Preece Family Tree

Death of the Rev. D. Silyn Evans.

FIFTY YEARS' PASTORATE AT ABERDARE

The Rev. D. Silyn Evans, for fifty years minister of Siloa Welsh Congregational Church, Aberdare, died suddenly on Thursday night last in his 80th year.

Born at Gwenogle, he received his training for the ministry at Brecon Congregational Memorial College, and began his ministerial career at Moriah, Rhymney, in 1873. He wrote several Sunday School lesson books, the biography of at least three preachers of the denomination, and had conducted the magazine for the "Young People of Wales" and "The Children's Instructor." Mr Evans was for some time secretary of the Welsh Congregational Union. In 1911 he filled the chair of the union at Liverpool. Upon obtaining his "majority" at Siloa he was presented by the lady members with a gift of 100 guineas, while upon the completion of 40 years as pastor of the church he was the recipient of a representative testimonial approaching in value the sum of £1,000. He leaves a widow and three sons.

A CELEBRATED MINISTER.

DEATH OF THE REV. D. SILYN EVANS.

FIFTY YEARS' PASTORATE AT ABERDARE.

The Rev. D. Silyn Evans, for fifty years minister of Siloa Welsh Congregational Church, Aberdare, died suddenly on Thursday night at his home, 19, Tanybryn-street, Aberdare. He was in his 80th year.

Two years ago he collapsed from a heart attack in Siloa pulpit and never fully recovered.

Born at Gwernogle, he received his training for the ministry at Brecon Memorial College, and was ordained at Moriah, Rhymney, in 1873.

Although of late years Mr. Evans took little part in public life, he found ample scope for his literary gifts. He wrote at least a dozen Sunday School lesson books, and the biography of at least three preachers of the denomination, including that of his predecessor at Aberdare, the Rev. David Price. He had conducted the magazine for the "Young People of Wales" and "The Children's Instructor."

His contributions under "From Hill to Hill" in "The Tyst," the weekly organ of the denomination, formed one of its most interesting features.

Mr. Evans occupied the chair of the Glamorgan association of the denomination, and was for some time secretary of the Welsh Congregational Union. In 1911 he filled the chair of the union at Liverpool.

Upon obtaining his "majority" at Siloa he was presented by the lady members with a gift of 100 guineas, while upon the completion of 40 years as pastor of the church he was the recipient of a representative testimonial approaching in value the sum of £1,000.

He leaves a widow and three sons.

"SILYN EVANS."

The Rev. D. Silyn Evans, of Aberdare, who has been elected chairman of the Union of Welsh Independents, is one of the "characters" of the Welsh pulpit, says the Christian World. Born at Gwernogle, Carmarthenshire, sixty-one years ago, he began to preach before he was twenty, and after a course of training at the Brecon College, was ordained as pastor of Moriah Church, Rhymney. Seven years later he removed to Ebbw Vale, but only remained there a short time, as he accepted the pastorate of Siloah Church, Aberdare, where, for over thirty years, he has ministered with marked success. He is not only a great preacher, but also an author of repute. He has published several works in the Welsh language, and is the editor of the weekly Tarian y Gweithiwr and the monthly Dysgedydd y Plant.

Ganwyd Silyn yn ardal dawel, anghysbell Gwernogle, lle nad oedd na thrên, na thelegraff, na theleffôn; lle nad oedd geir-lechres y trigolion yn cynnwys rhagor na phedwar gair yn yr iaith fain - yes a no, Carmarthen a Paddington. Yr enw cyntaf a glywsom arno oedd "Silyn Wyllt"; a phan welsom ef gyntaf erioed, yng Ngholeg Aberhonddu yn 1870, cawsom ein siomi: dôf a diniwed iawn oedd yr olwg arno, a'r argraff gyntaf a adawodd arnom oedd ei fod yn dduwiol, a'r un yw ein barn amdano hyd y dydd hwn. "Darn arian" ydyw - un o dylsau (jewels) Duw - diamond of the first water.

Y peth gorau a allwn ei wneud ydyw rhoi ei hanes yn ei eiriau syml a bywei hun:

"Gwrando hanes bore fy oes. Cefais fy ngeni yn 1850, mewn ffermdy bychan, unig, o'r enw Llynmerdy, ar ochr y ffordd fawr, ger Llidiadnenog ar un llaw ac Eglwys Llanfihangel Rhosycorn ar y llaw arall. Magwyd fi i fyny gan fy nhad a'm mam, John a Peggy, yng nghwm pentref Gwernogle - yn un o saith o blant, meibion i gyd - ar lan afor Clydach, ynghanol coedydd derw, a gwern, a chyll. Cefais ychydig o ysgol ddydd iol yn Ysgol y Plwy, Llanfihangel Rhosycorn - ysgol rad, ac ysgol yn gorfodi holl blant y plwy i fyned i'r Eglwys ar y Saboth. Euthum at grefydd i gapel Annibynnol Gwernogle, lle'r oedd fy nhad a'm mam yn aelodau, pan eoddwn yn troi ar 15 oed. Cefais argyhoeddiad rhyfedd am fy mhechod, rhwng 14 a 15 oed, sydd yn aros yn eu dylanwadau tan heddiw. Wylais fwy yr adeg honno am fy mhechod nag a wylais un amser ar ol hynny. Pregethwr oeddwn am fyned cyn i mi uno â chrefydd, ond siopwr y bwriadai fy rhieni i mi fod: am hynny fe ddaru iddynt fy mhrentisio am dair blynedd yn siop Pencader. Nid oeddwn yn fodlon i hynny o gwbl, eto ufuddheais ac euthum, ond gweddiwn bob dydd am i Dduw fy rhyddhau oddi yno heb fod yn hir, a hynny yn arhrydeddus; a chyn pen blwyddyn euthum yn sâl iawn, a dywedodd y doctor fy mod yng ngafael y decline, a bod rhaid i mi adael y siop am byth ar unwaith. Felly yr atebodd Duw fy ngweddi, a rhyfedd yw yn fy ngolwg hyd heddiw. Euthum, ar ol gwella, i Ysgol Ramadegol Jonah Evans, Llansawel, i baratoi i'r coleg; ond nid oedd fy rhieni yn abl i'm cadw yno. Yn rhagluniaethol, bodlonodd ffermwr caredig o'r ardal roddi lodging rhad i mi am flwyddyn, ac yr ooddwn innau yn pregethu ar y Saboth ac yn cael tua thum swllt bob Saboth i dalu am fwyd ac ysgol - yn cael fy nghynorthwyo, wrth gwrs, yn ol eu gallu, gan fy rhieni annwyl."

Aeth i Goleg Aberhonddu yn 1870, a gweithiodd yn galed gyda gwreiddiau yr Hebraeg, y pren Groeg a Lladin, ac Euclid, &c., tra bu yn y coleg, a myfyriwr ydyw byth. Cafodd ei ordeinio i gyflawn waith y weinidogaeth ym Moreia, Rhymni, yn 1873, lle y bu yn llwyddiannus iawn am saith mlynedd. Y mae yn Siloa, Aberdar, er 1880, yn "ddisgybl annwyl" ymysg ei frodyr yn y weinidogaeth ac yn dywysog ymsyg ei bobl. Y mae wedi dringo i safle uchel yn yr Enwad. Cyfrifir ef yn un o brif bregethwyr yr Enwad. Y mae yn awdur llyfrau poblogaidd, yn neilltuol i blant. Y mae ei "Bywyd Iesu Grist i'r Plant" wedi cael cylchrediad go gyffredinol trwy'r holl eglwysi. Efe ydyw golygydd Dysgedydd y Plant. Y mae wedi bod yn Ysgrifennydd yr Undeb Cymreig, ac yn tanio'r miloedd ar ei esgynlawr â'i huodledd rhaeadrol a llosg; ond gartref y mae ef yn frenin. Bydded iddo gael byw yn hir i wasanaethu ei genedl a'i oes.

- "Album Aberhonddu," 1898.

Silyn was born in the quiet, remote area of ​​Gwernogle, where there was no train, no telegraph, no telephone; where the inhabitants' vocabularies did not contain more than four words in the fine language - yes and no, Carmarthen and Paddington. The first name we heard of him was "Wild Silyn"; and when we first saw him, at Brecon College in 1870, we were disappointed: he looked very tame and innocent, and the first impression he left on us was that he was pious, and our opinion of him is the same until the this day. He is a "coin" - one of God's jewels - diamond of the first water. The best we can do is to give his story in his own simple words:

"Here is the story of the morning of my life. I was born in 1850, in a small, lonely farmhouse called Llynmerdy, on the side of the main road, near Llidiadnenog on one hand and Llanfihangel Rhosycorn Church on the other. I was brought up by my father and mother, John and Peggy, in the valley of the village of Gwernogle - one of seven children, all sons - on the banks of the Clydach estuary, in the middle of oak, alder and hazel woods. I had a little Sunday school at Ysgol y Pwy, Llanfihangel Rhosycorn - a cheap school, and a school that forces all the children of the parish to go to Church on the Sabbath. I went to religion at Gwernogle Independent chapel, where my father and mother were members, when I turned 15. I had a strange conviction about my sin, between the ages of 14 and 15, which remains in their influence until today. I wept more at that time for my sin than I have ever wept since. I wanted to become a preacher before I united with religion, but my parents intended me to be a shopkeeper: for that reason they decided to apprentice me for three years in Pencader's shop. I was not satisfied with that at all, yet I obeyed and went, but I prayed every day for God to release me from there before long, and that is honorable; and before the end of a year I became very ill, and the doctor said that I was in the grip of decline, and that I had to leave the shop forever immediately. So God answered my prayer, and it is strange in my eyes to this day. After recovering, I went to Jonah Evans Grammar School, Llansawel, to prepare for college; but my parents were not able to keep me there. Providentially, a kind farmer from the area was content to give me cheap lodging for a year, and I would preach on the Sabbath and get around 10 shillings every Sabbath to pay for food and school - being helped, of course, according to their ability, from my dear parents."

He went to Brecon College in 1870, and worked hard with the roots of Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and Euclid, &c., while he was at college, and he is always a student. He was ordained to the full work of the ministry in Moreia, Rhymney, in 1873, where he was very successful for seven years. He has been in Siloa, Aberdar, since 1880, a "beloved disciple" among his brothers in the ministry and a beloved prince of his people. He has climbed to a high position in the Denomination. He is considered one of the main preachers of the Denomination. He is the author of popular books, especially for children. His "Life of Jesus Christ for the Children" has had general circulation through all the churches. He is the editor of Dysgedydd y Plant. He has been the Secretary of the Welsh Union, and ignites the thousands on his ascension with his cascading and fiery eloquence; but at home he is king. May he live long to serve his nation and his life.

- "Album Aberhonddu," 1898.

The Rev. D. Silyn Evans.

Passes Away in his Sleep.

End of a Long and Useful Life.

In a late edition of the Aberdare Leader last week it was reported that the Rev. D. Silyn Evans, 19 Tanybryn Street, Aberdare, passed away suddenly on Thursday evening, Sept. 11th.

Mrs. Evans had been away in Mumbles during the day and Mr. Evans had requested her that morning to go straight to the seiat meeting in Siloa vestry on her return, and that he would meet her there. She did so but her husband was not there and she became rather anxious.

Their son, Mr. Emdar Evans, was the first to discover that his father had expired. On reaching home from Cardiff shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday he found him lying on the couch, apparently dead. Dr. Martin Jones was sent for and the doctor declared that life was extinct. Friends then went to inform Mrs. Evans and the meeting was brought to an abrupt conclusion.

"Dies in harness - a beautiful death." This is the verdict of his friends. It was a death which he himself had prayed for. A live, active worker throughout his long and useful career, weeks or months of enforced idleness would have been agonising to him. He was a busy man and besides his ministerial duties he contributed voluminously to the Welsh Press.

Silyn, as he was belovedly known, was a familiar figuer not only in the streets of Aberdare but far beyond the confines of this valley. As chairman of induction meetings he had no equal and never had a peer. He was strikingly original, but his witty sayings and quick repartees were always in good taste, and no pastor ever exercised greater tact, a sine qua non of ministerial brethren.

Recently he told a friend: "Only two ministers of the very old school survive. One is the Rev. Ben Davies, Newcastle Emlyn. The other is myself." Strange that both these venerable saints should be transferred from their labour to their reward within two or three weeks of each other. Strange, too, that in the week Silyn died there should appear from his pen a brilliant article in the "Tyst" on the passing of the Rev. Ben Davies.

He had written at least a dozen lesson books for the use of the Sunday School; biographies of noted preachers, including that of the Rev. David Price, his predecessor in Siloa. He edited for many years "Dysgedydd y Plant" ("The Children's Instructor"), and both his matter and style made a wonderful appeal to young readers.

He occupied the chair of the Glamorgan Association of the denomination and was for some time secretary of the Welsh Congregational Union. In 1911-12 he filled the chair of the Union.

Had he lived a few more weeks he would have completed 50 years ministry of Siloa, and the church members were looking forward to celebrating the jubilee in becoming fashion.

Upon obtaining his "majority" at Siloa he was presented by the lady members with a gift, and upon the completion of 40 years as pastor of Siloa a testimonial was organised on his behalf. The late Mr. D. P. Davies, J.P., and Mrs. Davies, Ynyslwyd, were among the generous contributors, and a sum approaching £1,000 was realised.

The rev. gentleman was born 80 years ago in Gwernogle, a village near Carmarthen. Previous to coming to Siloa, Aberdare, 50 years ago, he ministered for 7 years in Rhymney. He leaves a widow and three sons, who are the objects of universal sympathy.

REMINISCENCES OF SILYN.

BY THE REV. W. BRYN THOMAS.

[We have received the following from the Rev. W. Bryn Thomas, B.A., Port Talbot, late of Cwmbach. Mr. Thomas explains in his letter that he was unable to be present at the funeral, because he is attending the ordination of Mr. W. J. Williams, Cwmbach, at Bow Street, Aberystwyth.]

With the passing away of Silyn the Welsh pulpit and Aberdare in particular has sustained a distinct loss. There was but one Silyn. There never can be another.

Ordained at Moriah, Rhymney, in 1873, he was one of the sevel "rebels" of Brecon College, who rebelled against the curriculum and the authorities of that period. As it is the custom at ordination services to have a sermon preached on the Nature of the Church by one of the college staff, we can imagine the predicament in which the seven recalcitrant ordinands found themselves. And yet the seven of them were ordained, and ordained to strong and important pastorates. Silyn is known to have suggested that "The Nature of the Church" be ignored in favour of an evangelical address, but the church at Rhymney was too conventional to omit an item of such importance. Eventually they succeeded - after all the ministers of Monmouthshire had one after the other refused to promise even to be present at the ordination of a "rebel" - with a young minister who had himself only newly been ordained, the late Rev. James Edwards, Neath, then of Ebbw Vale. The ordination ceremoney over, Silyn was kept under observation for some years, and it was on sheer merit, based upon a seven years' experience of him as a neighbour, that a church in Ebbw Vale extended to him a "call," which he accepted. He commenced his ministry at Ebbw Vale in 1880, and the same year preached on a "supply Sunday" at Siloa pulpit, Aberdare, rendered vacant by the decease of the Rev. David Price. Silyn's eloquence and prophetic qualities captured the huge congregation at Siloa with his morning sermon - his first message. By the evening of the same Sunday the multitudes were thronging to the chapel of Siloa preparing to call unto themselves a successor to the late Mr. Price. That night they unanimously decided that the young man from Ebbw Vale was the man for Siloa. They approached him. He acceded to their pressing appeal, and on being asked when it would be convenient for him to commence his duties at Aberdare, "Week after next" was the startling reply.

It transpired later that he had already given notice to his church at Ebbw Vale for some unknown reason, and that notice would expire the following Sunday.

Thus he commenced and finished his ministry at Ebbw Vale in the same year - a feat not unknown in Congregational circles even to-day! And that was 50 years ago this month (1880). Startling as may have been his sudden reply to Siloa 50 years ago, he was quite as "startling" in everything he said and did throughout his long and successful ministry. Nor did the congregations drop. The morning service at Siloa is as good as it used to be in days of yore. And Silyn was at his best - fresh, virile, pointed, and intensely eloquent - always in the morning service.

His very walk was characteristic of the genius in him: he could never keep in step with others. His was a unique step; his furrow apparently a lonely furrow. Yet with due propriety could he say like Addison that he was never less alone than when alone. He was an Independent amongst Independents, but to be a recluse was not Silyn. He played his part - as no one else could - in the many-sided life of the modern age - local, regional, national and international.

My five years' ministry as his neighbour in Cwmbach revealed to me the friend and the genius that was in the man. Many a Saturday afternoon, when the burden of the day would weigh heavily on a minister's spirit, did I meet him on the Abernant Incline. Never did I leave him without being differently "inclined" myself. His gaze was a boon, his company a tonic.

A NOTABLE OCCASION.

Who will forget his address at the ordination service of Principal J. Morgan Jones, M.A., at Tabernacle, Aberdare, when, to the supreme delight of Principal Fairbairn, of Mansfield College, Oxford, Silyn described the people of Gwernogle (his native village in Carmarthenshire) as "coming to chapel dwmp-di-damp in their clogs"? Ever since that day that famous divine used to refer to Silyn all over the world as that "little genius of Aberdare".

His presidential address from the Chair of the Union of Welsh Independents at Liverpool (1912) will always be remembered as the most un-Silyn-like that Silyn ever made. It was one address he read at Liverpool; quite another he published in the Tyst the following week, and still another he gave for the annual report of the meetings a few months afterwards. He could not be formal, conventional, and as other people. His greatness lay not in that direction, but in the spasmodic, often incoherent, utterances that were no less that precious valuables hewn from an original human soul. And a Great Soul at that.

His gift as a preacher and writer I will leave for others more capable than I to describe. Only once did I hear him preach. I wrote to ask him whether he would be home the following Sunday morning, so that I might have the privilege of hearing him preach once in my life-time. I would arrange a substitue in my own pulpit for that privilege. Back came a postcard with these few words jotted together in the top left-hand corner of the card, exactly as if all the words were vieing with one another for the same position in space! This was the reply :-

Dewch a chroeso pawb:
- "i ddywedyd gair" yn fy lle.
Dyna'r unig ffordd amdani:
Yn ol deddf y Mediaid a'r Persiaid.
D.S.E.

That was all, but that was Silyn.

I was purposely late that morning at Siloa lest I should be called upon and compelled to preach instead of listening. It was a great service, and I would not have missed it for anything. He abounded in prophetic touches. But as preacher, editor, and writer I withhold my pen from trying to describe him. I will content myself with mentioning only just one or two more of the touches that were characteristically Silynian.

Inspector Thomas, of the Glamorgan Constabulary, had just returned to Aberdare from Abercynon. He had been promoted to an inspectorate. Silyn at the time was confined to bed with the "flu." But he could not withhold his letter of congratulations to Inspector Thomas. After a few congratulatory sentences, supplemented with the explanation that he was "kept under rags by doctor's orders," here came the closing sentence :-

"Let me assure you that as soon as I step out from here, I shall step in by there."

That again was Silyn.

Sir D. R. Llewellyn was being knighted, and the ministers of the town were being invited amongst others to the knighting ceremony on Aberdare Athletic Grounds. Out of profound respect for Sir D. R. and the Llewellyn family, Silyn was bound to be there. Nothing was too much to do in honour of Sir D. R. that day. And a young football enthusiast, who understood the psychology of the crowd, came round selling badges, sixpence each. Sixpence was neither here nor there when such a personality as Sir D. R. Llewellyn was to be honoured. Silyn bought one, if not two, and stuck them in the lapel of his coat. He was walking quite absent-mindedly through the throng, all eyes fixed on him, when a friend of his pointed out to him that the badges had nothing to do with the ceremony, but were the result of a device on the part of some football enthusiast to help along the Athletic Society. But that portrays Silyn's inner man. Even at the expense of being ridiculed he was true to the last to a friend.

His real genius, perhaps, was best revealed at ordination services and in extempore addresses at funerals. To those who were privileged to sit as his feet as worshippers at Siloa, there were undoubtedly other occasions innumerable that could be cited. But I speak as an outsider who was not privileged to be a worshipper at his church.

A RURAL ALLEGORY.

I shall never forget his opening address at my ordination at Bryn Seion, Cwmbach, when he compared the ordaining of a young man into the Christian ministry to the habit that was prevalent in the farms of Carmarthenshire and rural Wales in his younger days. At eventide, said Silyn, it was customary in those days for the whole family of one farm to pay a visit to a neighbouring farm. The father and the mother, the sons and the daughters, the man-servants and the maid-servants of that other farm would remain home that evening to welcome the guests. Then when the visitors would be going home, the whole family of the farm which they visited would send them to the "turnpike road." Then one would find the father and the mother, the songs and the daughters, the man-servants and the maid-servants, the cats and the dogs, the geese and the turkeys, the pigs and the ducks - all these sending the visitors part of the way until they would reach the "Turnpike Road." "So is an ordination service," concluded Silyn, "the young candidate for the ministry is being sent part of the way by his parents, friends, etc., to the 'Turnpike Road.' But after this (turning to me) you are to go by yourself." There culminated the independence of the man after a most inspiring allegory that could not be but original.

Then at funerals: it was at the funeral of the late beloved Rev. J. Grawys Jones, Ebenezer, Trecynon, a life-long friend of Silyn's, that I heard him last. He was too sorely cut that day to give expression to his feelings, indeed so cut-up that he could not think of going to the graveside. Yet, oft-times, it was funerals that brought out what was characteristically "Silynian." He could link the life of the departed to some topic of the day, sum it up most spendidly in from five to ten minutes, and that in a fashion that was all his own. To those who were at the funeral of the late Rev. John Thomas, Merthyr, the memory is still fresh of the unique way in which Silyn spoke to that departed "divine" in his coffin and concluded:

"Mae pen y bryniau'n llawenhau
Wrth weld yr haul yn agoshau,
A'r nos yn cilio draw."

The people's darkness was all ablaze with radiant hope. And so was Silyn always and ever. I heard him confess at our quarterly meetings at Soar, Mountain Ash, that he could see no difficulties in life, simply because he would not see them.

But now he is departed. Not lost but only gone before. May the God he preached and lived so excellently for so long a period help us to cherish his memory and emulate his life.

THE FUNERAL.

10,000 People Wait in the Rain.

The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday). After a short service at the house, where the Revs. W. Morse, B.A., Trecynon, and John Phillips, Mountain Ash, officiated, the cortege proceeded to Siloa Chapel, which was full to overflowing.

About 10,000 people lined the streets between the Town Hall and the Cemetery, and as the shops in the town were closed from 2 to 3 o'clock, it was thought the service would be over by the latter hour. Rain fell heavily soon after two o'clock, but still the people waited to pay a tribute to one whom they had learned to esteem. It was 4.15 when the procession re-formed outside the chapel and proceeded to Aberdare Cemetery.

At Siloa Chapel the Rev. H. M. Huges, D.D., O.B.E., Cardiff, had charge of the service. The Rev. J. Sulgwyn Davies read a chapter, and the Rev. Morgan Price offered prayer.

The speakers included the Revs. H. M. Huges, Jas. Griffiths, Calvaria; Canon J. A. Lewis, B.A., Vicar of Aberdare; Mr. Isaac Edwards, J.P., Merthyr; Rev. W. J. Nicholson, Portmadoc; Rev. Peter Price, D.D., Swansea; Rev. H. Elvett Lewis, M.A., London, and Rev. H. T. Jacob, Fishguard.

As the congregation assembled, Mr. W. J. Evans, the church organist, played Chopin's "Funeral March." The choir sang "The Beatitudes" very sweetly. The playing of the "Dead March" from "Saul" closed a memorable and an impressive service.

The mourners were :- Mrs. Silyn Evans, widow; Mr. Rhys John Evans and Mr. Emdar Evans, sons; Mr. John Evans, brother; Miss Maggie Evans, niece; Mrs. Rhys John Evans, daughter-in-law; Mr. Beynon Evans, Carmarthen; Mr. Steve J. Evans, Mrs. T. B. Evans, and Mrs. Evan Williams, Cilfynydd; Mr. and Mrs. Corp, Mrs. Lottie Jones, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Evson and Mrs. Maggie Corp, Tumble, nephews and nieces; Mrs. and Mr. Walter Williams, J.P., Pentre; Mrs. and Rev. Howell Jones, Treorchy; Mr. and Mrs. W. Williams, Rhymney; Miss Evans, Aberdare; Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Rhymney, Mr. Davies, Bargoed; Mr. and Mrs. Gwilym Perkins, Rhymney; Mr. Tom Williams, Rhymney; Mr. Dd. James Williams, Rhymney; Miss Bromham, Cross Bychan; Mrs. M. Timms, Gilfach Goch; Mr. R. S. Timms, Gilfach Goch; Mr. J. W. Evans, Glyn Neath; Mrs. S. Parker, Glanaman; Mrs. Jones, Garnant; Mrs. Scourfield, Garnant; Mrs. Beynon Evans, Miss Annie Evans, and Mr. David Evans, Llanfynydd; Mr. Beynon Davies, Llandilo; Mrs. D. J. Evans, Mrs. Glynarwen Evans, and Mrs. Edith Evans, Aberdare; Mr. and Mrs. Thackeray, Monmouth, friends.

At the graveside, the Revs. J. D. Jones, Llandilo, and D. Lloyd MOrgan, D.D., Pontardulais, officiated, and the hymn, "O Fryniau Caersalem," was fervently sung.

Beautiful floral tributes were recieved from :- Family; Rhys Johna nd family; Mr. T. B. Evans, Cilfynydd; Siloa Chapel Sunday School; Siloa Hall Sunday School; Ysgoldy Siloa; David and Edith; Howell and Polly; Walter and May; Marion and Ned; Mrs. T. Phillips adn son; Miss Evans, Mary Zachariah; Siloa Choir; Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Dowlais; Mrs. and Miss Hughes; John Lewis and Miss Davies; Mrs. Williams; J. Williams's Class; Dan Edwads; Dorcas Society; Mrs. Powell and nieces; Tabernacle Church; Miss Henry; Mrs. Leyshon Jones and family; Siloa Cong. Church; Siloa Deacons; R. T. Rosser and family; D. Rees Jones and family; Mrs. M. Timms; Mrs. Williams; John Owen and Maggie.

The bearers were the deacons of Siloa. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. J. Zachariah, Aberdare. Tea was served for the visitors in Siloa Hall.