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

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. S. 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 Howell, with a generosity
which might shame the selfish intolerance of our
so-called enlightened age, " prepared" a burial place
for them, where their dead might repose without
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 Carmarthenshire
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 partse,of Roose 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.