VII. The Preparation Of The Possibility. Mental Preparation (cont.)

We now come to an important period in the history of Evan Roberts — a period that requires a great deal of explanation. In this the great preparation for his life-work was begun. That does not mean that he was not prepared by the blossoming of his possibilities, which we described in a previous chapter, but he was not prepared so directly by that as he was in this period. He himself regards the years from thirteen upward as rich in his history in preparing him for his work. I. A TEACHER AND SECRETARY IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL Everything in the life of Evan Roberts in these years points to his having had a real conversion. On January 1sth, 1893, a Sunday School was opened in the colliery offices, near Bwlchymynydd. Having a mile to walk to Moriah, Loughor, the people of Bwlchymynydd deemed it wise to have a Sunday School in the place. Apart from this, there were numbers of poor children in the neighbourhood who would not go to a chapel under any circumstances. The religious people of Bwlchymynydd longed to get hold of these. Here the School was held until the little chapel of Pisgah was built. When between fourteen and fifteen years of age, Evan Roberts was appointed a teacher over the children. This is a direct condition of one aspect of the preparation of this possibility for his important work as a Revivalist. God, meant him to be a teacher, and this is the beginning of his labour. He was a perfect success with the children, and was second to none in bringing his influence to bear upon them by way of keeping order, and getting full attention to the lessons. Hence we can see that his exceptionally great power of winning the confidence of vast multitudes is not a thing that has suddenly come upon him. This is only a full development of his power when a teacher in the Sunday School, and then when he was in a sense but a child himself. He remained a teacher of the children for several years. At the commencement of the Sunday School, he was appointed Secretary, and he did his work faithfully and honourably for years. Everything worked together to place him in circumstances that conditioned his mental and spiritual development. While performing the duties of this office, his mind was refreshed in the little arithmetic that he learned at school, and he was able to have practice in writing. The fact that the Sunday School appointed him to these positions so young is a proof that there was something uncommon in him that influenced the people unknown to themselves. Were they asked the reason why they put him in these offices, they probably could not say more than that they saw something in him. They would not be able to describe that something. This is the history of many men of great possibilities. When very young they influence the sphere in which they turn, though they themselves, and the people with whom they come in contact, are unconscious of it. Nothing exceptional is seen in them, yet their influence is felt. It is an unconscious influence. In this class Evan Roberts must be placed when from fourteen to eighteen years of age. II. SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL, AND CONDUCTOR OF THE SINGING WITH THE CHILDREN. Soon he was made Superintendent of the children’s school, and succeeded in keeping order in this office, as he had done in the position of teacher. People from the place will tell us that he stood alone in his ability to preserve discipline with the children when he was Superintendent. This appointment again shows the esteem in which he was held by his elders. They would never have placed so young a lad at the head of the children’s school, though it was a small one, unless they had the fullest confidence in him. To be a Superintendent over children means a great deal of work and wisdom, in order to do it successfully. The classes must be arranged in such a way that the teachers can most advantageously deal with them. Silence and order must be kept, and it must be seen that attention is paid to the lessons. Evan Roberts succeeded in doing all this without any difficulty. Soon he was called upon to lead the singing with the children. Here, again, he was a complete success. There was something in his disposition towards the children that always secured their attention. With this trait in his character he was never below his best. His mottoes were, effort, untiring work, minuteness, meekness, and conscientiousness. Every position in the School was given to him. What greater honour could a young man of his age get?