The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-03-10

Wales" said in part:
Physically speaking the Welsh prin-
cipality is a perfect paradise. No finer
scenery is to be found anywhere; flow
ers, streams, mountains and valleys
continually delight the eye. 1t is pre-
eminently land of poetry and music
The Welsh are a small folk numerical
ly, but they have made great contribu-
tions to civilization. The Celtic tenn
permanent, imaginative and emotional,
has been especially favorable to the
cultivation of religion, though for sew
eral reasons it has at times been at
very low ebb. The first form of
Christianity in Britain is known as the
ancient British church" which existed
long before Rome sent her missionaries.
The Roman churches were naturally hos
tile to these Christian Britons-perse-
cutting them so fiercely that they were
obliged to take refuge in the noun
famous districts of Wales. In the
course of time they became extinct For
centuries following, ignorance and sup
erstition spread over the entire princi-
pality, until the Reformation in the six
teenth century reached Wales through
England. Gospel truth spread rapidly
among the mountaineers and its bene-
fits were noticeable among all classes.
but in the time of the Stewards the
Welsh peasantry began to degenerate
both in religion and morals. Ignorance
and vice prevailed to melancholy ex-
tent. Hardly any of the peasantry could
read. When John Wesley visited Wales,
he declared the people to be cas- little
versed in the principles of Christianity
as a Creek or Cherokee Indian" But he
also declared them to be "ripe for the
Gospel and enthusiastically anxious to
avail themselves of every opportunity
for instruction" The church of Eng
land was fully organized but seemed ut
terly incapable of accomplishing the
work of elevating the masses above the
low condition into which they had fall
en-. In the eighteenth century, Rev.
Griffith Jones, called the Welsh Apostle,
established a system of free schools
by which thousands were taught to
read. This was followed by revived
interest in religion. In l743 the church
of the Welsh Calvanistic Methodists
was organized, which prospered to such
an extent as to embrace now the larg-
.er proportion of the Welsh population.
'In the year 1859 remarkable revival
swept over the country and hundreds
We're converted to Christ.
Slut for some years past now there
has been decided deelension in religion.
Attendance upon divine worship has
been small. Converts were few. Com
mercialism crowded out the spirit of
piety. Social parties, cardplaying
theatre going, Sabbath excursions and
many other things absorbed time and
energy. The goodly few began to despair
of coping with the rampant evils of i'm.
piety, atheism, drunkenness and profan.
ity. Meanwhile they had been praying
for years that the tide of iniquity might
be stopped and for revival .of Apostolic
religion. They decided to leave the mat
ter in the hands of their heavenly
king, Christ, that he might show forth
His spirit in His own good time. Gods
door of hope often opens in the valley of
Achor.
Suddenly, last summer, without any
warning, and without any distinctive
preparation by the church, the breeze
from heaven was felt, which had since
developed into rushing mighty wind
throughout the country sweeping about
100000 souls into the kingdom.
Il cannot emphasize too strongly the
never-to-be- forgotten fact, that this re-
yival began in prayer meeting on the
Cardiganshire coast, where young
woman arose and gave simple testi-
mony concerning her experience of the
Savor's love. For some weeks previous
ly prayer meetings had been held twice
a day. 1t was like that tarrying in
Jerusalem between Ascension and Penti-
cost. They had become very intimate
with the Savior. Still there was no
rustling among the branches. Elijah's
lad looked towards the sea and said
"There is nothing;" but when that
young woman arose, the little cloud was
seen and showers of refreshing came
from the presence of the Lord. He
shined forth from between the cherubim.
1t was as if a spark had fallen among
dry heather. The tone of that little
prayer meeting was changed. The dumb
spake; and hearts that were cold broke
forth into expressions of rapture. The
Spirit was seen among the wheels.
GAIL other revivals have had great
leaders-Peter, Savanarola, Wesley,
Edwards, Finney, Moody; but this re-
vival has absolutely no human leader.