THE KING’S BUSINESS
223
The Dawn of a New Revival* A Specially Written Account of the Present Awakening in Wales, with Some Words of Solemn Warning
S INCE the last report, the writer has been privileged to pay a hurried visit to the scene of the Revival, in Radnorshire, and to have an interview with the two brothers, Jeffreys, who are known as the “revivalists.” After some interesting conversation with them one was favorably impressed with their natural frankness, joyousness, and eagerness to be used in the salvation of souls. Stephen Jeffreys, who was first led to begin the great work in the Swansea Valley, and had been himself surprised and awed by the power manifested there, is a simple, humble, and yet intelli' gent, level-headed man of the superior South Wales miner type. He is more at home and at ease when conversing in Welsh than in English, although he has a fair command of the latter language. He protested that he was not a preacher, but that he simply delivered what he was taught in the Word and prompted by the Spirit to declare, together with his personal testimony of the great work of grace wrought in his own soul in the revival of 1904-5, and ever since. t h e r e v iv a l is t s a n d t h e ir t h e m e . When he first went to Cwmtwrch, last Christmas, he had not the slightest idea that he would be used to conduct revival meetings in the place for nearly two months. He could only say, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” He has no desire to give up the mine in favor of the ministry, and no ambition to become a permanent revivalist beyond •R eprinted from T he L ife of F aith , March 19, 1913.
what he may be called upon to do in helping on the good and great work which has begun. He and his brother George receive invitations from many places to conduct revival meetings, but they will only go as they believe the Spirit clearly leads. He is most anxious that the present awakening should be kept on right and safe lines, without any denominational label or interference from any sect or movement as such. All extravagances are discouraged, and all undue sensationalism is discountenanced. Both brothers realize that the graces of the Spirit are more important than the gifts, and that the Gospel of a full salvation must ever be their one theme. They fully appreciate how important it is to be exceedingly careful to do all that is possible to avoid the mistakes of the past in connection with revivals in the principality. Coming from Glamorganshire, where the revival fire had been burning brightly for many weeks, to Radnorshire, where only a desire and prayer for an awakening had been expressed, was a great change to the revivalists and a severe test to their faith and zeal. Indeed, when they arrived at Fenybout they realized that they had come into a district which was totally different from the scene of the revival in the Swansea Valley. Apart from the change of language, there was a different atmosphere. It was like changing climates. They had come into a new and strange neighborhood, where the atmosphere of revival remained to be created, although the spirit of prayer, among the faithful few, helped to prepare a
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