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THE L/LTE REV. J. OGWEN JONES,…

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THE L/LTE REV. J. OGWEN JONES, B.A. In Y Geninen (a national Welsh quarter- ly periodical), for April last, there appeared a very interesting article, under the above heading, written by the Rev. Ellis Edwards, M.A., of Bala Calvinistic Methodist College. From the said article wo glean the following facts respecting the late Mr Jones, whose memory will be for ever blessed in our midst. (What is given here in English is not to be taken as a literal translation of the original.) Mr Jones was a native of Carnarvonshire and his early education—the fullness of which surprised his friends-he received partly under the care of a clergyman. Though he began with merchandise, like many more young men from Wales, he gave up business in order to devote himself to the life of a student. Without any certain and apparent means of support, he turned his face towards Bala College; but faith had not so many outward difficulties to overcome in his history, as it has in the history of the majority of students. Before he left Bala he had won a scholarship of £ 50. Atthat time to take a London degree, which is at all times a great honeur, was a greater task, in some respeots, than it is now when the standard has been raised. But the young man was determined; and, having matriculated with honours in 1856, in two years after he won the B.A. He commenced his ministerial career at Birken- head. From there he removed to Liverpool, where for some time he was a co-worker with the late Rev. Henry Rees. The subsequent years he spent at Oswestry and at Rhyl, as pastor of Clwyd Street Church, he terminated his earthly courso. During his ministerial life he travelled to all parts of Wales to preach the Gospel. His principal study was theology not preaching alone, but theology. This was natural in one of his atudious and sober turn of mind. Mr Jones took a delight in many other things—philosophy, and science, in many of its branches. He took a lively interest in studying human nature. But after all, his heart was chiefly with theology. It was there he felt deepest, and exerted himself most, and it was in the field of theology that he performed the most work. After a long acquaintance with him we have come to the decision that Mr Jones could not be truly seen, except in the pulpit and with those things appertaining to religion. He was very free in company with friends, laying open his heart; but even then there is no contradiction in saying that the depths of his heart were hidden. In the prayer, the sermon, and the church meeting, there was to be seen more of the real man than in his whole life besides. And therefore if you kuew him not in the work of the sanctuary, you had no correct idea of Mr Jones, however much your knowledge of him in other circles. While his sermons were not powerful, his labour in the field of theology, in some form or other, was interminable. The important work of conducting reading classes was one which he accomplished with eminent success and, with few exceptions, the books of the Bible, were the subjects of investi- gation. One of the first things he did at Birken- head was to establish a class of this kind, and at Liverpool he lost no time in starting a similar class. As a result of his labours, it may be noted that eight or ten young men, started by him, entered the ministry, some of whom are this day acceptable ministers in the connexion. At Oswestry he continued to work in the same way. At the latter place we had the pleasure of residing with him for some time. Many times we walked together among the meadows and along the roads in the neighbourhood of Oswestry. Many flowers, rather uncommon in North Waes, grew by the road sides, or in the rich fields of Shropshire and these received his close attention. Geology was a science which he studied extensively, and often some fact revealed by it would be the subject of our conversation; but the chief subjects of our conver- sation would be some doctrinal matter. Mr Joaes was proof against the attractiveness which apper- tains to ideas because they are striking, or in ap- pearance, more sublime. While busy with his work as a preacher, pastor of a chnrch, and in many other capacities he was diligent in writing for the press and most of his writings again were theological. He published articles on the Reformation, Sanctification, the Book of Proverbs, Tractarianism, the Psalms, Inspiration, the Holy Spirit, &c besides others on the Intellect, the Understanding, Proverbs, As- tronomy, Consciousness, in "Y Gwyddoniadur." He was also the editor of the supplement to the "Gwyddoniadur." The "Sunday School Testa- ment had appeared prior to this, and in that commentary he wrote on the gospels of Luke, and John, and the Epistles to the Ephesians and the Hebrews. In Oswestry, too, he delivered a course of lectures on the Bible, which had been at first intended for the students at Bala Calvinistic Methodist College. The commentary known as 11 Testament y Mil- oedd was wholly his work. It is a commentary if not on every verse, on all the difficult sections of the New Testament. This was his chief work as a writer. The work will live, we believe, while the Welsh language exists. At Rhyl since bib labour was so constant, he aimed not only at establishing science classes, but he also sought out persons to carry on the work. He sought to nourish not disciples only, but teachers also. He was one of the centres of light in the town, undoubtedly. The attraction of young men to him was one of the most prominent features of his life. At Liver- J>ool his house was often full of them. And their ove towards him was not without respect. "They liked him, and defied him," was not the character of their attitude towards him. They did like him but, of the two, their respect and submission to him was greater than their love. This must be attributed, not to the value of his work, and his talents, alone, but also to his manliness. While often weak in body, and suffering continually from some degree of nervousness, and though he was strongly sympathetic, no one could for a moment think that there was anything feminine belonging to his character. Determination, energy—all those things:which manifest* strength, assuredness, and oompletion, were instinctively in him and practised by him. Love of work wasla constant' feature of his life. He was so constant a worker that people did not notice it. In the train, in his own bouse—there was always a book or pen in his hand. He was seen in periods of true depression, but they soon passed away, partly at any rate. If they were felt, he showed no signs that he indulged them. They came in clouds, burst out in rain. His practice in times of mental depression, was not to bury him- self in melancholy and stop his work,to persue dark thoughts. Up to the last his mind was not blunted; and the reason for this was his constant abour. He associated with the minds of powerful men, and with the highest aims possible. Standard works were his favourite studies. He did not read novels, and but little of newspapers. His delight was in the work of the principal authors. If in botany, Sachs if in geology, Green, Geikie, Julies, and Lydl if in Biblical history, besides customary works he added the result of the Egypt- ian and Assyrian researches, and the work of the Palestine Survey in theology, Jonathan Edwards and the like. Though a firm defender of the old truths, as taught by the fathers, he welcomed every new discovery and developement, firmly believing that1 in the end it would prove an advantage to Christianity. He was a student up to the last, and was therefore conversant will all the latest ideas, on all questions of importance, and took a special interest in them. For instance, he had paid a careful and minute attention to the teachings of Professor Darwin. He did not wholly escape the danger which attends every student-too much reading. "When I was young," he said, "my Jeat anxiety was how many books I could read but now how many I can abstain from reading." But he was far from being a bookworm," and .ooking at men alone through the means of books. The writer of the article was surprised with the correct knowledge which Mr Jones had of his fellow- men. Men were to him, not fluidities, but beings whose actions were governed by some undeniable principle. He had also a wonderful power to feel what others felt, and by that means to know what they thought and desired. The freemasonry of the human brotherhood belonged to him in a great degree. While at Rhyl he was erabled to do good work in connection with secular education. There lives in that town a lady, who is very devoted to the welfare of her fellow creatures. She has erected there some splendid schools for the children of the town. In her preparations she took Mr Jones as one of her chief counsellors. Indeed, we believe We will not mistake in saying that it was Mr Jones Who was on her right hand in all such undertak- ings. Her degree of respect for him is shewn in her decision (as we are informed) to raise a charitable institution in Rhyl as a permanent memorial to his :lame. We will now conclude our extracts, which, we believe, imperfect as they are, will be read with mournful interest by many of our jaders.

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| A FLOTILLA OF GUNBOATS,

A DANGEROUS WOOING.

TIPPERARY RIFLES.

ATTEMPTING TO SHOOT AT SEA.

—r===——=========: MURDER BY…

EXCITING SCENE AT A FIRE.

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RHYL PETTY SESSIONS.

ST ASAPH BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE…

Family Notices

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I Correspondence.

PRIMROSES AND POETRY.

R EYL •,', -