r from the great American revival of 1857-8
reached England, its first messenger to Wales, Rev. H.R. Jones, a
Wesleyan, had only to drop the spark that "lit a prairie fire." The
reformation, chiefly under the leadership of Mr. Jones and Rev. David
Morgan, a Presbyterian, with their singing bands, was general and
lasting, hundreds of still robust and active Christians today dating
their new birth from the Pentecost of 1859 and its ingathering of eighty
thousand souls.

A favorite hymn of that revival was the penitential cry,--

_O'th flaem, O Dduw! 'r wy'n dyfod_,

--in the seven-six metre so much loved in Wales.

Unto Thy presence coming,
O God, far off I stand:
"A sinner" is my title,
No other I demand.

For mercy I am seeking
For mercy still shall cry;
Deny me not Thy mercy;
O grant it or I die!

* * * * *

I heard of old that Jesus,
Who still abides the same,
To publicans gave welcome,
And sinners deep in shame.

Oh God! receive me with them,
Me also welcome in,
And pardon my transgression,
Forgetting all my sin.

The author of the hymn was Thomas Williams of Glamorganshire, born 1761;
died 1844. He published a volume of hymns, _Waters of Bethesda_ in 1823.

The Welsh minor tune of "Clwyd" may appropriately have been the music to
express the contrite prayer of the words. The living composer, John
Jones, has several tunes in the Welsh revival manual of melodies, _Ail
Attodiad_.

The unparalleled religious movement of 1904-5 was a praying and singing
revival. The apostle and spiritual prompter of that unbroken campaign of
Christian victories--so far as any single human agency counted--was Evan
Roberts, of Laughor, a humble young worker in the mines, who had prayed
thirteen years for a mighty descent of the heavenly blessing on his
country and for a clear indication of his own mission. His convictions
naturally led him to the ministry, and he went to Newcastle Emlyn to
study. Evangelical work had been done by two societies, made up of
earnest Christians, and known as the "Forward Movement" and the
"Simultaneous Mission." Beginnings of a special season of interest as a
result of their efforts, appeared in the young people's prayer meetings
in February, 1904, at New Quay, Cardiganshire. The interest increased,
and when branch-work was organized a young praying and singing band
visited Newca