The Welsh Meeting by Guy Dail

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 31, 1906

The Welsh Meeting

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

The fourth annual meeting in this mission was held in the modern, nicely built, and attractive city of Cardiff, a town of about 180,000 inhabitants, March 23-27. Before the session proper began, there was a workers' meeting, where the laborers and canvassers had a profitable time in study and preparation.

It might be well to give a brief review of the work in this part of the Master's vineyard. In the Welsh Mission there are about 1,865,000 people—nearly equally divided between those who prefer the Welsh language, and those to whom the English is more agreeable. About eighty per cent of the population is to be found in the two southern counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan.

Our first public effort in the field was made at Cardiff, in 1896; after two years of hard work, forty had been baptized. Late in 1898, meetings were begun in Swansea, where, nine months later, a company had been gathered out. For a time then Wales was left without much help. In 1901 the present superintendent was again permitted to return to the field, and he found a number still faithful to the message. In July, 1902, he began work in Pontypridd, and in April of the following year, was able to organize a church of twenty-six members—the first organized church in the Welsh Mission.

It was in 1902 that the British field was divided into the South and North Conferences, and the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh Missions, when Wales was more fully put under the charge of its own local committee. Since that time the work has grown more rapidly. The first year's report (1903) showed two churches, a total membership of eighty-seven, and a tithe of seven hundred and eighty-five dollars. For 1904 the tithe had increased to nine hundred and forty-five dollars, and the membership to one hundred and forty. During 1905 efforts have been carried on in two new places (Abergavenny and Blaenavon), and at the close of the year meetings were being conducted in nine different towns where there were companies of Sabbath-keepers, with a total membership of one hundred and seventy-five, and an annual tithe of $1,405.

The Sabbath-school and young people's work received attention; there is a thriving Young People's Society at Cardiff; and the youth will heartily enter into the campaign of securing funds for the British East African Mission through the sale of “Story of Joseph.” Two hundred and twenty copies of this book were subscribed for at the meeting.

Brethren Conradi, Andross, Sisley, Salisbury, and Joyce, as well as the laborers in the home field, found plenty to do in connection with the meetings and the outside interest. One of the problems that received careful attention is that of providing more literature in the Welsh language. This will be done as soon as circumstances permit. The depression in the price of coal has made it rather difficult for our agents the past few months, but conditions in this respect seem to be improving. On Sabbath nine were baptized.

The other matters considered, and the resolutions passed, were in harmony with those things that needed to be given attention at the South and North England Conferences.

The officers chosen for the new year are as follows: Director, W. H. Meredith; other members of the Advisory Committee: A. Rodd, I. Powell, I. W. Ford, and W. Woodland; Mission and Sabbath-school Secretary and Treasurer, W. Read. The director is the only ordained minister in the field. Ministerial licenses were granted to W. Halliday, A. Rodd, W. Read; missionary licenses to C. A. Swann, M. Asay, and T. Buckman.

Of course many of our readers have heard of the great “revival” that visited Wales last year. It might have been expected that this would interfere with our work in some way; but so far as we can learn, our brethren have felt the greatness of the truth God has committed to us, and have not been turned aside because of the excitement and enthusiasm seen in the revival movement. We feel very thankful for this, as some had feared it would unsettle the faith of many. There have been other difficulties that threatened the prosperity of the message; but we are glad God has so overruled that continual, steady progress may be reported. The meeting in Cardiff was certainly the best ever held in Wales, from the accounts of those present; and they go forth again with quickened faith and hope in the ultimate success of the message that is to prepare a people for the second advent. Courage and good cheer are ours, for although the battle may be terrible, it can not last long. We bespeak for this small, but very interesting people and field, a deep place in the hearts of God's children.