THE RHONDDA VALLEY.
"Oh" have said our South Wales folks, again and again," you must go up the Rhondda. All the worst folks in Wales are said to live up there and that is just the place for the Mission;" and so up "up the Rhondda" we are found today. Brother Hayter being stationed at Treherbert and Sister Kate Shepherd is at Pentre.
THESE places are both in the Valley, which has a population of some 40,000 people, and are about four miles apart. At this latter, we have a suitable and convenient accommodation, except that it is altogether too small. From the opening Sunday, crowds have flocked to hear, and already we are rejoiced by news of the Salvation of some of the "Rhondda Rowdies" as they were described to us by a Welshman the other day. Writing after the opening Sunday, February 9th, Sister Kate Shepherd says:-
"We had a good day on Sunday. We had one soul and £1 6s 10d collection. On Monday we had a blessed time, the place was crowded and two souls saved. Pray for me that the Lord will save precious souls. I believe we shall have a smash.
Feb 14th - Last night we had seven souls. Blessed time. Place crowded. Hundreds outside cannot get in. Not half big enough.
- glad to tell you we had a good day Sunday, 24 souls and on Monday 19 souls for Jesus.
Bless the Lord. The Hall is so crowded we cannot move. On Sunday afternoon we had to have the meeting in the open air. There were hundreds of people. I stood on a hill and they stood around. I never saw such a sight in my life, On Friday eight souls and Saturday, three. Please send me some help as soon as possible.
Feb 19. Blessed time Tuesday night. Twenty-five souls came out and found the Lord. Great big men. Oh, praise the Lord, He is working here. I forgot to tell you we had a procession on Sunday. Thousands of people followed"
Pentre and Ystrad for Jesus.
From, 'The Salvationist', March 1879, page 62.
(Capt. Guffick) -They are moving the ahead, and having glorious times at this Station. On Monday, a powerful meeting. Two left the land of death and sin to follow Jesus. We hope not, as Peter did once - afar off; but where God and duty calls, in the open air and in the Barracks. Sunday was a good day. The following results will show: thirteen heavy-burden bearers had the gracious lift-off by the Master's hand, and from their hearts "The burden rolled away. Happy day!" " Down at the Cross, where He took them in. Glory to His name."
From, "The War Cry," page 3, 24th November 1881.
Captain Louisa Lock and four men refused to pay fines for obstruction and were therefore sentenced to be jailed for three days in Cardiff Prison. When the day arrived, three thousand escorted them to the police station, where they then got on a train. Several people offered to pay the fine, but Miss Lock refused and off they went to jail.
While they were away, 26 pastors got together to discuss this religious persecution and to organise a demonstration against it.
On returning home, the prisoners were greeted by thousands of well-wishers.
This is my tiny summary of four full pages of a newspaper report on the subject in 'The Salvationist', October 1879, pages 261-5. Tragically, Captain Louisa Lock, who was not a strong woman, picked up an illness in prison and died 18 months later.
(Capt. A. Poole). -We had good meetings all day on Sunday, both outside and in. It was a grand sight to see big drunkards, who have been plucked as brands from the burning, stand in the open-air, with tears running down their faces, inviting poor sinners to come to Jesus. Many went away wounded. Our Hall was crowded to excess; many turned away for want of room, We closed the day with three big sinners in the fountain, and eight little ones. Glory be to Jesus! More to follow.
From, "The War Cry," page 2, 16th February 1882.
(also, page 2, 23rd February 1882)
(Capt. Agnes Peck) -Sunday was the best day we have had here. Major Coombes was with us. Fifty-four Soldiers met at the seven o'clock Knee-drill and pleaded for an outpouring of God's Spirit in the valley, and, praise God, twenty souls tumbled into the fountain, and the Lord washed their sins away. On Monday, we had a grand Holiness Meeting in the Wesleyan Chapel. It was a melting time. Many came out for the blessing, and several for pardon. At night we had a grand march, several Officers and Soldiers from the surrounding Stations joined us. The Old Shiloh packed and fourteen sinners in the fountain.
From, "The War Cry," page 3, 23rd March 1882.
My mind went back to that tremendous Council of War, the first held in this valley, when God came so blessedly near, and did so much in many hearts, which has not been forgolten, and never will. Knowing what sort of stuff these people were made of, my heart rejoiced at the thought of spending a day with them, and what a day it was. That morning, Holiness Meeting, what mighty work was done, as one after another came out for the blessing, and as one after another gave up their pipes, and how our heart rejoiced, when a man at the far end of the Barracks, volunteered out for pardon, and how soon The Army Physician was present to heal. When counted up, we found nine had that morning come out for purity, and one for pardon.
We took hold of God for mighty things in the afternoon and night. But, oh! what a struggle; all hell seemed to have come out in battle array against us. Men and women treating Salvation lightly: laughing in the face of God. But, in spite of all, we held on to God, and the devil was put to flight, and victory came. While we were singing
"Come to Jesus!*
Somebody came and then, one after the other came rolling into the fountain, until nineteen souls had wept their way to Calvary, amidst the shouts of the saved. Glory, Hallelujah!
It was no wonder we were found in high spirits on Monday morning, believing God was going to do some mighty work in the meeting that day, in the Wesleyan Chapel which had been kindly lent to us. It was well filled In the afternoon, and wave after wave of power rolled over us, and when we gave the invitation, several came out for the blessing, and three for pardon. One of the biggest drunkards of the valley, so I was told, who had been drinking in the "Rag and Jibbets" all the morning, came to the Holiness Meeting in the afternoon. He tried to go out, but could not, and was obliged to come out for Salvation. At night, he was telling his old mates what God had done for him. Our night meeting was beyond description, place packed, lots of conviction, and many out for pardon, and a few for purity. We counted up how many had been brought to Jesus in the two days' battle; we found there had been twenty-seven for purity and thirty-four for pardon. Hallelujah! God is moving the valley. Major Coombes.
From, "The War Cry," page 2, 30th March 1882.