(1) In his book My Life for Labour, Robert Smillie described how William Abraham restored order at union meetings.

If any friction arose and pandemonium threatened - so easy to rouse, so difficult to quell - 'Mabon' never tried to restore order in any usual way. He promptly struck up a Welsh hymn, or that magical melody, "Land of my Father". Hardly had he reached the second line, when, with uplifted arms, as though drawing the whole multitude into the circle of his influence, he had the vast audience dropping into their respective "parts", and accompanying him like a trained choir. It was wonderful, almost magical and the effect was thrilling. When the hymn or song was finished he raised a hand, and instantly perfect silence fell. The storm had passed.