The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-03-10
Great Revival in Wales.
SERMON BY REV. GEORGE W. DAVIS.

mere Hc IeCclNeu Il puWeIiul DdptiSli VI
the Spirit and call to work at once for
the salvation of men. He went home
and spent a week in prayer and study
of the Bible. He was strengthened by
hearing voices and seeing visions. He
began his work by simple testimony
to what the Lord had done for him. He
is only twentysiX years of age, pos
sesses an attractive personality and his
countenance is radiant with love and
JOY and peace.
'Let us therefore consider some of the
facts and characteristics of this extra
ordinary movement of God. l have al
ready spoken of the mysteriousness of
it's origin; that it came like wind
from heaven and first manifested itself
in prayer meeting on the coast of
South Wales.
"The first characteristic | would cite
is its utter spontaneity, both at the be-
ginning and all through. There was no
immediate preparation for it beyond the
meetings for prayer, no religious cen
sus, no FASTING of large bills, no writ
ing up in the newspapers, no house-to-
house invitation, no preliminary brass
band professions to gather congrega-
ton, no choirs, no committees. The in
visible influence of the Spirit came up
on the people and they were constrained
to pray, to sing, to testify, to read
els and churches.
'The second fact I would cite is the
character of the revival meetings. They
are held at any time of the day-any-
where from a. m. until midnight, each
meeting lasts from four to five hours.
The building is crowded. No one con-
ducts it. There is no order of service.
1t goes on whether Mr.. Roberts is pres
ent or not Remember it is profoundly
an influence and not all the going
through the forms of worship. Now one
prays; another cites verse of scrip
ture; another bears testimony; another
sings verse, sometimes all uniting in
it. If one occupies too much time, an
other speaks or prays as led by the
Spirit, yet there is absolutely no con-
fusion on the point of order. st. Paul
himself would have been satisfied. Now
sound of gentle wind as in the twi-
light of the pines; now it is all rap
ture. Now the Invisible Harper plays
on the strings of one soul; now on sew
eral or ALL, and it is like listening to
heavenly harmonies. Though the strong
est men are convulsed with sobbings and
tears yet there is no gloom or sadness
the dominant note is intense joy. There
is great and prolonged emotion, but no
Mysteries. A call is generally made for
immediate decision for Christ and the
names of those who confess Christiani-
ty are read out and they are not asham-
ed of it either.
"a third feature is the predominance
of music. One-half or twO-thirds of the
time is taken up with singing. This is
as it should be. Not only would you
expect this from the Welsh, but it be-
longs to the gospel of salvation which
shows itself in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs. Many of the pieces
are native to themselves, especially of
their sweet singer, William Williams !;
many of them are familiar to you all,
Lead, Kindly Light Throw Out the
Life Line % Happy Day That Fixed
My Choice Grown Him Lord of All,
For You 1 Am Praying Pass Me Not,
| o Gentle Savior;' and under the new
spiritual impulse they are always
fresh; the people do not get tired of
singing them.
"Another fact is the prominence of
the young people in this movement.
Hitherto, they had been like American
young people-hardly ever at a prayer
meeting, some never heard at an En-
deavor melting, others seldom heard.
deavor meeting, others seldom heard.
Now they would sooner be at one of
these prayer or revival meetings than
at any place on earth; and they take
part as readily and gladly as older
folk. The spirit gives them remark
able utterance. Many lovers of the
church have testified to the depth and
beauty and spirituality of their pray
ers and testimonies. Joel's great proph-
ecy of the outpouring of the Spirit upon
the young men and maidens, inspiring
them with dreams and visions is once
more fulfilled.
'The relation to the ministry of this
movement is very significant and / give
you the unanimous opinion of those best
able to judge. The fact is that for
the present the ministers are eliminated.
1t is distinctly movement of the peo-
pie; the spirit is the presiding officer
and the minister takes his Mace in the