The indications of the spread of a religious revival in Wales are increasing in force as well as spreading over a larger area, and the fact that the movement is not due to the overpowering fervour and eloquence of any great preacher or preachers only proves that the country seems to be ripening for manifestations of the “hwyl” in a rising tide which thousands are apparently waiting, watching, and praying for. The gatherings at Trecynon, Aberdare, conducted by Mr. Evan Roberts, of Loughor, and the five young singing evangelists who accompany him are attracting crowds, not only from the immediate neighbourhood, but mixed companies of the sceptic, the doubtful, the curious, the zealous, the enthusiastic, and the stern believer in the advent of the revival from distant towns and villages; and when the silver-tongued orators of Welsh pulpit and pew shall have caught the infectious spirit of these pioneers of the movement there can, in the present state of expectancy, only be one result—an upheaval of religious forces which will undoubtedly electrify the Principality.

Ebenezer Chapel, where today’s proceedings were conducted by Mr. Evan Roberts, is the Welsh Congregational Chapel so famous in connection with what was known as Edwards Morgan’s revival in 1859, and although Aberdare does not appear, as yet, to have particularly joined Trecynon, there can be no doubt that before the week is out similar services will be held there.

Perhaps the greatest mystery of the whole movement at present is that the central figure of the revival, Mr. Evan Roberts, is not gifted with the remarkable eloquence which is generally the attribute of a man who sways multitudes. As I heard a man remark, wonderingly, “We have plenty of better speakers, and, possibly, abler men, but they do not seem to be imbued with the same power as he wields in drawing these immense crowds and keeping them together. At present I can only account for it by the fact that he comes from the midst of the Loughor fire.”

That is just it. He neither preaches nor harangues; he simply talks, pleads, exhorts, explains; tells his own story simply and winningly, and smilingly invites. He does not even give out the electrifying Welsh hymns with the effect which many can impart to the stirring words; but he is evidently sincere, and he prays with the fervour of a man whose heart is deeply moved. The young ladies who accompany him are not professional singers; but they are manifestly touched with the spirit of singing pilgrims, and, in summing up the strangeness of the power thus introduced, one can only be reminded of the story of the humble origin of the disciples of old, as “the fishermen of the Sea of Galilee.” But the spontaneous striking up of a hymn or the starting of an address in Welsh or English, or the uttering of a devout prayer by men or women in the congregation, in the body of the chapel, or the gallery, from pulpit, big pew, or anywhere that may be occupied by the person who rises, naturally tends to infuse enthusiasm and decentralise the work.

The prayer meeting held at Ebenezer this morning is described as a wonderful one, lasting from ten o’clock until 1.15. Men had remained home from work in order to attend it. People who had come long distances the previous day had remained in the village overnight in order to join.

Who conducted it?” I asked.

No one,” was the reply; “but Evan Roberts prayed.”

The “Holy Spirit led.” declared Evan Roberts himself.

At the night meeting, announced for seven o’clock, there, was a full chapel before the time fixed, and Evan Roberts, now and then rising and pacing the “set fawr,” seemed agitated with expectancy. He got up at five minutes to seven and gave out a hymn of the Church Militant— “Mae’r Iesu’n myn’d I ryfel,” and, after it had been sung, took the words for the text of an address lasting nearly half an hour. Then he invited the congregation to sing :-

“Marchog Iesu yn llwyddianus,
Gwisg dy gleddyf ar dy glun.”

and the tide of feeling seemed to rise gradually as the meeting proceeded. One of the young ladies in the big seat started singing:-

“O happy day that fixed my choice,
On Thee, my Saviour and my God,”

And the congregation joined heartily in the refrain, which was repeated again and again. The singer stopped, and stated that she had that day visited some gipsies, and that two of them had accompanied her to that meeting. It was a happy day for her, and she could not help singing “Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away,” and she commenced singing again, and the “repeats” were more fervent than before, indicating clearly the influence of the words and the music, as well as the feeling, upon the congregation.

A man in the gallery afterwards prayed. Mr. Roberts then delivered a brief address. He remarked that it was not for ministers or deacons to do the work of the Churches alone, but for all to work together, and then the revival—of which they were now only opening the gates—would come. Would any “backslider” get up and re-join the Lord’s Church? They need not be afraid of the term “backslider.” Coming back was the great thing. Promptly came the response, A man rose in the congregation, and spoke a, few words in a low voice, and spontaneously the crowded congregation sang:-

“Gwaed y Groes sy’n codi fyny,
‘Reiddil yn goncwerwyr mawr;
Gwaed y Groes sydd yn darostwng
Cewri cedyrn fyrdd i lawr.
Diolch iddo,
Byth am goflo llwch y llawr.”

Without repeating the full verses, the now thoroughly roused congregation sang the refrain of the next verse:-

“Pen Calfaria,
Nac aed hwnw byth o’m cof.”

An old lady rose in the body of the chapel and delivered an impassioned Welsh appeal to all to join the people who could sing “O happy day,” and a man—seemingly a workman—at the lower end of the chapel, gave out, voluntarily, the hymn, “Ni fuasai genyf obaith,” which led to fervent singing of the well-known “repeat”:-

“O rhyw anfeidrol gariad
I gofio am danaf fi,”

—‘the eloquent words and music with which the late Gabriel Williams, of Treherbert, thrilled the vast audience in St. James’s Hall, London, on a memorable occasion. some years ago. By this time the pulpit, or, rather, rostrum, of the chapel was filled, as well as the pews, and while the conductor of the meeting was walking about quietly, now in the gallery, now in the aisles, four local ministers sat in the rostrum, thoroughly enjoying the service and joining heartily in the singing.

Presently there was a moment’s silence, and a North Walian rose and shouted, “Thank God for Llwynffortun, the only man who in days gone by took an interest in the gipsies,” and then proceeded to speak at some length, raising and lowering his voice in the cadences of the Welsh “hwyl,” as the old lady already referred to had done. ‘While he was proceeding a girl’s sweet voice rang out with the words and music of

“Gwaed y groes sy’n codi fyny,”

and the congregation joined magnificently.

Into the “big seat,” and, at the earnest invitation of others, on to the rostrum went a clerical-looking gentleman — the Rev. T. 0. Thomas, formerly schoolmaster of Bedlinog — who, without announcing’ or being announced, read a portion of Scripture, and fired his hearers by declaring that he had just come from Loughor, where he had been “in the midst of the fire.” He had spent Sunday there, and could testify to that which was being done. He was, he said, keenly interested in it. He remembered an old woman praying for this revival before this young man (pointing to Mr. Evan Roberts) was born — in the words (which he sang) —

“O anfon Di yr Ysbryd Glan,
Yn enw Iesu mawr,
A’i weithrediadau megys tan,
O anfon Ef i lawr”

Needless to say, the touch of the “fire” kindled a kindred fire in the congregation, and the service was still further strengthened when Mr. Roberts once more declared that the revival was coming — that they were only “opening the gates,” and he asked them to sing:-

“Duw mawr y rhyfeddodau maith.”

He interspersed maxims and exhortations, even in giving out the hymn, and then came the deep roll of the resounding bass on the lines:-

“Ond Dwyfol ras, niwy rhyfedd yw
Na’th holl weithredoedd o bob rhyw,”

Thus were the proceedings continued until a late hour.