1904 WELSH REVIVAL. Exceptional Autograph Album of Leaders of Welsh Revival & More!

An absolutely exceptional autograph album with hundreds of autographs, the majority of which have some connection to Wales and which have been organically collected, i.e., they are written directly into the album and not "clips."

Nested in the pages is a lovely section containing autographs of many of the leading figures of the Welsh Revival. There are others sprinkled throughout as well. Each of the Revival autographs is scarce. We have worked through perhaps half the album and recorded some of the highlights below. There are certainly more signatures related to the revival in the volume and many, many more historic Welsh autographs not related to the Revival that we have no reference for. 

We have handled only two other similar items in the last 30 years of actively pursuing Welsh Revival related material. A unique opportunity. 

Below is a selection:

 

THE WELSH REVIVAL 

H[owell] Elvet Lewis. [1860-1953]. Active leader and apologist for the Welsh Revival of 1903-1905, today especially remembered as the author of one of the most influential books of the era, With Christ among the Miners. Incidents and Impressions of the Welsh Revival. 1906. Signed, H Elvet Lewis. Nov. 12, 1901. 

Owen Rhys Owens. [1854-1908]. One of the most influential preachers of the Welsh Revival [not named Evan Roberts anyway] and a hymnist of the Revival as well. Articles, sermons, and music by Owens were often published simply with the initials, O.R. Later in the revival, he became one of the chief external evangelists and proponents of the Revival, preaching its message and blessing in Liverpool, Bristol, etc. [See: HERE]

As a hymnist of the Revival, he was prominent as well. The primary hymnal of the Welsh revival was Cofio y Gwaed: Cenadwri Mr Evan Roberts, y Diwigiwr i Sir Fon: Tonau ac Emynau ar yr uchod, gyda rhai darnau eraill. (Remembering the Blood: A Message from Mr Evan Roberts, the Revivalist in Anglesey: Tunes and Hymns on the above, and other pieces.) O. R. Owens was an important contributor. 

Evan Rees [Dyfed]. Perhaps the best-known hymnist of the Welsh Revival, the sort of Sankey to Evan Roberts' Moody. His hymns were staples of the extended services, and none so loved as Pen Calfaria [The Heights of Calvary]. Signed 1906. 

Keri Evans [1860-1941], one of primary leaders of the Welsh Revival in Carmarthen [part of the Carmarthen Trinity, as they were known], signed June 25th, 1906 from Carmarthen. 

Rosina Davies [1863-1949], the female Evan Roberts. Originally an Independent Welsh Revivalist [1883], attracted to Catherine Booth and the strong pro-female stance of the Salvation Army, she went under their auspices to preach revivals in Chicago [1891] to the Welsh community there. She returned to Wales in 1900 and became instrumental during the Welsh Revival, not only as a preacher, but as a Psalmist. After Evan Roberts shared his vision of 100,000 converts, it was she who sang, and it was said the scope of the vision and the deep sense of the presence of Jesus on her singing led to two hours of uninterrupted weeping and prayer for those who had yet to meet Jesus. Signed Rosina Davies, Treherbert, Nov. 19, 1902.

John Owen [1857-1934], another prominent preacher during the Welsh Revival. He was in many ways the poster child for the revival; Brought out of the quarries, he became an able preacher during the Outpouring. After this Ap Glaslyn, as he was known, devoted himself to preaching and in 1919 was ordained as minister with the Calvinistic Methodists. As a hymnist, he was responsible for the words and music of many religious songs which he sang and made popular during the Revival as well. 

E. W. Davies, Baptist Minister at Hebron, Ton, one of the most influential Baptist divines during the Welsh Revival. He himself was one of its preachers and is remembered as having recorded Roberts' sermons almost verbatim in MSs as he preached. 

G. Campbell Morgan. A very early autograph of Morgan [1906]. Born in Wales, he was already ministering in London, but during the revival made several trips to Wales to experience the outpouring for himself, and to lend his voice in its defense. He, along with W. T. Stead, published an important "apologetic" for the revival which was broadly reprinted and distributed.

Annie Davies. She was one of the most prominent solo singers in the Welsh Revival and a reputed potential love interest of Evan Roberts. When the revival began, she was just 17. Annie worked closely with Evan Roberts during the entirety of the Revival, and there developed a degree of speculation in the press regarding their relationship. Evan Roberts did visit the Davies home on several occasions, once for an extended recuperative stay. Whether there were ever discussions of a relationship, nothing seems to have materialized.

Her rendition of 'Dyma Gariad Fel y Moroedd' [Tr. Here is love, vast as an ocean] was a Roberts' meeting staple and newspaper reports of the Revival meetings rarely failed to mention her contributions.

J. Cynddylan Jones. An influential Welsh pastor and theologian, he wrote the history of Revival in Wales prefixed as an introduction to Jessie Penn-Lewis' Awakening in Wales. 

We have not located, alas, an Evan Roberts' autograph in the album. 

 

OTHER MISSIONARY AND THEOLOGY

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. A very early signature, dated to 1932 when Lloyd-Jones was pastoring in Wales at Aberavon, long before his tenure at Westminster Chapel. 

A. M. Fairbarn [1838-1912], influential Scottish theologian with an emphasis in the history of doctrines. His works remain classics. Signed, A. M. Fairbarn. Mansfield College.

T. C. Edwards [1848-1927] of Cynonfardd. Signed 1905. Welsh theologian. 

Annie Prichard, Noted Temperance Speaker, Dated to Handsworth, Birmingham, March 7, 1900.

William Morris [i.e., Rhosynnog, 1843-1922], prominent Welsh Baptist divine at Noddfa Baptist Church. 

Thomas Davies [1843-1910], Prominent Welsh Calvinistic Methodist.

R. Wardlaw Thompson [1842-1916], Foreign Secretary of the London Missionary Society. Dated September 7, 1908.

Rev. D. M. Rees, Welsh Missionary of the London Missionary Society to Madagascar.

Lizzie Selina Rees. [Spouse to the previous]. Missionary to Ambalavao, Madagascar.

William Hopkyn Rees, Missionary to China. Signed April 23, 1906.

Mrs. Hopkins Rees, [Spouse to the previous]. Signed Chi Chon.

Clara Benham, Missionary of the London Missionary Society to North Africa

Henry Chang. Missionary [signed in English and Mandarin]

William Owen. Missionary to China [signed in English in Mandarin]

Robert Griffith. Misisonary of the London Missionary Society to Madagascar

 

MILITARY & ROYALTY

Prince Arthur of Connaught [1883-1938], signed Arthur, Capt Royal Scots Greys

Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll [1848-1939], signed Louise, July 23d / 09. Argyll. 

Lady Jackson of Dublin

Colonel John Blandy-Jenkins, signed as Chairman. 

W. H. Mathias, Leading Welsh Entrepreneur.

David Davies of Llandinam [1818-1890], Welsh Industrialist and Liberal Member of Parliament.

Howell Jones Williams, Welsh Progressive Politician and London Builder. 

 

ACADEMICS & SCHOLARS

Sir John Rhys [1840-1915], Welsh Scholar and First Professor of Celtic at Oxford. Signed John Rhys, Jesus College, Oxford. 30 July 1902.

 

LITERATURE & THE ARTS

Sybil Thorndike [1882-1976], important English Actress and George Bernard Shaw muse. Signed to November 28, 1931. 

Frederick Charles Maker [1844-1927], two bars of his tune for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Come to me, O ye Children, signed. 

David James, Welsh Artist from Porth.