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Welsh Revival
The 1904 Welsh Revival is one of the
best documented and best known revivals of all, and certainly one of the
most powerful. Over a period
of two years, the fire of the Holy Spirit swept over the whole
principality, and was carried by visiting pastors to Norway, Japan,
America, India, South Africa and Korea, where further revivals broke out.
At its height, churches stayed open for 24
hours a day, with souls praying earnestly to God. Coal-miners rushed home
at the end of a gruelling day to wash themselves and get to the chapel as
quickly as they could. Hopeless drinkers and gamblers were powerfully
converted and became soul-winners. Doubters and atheists were cut to the
heart, sometimes physically unable to move until they cried to God for
mercy. The effects of this
wonderful outpouring of God's power are well known. Many thousands of
souls were saved. Rough pit-workers prayed together before their day's
work. The horses that pulled the carts, accustomed to being sworn at and
cursed, could not understand the new kindness and clean language they were
getting, so stopped working! Crime
fell almost to nothing; policemen complained they had nothing to do.
Dance-halls were deserted; several pubs closed down through lack of trade
and whole rugby teams got converted and cancelled their fixtures!
The man especially used by God in the
revival, Evan Roberts, was only twenty-six, but he was a man of fervent
prayer and radiant joy. His personal pentecost began when God led him to
agonise in prayer over the state of the church and his own soul. As the
burden intensified, he cried out, "Bend me! Bend us! Bend the church
and save the world!" He
would weep and sweat until he almost felt he was bleeding. Yet when the
Holy Spirit filled his heart, he radiated a relaxed happiness.
The Welsh were by nature sober, Bible-based
believers. Now Evan Roberts smiled when he prayed, and laughed when he
preached. One American
visitor wrote: "Evan Roberts stood in the pulpit and led the music,
his face irradiated with joy, smiles and even laughter. What impressed me
most was his utter naturalness, the entire absence of solemnity. He seemed
to be bubbling over with sheer happiness, like a jubilant young man at a
baseball game." The
Welsh are also a very musical people, and worshipful singing was a feature
of the revival. As the Holy
Spirit moved, it was common to find part of the congregatio singing a hymn
in rapturous awe, while others were on the floor crying in agony for God's
mercy. An eye-witness
recalls: "Such marvellous singing, quite unrehearsed, could only be
created by the Holy Spirit. No choir, no conductor, no organ - just
spontaneous, unctionised soul-singing. Once the first hymn was given out,
the meeting ran itself. There was no leader, but people felt an unseen
control. Singing, sobbing, praying intermingled without
intermission." Singing
was a fruit of the revival. Many of those powerfully filled by the Holy
Spirit recorded their
experiences, especially of how they trembled, laughed and sang for hours
afterwards. Evan
Roberts himself felt singing to be of massive importance for the release
of God's power. When a
Londoner asked him one day if the revival could ever reach the capital, he
smiled and asked, "Can you sing?"
Onward march all-conquering Jesus! Here
is an English translation of a hymn by William Williams which was much
used during the 1904 Welsh Revival Onward
march all-conquering Jesus! Gird
Thee on Thy mighty Sword! Sinful
Earth can ne'er oppose Thee; Hell
itself quails at Thy word. Thy
great name is so exalted, Every
foe shrinks back in fear. Terror
creeps through all creation, When
it knows that Thou art near. Free
my soul from sin's foul bondage; Hasten
now the glorious dawn! Break
proud Babel's gates asunder; Let
the massive bolts be drawn! Forth,
like ocean's heaving surges, Bring
in myriads ransomed slaves; Host
on host, with shouts of triumph; Endless,
countless as the waves.
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