12 - That They All May Be One

12 "THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE"

FOLLOWING THIS MESSAGE by the revivalist, several voices, representing different countries, were heard in­terceding for their beloved homeland, with China-dis­tressed, distracted China, taking the lead. From Russia came a cry for revival; a Baptist minister, burdened in his spirit for his people, wept as he confessed the sins of the nation, as Daniel did centuries ago. A German pastor sor­rowed as he compared the greatness of days gone by, when Luther shook the world, with his own day when his fellow countrymen were following the vain philosophies of men. As I review the events that have transpired since, I see that his prayer was prophetic.

Brittany had a voice speaking to the Lord in broken Welsh, arousing interest and enthusiasm. Some of the words were indistinguishable while others seemed as familiar as if the intercessor had lived in Wales for years. He cried to the Lord for ungodly France and for his friends enduring persecution there. A distinguished-look­ing representative of Japan waited for a little silence, an abatement of the fiery Welsh enthusiasm, so that he could pray audibly. His opportunity was long in coming. At last there came a respite, a strange, living silence. Immediately he rose to his feet and brought Japan before the Lord in a very definite way. At the time there was war between Russia and Japan. In that chapel were representatives of both nations, at perfect peace with one an­other, worshiping in an atmosphere that was pregnant with great possibilities for both peoples. In God’s house, far away from their respective homes, there was not the slightest evidence of enmity visible between these men; both were praying for revival. They knew in their hearts that this was the only remedy for the affliction of their peoples. How they prayed! In staccato phrases and broken English, the Russian minister agonized with God. The friend from Japan, much more conversant with the Saxon language, nevertheless found it difficult to control the emo­tions that were in his soul. The newspapers made much of this fact next day. Russia and Japan at war in the East! Russia and Japan at peace in the West, in a small Welsh chapel! At the same time, these newspapers were publishing statistics showing the number of professed conversions registered in the different denominations throughout Wales. Were the figures authentic? Would the exclusive Baptist church, for example, rigid in its Calvinistic theol­ogy, have considered it seemly to advertise in the secular press that so many had passed through the sacred ordin­ance of baptism? I think not. A quotation from a highly reputed daily, The South Wales Daily News, honored throughout Wales because of its undoubted sincerity and truthfulness in its descrip­tion of the revival, said: "Infidels were converted; drunk­ards, thieves, and gamblers saved, and many thousands re­claimed to respectability and honored citizenship. Confes­sions of awful sins were heard on every side, and every­where. Old debts were remembered, and paid. Theatres and public houses in distress for lack of patronage. Sev­eral police courts had clean sheets, and were idle. In five weeks, 20,000 conversions were recorded." At a later date, the number was presumed to be no less than fifty thousand. In the eight months following the outbreak of the revival, one hundred fifty thousand had made applica­tion for church membership. However difficult it is to discover the source from which this information emanated, it would be difficult to characterize such reports as false or even fantastic. Surely the press is not usually credited with predilections favorable to the churches, or to reli­gion in general. Their sponsoring of this marvelously spiritual movement is one of the outstanding items of this history. There is significance in the fact that they ad­vertised the work in a manner to create world-interest so quickly.

There is before me a faded press clipping, culled, I believe, from the pages of The Western Mail of that time. It gives Mr. Roberts’ remarks on revival, presumably de­livered during the course of a service on the previous day. He is reported to have said: "You desire an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your city? You do well. But remember, four conditions must be observed. They are essential.

"First, is there any sin in your past with which you have not honestly dealt,-not confessed to God? On your knees at once. Your past must be put away and cleansed.

"Second, is there anything in your life that is doubtful -anything you cannot decide whether it is good or evil? Away with it. There must not be a trace of a cloud be­tween you and God. Have you forgiven everybody­EVERYBODY? If not, don’t expect forgiveness for your sins. Better offend ten thousand friends than grieve the Spirit of God-or quench Him.

"Third, do what the Holy Spirit prompts without hesi­tation or fear. Obedience-prompt, implicit, unquestion­ing obedience, at whatever cost.

"Fourth, a public confession of Christ as personal Sav­ior. Profession and confession are vastly different! Mul­titudes are guilty of long and loud profession. Confession of Christ as Lord is of recent date. We forget that there is a Trinity in the Godhead, and that the three Persons are on absolute equality. We praise the Father and we praise the Son. Can anyone produce a satisfactory reason why we should not, and do not, praise the Holy Spirit? When we speak of Him as a ’thing,’ or ’something,’ are we not greatly in error, since the Scriptures claim for Him absolute equality with the other sacred Persons in the Holy Trinity? Is He not ignored entirely in hundreds of the churches? Hear the word of the Lord: ’Quench not the Spirit.’ That is the one way to revival. When the fire burns, it purifies. And when purified, you are fit to be used in the work of God."

Hundreds of thousands of copies of that paper entered the homes of the people each day. Try to picture what influence would be produced by such language on the minds and hearts of homely, religious folk, who were thirsting as never before for spiritual experiences. When we consider that the leading dailies, with large circulations, were sending these words into the homes of rich and poor alike, cannot this be viewed as a miracle? It was com­monly reported that some of the men commissioned to follow Mr. Roberts, reporting his every word, were them­selves brought under the influence of the movement and gloriously converted. Rich, powerful, influential news­paper combines do not delegate representatives to report religious movements unless they have good reasons. And what were the reasons? The people-the nation-the world clamored for news of this character. They got it "red hot." Perhaps never before, and certainly never since, have the news sheets of the world been used thus for such a high and noble purpose.