The Welsh Methodist Society by Eryn M. White

Author:Eryn M. White [White, Eryn M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Europe, Great Britain, General, Religion
ISBN: 9781786835802
Google: u374DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: University of Wales Press
Published: 2020-06-15T00:38:49+00:00

God’s church need only keep a distance one from another and there grows up uncharitableness like a root, and from thence comes all wretched branches, which none can destroy but God alone.

Harris claimed when speaking at Ystrad-ffin in 1740 that the three factors which hindered the healthy progress of a society were disagreement amongst the members, failure to open their hearts to each other and too much emphasis on the self.95 All of these related to the importance of fellowship and unity amongst the members. However, disagreements unfortunately occurred with a degree of regularity. Richard Tibbott attended a meeting of the men of the Cilcarw society, Llangyndeyrn, where they had spent their time revealing the prejudices they held against each other, negative feelings which they felt prevented their progress as a society.96 In 1744, James Williams compared the members of Cwm-ann society to Joseph’s brothers because of the prejudice they felt towards each other.97 William Richard worried in 1746 that Llwyndafydd society lacked the unity evident in the other societies under his supervision, to the point that he feared that some members would choose to leave, since all his efforts to mediate proved useless. There is no further mention of the society in William Richard’s later reports to the Association, but it is not clear if this is because of a complete collapse.98

The relationship between the leaders and the membership at large illustrated this sense of fellowship. References to the society members as ‘the lambs’, ‘the chicks’ and ‘the Great Shepherd’s little flock’ demonstrate the care and fondness felt by the leaders and exhorters.99 On one occasion, William Richard referred to his circuit as ‘y ffordd yr ydwyf yn arferol o ymgyfeillachy a Hwynthwy’ or ‘the way I usually keep company with them’, which suggests a friendly relationship, in the original Welsh in particular.100 William Williams faced a practical problem with Llanddewibrefi society, which never exceeded a dozen members and was so close to Llangeitho that Williams could see the sense in uniting the two societies. Yet some fondness or sense of duty seemed to prevent him from making the final decision to dissolve the smaller society. In addition to discussing problems with the local exhorters and superintendents, many of the members felt empowered to write to the leaders directly, a process made easier by the fact that they were relatively close at hand for those in the south-west. Amongst these correspondents, very probably, were some who were the first generation to acquire literacy in the circulating schools. Thus equipped, they were able to ask advice and share experiences, not just with the immediate circle of the society or even the visiting superintendent, but with the leaders of the movement themselves, which reinforced the sense of the importance of each individual. John Williams of Cilcarw in Llangyndeyrn, for instance, wrote to Howel Harris explaining that he was newly married, a relationship which he hoped was of God, and requesting Harris’s prayers for him, his family and his society.101 There was

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