Jones John Richard Robert Gwilym (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fair/Good. 1st Edition. RARE ANTIQUARIAN WELSH PUBLICATION - ORIGINAL EDITION IN TWO PARTS WITH TWO SEPARATE TITLE PAGES : 200th Anniversary of this, the first edition, both dated 1822. The pagination of both parts is as follows - p.422 ; p.11 { Commemoration of a memorial poem about John Richard Jones }. The Second Title Page has some interesting ink inscriptions from 1843 to the verso.{ see image } The book remains sturdy, if dust soiled and with tone. The binding is poor. Please do request more detail. John Richard Jones ( Ramoth ) was born at Bryn Melyn, Llanuwchllyn, Meironnydd, 13 October 1765.He was ordained, 4 November 1789, minister of Ramoth chapel in Llanfrothen, Meironnydd (the focal point of the Merioneth Baptists) and its branches. Between 1789 and 1798 he was one of the foremost preachers of his denomination and was regarded both in North and South Wales as one of the leaders of the Particular Baptists. He then came upon the works of the Scotsman, Archibald Maclean, in which he found what he considered to be a fair exposition of New Testament teaching and a better portrayal of the simple Christianity of the Apostolic church. He now sought to revert to the sacraments and rites of the Early Church, to emphasize the intellectual side of faith, to abjure the popular style of preaching with its Methodist fervour and its perpetual use of parables, and to frown upon the ecstatic 'jumping' of the congregations. Between 1795 and 1798 Christmas Evans was of great assistance to him in spreading his ideas, and when, at the 'great debate' held at Ramoth towards the end of 1798, J.R. Jones seceded from the 'Babylonish' Baptists of Wales and formed his own connexion, the ' Scottish Baptists,' it was Christmas Evans who felt the blow most keenly. J.R. Jones recruited a considerable following (they numbered at least 350 in 1807) and his connexion still survives in the districts round Harlech, Ffestiniog, Glyn-ceiriog, and Rhosllannerchrugog. For twenty-four years he was his people's general, tirelessly walking over his widespread 'parish,' refusing on conscientious grounds to accept any salary, and faithfully spreading the truth as he saw it. Of his five published books, three are collections of hymns (by himself and other writers) while two deal with the principles and tenets of his connexion. He was a man of brilliant, many-sided ability, interested in every branch of knowledge. Ap Vychan (Robert Thomas, 1809 - 1880) said of him: ' he was the greatest man ever nurtured in Merionethshire.' He died 27 June 1822. { Author of extract : John Thomas Jones }; WILLIAMS, ROBERT (Robert ap Gwilym Ddu; 1766 - 1850), poet - Born 6 December 1766, only child of William Williams and Jane (Parry) of Betws Fawr, a farm in the parish of Llanystumdwy. He spent the greater part of his life as a substantial farmer, and had sufficient leisure to pursue such interests as Welsh literature, theology, music, and antiquarian studies. His home became the resort of cultured Welshpeople, and he was known throughout North Wales not only as a poet but as a well-informed man of independent judgement. Robert was friendly with the eisteddfodic poets, but after the one occasion when he failed to win the prize he never competed. He and John Richard Jones of Ramoth were staunch friends, and he assisted the latter to publish his hymn-books. { Author : Professor Stephen Joseph Williams, (1896 - 1992) }.