The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-09 00:00:00

, ,

•
411(111r.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 9, 1861.

TILE BURIAL OR THE REV, DAVID
GIIFE22IIS, LAZEOF ACC.&LAG TON.

(From the Harcrfoidtvest Telegraph.)
The body of this eminent minister and thinker
was peacefully interred in the Trevangor burial
ground, near to Ffynnon Baptist Chapel, on Mon-
day last, the 4th inst. Our readers will not fail to
remember the strange and, happily, in our county,
unheard of proceeding attending the previous inter-
ment on Saturday week. How that J. L. G. P.
Lewis, Esq., of Henllan, put in a claim to the grave-
yard, and prevented the burial save under payment
of a halfpenny as an acknowledgment of his rights;
how that the funeral procession was arrested by this
startling intelligence at the Narberth-road Station
—the corpse having been brought down from
Lancashire by the mail train that morning ; how
that great excitement and indignation were aroused
by the announcement that Mr. Lewis had ordered
the grave to be filled up, and had put a padlock
upon the gate of the yard ; and how that the friends
of the deceased gentleman, uncertain how to act in
this unexpected difficulty—placed the body of their
friend in a temporary grave in the Baptist burial
ground at Narberth. These and other facts in con-
nection with this indecent interruption of funeral
obsequies were recorded in the Telegraph of last
Wednesday,—and, as numerous letters we have re-
ceived on the matter testify, the whole religious
feeling of the county was aroused thereby, Mr.
Lewis's conduct is most strongly condemned by all
classes alike, and his claim, and especially the mode
in which he asserted it, invoked a sturdy spirit of
resistance among the sons of the old Nonconformists.
It was determined by some of the foremost men of
the Baptists in Pembrokeshire, to assert peacefully,
but yet firmly, the right of the denomination to the
graveyard, and to remove the obstruction which, by
Mr. Lewis' orders, impeded the interment of their
friend. Accordingly, on Monday last, an immense
concourse of people assembled at Narberth, to wit-
ness the removal of the body from the cemetery
there, to the little burial ground at Trevangor.
Possibly some of that large assembly attended from
mere idle curiosity, but by far the larger number
were drawn thither by feelings of respect and rever-
ence for the memory of the eminent man, whose
burial had been so rudely and indecently forbidden
that previous Saturday.
Mr. Griffiths, although not widely or popularly
known, even in his own denomination, was one of
the most logical reasoners and keenest thinkers of
the age. His tastes attracted him to the pursuit of
metaphysical divinity, for which the acuteness and
comprehensive grasp of his intellect eminently fitted
him. He could discuss the deeper and more ab-
struse dogmas of theology with such ease and
power, and could so readily unravel some of the
more difficult problems of religion and human life,
as to delight all who were privileged to listen to
his teachings. Retiring in his disposition, even
almost to eccentricity, he was, nevertheless, most
hearty and enduring in his affections; and once the
strangeness and awkwardness of a first introduction
were removed, no man could be more loving and
genial. Like John Foster, another great genius of
the Baptist denomination, he was only. known to,
or at least only appreciated by, the thinkers of the
age, and between him and Foster, too, there was a
resemblance both in the range of their intellect and
the tone of their thinking. They were, moreover,
alike in this—that they elaborated their subjects
slowly ; deep thinkers, they were most fastidious
in their choice of words,' and perhaps Mr. Griffiths,
like Foster, was the severest critic of his own
writings. His work on " The Atonement," is a
monument of great genius and lucid thinking, and
a correspondent informs us that he left behind,
nearly ready for the press, a treatise on the Resur-
rection, and other valuable manuscripts, which,
when published, will greatly add to his fame.
Many there were, then, who attended that gather-
ing on Monday to express their respect and rever-
ence for the memory of a great and a good man—
one of the nobility of intellect—and of whom the
Baptist denomination ought to be justly proud.
Others there were who knew him personally, and
ho loved and esteemed him highly. His name
was familiar to the Baptists of central Pembroke.
shire, for there his boyhood's days were spent, and
there he preached some of the last sermons which
fell from his lips. He returned home to Lancashire,
however, to die, and almost his last words were a
request to be buried in the old yard at Travangor,
where many of his youthful hours were spent.
The feelings of sorrowful indignation by which
the Baptist body in Pembrokeshire was aroused
when it was noised abroad that such an outrage
had been perpetrated on the funeral solemnities of
a man so eminent and so esteemed, may be readily
imagined; and from all parts of the county the
leaders of the denomination flocked into the town
of Narberth on Monday last. Long before 12 o'clock
—the time fixed for meeting—the chapel, and the
yard around it, were filled with an anxious and ex-
cited assembly. Outside the chapel yard there was
a very large number of persons in waiting, and the
road from Narberth towards Pfynnon was thickly
strewed with waiting groups, ready to swell the
procession when it arrived.
Shortly after 12 o'clock the Rev. Benjamin
Thomas, of Whitly, attended by a large number of
ministers and friends, entered the chapel, and
placed himself in front of the pulpit. The Rev.
Dr. Davies, President of the Haverfordwest Col-
lege, then gave, at the request of the chairman, the
programme of the day's proceedings, after which
William Rees, Esq., of Haverfordwest, was desired
to state the reasons why they were then assembled,
which having been done,
The Rev. B, Thomas then gave out a hymn, after
the singing of which the Rev. 1). Davies, of Pem-
broke, and the Rev. J. Griffiths, of Blaencenin,
prayed in English and Welsh.
The procession was then formed. The coffin,
which was made of oak richly stained, having been
taken from its temporary resting place, was put
into the hearse, and was followed by the immediate
friends of the deceased. The carriages, and con-
veyances of all kinds, and horses were then formed
in line, after which followed a dense mass of people
on foot, and in this order the procession left Nar-
berth. But in advance of the procession, and for
the whole of the distance of two or three miles to
Trevangor burial ground, the road was literally,
crowded with carriages and horses and foot pas-
sengers, all wending their way to the scene of the
intended burial. On arriving at the spot it was
found that Mr. Lewis had erected a fence of thorns
at the entrance to the field in which the burial
ground is, and he and some of his friends were
within side for the purpose of protecting his alleged
rights. Mr. Rees, accompanied by some of his
friends, walked at the head of the procession, the
coffin being immediately behind them, and on
their reaching the outside of the thorn fence Mr.
Lewis approached it on the inside. Mr. Rees then
inquired whether Mr. Lewis was present, and on
Mr. Lewis himself answering in the affirmative, the
following conversation ensued :
Mr. Rees—Did you put up this fence, Mr. Lewis?
Mr. Lewis—l did.
Mr. Rees—We are come to bury our dead, will
you remove it ?
Mr. Lewis—l will not.
Mr. Itees—Then I shall proceed to remove it
myself.

-Mr. Lewis—Pray stop a moment, let me have my
witnesses present to se what you do..
The witnesses havinegsucc.eeded in
.forcing their
way through the crowd, which by this time had
filled the inside of the field about. the entrance, Mr.
Rees again asked thel questions of Mr. Lewis, and
" I now proceed to
mi ar answers. he, Mr. Rees, said
pulled it out of the an
having received similar
upright stake, and having
wfirloiiiind he said, " Are there any
remove this obstruction." He
then took hold of
. down ?" eIP
persons here who me to take this obstruc-
tioninside and outside the Instantlyfield a score. of persons from
laid forcible grasp upon
ttihiee lessfeehnseter,saentidoninvvthan a minute. the whole of
was thfirordn beside the hedge, and
gthaeteenotfranthcee intot
some few yards to the
heretired
lmmediately after, the
then left the spot and rete. was free. Mr. Lewis
procession approached graveyard.the
being gate, headed by Mr.
Roes enquired
theq ulr
e d
whether behind. M
Al..
!tees—the coffin, as before,
similar conversation here took place close
. between the
two gentlemen. Mr.
Lewis had put the lock ongate, to which he
then
replied that he had. He was asked to take
the lock off that they might bury their dead in
peace. He distinctly refused. Mr. Rees then
handed fimmediately
or a hammer, and one was
returned
him. He having struck the lock gently,
the hammer to the person who prodpe2d it, and he
then requested this person to break the lock. After
two or three blows, scientifically struck on the side
of the lock, the bolts fell back, and the lock was
removed. Mr. Bees then threw the gate open and
gave free access to the procession to enter the en-
closure. After this had been done, Mr. Rees and
Mr. Lewis retired together, apparently in
amicable converse. Spades and pickaxes
were then procured, and the grave was rapidly
dug, and was as rapidly bricked. While
this necessary work was being performed
in the grave yard, the large assembly adjourned to
the adjoining field—off Mr. Lewis's property—

where religious services were held, These ser-
vices were conducted by the Revs. Dr. Davies,
of Haverfordwest, Henry Price, of Carmel, D. M.
Evans, of Llanelly, H. J. Morgans, of Pembroke-
dock, and others, and at their close—the grave being
now finished—the body of the deceased minister
was laid in its final resting place, to await the resur-
rection of the just. The large assembly then quietly
dispersed—the common theme of conversation being
Mr. Lewis's conduct, and the
quiet yet successful
assertion of their rights by the Baptists.
Never before perhaps was such a scene as that we
have now recorded, witnessed in Pembrokeshire.
When the first donor, Griffith Howell, gave this
little spot to the Baptists for a burial place they
were—for the bigotry of ignorance is ever intolerant
—refused interment in the parish grave-yards.
Persecuted in their lives they had no resting-place
in their death. Griffith llowell, with a generosity
which might shame the selfish intolerazlee of our
so-called enlightened age, ,‘ prepared" a burial place
for them, where their dead might repose wibout
let or hindrance. For 200 years, it is alleged, the
Baptists have had undisputed possession of this
yard. This fact, together with the celebrity of the
great and good man whose body was refused inter-
ment there, excited the indignant feelings of the'
Baptists of this and the adjoining counties. Some
of Mr. Griffiths's old friends, aroused by the
report of these startling proceedings, came down
from England to testify their respect for his
memory, and to enter their protest against the in-
decent interruption of his funeral solemnities. Bap-
tist ministers from Glamorganshire, ministers and
members from Baptist churches in Carjparthenshire
and the border districts of Cardiganshire, came to
testify by their presence, their veneration for the
man of whom their denomination might well be
proud. The Baptist churches of Pembrokeshire, as
might be expected, sent their representatives in some
instances by hundreds. From Kemes and Kilger-
ran, from the farthest parts of loose and Castle-
martin, they came to mingle with their brethren in
central Pembrokeshire, and to guard with respect-
ful sympathy the body of the deceased minister to
its place of rest. It was certainly a striking sight
to witness the forbearance and the almost respect
shown to Mr. Lewis, even by those who most
strongly felt that he had violated the rights of se-
pulture, and had outraged the memory of the dead.
Although stern and determined countenances were
everywhere around, not one harsh word, not one un-
pleasant taunt, or unfriendly gesture was pointed at
Mr. Lewis. He walked safely and protected amongst
the dense crowd, who respectfully made way for
him, offering no overt manifestation of feeling, and
apparently more deploring than resenting his
strange proceedings. Once only was there the
slightest token of a demonstrative feeling • when
Mr. Rees pulled up the stake, and the whole fence
was thrown bodily beside the hedge, there was a
faint attempt to cheer by some boys and young
men. This, however, was speedily suppressed, and
the whole proceedings were conducted with a quiet
order and decorum, which speaks most favourably
for the character o the people of Pembrokeshire.

THE LATB GALE.

SHIELDS, THURSDAY NIGHT.

We have still more doleful particulars to record
of the effects of the stormy weather in the North
tohfe weather having
ail laden vessels left
S moderated,Sea.
some
y twentya fte rn o os
the Tyne; to-night the survivors of the crew of one
of those vessels—the Sunbeam, of Shields—have
returned home, having lost their vessel the night
after they sailed off Flamborough Head. Their
ship was run into on Tuesday night by a large
American bark, and sunk immediately. Some of
the men escaped in one of the boats, but the master
and four of the crew were drowned. The name of
the American vessel is not known. The survivors
of the crew of the fine new ship Darius, of South
Shields, which only left the Wear this night week,
and was wrecked on the Longsands on Saturday
morning, have arrived at their homes here in a
very deplorable condition. The Darius was a vessel
of 26 keels, but was laden with 23 keels, and was
on her first voyage out to Constantinople. She
had a crew of 10 hands on board. She ran on
to the Longsands in thick weather, stormy,
with snow showers, on Saturday morning ; and as
the sea increased the crew cut away the mainmast
and foremast. But the vessel began to siel; into the
sand, and the stumps of the two masts coming up
through tl e deck two of the crew and an apprentice
lad got into one of the boats and remained in her
some time, banging by the stern, until the painter
broke, and they were washed away and seen no
more. The remainder of the poor fellows took to
the mizenmast, and clung to the rigging. The more
the vessel sunk into the sand the more the sea swept
the hapless creatures. One of them was a poor lad
from the country, a nephew of one of the owners,
on his first voyage. The mate, a man named Meall,
a good sailor, took charge of him and held him in
his arms in the rigging many hours until the poor
lad, in sheer exhaustion, fell into the sea; another
of the crew perished in a similar manner, and it
was not until Sunday night, after the sea had con-
siderably abated, that the forlorn seamen, after
being exposed 36 hours in the rigging, and swept
all that time by the fury of the tempest, and ex-
pecting every moment to be their last, were rescued
by some smacks, and taken into Harwich in a very
exhausted condition. The master of the vessel was
much cut about the head. A little Scotch schooner,
the Gainsborough Packet, of Montrose, appears to
have foundered off Filev on Saturday, with all
hands. An inquest was held at Sunderland yester-
day on the body of Edward Welsh, a young sailor
belong to Stockton, who was drowned under very
distressing circumstances at Sunderland on Satur-
day afternoon. Three little Scotch vessels came
ashore at the mouth of the Wear, and one of them
ran close up to the high-water mark. Welsh had
attempted to get a line to the vessel, but while doing
so a sea swept round the vessel's stern and carried
him and a shipmate to sea by the back sweep. His
shipmate was saved, but, after a hard battle for
life, poor Welsh was drowned in the presence of
hundreds of spectators, who could render him
no assistance. A gallant fellow, a soldier in the
58th Regt., made a noble effort to'save him, how-
ever, and nearly lost his life in so doing, for
had he not been caught by the jacket and
hauled out of the water he too would have been
swept away and lost. Vessels that have arrived
here from the Baltic and North of Europe report
that they encountered a fearful gale on Friday and
Saturday, but the wind with them was from the
S.W.—the gale with us, it will be remembered, was
from the N.N.W.

11.• pi mod••••••••

GREAT YARMOUTH, THURSDAY.
Daily evidence continues to be furnished of the
violence of the gale which swept this coast on Satur-
day and Sunday last. Upwards of 20 vessels have
put into this harbour since Sunday, some dismasted,
and all more or less damaged, among them the
Gleaner, of this port (master, Boyfield, son of the
owner), having been washed away in the storm;
the Diamond fishing lugger, belonging to Scar-
borough, with loss of master and one man ; and a
Yarmouth lugger, with loss of one man. It is now
ascertained that one of the two luggers, the total
loss of which, with all hands, we reported on Wed-
nesday, was the Triumph, of this port, and the
other the Buxton, of Sherringham. The crew of
the Gainsborough Packet, who were supposed to be
gossel
landed here to-day,
, which foundered off
Scarborough
theirSunday,e
were
having been picked up by the Josephine, of Aber-
n e down
Aber-
deen. The crew were taken to the Sailors' Home,
making 19 shipwrecked seamen received into this
excellent institution during the week, and 44 during
the last 10 days.

AT SEA DURING THE GALE.---An interesting
story is told by the captain of the Yarborough, a
large steamer, which left Grimsby last Friday, but
was driven back by the gale:—On leaving Grimsby
on the Ist inst. the wind was blowing moderately
from the N.N,W. Nothing happened till 4 a.m. of
the 2d (Saturday), the ship being then about 40
miles N.E. of the Spurn, Flamborougli Head being
about N.W. The weather was dark and gloomy,
the wind from the northward blowing a hurricane.
She was under a close-reefed mainsail and easy
steam, ship's head to sea. "At 7 a.m.," the log says,
" the sea began to wash away the bulwarks. Put
the ship before the sea and wind to make for the Hum-
ber. At 0 a.m. the decks were filled fore and aft, and
then hauled the ship to the wind, and put a tarpaulin
in the mizen rigging to keep her bow to the sea. At
10 a.m. a fearful sea struck the vessel on the star-
board side, sweeping the deck and everything move-
able, also stanchions, bulwarks, rails, lifeboat, galley,
warps, breaking the funnel stays, cabin windows,
skylights, &c. Attempted to run the vessel before
the wind and sea, and in doing so the warps, which
had been previously worked from the deck, got en-
tangled with the propeller and stopped the engine,
in consequence of which the ship became unman-
ageable. A t 2 p.m. the water extinguished the fires
in the engine-room ; set the crew to work at the
hand-pumps, but they had to discontinue working
at them, as they were continually being washed
away. As the ship was settling down, made for

the Humber, and hoisted signals of distress. 4 a.m.
—Anchored six miles from the Spurn in the hope
of saving the ship, but in this were disappointed,
for the sea ran over the vessel, the dead-lights for-
ward were washed in, and the water was rapidly
gaining on the pumps. Deemed it prudent to slip
the cable and let the steamer drive on the sand,
with a view of saving our lives. She came to the
ground, Sandhead Flat, about 7 a.m., and in fifteen
minutes she filled. Remained on board till 7 a.m.,
the captain and eighteen of the crew taking refuge
in the cabin, the remaining three in the main rig-
ging. Those in the cabin then got out by the sky-
light and launched the two remaining boats, and
succeeded in getting to the land. Two of the three
men who took to the rigging remained when the
boats left, and owing to the fearful sea that was
running no attempt could be made to get them off."
The survivors were landed at Ingold Mills, on the
Lincolnshire shore, to the southward of the Spurn.
The loss of the ship and cargo is estimated at near
£20,000. The owners are insured, and about £7,000
will fall upon the underwriters at Lloyd's.