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
