THE PREPARATION AND HIS NEW ENVIRONMENT
In the last chapter we followed Evan Roberts to school, and described his attitude in relation to it during his stay at Newcastle Emlyn. We have to deal with another aspect of his history at this time in the present chapter. The school and its connections, as well as the religious conventions in South Cardiganshire, had much to do in developing and ripening the Revival spirit in him. In other words, this spirit found a congenial environment in them But be it understood at the out-set, that this was not the only condition of making him what he is. Evan Roberts is not the result of one or two conditions, but of many moral and spiritual forces which gradually evolved his latent potentialities. As indicated before, he is the product of all the preparations treated upon in the foregoing chapters. He emphatically states that the chief cause of the course he took in proceeding with the Revival as he did, is found in the thirteen years of constant prayer, the burden of which, for the greater part, was an earnest pleading with God for a Revival. Therefore, it is a great mistake to think that he is the result of one meeting, or a series of religious services. Undoubtedly, were we in possession of infinite knowledge we should perceive the part played by the hereditary factors. He received from his ancestors; the intellectual, moral, and spiritual atmosphere of Lougher, and other things, in making him what he is. Some evolutionists say that the history of every great man dates back hundreds of years before he is born, and as far as human agencies are concerned, I do not think that this doctrine can be disputed. The gradual is God’s method in producing all great results, and why should we conceive of Him acting differently in the case of a great man. To us it seems the most glorious method possible.
Yet, in accordance with this explanation, it is clear that Roberts’s new environment at Newcastle Emlyn was a small factor in his history. His school master was a refined Christian gentleman. The Rev. Evan Philips, the father of his teacher, was one of the most spiritually minded ministers in the principality; some of his fellow students were full of religious fervour, and he came into close contact with a few of the most godly people of the church. Religion, also, was highly respected in the house where he lodged.
The Rev. Seth Joshua of Cardiff, a man full of religious zeal, and of revival spirit, came to hold a mission at Newcastle Emlyn soon after Roberts went there, as stated in the previous chapter.
Another fact must be mentioned, namely, the religious ardour which was prevalent in many of the churches of South Cardigan at this time. A number of the ministers of this district had been longing for a religious revival, and foremost among them was the Rev. Joseph Jenkins, New Quay. The indifference of the young people of his church had for some time burdened his soul, and the result was that he called them together to put the matter before them. Among other things he stated that they should try to begin in revival which could be carried on without the Holy Spirit. ‘I have no plan as to how to carry it on,’ he said; ‘I have only to feel my way as I proceed. Only one condition I should like to put before you — let every one be ready in the next meeting to do what-ever will be asked of him. After a few of these meeting had passed, he made a statement from the pulpit to the effect that they would issue in mighty results, and that the whole country would be aroused through them. Soon he proceeded a step further. On the agenda of the South Cardigan monthly meeting there was a notice of motion by him for several months during the summer of 1903. Meeting after meeting passed, but Mr. Jenkins was not present to explain and support his motion, and many could not divine what the import of it was. However, in the October meeting of that year, held at Abermeurig, he appeared, and spoke powerfully on the low condition of spiritual life in the churches within the area of the monthly meeting, the indifference of the members, and the gross neglect of the essential things of life in their higher forms. The brethren felt the great necessity of what he laid before them, but no one had any definite plan of procedure as to how to initiate a new line of action, therefore, nothing more was done than passing a resolution to hold a convention in a central place, and inviting representatives to attend it from all the churches. The novelty of the idea, as well as other obstacles, made it difficult to have any church to take it, and it is questionable whether it would have been held were it not that Mr. Jenkins’s church at New Quay undertook the responsibility. The convention was held December 31st , 1903, and January 1st , 1904 The Revs. W. W. Lewis, Carmarthen, and J. M. Saunders, M. A. Swansea, as well as Mrs. Saunders, were sent for to take part in the meetings. The convention was marked with an intense spiritual tone, and did much to deepen the spiritual life of those present.
In the beginning of February, 1904, the Divine fire began to take a firm hold on the Calvinistic Methodist Church at New Quay. One Sunday evening as the Rev. Joseph Jenkins preached on Faith overcoming the world, a young girl named Florrie Evans was deeply moved; and was compelled by her feelings to call upon Mr. Jenkins at his house on her way home. She was unable to utter a word for a while; but eventually she broke out and said to her pastor, I waited for you in the lobby, hoping you would say something to me, but you did not. I went to meet you on your way home, but you tool no notice of me beyond saying ‘good evening’. I have been walking in front of the house for half-an-hour, and I was obliged to call. I am in a fearful state concerning my soul. I saw the world in tonight’s sermon, and I am under its feet; I cannot live like this. Her pastor spoke kindly to her, and told her words of peace and comfort. On the following Sunday morning Florrie Evans was present in the young peoples prayer meeting, when Mr. Jenkins asked them to give their spiritual experience. Several attempted to on different subjects, but the Minister would not allow that. At last Florrie Evans got up, and with a tremor in her voice said. — ‘I love Jesus Christ — with all my heart.’ This sentence was the means of breaking the ice, they say, at New Quay. Florrie’s words sent a thrill through all those present. The fire was ignited, and the flame soon spread to Blaenanerch, Newcastle-Emlyn, Capel Drindod, and Twrgwyn. The Rev. M. P. Morgan, Blaenanerch, caught the fire, and threw himself heart and soul into the movement. So did the Rev. R. R. Davies, Capel Drindod, and the Rev. Evan Phillips, Newcastle-Emlyn, did everything he could to fan the flame.
One of the immediate results of this awakening was the conference held at Blaenanerch, in September, 1904, where Evan Roberts was filled with the Holy Spirit. The history of this will be given in full in the next chapter. Our object in this is to point out what his new surroundings had to do with his breaking out as a Revivalist. All the factors mentioned intensified his spiritual consciousness, and made it easier for him to break all the fetters that kept him from devoting himself entirely to the work of Christ; they helped to mature the great longing of his soul for ten years — for a Revival. However, it should be borne in mind that these factors would have been of no avail were it not for the other factors which continually and steadily ministered to his growth in the years he spent at Loughor. He says that he received great blessings at Newcastle-Emlyn and especially at Blaenanerch, but they were blessings of strengthening and intensification, rather than of creating anything new in him. His connection with and opinion of the young people of New Quay will become clear in his correspondence in future chapters.
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