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TO THE ELECTORS !, OF 1 dERTHYR…

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Family Notices

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

CHOICE OF A PARLIAMENTARY…

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FUNEKAL OF THK LATE REV. DR.…

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FUNEKAL OF THK LATE REV. DR. PRICE. Tho melancholy ceremony of consigning to their last rosting place the mortal remains of the late Rev. Thomas Price, M.A., Ph.D., for over forty years the beloved pastor of Calvaria Baptist Church, of this town, took place on Tuesday afternoon last. amidst general maui- testations of regret. The funeral was one of the largest evur seen in the locality. A very large number of ministers of all denominations from various parts of the principality, together with the leading inhabitants of the town and neigh- bourhood, members of the various friendly socie- ties with which the deceased was connected, &c., attended to pay the last tribute of respect to the departed. An immense concourse of spectators also lined the streets through which the mourn- ful procession passed. Before the departure of the cortege for Calvaria Chapel, in the burial ground of which the interment took place, a service was held at tho house. Here the Rev. Basset Thomas read a portion of Scripture, and the Rev. T..lo^es, Caimel, offered up prayer, after which the Rev. AVm. Morris, of Treorky, speaking from tua doorstep, addressed a few ap- propriate words to tho people assembled in the road. Next the fresh voicos of the choir, led by Mr. Theophiius Jenkins, were hoard in an ap- propriate Welsh hyirm, given out by the Rev. W. Harris, Ti c) non. Tho coffin, covorod by a heavy pall, was then borne from the house on the ehouldui's of several deacons of Calvaria Chapel. Tho order of procession w. s as follows Ministers of all denominations freemasons friendly societies mombers of various Boards tradespeople; general public representatives of various Baptist chapels; members, congre- gation, f uti Sunday school of Calvaria Chapel; I ohair; coffin; mournen. The coffin was cover- ed by a number of b eautiful wreaths, sent by the following :—Mrs Thomas, Sgubor^en Mr and Mrs Williams, Merthyr; Mrs W. Thomas, Aberdare; Mrs Richards, Cwmbach; Mr and Mrs Harris, Merthyr Mr and Mrs D. Williams, Aberdare; Mr and Mrs R. Rees, Aberdare; Mrs Davies, Mardy; Mrs J. W. Jones, Tro- oynon Mr and Mrs Griffiths, Cardiff; Mrs G (Thomas, S\van ea; Miss Price, Rose Cottage; Miss E. Price. Rose Cottage; Mr and Mrs Ed- wards, Bristol; Vlr anil Vliss Rhys, Plasnewydd; Mr and Mrs Lewis, Plasdraw; Mrs Evans, London, late Aberdare; Mr* Thomas, Bryn Awel; Students of Pontypool College. Calvaria Chupel was heavily draped in black. The building was crowded to excess, and an overflow meeting was held at Carmel Chapel, which was also filled. At Calvaria the Rev. P. Williams, of Tredegar, read a portion of Scripture, after which the Rev. Wm. Williams, Mountain Ash, offered up prayer, and then one of a specially selected collection of hymns was sung, the Rev. William Harris having spoken a few words on the subject of the life of the late Key. Thomas Price, the Rev. R. Ellis Williams, on behalf of tho Baptist Church at Cwmaman, of which he is pastor, read a letter of ,oudolence and sympathy with the church and family of the deceased. Amongst others who spoko, Welsh being generally used, were tho Rev. J. Roberts, uhyiifelen, Trefore-t; the itev. Nathaniel Th-nnas, Cardiff; and Dr. Todd, of London Tho last two ministers, it may be re- marked, were fellow students of the late Dr. Price at Pontvpool College. The service at the grave side was conducted by the Rev. J Lewis, of Swansea, and the Hev. Dr. Williau.s, Pontlottyn. A large congre- gation assembled in the burial ground, and. as the coffin was lowered into the vault, there were many. many signs of grief on all sides. At Carmel Chapel the following ministers took part: U.nV. A. Mills, Hov. Mr Jones, Llwynpia Rev. Mr Phillips, Maesycaner Dr. Kowlands, IAanelly and Professor Edwards, Po itypool. The latt r delivered the following address :— Without any exaggeration we can say that a prince has fallen in Israel, and he fell with his martial cloak around him. Ho reAtel a little after many years of hard fighting for his Master, but the old spirit and indomitable courage, would :,ot allow him to doff the armour alto- gether, until the last call to rest came, after a long life of most successful warfare on the high places of the field And now when he is no more we begin to realize how great is the gap that has been made, how great the loss we have sustained. We have lost an extraordinary man — a very c ii f leading the army of the Lord of hosts. He was a born leader of men, one who took the first rank in virtue of his inherent worth and undoubted capacity. He did not push his way to the high position he occupied, but his all-consuming energy and brilliant talent securud it for him without an effort or a show. It is difficult to dedicate him in a few words. He was a many-sided and an all-round man, po- a-ing so many qualifications for serving t.jo ocular community and the religious world, that we are afraid that in Wales for some time, wo shall not soon see his like again. These stars of the first magnitude are not often seen in our lower sky. Look wo at him in his work.as a citizen, in his services as a philan- thropist, in his labours as an educationist, in his achievements as a minister of the gospel, there is much on every hand at which we must marvel. Ho was the philosopher's stone which turned every thing to gold. Every thing seemed to burst into new life and flourish under his magic touch. lIe not only looked with a kindly eye on, but took a leading part in furthering the interest of so many societies and institutions, which it would be impossible to enumerate uere. Those friendly societies, which have for their object both the material and moral well being of the community Iound in him a staunch supporter, and so greatly were his services valued that he was voted to fill the highest posts and receive the greatest honours they could confer. His work in other directions, which had the removal of social grievances and burdensTor their object, was varied and effective. He was the uncompromising champion of right and truth, and he did not care always to use soft words and be in half a caressing mood in the face of error and of wrong. Every body knew where to find him, and so he secured the confidence of thousands, and we may say the esteem of all. Tyranny, hypocrisy, cant, could not stand on the same platform as he, or withstand his well-aimed and effective onslaught. He was the champion of the people's rights, when it was not so fashionable to be on the side of the down- trodden as it is to-day, and for the high and mighty of the land to condescend to espouse the cause of the weak and the poor. Ah What a generous nature was his. While he was brave as a lion, he was as simple as a child, and as tender as a woman The tale of woe brought the tear to his eye, but his emotion was not spent in empty sentimentalism, but it issued in deeds of kindness, and not in mere words of feigned sympathy. He had always a cheering word for the downcast ani the needy. Like his Master, although he was high, he had respect unto the lowly. Having climbed the hill of honour, he always leaned down to lend a hand to others who were weaker than himself. There was not a grain of jealousy or suspicion in his noble nature. He never harboured a hard thought of others, but was ever frank, candid, honest, and so was admired by friend and opponent alike. What a friend of young men was he! How many he helped in a practical way ? Scores probably were en- couraged by him to preach the gospel, and under his fostering care they developed into powerful exponents of divine truth. Many of these oc- cupy to-day important positions, and whilst they mingle their tears over the veteran's grave, they thank God for what Hii servant did for them. From personal experience I can add a stone to the cairn of his monument and place my wreath of affection and gratitude upon his coffin. He never did himself, or allowed others, to discourage a young man, but he did all he could to foster the spirit of courage, to develop talent, and to call out the latent powers that were discovered by his discerning eye. This is not a mere empty eulogy, but the words of truth and soberness, and, with the Queen of Sheba, we must say, "The half has not been told We cannot begin to enumerate the services he rendered to the denomination. In many re- spects he was our archbishop, yea, in some re- spects a very apostle. Nothing less than a calamitous earthquake would obliterate the out ward signs of his energy and power in the Aberdare Yalley, and on account of the work ho has done, his name is a household word through- out the principality. The English Baptist Union felc his power, and in wide America he was well known. He was about the worthiest representative of Wales and Welshmen we ever had. Any matter of grave importance com- mitted to his care would receive ample justice done to it. The highest interests were safe m his firm hand And he never considered any sacrifice too great to make to secure the worthy object he had in view. He spared no effort, he shirked no duty. As it was said of Lord Brougham it could be said of him, He had so much to do that he could do everything." From the widow's tale of distress to the highest in- terests of the great institutions and organiza- tions of his beloved denomination, all received equal attention and consideration. He was a typical, yea if we may say so, the ideal Welsh- man He embodied in himself all that was noblest and best in his nation. And Wales weeps over his open grave to-day, and for a long time to come his memory will be like a weeping willow bending over his tomb. We do not be- lieve much in the marble monuments of earth, raised in honour of the warrior and statesman but if any one deserved a fitting monument in the most prominent square of Aberdare, Dr. Price was he. Personally I should like to see this idea carried out, but whatever of that, he has already raised his own, which time and change can never overthrow. If you enter St. Paul's Cathedral, you will note statues and monuments erected to commemorate the achieve- ments of the statesman and the victories of the generals but there is not one in honour of the illustrous architect of that noble pile of build- ing but if you look over the chief entrance door, you will notice the Latin inscription, which translated reads, Look around you, and you will see the monument of Sir Christopher Wren." So if any one would see monu- ments raised as memorials of what Dr. Price has done, we can bay" Look around you, up and down the Aberdare Valley, and you will see, not marble monuments, but a lovelier sight, capacious and marble edifices for the use of the Saints and for the worship of God, and grander still than these material structures, are the temples built of living stones, Christian men and women, whom our departed father in Israel was tho honoured instrument in rearing to the praise and glory of God our Saviour." ii —

ABEKDARE POLICE COURT.

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District intelligence.

VALE OF SHUT I d, Ui, v \.…

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