacred Pictorial CONCERT Will be given in the above place On Sunday, Jan. 8th In aid of THE ABERDARE TOWN BAND by MR. W. HAGGAR Who will give a Magnificent Series of Bioscope Pictures Eminent artistes have also promised their services. Selections will be played by the Aberdare Town Band (conductor, Mr Jesse Manley). Doors open at 7.30, to commence at 8. Admission by Silver Collection. Aberdare Market all FOR CONCEPTS, EISTEDDFODU AND ALL KINDS OF MEETINGS. Capable of accommodating 5,000. 1,200 Chairs provided. TERMS APPLY- JONES, Lessee, Aberdare MarTcet. DRINK HORNIMAN'S PURE TEA. In Packets only and Full Weight without Wrapper. Always good alike. PRICEs-1/6 TO 3/8 PER LB. SOLD BY: ABERDARE Evans, 10, Victoria-square; Harris, 12, Cardiff-street; Jones, 3, Victoria- square Phillips, 7, Victoria-square; Evans.. Royal Stores, Gadlys-road; Phillips, 15, Canon-street; Watkins, 10, Cross-street; Hiley's Cash Stores, 22, Canon-street; Davies, 82, Gadlys Road. TRECYNON :-Teague & Son, grocers; Smith, 70, Mill-street. ABERAMAN: Maddy, grocer; Rees, grocer. am's EW T H EAT R E) ABERDARE. ILI CHANGE oTPROCfftipE WEEKLY. Prices of Admission 2s. 6d., 2s., Is. 6d., Is., and 6d. Manager and Secretary Z. ANDREWS. SHADES. OF WINTERE 0 -:0. Conveners of Concerts, Secretaries of Literary Societies, ts 9 Organisers of all F llnctions for WINTER EVENINGS WILL GET THE BEST and CHEAPEST PRINTING AT THE "Leader" Office, MARKET STREET, ABERDARE. -:0:- Every Kind of Printing Executed.
The Events of 1904 and theip…
The Events of 1904 and theip Lessons. Preaching at Tabernacle, Aberdare, last Sunday evening Mr J. M. Jones, B.A., the pastor, remarked that he was not going to review the past year, but he would dwell on three or four of the greatest events of the year, and point out the moral. Firstly he would refer to THE GREAT WAR IN THE EAST with which he would couple the Trust war in America. What was the war in the East? It was the absolute and inevitable result of the idea that the greatness of a country was determined by its material power and that the dignity of a Government was connected with the number of acres its flag waved over. He did not pretend to know anything of Tariff Refrom, but he wished to emphasise this. It was a most serious reflection if the only remedy for an Empire that was in danger was to increase its ships and augment its material power. That idea was the direct and inevitable re- sult of a material and territorial conception of country and empire. The first condition of reform was moral power. Peace founded on national honour was greater than all the armies of the world. The second event that he would deal with would be the RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY IN SCOTLAND. The House of Lords had decided that some 27 churches who had dissented from the other Presbyterian Churches on the question of re-union should appropriate all the property and assets of the state-estab- lished Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The lesson of this event was that if Chris- tian people thought so externally of their religion as to permit it to be governed by questions of creeds and doctrines the sooner the better it went to the same place as the Church of Scotland went, Jesus Christ's cry was Let every one make his own belief." Let every one be in- structed bv the dictates of an educated con- science and not by the beliefs of his fathers. The third event which had caused some commotion in 1904 was the question of THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS and the religious-political fight concerning that matter. He had arrived at two conclu- sions regarding this question. (1) That the people of this country required to know what the solemn meaning of education was. It was not merely reading, writing and arithmetic but a power that built characters. (2) That people required to be taught that religious teaching was not a thing that could be taken in doses, and not something that a teacher could with a few lessons on the blackboard throw into the souls of chil- dren. They should get rid of the ideas that an established Church made religion and that an established school made education. The fourth event that he would mention was THE REVIVAL IN WALES, with which he would couple the religious controversies in the Cla,rion and the Daily Telegraph. We in Wales were in the the midst of a great movement, and what- ever views would be taken of the various forms in which it manifested itself, and whatever would be its religious result, it must be admitted that it was a great, genuine, deep human cry for something that was missing. He was not going to deny that Mr Blatchford, of the Clarion, had made many ridiculous mistakes. Nevertheless, they could learn a great deal from him in honesty and reverence for the good and true, and his efforts to uplift the people. What was the meaning of that rationalistic controversy ? It had exactly the same meaning as the Revival. Each was a revolt against the apathy of the churches towards the realities of religion. Each was a cry of despair, a cry expressing the need for something which was felt to be absent in the churches. He did not think that Blatchford's cry or that of the Revival would have been heard if they had had in the churches more simplicity, more reality, and more of the social spirit. If Jesus Christ had mastered the soul and heart of every Christian, and if we had had his real, simple, child-like religion permeating every institution and church, Blatchford's crusade would not have been initiated, and the revival would not have taken the crude form it had taken. THE MESSAGE OF 1905 was the need of such a transformation in the churches, which should also become an integral part of ourselves. If amusements and recreations were becoming sinful and impurs, whose fault was it ? Was it not the business of the church to purge and purify football and other amusements, and not make a cowardly flight from them. Christ did not flee from the publicans, the sinners and slums of Capernaum. Their prayer should be that of Browning, 0 God, make no more giants, elevate the race."