Libanus Calvinistic Methodist Chapel - Garth (1905)



Mr Evan Roberts continued his mission at Maesteg today with two services in Libanus Chapel, Garth, where the revival has been manifest for some time, and the gatherings were, as might have been anticipated, very largely attended and successful. In the afternoon there was a large congregation in the chapel shortly after one o’clock and the service was forthwith entered upon. In the evening the service at the same chapel was even more largely attended. Miss Annie Davies prayed for the fire of fervour to take the place of expectancy, and when “Showers of blessings” had been sung Mr Evan Roberts rose, but before he could say anything a prayer was offered by a man in the aisle. The evangelist then said there was too much whispering in the congregation. There was, too, a spirit of curiosity prevalent. Many of them, possibly, were watching for great things, such as they had witnessed the previous night, but they would not get any blessing if they were simply impelled by curiosity. He asked were they at peace with each other. There was something wrong, and if it was what he had suggested he hoped they would make peace or go out. He repeated there was something wrong. There was want of unity there. A young lady stuck up “Calon lan” (“Pure heart”), and the congregation joined with much warmth, and prayers in Welsh and English followed. Still the evangelist was not satisfied. He asked those who were obstacles to the success of the service to ask God to cleanse their hearts or go out. If they did not do so, he feared he himself would have to leave. When some person suggested that disobedience to the Spirit was the obstacles Mr Roberts said it was something more than that, but He (the Spirit) did not tell him what it was. More singing and “hwyl” led the evangelist to say that the obstacle seemd to be partially removed, and there was an outburst of simultaneous prayer for the complete removal of that obstacle, and the evangelist declared that the difficulty had been removed. Would they sing a hymn of praise? Immediately there arose a mighty volume of song in the rendering of “Duw mawr y rhyfeddodau maith” (“Great God of countless wonders”). An English minister and an Irish barrack-room chaplain gave interesting messages in English, and these were followed by a Bristol gentleman and a Glasgow ministerial patriarch. At the request of the evangelist, the Rev. W.H. Thomas put the usual test, and Mr Roberts afterwards urged those who saw waverers or unconverted people near them to speak to them, or God would require the blood of those people at their hands.

From, 'The Western Mail', 14th February 1905.

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