Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-23
QUAKER MARTYRS,
Religious Persecution in Wales Two Cen

turtles Ago.
The venerable Rev. DIR. B. w. Chidlaw
is on visit to Wales, and writes as fol-
lows to the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
from Dolgelley:
Two centuries ago the religious teachings
of William Penn reached the inhabitants
of thsee secluded glens, were examined,
believed and accepted by sufficient num-
Der to form society and to build meet
ing-house. Witnessing for truth and
Righteousness, and growing in numbers,
aroused the prosecuting spirit of the clergy
OF the established church, who secured the
aid of the civil magistracy to suppress the
pestilent heresy and the godly example of
these true and faithful disciples of Christ,
thorn in their flesh, and swift witness
against the prevailing vices and ungodli-
ness of the times, which they made no
special and effectual effort to discourage
or suppress. Suffering from persecution,
many of these Quaker families emigrated
to Pennsylvania and settled near Philadel-
phia.
In an old interesting book, "a Collection
of Memorials Concerning the People
Called Quakers," printed in Philadelphia
originally, but reprinted in London, 1888.
loaned by friend. l find many facts
illustrating the principles, character and
suferings of these good people who lived
IN the vicinity of this town; and by per-
sonal visit to their old meeting house and
cemetery my interest has been deepened.
Following an uphill and winding road
three miles, we reached, on the mountain
side, farm house. called "Tyddyn-y-
Gareg (rock farm, an old, antiquated,
dilapidated building, where two hundred
years ago Quaker family lived, and near
which Is the old Quaker graveyard, sur
rounded by stone wall FIVE feet high.
The graves are unmarked, but there are
several head stones of recent date, with
Welsh inscriptions. The last Quaker bur-
ial was some fifty years ago.
The meeting house, 30x25 feet, of rough
stone, gray with age, is little distance
from the graveyard. 1t is now called
=" Tabor" and used as a house of worship
by the Congregatioualists. Between this
sacred spot and the town is a hill farm
called "Bryn Mawr" (great hill. where
an ancient and esteemed Quaker named
Rowland Ellis lived. He was born in 1850.
and, convinced of the truth" in 1872,
united with the Quaker Society, and on
"SSouht vi Ills teShiluOny suffered HVe
years of imprisonment In 1880 this true
disciple of William Penn, because he
would not violate his conscience by taking
the oath Of allegiance, was arrested. The
Judges before whom he appeared and
stoutly refused, condemned him 20 suffer a
long Imprisonment, and said: "That in
case the Quakers refused the second time
to take the oath, they should be proceeded
against as traitors, the men hanged and
quartered and the women burned"
Rowland Ellis, released from prison in
1856, went to Pennsylvania, bought land a
few miles out of Philadelphia, and came
back for his family. He called his new
home after the farm on which he had lived
in Wales, "Bryu Mawr," which is now the
name of station, with beautiful surround
lnSs, few miles ont on the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Rowland Ellis was minister.
distinguished for his piety and service, an
able advocate for civil and religious
liberty, the doctrines and discipline of So
clety, and the best interests of humanity.
lie died at the house of his son-in-law,
John Evans, in 1929, was buried at the
Plymouth burying ground, and of whom it
Is said, "lie rests, enjoying the reward of
the righteous. and his works follow him."