Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-05-06


ieard 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 people
of many nations who are f1ocking to
Wales to see what this revival is like
that every one is talking of, not one
would feel that he had seen it unless
he had seen Evan Roberts, the cen
trail figure on whom its white light us
focused, and who seems to be at once
its cause and its result.
We find ourselves in the presence
of a tall, fair, gracefully built young
man, who looks younger than his
twenty-six years, and who fails to i'm
press us as possessing any qualities,
intellectual or otherwise, above the
average. Except for a smile of some
charm, and an air of purity about his
person, he 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.
His father is a collier of sterling char
acter, not noted for any specially
marked traits; and in this case, as
in so many others, it is to the mother
1igious simplicity and zeal that are so
marked in the son. Until the sum-
mer of 1904 no one would have
dreamed that there was hidden in
the tall, fair young collier, somewhat
StudiouS and also musical, the leader
of a great religious movement, and,
what is more. the initiator of a new
form of revival, and one of rare spir-
itual beauty.
For a people who at their festivals
gill contentedly listen to eighteen SER
mons in two days-three at each of
the three services in two days
prayer-meetings lasting for six and
eight hours will be nothing very I'M
usual. The wonder of these services
does not lie in their length. Indeed,
it is almost impossible to describe
and far more difficult to account for,
the wonderful meetings. 1t is there
one sees Evan Roberts, the revivalist.
But perhaps one might not see him
even though he were there. A prom
inent lay preacher, one who had previ-
ously qualified both as physician and
as a lawyer, but had finally devoted
himself to religious work, went to
Wales to spy out the land. Two hours
before the hour appointed for the
service to begin he and another Wis
itor who had cast in his lot with him
made their way to the church and
found it full and the service in full
swing. Going round to the back en-
trance, they succeeded, with some diff
ficulty. in finding standing room on
the platform.
When next they thought of time.
they found to their establishment 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 do so. one
of them stopped down and said to a
Young man seated near them: EVAN
Roberts was to be here; do you know
if he has arrived?" Il am Evan Rob
erts,' was the answer. And then.
seeing the look of establishment on
the mans face. he added, half smil-
Food Courses in ireland.
The etiquette of the fashionable no.
tells has not yet penetrated into the
hinterland of Ireland A correspondent
who, with his wife, put up at an inn
in the darkest interior, was served
the first night with an elaborate din
ner of five OF six courses. Unwilling
to give trouble. they begged the land
lady not to cook so much, as a single
dish would generally do. They were
taken at their word; next evening the
soup, fish, entrees, joint and sweets
were served in chaotic mass in the