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The Revivals
From: Classic Books for Today #156
By S. B. Shaw (1905)
(Used by Permission)

"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"   Psalm 85:6

Rev. J. P. Davies,
Tonyfelin Baptist Church, Caerphilly.

Replying to your kind inquiry respecting the results of the "Welsh revival," I have much pleasure in stating that in my opinion it is thoroughly genuine, and carries with it all the marks of the divine afflatus. It has been the means of awakening and arousing the members of Tonyfelin to greater activity, and of filling them with more zeal for Christ and His work.

I have vivid memories of the revival of 1859-60. The present one is quite, not to say more, as fervent, deep, and real. No doubt the movement is of God. I can not approve of everything connected with it, but I say may God speed it, and may it be wafted on the divine breeze to other countries.

Very many new converts have been made, backsliders have been reclaimed, and a large number of new members have been added to my church, as well as other churches of the town and neighbor-hood.

Rev. John T. Job,
Carneddi C.M. Church, Bethesda

The revival has been the means of infusing a new spirit -- a spirit of consecration in the service of Christ -- into the churches of this district. It is felt already as a breath of love from on high amongst us, real anddivine; and among its results, the spirit of enmity between workmen and families, caused by the bitter quarry strife, gives way.

Oh! the grandeur, the gentleness, yea, the sweet reasonableness of divine love! Verily, it is a pleasure to live here now. "The society" in each church is blossoming as a rose under the breath of a heavenly spring. Truly, Christ is come to His garden once more among us. The vast majority of our people are church going, and are, with only a few exceptions, enrolled members already. Hence we can not expect very many new converts here; still, about fifty have joined the churches already. A scene never to be for-gotten was witness in Carneddi Church the other night, when a young man of about thirty-two got up, and said he desired to give him-self anew as a "member." "The love of Christ constrained him to do so," he said, although he enjoyed that privilege already.

Would that such instances were multiplied generally throughout the churches of the land. What is this, I ask, but a true revival within the church itself? And when Zion putteth on "her beautiful garments" the unbelief of the world will soon vanish away. We still expect greater things. The death of the Cross is gradually conquering the young people of the district; they already, in hundreds, put forth pinions and rush like eagles to bask in the divine sunshine. The women's week-day prayer-meeting, of some 500 strong, is held every afternoon without a break; and it has been without an exception a veritable Mount of Transfiguration -- the scenes being indescribable. The keynote of all the prayers in these meetings is, "0 Iesu Anwyl!" ("0 Precious Jesus"). I have no hesitation in saying that the revival here is decidedly ethical.

Rev. J. Morgan
Brynseion C.M. Church, Trecynon, Aberdare

I should like to state that all the denominations have thrown them-selves heartily to the movement, and have lost sight entirely of our differences in the one great object of winning souls for Christ.

The revival has changed the en-tire character of the town and its surroundings. The churches have been saturated by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Public-houses have been neglected, the football teams have been abandoned, the billiard table has been ignored, gambling given up, foul literature has been done away with, books on hypnotism and skepticism have been burned, foul language we hear none, prayer-meetings are held day and night among the colliers of the district.

Rev. P. Callier,
Wesleyan Church, Pontypridd.

Your request is difficult to comply with, except in a very general and imperfect form. I am in the midst of it, in full sympathy with it, and could tell a Scotch or English congregation about it easier than I can write you offhand. The revival surrounds Pontypridd, pervades the atmosphere. Its source is manifestly divine, in the opinion of one who went not to criticize, but receive and help all he could; the effects are such as agree with the character of the Holy Inspirer, and anointed and consecrated human agent. I have no more doubt of its being a work of God than I have of my own existence.

As to describing the revival and estimating its results, can you put in words those deep and hallowedexperiences of life realized when God meets you almost palpably and sways your whole being Crossward, heavenward, and the atmosphere trembles with light, life, love, joy, praise, reverence, awe? (I know some sacred things vouchsafed during this revival.)

Did Peter or any of the other apostles express and compress all that was seen and felt on the day of Pentecost? Did Barnabas supply the church at Jerusalem with a re-port of what he witnessed at Antioch?

Who can comprehend the real, outstanding effects presented to the eye of faith, but the One who, in the shadow close at hand, makes His presence felt in, under, behind, and over all the phases of this remarkable movement? You see it is so unique that it is impossible to compare it with past revivals. There are so many new features in the methods, agents, varied manifestations of the Spirit's working, strange and startling phases. No organization whatever, nor arrangements for opening and closing the services.

Note the spontaneity, joyousness, freshness, freedom, vocal music consecrated and employed: Celtic temperament mastered and appropriated for a sacred purpose; and the bilingual difficulty no barrier to success. It is glorious. I can imagine if John Wesley and Howell Harris wanted a holiday outside heaven they would spend it in South Wales.

The results are so varied in kind and manifold in character that the bare numerical returns afford no criterion whatever, either of the depth, genuineness, or extent of the work. Its ramifications materially affect family, social, commercial, industrial, educational, and church life, and all classes of the community feel its influence.

All the churches are quickened as never before, and the ministers of all denominations, Welsh and English, seem to have forgotten their differences of creed and church polity. "Judah does not vex Ephraim," etc.

Wait until the various churches of the next generation are staffed and equipped for home and foreign service, then, in your old age, call a convention for testimony. It will be a revelation! Excuse more; the subject is too big and still growing, to be dealt with in a brief paragraph. Let me close by saying you have made a mistake -- have applied to the wrong persons. The ministers are too favorably impressed to form an unbiased judicial opinion.

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