Welsh Journals

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him. Elis Wyn o Wyrfai published two fine Welsh odes "Bosworth Field," and the "Slave" a Short History of the Welsh and Church Hymns. REV. THOMAS JAMES, M.A. (1827­1899). The son of a shoemaker, Llansawel, Car- marthenshire. Worked at Dowlais, then entered Ffrwydyfal Seminary, and afterward Trefecca College, and Glasgow University. He was Dr. Williams's scholar at Glasgow, where he secured the M.A. degree. The Methodist magazine, Y Cylchgrawn," was edited by him for a long period. His ordination took place in 1861 ft the Newcastle Emlyn Sassiwn soon after his settlement at Llanelly. James rendered con- spicious service to his denomination. REV. DAVID MEYRICK EVANS (1827-1870). Born in London, 30th November, 1827, but his parents later settled at a farm near Tregaron. He received his early education at Ystrad Meurig, afterward at Glasgow. In 1851 he was ordained at a Baptist Church in Manchester, and in 1858 removed to Greenfield, Llanelly. He wrote two prize esays in his student days at the University Logic," and Socratic Dialogue." Evans contributed interesting articles to several periodicals. In 1860 he became Editor of the Llanelly Telegraph." His memoir of Christmas Evans received great praise. A vigorous' writer ever ready to defend the needy Cause. David Williams. 1877-1927. AN APPRECIATION. By the Rev. G. A. Edwards, M.A., Bangor. I. APART from the two years (1903-05) during which he held the pastorate of the Clifton St. Church, Cardiff, the whole of David Williams's working life was spent as a theological professor in one of the Welsh Presby- terian Church colleges, where he had charge at first of the department of Church Historv and then of New Testament Exegesis (Trevecca 1905-6, Aberystwyth 1906-22), and during the last five years of his life (1922-27) he was jointly responsible with Professor Phillips for the work which is being done at Bala. There was very little of the don about him and he was absolutely free from the superior airs and vanities of the intellectual oedant. It was fortunate for his Church that such a man was available for the training of its ministers, for he possessed in a remarkable degree the two great requisites for a post of that important character. In the first place he had the passion and fervour of the true PROFESSOR EVAN WILLIAM EVANS, U.S.A. (1827-1874). A native of Llangyfelach, near Swansea, who rose to an honourable position as a Celtic scholar in America. He studied at Yale University, where he became a tutor in Mathematics. During 1857-64 he was Professor of Natural Philosophy at Marietta College, Ohio. When Cornell University was founded Evans became its first Professor in Mathematics. By common consent he was regarded as the best philological scholar in the United States. WILLIAM EDMUNDS (1827­1875). Born at Lampeter and educated at the Grammar School and St. David's College in his native town. He became Vice-Principal of the Carmarthen Training College, and later, Head- master of the Lampeter Grammar School. The school flourished well under his leadership. Edmunds was a splendid Welsh scholar. He published an edition of Y Ffydd Diffuant with notes in 1856; Gwerslyfr Llanbedr" and wrote an introduction for Drych y Prif Oesoedd" (Spurrell's Edition, 1854). He was engaged upon the History of Lampeter at the time of nis death. How profitable and pleasant the task of com- memorating the love and zeal of men like those already mentioned. They loved their fellow- men and toiled zealously for their advancement in letters, religion, and everything uplifting. evangelist: his grip of the central meaning of the gospel was a very real and profound one, and his soul was aflame to express it. Here was no dry-as-dust professor, living far from the haunts of his fellow-men and forgetful of their needs and problems. In fact the desire to leave academic work and return to the charge of a church often seized him-so strong was his passion for preaching and his anxiety to be deal- ing with ordinary men and women at first hand. Then there was his sound and extensive scholar- ship. Honour "Mods" and "Greats" at Oxford had laid the foundation of a mind which was precise in its mastery of details and exten- sive in the range and content of its knowledge. He was a wide reader who spared no effort to keep abreast of the times especially in regard to the subjects in which he was mainly concerned as tutor and professor. The qualities of his scholarship are very evi- dent in the two Welsh commentaries which we owe to him (II. Corinthians,1915 Galatians, 1923). He aimed, above all at expounding his author's language and interpreting his message as clearly as he possiblv could. He well knew that a commentator's first duty is neither to defend nor attack his author but to explain him so that a reader might know quite clearly what