He Leaves The Mine

Even Roberts was what is called in Wales a “union” man, and a strike of unionists in the colliery wherein he worked threw him out of employment. Nor was he altogether sorry. He had grown tired of the wearisome work in the mine, and now thought hard about his future, for he was always ambitious. He wanted to be a missionary; but, no, he could not be, and ultimately he decided to become apprenticed to his uncle at Pontardulais, near Swansea, who was a blacksmith. This was in January, 1903. Having some hard-made savings by him, he paid £6 thereof for the privilege of becoming apprenticed, and bound himself for two years. “A remarkable thing happened to Evan one Sunday.” said the revivalist’s mother to me, a little while ago. “As was his custom, he had attended the Sunday services, and was, as usual, very tired. But there was something peculiar about him. At first he did not appear to be willing to talk much, but he later told me that he had been face to face with God. For years he had prayed for a baptism of the Spirit, and his prayers were partly answered that night.’’ Did he pray much at home?” I ventured to query. “Oh, yes!“ replied Mrs. Roberts. “ He used to spend hours in his own room alone with God. Sometimes, I believe, he spent whole nights in prayer.” He had been a year at the forge, and by this time had become a very useful blacksmith; so his master was extremely sorry when he was informed that it was the young man’s intention to leave the smithy. But persuasion was of no avail. The “tide” of the youths opportunities was at the flood, and he decided to take advantage thereof, and go to school. And an incident of peculiar interest took place just then. As is customary in Wales, when a young man makes application that his college fees, &c., should be paid by the church, the members of the particular chapel have to decide as to whether the candidate is to be supported or not. On the Sunday evening when young Roberts’s application came before the communicants at Moriah Church, Loughor, some of those present were some-what tardy in supporting it. The minister thought that the young man had the fullest sympathy of the congregation, and could hardly understand the apparent coldness. “Now, then,’’ he said, “why are you so slow? If you want the young man to go to college, why don’t you stand up?’ And immediately all present rose to their feet, and Evan Roberts was given the necessary permission to go to college to prepare for the ministry. At length he could see the answer to his oft-repeated prayers. Throughout long weary years he had been a diligent student, and now he could devote the whole of his time to preparing for the entrance examination of the Preparatory School at Newcastle Emlyn. The young man’s joy knew no bounds, but yet there was sadness. There was an obscurity which he could not penetrate. He longed to be doing something for his fellow-man. He felt there was a great task before him. During the day he was all alone, and at night some friends would occasionally drop in. And then the only subject he cared to discuss was revivals.