Pentre - Salvation Army

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. 

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, pralse God, twenty souls tumbled into the fountain, and the Lord washed their sins away. On Monday, we had a grand Holiness Meeting in tihe 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 Offiers 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.