Preece Family Tree

The Late Rev. D. Silyn Evans.

IMPRESSIVE MEMORIAL SERVICE AT SILOA.

One of the most impressive meetings ever held at Aberdare was the service which took place on Sunday evening at Siloa Chapel to the memory of the beloved pastor, the late Rev. D. Silyn Evans. Long before six o'clock the chapel was filled to overflowing. The preacher was the Rev. H. M. Hughes, M.A., D.D., O.B.E., Cardiff.

Before announcing his text, Dr. Hughes said he deemed it an honour to preach from the pulpit which his bosom friend, the late Rev. Silyn Evans, had occupied for such a long term of years, and from which he had preached the Gospel without fear. The late Rev. Silyn Evans was a sincere and courageous man, of unblemished character, a seer, and a man of great personality. He was a said in the true sense of the word. He felt it was a great responsibility for him to officiate at a memorial service in respect to his faithful friend. He and Silyn had been like David and Jonathan. While his departed friend was secretary of the Welsh Congregational Union, he (Dr. Hughes) was assistant secretary, and they worked harmoniously together. But he was rather puzzles as to what text would honour the memory of a man who had filled the role of a servant of God so inspiringly.

He had three texts which he thought were very appropriate to the various characteristics of Silyn:- St. Luke, 12th chapter, and 37 verse, "Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching"; (2) St. John, v., 35, "He was a burning and a shining light"; and (3) II. Timothy, iv. 7-8, "I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the rightous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Dr. Hughes, who spoke under strain of deep emotion, added that Silyn was not a man who fell asleep at his work. He was always on the alert. He saw visions, and was ever ready to hold the truth in its highest form. There was no loitering in the life of Silyn; he was always on the move. He was not a politician, but his great virtue was that the best of him should be of service to every man, irrespective of creed or class. He would be a friend to the lowest as well as to the highest. He was not a man of arguments. At the time of the meetings of the Welsh Congregational Union at Liverpool, during the respite one day he (Dr. Hughes) and Silyn paid a visit to Liverpool Cathedral. It was at the time when the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales was the burning question of the day. When they were in the precincts of the cathedral, they met a canon, who argued with them regarding Disestablishment, and he (Dr. Hughes) had to bear the brunt of the discussion. Silyn left the scene. When he met Silyn later, Dr. Hughes referred to the trick he had played on him. Silyn replied characteristically, "You can argue all the time with no effect. I have seen the cathedral, but you have only seen a canon."

Silyn wasted no time on arguments; his sole desire was to show the great truth which was in the Eternal Gospel. His visions were of a wide range and were full of variety.

His writings in the press were full of mysticism. He was a clear and brilliant thinker. He was an essayist of the front rank, and not many had the gift he possessed of being able to write strikingly on any topic or to comment on current events.

Dr. Hughes added that it would be very appropriate to gather all the essays Silyn had written and publish them in book form. It would be a very precious book, for Silyn was a man before his time, and he had enriched Wales with his literary work. He was the editor of a children's magazine, "Dysgedydd y Plant," for a number of years, and he captured the spirit of childhood until he was as facile in the literature of children as he was in the literature of theologians.

Although Silyn was humorous, he was sincere. To use Moffatt's interpretation of the first text, Silyn was "wide awake" in his church, in the cause of the Gospel, and in everything which was of good report.

Silyn thought a lot of Abedare - "Sweet 'Berdar" he affectionately called the town of his adoption. Once he (Dr. Hughes) jocularly said something which was detrimental to the name of Aberdare in Silyn's hearing. But Silyn championed the town and gloried in its traditions. He loved the Welsh language, and encouraged everyone to cultivate the habit of reading its fine literature.

Silyn was a man of service. His candle burned unceasingly for 50 years at Siloa, and he was faithful to the cause of Christianity whenever he went from home. His work on earth had been completed, and was worthy of the crown of glory. His work as a minister was a pleasure to him, and his life could be emulated by the younger generation.

Dr Hughes, in closing, said that Wales was losing many fine leaders of the Christian Church, and he earnestly hoped that ere long others would follow the footsteps of those who did their duty in the past.

The precentor was Mr. W. J. Evans, who also presided at the organ. Suitable hymns were impressively sung during the service.

The large congregation was deeply impressed by the sermon.

The chapel choir sang the anthem, "Pwy yw y rhai hyn," and also the chant, "Hyd nes y daw." This chant was very appropriate to the occasion, for the words, "Hyd nes y daw," were the last written by Silyn in an article under the heading, "O Fryn i Fryn," which appeared in a Welsh denominational paper on the late Rev. Ben Davies, Newcastle Emlyn.

Members of the late Rev. Silyn Evans' family were present. - D.M.

THE FUNERAL.

In the funeral report the names of David John and Arwyn Evans, grandsons, were omitted; also a wreath from "Dosbarth Beiblaidd y Chwiorydd".