consisting of one hundred persons for a month or more with ten pounds! When Mr. Berry gave an order for a stone of meal to a child, who came to ask for a spoonful of flour to mix with water and a few onions, he says, "She looked up in my face, for there were no words, and oh that look was worth fifty pounds!" Mr. Hardcastle is engaged on a Relief Committee from 6 A. M. to 10 P. M. Surely then those who have given must rejoice, and those who have not will put their hand to this good work. Want of space compels us to omit a great number of contributions, which will appear in our next. Seeing the list is so large, we hope those whose gifts are not now acknowledged will accept the reasor. Hearty thanks for parcels of clothing from ladies at Stoke Newington by Rev. J. Cox, from Canterbury by Mrs. Flint, from Worcester by Mrs. Horne, from Spratton by Rev. T. Clements, from Leeds by H. Gresham, Esq., from Sandgate by the Misses Purday, from Northampton by Mrs. Brown, and from Rev. J. H. Hinton, London. Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, Edward Smith, Esq. 60, Old Broad Street; Rev. J. ANGUS, and by the Secretary, Mr. FRED. TRESTRAIL, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, London: and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom. A. Z.......... G. P. D.. 1 0 9 10 2 11 5 0 55 18 4 THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. MARCH, 1847. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. CHRISTMAS EVANS. ABRIDGED FROM A PUBLICATION BY THE REV. DAVID RHYS STEPHEN. Continued from page 75. DURING Mr. Evans's residence in Angle- | excitably nervous temperament, as well sea, much of his cares referred to chapel debts. An entrance was effected for the preaching of the gospel-hearers crowded together whenever a preacher visited the neighbourhood. A site was obtained for a meeting-house; Christmas Evans's name, and that of some other friend, readily procured the loan of money; and in two or three years, either the payment of the interest pressed, or the money was called in. In this case, what was to be done? Christmas Evans must go to the richer churches and congregations of South Wales, and ask for assistance. For many years he went to South Wales twice a-year-once to the associations, and once in the winter with a chapel case. To him this winter-journey was a most laborious one, and involved the most painful sacrifices. It must be remembered that he always travelled on horseback; that his constitution was one of the most unhappily formed-exposing him to all the horrors of a most VOL. X.-FOURTH SERIES. as to all the inconveniences of a most The people every where welcomed his presence. At the close of the sermon he stated his case; then he went to the door, hat in hand, and received the contributions of the friends. This he did for many years, until, having been again and again seriously indisposed in consequence, he latterly asked some friend T connected with the place to stand at the door; but, then, with an apology to the people for the apparent inattention and disrespect involved in his not personally receiving their gifts of love and kindness. The ministers in the south sometimes intimated that he came too often; that he built too many places of worship; that it might be better, probably, to wait till the people of Anglesea were able to do something more towards erecting their own houses of prayer, &c. To all this he would say, "What can I do? The people crowd to hear us; it is our duty to accommodate them as well as we possibly can. All we have we give. To you much is given,-you can give much. 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' The sums of money he collected for these purposes we have no means of ascertaining; but we have a record to the effect that he travelled from North to South Wales and back no less than forty times. During the whole journey, which on an average would be of six weeks' duration, it must be borne in mind that he preached, at least, once every day in the week, and twice on the Lord's day. He adds that he has never heard of another minister, even among the methodists, who has made the whole journey more than fifteen times. Thus was Christmas Evans "in labours more abundant," and thus did he "make full proof of his ministry." A heavy affliction befell Mr. Evans in the year 1823, which soon concentrated itself in his eye. This came on during a journey towards the south, and kept him several months in Aberystwyth, under medical treatment. It was remarked that his spirit was sustained in great cheerfulness throughout a period of some nine months, during which he was unable to preach; and, for a considerable time, he had scarcely any hope to escape from utter blindness. He seemed to believe he had much work before him, and he waited with patience the return of sight and health. The friends at Aberystwyth paid him every possible attention; while, from Mr. Evans, the pastor of the baptist church, and from Mr. Simon James of Penrhyncoch, he received uninterruptedly such sympathetic kindness as ministers of Christ can and love to supply to each other. Before he had completely recovered, he returned home: and now a series of occurrences commenced which extended over the following two years, and issued in his leaving North Wales. The reader will bear in mind that Christmas Evans had become, by a kind of necessity, pastor of all the churches in his connexion in Anglesea; the other ordained brethren were, indeed, co-pastors, but co-pastors with him over all the churches. In proportion as some of the societies-those in towns, for instance increased and strengthened, they became solicitous to have separate pastors of their own. To this there could be no objection, but that which arose from considerations of convenience and mutual edification. Many and anxious deliberations ensued, in which it is scarcely possible for the most ardent admirers of Mr. Evans to allege that he was always, and exclusively, in the right. The younger men among the preachers could scarcely sympathize with him at all in his attachment to the system, or rather no-system, which had obtained amongst the Anglesea baptists; the middle-aged men would be much divided between their approval of the congregational system and their deference to the sense of duty and propriety, which, under the then present circumstances of the interest there, Mr. Evans keenly felt and sturdily avowed. He maintained, that with numerous but feeble churches, it was better to proceed with the modified congregationalism he had been obliged to adopt, than to carry out fully, and without qualification, the entire independent platform. This he would seek to prove by reference to the success of the Methodist economy in England and Wales; admitting, the while, that the New Testament economy unequivocally favoured the separate existence and separate government of each Christian church. The first result was kind of compromise-not avowed on either hand to be one-which resulted in the settlement of a pastor over the church at Holyhead. ing hearers, even among the preachers, considered) Welsh baptist "soundness in the faith." That, at the time, he really came down from the stern and severe rigidity of hyper-calvinism, I firmly believe; for while at no period in his ministry had he at all hesitated to "preach the gospel to every creature," there would be generally in the sermon a position or two which, in logical accuracy, contradicted such preaching. I am credibly informed by persons who well knew Christmas Evans at that So far, matters went on pretty period of his ministry, that the general smoothly; but, in two or three other texture and complexion of his preaching settlements, the churches did not satisfy was much expanded and liberalized; him. They refused the men he recom- and so much so, I apprehend, was this mended. He thought this conduct the case, as to give those who were neither grateful to him nor beneficial already intent upon annoyance, some to themselves. To think, with him, was rather colourable pretext for their misgenerally to speak; and he, with little chievous activity. Still, in the majority hesitation, told the parties his opinion of instances, it was only a pretext; and of them and their proceedings. They, gladly did those who were either tired of being so much his juniors, and not a his control, or determined upon provocafew of them belonging to the generation tion, avail themselves of it. Without that "knew not Joseph," treated his the slightest hesitation of conscience or remonstrances and defeat with indiffer- prudence, the odium theologicum was ence, not to say some little contempt- resorted to; and he who was the father uous triumph; and he found himself, in of the churches found his name given certain parts of the island, superseded out "for evil," as a teacher of heresy by his own children, or, what was more and a corrupter of the faith. That galling, by strangers. In the misunder- Christmas Evans never deserved these standings and heart-burnings that en- railing accusations was made evident sued, another agency was plied against to all but the partics immediately conhim-the charge of Fullerism, alias (in cerned, by the circumstance that some the estimation of Anglesea orthodoxy) of the pastors chosen in the island were, Arminianism. The truth, I believe, is, in his opinion, "too much inclined to that the writings and conversation of Arminianism." This "unsoundness in such men as Harris of Swansea, Davies the faith" was, however, a capital outof Tredegar, Micah Thomas of Aber- cry, and not a few of his own converts gavenny, and others in their way of joined in it. Unfriendliness was excited thinking, had somewhat modified his by this means towards him in many severe Calvinism just at this time. minds accustomed to regard him with Whatever modification his thoughts reverence. He was deeply grieved and underwent speedily transferred itself to wounded; and, notwithstanding his age his sermons; and there can be little and long residence in Anglesea, he doubt but that, in some instances, he gradually came to think that it was his would have uttered himself in a manner lot to leave it before he died. In addistrangely dissonant to (what his unread-tion to this cause of discouragement, an old charge was brought up against him, | from all obduracy. The struggle lasted referring to a period thirty-four years some hours. I was enabled to entrust previously and which, had it been the care of my ministry to Jesus Christ true, involved no criminality. But it with a confidence that delivered me was false; and the circumstance of its from all my afflictions. I again made a being made by a brother (?), at that dis covenant with God, which I never stance of time, and with the obvious wrote." Thus, casting all his care upon purpose of inflicting injury upon him at God, and strengthening himself in the the close of his life, penetrated him with might of Christ, did Christmas Evans agony; and, operating with the other leave his old home friends, and, in the causes specified, determined him to sixtieth year of his age, undertake a follow the leadings of providence, if, new pastorate and enter upon new haply, the Lord, whose he was, and scenes. His arrival at Caerphilly was whom he served, might employ him in an event in the history of the village, some other portion of his vineyard. and of nonconformity. Until he had actually come, it was generally believed that his heart would fail him in the hour of trial, and that he would never be able to leave Anglesea. I well remember the wonderment and gladness with which the report was propagated and received, "Christmas Evans is come!" "Are you sure of it?" "Yes, quite sure of it; he preached at Caerphilly last It was in the year 1826 that the baptist church at Tonyvelin, Caerphilly, being left destitute by the resignation of their late pastor, Mr. Griffith Davies, acting under the advice of several respected ministers, invited Christmas Evans to take the oversight of them in the Lord. Under the circumstances already before the reader, he relinquished his ministry, long and dear as it had | Sunday. That I know from a friend been, in Anglesea, and commenced his tedious journey to his new home. He had above two hundred miles to travel: now crossing a dangerous ferry, now scaling a hill, again winding slowly around the foot of a gigantic mountain, and then, emerging for a short time into a valley, or lengthening his journey over a large plain, leaving behind him the most affecting associations, bearing in his very spirit the most vivid reminiscences of past trials and triumphs: while the experience of a forty years' ministry enabled him to look forward with complacent hope to that which awaited him in the place whither the Lord his God was leading him. who was there." So general was the interest excited by his having actually become a resident in South Wales, that it extended to all denominations, and embraced all conditions of people. He was settled in the chapel house, and a housekeeper was provided for him. The modes of living were, however, so different from those to which he had always been accustomed, and he found so little sympathy in this respect, that he told a friend he must get a servant from the north. It was suggested to him that he had better marry again; and the name of an excellent woman was mentioned, with the addition that she had some wealth, and that he might considerably better himself by the alliance. He seemed to think earnestly for a "During my journey," he says, "from Llangefni to Brynsiencyn, I experienced great tenderness of mind, and the pre-moment; then broke out, "Oh, oh! I sence of Christ, as though he were by my side, until I was constrained to break out in audible cryings and supplications, and I felt myself disengaged tell you, brother, it is my firm opinion that I am never to have any property in the soil of this world until I have a grave. I shall then have my full share |