Preece Family Tree

Events

Parents

Families

Media

Dafydd John

David John

Attributes

Pedigree

1. William John
   1. Margaret Evans
      1. William John
      2. David John
         1. Mary Rees
            1. Elizabeth John
            2. Thomas John
         2. Sarah Jones
            1. John William John
            2. Mary John
            3. Margaret John
      3. Ann John
      4. Margaret Jones

Ancestors

David John *12 May 1822 +5 January 1894

William John
*
+before 1853

Margaret Evans
*
+...

Source References

1. Certificate on file
   1. • Date: 1 August 1894
      • Page: Marriage - John Preece / Margaret John
   2. • Date: 9 July 1849
      • Page: Birth - Thomas John
   3. • Date: 21 April 1845
      • Page: Marriage - David John / Mary Rees
   4. • Date: 9 July 1849
      • Page: Death - Mary John
   5. • Date: 5 August 1858
      • Page: Marriage - David John / Sarah Jones
   6. • Date: 3 October 1908
      • Page: Marriage - Thomas Griffiths / Mary John
2. 1871 United Kingdom Census
   1. • Page: RG10/5404/86/6 f.
3. 1881 United Kingdom Census
   1. • Page: RG11/5320/26/7
4. 1851 United Kingdom Census
   1. • Page: HO107/2460/438/8
5. 1861 United Kingdom Census
   1. • Page: RG9/4068/79/39
6. 1891 United Kingdom Census
   1. • Page: RG12/4443/5/4
7. South Wales Daily News
   1. • Date: 1 April 1891
      • Page: Page 7
      • Citation:

        PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE UNION.

        MR. THOMAS JOHN,

        The Welsh member of the Executive of the National Union is the master of the Llwynypia Colliery school. He is the son of Mr David John, Trecynon - a gentleman well-known as a pioneer in musical matters - who introduced the works of Handel and Mozart to the notice of the Aberdare public at a time when there was general ignorance of music other than the old-fashioned Welsh hymn-tune.

        Mr Tom John, as he is familiarly called, was brought up as a scholar under the late Mr Dan Isaac Davies, and like most of the old scholars of the "Ysgol Comin", as it was called has made his work in public life. After leaving Ysgol Comin he went to the Normal College, Swansea, and subsequently finished his apprenticeship as a teacher in the new "Ysgol Comin," under Mr Walter Hogg. He then proceeded to the Borough-road Training College in 1869, and came out Christmas, 1870. Since leaving college Mr John has been master in North Wales, near Oswestry, and afterwards for a year and a half in Penygraig, and since 1872 has been master of the Llwynypia School, one of the largest and most successful schools in South Wales.

        Mr Tom John is noted for his energy; his sanguine disposition can never know such a thing as failure, while his sympathies are general. The Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade is an outcome of his efforts. Mr Tom John is a member of the county cricket club executive, and has been for many years secretary of the Llwynypia Cricket Club. He is an active worker in the intermediate school movement. Since his advent on the executive Wales has come to the front in membership of the union, from 537 in 1887 to 1,200 this year; and in fruitful work for the charities. By a scheme of the Mid-Rhondda teachers, Mr T. John being then secretary and chief organiser, a sum of £1,200 having been raised in Mid-Rhondda alone for the benevolent funds.

        This year is the end of his 4th year as a member of the executive, where he is chairman of the organzation committee, a post specially suited to his capacity. He is now 41 years of age.

   2. • Date: 16 April 1892
      • Page: Third Edition - Page 4
      • Citation:

        BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS

        MARRIAGES

        JOHN-EVANS - On the 12th instant, at St Catherine's Church, Brynamman, by the Rev T M Evans, MA, Principal of the Lampeter College School (brother of the bride), assisted by the Rev J Morlais Jones, Vicar of Brynamman, John William John, Ynyshir, son of Mr David John, Trecynon, Aberdare, to Catherine Louisa Evans, daughter of M D L Moses Evans, of Brynbach, Brynamman.

   3. • Date: 10 January 1894
      • Page: Page 6
      • Citation:

        FUNERAL OF AN ABERDARE MUSICIAN.

        On Tuesday the funeral of Mr David John, Harriet-street, Trecynon, Aberdare, took place at Aberdare Cemetery. The funeral, which was an exceedingly large one, left the house at 2.30 for Ebenezer Church, where the deceased, who was a native of Cardiganshire, was a member since he came to Aberdare in 1849. Owing to the great interest taken by Mr John in musical matters at Aberdare since he first resided here, the funeral was a very representative one, being attended by ministers and leading members of churches from all parts of Glamorgan. On the arrival of the body at the chapel, where deceased had been for so many yaers deacon and singing conductor, the organist played the "Dead March" in Saul. The Rev. D. Griffiths, Cwmdare, read and prayed, and his pastor, the Rev. J. Grawys Jones, feelingly spoke and read letters of apology which had been received from Mr John Rees, H.M. Inspector of Schools, Swansea; Mr Griffith Jones (Caradog), and others. The Rev. W. I. Morris, Pontypridd; Rev. T. J. Jenkyn, Llwynypia; Mr M. O. Jones, Treherbert; and the Rev. David Thomas, Cymmer, followed, all bearing high tribute to the sterling Christian character of the deceased. The procession was then re-formed, and the choir sang all the way from the chapel to the cemetery. At the grave the Rev. G. Griffiths, Pennar, Swansea, spoke, and the Rev. J. Davies, Soar, prayed. The mourners were Mr and Mrs Tom John, Llwynypia; Mr and Mrs J. W. John, Ynyshir; Miss Mary John, Cymmer; and Miss Margaret John, Bodringallt (sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law of the deceased); Mr and Mrs Davies, Dowlais; Mr Evan Lewis, Swansea; Mrs Lewis, Walter-road, Swansea; Mr John Jones, Llwynypia; Mr Scott, Rhondda; Mrs Thomas, Pontypridd; Miss Roberts, Dowlais, and Mrs Morgans, Merthyr. A number of magnificent wreaths were laid on the coffin. Mr D. Harris, Trecynon, was the undertaker. The coffin was made of solid oak, with massive brass mountings.

8. Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo
   1. • Date: 12 January 1894
      • Page: Page 7
      • Citation:

        DEATH OF AN ABERDARE MUSICIAN.

        DAVID JOHN, TRECYNON, PASSES INTO HIS LAST LONG SLEEP.

        On Friday morning at Trecynon there passed away an old musician, who may be considered the pioneer of music in Aberdare, in the person of Mr. David John. Mr. David John originally came to Aberdare from Cardiganshire, and settled down at Trecynon around 1850. At once he took active steps in musical organisation, and started a choir at Ebenezer Independent Chapel. About 1862 his choir performed almost all the choral music of the "Messiah." He also performed most of the music of "Judas Maccabeus," followed by Mozart's "Twelfth Mass," when he was assisted by "Caradog's" choir, who were then appearing as pioneers of orchestral music. In the other concerts Mr. John was aided by Mr. Lawrance, organist of St. David's, Merthyr, then the only capable accompanist, perhaps, in the district. Mr. John also had a great leaning towards glees, Bishop's and Mendelssohn's being learnt by his choir, as also were "Owain Alaw's", "Tanymarian's," and other Welsh composers' anthems. Mr. John figured also as a conductor in competitive music, but this was only a secondary part of his programme. When the Welsh Choir went to London there was no more ardent supporter of "Caradog's" choir than himself. During all these years he also acted as precentor, and only relinquished the office some years ago, but such was his love of music that he attended the performance of the "Elijah" by the Aberdare Choral Union last Christmas. He was twice presented with handsome testimonials by the church and musical friends. He was a musical educator himself, and has a family of well-known elementary teachers - Mr. Tom John, Llwynypia Schools, who also conducted oratorio and other performances; Mr. J. W. John, Ynyshir Board School; Miss John, Cymmer Board School; and Miss Margaret John, Bodringallt Board School.

        AN IMPOSING CEREMONY.

        The funeral of Mr. John took place on Tuesday, and a huge concourse of people attended. It was in the highest degree affecting, for the dead musician had a strong and deep hold on the affections of the people who knew him. The body was enclosed in a chastely polished coffin of real Welsh oak, and bore on the panel shaped brass plate the following inscription:-

        DAVID JOHN,
        Died 5th January, 1984,
        Aged 71 Years.

        It was borne from the house on the shoulders of his brother deacons to the chapel, where a long and exceedingly impressive meeting was held. The Revs. J. Grawys Jones (pastor), D. Griffiths, Cwmdare; J. Davies, Soar; D. Thomas, Cymmer; G. Griffiths, Pentre Estyll; W. I. Morris, Pontypridd; M. O. Jones, Treherbert; and several others took part in the funeral obsequies at the chapel, in the house or at the cemetery. The choir, under the able leadership of Mr. W. E. Thomas, had turned out en masse, and rendered with moving effect at the services and on the way the following well-known hymns "Pen Nebo," "Nantgau," "Barford," "Abergele," "Dymuniad," "Eifionydd," "St. Luke," "Henryd," "Talybont," "Lousanne," and "Rhuddlan," in addition to which that beautiful anthem, a special favourite with the deceased, "Dyddiau dyn sydd fel glaswelltyn," was given at the chapel in a most touching manner. We should mention that the chapel accompanist, Mr. T. B. Lewis, played the "Dead March" while the people were entering the chapel, again repeating the same as they left. The coffin was literally covered with the most beautiful of wreaths. These were sent by the widow, Mrs. John, the four bereaved children, Ebenezer Chapel Choir, Mrs. Evans, Brynbach; Major Sloper, J.P., Cardiff; Mrs. J. W. Jones, Park-lane; Mr. and Mrs. J. Moy Evans, Swansea; Mr. and Mrs. Charles, Pentre; teachers of the Bodringallt School; Mr. David John, Cardiff; and Mr. J. Preece, Porth. At the service in the chapel, the Rev. J. Grawys Jones announced that he had received letters regretting inability to attend, and expressing profoundest sympathy from Caradog, Inspector James, Cardiff, and others.

        The mourners were Mrs. John, the widow, Mr. Tom John and Mr. John William John, sons; Miss Mary John and Miss Margaret John, daughters; Miss May John, grand-daughter; Mrs. Tom John, daughter-in-law; Miss Gretta John and Miss Nellie John, grand-daughters; the brothers and brother-in-law, David, Evan, Scott, and David; Mrs. Davies, Dowlais; Mrs. Lewis, Swansea; Mr. John Jones, Llwynypia; Mrs. and Miss Morgan; Mrs. Evans and Mr. Roger Jenkins and Mr. Jenkins.

        Among those present were the following - Revs. J. Davies, W. Harris, D. Sulgwyn Davies, W. S. Davies, W. M. Morgan, J. Grawys Jones, Aberdare; - Edmunds, Hirwain; W. I. Morris, Pontypridd; D. Thomas, Pentre; G. Griffiths (Penar), Pentre Estyll; Messrs. Alderman Thomas Williams, J.P., Merthyr; W. Humphreys, G. George, Morgan Davies, Richard Wigley, W. Charles, J. Treharne (Tibarog), Owen Harris, W. Davies, cashier, Gadlys; John Phillips, T. B. Lewis, T. Thomas, Ty'nywern; J. Thomas, M. J. Harris, H. C. Morris, D. Lewis Edmunds, J. Rees, Co-operative, Aberaman; R. H. Lewis, H. Wigley, Daniel Griffiths, John Thomas (tailor), - Jones, grocer, Bell-street; D. Arthur Thomas (sculptor), J. Davies, colliery manager, Aberaman; Daniel Evans, Hirwain-road; - Smart, dentist, Bristol; Mr. Preece, ironmonger, Porth; Rees Powell, Rees Evans, Aberdare, Professor Richard Howells, Hywel Cynon, D. H. Wigley, R. Hopkins, A.C., D. Richards, Carmarthen; and the following representing the scholastic profession:- Messrs. M. O. Jones, Treherbert; Gomer Jones, inspector of schools; J. W. Jones, Penygraig; John Evans, Hafod; J. Griffiths, Hugh Thomas, Miles Thomas, Park; T. Thomas, Barry Dock; Chalke, Pentre; and David Evans, Treorky.

        From the chapel, the funeral slowly proceeded to the cemetery, where the mortal remains of the fine old Welshman were placed in their last resting place, amidst several manifestations of sorrow. It can be truly said of him that he died as he lived, a quiet, peaceful, and trusting death. It will be a long time ere the memory of "Dafydd John" will fade from the minds of the residents of Trecynon, and particularly the members of the Ebenezer Chapel and Choir.

        The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Mr. W. T. Harris, Carpenters Arms, Trecynon. The mourning was supplied by Mr. G. George, Bee Hive, Aberdare, and Mr. H. I. Dix, Bridgend Mews, provided the mourning coaches and carriages.

   2. • Date: 12 January 1894
      • Page: Page 5
      • Citation:

        "Dafydd John," the Aberdare musician, seems to have had a presentiment that the end was near. He opened a library at his church a few weeks ago, and in thanking his friends for the honour paid him frankly intimated that it was the last public function in which he was likely to participate. On Boxing Day his great love for music attracted him to the concert at the Temperance Hall. "It's my last, no doubt," was his reply to the members of the family who begged him not to go. It was his last. The ruling passing was strong while life continued. He was an upstanding Godly man, and death had no terrors for him.

   3. • Date: 5 March 1897
      • Page: Page 3
      • Citation:

        THE LATE MRS. JOHN - The funeral of Mrs. John, wife of the late Mr. David John, Harriett-street, Trecynon, and mother of Mr. Tom John, Llwynypia, took place at Aberdare Cemetery on Saturday.

9. Western Mail
   1. • Date: 15 June 1875
      • Page: Page 6
      • Citation:

        TREHERBERT.

        THE RECENT POISON CASE - Mr. David John, Trecynon, writes:- "With your kind permission I would like to make a few remarks upon the report of this case in last Saturday's issue. The impression which it naturally conveyed to your readers does wrong to Mr. Davies, the husband in question. I believe, in a case in which family feelings are so delicate, your correspondent should make himself quite certain of all the details before he hurries into print. The fact of the poisoning is hard enough to us, without supplementing it with unwarrantable insinuations. Mrs. Davies (who is my sister) was not driven to the steps in consequence of quarrels, &c. - far from it. Mr. Davies married her, and, further, undertook to bring the pecuniary confusion to order. She concealed nothing from him; and the liabilities were stated at so much, which was to be paid in three equal instalments. However, Mr. Davies was made aquainted with some additional claims, though of a doubtful kind, but which, nevertheless, were aggravating. This weighed heavily upon both, but the wife felt peculiarly grieved; inasmuch as Mr. Davies had entered voluntarily into all this trouble, she felt so strongly and deeply for him that in a moment of wild despair she committed the rash act. Mr. Davies has, I know, been ungenerously judged by the public; but I can assure you that my sister's own words were sufficient to convince me that he has been most wilfully and unkindly treated by the public. Mr. Davies is a man of undoubted integrity, and I am deeply sorry that the rash step committed should have placed him in such an unhappy situation."

   2. • Date: 19 July 1923
      • Page: Page 8
      • Citation:

        MR. J. W. JOHN, PORTH.

        The death took place on Wednesday of Mr. J. W. John, The Laurels, Porth, headmaster of the Ynyshir Council Schools for over 40 years. Mr. John was born in 1859, and was the son of the late Mr. Dafydd John, of Aberdare, who was well-known as a pioneer in the musical life of that valley. Mr. J. W. John inherited this same love of music, and, as a boy, was a member of the famous "Côr Caradog" in 1871. He was trained for the teaching profession at Burrough-road College, London, and came to Ynyshir in 1881. He had been president of the County Teachers' Association, Rhondda and Pontypridd Teachers' Association, and the Teachers' Provident Society, and his many and various activities were recognised by his old pupils when they presented him with an illuminated address at the time of his retirement in 1921. Mr. John leaves a window and a son (Mr. D. Moy John, solicitor, Porth). His brother is Mr. Tom John, M.A., J.P., Penygraig, and Mrs. Mary Griffiths, J.P., Cymmer, is his sister. The funeral will take place on Monday at the Llethrddu Cemetery, Trealaw.

10. Y Gwladgarwr
    1. • Date: 23 January 1875
       • Page: Page 6
       • Citation:

         TRECYNON, ABERDAR.

         CYFLWYNIAD TYSTEB. - Nos Lun, Ionawr 18fed, cynaliwyd cyfarfod i'r dyben o gyflwyno tysteb i Mr. David John, arweinydd canu cynulleidaol a chôrawl eglwys Ebenezer, Trecynon. Cymerwyd y gadair gan y Parch W. Edwards, gweinidog, am haner awr wedi saith. Canwyd tôn i ddechreu, yna arseth gan y llywydd. Deuawd gan Mary a Margaret John. Mr J. Williams, London Warehouse, yn darllen yr anerchiad, yr oedd wedi ei osod allan yn ardderchog. Mr. William Owen, un o'r côr, yn cyflwyno y pwrs i Mr. John, yn yr hwn yr oedd £40. Cydnabyddodd Mr. John hwy am y rhodd mewn ychydig o eiriau pwrpasol. Rhoddodd hanes y canu yma er ys pum mlynedd ar ugain yn ol, yn nghyda'r cwrs yr oedd ef wedi ei gymeryd yn ystod y cyfryw amser. Yna, darllenwyd enwau'r tanysgrliwyr gan Tiberog, ysgrifenydd y dysteb. Wedi hyny, canwyd gan Mr. Daniel Davies a'i gyfellion, Mr. Daniel Lewis, Miss Mary Ann Evans, Mr. T. D. John, Ysgolion Llwynypia; areithiwyd yn bwrpasol gan Mr. Morgan Rowlands, Mr. Roger Jenkons, y Parch W. Harris, Trecynon y Parch W. Morris, Pontypridd, a Mr. Richard Wigley. Traddodwyd anerchiaudau barddonol gan Mr. Richard Williams, Ehedydd Cynon, a Tiberog. Yna, cafwyd cystadleuaeth mewn darllen ar y pryd, yn nodiant y Sol-ffa; buddugol, Mr. Edward Lewis. Buddugol ar ddarllen triawd ar y pryd oedd D. Davies, a'i gyfeillion, a D. J. Lewis a'i gyfeillion. Cafwyd cyfarfod dyddorol ac adloniadol iawn. Bydd yn dda gan gyfeillion Mr. John glywed am yr anrhydedd hyn. - Un oedd yno.

          

          

          

          

         TRECYNON, ABERDARE.

         PRESENTATION OF TESTIMONIAL. - On Monday, January 18th, a meeting was held with the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Mr. David John, congregational singing and choral conductor of Ebenezer church, Trecynon. Rev. W. Edwards, the minister, took the chair at half past seven. A tune was sung first, followed by a speech by the president. Duet by Mary and Margaret John. Mr J. Williams, London Warehouse, read the address, which was excellently laid out. Mr. William Owen, one of the choir, presented the purse to Mr. John, which contained £40. Mr. John thanked them for the gift in a few purposeful words. He gave a history of the singing for the last twenty-five years, together with the course he had taken during that time. The names of the subscribers were then read by Tiberog, the testimonial secretary. After that, Mr. Daniel Davies and his friends, Mr. Daniel Lewis, Miss Mary Ann Evans, Mr. T. D. John, Llwynypia Schools, sang a song; and purposeful addresses were given by Mr. Morgan Rowlands, Mr. Mr. Roger Jenkons, Rev. W. Harris, Trecynon Rev. W. Morris, Pontypridd, and Mr. Richard Wigley. Poetic addresses were given by Mr. Richard Williams, Cynon Sky, and Tiberog. Then there was a contest in sight-reading, in the notation of the Sol-fa; won by Mr. Edward Lewis. D. Davies, his friends, and D. J. Lewis and his friends were the winners of a trio reading at the time. It was a very entertaining meeting. Friends of Mr. John heard of this honor. - One who was there.

11. Tarian Y Gweithiwr
    1. • Date: 22 January 1875
       • Page: Page 5
       • Citation:

         TRECYNON.

         CYFLWYNIAD TYSTEB. - Nos Lun, y 10fed cyfisol, cynaliwyd cyfarfod yu Ebeneser, i'r dyben o gyflwyno tysteb i Mr. David John, arweinydd canu cynulleidfaol a chorawl eglwys Ebeneser. Cymerwyd y gadair gan y Parch W. Edwards, gweinidog y lle. Canwyd tôn i agor y cyfarfod. Wedi cael anerchiad gan y llywydd, aed yn mlaen yn y drefn ganlynol:- Deuawd gan Mary a Margaret John. Darlleniad yr anerchiad gan Mr. J. Williams, London Warehouse, yr hwn oedd wedi ei osod allan yn hardd a destlus. Cyflwyniad y gôd a'r arian i Mr. John gan Wm. Owen, un a aelodau y côr, yr hwn oedd yn cynwys £40. Siaradodd Mr. John ychydig o eiriau byr a phwrpasol ar dderbyniad y dysteb. Rhoddodd ychydig o hanes y canu pan y daeth yma gyntaf, er ys pum mlynedd ar ugain yn ol, yn nghyd a'i gysylltiad ag ef o hyny hyd yn bresenol. Wedi hyny darllenwyd enwau y tanysgrifwyr gan Tiberog, ysgrifenydd y dysteb. Triawd gan Daniel Davies a'i gyfeilliony yn nesaf cawd anerchiad barddonol gan Darlwyn, Hedydd Cynon, a Tiberog. Cymerwyd rhan yn y cyfarfod hefyd gan Daniel Lewis, gan Mary Ann Evans, Morgan Rowlands, Roger Jenkins, Parch. W. Harris, Parch. W. Morris, Pontypridd; Mr. T. D. John, Llwynypia Schools, sef mab gwrthddrych y dysteb; a Mr. Richard Wigley. Cafwyd cystadleuaeth darllen cerddoriaeth ar y pryd, yn nodiant y sol-fa; y buddugol Edward Lewis. Buddugol ar ddarllen triawd ar y pryd oedd David Davies a'i gyfeillion, a D. J. Lewis a'i gyfeillion. Cafwyd cyfarfod dyddorol ac adlonol iawn. Bydd yn dda gan luaws o hen gyfeillion Mr. John glywed am hyn - mae ganddo luaws o honynt. Yr oedd ef yn un o gadfridogion y cor mawr. - GOHEBYDD.

          

          

          

         TRECYNON.

         TESTIMONIAL PRESENTATION. - Monday, the 10th instant, a meeting was held at Ebenezer, with the sole purpose of presenting Mr. David John, congregational singing and choral conductor of Ebenezer church. The chair was taken by the Rev. W. Edwards, the minister of the place. A tune was sung to open the meeting. Addressed by the president, the following proceeded:- Duet by Mary and Margaret John. Reading of the address by Mr. J. Williams, London Warehouse, which was beautifully and neatly laid out. Presentation of the purse and the money to Mr. John by Wm. Owen, a choir member, which contained £40. Mr. John a few brief and purposeful words on the receipt of the testimonial. He gave a little history of the singing when he first came here, twenty-five years ago, and his connection with it from then until now. The names of the subscribers were then read by Tiberog, the testimonial secretary. A trio by Daniel Davies and his friends next is given a poetic address by Darlwyn, Hedydd Cynon, and Tiberog. Daniel Lewis, Mary Ann Evans, Morgan Rowlands, Roger Jenkins, Rev. W. Harris, Rev. W. Morris, Pontypridd; Mr. T. D. John, Llwynypia Schools, son of the recipient of the testimonial; and Mr. Richard Wigley. There was a music reading competition at the time, in the sol-fa notation; the winner was Edward Lewis. Winning trio reading at the time were David Davies and his friends, and D. J. Lewis and his friends. There was a very daily and entertaining meeting. Many old friends of Mr. John heard about this - he has a lot of them. He was one of the generals of the great choir. - CORRESPONDENT.

    2. • Date: 1 November 1906
       • Page: Page 5
       • Citation:

         Porth

         Marwolaeth Sydyn.

         Gofidus iawn genym gofnodi marwolaeth sydyn ac annisgwyl y chwaer ragorol ei hysbryd Mrs M Preece, Maesyrhaf, o'r lle hwn, priod anwyl Mr J Preece, Ironmonger, Hannah street, yr hyn a gymerodd le prydnawn dydd Mercher diweddaf, y 24ain. Merch ydoedd yr ymadawedig i'r diweddar Mr David John, o dref Aberdar, a chwaer i'r brodyr Tom John, ysgolfeistr, Llwynypia, a T W John Ynyshir, a Miss M John, ysgolfeistre, Cymmer, ger y lle hwn. Bu Mrs Preece hefyd yn ysgolfeistres llwyddianus am flynyddau yn ysgol Bodringallt, Rhondda. Mae'r gymydogaeth yn cydymdeimlo yn fawr a Mr Preece, yn ngwyneb y tro chwerw hwn, sydd wedi ei amddifadu o wraig ofalus, dyner ac anwyl, ac a'r chwe' plentyn sydd yn wylo ar ol eu hanwyl fam. Amddiffyniad y nef fyddo drostynt oll.

          

          

         Porth

         Sudden Death.

         We are deeply saddened to record the sudden and unexpected death of the excellent sister Mrs M Preece, Maesyrhaf, from this place, wife of Mr John Preece, Ironmonger, Hannah street, which took place last Wednesday afternoon, the 24th. The deceased was a daughter of the late Mr David John, of the town of Aberdare, and a sister of the brothers Tom John, schoolmaster, Llywnypia, and T W John Ynyshir, and Miss M John, schoolmistress, in nearby Cymmer. Mrs Preece was also a successful schoolmistress for years at Bodringallt School, Rhondda. The whole neighbourhood expressed their sincere condolonces to Mr Preece as he faced this bitter experience of having been bereaved of his solicitous, loving and dear wife, and to the six children greatly missing their beloved mother. May the protection of heaven be over them all.

    3. • Date: 11 January 1894
       • Page: Page 4
       • Citation:

         TRECYNON

         Mr Gol - Gorohwyl gofidus a phruidaidd iawn sydd genyf y tro hwn, sef cofnodi marwolaeth eydyn ac annysgwyliadwy yr hen dad dnwiol, a'r Cristion gloew, Mr David John, 30, Harriet Street, Trecynon, yn 71 mlwydd oed, yr hyn a gymerodd le yn ei breswylfod boien dydd Gwener diweddaf, Ionawr 5ed, 1895, am [p]ump o'r gloch.

         Gwasanaetbodd y swyddi anrhydeddtis o fod yn ddiacon ac arweinydd y gan yr eglwys Ebenezer, Trecynon, am 45 o flynydd au, a hyny gyda medrusrwydd arbenig. Gellir dweyd am dano yn brioiol iawn, fel yr adnod hono, "Canys pa beth bynag yr ymafl dy law ynddo, gwna ef a'th holl galon;" ac yn sicr i cbwi yr oedd ef bob amser i fyny ar adnod dan sylw, canys gweithiwr diguro ydoedd bob amser.

         Yr oedd ei galon yn y gwaith, ac yn teimlo y fath goncern gydag achos y Gwaredwr mawr i ba un y bu mor ffyddlon am gynifer o flynyddau. Cleddir ef heddyw (pryduawn dydd Mawrth, Ionawr 9fed, 1894); yr angladd i godi mor agos ag y gellir i haner awr wedi dan yn y prydnawn, ac i fyned i gapel Ebenezer, lle y cynelir y gwasanaeth angladdol, ac yna cleddir ef yn y Cemetry. Cwsg yn dawel yn mhriddellau oer y dyffryn hyd foreu mawr y codi, ac na flined dy orweddfan gan un awel lem, ydyw dymvniad fy nghalon.

         -- GALARUS.

          

          

          

         Translation:

         TRECYNON

         Mr Ed. - We have had a very distressing and horrible time, namely the widely noted unexpected death of the grandfather and late Christian Mr David John, 30 Harriet Street, Trecynon, aged 71, who left this present life last Friday, January 5th, 1895, at five o’clock.

         He served in the honorary positions of deacon and leader of the church of Ebenezer, Trecynon, for 45 years, having carried out these roles with special skill. We may say that he went about this with great tenacity as in this verse, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;" [Ecclesiastes 9:10] and to be sure, he was always ready with an appropriate verse, for he was always a tireless worker.

         His heart was in his work, and he felt so concerned with the cause of the great Saviour to whom he was so faithful for so many years. He is summoned to him (at the time of Tuesday, January 9th, 1894); the funeral is going to be open to as many as possible for half an hour, and will then go to the Ebenezer Chapel, where the funeral service will be held, and then he will be buried at the Cemetery. Sleep quietly in the cool pillows of the valley until the great morning of the Resurrection, and may not the slightest little spider trouble your rest until then, this is our fervent desire.

         -- THE MOURNFUL ONE. [a common sign-off for an obituary at the time]

    4. • Date: 18 January 1894
       • Page: Page 3
       • Citation:

         [paragraph breaks added]

         CLADDEDIGAETH MR. DAVID JOHN

         ARWEINYDD Y CANU YN EBENEZER, ABERDAR, AM YN AGOS I BUM MLYNEDD A DEUGAIN.

         Ymddangosodd hanes ei farwolaeth yn rhifyn diweddaf o'r DARIAN. Hawdd iawn ydoedd casglu nad dyn cyffredin oedd yn cael ei gladdu o Harriet Street, Trecynon, prydnawn dydd Mawrth, y 9fed o Ionawr. Canys gwelid y blinds i lawr ar y ffenestri, a gwelid y tyrfaoedd yn dod o wahanol gyfeiriadau. Yr oedd yr angladd i godi am haner awr wedi dau o'r gloch; yn y ty cyn cychwyn, darllenwyd a gweddiwyd yn ddwys gan ei weinidog, y Parch. J. Grawys Jones. Yr oedd yn drefn i fyned i Ebenezer i gynal gwasanaeth crefyddol cyn myned i Gladdfa Gyhoeddus Aberdar.

         Gyda chychwyn, ymffurfiwyd yn orymdaith. Yn blaenori yr oedd gweinidogion, lleygwyr, a boneddigion ereill, yn dilyn ac o flaen y corff yr oedd y cantorion yn gor cryf a lluosog. Caoasant emynau o brogram paratoedig ar gyfer yr amgylchiad. Ar ol cyraedd yr Addoldy, tra yr oedd y dorf yn cymeryd eu lleoedd, a'r corff yn cael ei ddwyn i fewn, chwareuwydd yr Alar don ar yr offeryn, gan Mr. T. Lewis, chwareuydd y capel. Yr oodd y cantorion i gyd yn llenwi yr oriel, ac o dan arweiniad Mr W. F. Thomas, arweinydd corawl y lle. Dechreuwyd y gwasanaeth trwy ddarllen a gweddio gan y Parch. D. Griffiths, Cwmdar.

         Yna siaradodd Mr Jones, y gweinidog ychydig eiriau. Dywedodd fod y dydd hwnw yn ddiwrnod tywyll iddynt hwy fel eglwys, eu bod yu claddu un oedd wedi bod yn gymeriad amlwg iawn yn yr eglwys am lawer iawn o flynyddoedd. Eu bod wedi bod yn gobeithio y cawsai y brawd David John fyw am ychydig flynyddoedd i ddyfod, er iddynt gael cynal ei Jiwbili ar ei ddyfodiad i'r lle, ond mai nid dyna oedd ewyllys yr Arglwydd. Ond er fod y diwrnod yn dywyll iddynt, fod i'r cwmwl ei ochr oleu. Dywedai pe cawsai Mr John fyw ychydig fisoedd, y buasai wedi bod yno am bum' mlynedd a deugain, ac wedi bod trwy yr holl gyfnod hirfaith yn arweinydd y gan, a'i fod felly hyd ef farwolaeth.

         Yr oedd wedi bod yn llenwi y swydd o ddiacon am lawer o flynyddoedd. Dywedai fod yn yr eglwys ddynion rhagorol yn y blynyddoedd hyn, ond fod Mr John, yn herwydd ei safle fel arweinydd, wedi bod y cymeriad mwyaf amlwg yn yr eglwys. Yr oedd wedi derbyn llythyrau oddiwrth amryw hen gyfeillion ddymunasent fod yn yr angladd, ond nad oedd yn bosibl iddynt. Enwodd Mr J. Hees, Inspector of Schools, Abertawe; a Caradog. Gan fod yno amryw frodyr a chyfeillion i Mr John - rai a i hadwaenent yn dda, ei fod yn myned i alw arnynt hwy i siarad, gan ei fod yntau yn bwriadu pregetbu pregeth angladdol iddo y Sul dilynol.

         Galwodd ar y Parch W. Morris, Pontypridd. Dywedai Mr Morris y galiasai ddweyd llawer iawn am ragoriaethau Mr John, fod yr amser yn fyr iddo gael. Na wyddai yn iawn pa beth i'w ddywedyd. Daethai i aros i'r lle hwn pan nad oedd ond llanc ieuanc dwy ar bymtheg ar hugain oed. Ymaelododdyn eglwys Ebenezer, a bu yn aros o dan gronglwyd Mr John am yn agos i bedair blynedd. Gwyddai yn dda am ei weitbgarweh a'i ffyddlondeb yn yr eglwys; ond cael cyfleusdra i'w adnabod yn ei dy ei hun oedd y fantais oreu er ei adnabod yn iawn. A pha mor ddysglaer bynag oedd yn ei ragoriaethau a'i rinweddau yn yr eglwys. yr oedd yn llawn mor ddysglaer ei gymeriad fel dyn didwyll, gonest, a phur, ac fel penteulu duwiol yn ei cy ei hun. Wrth lafurio yn dda ar gyfer y byd arall, nid oedd yn esgeuluso hwn, ond gwnelai y goreu o'r ddau, Nis gallasai ddywedyd pa mor ddyl edus oedd i Mr David John.

         Galwyd yn nesaf ar y Parch T. J. Jenkyn, Llwynpia. Sylwai fod ei frawd wedi son am Mr John yn ei gartref, yn herwydd ei gysylitiad â rbai o deuiu Mr John - mai fel dyn oddicartref yr oedd af wedi dod i gyffyrddiad ag ef, a'i adnabod yn dda. A pba mor ddysglaer bynag oedd yn ei gartref, ac yn ei gylchoedd cartref, er ei fod wedi codi te[u]lu oedd yn anrhydedd i'w cael. &c.

         Mr. M. O. Jones, Treberbert, a ddywedai ei fod yn teimlo yn anbawdd i siarad. Ei fod nos Sul diweddaf yn nghapel King's Cross, Llundain, yn gwrandaw ar Dr. Owen Evans yn traddodi pregeth angladdol ar ol diacon o'r eglwys - teulu mewn galar, eglwys mewn galar. Ei fod yn meddwl ar y pryd mor anhawdd oedd pregethu; ei fod yntau yn teimlo yn anhawdd i siarad ar yr amgylchiad. Yr oedd yn adnabod Mr. John er ys deng mlynedd ar hugain. Iddo y pryd hwnw gael rhagarweiniad i gymeriad y dyn. Yr oeddent yn cychwyn eglwys ieuanc yn Nhreherbert, ac eisieu cymorth arnynt. Gofynodd i Mr. David John roddi cynorthwy iddynt, a gwnaeth hyny. Daeth ei gor o Ebenezer, gan gerdded yr holl ffordd yn groes i'r mynydd yn ol a blaen, er cynal cyngerdd i'w cynorthwyo. Gofynai pwy oedd yn b’arod i wneud peth tebyg yn awr. Ei fod wedi bod yn edrych ar Mr. John fel motto i fod yn debyg iddo fel arweinydd. Ei fod yn teimlo yn alarus iawn wrth feddwl ei fod wedi ymadael, ond er ei fod wedi ymadael, ei fod yn teimlo fod ei ddylanwad yn aros, a'i fod yno yn y canu ragorol y dydd hwnw.

         Y Parch. D. Thomas, Cymer, a dffywedodd ychydig eiriau am ei adnabyddiaeth o'r dyn rhagorol, a'i ddefnyddioldeb a'i wasanaeth, ac a ddilynodd trwy weddi.

         Sylwasom fod yno amryw gerddorion yn y capel. Gwelsom Mri. Rees Evans, a Dan Griffiths, Aberdar; Mr. Hywel Cynon, Aberaman; Alaw Brycheiniog, Cefn; a Mr. Richard Morris, Hirwann. Gallasai fod yno ereill na welsom. Ymffurfiwyd yn orymdalth i fyned tua'r gladdfa Gwelsom yn blaenori yr orymdaith y Parchn. Morris, Pontypridd; Thomas, Cymer; Griffiths, Cwmdar; Grawys Jones; Davies, Llwydcoed; Rees, Salem; Penar, Pentre Estyll; Silyn Evans, a Davies, Soar, Aberdar; Edmunds, Hirwaun; Jenkyn, Llwynpia; Davies, Ynyshir; Sulgwyn Davies, Siloh; Morgan (M.C.), Bryn Seion; Harris (B.), Heolyfelin; Mri. Thos. Williams, Gwaelodygarth; Thomas, Tynywern; Jeffreys, Treherbert; J. Rees, Aberaman; M. O. Jones, Treherbert; Hywel Cyoon, Aberaman; G. George, Aberdar.

         Canodd y cor, ffurfiedig o'r gwahanol gapelau, y tonau canlynol yn y capel, ar y ffordd, ac wrth y bedd, - Pen ftebo, Nantgau, Burford, Abergele, Dymuniad, Eifionydd, St. Luke, Henryd, Talybont, Lausanne, Rhuddlan, a chanwyd hefyd yr anthem, "Dyddiau dyn" yn ystod y gwasanaeth yn y capel. Sylwai rhai o'r cerddorion oedd yno nad yn ami y clywyd y fath garu rhagorol.

         Siaradwyd wrth y bedd gan y Parch G. Griffiths (Penar), Pentre Estyll, a gweddiwyd gan y Parch. J. Davies, Soar; ac wedi canu emyn gan y cor, ymadawsom a'r fangre gysegredig, lle y gorphwys gweddillion gwr a wasanaethodd ei Dduw a'i oes mor ffyddlon a neb o'i gydoeswyr yn y byd. Gadawodd weddw i ala u ar ei ol, dwy ferch, a dau o feibion. Y mae pob un o honynt yn llenwi cylchoedd o anrhydedd mewn cymdeitbas - y merched yn ysgolfeistresi, a'r meibion yn ysgolfeistri, un o honynt yn bur adnabyddus fel arweinydd, cerddor, golygydd, a beirniad, Mr. Tom John, Llwynpia. Boed nodded yr Arglwydd dros y weddw hyd ei bedd, a'i fendith ar y plant a'i hiliogaeth hyd byth.

         -- CYMYDOG.

          

          

          

         Translation:

         BURIAL OF MR. DAVID JOHN

         SINGING LEADER AT EBENEZER, ABERDARE, FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS

         The story of his death appeared in the last edition of the TARIAN. It was very easy to see that it was no common man of Harriet Street, Trecynon, who was buried on Tuesday, January 9th. For the blinds were seen down on the windows, and the crowds were seen coming from all directions. The funeral began at half past two; in the house beforehand, the minister, the Rev. J. Grawys Jones, read and prayed intensely. They then went to Ebenezer to hold a religious service before the burial at the Aberdare Public Cemetery.

         Initially, a parade was formed. At the front came the ministers, lawyers, and other gentrymen, following behind and in front of the coffin were a great crowd of singers in strong voice. They sang hymns from a specially prepared programme. After arriving at the sanctuary, while the crowd took their places, and the body was brought in, the Alardon quarry choir sang, led by Mr. T. Lewis, chapel quarryman. All the singers filled the gallery, under the leadership of Mr W. F. Thomas, the choral leader of the place. The service was started by the Rev. D. Griffiths, Cwmdar reading and praying.

         The minister, Mr Jones, then spoke a few words. He said that this day was a dark day for them as a church, as they buried one who had been a very prominent character in the church for many years. They had been hoping that the brother David John would have lived for a few more years to come, so they could celebrate his Jubilee of his arrival to the place, but that was not the will of the Lord. But even though the day was dark for them, the cloud would have a silver lining. He said that if Mr John had lived a few months longer, he would have been there for forty years and had been for a long period of time as leader of song, which he was until he died.

         He had held the post of Deacon for many years. He said that the church had had many excellent men in these years, but that Mr John, because of his position as leader, had been the most prominent character in the church. He had received letters from various old friends who would have liked to have been at the funeral, but could not attend. Mr J. Hees, Inspector of Schools, Swansea; and Caradog[1]. He was going to call brothers and friends of Mr John - those who had known him well - to speak now and himself intended to preach a full eulogy to him on Sunday.

         He called on Rev. W. Morris, Pontypridd. Mr Morris said that he could say a great deal about Mr John's merits, but that time was too short and he did not know what to say. He came to the chapel when he was only twenty-five years old. He joined Ebenezer church, and stayed there under Mr John’s leadership for about four years. He knew well about his dedication and his faithfulness in the church; but having the opportunity to identify it in your own was the advantage of it to know it properly. And how deeply it was his excellency and his merits in the church. His character was so full of discernment as a sincere, honest man, and a man, and as a godly family in its own right. When working well for the rest of the world, he did not neglect this, but he would do the best of both, could not tell how Mr David John was.

         The Rev. T. J. Jenkyn, Llwynypia, was called next. His brother had mentioned Mr John at home having known Mr John's family. He had been totally at home in their house and consequently knew them very well. And he was a very busy lad who was at his home, and in his home circles, although he had raised a family that was honored to have. & c.

         Mr. M. O. Jones, Treberbert, said he felt inclined to speak. Last Sunday night in King's Cross chapel, London, he heard Dr. Owen Evans[2] deliver a funeral sermon after a deacon of the church - a family in grief, a church in grief. He thought at the time how difficult it was to preach; that he, too, found it difficult to speak on the circumstance. He had known Mr. John for thirty years. He then had an introduction to the character of the man. They started a young church in Treherbert, and sought help. He asked Mr. David John helped them, and he did. His choir came from Ebenezer, walking all the way across the mountain to and fro, to hold a concert to assist them. He asked who was ready to do a similar thing now. That he had looked up to Mr. John as an example, wishing to be a leader like him. That he felt very sad at the thought that he had left, but that although he had left, he felt that his influence was staying, and that he was there in the excellent singing that day.

         The Rev. D. Thomas, Cymer, and said a few words about his knowledge of the great man, his usefulness and his service, and followed with prayer.

         We noticed that there were several musicians in the chapel. We saw Mr. Rees Evans, and Dan Griffiths, Aberdare; Mr. Hywel Cynon, Aberaman; Alaw Brecknock, Cefn; and Mr. Richard Morris, Hirwann. There could have been others we didn't see. We formed a procession to go to the burial ground. We saw the procession was led by the Revs. Morris, Pontypridd; Thomas, Cymer; Griffiths, Cwmdar; Grawys Jones; Davies, Llwydcoed; Rees, Salem; Penar, Pentre Estyll; Silyn Evans, and Davies, Soar, Aberdare; Edmunds, Hirwaun; Jenkyn, Llwynpia; Davies, Ynyshir; Sulgwyn Davies, Siloh; Morgan (M.C.), Bryn Zion; Harris (B.), Heolyfelin; Messrs. Thos. Williams, Gwaelodygarth; Thomas, Tynywern; Jeffreys, Treherbert; J. Rees, Aberaman; M. O. Jones, Treherbert; Hywel Cyoon, Aberaman; G. George, Aberdare.

         The choir, composed of the various chapels, sang the following tunes in the chapel, on the road, and at the grave, - Pen ftebo, Nantgau, Burford, Abergele, Dymuniad, Eifionydd, St. Luke, Henryd, Talybont, Lausanne, Rhuddlan, and also sung the anthem "Dyddiau dyn" ["Man's Days"] was during the chapel service. Some of the musicians present noticed that such outstanding singing was rarely heard.

         The Rev. G. Griffiths (Penar), Pentre Estyll, spoke at the grave, and the Rev. J. Davies, Soar, prayed; and having sung a hymn from the heart, we left the sacred place, where the remains of a man who served his God as faithfully as any of his contemporaries in the world. He left a widow behind him, two daughters, and two sons. All of them fill circles of honor in society - the girls being schoolmistresses, and the sons being schoolmasters, one of them quite well known as a conductor, musician, editor, and adjudicator, Mr. Tom John, Llwynpia. May the Lord give protection over the widow to her grave, and bless the children and her offspring for ever.

         -- A NEIGHBOUR.

          

         [1] Caradog - conductor of the Côr Mawr, of which several members of the John Family were members: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffith_Rhys_Jones

         [2] Rev Dr Owen Evans - a well-known figure in the Welsh chapels: https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3714206/3714214/56/evans

    5. • Date: 2 August 1894
       • Page: Page 1
       • Citation:

         ANTHEM GOFFADWRIAETHOL DAVID JOHN, TRECYNON

         Da genym ddeall fod gwobr o ddwy gini yn cael ei chynyg am yr Anthem Goffadnwriaethol oreu i'r diweddar Mr David John, arweinydd canu cynulleidfaol yn Ebenezer, Aberdar, am bum' mlynedd a deugain. Ymofyner am y geiriau &c., a'r Parch J. G. Jones, Trecynon, Abedar. Beirniaid: Mr. Rees Williams, Solicitor, Aberdar; a Mr. Dan Griffiths, Ironmonger, Aberdar. Y cyfansoddiadau i fod i mewn erbyn diwedd y mis presenol.

          

         MEMORIAL ANTHEM FOR DAVID JOHN, TRECYNON

         We understand that a prize of two guineas is offered for the best Memorial Anthem for the late Mr David John, congregational singing conductor in Ebenezer, Aberdare, for forty-five years. Ask for the words &c., from Rev. J. G. Jones, Trecynon, Abedare. Judges: Mr. Rees Williams, Solicitor, Aberdare; and Mr. Dan Griffiths, Ironmonger, Aberdare. Compositions due in by the end of the current month.

    6. • Date: 27 September 1894
       • Page: Page 3
       • Citation:

         ANTHEM GOFFADWRIAETHOL Y DIWEDDAR MR DAVID JOHN, EBENEZER, ABERDAR

         Daeth 23 o gyfansoddiadau i law erbyn y dydd cyntaf o Fedi Rhoddwyd y cwbl ar unwaith yn llaw y beirniaid, ond collwyd tua pythefnos o amser cyn dechreu ar gwaith o feirniadu, am fod un o'r beirniaid oddi cartref ar ei holidays. Ond erbyn hyn y mae y ddau feirniad wrth eu gwaith, ac hyderwn gael y dyfarniad erbyn y DARIAN nesaf.

         Dros y pwyllgor, J. GRAWYS JONES, Ysg.

          

          

         MEMORIAL ANTHEM TO THE LATE MR DAVID JOHN, EBENEZER, ABERDAR

         23 compositions had been received by the first day of September. The judges were given them right away, but about two weeks of time was lost before judging began, as one of the judges was away on holiday. But both judges are now at work, and we hope to get the award by the next TARIAN.

         For the committee, J. GRAWYS JONES, Esq.

    7. • Date: 11 October 1894
       • Page: Page 2
       • Citation:

         CYSTADLEUAETH YR ANTHEM GOFFADWRIAETHOL AR OL Y DIWEDDAR MR D. JOHN
         [RECENT ANTHEM COMPETITION AFTER RECENT MR D. JOHN]

         Bu yn Arweinydd Canu yn Ebenezer, Aberdar, am 45 o flynyddoedd.
         [He was Singing Conductor at Ebenezer, Aberdare, for 45 years.]

          

         ADJUDICATION

         On Anthems in commemoration of the late Mr David John, of Ebenezer, Trecynon, Aberdare.

         In this competition 23 Anthems have come to hand and we as Adjudicators cannot help expressing how surprised and delighted we are to find that so many really meretorious compositions should have been sent in. In saying this, of course, it does not follow that they are of equal merit, but at the start we are bound to say that with the exception of 2 or 3 in the lowest class they are exceptionally well written so far as correctness of harmony is concerned.

         With so many Anthems (and Anthems especially of such length), it is hardly to be expected that we should give a minute adjudication to each one. We divide the competition into three classes beginning with the lowest. In the third and lowest class we place the following eight, viz. - Didimus, Edmygydd yn A flat, Luther, Brython, Leipsig, Gomer, Galarwr, Emrys (no 1) yn 4 flats.

         Several of these have decided merits and shew that the composers have really studied harmony to some purpose, but we think they lack in conception of what should be a proper setting of the words.

         In class two we place the following eight, viz. - D. T. Gilbert, Deigryn yn E flat, Clemente, Emrys (No 2) yn E flat, Wolfgange, Wagner, Telorydd, Edmygydd yn E flat. These are of a decidedly higher type than those in class three, and indeed, but for the exceptional merit of the compositions placed in the first class we should have no hesitation in deciding that at least two or three of these are well worthy of the prize.

         In the first class we place seven compositions, viz., those bearing the following mottoes - Hen Gyfaill, Goss, Patmos, Barthold Tours, Mab Jesse, Hen Aberdarian, Cynon. These are each and all compositions of great merit and worthy of a far larger prize than the one now offered, and we cannot help thinking that love for and admiration of the character of the late Mr John and not the mere money value of the prize offered has induced musicians of such calibre to compete. After long, careful, and repeated examination and comparison of these seven Anthems, we have come to the conclusion that the prize should be awarded to the one bearing the motto Cynon. This is equal in musicianally merits to either of the others in this class, and in our opinion has the decided and further advantage of being more congregational.

         We congratulate all concerned most heartily that so many Anthems of such merit should have been sent in.

         REES WILLIAMS, DANN GRIFFITHS, Adjudicators
         Aberdare, October 4, 1894.

         -----

         Y mae yn hyfrydwch i wneud yn hysbys mai awdwr yr Anthem fuddugol dan yr enw Cynon ydyw Mr W. T. Rees (Alaw Ddu), Llanelli. Teimlir yn ddiolchgar iawn iddo ef, a'r holl ymgeiswyr ereill am yr Anthemau gwerthfawr a anfonasant i'r gystadleuaeth hon. Nid am y wobr y daethant allan, ond yn hytrach o awydd talu teyrnged o barch i hen gerddor crefyddol a dreuliodd oes faith yn arweinydd cynulleidfaol, eithriadol o ffyddlon, medrus, a dyrchafol ei ddylanwad. Bydd coffadwriaeth y cyfiawn a'r heddychlawn Dafydd John, Ebenezer, yn sicr o fod i'w deimlo yn fendigedig mewn dadganiad da o'r Anthem fuddugol. Cyhoeddir hi yn ddioed, a bwriedir ei chanu yn y gymanfa ganu nesaf a gynelir gan eglwysi Annibynol Trecynon a'r cylch, yn Ebenezer, lle bu Mr John yn golofn mor gadarn o blaid caniadaeth y cysegr. Bydd yn bleser gan yr ysgrifenydd ddychwelyd copiau yr Anthemau ereill i'w hawdwyr, os danfonir ato stamps y cludiad.

         Dros y Pwyllgor,
         J. GRAWYS JONES,
         Ebenezer, Aberdar.

          

          

         It is a delight to know that the author of the winning Anthem by the name Cynon is Mr W. T. Rees (Alaw Ddu), Llanelli. We feel very grateful to him, and all the other entrants for the valuable Anthems they sent to this competition. They came not for the reward, but for the desire to pay tribute to an old religious musician who had spent a long life as a congregational leader, extremely loyal, skilled, and uplifting. The commemoration of the righteous and peaceful David John, Ebenezer, will surely feel blessed in a good recital of the winning Anthem. It is soon to be published, and it is intended to be sung at the next singing congregation held by the Trecynon and District Independent churches, in Ebenezer, where Mr John has been a staunch pillar of the congregation. The secretary will be pleased to return the copies of the other Anthems to their authors, if the stamps of the delivery are sent to him.

         For the Committee,
         J. GRAWYS JONES,
         Ebenezer, Aberdare.

12. Wills on file
    1. • Date: 2 September 1873
       • Page: John Roberts (1826-1873) (Admin)
    2. • Page: David John (1823-1894)
13. General Register Office: England & Wales Marriage Index
14. General Register Office: England & Wales Death Index
15. UK Government: National Probate Calendar
    1. • Date: 20 April 1894
       • Page: David John
       • General:

         JOHN David of 30 Harriet-street Trecynon Aberdare Glamorgan shoemaker died 5 January 1894 Administration (with Will) London 20 April to Sarah John widow Effects £546 2s 4d

16. Y Drych
    1. • Date: 8 February 1894
       • Page: Page 2
       • Citation:

         Y DIWEDDAR DAVID JOHN, TRECYNON

         Hyde Park, Pa., Chwef. 3. - Yr oedd yn chwith genyf ddarllen yn y DRYCH am farwolaeth y cerddor galluog David John, Trecynon, a diau fod canoedd yn teimlo yn gyffelyb. Daw i'm cof adgofion am ddygwyddiadau 40 mlynedd yn ol, cyn i gapel Ebenezer ddyfod i'w ffurf bresenol, pan oedd y scwar a'r grisiau ceryg o bob tu i'r drws oddi allan yn arwain i'r llofft. Yr oedd D. John yn arweinydd y gan yno y pryd hwnw, a'r Parch. W. Edwards yn ddyn ieuanc llawn bywyd. Ond y nddiweddarach - o 1850 i 1870, y daethym i i adnabyddiaeth agos a Mr John, pan yn cyd-addoli yn Ebenezer, ac yn mwynhau y canu yno dan ei arweiniad ef. Anaml y ceir dyn mor gyflawn ag ef. Yr oedd yn llanw dob cylch yn yr eglwys - yn ddiacon, athraw yn yr ysgol Sul, a gweddiwr gafaelgar, heblaw yn arweinydd y canu. Yr odd yn "ddyn round" yn ngwir ystyr y gair.

         Yn y Merthyr Express am Ion. 13, yn nglyn a hanes angladd Mr. John, crybwylla gohebydd am Lawrence, fel organydd. Cofus genyf finau ei weled yn chware yn Ebenezer mewn cyngerdd un tro, a mawr oedd ein syndod, oblegid nid oedd offerynau yn y capeli y pryd hwnw, nac ond yn bur anaml yn y tai. Cofiwyf am Mr. John yn cael yr harmonium gyntaf yn Trecynon, neu Heol y Felin, fel y gelwid y lle. Fel cymydog a phenteulu hefyd yr eodd Mr. John yn gymeriad i'w edmygu. Bum yn byw yn ei ymyl ar Church Row am ddeuddeng mlynedd; mae genyf adgofion melus am dano.

         Hyfrydwcch oedd genyf weled yn hanes yr angladd enwau personau a adwaenwn mor dda - Thos. Williams, Ysw., U. H., Merthyr, ond Trecynon gynt; David Lewis Edmonds a Morgan Williams. Da y cofiwyf am y ddau olaf yn cael eu gwneyd yn swyddogion yn Ebenezer. Mae mab a merch i Edmonds yn aelodau yn hen eglyws Hyde Park, sef Lewis a Mary Ann, a da genyf ddwyn tystiolaeth i'w bywyd dichlynaidd a'u gweithgarwch crefyddol. Gwelais hefyd enw Jacob Treharn (Tiberog). Ond pa le mae yr hen frodyr, Tomi Tomos Dafydd; Twmi Shencyn; T. Shencyn, Farrier, Timothy Davies, crydd; Dr. Williams, Creunant; Thos. Evans, pwyswr, a Shencyn Griffith? Eu lle nid edwyn ddim o honynt mwy; ond mae eu henwau yn perarogli a dylanwad eu cyngorion yn aros yn nghalonau canoedd o rai sydd ar wasgar yn mhedwar ban y byd. Cofion cynes at bawb o gwfeillion bore oes yn yr hen ardal uchod. - T. J. James

          

          

          

          

          

         THE LATE DAVID JOHN, TRECYNON

         Hyde Park, Pa., Feb. 3. - I was sorry to read in the DRYCH about the death of the able musician David John, Trecynon, and no doubt hundreds feel the same. It brings to mind memories of events 40 years ago, before Ebenezer Chapel came into its present form, when the square and the stone steps from the outside door led to the loft. D. John was the singing conductor there, and the Rev. W. Edwards was a young man full of life. But later - from 1850 to 1870, I came to know Mr John, when he worshiped at Ebenezer, and enjoyed singing there under his guidance. A man is rarely as complete as he is. He filled every circle in the church - a deacon, a teacher in the Sunday school, and an earnest prayer, besides being the conductor of the singing. He was a "round man" in the true sense of the word.

         At the Merthyr Express for Jan. 13, in connection with Mr. John's funeral, a reporter mentions Lawrence as an organist. I remember seeing him playing in Ebenezer in concert once, and we were very surprised, because there were no instruments in the chapels at that time, and very rarely in the houses. I remember Mr. John got the first harmonium at Trecynon, or Mill Street, as the place was called. As a neighbor and head of family, Mr. John is a character to be admired. I lived beside him on Church Row for twelve years; I have fond memories of him.

         It was wonderful to see in the funeral history the names of persons we know so well - Thos. Williams, Esq., U. H., Merthyr, but formerly Trecynon; David Lewis Edmonds and Morgan Williams. I well remember the last two being made officers of Ebenezer. A son and daughter of Edmonds are members of the former Hyde Park eglyus, Lewis and Mary Ann, and I wish to bear witness to their Christian life and religious activity. I also saw the name of Jacob Treharn (Tiberog). But where is the old brothers, Tomi Tomos Dafydd; Twmi Shencyn; T. Shencyn, Farrier, Timothy Davies, shoemaker; Dr. Williams, Crynant; Thos. Evans, presser, and Shencyn Griffith? Their place knows nothing of them any more; but their names perfume and the influence of their counsels remain in the hearts of hundreds of those scattered throughout the world. Warm regards to all the early morning relics in the old area above. - T. J. James

17. Merthyr Express
    1. • Date: 13 January 1894
       • Page: Page 8
       • Citation:

         Death of an Old Aberdarian.

         A WELL-KNOWN MUSICIAN.

         We deeply regret to announce the death of Mr. David John, of Harriet-street, Trecynon, which took place on Friday morning. Deceased was one of the pioneers of music in the Aberdare Valley, and had done much to popularise the art of music ere most of present generation were born. A native of Cardiganshire, after a short residence at Merthyr, he removed to Aberdare in September, 1849. Being a Congregationalist, he at once identified himself with Ebenezer Congregational Chapel, where the late Rev. W. Edwards, then a young man, was pastor. Mr. John at once took active steps to promote the musical organisation in the church, and was successful in forming an excellent choir there, of which he himself was the leader. In this connection it may be interesting to add that that choir in 1862 performed almost all the choral music in Handel's "Messiah". The choir also performed most of the music of "Judas Maccabæus," followed by Mozart's "Twelfth Mass," when the choir was accompanied in the orchestration by Caradog's String Band, who were then appearing in Wales as the pioneers of orchestral music in the Principality. In some of the other concerts given about that time by Mr. John's choir they were accompanied by Mr. Lawrence, then organist of St. David's, Merthyr, the only capable accompanist in that time probably in the whole district. The deceased had also a great leaning towards glees, most of Bishop's and Mendelssohn's being learnt by his choir, as well as a large number of Owen Alaw's, Tanymarian's, and other Welsh composer's anthems. Mr. John also figured at one time prominently as a musical conductor in competitive meetings at the various eisteddfodau in the district, although this was only a secondary part of his musical programme. When the Welsh Choir went to London to compete at the Crystal Palace in 1871 and 1872, Caradog and his choir found no more ardent supporter throughout the whole of Wales than the deceased. During all these years he also acted as singing conductor at Ebenezer Church, a position which he only resigned a few years ago. It migh tbe here interesting to add that the Ebenezer Choir is still one of the, if not the best, choirs from a single congregation in the district, and that it purposes to give next week a performance of "Judas Maccabæus" with full orchestration in the Temperance Hall. Mr. John, since his resignation of the office of conductor, took a great interest in the work of the choir, and only a few weeks ago expressed the hope that he might live to see an orchestra introduced into the choir for use at the services on Sundays. He was present on Christmas Day at the performanec of "Elijah" at the Temperance Hall. He has twice been the recipient of handsome testimonials, presented him by the church and musical friends. It is also a remarkable fact that in addition to being himself a musical educator, the whole of his children are elementary teachers, viz. Mr. Tom John, of Llwynypia, the well-known educationalist, a member of the council of the N.U.T., and the editor of the Glamorgan Free Press; Mr. John W. John, of the Ynyshir Board School; Miss John, of the Cymmer Board School; and Miss Margaret John, of the Bodringallt Board School.

         On Tuesday, at 2 30 p.m., the funeral took place, and was attended by a very large and representative gathering. The deceased's body, placed in a polished Welsh oak coffin, with massive brass panel mountings, the breast place bearing the following inscription: "David John, died January 5th, 1894, aged 71 years," and covered with magnificent wreaths, was borne to the chapel, his deacons at Ebenezer acting as bearers. The coffin was followed by the following mourners :- Mrs. David John (widow), Mr. and Mrs. Tom John, Llwynypia; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. John, Ynyshir; Miss Mary John, Cymmer; Miss Margaret John, Bodringallt; Mr. and Mrs. Davies, Dowlais; Mr. Evan Lewis, Swansea; Mrs. Lewis, Walters-road, Swansea; Mr. John Jones, Llwynypia, Mr. Scott, Rhondda; Mrs. Thomas, Pontypridd; Miss Roberts, Dowlais, and Mrs. Morgan, Merthyr. Among the ministers and leading laymen present we noticed the Revs. J. Grawys, Cymdare; W. S. Davies, Llwydcoed; J. D. Rees, Salem; J. Sulawyn Davies, Siloh; J. Davies, Soar; W. Harries (B), Mill-street; H. T. Stephens (C.M.), Bryn Seion, Aberdare; G. Griffiths (Penar), Pentru Estyll; T. Edmunds, Hirwain; D. Thomas, Cymmer; W. J. Morris, Pontypridd; E. C. Davies, Ynyshir; T. G. Jenkyn, Llwynypia; D. H. Wigley, Brecon; Messrs. Alderman Thomas Williams, J.P., Merthyr; Gomer Jones, B.A., Merthyr; S. Hopkins, Ysguborwen; Rees Evans, Aberdare; Dl Griffiths, Aberdare; W. Charles and Owen Harries, Trecynon; John Rees, Tyrheol; John Morgan, Clive House; R. Wigley, D. Lewis Edmunds, Morgan Williams, Jacob Treharne (Tiberog), M. O. Jones, Treherbert; W. Jeffreys, Treherbert; Wm. Clarke, Higher Grade School, Pentre; D Evans, Treorky; J. Evans, Havod; Uriel Edwards, Ystrad; J. W. Jones, Penygraig; D. S. Thomas, Bazaar, Pentre; Rees Davies, Abernant; T. Thomas, Tynywern, &c. At the chapel the Rev. D. Griffiths, Cwmdare, read and prayed.

         The Rev. J. Grawys Jones then said that letters of apology and regret for their inability to be present had been received from Mr. John Rees, H.M. Inspector of schools, Swansea; Mr. Griffiths R. Jones, Cardiff; and others. He then feelingly referred to the long connection of the deceased with that church. He had been a model deacon for over 33 years, and longer still the leader of the congregational singing.

         The Rev. W. J. MORRIS, Pontypridd, said he could say a good deal of the deceased. It was 45 years last September that he (the speaker) came to live under Mr. John's roof, and he lived in the house for over four years, and no one knew a man better than an inmate of his own household. It was there a man generally showed his real character. They said of old Edwards, Groeswen, that he was a builder for both worlds, and he might say of the deceased that he was a worker for both worlds. He would not attempt to say how much he was indebted to the deceased for the help he had given him for the four years he had been under his roof. He looked back with great pleasure to that time. The deceased was a born leader, but had no wind or conceit in him. He did not know whether he left much property to his children, but he was sure he could tell them on his death-bed that there was not a dirty shilling among them. He (the speaker) appealed to the children of the deceased, and those whom he might call his musical children, to carry on the old banner, and not let it touch the ground. Let them carry it unsoiled as the deacon had.

         The choir then sang the anthem, "Dyddiau dyn sydd fel gaswelltyn," very effectively.

         Rev. T. G. Jenkyn, Llwynypia, said he knew little of Mr. John in the house except from the influence he left on some of his children whom he knew, but he thought that was a good criterion to judge a man by. He did not let his temporary work hinder him from his spiritual duties. They had met to bury a good man - one who had lived so that death had no terror.

         Mr. M. O. JONES, Treherbert, said he found it very hard at times to speak in a funeral, but it was easy there. He had enough to say of the deceased. His paths had been strewn with the flowers of virtue. He knew deceased 30 years ago, and had found in him a friend, always ready to render a helping hand to any religious cause. He would never forget an occasion upon which the Ebenezer Choir, led by the deceased, came over the mountain to Carmel, Treherbert, when that church was in its infancy, to give a concert in its aid, walking back over the mountain the same night. He always looked upon the deceased as a model leader, who had left behind him a name unstained.

         Rev. D. THOMAS, Cymmer, also spoke of his long and familiar aquaintance with deceased.

         After a hymn had been sung, the procession reformed for the cemetery, where the Rev. Griffith Griffiths (Penar), Pentre Estyll, spoke a few words. Deceased was so full of music that he believed that one of the first characters in the celestial region whom he would look out for would be David and his harp, and the next would be the late Ambrose Lloyd, the composer of the hymn-book he had used so long.

         The Rev. J. DAVIES, Zoar, then effectively prayed and the choir having again sung, the vast crowd slowly turned their backs upon all that was mortal of one to whom the words of the Saviour were especially applicable, "Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile."

         The funeral arrangements were enstrusted to Mr. W. T. Harries, of Mill-street, and were admirably carried out.

         We append a list of those who placed wreaths upon the coffin :- Mrs. David John, four children of the deceased, Ebenezer Choir, Mrs. Evans, Brynbach, Brynaman; Major Sloper, J.P., Cardiff; Mrs. J. W. Jones, Park lane, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Evans, solicitor, Swansea; Mr. and Mrs. Chalke, Pentre; the teachers of the Bodringallt Schools; Mr. David John, Cardiff; Mr. J. Preece, Porth.

    2. • Date: 29 January 1910
       • Page: Page 4
       • Citation:

         Aberdare Cymrodorion Society.
         WHAT WE OWE TO THE MONKS.

         The fortnightly meeting of the Aberdare Cymrodorion Society was held on Friday evening at the Higher Standard School, Gadlys, Mr. D. M. Richards (Myfyr Dar) in the chair.

         Mr. T. Williams, Park Inspector, read a ten minutes' paper on "The Late Mr. David John, shoemaker, Trecynon," for many years the singing conductor at Ebenezer Congregational Church, Mill-street. Mr. John was born at Kilgerran (Pembrokeshire) in 1823. He removed with his parents when young to Merthyr, and in 1849 to Aberdare. The reader delineated his character since advent to Aberdare as a choir master and a conductor, and pointed out that he led his choir to victory three times at one Eisteddfod. An alleged gross act of injustice on the part of an Eisteddfod adjudicator, however, so disgusted him that he never afterwards competed at an Eisteddfod. Mr. Williams then gave a graphic picture of him as a singing conductor at Ebenezer, and especially his power of bringing out the spiritual meaning of the hymn and the tune in congregational singing. His devotional spirit was also dealt with, and a reference made to the fact that Mr. Tom John. M.A., of Llwynypia, ex-president of the National Union of Teachers, was his son. Mr. John was buried on January 9th, 1894.

         The Rev. C. A. H. Green, M.A., Vicar of Aberdare, then delivered a very interesting address on "The Monks." He by drawing out very clearly the difference between the hermits and the monks. The hermits, he said, dwelt apart in solitude, while the monks dwelt, together under the rules of their respective orders. After a reference to various theories as to the origin of monasticism in the Christian Church, he said it arose out of the natural aspirations of the human heart for a closer walk with God. It was Christ Himself who nurtured the seed in urging the disciples to seek for perfection, and His example, without family, without home, led others to follow and seek for Christian perfection in that direction. The hermits existed during the early Christian persecution, but the monks arose later in the third century. The father of the monks, though not himsslf a monk, was St. Anthony, of whom the Vicar drew a graphic picture, although he pointed out that his pulpit rather than his cell was the centre of attraction in his case. He then traced the growth of monasticism in the Eastern Church, and its introduction into Great Britain, coming here as Christianity did in various waves. He also dealt with the difference between the Norman monasteries and the old Celtic ones, pointing out the result of this on tha monastic life in the Principality. The Normans introduced into Wales the Benedictine, their rule being based on silence, humility, and obedience. They arose at midnight for devotion, and then spent the remainder of the night in prayer and study, again greeting the dawn with a service of devotion to Almighty God. They ate very little meat, confining themselves almost entirely to vegetables, eggs, and fish. At six in the evening, the labour of the day being over, they retired to sleep. They had no monastery in the Diocese of Llandaff, but had one for women at Usk, and many small cells and chapels dependent on foreign monasteries. Other orders in Wales were described as the Cluniae Monks, the Cistercians, the Dominicans, the Franciscans, the Carmelites, and other orders. The monks were the great preachers and teachers of the Middle Ages. Mr. Green dealt also with some causes of their failure, and the indebtedness of Wales to monasticism in keeping alive its literature.

         At the close of the address, the Chairman expressed a hope that on a future occasion the Vicar might be induced to give another address dealing specially with the aspect referred to by him in his closing sentence of the indebtedness of Wales to the monks. Mr. J. Griffiths, Park School, referred to some of the traces of monasteries, and the roads the monks passed over in that district. Rev. J. R. Dewi Williams, the vice-president of the Cymrodorion Society, also spoke of recent visits he had paid with the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society to Stata Florida and Talley Abbey, and the part these institutions took in the history of the Principality. Our danger, he said, was to judge monasticism by what it had become at the time of the Protestant Reformation. The monasteries were not merely religious houses; they were also, in a sense, cities of refuge. Here, too, the poor and the needy ever found succour and help. It was said that at Llantwit Major 100 priests, 100 soldiers, 100 workmen, 100 travellers, and 100 widows were fed daily. Mr. George Powell, Mr. David Davies, Mr. John Davies, Mr. David Richards, and Mr, W. E. Thomas also spoke. Thanks were accorded to both speakers.

18. Y Dydd
    1. • Date: 26 June 1874
       • Page: Page 10
       • Citation:

         [Mr. GOL -]

         Dydd Marwth diweddaf, ymwelodd eich gohebydd âg ysgoldy Brytanaidd y Glanmorgan Coal Co., Llwynypia. Cefais y croeswiad mwyaf, twymgar gan yr ysgolfeistr. Cymro o waed coch cyfan ydyw Mr. Thomas D. John, mab yr hen gerddor enwog Mr. David John, Aberdar. Y mae Thomas John, yn gerddor campus fel ei dad. Y mae yn ddigon o dal runrhryw ddyn sydd yn hoff o ganu i fyned i'r ysgoldy uchod i wrando ar leisiau swynol y plant yn canu pob math o donau, y rhai a ddysgir iddynt gan eu hathraw galluog. Yn ddiweddar, y mae ein cyfaill wedi credu yn hen ddiareb Gymreig, 'fod dau yn well nag un,' ac yn wir daeth i'r un teimlad a'ch gobehydd, sef mai

         Gwell i ddyn golli'i ddanedd, - a'i ben,
         Na byw heb ymgeledd,
         A rhywfo mewn dull rhyfedd
         Ei hun heb un bun i'r bedd.

         Y mae Mr. John yn enwog iawn fel ysgolfeistr o'r radd flaenaf; rhifa ei ysgolheigion tua 350 o nifer, y rhai yn ol deall eich gohebydd, sydd yn ysgolheigion da iawn i gyd ar y cyfan. Dymunwn bob lwyddiant i Mr. John a'i briond serchoglawn tra ar y blaned isloerawl, ac wedi hyny i feddianu un o etifeddiaethau y Cristion yn y byd a ddaw,

         Rhoddwn yn llon ar bob pryd
         Barch lle y dylai parch fod;
         Dysgwn edmygu o hyd
         Ddynion rhin weddol o nod.

         Cewch ysgrif eto mor fuan ag y hydd i bethau ddyfod i drefn.

         Yr eiddoch yn gywir, Uthr Wyon, Tonypandy.

          

         [Dear SIR -]

         Last Tuesday, your correspondent visited the British schoolhouse of the Glanmorgan Coal Co., Llwynypia. I had the most warm, welcoming welcome from the schoolmaster. Mr. Thomas D. John, son of the famous old musician Mr. David John, Aberdare, is a red-blooded Welshman. Thomas John is a fine musician like his father. It is enough to catch any man who likes to go to the schoolroom above to listen to the charming voices of the children singing all kinds of tunes, taught to them by their able teacher. Our friend has recently believed in an old Welsh dialect, 'that two are better than one,' and indeed he came to the same feeling as your hopeer, that

         Better for a man to lose his thigh, - and his head,
         Don't live without care,
         And sex in a strange way
         Himself without a single bun to the grave.

         Mr. John is very famous as a first-class schoolmaster; his scholars number about 350 in number, those according to your correspondent's understanding, who are generally very good scholars. We wish Mr. John and his affectionate prodigy every success while on the sublime planet, and thereafter to occupy one of the Christian's inheritances in the world to come,

         We give happily at every meal
         Respect where respect should be;
         We still learn to admire
         Gentlemen of quite a goal.

         I will write again as soon as things get in order.

         Yours faithfully, Uthr Wyon, Tonypandy.

          

          

19. Aberdare Leader
    1. • Date: 1 May 1915
       • Page: Page 4
       • Citation:

         Hen Aberdar.

         Enwogion y Dyffryn 42 o flwyddi yn ei.

         Yn meddiant Mr. Afanydd Morgan, Aberdar, y mae hen ddyddiadur am y flwyddyn 1873. Ynddo ceir cofres o feirdd, llenorion a cherddorion Cymru yr adeg hono. Wele yn dilyn restr Aberdar, Trecynon, ac Aberpennar. Dealler fod (b) yn golygu beirdd; (ll) llenorion; ac (c) cerddorion.

         [...]

         Trecynon, Nr. Aberdare.

         [...]

         David John, Harriet Street,
         William John, Harriet Street

          

          

          

          

         Old Aberdare.

         Celebrities of the Valley 42 years ago.

         In the possession of Mr. Afanydd Morgan, Aberdare, is an old diary for the year 1873. It contains a register of Welsh poets, writers and musicians at that time. Behold the list of Aberdare, Trecynon, and Mountain Ash. Assume that (b) means poets; (ll) writers; and (c) musicians.

         [...]

         Trecynon, Nr. Aberdare.

         [...]

         David John, Harriet Street,
         William John, Harriet Street

20. Y Tyst
    1. • Date: 19 January 1894
       • Page: Page 7
       • Citation:

         DAFYDD JOHN.

         Dydd Mawrth, Ionawr 9fed, claddwyd gweddillion marwol Dafydd John yn Nghladdfa Gyhoeddus Aberdar. Daeth tyrfa fawr o wŷr bucheddol yn nghyd o bell ac agos, i dalu iddo y gymwynas olaf o barch. Yr oedd wedi cyrhaedd yr oedran addfed o 71.

         Y mae yr enw Dafydd John wedi bod yn adnabyddus iawn yn nghylchoedd Aberdar a Merthyr am haner can' mlynedd. Daeth i amlygrwydd fel cerddor yn bur ieuanc, a pharhoadd felly ar hyd ei oes faith.

         Ganwyd Dafydd John yn Merthyr Tydfil, Mai 12fed, 1822. Enwau ei rieni oedd William a Margaret John. Genedigol o Cilgeran, sir Aberteifi, oeddynt hwy eu dau, ond wedi d'od i Merthyr y darfu iddynt briodi.

         Pan yn llanc tua phymtheg neu un-ar-bymtheg oed, teimlodd argraffiadau crefyddol dwys, ac aeth at grefydd yn Soar, Merthyr. Meddianwyd Dafydd John ieuanc o'r adeg hon yn mlaen gan lawer o ddifrifoldeb meddwl. Dadblygodd yn fuan mewn defnyddioldeb. Cyn hir cawn ei fod yn faswr o amlygrwydd a sylw yn nghor Rosser Beynon, ac fel cerddor, dysgybl ydoedd i'r gwr enwog hwnw.

         Tua'r flwyddyn 1848, yr oedd gweithiau haiarn a glo Aberdar yn cynyddu, a'r lle yn myned rhagddo yn fawr. Penderfynodd Dafydd John symud o Ferthyr i Aberdar. Cymerodd hyny le yn mis Ebrill, 1849, ymaelododd yn Ebenezer, Heolyfelin, o dan weinidogaeth y Parch William Edwards, ac yma y treuliodd weddill ei oes. Bendithiwyd ef a phedwar o blant, sef Mr Tom John, Llwynypia, golygydd y Glamorgan Free Press; Mr J. W. John, ysgolfeistr, Ynyshir; Miss Mary John, ysgolfeistres, Cymer; a Miss Margaret John, ysgolfeistres, Bodringallt. Nis gwyddomam neb a lanwodd yr enw tad yn well na Dafydd John. Ni welsom erioed hefyd fwy o anwyldeb parchus yn bodoli rhwng rhieni a phlant nag oedd yn nodweddu ei deulu ef.

         Wedi ymsefydlu yn Aberdar, daeth Dafydd John ar unwaith, i amlygrwydd neillduol fel cerddor o radd uchel. Cymerodd at y gwaith o godi y cor a'r ysgol gân i weithgarwch ac effeithiolrwydd yn Ebenezer. Dygodd i mewn amryw ddiwygiadau pwysig. Cyn hyn arferai y merched ganu tenor, a'r gwrywod ganu yr alaw. Gosododd yntau y merched i ganu soprano, a'r bechgyn i ganu tenor. Yn fuan iawn daeth cor Ebenezer i sylw mawr dan arweiniad Dafydd John. Ffurfiwyd cor undebol yn Aberdar er mwyn cystadlu mewn eisteddfod yn Merthyr. Y darn cystadleuol oedd 'Parotowch y Ffordd' (gwaith Daniel Charles Lewis, y crydd). Priodol iawn y gellir dyweyd fod yr amgylchiad hwn wedi 'parotoi y ffordd' i bethau mwy i ganlyn. Bu enill yn Merthyr y tro hwn yn symbyliad i gymeryd darnau mwy mewn llaw, ac enillasant lawer buddugoliaeth wedi hyny. Gellir edrych ar Dafydd John fel pioneer canu clasurol yn nghylchoedd Aberdar. Dysgodd i'w gor yr oll o'r 'Messiah' (Handel). Y rhan fwyaf o 'Judas Maccabeus.' Perfformiodd y 'Twelfth Mass' (Mozart), a chynorthwyid y perfformiad hwn gan string band Caradog, y cyntaf o'r natur yma yn Aberdar. Yn yr adegau hyn bu rai o brif gerddorion y Deheudir yn canu yn ei gor yn achlysurol, megys Dan Griffiths, Aberdar; Caradog; W. T. Rees (Alaw Ddu), Silas Evans, &c. Yr oedd Dafydd John yn gefnogol iawn i weithiau awdwyr Cymreig, megys Owain Alaw, Tanymarian, Ambrose Lloyd, Ieuan Gwyllt, &c. Trwy ei lafur diflino felly cododd y cor i sylw mawr yn y cylchoedd hyn. Gelwid am ei wasanaeth i gynal cyngerddau er cynorthwyo eglwysi ieuainc a gwan. Bu ef a'r cor o bryd i bryd yn cynal cyngerddau i'r amcan hwn yn Carmel, Treherbert; Ferndale; Ynysgau, Merthyr, &c. Ond yn nghanol llafur dibaid o'r tu allan, ei ofal penaf oedd am waith rheolaidd yr eglwys yn Ebenezer. Yr oedd yn ymgysegredig i achos Duw yn ei holl ranau yn ei eglwys ei hun. Fwy nag unwaith anrhegwyd ef gan eglwys Ebenezer fel arwydd o'i pharch dwfn iddo, yn gystal a'r gwerth dwfn a roddai ar ei ymdrechion parhaus. Yn y flwyddyn 1860, anrhegwyd ef â swm o arian ac harmonium da, a dyma y cyntaf a ddaeth i Gwm Aberdar. Yn Ionawr, 1875, cafodd ei anrhegu drachefn gan yr eglwys â piano rhagorol ac anerchiad hardd, a swm o arian, am ei ddylanwad iachus, a'i egni di-ildio gyda chaniadaeth y cysegr, ac o blaid cerddoriaeth yn gyffredinol. Yn y flwyddyn 1856, dewiswyd ef yn ddiacon. Llanwodd y swydd bwysig hono gyda ffyddlondeb a medr eithriadol am 38 o flynyddau. Yr oedd Dafydd John yn ddyn cyflawn a da yn mhob swydd, ond fel arweinydd canu cynulleidfaol, yr oedd fel Paul yn uwch o'i ysgwyddau i fyny nar lluaws o'i gwmpas. Yr oedd yn meddu ar fedr rhyfeddol hefyd i ganfod yr hyn oedd eisieu ei wneyd yn yr eglwys - yr oedd gofal arno ef am yr achos, ac am bob rhan ohono - yr oedd yu gyfaill trwyadl i'r weinidogaeth.

         Yn ei ymddangosiad allanol yr oedd bob amser yn barchus. Yr oedd yn meddu i raddau helaeth ar y peth a elwir Presence. Nid oedd neb, wedi ei weled unwaith, byth yn methu ei adnabod ar ol hyny. Yr oedd Dafydd John o gorff lluniaidd a hardd, yn dalach na'r cyffredin, ei wynebpryd yn hawddgar-ddifrifol, ei holl symudiadau yn sydyn a bywiog, ei besychiad yn fyr ac uchel, ac yn wahanol i bob pesychiad a glywsom erioed. Gellid ei adnabod ganllath, neu fwy, oddiwrtho yn y tywyllwch, oherwydd neillduolrwydd ei besychiad.

         Cerddai yn gyflym a gwisgi. Gwelsom ef yn 70 oed yn cerdded i Cwmdar, Hirwaun, Llwydcoed, a Tresalem, i rehearsals y gymanfa ganu, a llawer un ugain mlwydd yn ieuengach yn cael y gwaith mwyaf yn y byd i'w ddilyn. Yr oedd bob amser yn llawn o fyn'd, symudai yn mlaen gyda'i oes, neu yn hytrach o'i blaen. Arosodd yn berffaith ieuanc yn ei ysbryd a'i syniadau hyd y diwedd. Ni phetruswn gredu ei fod yn un o'r dynion duwiol mwyaf progressive yn ei Enwad, a phan fyddai wedi gwneyd ei feddwl i fyny i symud yn mlaen, llwyddai braidd yn ddieithriad, oblegid yr oedd yn llawn o deimlad caredig at rai o farn wahanol iddo ei hun, ac eto yn benderfynol, a dyfalbarhaol. Priodol iawn y dywedodd y Parch W. I. Morris, Pontypridd, yn ei angladd, 'Na ddaliodd neb ymchwiliad erioed yn well nag ef. Pa fanylaf y byddid yn ei chwilio, goreu oll yr ymddangosai efe. Yr oedd yn ddiniwed heb fod yn wasaidd. Yn ddidderbyn-wyneb, heb fod yn dramgwyddus, ac yn arweinydd canu o radd uchel, ac heb fod yn chwyddedig a gellid teimlo yn sicr, gan nad faint adawodd ar ol i'w weddw a'i blant, nad oedd cymaint ag un swllt brwnt yn y cwbl.' Nodweddid ef â'r un didwylledd a ffyddlondeb yn ei lafur gyda'r achos. Gwnaeth lawer yn gyhoeddus ac yn ddirgel i feithrin heddwch, a theimlad da. Medrai argyhoeddi dyn ei fod yn caru ei les. Nid oedd un amser yn dyweyd ei fod yn ddyn plaen, fel y mae arfer rhai, ac eto yr oedd y n hynod o blaen a llym, ond ei fod yn feistr ar y gelfyddyd o gynghori a cheryddu, fel mai anaml iawn y byddai ef yn methu gwneyd lles yn y cyfeiriad hwn. Parchai Dafydd John dy Dduw a'i wasanaeth gydag ysbryd llawn o ddefosiwn. Yr oedd hyd yn nod coed a cheryg ty Dduw yn gysegredig yn ei olwg. Prin yr wyf yn meddwl fod nemawr wydryn wedi ei osod mewn ffenestr o gwmpas y capel a'r ysgoldy, neu gloc wedi ei lanhau, neu ganwyllbren, neu fwrdd, neu sedd, neu gadair wedi ei hadgyweirio, nad oedd ef wedi bod yn gofalu am hyny. Y gwir yw, ni wnaed na bychan na mawr yn nglŷn â'r achos, na fu Dafydd John yn cymeryd rhan flaenllaw ynddo. Nid oedd pall ar ei ffyddlondeb a'i sel grefyddol. Gwelir hyn yn amlwg yn ei waith yn dilyn yr ysgolgan yn gyson hyd y diwedd. Pedair blynedd yn ol rhoddodd ofal yr ysgol gân i fyny, ond parhaodd hyd ei farwolaeth yn arweinydd y canu cynulleidfaol. Wedi i'r eglwys, ar ei gais ddewis W. E. Thomas i ofalu am yr ysgol gân yn ei le, y cynorthwywr mwyaf ffyddlon a didwyll a gafodd yr arweinydd newydd o hyny hyd yn awr oedd yr hen arweinydd enwog. Er dim ni chollai ysgol gân, gofalai fod yno yn siriol ei ysbryd i galonogi yr arweinydd a'r ysgol gân, ac yr oedd ei bresenoldeb yn llawnder gwerthfawr. Credwn mai addurn penaf ei gymeriad godidog oedd ei ysbryd rhagorol. Dyma yr elfen a beraroglodd ei fywyd crefyddol maith a llwyddianus, ac fe erys dylanwad hwn yn hir iawn, a bydd cofio Dafydd John yn help i fyw yn dduwiol yn Nhrecynon a'r cylch.

          

          

          

         DAFYDD JOHN.

         Tuesday, January 9th, the mortal remains of Dafydd John were buried at Aberdare Public Cemetery. A great crowd of living men came together from far and wide, to pay him their last respects. He had reached the age of 71.

         The name of Dafydd John has been well known in the Aberdare and Merthyr districts for half a century. He came to prominence as a very young musician, and so continued throughout his long life.

         Dafydd John was born in Merthyr Tydfil, May 12th, 1822. His parents were William and Margaret John. They were both natives of Cilgeran, Cardiganshire, but married after coming to Merthyr.

         When he was a boy about fifteen or sixteen years of age, he felt intense religious impressions, and came to faith in Soar, Merthyr. Dafydd John, though young, went forward from this point with much seriousness of mind. It soon developed in usefulness. We soon discover that he was a bass singer of prominence and attention in Rosser Beynon's choir, and as a musician he was a pupil of that famous man.

         About 1848, Aberdare's iron and coal works were increasing, and the place was much advanced. Dafydd John decided to move from Merthyr to Aberdare. This took place in April, 1849, when he became a member of Ebenezer, Heolyfelin, under the ministry of the Rev. William Edwards, and here he spent the rest of his life. He was blessed with four children, Mr Tom John, Llwynypia, editor of the Glamorgan Free Press; Mr J. W. John, schoolmaster, Ynyshir; Miss Mary John, schoolmistress, Cymmer; and Miss Margaret John, schoolmistress, Bodringallt. No one knows the name of the father better than Dafydd John. We also never saw more respectful affection existing between parents and children than was typical of his family.

         After settling in Aberdare, Dafydd John immediately came to prominence as a musician of high caliber. He took to the task of raising the choir and song school to activity and efficiency at Ebenezer. He brought in various important reforms. Previously the women sang tenor, and the males sang the melody. He set the girls to sing soprano, and the boys to sing tenor. Ebenezer's choir soon came to prominence under the leadership of Dafydd John. A union choir was formed in Aberdare to compete in an eisteddfod in Merthyr. The competitive piece was 'Parotowch y Ffordd' ['Prepare Ye the Way'] (the work of Daniel Charles Lewis, the shoemaker). This circumstance may well be said to have 'paved the way' for larger things to follow. Winning in Merthyr this time was a catalyst for taking bigger pieces in hand, and they subsequently won many victories. Dafydd John can be regarded as a pioneer of classical singing in the Aberdare circles[1]. He taught them all over the 'Messiah' (Handel). Most of 'Judas Maccabeus.' He performed the 'Twelfth Mass' (Mozart), and this performance was assisted by the Caradog string band[2], the first of its kind here in Aberdare. On these occasions some of the leading Southern musicians occasionally sang in his choir, such as Dan Griffiths, Aberdare; Caradog; W. T. Rees (Alaw Ddu), Silas Evans, & c. Dafydd John was very supportive of the works of Welsh authors, such as Owain Alaw, Tanymarian, Ambrose Lloyd, Ieuan Gwyllt, & c. Through his tireless labour the choir thus rose to great attention in these circles. He was called for his services to hold concerts to assist young and weak churches. He and the choir occasionally held concerts for this purpose in Carmel, Treherbert; Ferndale; Ynysgau, Merthyr, & c. But in the midst of countless outside labour, his primary concern was the regular work of the church in Ebenezer. He was dedicated to the cause of God in all his parts of his own church. On more than one occasion he was rewarded monetarily by Ebenezer chapel as a mark of their ongoing deep respect and the value placed on his continued efforts. In 1860, he was gifted with a good sum of money and a harmonium - the first to come to the Aberdare Valley. In January, 1875, he was again presented by the church with an excellent piano and a beautiful address, and a sum of money, for his wholesome influence, and his unwavering energy with the sanctuary, and for music in general. In the year 1856, he was elected Deacon. He filled that important job with exceptional loyalty and skill for 38 years. Dafydd John was a good and good man in every job, but as a congregational singing conductor, he was like Paul, head and shoulders above all around him[3]. He also possessed a remarkable ability to ascertain what he wanted to do in the church - for which he cared for the cause, and for all parts of it - he was a thorough friend of the ministry.

         In his outward appearance he was always respectable. He was largely in possession of the thing called Presence[4]. No one, having seen him once, could fail to identify him after that. Dafydd John was of a memorable and handsome body, taller than average, his face easy-going, his movements quick and lively, his cough short and loud, and unlike every coughing we have ever heard. He could be known a hundred or more from him in the dark, because of the particularity of his cough.

         He walked fast and agilely. We saw him at the age of 70 walking to Cwmdar, Hirwaun, Llwydcoed, and Tresalem, to the rehearsals of the singing festival, and many a good twenty years younger would have had their work cut out to keep up with him.. He was always full of vigour, moving forward with his years, or rather preceding them.. He stayed perfectly young in his spirit and ideas until the end. We do not hesitate to believe that he was one of the most progressive godly men in his Denomination, and when he had made up his mind to move forward, he was almost invariably successful, for he was full of a kind feeling for those with different views to himself, yet determined, and persevering. The Rev. W. I. Morris, Pontypridd, very fittingly said at his funeral, 'No one ever undertook research into new ideas better than him. The more detailed it was searched, the better it seemed. His manner was inoffensive, without giving in. He stood up to his detractors without being offensive and was a leader of high caliber singing, and not proud, and one could certainly feel that, given how much he had left for his widow and children, there was not one shilling dirty at all.' He was characterized by the same sincerity and fidelity in his daily work as in the [chapel] cause. He did much in public and in secret to foster peace and a good feeling. He could convince a man that he loved his welfare. He did not once say that he was a forthright man, as is the practice of some, and yet he was very plain and strict, but he was a master of the art of counseling and correcting, so that he was rarely failing to achieve peaceful resolution in such matters. David John respected the house of God and his service with a spirit of devotion. Even the knots in the wood of the trees and the stones of the house of God were sacred in his appearance. I hardly think that a glass was placed in a chapel or schoolroom, or a clock cleaned, nor a candle, table, seat or chair repaired that he did not have a hand in. The fact is, nothing small or large related to the Cause happened in which Dafydd John did not take a prominent part. His faithfulness and religious zeal were undeniable. This is evident in his work following the students until the end. Four years ago he handed over care for the choir scholars, but remained until his death the leader of congregational singing. The church then, at his request, chose W. E. Thomas to take charge of the choir scholars in his place - the most faithful and sincere assistant that the new leader had from then until now was the famous old leader. He did not then abandon the choir school but made sure to be there cheerfully, to encourage the conductor and his presence of great value. Surely the greatest mark of his excellent character was his open-minded spirit.This is what bears testimony to the authenticity of his long religious life, and this influence will last a very long time. The memory of David John will help those in Trecynon and the surrounding area to live godly lives.

          

         [1] Classical singing could have been quite controversial at the time, as it was seen as quite avant garde for a chapel choir.

         [2] "String bands" at the time were mostly made up of harps, which were considered seemly in chapel.

         [3] Referring to Paul climbing to the rock of Ares in the Areopagus in Athens. The implication is that he was boldy setting a new standard of faith.

         [4] Charismatic, but with his charisma coming from God.

    2. • Date: 10 March 1897
       • Page: Page 11
       • Citation:

         JOHN - Dydd Mawrth, Chwefror 23ain, Mrs Sarah John, 30, Harriet-street, Trecynon, Aberdar - gweddw y diweddar Mr David John, hen arweinydd canu Ebenezer. Bu yn gystuddiol yn hir. Cafodd ergyd o'r parlys tua dwy flynedd yn ol. Ar ol hyny, eiddil fu ei hiechyd hyd y diwedd. Ond dyoddefodd ya nodedig o arnyneddgar a thawel. Yr oedd yn 69 oed. Claddwyd hi y Sadwrn dilynol. Cynaliwyd gwasanaeth yn nghapel Ebenezer, lle y bu am lawer o flynyddau yu aelod. Teimlai ddyddordeb dwfn yn hanes ac achos yr eglwys Gwasanaethwyd gan y Parch J. Grawys Jones. Yn y fynwent, siaradodd y Parch W. I. Morris, Pontypridd - hen gyfaill cynes i'r tenlu. Gweddiwyd gan y Parch E. C. Davies. Ynyshir; a rhoddwyd emyn i'w ganu gan y Parch W. S. Davies, Llwydcoed. Cafwyd angladd barchus a lluosog iawn. Bydded nodded y Nef ar y plant - Mr Tom John, Llwynpia; Mr John John, Ynyshir; Mrs Preece, Porth; a Miss Mary John.

          

          

          

         Translation:

         JOHN - Tuesday, February 23rd, Mrs. Sarah John, 30, Harriet-street, Trecynon, Aberdare - widow of the late Mr David John, former Ebenezer singer. Her health had troubled her for a long time. About two years ago she was struck by sudden paralysis[1]. After that, her health was frail until the end. But she bore this patiently and quietly. She was 69 years old. She was buried on the following Saturday. A service was held in the Ebenezer chapel, where she had been a member of many years. She felt a deep interest in the history and cause of the church. The service was led by Rev J. Grawys Jones. In the cemetery, Rev. W. I. Morris, Pontypridd - an old friend - spoke to the crowd. Rev E. C. Davies, Ynyshir, prayed; and a hymn was sung by Rev W. S. Davies, Llwydcoed. It was a very respectful and well-attended funeral. May the protection of Heaven be upon the children - Mr Tom John, Llwynpia; Mr John John, Ynyshir; Mrs Preece, Porth; and Miss Mary John.

         [1] The same expression is used in modern Welsh to refer to a stroke.

21. Document on file
    1. • Date: 9 October 1999
       • Page: Programme Notes - Ebenezer Choral Society 150th Anniversary Concert
       • Citation:

         EBENEZER CHORAL SOCIETY
         1849 - 1999

         150th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONCERT
         Saturday 9th October 1999

         HISTORY OF EBENEZER CHOIR

         The formation of Ebenezer Choir dates back to 1849 when choral singing in the chapels was unaccompanied and without hymn books. The precentor or "codwr canu" was responsible for pitching the congregational singing. In the year 1849, Rosser Beynon of Merthyr compiled a book of hymns and their tunes entitled "Telyn Seion" and one of his pupils, a young man named Dafydd John, came to Ebenezer to distribute books. The minister at the time, the Reverend William Edwards, soon realised his worth as a musician and invited him to stay as conductor. He felt quite at home in Ebenezer and gladly accepted the invitation. The precentor at the time was Phillip Phillips who continued as precentor whilst Dafydd John formed his choir. Soon afterwards Mr Phillips moved to Aberaman with his family, leaving Dafydd John in sole charge of the chapel's musical activities.

         Initially, the choir was about twelve in number and at that time the tenors sang the melody or the "top part" and the ladies, the tenor part. However, Dafydd John changed this to the present formation of S.A.T.B. - not without a great deal of opposition from the older people!

         The first concert performed by the "new" choir and conductor was at Christmas time in 1849. A tea party was held in the afternoon - the first of its kind in Ebenezer - much against the wishes of the older generation. But the young people had the support of the minister, Mr Edwards, and they won the day and made a profit of £20 for the chapel funds. The tea party was followed by the concert in the evening.

         During 1851 it was decided to organise a small eisteddfod and because of its success, one on a much grander scale followed. The test piece was "Lift up your Heads" from Handel's "Messiah" and Dafydd John's choir won first prize!

         On Christmas Day 1853 the Choir gave a performance of the "Messiah" in Ebenezer Chapel. According to records, this was the first choir in the area to perform a complete oratorio. There was no organ in the chapel so the Choir was accompanied by a small orchestra from neighbouring Hen-dy-Cwrdd Unitarian Church. One of the violinists in the group was William Williams (Will Llannon) who taught Caradog to play the violin. No professional artistes were engaged by thte solo parts were sung by members of the Choir - three sopranos, three male altos, three tenors and three bass, one of them being the conductor. Of course, by this time the Choir had increased in number.

         Dafydd John was a great competitor who enjoyed winning and took his choir to compete in numerous eisteddfodau and festivals in 1854, 1855 and 1856, singing "Worthy is the Lamb" and the "Amen Chorus" from "Messiah". In 1863, the Ebenezer Choir sang in Dafydd John's home territory, Merthyr, and in 1864 he competed in Siloa, Aberdare with the "Hallelujah Chorus" from "Messiah". This was the first time for the Choir to lose to another choir. Bethania Choir was the successful one. He refused to compete again as both he and his choir considered that they had been misjudged and he did not agree with the adjudicators' opinions!

         In 1873 Dafydd John and his choir supported Caradog and his South Wales Choral Union at the Crystal Palace Choral Festival in London, where Caradog's "Cor Mawr" won the magnificent trophy which is today displayed at St. Fagan's Folk Museum, Cardiff.

         In 1874 he was given a piano for his home. In 1883, a harmonium was purchased for the Choir's use for the princely sum of £16. Eventually, in 1887, the harmonium was transferred to the chapel and this was replaced a year later by a better model. The harmonium remained in Cana Chapel, Penywaum (Ebenezer's daughter chapel) - until Cana closed a few years ago.

         By 1887 Dafydd John felt it time to hand over the Choir to a younger man. There were several applicants and Mr W. E. Thomas was appointed as the new conductor of the Choir, but Dafydd John remained the chapel precentor until his death in 1894.

         [...]

22. Alan Vernon Jones ARICS: Chapels of the Cynon Valley
    1. • Page: Page 341
       • Citation:

         DAFYDD JOHN (1823-1894)
         Conductor and Choir Master of Ebenezer W.I. Chapel, Trecynon for over forty years. A cobbler by trade he was born in Cilgeran and came to Aberdare in 1849 largely due to the influence of Rosser Beynon. He became a member of Ebenezer Chapel and Choir Master and introduced a change in the manner of singing. He was the first to conduct Handel's Messiah in 1853, at Ebenezer. Sang with "Caradog" in the Crystal Palace and introduced Rosser Beynon's Hymn Book - "Telyn Sion". Gymanfa Ganu became very popular with the United Chapels in 1887 at Hirwaun, Cwmdare and Llwydoed. Salem, Robertstown and Ebenezer, Trecynon combined under the baton of Dafydd John for many years.

23. Jacob Treharne (Tiberog): Hanes Eglwys Annibynol Ebenezer, Aberdar
    1. • Page: Page 66-69
       • Citation:

         DYFODIAD DAFYDD JOHN

         Fel y nodwyd, Phillip oedd yr arweinydd, a pharhaodd i arwain yn gyhoeddus wedi i Dafydd John ddyfod yma yn 1849, ond Dafydd John fyddai'n arwain y cor. Dyma'r adeg y newidiwyd y drefn yn nglyn a'r canu yma. Arferai y tenor yr adeg hono ganu y top a'r merched i ganu part y tenor, ond newidiodd Dafydd John nyny, a gosododd y lleisiau i ganu yn y drefn bresenol. A mawr yr helynt fu gyda'r cyfnewidiad; teimlai rhai o'r hen bobl dipyn o wrthwynebiad, a bu yno lawer ymdrech galed a helynt blin rhwyng yr hen bobl a'r bobl ieuaine. Dywedir i rywun mewn cyfarfod cyhoeddus pan oedd cor Dafydd John wedi codi i ganu waeddu allan, - " 'Nawr Jane, paid di a chanu tenor ta pwy ganu denor;" ac nis gwn pwy Jane oedd hono os nad gweddw John Howells, Llwydcoed, oblegyd yr oedd hi pan yn ferch ieuanec yn nghor cyntaf Dafydd John. Mae'n debyg mai deuddeg eodd rhif y cor. Cafwyd llawer 'storm ar yr heol pan gyfarfyddai'r hen a'r ieuanc a'u gilydd. Ond yn mhen ychydig tawelodd pethau, a symudodd Phillip a'r deule yn fuan i Aberaman, tua diwedd 1849, ond dallai y bechgyn Evan a Thomas i gyrchu fyny yma am flynyddau wedi hyny, yn enwedig Evan, a bu ef yn glerc gyda'i ewythr, Twmi Thomas Daffyd am hir amser. Y mae rhai o blant Phillip yn bresenol yn Saron, Aberaman; Phillip yn ddiacon ac yn arweinydd y gân, a William yn aelod dichlynaidd yno.

         Ac yn fuan ar eu hol hwy, symudodd Thomas Phillips i'r un lle, yr hwu wedi hyny a droes at y seintiau. Yna, daeth gofal y cyfan ar ol hyny ar ysgwydd Dafydd John.

         Y GYNGHERDD GYNTAF, 1849.

         Mae yn debyg mai'r gyngherdd gyntaf a gynaliwyd gan y cor a'r arweinydd newydd oedd ar Nadolig 1849, y Nadolig cyntaf wedi ei ddyfodiad i'r lle. Cynalid Gwyl De yn y prydnawn, a hon oedd yr wyl de gyntaf yma; a chafwyd cryn dipyn o helynt i'w chael. Teimlai Mr. Edwards a'r bobl ieuainc yn selog iawn dros ei chael, ond gwrthwynebai'r hen bobl y dull ysgafn hwn o amcanu casglu arian at achos crefydd; a dadleuent yr elent i ddyled drwy hyny. Ond dadleuai Mr. Edwards y gwnelent drwyddi ugain punt. A Mr. Edwards a'r bobl ieuainc gariodd y dydd, a chynaliwyd yr wyl de gyntaf yn Ebenezer gydag elw o dros ugain punt. Nis gwn am neb o'r boneddigesau ieuainc a weinyddent wrth y byrddau yr adeg hono, ond Miss Mary Howelis, priod Richard Wigley yn bresenol. Mae'r pumed cenedlaeth o'r teulu bwn yn aelodau yma'n bresenol, sef Maggie M. Jenkins, merch Annie, priod John Phillips, Llwydcoed, o'r gwr cyntaf, a Mary Jane, merch R. L. Wigley, ac y man yma amryw deuleoedd a'r bedwaredd genedlaeth yn aeledau.

         LWYDDIANT DAFYDD JOHN FEL ARWEINYDD CANU.

         Wedi hyn, rhywbryd yn 1851, ymgymerasant a chynal eisteddfod am y tro cyntaf ar raddfa fechan, a throdd yn llwyddiant. Yna, ar Nadolig, 1852, y cynaliasant un ar raddfa eangach, a mynasant - "Lift up your heads," yn brif ddarn corawl, a Tanymarian i feirniadu, a daeth tri chor i'r gystadleuaeth, ac enillodd cor Dafydd John gyda chymeradwyaeth uchel. Yn Sulgwyn, 1854, aethant i Temperance Hall, Merthyr, dan feirniadaeth John Williams (Corfanawg),ar "O Ho!" o'r Storm, yr ail ddarn corawl. Yr oedd rhyw bedwar cor yno, ond daethant yn ol a'r llawryf. Yn Nadolig, 1856, yn Ebenezer, cynygiasant ar "O Cadw Ni," a "Beth sydd ddamwain;" y beirniad oedd Dewi Alaw, a buont yn fwy na choncwerwyr yma drachefn. Yna, yn Medi, 1857, aethant i Cwmnedd ar "Teilwyn yw'r Oen," a'r "Amen," dan feirniadaeth Dafydd Hywel Tomos, Rhymni, ac enillasant y gamp. Yna, ar y 1af o Fawrth, 1858, aethant i'r Temperance Hall, Aberdar, i gynyg ar "Y Lleidr ar y Groes;" y beirniaid oeddynt Cyndeyrn a Charles D. Lewis; tri chor yn cystadlu, ond hwy a drechodd eto. Yna, aethant Nadolig 1862, i Siloa, Aberdar, i gystadlu ar "Cân Mair," yn brif ddarn, "Y Blodeuyn Olaf," yn ail ddarn, a pharti meibion ar "Ymdaith y Mwnc." Y beirniad oedd Griffiths, Pontardawe, neu fel yr adnabyddir ef yn bresenol, Ifanders; ac er fod amryw yn cystadlu ar y tri darn, enillasant ar y tri. Wedi hyny, yn Gorphenaf, 1863, aethant i Ebenezer, Abertawe, ar "Y Blodeuyn Olaf," ac haner y wobr a gawsant. Aethant wedi hyny ar Nadolig, 1864, ar yr "Haleluwia Chorus" i'r Temperance Hall, Aberdaar. Y beirniad oedd Eos Rhondda, ond aeth yn fethiant yno; Bethania, Aberdar, a drechodd, a chredodd y cor a'r arweinydd iddynt gael cam gwarthus yno, a dyno ddiwedd ar oes gystadleuol Dafydd John. Ond yr eodd yr hen ysbryd cystadleuol yn aros mewn amryw o gor Caradog a Rhys Evans wedi hyny, a bu Dafydd John ei hun gydag amryw ereill o'i gor yn y Palas Grisial yn cystadlu am y cwpan arian yn Nghor Mawr Caradog. Heblaw hyny bu amryw eisteddfodau yn y capel o fewn ein cof; ac amryw barties o'r cor o bryd i'w gilydd yn cystadlu o dan arweinyddiaeth J. W. Jones, Ysgolfeistr Tonypandy yn bresenol, Evan Thomas, Aberaman yn awr, Daniel Jones Lewis ac ereill, ond ni fu Dafydd John, oblegyd o hyn allan ymgysegrodd yn fwy at ganiadaeth y cysegr a gwasanaethu cyngherddau yn nhref, bu yn Ebrill, 1862, yn cynal cyngherdd yn Ynysgau, Merthyr, ar ol Gwyl De. Digwyddodd Tanchwa y Gethin ar y 19eg o Chwefror cyn hynyn, lle y collodd Edward Beynon yn nghyd a chwech-a-deugain ereill eu bywydau, llawer o'r rhai oeddynt yn aelodau o gor Ynysgau, ac Edward Beynon yr arweinydd. Yn wyneb hyny nid oedd cor Ynysgau mewn ffordd nac ychwaith mewn ysbryd cynal y gyngherdd fwriadedig; ac ar fyr rybudd ymgymerodd Dafydd John a'i gor a chynal y gyngherdd. Ac yn Awst yr un flwyddyn aethant i Treherbert i gynal cyngherdd. Ac ar Gorphenaf o 15fed, 1867, aethant i Blaenllechau i wneud yr un gwasanaeth, - helpu achosion gweiniaid. Dengys hyn aberth mawr ar ran y cor i groesi'r mynyddau adref yr amser hwnw o'r nos, os digwyddai fod yn arw, yn enwedig fel y bu wrth groesi yn ol o Blaenllechau. Cadwodd y cor mewn llawn gwaith trwy y blynyddau. Nid oes genym wybodaeth i unrhyw gor yn y cylchoedd anturio ar un o'r Oratorios mawrion yma cyn i gor Dafydd John ymgymeryd a datgan y Messiah trwyddo yn Nadolig, 1853, yn Nghapel Ebenezer. Cerddorfa yr Hen-Dy Cwrdd fu yn eu cynorthwyo yn yr hon yr oedd Caradog yn aelod. Nid oes wybodaeth iddynt anfon i Llundain nag un man arall am gynorthwy, nac Artists, nac arall, ond dosparthasant y gwaith yn eu mysg eu hunain. I ganu'r unawdau, &c., rhoed gyda'r merched Sara John Rees, Ann Rowlands, Jane Bryant, a Catherine Watkin Williams. Yr Alto William Thomas, y Gof; Thomas Phillips ac Evan Bryant. Y Tenor - Henry Leonard, William o'r Kendon, ac Edward Davies. Y Bass - Dafydd John, Isaac John Rees a William Watkin Williams. Beth ddywedai cor o'r un gynulleidfa yn yr oes hon am gymeryd ar fath anturiaeth heb gael atynt yr R.A.M.'s yr A.C.'s yr Eosiaid, y Llinosiaid, a'r hlewod, &c., &c., ond aeth y cor hwn trwy y gorchwyl yn anrhydeddus heb yr un o honynt yr adeg hono. Ond tyna, gwell tewi rhag tynu bonclust.

         Hwynt-hwy hefyd oedd gyda y rhai cyntaf yn Aberdar i gydymffurfio i ymgymeryd a datganu rhai o'r Oratorios, a'r cyntaf a gymerasant oedd y Twelfth Mass, yna Judas Maccabæs, a'r gerddorfa dan arweinyddiaeth Caradog. Dafydd Rosser, yn arweinydd y cor, yn Aberdar y cynelid hwn, math o gor undebol ydoedd. Fel prawf o chwaeth gerddorol Ebenezer yr adeg hono gellir dweyd i ddeg o gopiau Storm Tiberias gan Tanymarian gael eu derbyn yma pan ddaeth allan gyntaf, gan y Parch. W. Edwards, Dafydd John, Henry Davies, Henry Leonard, Morgan Rowlands, Roger Jenkins, Isaac John Rees, William Thomas, Thomas Williams, a Joseph Thomas.

          

          

          

          

         THE FUTURE OF DAFYDD JOHN

         As noted, Phillip[1] was the conductor, and he continued to lead publicly after Dafydd John came here in 1849, but Dafydd John was to lead the choir. This was the time when the routine changed as regards the singing. The tenors at that time used to sing the top and the girls to sing the tenor part, but Dafydd John changed it, and he set the voices to sing as is usual nowadays. And great was the trouble about these changes; some of the old people felt a great deal of resistance[2], and there was a lot of hard work and angry upheaval between the old and the young. It is said that someone in a public meeting - when Dafydd John had bidden his choir to rise and sing - shouted out- "Now Jane, don't you sing tenor, now don't you be singing tenor;" and I do not know who Jane was, unless it was the widow of John Howells, Llwydcoed, for she was a young girl in the first choir of Dafydd John. The choir numbered about twelve. There were many storms on the road when the old and young met together. But in a little while, Phillip and the family soon moved to Aberaman, towards the end of 1849, but the boys Evan and Thomas were able to come up here for years afterwards, especially Evan, and he was clerk for a long time with his uncle, Twmi Thomas Daffyd. Some of Phillip's children are present in Saron, Aberaman; Phillip, a deacon and choirmaster, and William, a potential member there.

         And shortly after them, Thomas Phillips moved to the same place, they then turned to the saints. Then the care of it all fell upon Dafydd John's shoulder.

         FIRST CONFERENCE, 1849.

         The first concert by the new choir and conductor was probably for Christmas 1849, the first Christmas after his arrival. A chapel tea was held in the afternoon, and this was the first chapel tea[3] here; and there was a great deal of trouble to be had. Mr. Edwards and the young were very zealous for it, but the old people opposed this light-hearted approach to collecting money for the cause of religion; and they argued that they would go into debt through that. But Mr. Edwards argued that they would make twenty pounds through it. And Mr. Edwards and the young people carried the day, and the first tea festival was held in Ebenezer with a profit of over twenty pounds. I don't know of any of the young ladies who served at the tables at that time, except Miss Mary Howelis, Richard Wigley's current spouse. The fifth generation of the chapel family was present, namely Maggie M. Jenkins, daughter of Annie, spouse of John Phillips, Llwydcoed, by her first husband, and Mary Jane, daughter of R L Wigley, and also the fourth generation of several chapel families.

         DAFYDD JOHN'S SUCCESS AS CHOIRMASTER

         After this, sometime in 1851, they held an eisteddfod for the first time on a small scale, and it was a success. Then for Christmas, 1852, they held one on a wider scale, and they requested "Lift up your heads," as the principal choral piece, and Tanymarian to judge, and three choirs entered the competition, and Dafydd John's choir won with high praise. At Whitsun, 1854, they went to Temperance Hall, Merthyr, where John Williams (Corfanawg), was judging "O Ho!" from "Storm", the second choral piece. There were four choirs there, but they came back with the laurel. At Christmas, 1856, in Ebenezer, they set "O Keep Us," and "What a happening;" the judge was Dewi Alaw, and they were more than conquerors here again. Then, in September, 1857, they went to Cwmnedd "Worthy is the Lamb," and "Amen," judged by Dafydd Hywel Tomos, Rhymney, and won the field. Then, on the 1st of March, 1858, [4] they went to the Temperance Hall, Aberdare, to compete with "The Thief on the Cross;" the judges were Cyndeyrn [5] and Charles D. Lewis; three choirs competed, but they triumphed again. Then, at Christmas 1862, they went to Siloa, Aberdare, to compete with "Cân Mair," as principal piece, "Y Blodeuyn Olaf," as second piece, and a male-voice party with "Ymdaith y Mwnc." [6] The adjudicator was Griffiths, Pontardawe, or as he is currently known, Ifanders; and although many competed on the three pieces, they won all three. After that, in July 1863, they went to Ebenezer, Swansea, with "Y Blodeuyn Olaf," and received joint prize. They then went at Christmas 1864, with the "Hallelujah Chorus", to the Temperance Hall, Aberdare. The judge was Eos Rhondda, but they were not successful; Bethania, Aberdare, defeated them, and the choir and conductor believed that they had suffered a disgrace, and this ended the competitive life of Dafydd John. But the old competitive spirit remained in the various choirs of Caradog and Rhys Evans after that, and Dafydd John himself with several others from his choir competed at the Crystal Palace for the silver cup in Caradog's Cor Mawr. Other than that there have been various eisteddfodau in the chapel within our memory; and various parties from the choir from time to time competing under the leadership of J. W. Jones, Tonypandy Schoolmaster, Evan Thomas, now of Aberaman, Daniel Jones Lewis and others, but Dafydd John has not competed and has consecrated himself to the sanctuary and to staging concerts in various towns, in April 1862, he held a concert at Ynysgau, Merthyr, after a Chapel Tea. The Gethin Explosion [7] occurred on the 19th of February prior to this, where Edward Beynon and forty-six others lost their lives, many of whom were members of the Ynysgau choir, and Edward Beynon the conductor. In view of this the Ynysgau choir was neither able nor had the heart to hold this planned concert; and at short notice Dafydd John took his choir and conducted the concert. And in August of the same year they went to Treherbert to hold a concert. And on July 15th 1867, they went to Blaenllechau to do the same service - helping pastors' causes. This shows a great sacrifice on the part of the choir to cross the mountains home at that time of night, if it happened to be rough, especially as it was when crossing back from Blaenllechau. [8] He kept the choir in full working order through the years. We have no knowledge of any choir embarking on one of these great Oratorios before Dafydd John's choir undertook and proclaimed the Messiah at Christmas, 1853, at Ebenezer Chapel. They were accompanied by the Orchestra of Hen Dy Cwrdd in which Caradog was a member. There is no information to suggest that they sent to London or any other place for assistance, or Artists, or otherwise, but they distributed the work among themselves. To sing the solos, &c., we had the young women Sara John Rees, Ann Rowlands, Jane Bryant, and Catherine Watkin Williams. Alto William Thomas, Blacksmith; Thomas Phillips and Evan Bryant. Tenor - Henry Leonard, William of Kendon, and Edward Davies. Bass - Dafydd John, Isaac John Rees and William Watkin Williams. What would a similar congregational choir in this age say about taking on such a venture without having access to the R.A.M.'s [Royal Academy of Music] and the A.C.'s of the Nightingales, the Lions, and the Owls, &c., &c., but they acquitted themselves honorably without any of them at that time. But there you go, better to keep quiet than to crow.

         They were also the first in Aberdare to undertake to perform some of the Oratorios, and the first they took was the Twelfth Mass, then Judas Maccabæs, with the orchestra under the leadership of Caradog. Dafydd Rosser, conductor of the choir, in Aberdare, arranged this exchange and a type of united choir. As a demonstration of Ebenezer's musical tastes at that time, ten copies of Tanymarian's Storm Tiberias can be said to have been received here when it first came out, by the Rev. W. Edwards, Dafydd John, Henry Davies, Henry Leonard, Morgan Rowlands, Roger Jenkins, Isaac John Rees, William Thomas, Thomas Williams, and Joseph Thomas.

          

          

          

         [1] Phillip Phillips, who was precentor before Dafydd John arrived.

         [2] lit. "turned their faces to the side" - indicating that they were very cross indeed!

         [3] lit. "tea party" - a communal afternoon tea in the chapel, that people paid to take part in prior to the evening concert. They were a very new-fangled idea at the time and controversial for several reasons: they were seen as a 'frivolous' entertainment taking place in a sacred building; they also represented a monetary transaction in the chapel itself, which many would have felt was akin to the Temple courts in Jerusalem condemned by Jesus in the Gospels.

         [4] St David's Day, therefore the most prestigious eisteddfod of the year.

         [5] Robert Davies, a well-known hymn writer from North Wales.

         [6] "The Monk's March" - probably Beethoven's arrangement of The Monks of Bangor's March, a popular male voice piece that was frequently used in eisteddfodau - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyK9iQvPwKg

         [7] A notorious colliery explosion that is still referenced frequently.

         [8] About 7.5 miles over the mountains - a 3 hour hike.

    2. • Page: Page 52
       • Citation:

         SEFYDLU LLWFRGELL 1893.

         Dyma'r flwyddyn hefyd y daeth mater y Llyfrgell i'r eglwys a'r gynulleidfa i ffurf weithredol - yn fater i'w benderfynu. Yr oedd hon fel Teml Solomon gynt; Dafydd gafodd y portread o hono ond Solomon a'i hadeiladodd; felly yma, yr oedd y drchfeddwl o Lyfrgell i'r capel yn meddiant Dafydd John er ys blynyddau, ond William E. Thomas ddaeth a hi i derfyniad trwy y rhes gyngherddau gynaliwyd gan y cor o dan ei arweinyddiaeth; ond cafodd Dafydd John y mwynhad o wel'd ei ddrychfeddyliau'n cael eu sylweddoli, a chafodd y pleser e'i hagor yn ffurfilo Tachwedd y 13eg, 1893.

          

          

         ESTABLISHING A LIBRARY 1893.

         This was the year when the question of establishing a Library for Ebenezer Church was put to the congregation for a decision. This could be likened to the Biblical account of Solomon's Temple - David had the dream [of a temple] but it was Solomon who had it built. So here, it was Dafydd John who for years had a vision of having a library for the chapel, but it was William E. Thomas [Dafydd John's successor as choir conductor] who enabled this facility to become affordable through a series of concerts performed by the choir under his leadership. Dafydd John had the satisfaction of seeing his dream come true, and he was granted the honour of officially opening the new Library on 13th November, 1893.

    3. • Page: Page 108
       • Citation:

         From Chapter XV (Persons brought up in Ebenezer Chapel who went on to do well in the field of education)

         Miss Mary John. - Merch y diweddar Dafydd John. Treuliodd hi ei thymor yn Ysgol y Parc. Aeth i'r coleg yn Abertawe, ac wedi treulio ei thymor yno daeth allan yn llwyddianus, a chafodd ysgol yn y Cymer, Rhondda, lle y mae yn bresenol.

         Miss Margaret John. - Merch eto i'r diweddar Dafydd John. Yn Ysgol y Parc y bu hithau, ac oddiyno i'r Coleg yn Abertawe. Wedi ei dyfodiad allan, aeth i gadw ysgol yn Ynysowen, Bodringallt. Mae'n briod yn bresenol gydag un o'r enw Mr. Preece, ac maent yn cadw siop Ironmongery yn y Porth.

          

          

         Miss Mary John. - A daughter of the late Dafydd John. She attended Park School. She went to college in Swansea, and after spending her time there, graduated successfully, and runs a school in Cymmer, Rhondda, where she is at present.

         Miss Margaret John. - Also a daughter of the late Dafydd John. She had attended Park School (Trecynon) and then College in Swansea. From there she went to run a school in Ynysowen, Bodringallt. She is now married to a Mr. Preece, and they run an Ironmongery shop in Porth.

24. Y Cerddor
    1. • Date: April 1894
       • Page: Page 41
       • Citation:

         Bywgraffiad.

         DAFYDD JOHN.

         Ganwyd y diweddar Dafydd John yn Merthyr Tydfil, Mai 12fed, 1822, a bu farw Ionawr 5ed, 1894. Mab ydoedd i William a Margaret John, y rhai a hanent o Gilgerran, Sir Benfro. Symudodd i Heol-y-felin, Aberdâr, yn Ebrill, 1849. Ymaelododd gyda'r Annibynwyr yn Ebenezer, ac yn fuan wedi ei sefydliad yno dechreuodd lafurio gyda'r canu cynulleidfaol. Cyn hir daeth côr a chanu Ebenezer, dan ei arweiniad, yn enwog tryw y cylchoedd, ac edrychid arno fel yr arweinydd mwyaf deallus a medrus yn Nyffryn Aberdâr. Ffurfiwyd côr undebol yn Aberdâr, er cystadlu mewn Eisteddfod yn Merthyr, ar yr anthem "Par'toweb y ffordd" (Charles Daniel Lewis), ac etholwyd ef yn arweinydd. Bu y côr yn fuddugol; ac yn fuddugol lawer o weithiau wedi hyny. Yr oedd tuedd nat?riol meddwl Dafydd John bob amser at gerddoriaeth glasurol, ac yn ystod y tymhor hir o 45ain mlynedd y bu yn gwasanaethu fel arweinydd, ni chanwyd dim ond darnau da, chwaethus a chlasurol gan y côr, yr hwn oedd bob amser dan berffaith ddysgyblaeth.

         Yn 1862 cynhaliodd gyngherdd, yn yr hon y datganwyd y rhan fwyaj o'r "Messiah." Wedi hyny dysgwyd "Judas Maccabæus" a'r "Twelfth Mass" (Mozart), yr hon a ddatganwyd gyda cherddorfa dan arweiniad Caradog.

         Tra yr ymhyfrydai yn ngweithiau y prif-feistri, nid esgeulusai weithiau cyfansoddwyr Cymreig. Yr oedd yn hoff iawn o gyfansoddiadau Tanymarian, Ambrose Lloyd, Owain Alaw, &c.

         Yr oedd yn ddyn o wybodaeth eang, a chweath bur, o rodiad diargyhoedd, ac o synwyr cyffredin cryf. Yr oedd yn neillduol am ei garedigrwydd, ac yn un a fawr berchid gan bawb a'i hadwaenai.

         Yn y flwyddyn 1860 anrhegwyd ef â swm o arian ag harmoneg dda; ac yn 1875 anrhegwyd ef eilwaith â pherdoneg werthfawr, a swm o arian, ac anerchiad hardd, fel arwydd o barch yr eglwys tuag ato. Cafodd angladd anrhydeddus. Nid ydym yn cofio clywed erioed gwell a llawnach canu.

         Ychydig amser cyn ei farw, ar ei gais ef, penodwyd Mr. W. E. Thomas, 'Celloist tra galluog, ac aelod o'i gôr, yn gynorthywyr iddo, ac y mae yn sier o wneyd olynydd teilwng i brif arweinydd canu cynulleidfaol Cwm Aberdâr.

          

          

          

         Biography.

         DAFYDD JOHN.

         The late Dafydd John was born in Merthyr Tydfil, May 12th, 1822, and died January 5th, 1894. He was the son of William and Margaret John, both of Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire. He moved to Heol-y-felin, Aberdare, in April 1849. He joined the Congregationalists at Ebenezer, and soon after his establishment there began working on the congregational singing. Ebenezer's choir and singing, under his leadership, soon became famous in the circles, and he was regarded as the most skilled and accomplished conductor in the Aberdare Valley. A union choir was formed in Aberdare, in order to compete in an Eisteddfod in Merthyr, on the anthem "Par'toweb y Ffordd" (Charles Daniel Lewis), and he was elected conductor. The choir was victorious; and victorious many times after that. Dafydd John's natural tendency was always to classical music, and during the long 45 years he served as conductor, the choir sang only good, tasteful and classical pieces, always under perfect discipline.

         In 1862 he held a concert, at which most of the "Messiah" was performed. This was followed by the teaching of "Judas Maccabæus" and the "Twelfth Mass" (Mozart), which was performed with an orchestra conducted by Caradog.

         While he admired the works of the great masters, he did not neglect Welsh composers either. He particularly liked the compositions of Tanymarian, Ambrose Lloyd, Owain Alaw, & c.

         He was a man of wide knowledge, and of a pure taste, of an impassioned gift, and of strong common sense. He was distinguished for his kindness, and was respected by all who knew him.

         In 1860 he was presented with a sum of money and a good harmonium; and in 1875 he was again presented with a valuable piano, and a sum of money, and a beautiful address, as a mark of the church's respect for him. He had an honorable funeral. We do not remember ever hearing better and fuller singing.

         Shortly before his death, at his request, Mr. W. E. Thomas, a highly accomplished cellist, and a member of his choir, became his assistant, and he is sure to be a worthy successor to the most famous choirmaster of the Aberdare Valley.

25. Cymru
    1. • Date: 1906
       • Page: Vol 30 Page 288-291
       • Citation:

         Dafydd John.

         I. TREM AR WR DEFOSIYNOL.

         Torodd sywn sillau yr enw hwn wawrddydd haf newydd ym myd ein serch a'n profiad, a thywynodd oleuni hyfrydach yn ffurfafen ein ffeithiau; do enynodd hyawdledd yn nhafodiath ein hysgrifbin. Ni fu raid cyrchu drwy Hebron hanes nac hyd at ddyffryn Escol rhyw draddodiad hen er cael y grawnwin dyfai ar gangau pren ei fywyd. Yn nrysny traddodiad a llafar y cadd ein llaw afael ar gryd a bedd ei ragflaenwyr, ond wyneb yn ngwyneb a llaw yn law bu hwn a ni. Bu dadleu am le ei eni, hyd nes daethom o hyd i'r awdurdod sicraf, yn nhystiolaeth un o'r plant, mai yng Nhilgeran, sir Benfro, y ganwyd ef. Pan yn llanc symudodd ei rieni i Ferthyr. Cadd anian gwlad lawn gyfle i ddysgu'r gwron bychan am gyfrinach cerdd a bywyd, a chafodd ategion lu i'w hawgrym yn ei gyfathrach a hen gerddorion Tydfil; ac yng nghyfeiriad y gerdd a'r gân ni fu neb yn fwy o gynyrch si yr awel, cân y ffrwd, swn y daran, a pheroriaeth yr adar. Yn nheml Anian clywodd ef y pedwarau cyntaf yn cynyrchu swn ac yn plethu cynghaneddion cerdd. Rhwng y dolydd a'r gwagle bu ei ddychymyg yn ffurfio defnyddiau ei freuddwydion, ac yn dechreu creu sylweddau i'w ddelfrydau. Pwy ŵyr gymaint cyfoeth yr awgrymiadau, a golud yr argraffiadau, oedd paradwys Cilgeran wedi roi yn etifeddiaeth iddo erbyn iddo ymsymud i Forgannwg?

         Prin, os dim, yw seiliau sydd gennym am adgofion y mab o'i rieni, ond mae gennym dir cadarn i'r casgliad eu bod ill dau yn Biwritaniaid i'r gwraidd. Dywedir iddo gael yn ei fam y wraig dduwiolaf yn ardaloedd ei faboed. Cael mam ddoeth rasol i gychwyn bywyd, a chael ei llaw a'i chyngor i ffurfio bywyd, a oes pris i'r fraint ? Diau iddo yfed enw yr Iesu wrth sugno bron ei fam. A faint o ddyferynau dwfr y bywyd suddodd i'w enaid oddiwrth lif ei gweddiau taerddwys ? Un o roddion a ffafrau goraf Duw i'w fyd ydyw y fam, a choll cenedl ydyw colli ei nawdd. Ynddi hi mae moes a chrefydd, addysg a gwareiddiad, yn plannu eu gwreiddiau a'u hanfodion, ac ofer disgwyl am ffurfiau uchaf diwylliant yn y pellter oddiwrthi. Ofnir fod Cymru wedi gwneyd cam a'i safle, a chamwri gwaeth a'i nheges, wrth ddistewi ei llais, mathru ei gwên, a chrino ei llaw.

         Ond nid yw hanes Dafydd John yn y wlad, nac ym Merthyr, ond megis hanes baban yn ei gryd o'i gydmaru a'i hanes diweddarach yn Aberdâr. Onid yn Aberdâr dadblygodd rhagorolion ei gymeriad, ac onid hen ddylanwadau'r dyffryn dynnodd allan ei alluoedd ddadseiniodd dros gyffiniau plwy a sir? Ie, pan oedd ei fywyd fel yr haul tua chanol dydd, ac yn rhedeg ei yrfa oddiyno yn ei lawn ysblander a'i ogoniant hyd ei fachlud - dyna'r adeg gwelwyd ein gwron i fantais. Ddarllennydd, dacw'r dyn. Cryna'n llaw o barch ato rhag difwyno ei ddarlun. A beth greuloned a thynnu ystaen dros liwiau heirdd ei fywyd? A beth can saled wneir a gŵr brydferthodd Duw na pheidio neu fethu rhoi a haedda ei hanes?

         Dyn penfelyn, llathraidd ei gorff, syth ei ystum, byrr a buan ei gam yw. Yr oedd ei gam gan fyrred a cham y dryw, a chan ysgafned a sang y wiwer. Wrth ymheneiddio collodd ei sythder cyntefig, ond heb i'w gerddediad wybod dim wrth arafwch. Ond daeth ryw fân ymsigliadau i reoli ei babell yn lle'r sythedd a'i nodweddai gynt. Er hynny, mwynhad oedd ei weld a'i glywed a'r fore Sul yn cerdded i fyny dros Heol Harriet i'r oedfa, yn pesychu ei grugni i ffwrdd ar gyfer caniadau Seion. A phwy na chofia am dano yn chwareu ei lygaid craff tan ei wydrau, ac ar ambell funud o anghofrwydd yn troi gwyneb myfyriol yn sydyn tua'r nef, ac yn ei erchi drachefn yn union i edrych yn ol at yr hen blaned, gan droi pen i bob cyfeiriad a phwynt, a hynny heb awgrymu iot i ddehongli ei sefyllfa i undyn?

         Ymrestrodd, o ran ei alwedigaeth, gyda'r dosbarth sy'n gofalu am sylfaen cymdeithas, oblegid crydd y mynnodd fod hyd ei fedd; ac y mae dweyd nad oedd yn ddim arall yn cynnwys gwers genhadol i'r dilafur a'r pob llafur. Awr felus, llawn sylwedd i mi, fu yr un gafwyd yn ddiweddar yng nghwmni diddan ei olynydd arweinyddol. Mater arfaethol yr ymddiddan oedd Dafydd John. "Beth oedd yr hen wron?" meddwn. "Crydd," meddai ei addolydd yn ddifloesg, "cadw traed gwerin yr ardal ar dir sych oedd ei nod. Yr oedd Dafydd John, syr," meddai "yn artist yn y gelf; ac nid oedd yn ail i neb yn y cyfryw alwedigaeth. Cofus gennyf am y pâr esgidiau diweddaf dderbyniais oddiar ei law. Pan estynnai'r celfyddydwr hwy i mi,­ - 'Dyna,' meddai, gyda winc llygad yn rhagdybio ergyd o gellwair, 'os wyf yn mynd yn hen, nid yw fy llaw wedi colli ei chywreinrwydd.'" Er iddo symud yn fore i Aberdâr, dylifai'r deallus a'r darbodus ato o Ferthyr trwy gydol ei oes i gael eu traed wedi eu harwisgo o'i wneuthuriad ef. Tybiwn hefyd nad oedd ei alwedigaeth namyn dameg yn cyfeirio at ystyr a neges ei fywyd uwch. Cynorthuyo ereill i gerdded ac i ennill buddugoliaethau iechyd a diogelwch ar eu pererindod, fu ei egni mwyaf.

         Ym mlynyddoedd olaf ei fywyd aeth ei anadl yn gaeth, a'i besychiadau yn aml a rhwystrol i'w fwynhad a'i ddefnyddioldeb, ac fel un wedi cloddio adnoddau ei fywyd allan gan lafur diorffwys. Golygfa barodd i'r rhai mwyaf prudd eu tymheredd wenu yn ddiniwed weithiau oedd ei weld yn ysgogi pen, trwsio ei got gynffon mor ddiatal o'r tucefn, a'r caethwasiaeth osodai i ran ei gadach porffor - bwrw'r seinfforch erbyn ei benglin, ac yn rhedeg swn disain i fyny ar hyd y raddfa seiniol i gyfeiriad cyweirnod y dôn a naws yr emyn fwriedid ei chanu yn yr addoliad. Gwelsom droion, cyn gorffenai Grawys ddarllen yr emyn i'r addolwyr, yr hen arweinydd penfelyn yn codi ar ei draed, y llyfr hymnau yn y naill law a'r seinfforch yn y llall, i arwyddo i'r gynulleidfa fod y dôn a'r emyn yn ganiadwy. Yna clywid ef yn canu unawd ar air cyntaf yr emyn ac ai ymlaen yn ei ddull ffwdanus fymryn rhag blaen, gan weithredu amseriad y canu yn sigliadau ei freichiau ac ysgydwadau ei ben hyd y diwedd. Yr oedd eithafion y canu angladdol a'r canu gwleddol naill ai yn ei wylltu neu yn ei ddelwi ar amserau. Yn codi yn y cyfeillachau i siarad, ac yn troi y naill law yn nghil y llall, a chan ysgwyddo fel petai ar fin rhynnu; yn cyfarch y brodyr a'r chwiorydd yn yr ail berson yn y rhif lliosog: yn eistedd yng nghanol y sedd fawr mor aniddig a phetai ei eisteddle yn berth ddreiniog odditano - pwy all ei anghofio? Yr oedd y wedd ddifrifol dduwiol oedd yn llinellau a ddarllenid mor hawdd ar ei wyneb, ynghyd a'r dylanwad feddent i suddo can ddyfned i'n hymwybyddiaeth, yn peri i ni gredu y rhaid ei fod yn debyg i'r hen Abel Hughes bortreadir yn "Hunangofiant Rhys Lewis," ond eithrio, feallai, ei ddiwinyddiaeth a'i ddisgyblaeth, ac yn arbennig y ffwdan eglwysig oedd o'i gwmpas. Dyddordeb glân oedd enaid y ffwdan er hynny, ac nid cecraeth gŵr y grefydd fâs ynghylch yr achos.

         Cofus gan lawer am dano fel athraw yn arwain ei ddosbarth trwy lyfr Job. Ychydig wyddai am arweddion ac amgylchoedd hanesyddol, a nodweddion llenyddol, yr hen lyfr. Llai fyth feddyliodd am y trwch barddoniaeth guddiasai ei wyneb, ac am feirniadaethau'r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg parthed ei gyfansoddiad. Dan ei gesail cludai esboniad trwchus o rwymiad da; a gwyddwn fod rhagarweiniad beirniadol ysgolheigaidd yn rhagflaenu ei esboniadaeth ynddo. Ond ni fu y gangen honno a digon o swyn i hudo ei sylw i'w ddarllen neu o leiaf i argyhoeddi ei farn uniongred. Pe felly, buasai ganddo safle esboniadol amgenach wrth law o flaen ei ddosbarth. Ond na thybier mai rywsut a dilinell yr oedd yn ymlwybro trwy'r llyfr. Tynnu ei gynnwys allan,­ - trwy ei farddoniaeth, ac heibio i arucheledd ei iaith, - gymaint ag a ganfyddai ef, ac a fedrai wneyd o hono yn ymarferol i'w ddosbarth, dyna wnai Dafydd John. Ni ddychmygai am wasanaeth uwch ac amcan gwell; ac ni honnai ddim yn lletach, os gwyddai am nemawr yn eangach. Buasai rhoi cyfle i'w ddisgyblion i ddysgu ac i adrodd adnodau llyfr Job yn fwy o adeiladaeth, yn ei olwg ef, na'u gadael i benderfynu ei setting hanesyddol. Tybed a ddeallodd mai mater triphlyg yr hen lyfr yw dioddefaint y natur a'r hil ddynol, ac yn arbennig y dyn duwiol, fel y myntumia beirniaid yr ugeinfed ganrif? Ond nid diwinydd yn ystyr gyffredin y gair oedd Dafydd John: a phe dywedasid hynny wrtho, ni fuasai'r cyhoeddiad yn ddigonol i'w dagu gan siom y datguddiad. Ond yr oedd ynddo drysor na fedd diwinyddiaeth ei hun allu i'w chyfrannu, a bu dylanwad y meddiant hwnnw yn fwy o elfen i grefyddoli ei ddosbarth na dim oedd yng ngoreu ei wybodaeth. Dyna ddigon, o bosibl, i ddangos nodwedd arwynebol ei feddwl gyda phwysau, dyfnder, ac ystyron pellaf pethau yn yr ystyr a nodwyd. Ond hen garictor gwreiddiol ac anibynnol hollol fu ar gyfrif ei lendid moesol, tlysni ysbrydol, dyfnder argyhoeddiadau, purdeb amcanion, uniondeb egwyddorion, a ffyddlondeb diwyrni.

         II. URDDASOLRWYDD EI DDEFOSIWN.

         Yr oedd yn ddefosiynol heb fod yn ddefodol; a chynnyrch y ddeddf foesol yn hytrach na'r seremoniol oedd cynysgaeth ei fuchedd. Yr oedd gwraidd ei ddefosiwn mewn syniadau ac mewn egwyddorion, ac nid mewn ffurfiau neu swp o arferion. Yr oedd hanfod ei ddefosiwn yn y moesol a'r ysbrydol; ac yr oedd graen rhywbeth uwchlaw delw'r dynol yn gerfiol arno. Ni fedrai y diddefosiwn fodoli yn anystyriol, a byw yn anaturiol, yn ymyl Dafydd John. Nid ofni ei lef yn gymaint a'i edrychiad, nac ofni ei drem yn gymaint a'i ddylanwad, wnaent, i beidio pechu yn ei bresenoldeb. Nid ei brotest gweithredol, na'i wrthwynebiad cadarnhaol gostiai iddo ef wywo'r anuwioldeb safai ar ganol ei ffordd ac ar ymylon ei lwybrau, ond y rhinwedd ddeuai allan o'i bersonoliaeth, a'r dylanwad lifai allan o'i fywyd. 'Roedd pob dilledyn, trem, ystum, ac osgo o'i eiddo yn llawn arwyddion defosiwn. Yr oedd ei ymddygiad patriarchaidd a bonheddig, wrth fyned i gysegr Duw, yn ddehongliad ymarferol ar eiriau'r gŵr doeth ynglyn a gwylio'r droed yn y cyntedd ac i allori'r ebyrth yn uniawn. Clywsom aml gyfeiriad o'i enau, ac heb honni ei hun yn esiampl, at yr anweddusder a'r trwstaneiddiwch ddeuai dynion i fewn i'r deml gyda hwy. Cofus gennym i lanhawr y capel alw ei sylw ar un achlysur i fyny i un o gornelau yr oriel at ol bwyta melusion a chnoi myglys, yn gymysg a phlisgion cnau a rhisg eurafalau. Dyma yr unig dro i mi ei weled a'i deimlo agosaf at fod yn erwin. Ond ni aflonyddai hyn ef yn agos gymaint a'r ysgafnder a'r dirmyg y gwyddai daflai rhai o'r aelodau ieuainc ar y cymundeb. Gwelwyd ef hefyd yn codi allan o ganol y sedd fawr mewn dull sydyn ddegau o weithiau i'r cyntedd, ac allan i'r palmant o flaen y capel, i gyhoeddi gosteg er tawelu swn y storm oedd yn aflonyddu'r addoliad gan y diweddariaid. Codai'r sel hon ynddo o'r syniad goleddai am hawliau'r cysegr a gweddeidd-dra proffes grefyddol.

         Nid oedd ei ysbryd yn ffieiddio dim can gased na defosiwn gwneyd, rhyw orwneyd ymddangosiad allanol, gyda'r diben o gael ei gyfrif yn sant. Nid oedd ef yn gwybod dim am yr ymdrech gostus a threisiol honno.

         "Dwfn ffieiddiai bob ffurfioldeb
         Rhith grefyddol yn y tir
         Nid oedd gredwr mewn duwioldeb
         Ysgwyd pen a gwyneb hir."

         III. TREFNUSRWYDD EI GYNLLUNIAU.

         Un o garedigion trefn oedd Dafydd John. Sawl gwaith tramwyodd feusydd Cilgeran, gan ddotio ar drefn y Lluniwr mawr, yn nhrefn y ser, y blodeu, y coed a'r glaswellt? Taflodd lygad ar fyd oedd yn gwbl rydd oddiwrth dryblith yno; a bu'r ffurfiau cyntaf ganfyddodd ym machgendod ei fywyd yn safon fyth ar ol hynny i'w efelychiadau trefnyddol. Gwelid olion trefn ar ei ddyn oddiallan. Byddai gwaith tacluso a thrwsio cryn lawer arno cyn myned i'r capel. Byddai weithiau yn ymylu ar orfanylder. Wedi myned trwy arholiad manwl ei briod a'r drych yn y ty, parhai i edrych arno ei hun bob cam o'i gamrau hyd y capel a welai frycheuyn o fater o rywle wedi ei halogi ar y ffordd. Gwelai lwchyn llwyd pluenddu, neu edefyn o unrhyw hyd a lliw, yn union wedi dringo ar hyd-ddo. Gwnai amnaid o anghymeradwyaeth ar y plyg lleiaf ar faes ei frethyn. Deuai galwadau sydyn am dano tra ar ganol ei waith weithiau, ond byddai yn rhaid iddo gael taflu ei gochl hir i guddio'r dillad gwaith, a'r brychau cwyr, ac i fogi arogl y lledr. Nid balchder yn cael ei gynyrchu gan ysbryd ffasiynol yr oes oedd hyn ynddo, ond Cristion o flaen ei ddydd mewn defosiwn sanctaidd oedd, a gweddeidd-dra yn tarddu o barchedigaeth i hawliau pethau.

         Deuai y nodwedd hon i'r golwg yn amlycach yng nghysylltiadau yr achos. Flynyddoedd yn ol, pan yn adgyweirio'r capel, gwelid ef unwaith o leiaf y dydd yn cyrchu yn ei gochl i'r lle, er gweled pa fodd y cynyddai y gwaith dan ddwylaw y crefftwyr. Er fod yno ddynion deheuig wedi eu cyflogi at y gorchwyl, nid oedd hynny yn ddigon o reswm iddo ef i aoerthu ei farn a'i chwaeth. Mynnai daflu awgrymiadau a gwthio cyfarwyddiadau arnynt am gynlluniau'r celfyddydwaith. Yr oedd yno un arall yn mynych gyrchu yn go swyddogol i'r capel fel yntau, ac er na anturiai yn agos gymaint i arfer ei ddawn i gynnyg gwelliant ar ddim, er ei fod yn oracl ar y gorchwyl ymhob cysylltiad arall, er hynny yr oedd yn fwy o hyfrydwch gan yr adgyweirwyr weld gwyneb yr hen sant penfelyn oedd bron o'r golwg yn ei gochl, a dywedir na fuasai eu llafur wedi bod mor addurnedig a gorffenedig ar wahan i'w farn ef.

         Nid yw dweyd ei fod yn edmygwr trefn yn gyfystyr a mynegi ei fod yn drefnydd (organizer), ond yn oedd i raddau yn medru cynllunio yn wreiddiol a thorri llinellau newyddion i wahanol fudiadau gychwyn ac i weithio ar hyd-ddynt. Efe er enghraifft ydeodd pioneer llyfrgell yr eglwys; ac efe ddarniodd hen drefn y cynfyd cerddorol gan newid safleoedd y cantorion. Nid y tenors oedd gymhwysaf i ganu yr alaw, ac nid y sopranos oedd oreu i ganu y counter part yn ol ei farn ef; oblegid hyn ni chafodd yntau ddianc rhag blas y fflangell. Llawer gair cas a dyrnod drom gafodd oddiar law dynionach ansymudol. Ond boddlonai aros dan y gawod greulonaf os mai hi oedd ei gyfle i amddiffyn trefn, a chadarnhau cynlluniau. Camesboniwyd ei amcanion dan rai amgylchiadau yn dra chwithig, yn arbennig pan ymdrechai berffeithio canaidaeth y cysegr, a phan ymegniai i ddadblygu cerddoriaeth yr addoliad. Os byddai llaw gydag ef mewn dim, byddai ol ei drefnusrwydd ar yr oll; a diau fod dylanwad ei alwedigaeth wedi cyfrannu mesur o fanylder a chywreinrwydd i fewn i'r elfen yma ynddo. Parhaodd yn wr trefnus a chynllunus ymhob cylch, a chyda pob gwaith hyd y diwedd.

          

          

          

          

          

         Dafydd John.

         I. A LOOK AT A DEVOTIONAL MAN.

         The mention of this name illuminates our world with love and lived faith, and shone a brighter light on the firmament of our faith; our pen gives witness to the soundness of his life. It has not been necessary to travel through Hebron’s story to the Eschol valley [1] of ancient tradition to find the grapes that grew on the wooden branches of his life. In the treasure trove of tradition and speech our hand grasped the grief and grave of its predecessors, but this was us face to face. There was a dispute about the place of his birth, until we found the safest authority, in the evidence of one of the children, that he was born in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire. When a young man his parents moved to Merthyr. He had the opportunity to learn the little sacred things of the secret of music and life, and he was given many suggestions through his conversations with the old Tydfil musicians; and as concerns poetry and song no one was more the product of the breeze, the song of the stream, the sound of thunder, and the music of the birds. In Anian's temple he heard the first quartets producing sound and weaving musical cynghanedd. [2] Between the meadows and the void his imagination formed the materials of his dreams, and his dreams began to take form. Who knows how much the wealth of suggestions, and the richness of the impressions, that Cilgerran's paradise had given him as his legacy by the time he moved to Glamorgan?

         We have few, if any, grounds for the son's recollections of his parents, but we have a firm basis for concluding that they were both Puritan at heart. He is said to have found his mother to be the godliest woman when he was a child. Can a price be placed on the value of having such a gracious and wise mother at one’s start in life, and benefitting from her advice to shape one’s character. No doubt he drank the name of Jesus while sucking his mother's breast. And how many drops of the living water must have dropped into his soul from the flow of her intense prayers? The mother is one of God's greatest gifts and favours in life, and to lose one’s mother is to lose His sanctuary. With her are found morals and religion, education and civilization, she plants the roots and essential traits, only hoping to nurture the highest forms of culture in the future. It is feared that Wales has done wrong to her position, and a worse error to her message, by silencing her voice, crushing her smile, and withering her hand.

         But Dafydd John's story is not in the country, nor in Merthyr, but as a baby in his crib compared to his later history in Aberdare. Was it not Aberdare which developed his character, and did not the old valley influences draw out his capabilities that resonated far beyond the confines of parish and county? Yes, when his life was like the sun at noon, and his career ran on from there in all its splendor and glory until sunset - then was he seen to be a true hero. Reader, behold the man. We shake his hand from respect, lest his picture be defiled. And what cruelty to pick over the beautiful colours of his life? And what a crime it would be against a beautiful man of God to fail to tell of the beauty of his life.

         He was a fair-haired man, his body bright, [3] his posture was straight, quick of movement. His step was as short and swift as the wren's step, and as light of tread as the squirrel. With the years he lost his original upright posture, but his gait did not slow. But came some small shaking to his earthly tent in place of his former characteristic posture. Even so, it was a pleasure to see and hear him on a Sunday morning walking up Harriet Street to the service, coughing along the way for the sake of the songs of Zion. And who does not remember his keen eyes behind his glasses, and in an idle absent moment suddenly turning his face to heaven, and then bidding himself again to turn back to the old planet, and looking around him on all sides, as though trying to work out where he was? [4]

         He, in his profession, enlisted with the class which cares for the foundations of society, for a shoemaker insisted on the length of his grave; and a saying that is nothing else contains a missionary lesson for the ungodly and all labor. A felicitous hour, full of substance for me, has been the recent one with the amusement of his leading successor. The subject of the conversation was Dafydd John. "What were the old urons?" I said. "A shoemaker," said his worshiper in awe, "his aim was to keep the local folk's feet on dry ground. Dafydd John, sir," he said, was an artist in the art; I remember the last pair of shoes I received from his hand. When the artist extended them to me, - 'That,' he said, with a wink of an eye presuming a shot of joking, 'if I grow old, my hand will have lost its curiosity.'" Although he had moved early to Aberdare, the intelligent and prudent should go to him from Merthyr all his life to have their feet made of his own making. We also assume that his vocation minus a parable did not refer to the meaning and message of his higher life. Helping others walk and gain health and safety victories on their pilgrimage has been his greatest energy.

         In the last years of his life his breath became laboured, his coughs often obstructed his enjoyment and usefulness, as though he had used up his life’s resources by constant labour. A scene that caused the most downhearted of temperament to sometimes smile inoffensively was to see him shaking a head, smoothing down the back of his tailcoat, and restoring order to his purple cloak - striking the tuning fork against his knee, and running up the phonetic scale to set the tune and key of the hymn intended to be sung in worship. [5] Often during Lent, when the hymn had been read out to the congregation, we would see the former golden-haired leader rising to his feet, hymn book in one hand and tuning fork in the other, to signal to the congregation the key of the hymn to be sung. [6] He could then be heard singing the first word of the hymn alone and proceeding in his frenzied manner a little ahead [of the congregation], conducting the singing and shaking his head to the end. The funereal or joyful singing alternately distressed him or consumed him. Rising to address the congregation and turning this way and that, and trembling, as if about to fall to the ground; addressing the sisters and brethren in the second person with burning fire: sitting in the middle of the big seat [7] as restless as if his seat was a thorny hedge under him - who can forget it? His serious and godly demeanor that we could read in every line on his face, combined with his influence sank so profoundly deep into our consciousness, led us to believe him to be similar to old Abel Hughes as portrayed in the "Autobiography of Rhys Lewis," [8] except, perhaps, in his theology and discipline, and in particular the ecclesiastical fuss that surrounded him. Much fuss was made of his pure soul, however the man of faith himself did not approve.

         Many remember him as a teacher leading his class through the book of Job. He knew little about the historical features and surroundings, and literary features, of the old book. He never thought less about the thickness of poetry that hid its face, and of the nineteenth-century criticisms of its composition. Under his armpit he carried a thick well-bound commentary; and we know that scholarly critical study preceded his exposition of it. But that history did not have enough charm to convince him to read it or at least to alter his orthodox views. If so, he would have an alternative explanatory position to hand to present in front of his class. But do not suppose that he was somehow wandering aimlessly through the book. Aside from its content - through its poetry, and beyond the supremacy of its language - all his knowledge and ability did he lay before his class, that is what Dafydd John did. He did not imagine himself for a higher service and a better objective; and he claimed nothing greater, if he had had wider knowledge. [9] Giving his pupils the opportunity to learn and recite the verses of Job's book would be more useful in his view, than leaving them to determine its historical setting. I wonder if he understood that the triple issue of the old book is the suffering of nature and the human race, and especially of the godly man, as the twentieth-century critics' myntumia? [10] But David John was not a theologian in the ordinary sense of the word: and if we were to say that he was, the announcement would not suffice to stifle the disappointment of the revelation. But he possessed a treasure which theology itself could not provide, and the influence of that possession was a greater influence on the faith of his class than anything the best knowledge could give. That was enough, perhaps, to provide his simple interpretations with weight, depth, and meaning far from the deepest interpretation. But only an old, original and completely independent character would reckon with his moral purity, spiritual compassion, depth of convictions, purity of objectives, integrity of principles, and faithfulness the whole day long.

         II. THE DIGNITY OF HIS DEVOTION.

         He was devotional without being ritualistic; and he dedicated his life to morals rather than ceremonial law. His devotion was rooted in ideas and principles, not in mere form or custom. The essence of his devotion was in the moral and the spiritual; and the mark of something above the image of man was engraved upon it. Dafydd John’s devotion was neither mindless nor unnatural. His appearance was feared more than his voice, his influence more than his appearance; they did not sin in his presence. He did not counter the wickedness that faced him with active protest, nor with positive opposition, but, rather the virtue of his personality, and the influence that flowed out of his life drove it away. Every item of his clothing, his every look, gesture, and posture was full of devotional signs. His patriarchal and noble conduct, as he entered God’s sanctuary, was a practical interpretation of the wise man's words entering the gates and approaching the altar with correct sacrifices. We heard many references from his mouth, and without asserting himself as an example, about the impropriety and disorder that men brought into the temple with them. We remember the chapel cleaner on one occasion calling his attention up to one of the corners of the gallery where sweets and gum had been eaten, mixed with nut shells and apple cores. This is the only time I saw him come close to severity. But this did not disturb him nearly as much as the lightness and contempt with which he perceived some younger members to approach communion. He was also seen to rise up from the Big Seat suddenly tens of times go the foyer, and out to the pavement in front of the chapel, to bid the storm outside to quieten down [11] as it was disturbing the worship of the chapel. This seal arose from the conception of the rights of the sanctuary and the modesty of a religious profession.

         His spirit did not embrace any canon of devotion or self-sacrifice, as an external ordeal, with the purpose of being counted a saint. He knew nothing of that costly and violent effort. [12]

         "Deep was his opposition to all outward appearances
         Religious illusion in the land
         He was not a believer in piety
         A long face and shake of the head."

         III. THE ORDERLINESS OF HIS PLANS.

         One of the friends of order was Dafydd John. How many times did he follow Cilgeran's trails, noting the order of the Great Creator, in the orderliness of stars, flowers, trees and grass? He cast an eye on a world free from turmoil there; and this order that he observed in his boyhood became the subsequent standard for his orderly nature. Signs of his orderliness were clearly visible. There would be a lot of tidying and repair before going to chapel. It would sometimes border on obsession. Having carefully examined his wife and himself in the mirror in the house, he continued to look at himself every step along the way to the chapel lest he see a spot or mark on the way. No black grey smudge or coloured thread escaped his notice. He disapproved of the slightest crease in his clothing. Sometimes he was called upon for some thing while he was in the middle of his daily work, but he would have to throw on his long cloak to hide the work clothes, and specks of wax, and to mask the smell of leather. This was not pride produced by the fashionable spirit of the age, but the actions of a Christian with uncommon holy devotion, and an eternity of reverence for the right way of doing things.

         This feature emerged more prominently in the contacts of the case. Many years ago, when he renovated the chapel, he was seen at least once a day strolling to the place, to see how the work progressed under the hands of the craftsmen. Although there were clever men employed for the task, this was not enough reason for him to sacrifice his views and tastes. He wanted to throw suggestions and push directions on the designs of the artwork. There was another frequent official visit to the chapel like himself, and although he did not venture nearly as much to exercise his talent for offering nothing better, though he was an oracle on the task in every other connection, nevertheless It was more pleasing to the restorers to see the face of the old, unicorned saint in his disguise, and it is said that their labor would not have been as elaborate and finished apart from his view.

         To say that he was an admirer of systems does not mean that he was an administrator, but to some extent he was able to plan originally and map out new lines for different organizations to start and work along. For example he pioneered the church library; and he altered the previous musical arrangement and changed the positions of the singers. No longer would the tenors sing the melody, and the sopranos should not be singing the counterpart in his opinion; for this he also could not escape the taste of the scourge. [13] Many nasty words and a heavy punch [14] did he receive from the hand of an unmovable man. But he was happy to remain under the cruel shower if it meant that he was defending order, and confirming his plans. His objectives were misconstrued in some circumstances very viciously, especially when he endeavored to perfect the singing in the sanctuary, and when he endeavored to develop the music of worship. Even if he had done nothing, [15] his orderly manner would be on the whole clearly visible; and there is no doubt that the influence of his vocation contributed a degree of precision and creativity to this element of it. He remained an orderly and well-planned man in every endeavour, and in all his work to the end.

          

          

         [1] Numbers 13:23

         [2] A form of metre used in Welsh poetry. It is still considered very erudite to be able to compose Welsh verse in this form.

         [3] lit. "glowing" - used in the Bible for Moses when his face shone after he met with God, or for Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

         [4] The implication is that in his idle moments his thoughts turned to wishing to be in heaven, and that he was then disorientated to find himself back on earth and not yet in paradise.

         [5] It was common practice in the Welsh chapels, when no accompaniment was available, for the choirmaster to sing the relevant scale to set the key for the congregation. Even after the introduction of organs and harmoniums, this was sometimes still done so that the congregation didn't "get lazy" and to "keep in practice".

         [6] Instrumental accompaniment was forbidden during Lent.

         [7] A pew at the front of the chapel, either side of the pulpit and facing the congregation, where the elders and deacons would sit.

         [8] 1885 Welsh-language novel by Daniel Owen.

         [9] ie, he wasn't setting himself up as a minister of the Word.

         [10] Possibly meaning "academic thought".

         [11] This phrase uses the exact words from the Welsh Bible of Jesus calming the storm.

         [12] ie, he undertook his service lightly, without ever considering it a burden.

         [13] ie, he was "verbally whipped".

         [14] Most likely a figurative punch, but the Welsh could also mean a literal one.

         [15] ie, even if he had not made any of these changes personally, his orderly manner would have had an influence all by itself.

    2. • Date: 1894
       • Page: Vol 6 Page 176-179
       • Citation:

         DAFYDD JOHN.

         Nid oes angen gwneyd ymddiheurawd am symledd Cymreig y pennawd hwn - Dafydd John. Os yw talent, defnyddioldeb, sefyllfa fydol anrhydeddus, ac yn arbennig cymeriad crefyddol uchel yn hawlio gosod Mr. neu Mrs. o flaen enw y sawl a'u meddianna, mae hanes gwrthrych yr ysgrif hon yn hawlio hynny. Ond byddai gwneud hynny yn symud yr hen gymeriad ardderchog y safwn uwch ei ben i ryw bellter dieithr. Fel Dafydd John yr adwaenasom ef gyntaf yn ein mabandod. Dan yr enw hwn y tyfodd, yr enillodd glodydd, y cododd un o deuleoedd goraf cymdeithas. Ac fel Dafydd John y cydymdeimlid ag ef yn ei gystudd byr, ac yr wylid am dano ar ddydd ei augladd gref a thywysogaidd, yr hon nid oedd lai na swn cymeriad cyfoethog a phur yn cerdded nes y teimlai yr ardaloedd. Yn Heol y Felin, Aberdâr, yr wyf yn cofio Dafydd John gyntaf; a'r argraff gyntaf wnaed ar fy meddwl ieuangaf i ynglyn ag ef oedd nad oedd Aberdâr erioed wedi bob heb ei Dafydd John. Yr oedd i mi fel pe buasai wedi bod yno crioed, a'r ardal yn byw, yn symud, ac yn bod ynddo: ac onid yw yn rhyfedd fel mae argraffiadau mebyd o ran eu cywirdeb yn tyfu arnom; yn wir, nid yw Aberdâr ac Heol y Felin yr un i mi fyth er y dydd y rhoed gwyneb byw mynegiadol Dafydd John dan dyweirch eu claddfa. Yng ngwyneb hyn, un o'r newyddion dieithriaf i mi oedd mai nid yn Aberdâr y ganwyd ef.

         I sir Benfro a phlwyf Cilgeran y perthyn yr anrhydedd o fod yn enedigle iddo ef; ac mae symledd ei enw yn ein hadgofio o un hen gymeriad arall o'r un cyfenw, a wnaeth y plwyf uchod yn adnabyddus trwy Gymru.

         Diau i natur mor fyw a'i eiddo ef fod yn syllu gyda dyddordeb lawer awr ar yr eogiaid yn symud yn fawreddog yn nyfroedd ariant y Teifi; ac o'r briadd y gallwn berswadio ein hunain iddo fyw yno nyd yn bymtheg oed heb fod aml un o honynt wedi rhoi help i'w fagu. Pwy a ŵyr sawl gwaith y bu ei ysbryd ieuanc yn ymson yng nghysgod yr hen gastell sydd ar goryn y graig! A diau iddo wrando y gwynt yn plethu ey gynghaneddion perorol o gwmpas ei ystlysau hynafol lawer gwaith; a sylle ar yr awel yn tyner gerdded rhwng yr iorwg mân ar y muriau profedig. Gallem feddwl mai crenlondeb oddiar law amgylchiadau oedd symud y bachgen penfelyn, llathraidd ei gorff a byw ei lygad, o afael dylanwadau mor lân a dyrchafol a hyn cyn cyrraedd ei ugain oed. Ond symud a fu. Y pryd hwnnw yr oedd y Merthyr yn atynnu y miloedd. Yr oedd ei masnach yn fywiog, a'i manteision bydol yn gweithredu fel cyfaredd ar drigolion y tir. I'r neb a breswyliai mewn lle mor anghysbell a Chilgeran, rhaid fod meddwl am fyned i'r Merthyr y pryd hwnnw fel symud i eithafion daear. Cefnai bechgyn anturiaethus ar eu cartrefi gwledig am y lle hwn, am gael eu gweled byth ond hynny, a dalient yn hir i ysgwyd y cadach gwyn oddiar y buarth neu oddiar dwyn uchaf y tir. Pa ryfed! Hyd eto nid eodd y ffordd haiarn yn ymddolennu trwy ein dyffrynnoedd tirion, ac hyd llethrau ein mynyddoedd moelion. Porai y gwartheg a'r praidd yn hamddenol a digyffro heb gael eu dychrynnu gan ru y gerbydres na gwich yr agerbeiriant. Dyddian y coach mawr oedd y dyddiau hynny; ac mor hyfryd oedd hirdaith ar ei ben, ac awelon iachus ein gwlad yn rhoi gwrid ar y gruddiau, tra'r llygaid yn ymloewi wrth edrych ar y prydferthwch amrywiol a orweddai o gwmpas. O! hen ddyddiau syml! O! hen fywyd barddonol! Ai ynfydrwydd yw datgan fy ngofid na anesid fi pan derynasent?

         I'r Merthyr y daeth Dafydd John beth ebynnag; ac i natur mor fyw, rhaid fod argraffiadau y daith a'r lle newydd yn lluosog a dyfnion. Yr oedd yn y Merthyr y pryd hwn un a adnabyddid hyd ymhell am ei aml rinweddau a'i alluoedd, o'r enw Rosser Beynon. Yr oedd natur wedi gadael Rosser ar dir uchel iawn, heb son am y gwaith llwyr a wnaeth gras arno. Yr oedd yn gynllun o foneddwr, ac i un a feddai natur mor iraidd a Dafydd John, nid bychan o beth ydoedd hynny. Eithr un o ragoriaethau pennaf y gŵr hwn yn syniad Dafydd ieuanc oedd ei fod yn gerddor gwych. Darganfyddodd y cerddor oedd yn Rosser y cerddor oedd yn Dafydd. Y "baswr," chwedl y cerddorion, dynnodd sylw y gŵr craff; ac mae'r neb a glywodd Dafydd John yn canu yn tystio yn groew fod Rosser yn llygad ei le. Beth a fu yr argraffiadau a dderbyniodd yn y Merthyr oddiwrth y gŵr enwog hwn, ac amryw ragorolion ereill, yn arbennig ei weinidog, y Parch. Benjamin Owen, hawdd casglu oddiwrth yr ysbryd addfwyn, crefyddol, caredig, ac hunanaberthol a'i nodweddodd ef i derfyn ei oes.

         Yn Heol y Felin, Aberdâr, y gwelwyd ef nesaf, a gwelwyd ef hefyd i fantais. Cyflwynodd ei lythyr aelodaeth i Ebenezer, eglwys Anibynnol y lle, ac ymdaflodd i waith heb oedi. Gwnaed ef yn arweinydd y gân yn yr eglwys, ymgeisiodd yntau i godi côr sylweddol, ac i hyfforddi yr ieuenctyd yn ffordd y gerdd, a gwnaeth hynny, a pharhaodd yn arweinydd cynulleidfaol hyd defyn ei daith. Daeth Aberdâr ar ol hyn yn enwod am ei galleoedd cerddorol. Yma "y ganwyd y Côr Mawr," chwedl Watcyn Wyn. Yma y bu ei arwr Caradog yn cerdded dan dremiad edmygol o lygaid. Yma y bu Gwilym Cynon, - "Cochyn Bach," - yn arwain ei rengoedd i fuddugoliaeth aml. Yma y bu Richard Morris, - "Dic Bach," chwedl gwyr Hirwaun, - yn dysgu ei gôr i gystadleuaeth ar ddarnau Handel ac ereill. Yma ar hyd y blynyddau y bu Rhys Evans yn darpar gwleddoedd cerddorol blynyddol i'r miloedd. Yma y bu Dan Rhys yn codi ac yn coethi chwaeth mewn caniadaeth gysegredig. Ond yr oedd yna hen Aberdar, ac yr oedd Dafydd John yn byw yn honno, a hynny cyn i'r gwŷr enwog hyn brofi eu bodolaeth, a chyn i ereill ddaeth yn enwog yn y lle ar ol hyn ddyfod allan o'u cadachau.

         Un o ffeithiau amlwg holl Forgannwg y pryd hwnnw oedd Côr Ebenezer, dau ei arweiniad ef. Mae aml un yn fyw yn awr a gofiant yn dda y fath anrhydedd oedd yn eiddo i'r neb oedd yn aelod o gôr Dafydd John. Ac un o'r breintiau prinion oedd cael eistedd uwchben y cloc ar yr oriel. Nid oedd ond ychydig yn gymwys i'r safle honno yn yr adeg foreu honno ar ganiadaeth. Un o ddirgelion pennaf bechgyn bychain yr ardal oedd gweled Dafydd Dafis Cae Rhymni, William Owen, Morgan Roland, Roger Jenkyn, a William Thomas Cendon, yn tynnu seiniau amrywiol allan o'r ffurfluniau rhyfedd a'r llyfr hirgul; a'r nesaf peth i wyrth yn eu golwg oedd gwaith Dafydd John yn canu ac ysgogi ei fraich yr un pryd, gan roi arwydd i'r naill lais ar ol y llall, a llwyddo yn y diwedd y gael yr "amryw ddoniau" terfysglyd yma i gyd-derfynu i'r eiliad. Tybid fod yn rhaid ei fod yn ddeheuig ac yn alluog. Rhaid fod y peth bach fforchog hwnnw oedd ganddo yn gwnyd swn wrth ei daro yn erbyn ei benglin, yn anghyffredin o ddrud, ac mai dim ond Dafydd John a "ffeiriad y plwyf" oedd y penglin oedd i'w daro. A sut oedd gwneud y d, t, l, a'r d, m, s, cyn dechreu fel y gwnai efe! Ac yr oedd rhyw gamp yn ei waith yn peswch ac yn cymeryd swn eilwaith, ac yn tatle ei lygad byw o gwr i gwr o'r côr, ac yn dweyd, - "Nawr, 'sgwelwch chi'n dda." Ai arwydd o gynnydd ynnom yw ein bod yn colli yr ymsyndod syml yma o'n natur? Beth bynnag, hyfryd yw myned yn ol at yr hen fywyd a'r ryfeddodau.

         Yr oedd anthem dda yn swyn mawr iddo ef. Cofia rhai yn dda y canu mawr fu ar "Cwymp Babilon" tua 1859, pan oedd y Diwygiad yn cerdded y tir; ac anrhydedd nid bychan oedd bod yn ddewisedig i ganu yr unawd nen y deuawd neu y triawd oedd ynddi, anrhydedd o godai ddyn i'r fath safle nes tybied y gallai hyfforddio edryeh i lawr mewn tosturi ar holl aelodau ereill y côr. Erbyn hyn yr oedd yr arweinydd yn ddigon uchel yn syniad yr eglwys a'r dref i "estyn iddo dysteb" o harmonium. Ac ni bu mwy o ddyddordeb ynglyn a thysteb nemawr i dro, oblegid dywedid mai dyna yr harmonium gyntaf i ddod i Aberdar. Pa ryfedd fod plant y lle yn edrych gyda pharchedigaeth i gyfeiriad ty Dafydd John, ac yn ymgasglu yyn dyrrau o dan y ffenestr yn hirnos y gaeaf i wrando y swn hyfryd a wnai y "presant newydd"? Ac mor fwyn oedd gweled ei hen athraw Rosser Beynon yn croesi y mynydd gyda'r hwyr i'r "cwrdd cwflwyno," ac i gydlawenhau a'r cyfeillion mewn pennill a chân.

         Os oedd rhywbeth allai Dafydd John ei ffieiddio yn fwy na'r llall, culni a cheidwadaeth meddyliol oedd hynny. Cofleidiai ef y newydd ar yr amod fod gwasanaeth newydd i gael ei gyflawni. Os oes rhyw ddiffyg amlycach na'r llall mewn cerddorion fel dosbarth, diffyg eangfrydedd a mawrfrydigrwydd yw hwnnw. Fel rheol dynion unpeth ydynt, ac nis gallant deimlo dyddordeb angerddol mewn dim ond yn eu hoffbeth, ac anaml y ceir hwynt yn cymeryd golwg eang ar berthynasiaeth, mawr oedd mintai a wthiai ei hunan ar wlad y gân, sef cyfundrefn y Tonic Solffa. Cyhoeddai plant yn Hen Nodiant eu hanathema uwch ei phen yn ddiarbed, a deuai ysbryd hynach na'r Hen Hodiant i'r golwg yn fynych. Disgybl yr hen gyfundrefn oedd Dafydd John, ac er i Morgan Roland - aelod o'i gôr, fyned yn arwr i'r gyfundrefn newydd yn ei gylch, safodd yr hen arweinydd yn dawel i wylio'r ffrwythau; a phan welodd fod y gyfundrefn newydd wedi profi hawl i fodolaeth, croesawodd hi gyda'r eangfrydedd mwyaf; ac wedi credu o hono ef fel un o benaethiaid y bobl, dilynodd lluaws ei esiampl.

         Meddwl yn anturio i'r mynydd oedd eiddo yr hen gerddor hwn, iddo ef yr oedd rhyw swyn mewn ymgodymu â'r anhawdd. Iddo ef y perthyn yr anrhydedd o fod y cyntaf yn dwyn y Dreithgan i Aberdar. Yr oedd efe yn dysgu y corawdau anhawdd i'w gôr o leiaf ddeng mlynedd cyn i neb arall anturio gwneyd. A phan gofier nad oedd cymorth harmonium na pherdoneg i'w gael y pryd hwnnw, nid gorchwyl dibwys ydoedd hynny o beth. A mawr y cyfrro ar noson y cyngerdd, pan groesai Mr Edward Lawrence y mynydd gyda brig yr hywri chwaren y berdoneg gyda'r côr, ac nid rhyfedd ei fod yn rhywun yn syniad y dorf pan gofier mai efe oedd yr unig un yn yr holl gylchoedd fedrai gyflawni hynny o orchest. Dyma afiaeth; dyma syndod melus; torf o gantorion a'u llyfrau costfawr o'u blaen, a phob llais fel pe bai yn penderfynu gwneyd mwy o swn na'r llall, - y dyn ieuanc llathraidd, penfelyn, gloew 'i lygaid, yn bwrw ysbrydiath i galonnau y llu gydag ysgogiad ei law, a swn yr offeryn fel gwyrth yn cerdded trwy y rhyfeddodau. Dyna gyfnod arwrol! Y fath dreuni i ni ddyfod i wybod gymaint nes ŷm yn methy synnu at ddim ond at ambell un sydd yn gallu. Y pryd hwnnw nid oedd Sauvage, Eos Morlais, Ben Davies, Edward Lloyd, na Lucas, na David Hughes, na Ffrancon i gymeryd yr alawon a'r deuawdau, &c., i fyny. Ond yr oedd mwnwyr a glowyr cyffredin yn ufudd at yr alwad, ac os nad yn canu yr unawd neu y deuawd darparodig yn y gwaith, deuai rhyw unawd neu ddeuawd cyffredin arall. Ond nid oedd dim fel cael Dafydd John gyda'i lais cyfoethog ac ystwyth i ganu, "Arm, arm, ye brave." Mae rhywrai yn fyw heddyw a gofiant fel y fflamiai ei lygaid, ac fel yr oedd ysbryd y gân yn mynnu ei ffordd hyd yn eod trwy aelodau ei gorff. O! hen bererin anwyl; sut yr ymdarawet â'r llithriadau meithion a throellog gyda'th anadliad byr a'th besychiad aml! Ond dyna, nid oes dim a roi disgleirdeb at rywbeth fel ffyddlondeb a "gwyned ein goraf." Ac nid rhyfedd fod yntau, "was ffyddlawn," yn tynnu "encore" byddarol bob tro y canai yr hen gân ardderchog honno.

         Un o neilltuolion diwygiad crefyddol yw fod ysbryd canu yn meddiannu y cyfnod a'i profa. Un o'r rhai mwyaf crefyddol yn y cyfnod hwn oedd y diweddar Barch. J. Davies, Caerdydd, neu fel yr adnabyddid ef yn gyffredin - "Davies bach Aberaman." Y mae swn ei areithiau ar y Genhadaeth ar glustiau cannoedd yn awr. Yr oedd Cymru yn awr wedi ei angerddoli gan y newydd am ferthyrdod John Williams Eromanga; a Hiraethog wedi canu ar ei ol, a rhyw gerddor wedi canu yn wylofus ar ei eiriau, - "Cwyn, cwyn am y dewr"; a mynnai Dafydd John droi yr anthem i helpu'r araeth, a daeth y nefoedd yn agos iawn wrth ei chanu lawer gwaith. Dyna oedd hanes ein hen gyfaill anwyl, troi pob ffrwd at wasanaeth crefydd. Enwoced oedd ei gôr, a charediced oedd yntau, fel y deuai rhyw frawd o eglwys wan dros fynydd y Rhondda a chais gwylaidd am wasanaeth y côr i gynnal cyngherdd yn y cwm hirgul hwnnw; a dyna'r arweinydd parod a'i gôr ar lechwedd y mynydd un prydnawn yn ymlwybro at yr eglwys anghenus; ac wedi canu a derbyn "diolch" a "llond pen cyn cychwyn," mae llewyrch llu o lanternau yn hollti duwch yn mynydd, a chôr cyfan "ar ei draed ac ar ei ddeulin yn ceisio dringo i fyny fry." Pwy o honynt, ag sydd fyw, sydd wedi gallu anghofio y rhamantusrwydd o groesi y mynydd yn y nos? Gwrando y gwynt yn cwynfannu o amgylch ystlysau yr hen Ben Pych; clywed y Rhondda Fach yn ymdroelli dan bont hen y Lluest Wen ac heibio gwadnau Castell Nos, ac yna dros Daran y Bwllfa gweled fflamau y gweithiau tân o ddyffryn eu cartref fel yn rhuo croesaw. Dyna lle byddai adrodd ystoriau am ysbrydion, am y "twlwyth teg," "bendith y manau," a llu ereill. Byddai mamgu rhywun wedi gweled "canwyll corff" yn rhywle yn y wlad, a chyn pen wythnos yr eodd corff yn myned y ffordd honno. Ar ganol y stori byddai dwy seren o dân yn ymddangos o'u blaenau, ac O! 'r fath ddychryn, a cholli anadl, ac nid oedd yr oll ond dafad wedi dyrchu ei llygaid i edrych ar oleuni y lantern. O! hen gyfnod syml, cartrefol. Onid oedd y tren yn greulawn i fyned a hwn oddiarnom?

         Gwyddai ein hen gyfaill sut yr oedd defnyddio cerddoriaeth i ddychrynnu yr ysbryd drwg, fel Dafydd ar ei delyn gynt. Os bu rhyw ysbryd gwaeth na'i gilydd trwy Gymru, ysbryd dadleuon bedydd oedd hwnnw. Cafodd Aberdâr wybod am hwn. Cofia rhai y ddadl ffyrnig gymerodd le rhwng y diweddar Barch W. Edwards, Ebenezer, Aberdâr, a'r Parch T. Price, o'r un lle. Un o aelodau Mr Edwards oedd Dafydd John, ond bu yn ddigon mawrfrydig i fyned a'i gôr trwy ganol y rhyfol i gynorthwyo côr y Bedyddwyr i gynal cyngherdd, ac ni fu dylandwad mwy gorchfygol erioed ar unrhyw dyrfa na'r weithred garedig honno.

         Cafodd y "Côr Mawr" ei gefnogaeth lwyraf ef, a soniai am y fuddugoliaeth gyda dagrau o lawenydd. Arweiniodd yntau ei gôr i gystadleuaeth, ac arweiniodd ef i aml fuddugoliaeth. Er hynny, nid yr Eisteddfod eodd ei faes anwylaf ef. Gartref ar hen oriel y capel y byddai ei fryd ef, ar hirnos gaeaf yn dysgu hen donau cysegredig, ac ambell hen anthem Gymreig, yn arbennig anthemau a thonau Ambrose Lloyd. Ei ddadl uchaf ac olaf o blaid haeddiant tôn fyddai, - "gwaith Lloyd." Yr oedd rhyw gydnawsedd ysbryd rhwng y ddau, fel yr oedd yr arweinydd yn gallu edmygu gwaith y cyfansoddwr. Ie, y canu cysegredig, i Dafydd John, a daliodd i arwain y gân yn Ebenezer, Aberdar, am dros ddengain mlynedd, heb gymaint a diwrnod o "bŵd," heb ddisgwyl ceiniog yn dâl, a bu farw yng nghanol y gwaith.

         Os yw Duw yn claddu y gweithiwr mae yn dwyn ei waith ymlaen. Yr oedd yntan am i'r gwaith i fyw ar ei ol. Gwelsom ambell bren fu unwaith yn gryf a changhennog, ond mae ei ddyddiau olaf yn nesu; ond tra mae efe eto ar ei draed, plennir planhigyn ieuanc yn ei gysgod, ac y mae yr hen fywyd a'r bywyd ieuanc yn sirad a'u gilydd, a'r hen yn gofyn, - "Gaf fi fyned yn awr, a wyt ti wedi cael digon o afael ar y tir, wyt ti wedi casglu digon o nerth i fyw; yw anrhydedd cymeriad ein hiliogaeth ni yn ddiogel yn dy law?" Ac mae'r hen fywyd yn ddigon ufudd i roi'r tir i fyny i arall pan ddaw ei awr. Cafodd y brawd ieuanc Mr. W. Thomas, arweinydd presennol côr yr hen arwr, bedair blynedd o gysgod tawel i ymdyfu; ac mae dylandwad a chysgod yr hen arweinydd yn cyrraedd drost heddyw ac yn debyg o gario ei ddelw ddymunol arno.

         Ydyw, y mae Dafydd John wedi myned! Ac mor anhawdd yw sylweddoli hynny. Mor llethol yw'r syniad fod yn rhaid i Heol y Felin ac Ebenezer fod heb Dafydd John. Byw heb yr hen arweinydd oedd yn codi gwerth y canu cysegredig yn ein meddyliau, byw heb yr athraw fyddai yn gwella calon a meddwl ei ddosbarth, byw heb y diacon bucheddol, un oedd fel "cenned hedd" pryd bynnag y codai ar ei draed. Mor chwithing yw meddwl na chaf byth eto ei weled yn codi yn y "sêt fawr," ac yn chwalu mynyddau anghydwelediad wrth droi y naill law yn y llall. Os digwydd imi gael noson gartref ar aelwyd gynnes fy mam, ni chaf ond hynny glywed ei besychiad adnabyddus ef ar ei ffordd adref o gyfarfod gweddi yr hen chwaer dlawd. Mor oer a diswyn yw hen "heol y cefn" byth er y dydd y peidiodd swn ei forthwyl diwyd ef ar yr hen arffedfaen brofedig, ac y ciliodd llewyrch caredig ei lusern ffyddlon o'r hen ffenestr fechan ysgwar yn nhalcen ei weithdy gwyngalchog. Yr oedd gweled y ffenestr oleu, fechan, a chlywed ergyd y morthwyl, yn cadw pob "ysbryd" i ffwrdd pan y cerddwn trwy dduwch "heol y cefn" ar hirnos gaeaf yn nyddiau mebyd. Ond y llewyrch a giliodd, a'r ergyd a beidiodd, a dyna lawer aeth yn eisieu i mi yn hynny. Y fath foddlonrwydd oedd gweled ei gysdgod ar y llen gwyn yntynnu y pwythau ar awr ddiweddar a thawel. Tybiwn y gallaswn gysgu yn well, a bod y noson honnu yn noson ddigwyddiadol yn fy hanes. Ie, yr hen weithdy glân! Y fath anrhydedd oedd i'r neb a esgynnai ei risiau yn hwyr y dydd i wrando yr hen weithiwr diwyd yn adrodd hanes hen gymeriadau'r Merthyr ac Aberdar oddiar ei "ffwrwm waith." Hiraethais lawer gwaith am ddod yn ddigon hen ac yn ddigon pwysig i gael rhan o'r uchelfraint. Y fath ffaith gysegredig oedd cefn ty Dafydd John yn fy meddwl ieuanc fel nad oeddwn byth yn gallu rhedeg heibio iddo yn ddiddefosiwn. Nid oedd arnaf ofn yr hen foneddwr, ond yr oedd arnaf ofu rhywbeth oedd ynddo ef hefyd - ofn ei burdeb a'i feddwl glan, ofn santieddrwydd ei syniad. Ymddadblydogg yr ofn i fod yn barchedigaeth sanctaidd, ac ni bu llwch mwy cysegredig dan wadnau fy nhraed erioed na llwch ei feddrod ef ar ddydd ei gynhehrwng urddasol. Bu ei air caredig a'r fywyd pur yn ysbrydiaeth i'm calon ar lawer tro, ac y mae calonnau lu ar hyd Cymru hen, calonnau myfyrwyr a fuont yn pryderu am eu dyfodol, ac yn ymgodymn a'u gwersi, a adseiniant fy negeiriau. Huned yn dawel. Brenin fywyd fu ei fywyd ef. Un o hen urddasolion y tir ydoedd; a bydd Mr. Tom John, ysgolfeistr, Llwynypia, golygydd y Glamorgan Free Press, ac aelod o "Bywllgor gweithredol Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon;" * Mr. John W. John, ysgolfeistr arall yn Ynyshir, a'u dwy chwaer, Mary a Margaret, dwy ysgolfeistres arall yn y Rhondda, yn fythol well ac yn blant i un sydd a'i goffadwriaeth mor fendigedig. Colled anfesurandwy a gafodd ei weddw garedig, ond mae cofio am ei thynerwch tuag ato yn falm hyfryd i'w chlwyf, ac yn gymhorth i sychu ei deigryn. †

         Pentre, Abertawy. PENAR.

         * Ac aelod o Lys uchaf Prifysgol Cymru. - Gol.
         † Yr wyf yn diolchgar i Mr. John Jones, ysgolfeistr, Trealaw, Pontypridd, am amryw o fanylion yr ysgrif. - Penar.

          

          

          

         DAFYDD JOHN.

         There is no need to make an apology for the Welsh simplicity of this headline - Dafydd John. If talent, usefulness, honorable worldly position, and especially high religious character were a reason to use Mr or Mrs before the name of the person who possesses these qualities, then the life story of this article's subject would have such a claim. But to do so would distance this great old character from us. We have known him from childhood simply as Dafydd John. It was under this name that he grew, won praise, and raised one of society's best families. And as Dafydd John we sympathized with him in his brief affliction, and spoke of him on the day of his strong and princely funeral, when this name reminded us of the rich and pure character whose echo was still heard around the area. At Mill Street, Aberdare, I first remember Dafydd John; and my first impression as a small child was that Aberdare had never been without Dafydd John. He seemed to me to have been ever there, living in the area, moving, and existing in it: and is it not strange how these early impressions become reality for us; in fact, Aberdare and Mill Street have not been the same for me ever since the day Dafydd John's expressive living face was buried under the turf of their burial ground. In the face of this, one of the strangest pieces of news for me was that he was not born in Aberdare.

         The honor of being born belongs to Pembrokeshire and the parish of Cilgerran; and the simplicity of his name reminds us of one other old character of the same surname, who made the above parish known throughout Wales.

         No doubt, given his love of nature, he stared with envy for many hours at the salmon moving majestically in the waters of the Teifi; and from the privilege of persuading ourselves that he lived there at the age of fifteen without many of them having helped to raise him. [1] Who knows how many times he wandered as a young lad in the shadow of the old castle on the rocky outcrop! No doubt he heard the wind weaving his ancient cynghanedd [2] around the ancient walls many times; listening to the sound of the breeze while gently walking between the fine ivy on the strong and steady walls. We may consider it a cruel blow that moved the little boy, bright in body and lively of eye, from such pure and uplifting influences before reaching the age of twenty. But the move took place. At that time Merthyr was attracting thousands. Trade there was lively, and the town's worldly advantages worked their spell on the inhabitants of the countryside. For anyone who lived in a place as remote as Cilgerran, thinking of going to Merthyr at that time must have been like moving to the extremes of the earth. Adventurous boys would leave their rural homes for this place, their parents never believing or hoping to see them again, and before long they shook off the white cloth of the farmyard [3] or the far away country hills. How strange! Yet the railways did not yet meander through our gentle valleys, and along the slopes of our bare mountains. The cows and flocks grazed leisurely and calmly without being intimidated by the roar of the carriage or the squeak of the steam. Those were great coach days; and how beautiful was the long journey with the healthy breezes of our country bringing a glow to the cheeks, while the eyes glittered as they gazed at the varied beauty that lay around. Oh! simple old days! Oh! old poetic life! Is it foolishness to declare my distress that I was not born before these days passed away?

         Thus came Dafydd John to Merthyr; and to a person with such a lively nature, the impressions of the journey and the new place must have been multiple and deep. In Merthyr at this time was one well known for his many qualities and abilities, called Rosser Beynon. Nature had placed Rosser on very high ground, not to mention the perfection he had worked to add to these graces. It was the plan of a gentleman, and for a fresh young man such as Dafydd John, it was no small feat. But one of the greatest virtues of this young man in Dafydd's mind was that he was a great musician. The musician Rosser discovered the musician in Dafydd. The "bass", legend among musicians, drew the attention of this discerning man; and those who heard Dafydd John sing can testify vividly that Rosser was right. What impressions he must have received in Merthyr from this famous man, and from various other virtuous individuals, especially his minister, the Rev Benjamin Owen, are easy to infer from the gentle, religious, kind, and self-sacrificial spirit that characterized him to the end of his life.

         We next see him at Mill Street, Aberdare, and in a very advantageous light. He presented his membership letter to Ebenezer, the local Congregational church, and he commenced work without delay. He became the church choirmaster; he tried to build a substantial choir, and to train the young people in music and he did so, and he remained a congregational conductor until the end of his journey. Aberdare later became known for its musical ability. Here Watcyn Wyn's legendary "Great Choir was born". It was here that his hero Caradog walked under an admiring eye. It was here that Gwilym Cynon, "Cochyn Bach", [4] led his ranks to frequent victory. Here Richard Morris, "Dic Bach", the legend of Hirwaun, taught his choir for the Handel competition and others. It was here over the years that Rhys Evans provided annual musical feasts for the thousands. It was here that Dan Rhys elevated and refined people's tastes toward sacred song. But this was old Aberdare, where Dafydd John lived, and that was before these famous men proved their existence, and before others became famous in that place having left their rags behind them.

         One of the prominent features of the whole of Glamorgan at that time was the Ebenezer Choir, which he conducted. Some are still alive who I well remember such the honour of being a member of Dafydd John's choir. And one of the rare privileges was to sit above the clock in the gallery. Only a few were prepared to take that position during the morning singing. One of the great mysteries for the little local boys was to see Dafydd Dafis Cae Rhymni, William Owen, Morgan Roland, Roger Jenkyn, and William Thomas Cendon, pulling various sounds out of the strange notations the elongated book; and the next miracle in their eyes was the work of Dafydd John singing and waving his arms at the same time, signaling to one voice after another, and finally bringing the boisterous "multiple harmonies" to coincide as one. It was thought that he must be skilful and capable. That little fork thing he had in his arsenal that he struck against his knee, must have been unusually expensive, and only David John and the "fairest of the parish" might strike it. And how to start with the d, t, l, and d, m, s, [5] as he does! And his little habit of coughing and making another noise, and fixing his eye from one man to another, and saying, - "Now, if you please". Is it a sign of progress in us that we are losing this simple way of being? Anyway, it is lovely to go back to the old life and the wonders.

         A good anthem was a great charm to him. Some remember well the great singing of "The Fall of Babylon" around 1859, [6] when the Revival walked the land; and it was no small feat to be chosen to sing the duet or trio solo in it, an honour that raised a man to such a position that he would be tempted to look down in compassion at all the other members of the choir. The leader was now held in high enough regard by the church and town to "extend to him a testimonial" of a harmonium. And never had there been more interest in such a testimonial, because it was said to be the first harmonium to come to Aberdare. No surprise that the children of the town looked with reverence in the direction of Dafydd John's house, and gathered in crowds beneath the window in the winter evenings to hear the lovely noise made by the "new present"? And how enjoyable it was to see his old teacher Rosser Beynon cross the mountain in the evening to the "dedication meeting", and to rejoice with his friends in verse and song.

         If there was something that David abhorred more than another, it was narrowness and mental conservatism. He embraced the new provided that it could be put into service. If there is a deficiency in musicians as a class, that is a lack of breadth and magnanimity. They are usually single-minded men, and they can only feel passionate about their own interests, and are rarely open-minded about related fields. A large group of proponents of the Tonic Solfa system pushed for it in the Land of Song. Children of Traditional Notation proclaimed their unrelenting opposition to it, and a spirit older than the Old Notation often appeared. Dafydd John was a student of the old system, and although Morgan Roland - a member of his choir, became a hero of the new system, the old conductor stood silently to look for the fruit; and when he saw that the new system had proved its right to existence, he welcomed it with the utmost open-mindedness; and this leader of people having believed in it, many followed his example.

         This old musician's mind went to the mountain, and he saw a certain charm in contending with its difficulty. To him belongs the honour of being the first to bring the 'treithgan' [7] to Aberdare. He taught his choir the difficult beats at least ten years before anyone else ventured it. And when you remember that there was no harmonium or keyboard instrument available at that time, that wasn't a trivial task. And great was the excitement on the night of the concert, when Mr Edward Lawrence came over the top of the mountain in the evening with the choir, and no wonder the crowd marvelled when we remember that he was the only one in the whole area that could achieve that with great feat. This is community spirit; here's a sweet surprise; a crowd of singers and their precious books in front of them, with each voice as if it decided to make more noise than the other - this bright fair-headed young man with a glow in his eyes, inspiring the hearts of the masses with each movement of his hand, and the sound of the instrument like a miracle walking through the wonders. [8] What a heroic time! It was such a pity not to discover this until the moment when it became plain. At that time there were no Sauvage, Eos Morlais, Ben Davies, Edward Lloyd, or Lucas, or David Hughes, or Ffrancon to take up the solo melodies and duets, &c. But these were ordinary iron miners and coal miners who obeyed the call, and if the soloist or duo were at work, some other soloist or duo would come. But there was nothing like getting Dafydd John with his rich and agile voice to sing, "Arm, arm, ye brave". [9] There are those alive today who remember well the flame in his eyes, and how the spirit of the song filled his body. Oh! dear old pilgrim; how you dealt with the long and winding glissando with your short breath and frequent coughing! But there we are, there is nothing to bring brilliance to something like loyalty and "let's be our best". And no wonder that he, "a faithful servant", drew a deafening encore every time he sang that excellent old song.

         One of the peculiarities of religious revival is the spirit of singing inherent to the period and that proves it. One of the most religious of this period was the late Rev J. Davies, Cardiff, or as he was more commonly known - "Davies bach Aberaman". The sound of his speeches on Mission has now reached the ears of hundreds. Wales was now fascinated by the news of John Williams's Erromango martyrdom; [10] and Hiraethog sang about him, and some musicians sang these words dolefully about him, "Lament, lament about the brave"; and Dafydd John insisted on using the anthem to help the sermon, and the heavens came very close during the singing of it many times. That was the story of our dear old friend, he put every stream at the service of faith. Famous was his choir, and kind was he also, as when some brothers from a weak church over the Rhondda mountain made a humble request for the choir's service to hold a concert in that long valley; and the conductor made ready with his choir and went up the slope of the mountain one afternoon and trekking towards the needy church; and having sung and received "thank you" and "being filled up to the head before starting", the glow of a multitude of lanterns split the blackness of the mountain, and there was seen a whole choir "on its feet and using hands trying to climb up". Which of them, who is alive, can forget the romanticism of crossing the mountain at night? Hearing the wind walk around the slope of the old Pych; hearing the Rhondda Fach winding under the old White Lluest bridge and past the Castell Nos, and then over Taran y Bwllfa, seeing the flames of the work of fire from the valley of their home as a roaring welcome. That is where stories would be told about ghosts, about the "fairies", "the blessing of the mothers", [11] and many others. A grandmother would have seen a "corpse candle" [12] somewhere in the countryside, and within a week a body would take that road. At the centre of the story two stars of fire would appear before them, and O! Such a fright, and the breath would be gone, and all but a sheep had rolled her eyes to look at the light of the lantern. Oh! simple old time and homely. Wasn't the train cruel to go and take these from us?

         Our old friend knew how to use music to intimidate the evil spirit, as did David formerly on his harp. If there had been some worse spirit throughout Wales, that was the spirit of baptismal controversy. [13] Aberdare came to hear about this. Some remember the fierce debate that took place between the late Rev W. Edwards, Ebenezer, Aberdare, and the Rev T. Price, of the same place. One of Mr Edwards' members was Dafydd John, but nevertheless he humbly took his choir in the midst of the war to assist the Baptist choir in holding a concert, and no crowd had ever had a more dominant influence than that kind act made possible.

         The "Côr Mawr" had his highest support, and he spoke of the victory with tears of joy. He led his choir to competition, and led it to multiple victories. However, the Eisteddfod was not his favourite field. At home in the old chapel gallery, his focus on a winter evening would be to teach sacred tunes, and some old Welsh anthems, especially Ambrose Lloyd's anthems and tunes. His highest and final argument in favor of the tonic solfa would be "Lloyd's work". There was a certain solidarity of spirit between the two, so that the conductor could admire the composer's work. Yes, this was sacred singing to Dafydd John, who continued to lead the singing in Ebenezer, Aberdare, for over forty years, without so much as a day of "ill humour", without expecting a penny in payment, and died in the middle of the work.

         If God buries the worker he carries forward his work. He also wanted the work to live after him. We have seen many trees that were once strong and putting out branches, nearing their final days; but whilst they still stand, a young plant is planted in their shadow, and the old and the young lives harmonize together, and the old asks, "May I go now, and have you gained enough power in the land, have you gathered enough strength to live; is the honour of the character of our nation safe in your hand?" And the old life is obedient enough to give the land up to another when its hour comes. Mr W. Thomas' young brother, current conductor of the old hero's choir, had four years of quiet shadow to rise; and the influence and shadow of the old leader falls upon him today and he is likely to carry on in this image.

         Yes, Dafydd John has gone! And how difficult it is to realize it. So overwhelming is the idea that Mill Street and Ebenezer must be without Dafydd John. Living without the old leader who raised the value of sacred singing in our minds, living without the teacher who would improve the heart and mind of his class, living without the lively deacon, one who was like a "peace keeper" whenever he rose to his feet. It is so sad to think that I will never again see him rise in the "big seat", to quieten mountains of dissonance by turning one hand in the other. If I happen to have a night at home in my mother's warm home, I can still hear his well-known cough on his way home from the poor old sister's prayer meeting. How cold and charmless the old "back road" has been ever since the day his diligent hammer ceased on the proven old limestone, and the kindly glare of his faithful lantern faded from the old square window in the gable of his whitewashed workshop. Seeing the small light window, and hearing the blow of the hammer, kept all "spirits" away when we walked through the darkness of the "back road" on a winter's twilight in our youth. But the glow has vanished, and the blow has ceased, and oh how I miss them. Such delight there was to see his ankles through the white curtain working away at a late and quiet hour. I felt I could sleep better, and that the night was significant in my history. Yes, the old clean workshop! It was such an honour for anyone who stepped this way late in the day to listen to the old diligent worker who was part of the story of the old characters of Merthyr and Aberdare by his "workmanship". I have many times longed to become old enough and important enough to achieve such stature. So sacred to me was the back of Dafydd John's house in my young mind that I was never able to run past it hurriedly. I was not afraid of the old gentleman, but I feared something that was in him too - afraid of his purity and clean mind, afraid of the soundness of his ideas. A sacred awe of this holiness, and there was never a more sacred dust under the soles of my feet than the dust of his tomb on the day of his dignified funeral. His kind words and pure life have been an inspiration to my heart on many occasions, and the hearts of many throughout old Wales, to the hearts of students who have been concerned about their future, and the encouragement for their lessons, and the echo of his words. Sleeping quietly. He was the king of life. He was one of the old dignitaries of the land; and Mr Tom John, schoolmaster, Llwynypia, editor of the Glamorgan Free Press, and a member of the "Executive Committee of the National Union of Teachers;" * Mr John W. John, also a schoolmaster in Ynyshir, and their two sisters, Mary and Margaret, are also schoolmistresses in the Rhondda, and their children remember him wonderfully. His kind widow has suffered an immeasurable loss, but remembering his tenderness towards her is a beautiful balm to her wound, and aids in drying her tears. †

         Pentre, Swansea. PENAR.

         * And a member of the highest Court of the University of Wales. - Ed. † I thank Mr. John Jones, schoolmaster, Trealaw, Pontypridd, for various details of the article. - Penar.

          

         [1] The exact meaning of this phrase is unclear.
         [2] A form of Welsh poetry.
         [3] Traditional white cloth worn around the head during farm work.
         [4] William Phillips, a well-known choirmaster.
         [5] Tonic solfa abbreviated names for do, ti, la and do, mi, so respectively - ie, scales and arpeggios.
         [6] The 1859 Welsh Revival is not as well known as the later one in 1904-05.
         [7] Some type of musical form.
         [8] ie, a very great miracle
         [9] From Handel's Judas Maccabeus.
         [10] A missionary who was killed and eaten by cannibals in the South Pacific.
         [11] Some kind of fairy folk.
         [12] Presumably a will-o'-the-wisp.
         [13] Infant vs adult baptism - the Congregationalists baptised infants; the Baptists don't - but also issues related to baptising those converted during the 1859 Revival and disagreements between denominations about accepting each other's baptisms as valid.

26. Who's Who in Wales
    1. • Date: 1921
       • Page: Tom John
       • Citation:

         JOHN, Tom, M.A., J.P. (Glam., 1914), retired Schoolmaster; b. Trecynon, Aberdare, June 28, 1849; s. Dafydd John, Ebenezer, Aberdare; ed. Ysgoldy Comin, Aberdare, Dr. Evan Davies' College, Swansea 1862-63, and Borough Road, London, 1869-1870; degree: M.A., Honoris Causa, Wales; m. Margaret Lewis, 1873, and Diana Lewis (her sister), 1910; two dau. survive, M. J. John, Domestic Arts Teacher, Mon., and Madeline John, Inspector Ministry of Health. Member N.U.T. and Executive; President, 1905, Llandudno Conference; Member Executive C.W.B. from its inception, oldest existing member of same; Member Welsh University Court, Treasurer 1918 and 1919; Councillor Cardiff University College; Governor Porth County School; Member National Council of Music for Wales. W.A. Military Representative throughout. Rel. Congregationalist; Pol. Advanced Radical, but Constitutional; F.M. Merlin Lodge, not active lately. Recr. Music, Eisteddfodau, Cricket; Tennis and Golf after 60 years of age. Address: Caegwyn, Penygraig. Club: National Liberal.

27. The Nonconformist
    1. • Date: 25 January 1894
       • Page: Page 11
       • Citation:

         [WALES.]

         - The death is announced of Mr. David John, an eminent musician. For many years he was choirmaster of Ebenezer Church, Aberdare. His son - Mr. Dan John [sic] - is editor of the Glamorgan Free Press.

28. General Register Office: GRO Digital Image
    1. • Date: 6 January 1894
       • Page: Death - David John
    2. • Date: 24 February 1897
       • Page: Death - Sarah John
    3. • Date: 16 September 1851
       • Page: Death - Elizabeth John
29. The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workmans News
    1. • Date: 22 April 1892
       • Page: Page 6
       • Citation:

         DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE

         YNYSHIR

         MARRIAGE - On April 12, at St Catherine's Church, Brynaman, by the Rev T M Evans, MA, Principal of the Lampeter College School (brother of the bride), assisted by the Rev J Morlais Jones, vicar of Brynaman, Mr John William John, Ynyshir, son of Mr David John, Trecynon, was married to Catherine Louisa Evans, daughter of Mr D L Moses Evans, of Brynbach, Brynaman. The interesting event passed off with the greatest eclat, and the newly married pair have the best wishes of a large circle of friends.

30. Evening Express
    1. • Date: 6 January 1894
       • Page: Special Edition, Page 1
       • Citation:

         DAVID JOHN DEAD.

         Was the Pioneer of Music In Aberdare.

         On Friday morning at Trecynon there passed away an old musician, who may be considered the pioneer of music in Aberdare, in the person of Mr. David John.

         Mr. David John originally came to Aberdare from Cardiganshire, and settled down at Trecynon about 1850. At once he took active steps in musical organisation, and started a choir at Ebenezer Independent Chapel. About 1862 his choir performed almost all the choral music of the "Messiah." He also performed most of the music of "Judas Maccabeus," followed by Mozart's "Twelfth Mass," when he was assisted by "Caradog's" string band, who were then appearing as pioneers of orohestral music.

         In the other concerts Mr. John was aided by Mr. Lawrence, organist of St. David's, then the only capable accompanist, perhaps, in the district. Mr. John also had a great leaning towards glees, Bishop's and Mendelssohn's being learnt by his choir, as also were "Owain Alaw's," "Tonymarian's," and other Welsh composers' anthems.

         Mr. John figured also as a conductor in competitive music, but this was only a secondary part of his programme. When the Welsh Choir went to London there was no more ardent supporter of "Caradog's" choir than himself.

         During all these years he also acted as precentor, and only relinquished the office some years ago, but such was his love of music that he attended the performance of the "Elijah" by the Aberdare Choral Union last Christmas. He was twice presented with handsome testimonials by the church and musical friends.

         He was a musical educator himself, and has a family of well-known elementary teachers - Mr. Tom John, Llwynypia Schools, who has also conducted oratorio and other performances; Mr. J. W. John, Ynyshir Board School; Miss John, Cymmer Board School, and Miss Margaret John, Bodringallt Board School. The funeral will be on Tuesday afternoon, when a service will be held at Ebenezer Chapel.

31. Thomas Preece: Gravestone photographs
    1. • Date: 17 July 2018
       • Page: David & Sarah John, Aberdare Cemetery
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32. Burial Register - Aberdare Cemetery
    1. • Page: David & Sarah John