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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

The people remained some time in silent prayer. Mrs. Morgan's (the minister's wife) faith was great, and she said to her husband, "Go out and see if David Jones is lurking around the chapel, and bring him in." He smiled at her doubtingly, and she said, "Why do you not believe? God will certainly answer prayer."

He went out at her request, but David Jones was not to be seen. When the service closed at 11:15, Mr. Morgan went with his wife and daughter to his house. The comic singer had gone to bed. One of his daughters went upstairs, and he called out gruffly, "Who's there?" "Rev. John Morgan, of Brynseion, father." "What does he want here at this time of night?" he asked in a voice that could be distinctly heard below. "He wants to see you, I expect."

"Please tell his reverence that he won't see me tonight, and say that if Edward VII, king of England, asked me to come down tonight, that I would refuse."

As soon as Miss Morgan, the minister's daughter, that sweet girl of fifteen to whom I formerly alluded heard those words, she jumped up, fell on her knees, and clutching her father's knees as he sat still, prayed with such anguishof spirit for this man that both families were melted into tears. It seemed as if such a prayer must be irresistible. I saw that young girl last week. She is tall, thin, pale, and with refined features, and a very peaceful expression, like her mother. Then Mrs. Morgan prayed fervently, and then her husband knelt at the foot of the stairs, and prayed up the stairs, and higher up still! When he finished his daughter came and knelt beside him, and sang up the stairs, "For you I am praying."

They all thought that David Jones must now relent, and they waited and waited prayerfully in a silence that was awful, but no! there was not a sound, not a stir, nor a sign of any description.

When the minister rose to leave, he took good care to say to the man's wife and daughter, "Now, do be as kind and tender-hearted as possible to him tomorrow, and don't reproach him in the least. And don't say another word to him about it tonight." They did as he advised. Next morning his daughter pre-pared his breakfast as usual, but not a word was mentioned about the midnight prayer-meeting. He went out quietly, and came back at night in good time, and still not a word of reference.

Just the same again on Friday morning, but when he returned in the evening and had washed and had tea, he thought fit to break the seal of silence himself, and said to his daughter, who was to him a real ministering angel, "Now, dear, bring the Bible to the table and read a chapter to your father for the first time." She did so, and then added, confidently, "And now, father, shall I pray?" "No, no; you sha'n't pray with me. You leave it between me and my God, and go to the meeting."

"Very well, father, I will do as you wish, but promise me one thing -- you will come yourself tomorrow night."

He said he would, and true to his word, he turned up at the united open-air demonstration, which has been quite a feature on Saturday evenings of this revival movement. The minister's daughter soon spied him out, and said to her father, "Do go at once and grip his hand, and let him know your heart is very warm, and how glad we shall all be to see him at chapel."

He came as he said he would, but neither on Saturday nor Sunday would he yield. He was so deliberate about it all that some began to lose faith, but those who knew the man knew well how terribly he realized the responsibility of his position, and how his heart yearned for rest. On Monday there was an-other private conference between him and Mr. Morgan, which ended in his decision to be present that night in good time in order to se-cure a good seat.

From the start the service seemed to be quite independent of human control, and the sense of the divine Presence was very real to them all. At nine o'clock, when the house was being "tested," and one decision after another was being announced, in each case accompanied by "Diolch Iddo," the song of the new birth, David Jones retained his seat, looking very serious and anxious, whilst it was evident to all he was being torn with conflicting emotions. In that joyous crowd he seemed to be almost the only one who knew no joy, and this emphasized his sense of loneliness in his awful fight with his stern foe.

Mr. Morgan at last resorted to a plan which helped the faith of all, and especially that of the unhappy comedian.

"Have we not all been praying?" En masse the people shouted, "Yes" "For whom have we all been praying?" Instantly they thundered back, "For David Jones" "Can not God save him now, and will He not?" With one voice they replied, "Yes."

This gave the finishing touch, and broke clean asunder the chains that had so long held the poor man in the bondage of Satan. He was completely "bent," and then he was blessedly saved. Ecstasy seems but a poor word with which to describe the transports of joy into which the huge congregation plunged straight away, and it was a long time before their tears were dried and their voices were hushed. To this day David Jones' salvation is regarded as a direct answer to the prayers of the church. They were violent, and they took the kingdom of heaven by force.

The Welsh Revival
From the Gospel Message

We have reports of a wonderful religious awakening which is taking place in Wales. The work seems to be wrought by the Holy Spirit through Christians who are wholly given up to God for use rather than by organization and program, which so often characterize mod-em revivals. This revival is the result of prayer and humble dependence upon God.

The result is that it is the most remarkable religious upheaval that has taken place since 1859-60. Places of amusement have been abandoned in many towns, and the people have thronged these evangelistic meetings and found Christ precious as the sinner's friend. There is mighty conviction upon the people, and it is said that some10,000 have recently professed Christ. The following report is given of one of these meetings -

"Mr. Sidney Evans was the central figure at a wonderful meeting held at Trinity Chapel, Lianelly. The building was packed at seven o'clock, and the proceedings were protracted until two o'clock on the following morning.

"The tide of feeling was high, when a young man rose in the gallery and asked the congregation to join him in prayer on behalf of his wayward brother; there was a remarkable outburst. This was accentuated when a well known working-man walked into the penitents' pew, fell on his knees in a paroxysm of weeping, and sobbed a broken prayer for forgiveness. In his moment of self-abandonment, he de-scribed how, like the Prodigal Son, he had gone to a far country, but was recalled to his better self by prayer meetings held at the works. His story moved all who heard it, and there was not a dry eye in the chapel as the pathetic recital went on. Many penitents were pointed to Christ.

"Shortly before 11 o'clock it was decided to make a tour of the New Dock district, and hundreds of people formed themselves into a procession. They marched through the streets singing hymns, and gathering strength as they went along. A number of men and women under the influence of drink were approached, and all these were persuaded to return to the chapel, where prayer was offered on their behalf. The converts included sail-ors, tin-plate workers, colliers, and several women, all falling on their knees and asking forgiveness. Mr. Evans and others prayed with them, and this went on until the Sabbath had been ushered in."

Would to God that the fire wouldspread, and that this needy land might be reached by a wave of salvation that has never yet been experienced. Let us pray for such an event. God is willing when His people will meet Bible conditions. May God awaken a sleeping and slumbering church to a sense of their duty and privilege in these last days. God will hold His people responsible for the best that His Spirit can accomplish through them.

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