Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

THE WELSH REVIVAL. MR EVAN ROBERTS' DISCIPLES VISIT TOWYN. At last one might venture to say that the re- vival has actually reached Towyn. As it is well known prayer meetings have been held at the various places of worship for the last six weeks, which were of a very enthusiastic nature, but not until Friday night last has the influence of the Welsh religious revival come as might wind and penticostal fire." On Sunday even- ing week it was announced at the various chapels that a united prayer meeting would be held on Friday evening at the Congregational Chapel, and although some very enthusiastic meetings had been held by the Congregationalists, the meeting on Friday evening was not expected to be a particularly memorable one. However, it became known that three revivalists from South Wales would visit the town that evening. There was some anxiety as to the welcome the inhabit- ants would give them. The revivalists were Miss Winnie Davies (Ynyshir), Mr William Jones Hugnes (Aberdovey), and Mr Watkin Price (Bedlinog), who had been for some consid- erable time working in connection with Mr Evan Roberts, and had been sent by him to North Wales to conduct the revival meetings. Not- withstanding the large amount of illness which prevails in the district, theie was a large atten- dance at seven o'clock on Friday evening at the Bethesda Chapel. Shortly after seven someone ,struck up a tune on the words Diolch Iddo," which after some reluctance on the part of the 'congregation was sung in a vigorous manner. Having been sung several times over, the Rev W. Lloyd Davies, Aberdovey, read a portion of the Scriptures. The congregation then sung Dyma Gariad fel y Moroedd" several times over, when Miss Davies entered the chapel and walked up into the pulpit, and immediately joined in the singing with the words "Pwy all beidio Cofo am dano," in a sweet clear voice. This was sung over and over again. She was closely followed by Messrs Watkin Price and William Hughes. Mr Lloyd Davies then engag- ed in prayer which was punctuated with Amen's and Bendigedig." Another hymn having been sung, Mr Watkin Price offered prayer on be- half of the congregation, and then addressed the meeting and informed them that if they needed the Spirit they should pray for it. Ask and ye shall receive." The Church in Wales, he said, had been asleep for some time, and now it was awakening in th egreat religious revival. He appealed to the congregation for prayers in par- ticular on behalf of Russia. While he was speaking Miss Davies sweetly sang in English "Jesus is calling," and subsequently lead the congregation in singing Pen Calfaria." Sev- eral fervent prayers were then offered, and Mr Hughes addressed the meeting, and said that practically all of them knew him and his way before his conversion. Miss Davies sang Tell mother I'll be there," which aroused a large number of young people, and the scene now be- 'came much more animated. There were 12 people on their knees in the set fawr" offer- ing fervent prayer simultaneously, while tears streamed down their cheeks. At this sight a large number of the congregation at the rear of the chapel rose to their feet in order to see, but the young revivalist rebuked them and told them to sit down and pray for themselves. Some one under the gallery struck up a hymn which was sung several times over, when Miss Davies sang Throw out the life line," the congrega- tion joining in the chorus. Prayers were again offered on behalf of sinners, and that many should be saved. Miss Davies led the congrega- tion in singing Mwy, mwy, am achub llawer mwy (" More, more, more to-day to save "), to the tune of Brynian Cassia," which was sung effectively. Shortly after ten when the test was made whether there had anyone surrendered themselves to Christ, Two here," shouted some one from near the door, and Diolch Iddo was sung several times over. The meeting was con- tinued, when prayers were oeing offered up on behalf of the" DychweJedigion." Miss Davies sang H 0 yr oen yr addfwyn oen" in a most touching manner. Shortly after eleven the meeting was brought to a close by the Benedic- tion. It was announced that eleven converts had surrendered. The cangregation left the chapel singing Pen Calfaria," which was kept up on the street. A procession was organised which marched up to the Corbett square sing- ing Dyma Gariad fel y moroedd." In me Cor- bett square the procession halted, when Throw out .11e life line was sung by the crowd, and Duw mawr y Rhyfeddodau maith." Whilst they were singing this the police interfered, and a disorderly procession which followed marched up Maengwyn street, down Frankwell street, and up High street, which did not reflect much credit on the revival. Assuming that it was an illegal practice to congregate in the street for the purpose of singing it is submitted that the police should not have taken any steps to pre- vent it unless there was a breach of the peace. The practice is known to exist in other parts of the county, where no action has been taken by the police in the matter. Meetings were held on Saturday in the School- room of the Bethesda Congregational Chapel, where a large number of young people had as- sembled, and fervent prayers were offered on be- half of those who had not yet entered the church. On Sunday powerful sermons were preached at all the places of worship throughout the town, especially so at the Bethel Chapel, where Mr R. R. Parry, Bala, preached two most inspiring sermons. On Sunday evening, a sprayer meeting was again held at the Congre- gational schoolroom, when the Rev J. M. Wil- liams conducted. A large number of young people voluntarily took part in the meeting, which was of a very enthusiastic nature. On Monday evening a united prayer meeting was beld at the Bethel C.M. Chapel. There was a large attendance of young people. After the opening hymn and tune had been sung and a portion of the Scriptures read, the Rev J. H. Symond requested that the young people should not be reluctant in taking part. It was the pleasantest sight that he had seen for some time to see the young people taking a prominent part in the prayer meetings. Immediately fol- lowing his request a young lad of about 15 walk- ed up and gave out "Gwaed y Groes," which was I sung with feeling by the congregation, and then the youth engaged in prayer, which was punctu- ated with Amen and Diolch Iddo from the set fawr." Another young man prayed tnat they were not in the Methodists' Chapel, but in the chapel of Jesus Christ." Someone struck Beth yw'r udgorn to the tune of "Tonybotel." A- convert of Friday night's meeting prayed that some of his 'friends from the gallery should be brought down to pray." The hymn Dyma gariad fel y moroedd," was sung several times over. There were now several on their knees in the set fawr," and were engaged in enthusiastic prayer. The meeting was con- tinued in this manner until half-past nine, when the Rev Robert Jones asked if there was anyone who had surrendered himself to Christ. There was no reply. After singing Gad im' deimlo the meeting was concluded by prayer, shortly before 10, by the Rev Peter J. Roberts. Although there was an overflowing congrega- tion at the Ebenezer Chapel at Towyn on Tues- day evening on the occasion of the visit of the three revivalists to "lie town, the meeting was not such a success as the one on Friday even- ing. It had been arranged that the minister of the chapel where the meeting was held should take the lead. In consequence the Rev Peter J. Roberts did so on this evening, with the re- sult that the meeting was far more orderly and in our opinion more effective than Friday even- ing's meeting. There was an effective prayer that the instruments of the revival should not be thrust between God and the congregation, and undoubtedly this was answered for the revival- ists themselves were entirely in the back ground. Miss Davies sang very effectively at the com- mencement of the meeting, but her voice ap- peared to have failed towards the end. Prayers were offered up by a large number of young people. That God should reign supreme and enter into the heart of the Czar of Russia and the Sultan of Turkey was the prayer of sever- al. An Englishman under the gallery prayed very enthusiastically that the revival should spread to England and all over the world. He also prayed that those who conducted the re- vival should not be emotional but real with the work. Several persons were about to pray when Hughes asked if there were any who had surrendered, but there was no reply. At the close an inquiry meeting was held and an invitation was given by one of the revivalists that all those who felt concerned about their spiritual state should come into the vestry and he promised that he would pray with them and help them. In one prayer in the gen- eral meeting thanksgiving was offered for the zeal and help of the ministers of the town in this revival. Yesterday the revivalists attended a meeting for the young men, and last night an en- thusiastic meeting was held at the Congregation- al Chapel, conducted by the Rev J. M. Williams. To-night (Thursday) the meeting will be held at the Bethel (C.M.) Chapel; February 3rd, at Bwlch; 4th, Llanegryn; 5th, Llwyngwril; Mon- day and Tuesday, at Machynlleth. ABERDOVEY. In regard to the present revival, the three re- vivalists from South Wales, Miss Winnie Davies (Ynyshir), and Messrs Watkin Price (Bedlinog) and W. Jones Hughes (a native of Aberdovey), held a united meeting at the Wesleyan Chapel on Thursday nignt. The result was that three were converted. On Friday afternoon the meet- ing was held at the C.M. Chapel. On Satur- day evening the united meeting was held at the Wesleyan Chapel, which continued from seven o'clock until half past eleven, which was a very enthusiastic meeting. Four conversions result- ed, and what seemed very strange some young men who were reluctant about surrendering themselves could not leave the building. Sub- sequently one surrendered on Sunday night. On Monday night a letter was read at the meeting from another one stating that he had no rest since the meeting, and promising to give him- self up on Wednesday night." On Sunday an attempt was made to hold a united' meeting in the afternoon and another one in the evening, but owing to some misunderstanding and tne notice being short it failed. Prayer meetings were held at the Sunday schools. At eight o'clock on Sunday evening a very large congre- gation attended the meeting at the C.M. Chapel, when several took part. On Monday evening, the last night of their mission at Aberdovey, the meeting was held at the Wesleyan Chapel, and also proved a successful meeting, one con- vert being the result. SACRIFICING £2,000 A YEAR. The Goleuad," the weekly organ of the Cal- vinistic Methodists, states that one of the re- sults of the revival in South Wales is the de- cision of a well known solicitor to give up taking cases on behalf of brewers, and in doing this he is sacrificing £ 2,000 a year. The "Goleuad" asks, Who, after the hearing of this fact, will deny that the revival is not something fearfully substantial?" It adds that the -next thing it will expect to hear is that the Welsh Liberal members of Parliament who are barristers and accept briefs to appear on behalf of the trade" have decided to follow the example of this solicitor. HOSTILE CRITICISM BY A WELSH MINISTER. The "'Western Mail" on Tuesday gave promi- nence to an article, full of the most frankly hostile criticism of Mr Evan Roberts' methods, by the Rev Peter Price, who thus describes him- self :—"B.A. Hons., Mental and Moral Science Tripos, Cambridge (late of Queen's College, Combridge), minister of Bethania Congregation- al Church, Dowlais, South Wales." Writing in "the interest of the religion of Jesus Christ," Mr Price contends that there are two revivals in Wales—" the one, undoubtedly, from above, divine, real, intense in its nature, and Cymric in its form"; the other a sham revival, a mockery, a blasphemous travesty of the real thing." THE MISSIONER ADVISED TO GO HOME. The chief figure (writes Mr Price) in this mock revival is Evan Roberts, whose language is inconsistent with the character of anyone ex- cept that of a person endowed with the attri- butes of a divine being. Is Evan Roberts, then, a divine being, or is he not? If not, what is he? Are niere four persons in the Godhead, and is Evan Roberts the fourth? If so, I would call him The Commander of the Third Person," or the Master of the Spirit," for the following are I words which I myself heard from him on Mon- day night last at Bethania. Chapel, Dowlais. The Spirit being somewhat reluctant to obey him, he said, He must come," but the Spirit (of whom he talked most glibly, just as a child speaks of its toy, but somewhat more off-handed- ly) would not obey the orders then he told the congregation to sing, Oh, send Thou the Holy Ghost. To whom was this well-known hymn-prayer addressed? Was it addressed to Evan Roberts? I suppose it must have been, for he spoke as though the Spirit was entirely in his grip. I have heard people say, Evan Roberts is led by the Holy Spirit." I say, No "-quite the con- trary. Judging from his behaviour and talk, the Holy Spirit is led by Evan Roberts. My honest conviction is this—that the best thing mat could happen to the cause of the true religious revival amongst us would be for Evan Roberts and his girl companions to withdi aw into their respective homes, and there to ex- amine themselves and learn a little more of the meaning of Christianity, if they have the capaci- ty for this, instead of going about the country pretending to show the way of life to people, many of whom know a thousand times more about it than they do. Why, we have scores of young colliers in Dowlais with whom Evan Rob- erts is not to be compared either in intellectual capability or spiritual power. But it is this mock revival, this exhibition, this froth, this vain trumpery which visitors see and which newspapers report. And it is harmful to the true revival-very harmful. And I am horrified lest visitors and people who trust to what they see at Evan Roberts' meetings and to newspaper reports should identify the two re- vivals—the true and the false, the heavenly fire and the ignis fatuus. SIX PLAIN QUESTIONS. I should like (continues Mr Price) to ask Evan Roberts a few questions-I have many more which I might ask, but I will be satisfied now with a few — 1. He said that there was someone in the lob- by who was accepting Christ, but no one did. What spirit told him this lie? 2. When requested to speak in English he has repeatedly said that he is not prompted by '0 Spirit, and that when thus prompted he would do so. Why did he not tell the straight truth and say I don't know English," which I am told is the fact? And what about the Spirit on the day of Penticost? Has He changed? 3. Why does he wait until the meetings attain the climax of enthusiasm before he enters? If help is valuable at any stage, is it not mostly so at the commencement in order to kindle the fire? 4. Why does he visit places where the fire has been burning at maximum strength for weeks and months? Would it not be more reasonable for him to go to places which the fire has not reached? 5. What spirit makes him bad tempered when things don't come about exactly as he wishes? 6. What spirit makes him say, Ask God to damn the people if you don't ask anything else? Yes, but he has a lovely face and a beautiful smile—so some women say. This is the last re- sort.