Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-07-07
EVAN ROBERTS
EVANGELIST
Spokane Minister Who Has Heard the
Welsh Preacher Says He is the
Man Of the Age.
CLERGY BELIEVES IN HIM
Belief That Devout Young Man is
More Inspired Than Any Other
Man Of the Century.

Spokane, July 6.-That Evan Rob-
erts, the famous young Welsh evange-
list, is in measure inspired of God
and that he has spiritual powers in
excess of those of any other man of
the century is the prevailing opinion
among the Welsh clergy and the think
ing people of the British isles gener-
ally, according to statement made
by Rev. T. w. Walters, who returned
Wednesday from visit to Wales.
Rev. Mr.. Walters said: Evan Rob-
erts is generally regarded as a most
remarkable young man, and is loved
throughout Wales as no other man
ever has been. He was born and
raised on farm near Swansea, Wales,
and is only rs years old. He is
member of very devout Calvinistic
Methodist, or Presbyterian family, and
received most meager education.
What education he has gained has
been along the lines of preparation
for the ministry, but he has never
been ordained. He has from child
hood had the conception that his bust
ness in life is to do something to
awaken the spiritual condition of the
people of his country, and he entered
upon his work in South Wales last
fall.
Days Of Isolation.
'He began his career at home, and
the Christian work he did there pro-
duced marvellous results. AS I say,
the young man has no great learning,
his force lying solely in his devout
concentration to the Lord. He is not
an eloquent speaker and never speaks
from the pulpit for more than few
minutes at time In fact at many
of his meetings he does not speak at
all, but from religious standpoint
he is considered by everyone to be
the best preacher by far that Wales
has ever produced, and the people
and clergy are in line with his meth
DDS and their results. He has no form
Or fixed rules which he follows in his
meetings, everything in connection
with them being of an impromptu ma
ture. Especially among the young
men is his influence most felt.
zone very singular habit the boy
has is that of setting himself apart
for days at a time to a peculiar iso-
1ation, during which he is confined in
his room, seeing absolutely no one.
While in this state of seclusion from
the world it is thought ne is engaged
in communion with the deity as no
man of the present era has ever been.
He began his work just after coming
out from one of those periods of de-
votion lasting seven days. He is now
generally believed by the people of
Wales-among whom I include the
thinking clergy-to be more inspired
than has ever been any other man of
the century.
"The reason for this, the people be.
lieve, is that he has paid a cost, in
his peculiar isolations, to the divine
being greater than any other man of
the age has ever paid, in that through
his own devotion he has come nearer
God than has any other living man.
Man Of the Age.
Through the spiritual condition in
which it is thought he places himself,
and in that state of mind he is in
while in seclusion from his fellow be-
ings. men believe that he has succeed
ed in becoming the man of the age.
They believe that there is something
genuinely prophetic in his teachings,
the result of which has been most
wonderful.
"Since he began work as a reviv.
alist, more than 10000 men and wom-
en- in South. Wales have entered the
different churches as members. These
are people, as a rule, who never be-
fore belonged to any religious body.
In Liverpool. where Mr.. Roberts went
April 1, and where he is now, his eff
forts have been equally successful,
and hundreds and thousands have
been converted to belief in the divin-
ity.
"Mr Roberts is one of the most
unselfish men on record, as well as
one of the most reserved and unas-
suming. He solicits no money what
ever, but lot is given him by his
admirers, all of which he gives away
to any church in need of it. When
he went to Liverpool last April it is
said he hadn't enough money with him
to pay for his room. He always keeps
himself in the background as much
as possible, and makes no pretenses
whatever of being inspired or any.
thing of the sort. He simply says
he has mission to perform-which
is to enliven religious feeling in the
church-and he goes ahead and per.
forms it, conservatively and unpre.
tentiously.
Works for All Churches.
Although. as I stated. Roberts was
reared Calvinistic Methodist, he has
no church and works for no particular
denomination, but for each and all OF
them. 1t makes no difference to him
in what edifice he holds his meetings
nor with what church his converts see
fit to affiliate. All the churches Of
England and Wales have been
strengthened by his teachings. no one
more than another.
"Of course. he has preached only
in the largest cities of the country
but the awakening in the smaller
towns and villages, attributed direct
ly to his influence, has been astonish
ing. AS a matter of fact, the mem
bership of the churches of Wales has
been just about doubled by the Rob
erts' revivals. Saloons and immoral
ity of all forms in many Of the min
ing towns of Wales. have been .paralyz
ed, although Mr.. Roberts makes nc
fight against these directly. Theil
fouufo11 ic duo SO1o1y IN the better