Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-18


low this the trimming Is laid on In
diamond points, three in the front and
three in the back. The spaces within
the points are filled with all-over val
enciennes lace. Below the yoke the
dimity is finely shirred and plated to
make 1t full and the skirt is made
more full in a like manner. Two mar
row ruffies finish the skirt. A sash Of
fowered ribbon with very long ends
completes this dainty frock. 81
--e - '.. 20
THE WELSH REVIVAL.
Something AbaNt It's Author and les
Characteristic Quality.
Six months ago the world had not
heard of Evan Roberts. Now In all
thinking circles he stands out as one
of the most striking personalities Of
the time OF the thousands Of peo-
ple of many nationalities who are
fiocking to Wales to see what this re-
vival is like that every one Is talking
of, not one would feel that he had seen
1t unless he had seen Evan Roberts,
the central figure on whom Its white
light is focused, and who seems to
be at once it's cause and its result.
We find ourselves In the presence
of a tall, fair. gracefully built young
man, who looks younger than his 70
years, and who fails to impress US as
possessing any qualities, intellectual
or otherwise. above the average. Ex-
cept for a smile of some charm, and
an air of purity about his person. ne
might easily pass without notice OF
any kind. Evan Roberts Is the son
of a sturdy and Independent couple
who may be taken as types Of the
Welsh mining class In Wales. Hts
father is a collier Of sterling charac-
Der, not noted for any specially mark
ed traits; and in this case, as In SO
many others, II is to the mother that
may be traced some Of the religious
simplicity and zeal that are so marked
In the son. Until the summer or 1898
no one would have dreamed that there
was hidden In the tall, fair young COL
lier somewhat studious and also mu-
sical, the leader Of great religious
movement, and. what Is more, the ini-
tiator Of a new form Of revival ana
one Of rare spiritual beauty.
For a people who at their festivals
will contentedly listen to eighteen SER
mons In two days-three at each OF
the three services In two days-pray-
er-meetings lasting for six and eight
hours will be nothing very unusual.
The wonder Of these services does not
lie in their length. Indeed, 1t Is al
most impossible to describe, and far
more difficult to account for, the won
derful meetings. 1t is there one sees
Evan Roberts. the revivalist. But
perhaps one might not see him even
though he were there. A prominent
lay preacher. one who had previously
qualified both as a physician and as
a lawyer, but had finally devoted him.
self to religious work, went to Wales
to spy out the land. Two hours be-
fore the hour appointed for the service
to begin he and another visitor who
had cast In his lot with him made their
way to the church and found 1t full
and the service in full swing. Going
round to the back entrance. they sue
ceeded, with some difficulty, In finding
standing room on the platform.
When next they thought Of time
they found to their astonishment that
they had been standing for three
hours. But nothing had been seen OF
Evan Roberts, who was announced to
be present. Afraid that he had stayed
away, as he sometimes does when the
Spirit bids him to do So one Of them
stopped down and said to young man
seated near them: Evan Roberts
was to be here. do you know II he has
arrived?" II am Evan Roberts" was
the answer. And then, seeing the look
of establishment on the mans face,
he added, half smiling: You see,
they do not need me-"
Another instance tells more plainly
still of his perfectly natural and SIN
cere diffidence, how he deprecates any
Importance being attached to his
presence at a meeting. In perfect sin
cerity he disclaims any share In the
work that Is going on. 1T Is the
Spirit of God" he says. And when one
looks at the young man. unlearned as
far as books are concerned, with no
striking intellectual gifts, and hears
his simple, direct talk about God, ami
his sometimes naive, but always strong
pleadings with his hearers, one feels
that 1t is even as he says. There Is
nothing in him to account for his In
fiuence He Is a channel for the Spir-
1t of God. At the beginning OF one
meeting at which he had promised to
be present, he put the following ques-
tions to the people, being answered as
1t with one voice:
you all believe in God, do you not?
YES"
You believe in Christ's promises?"
yes"
Then he opened his Bible and read.
10, am with you always" and ask
ed, "Then you believe that He Is
here?"
Once more the answer came. Yes"
Then" he said, quietly and natu-
rally, as he closed the book, Il am not
needed here" and left the hall. And
he was quite right, he was not need
ed.
The same marvellous spirit was
present which Yields the people into
one-so that 1t seems as If individuals
had merged into that mysterious un-
ion which is foretold Of the future
and the meeting proceeded as success
fully as If he had been there. The
Welsh, as a nation Of singers. have
found their best expression during this
revival in hymns. And these are sung
by the whole people without books,
sometimes a refrain repeated. II one
of the singers Is moved to begin 1t,
and sometimes one-half singing In
Welsh and the other in English.
The ordered disorder Of the meetings
is amazing Just as the revival owes
nothing to organization, advertisement,
programme making, so the services
l,4k lie,