The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-18
REVIVAL DRIVES
MANY TO INSANITY
Paroxysms of Devotion Sweep
WaIes---Men Rave in
Streets

LONDON. Dec. 1.-THE religious re-
viyal is sweeping all Wales into par
oxyssms of devotion. Bangor is the latest
district infected by the emotional exam
pie of young Evan Roberts. The fiery
cross has set the principality afiame
But a terrible penalty is being exacted
by. nature in return for all this unnatu-
raj excitement. The Llanelly police have
placed under restraint a married man
who was found raving in the streets. His
mind became unhinged at a revival meet
ing. where he prayed for the salvation
of such Of the deacons who were drunk
ards.
Two days later he went on his knees
in the office OF the works where he was
EMPLOYED and prayed for the manager
and the directors. Then he went at large
in the streets, talking about visions seen
in the night and messages uttered from
the throne of grace. Finally he became so
violent that he had to be taken to the
asylum. His wife has also lost her rea-
son. Three similar cases have occurred at
Ammonford and Loughor. and the victims
are under restraint at their homes
At Rios, the center of the North Wales
revival, the woman who announced her
vision of the Messiah is lying in a state
of nervous collapse. The chapel deacon
who was found naked under his bed,
shouting 'sSalvationi" is recovering.
These occurrences have caused great
uneasiness. and thoughtful residents are
asking in dismay how many more people
are to lose their wits through the revival
I'VE do not know what will happen,
said one of the ministers. f'They come
and say they want a meeting in the
chapel and within an hour the place is
crowded with people who have come from
their housework and from their shops
from the pits and brick works.
For week after the revival began
I was skeptical of the reality Of it. but
on Sunday week, when I was in the pulpit,
I felt suddenly moved, and 1 got up and
spoke without knowing what should say
Il prayed that we might all bring God
more closely into our lives A man got
up and proposed a special meeting for
prayer to follow the service. We held
the meeting and it lasted for hours As
soon as the people went out others flock
ed in Ever since we have been holding
meetings until am quite exhausted.
.'On Saturday it was proposed that we
should go out into the streets. 1t was
a new thing for me, but soon found my
self marching at the head of my people
singing hymns. They went into the public
houses, brought the men out, and took
them to the chapel in various stages Of
intoXication.
'.They came carrying bottles of beer in
their hands, and had bottles in their
pockets. When they got sober they hand :
ed over the bottles, or took them out
side and smashed Them
A meeting was held yesterday morning
in the Baptist chapel at Ponkey. curious
little village struggling down the hillside.
with. houses built In confusion at all
angles to the streets.
The chapel was crowded. Dozens Of
mothers rocked babies on their knees
while they sang plaintive Welsh hymns.
There was no great preacher to at
tract them. There was no music save
that Of their own sweet voices. There
were no prayers except those they them
selves offered. Three or four ministers
were there, but they took little part in the
service. This is a peoples revival.
A wflite-haired old man rose and pray
ed. As his prayer ceased a voice raised
q familiar hymn, and the gathering Joined
in. It was beautiful hymn. which rose
and fell in mourful cadences, and died
away in a gentle Amen" Probably in
no English church or chapel could such
sweet singing be heard.
The meeting lasted two hours or more.
Now a man spoke, then woman, and
then came a hymn. One woman, In q
voice broken with sobs, prayed for her
erring relatives. A young man prayed
for the conversion of his father, a noto-
rieus poacher: others spoke Of the happi-
ness brought to them by the revival OF
belief.