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THE LATE BEV. DANIEL DAVIES,…

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THE LATE BEV. DANIEL DAVIES, D.D. "he very numerous friends of the Rev. Daniel Davies, D.D. (familiarly known as the blind minister), recently el Llanelly, but well known in Swansea and throughout the Principality, will hear of his death with mueh regret. The rev. gentleman was for nearly thirty years the pastor of Bethesda Chapel, Hi .;b-street, Swansea, where he was Efcoeh and deservedly beloved, and his many acts of Christian benevolence g tined for him the respect of the whole town. During the visitation of the cholera he and Father Kavanah were most zealous in their work labour of love amongst the poir and destitute, and many lives were unquestionably saved by the practical aj<& afforded, whilst the sick and dying were visited and Syrnp&thised with at any and all hours of the night or ^ay. Oa Wednesday the mortal remains of the rev. Shtleman were brought to Swansea by the Great Western tmpany's line for interment in the burial ground at- tached to Bethesda Chapel. Upon the arrival of the body at the railway station, a number of the most in- fluential townsmen, headed by his Worship the Mayor (Mr. Livingston), formed in procession, and followed the deceased to the graveyard. The chapel was draped in mourning for the occasion. There was a large congregation present, including Hi* Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. Livingston), Mr. E. M Richards, and between 50 and 60 Ministers from various pa: of the Principality. Prior to the addresses which we subjoin, several were given in Welsh, by the ministers present: it being evident from the impression produced upon hearers thereby, that the respectful and eulo- pic mer in which the deceased was spoken of was w -o ".artily endorsed. ^avies, of Haverfordwest College, in referring to tth of the rev. gentleman, remarked that the "ugnty could afford to bury His servants—he had -V „d Moses—when they had finished their work and ocumplished their day, and now He had taken away their cloved friend and brother at the close of a long life of Christen wot!<■ a long life of consecration to the Master's service. A long life was a solemn fact. A brief period of active life had many solemn aspects in it. They didn't live to themselves alone, but influences were continually at work, by which they became a power to others, either for good or evil. When, however, they thought of a long life like that which had just ended, there was something peculiarly interesting about it. Their brother had gone to the grave like a shock of corn fully ripe and ready for the sickle of the Great Reaper. So those who had known the deceased (and some present had been acquainted with him for more than half-a-century), and had witnessed his la- bours, there was much ground for rejoicing, not so much that they rejoiced in their late brother as they adored the graee of God, which had so wonderfully endowed him for the work. He was a man of fine physique, a veritable athlete amongst his brethren but then it was his mind— a strong, wonderful mind, with such various faculties, thought, imagination, will, and all those forces and in- fluences which went to build up a great, a good, and use- ful man. As a preacher of the gospel he was pre- eminently one who had laboured, that he might come before the large congregations that he usually addressed, throughout a long ministry, well furnished at every point —history, illustration, poetry, and criticism. He seemed to lay all the departments of knowledge under tribute t) the Gospel of Christ. And when they considered this in connection with the fact that he had been blind from his youth, how marvellous had the grace of God proved to him. The material scenes of the world being hidden from him, it seemed to him (the speaker) that gradually there sprang up before his mental vision glorious creations of his own—that h* lived in an universe of his own, whle out of this knowledge which he thus acquired, which he Manipulated with so much care, and elaborated with so much taste and judgment, he brought out things new and old whenever he preached, so that what had been said of him that day in Welsh might be also said in English- that they had not lost a greater man for the last quarter of century than the Rev. Daniel Davies. They were then to thank God that he lived so long—that he lived so BOble a life-so strictly consistent that he was an orna- ment to the denomination to which he belonged, and to the Church of Christ generally. And now they were paying their tribute at the brink of his grave, and he trusted that they as ministers would have higher and nobler aims yet in the little work remaining for them to do for the Master. The day was short with many of them their sun was fast going towards the western horizon they were rapidly going to the grave—nay, if they were faithful, they were going to the great Master. May the Almighty bless them and bless the young ministers. May they imitate the excellencies of their departed brother. It was right to imitate what was morally beautiful, what was spiritually grand. Let them also cherish what was noble in his spirit and excellent in his character, that they might receive the crown of life that fadeth not away. Mr. E. M. Richards said it was a melancholy satisfac- tion to him to be in Swansea upon the occasion of the burial of their friend, Dr. Daniel Davies. It was not easy to go back in memory in Swansea something like 45 years, as he (the speaker) could do but they would recollect the energy and earnestness which the deceased threw into all movements for the benefit of the town. He found time not only to preside over the large church at Bethesda, but they knew he was fore- most in Swansea in encouraging institutions that tended to the moral and intellectual advancement of the com- munity. He was especially solicitous of the welfare of young men, in whom he took a deep and active interest. Indeed, they could scarcely point to any movement of the kind he had named in which the deceased had not taken a part. He was not what he called a political Dissenter, but was yet a staunch supporter of civil and religious liberty, which was as dear to him as to anyone and had the honourable member for Swansea been with them that day he would have borne him (the speaker) out when he stated that of the encouragement he re- ceived in the prosecution of his BoTduoU8 Parliamentary duties there was none he valued more highly than that of his friend, Dr. Daniel Davies. The Mayor said he knew litile of the deceased, except by report, but he never looked upon him without deep veneration. When, however, he read the report of his death in the newspaper, he felt that they had experienced a great loss, and, having been invited there that day, he felt he should not be doing his duty, as Mayor of the town, and certainly not consulting his own feelings, if he did not endeavour to be present. It would be in- teresting to tabulate the amount of goodness accruing from the labours of the deceased in Swansea. They respected his memory, and were led to hope and pray that many such men might be sent into this town, and be spared to labour as long as he had done. They mourned the loss with his friends, at the same time feel- ing thankful that such a man was called amongst them. The congregation then left the chapel, and the body was interred in a vault near the porch of the chapel, the proceedings throughout being of a very impressive nature, and affecting many to tears.

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