The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-18
WALES IS SHAKEN
 BY BIG RENTALS Movement is Greatest in Last
 Fifty Years CHICAGO MEN STARTED IT Public Houses Are Deserted And Thousands of Miners in All Parts
 of Country Attend Prayer
 Meetings Every Night.
CHICAGO MEN STARTED IT

London, December 17.-There has been a remarkable spreau in the religious reyivals which were started at Bolton, Lancashire, on September of this year by Rev. Reuben A. Torry and Charles M. Alexander, both of whom are from Chicago.
 At first the movement was considered to be one of the periodical outbursts which happen from time to time through out England and Scotland, but the propor- tions 1t has now assumed attracts general attention. Wales which Is largely non conformist, is ringing with revlvals, and the churches are crowded on week days and on Sundays, Some of the places of worship will not accommodate those who wish to attend. All classes are affected No such movement has been known in Wales during the past half century but the leaders of the reyivals noting this fact, point out that similar religious dem onstrations have occurred a regular in tervals of fifty years.
 Offer individual Prayer.
 A notable difference between the Felsh revivals and other revival meetings is the fact that the other meetings are not con ducted solely by those on the platform. The leaders commence the services with prayer. The massed congregation how eYer does not follow this leadership, but individuals or groups of individuals offer a prayer suggested by personal prompt ings, until the whole becomes a babel of independent supplication, with varying degrees of fervor.
 The Welsh people are famous for their singing. and at times during the meet ings one of the leaders commences a well known hymn, the congregation talk ing 1t up. The singing continues uninter- rupted for hours. The meetings, which rlu In ba gt f1 into the night. and sometimes the seating capacity is taxed, and overnows are held until or o'clock in the morning. The miners commence at o'clock, but they ungrudgingly sacrifice their hours of rest to attend.
 The effect of tine revival movement is noticeable everywhere, and it is said that the public houses are almost empty.
 Formerly they were crowded with miners after the working hours, Drunk enness is now almost unknown in the Rhonda valley in Glamoranshire, where prayer meetings are held in the mines during work hours.
 Directed Against Football.
 The efforts of the preachers also are directed against the football season, which is now in full swing and sever al big matches which would have at tracted the populace of the entire county have been called off because the best players refused to participate in the games.
 The origin of the remarkable religious upheaval Is traceable directly to the Chi cago revivalists. After their success in Lancashire, the work was taken up throughout Wales by several leaders. Now, however one man has risen head and shoulders above all the rest until his name rings throughout the kingdom as the greatest revivalist of the day. He is Evan Roberts, 26 years old formerly a miner. His marvellous energy and vi- tality are evidences of the fact. He goes from place to place, remaining few days In each, sometimes spending entire days and nights praying and singing. Roberts has been invited by the non conformists of London to visit the me tropolis.
 The Rev MT. Torry and MT. Alexander are active meanwhile, and announce the invasion of London soon.