Rev. Dr. Evan Gurnos Jones

Description

There are few names better known in the public world of Wales than that of Gurnos, and few perhaps of whose private history less is known than that of the preacher-bard. Those who know him well know, too, that his whole career has been full of interesting incidents, and the difficulty in writing a sketch of him is to know what to omit from such a mass of material as lies ready to hand.

As preacher, as bard, and as elocutionist he has distinguished himself. In the latter capacity he has few equals. He has made public oratory a special study, and being, favoured by a splendid physique, has reached a point of excellence equalled by few and surpassed by none. Some years ago, he delivered an address on elocution to the students at Pontypool Baptist College, and Principal Edwards then remarked, “Every college in Wales where students are, trained for the ministry should engage the services of Gurnos at least once every year to teach the future preachers how to speak. The examples of voice modulations he gives are invaluable and convey lessons which no book can ever do.”

He was not only a powerful speaker in more than one sense, but a very ready speaker. In this connection, I am, told, he performed an almost unparalleled feat. The story is well worth telling. On one occasion a fellow minister, the Rev J. R. Jones, Llwynypia, had undertaken to lecture at Pontardawe, on the subject “Hour and strike of the Three Mighty Ones” (“Awr a Hanergyda’r Tri Chedyrn).” Being unexpectedly, prevented from attending, he wrote at the last moment to Gurnos, begging him to take his place. The bard went, intending to deliver one of his own stock lectures on another subject. Arriving at Pontardawe, however, he found this would not do. The people were willing to accept Gurnos as a substitute for Jones-Llwynypia, but they must have the lecture on the subject first announced. This difficulty would be insurmountable to any ordinary speaker. Not so to Gurnos. Looking at his watch, he saw he had an hour and a half to prepare for an hour and a half’s speech, and turning to the committee, said: “Very well. I will speak on the subject you have named.” He locked himself up in his room and studied his subject for the first time.” He appeared on the platform at the last moment, and, just before rising to speak, whispered in the chairman’s ear: Place your hat on the table when I shall have spoken for an hour and a quarter.

Gurnos Jones was born in the year 1840, at Gwernogle, Carmarthenshire. His first teacher was the Rev. Daniel Evans, who combined the different and apparently irreconcilable posts of relieving-officer, farmer, postmaster, shopkeeper, schoolmaster, village innkeeper, and minister of the gospel. Over the door might be, seen the following legend: “Plough and Harrow Inn, by the Rev. Daniel Evans.” The Gospel Temperance Union was evidently not in existence.

When 12 years of age he lost his mother, and tour years later had the sad task of following his father’s body to the grave. Thrown entirely upon his own resources, he followed a natural bent for the ministry. He commenced preaching before he was twenty years of age, and after a preliminary course of three years at Brechfa School, entered the Presbyterian College at Carmarthen in the year 1862.

Having gone through a full course of four years at the college, he received a call to minister to a recently formed church at Treorky, in the Rhondda Valley. The prospects of the youthful minister did not appear to be very encouraging. The only available place for carrying on their public worship was in the long room of a public house, and here the voice of prayer from minister or member of the church was often intermingled with loud orders for beer and spirits, and even oaths from the half-drunken occupants of the inn kitchen underneath the improvised chapel. In six years,’ time the church increased from 60 to between 300 and 400 members, and a handsome chapel, accommodating 700 or 800, was, built.

It was at Talysarn that Gurnos found his greatest joy and experienced his deepest sorrow. Here he met and here he married his well-loved wife, and alas here he bade her that long fate-well we all must bid each other sooner, or later. After a short and happy wedded life of a little over a year, the woman who had proved herself his guardian angel and the best inspiration for his genius was, taken from him. She died in childbed, leaving him a son three days old to bind his memory to his lost love.

It is difficult to write of this period of his life without emotion. I have only room for one incident of a most touching character. In 1875 a grand chair eisteddfod was, held in America, the chief honour being a chair in relief on a silver medal. When the programme appeared, the newly married wife turned to her husband, saying: “Compete for the American chair medal, and I will wear it as a brooch.” To her mind, to compete and to win were synonymous terms where her husband was concerned, he pleaded that there must be better bards than he in a great country like America. “No,” said she “if you love me you will win.” “That is an unfair test of my affection,” replied he. Fired by ambition and inspired by love, he privately composed his ode to “Woman,” and, without his wife’s knowledge* sent it to try its fortunes over the ocean. Now for the sequel. Within an hour after the heart-broken husband had seen the earth thrown on his beloved one’s coffin, a letter was, placed in his hand. He opened it. It was the American Chair Medal she, in her faith, had intended to wear as a brooch! Can we wonder that it opened his wounds afresh? Had it reached him two hours sooner, he would have placed it on her bosom in her coffin.

Among his bardic successes are the chairs of Abercarn, 1870, the subject being “Mother;” Ystradyfodwg, 1871, love poem, “Alice;” Bangor, 1874, “The Bible;” America, 1875, “Woman;” Cardiff, 1876, “Instinct;” America, 1877, “Poetry.” The last is, considered his masterpiece and, was, regarded as one of the best illustrations of modern Welsh classical compositions.

Funeral of Rev Gurnos Jones 26.12.1903
Impressive service at Groeswen.

The mortal remains of the Rev. Dr. Gurnos Jones were, laid to rest on Tuesday in the celebrated burial-ground of Groeswen Congregational Chapel, and the funeral service was itself a remarkable tribute to the memory of the departed. There was, shortly after one p.m., a considerable assembly of ministers and others at Llanbradach, where, in the little chapel whose pastoral charge “Gurnos” had undertaken, there was a brief service before the cortege was, formed. The Rev. C. Tawelfryn Thomas, of Groeswen, conducted this service, as well as the subsequent service in Groeswen Chapel and at the open grave, and this fact probably accounts for the admirable selection of the speakers who took part throughout. At the outset, the rev. gentleman gave out the words of the old hymn: “Daeth yr awr im’ ddianc adre’ and it was very pathetically, sung by the crowded congregation. The Rev. T. J. Rees, Whitchurch, read a portion of Holy Writ, and the Rev. J. W. Evans, Glyn-Neath, offered up prayer, after which “Ieuan Glan Geirionydd’s” magnificent hymn was, sung:

“Ar lan Iorddonen ddofn
Rwy’n oedi’n nychlyd,
Mewn blys myn’d trwy, ac ofn
Ei ‘stormydd enbyd,” &c.

“On the banks of the deep Jordan
I pause sullenly,
In eagerness I go through, and fear.
His 'terrible storms,' &c.

At Groeswen a large number of friends awaited the funeral, among them being Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., Alderman E. Thomas, “Cochfarf”, J.P., “Carnelian” and Dewi Alaw,” Pontypridd; the Rev. D. G. Evans, Rhydyfelin; the Rev. J. Williams, secretary of the Welsh Congregational Union; the Rev. Silyn Evans, Aberdare; the Rev. J. W. Morris, Glyn Neath; Mr. Evan Jones and Mr. W. Phillips, Treorky; the Rev. E. Morgan, Tongwynlais; the Rev. J. H. Jenkins, curate of Taff’s Well; the Rev. J. E. Thomas, Blaenavon; and others. In Groeswen Chapel the Rev. C. Tawelfryn Thomas again took charge of the service. Mr. M. C. Morris read and prayed.

Gurnos would have been of no use on a school board or a county council. He (the speaker) had once heard “Gurnos” suggested as a Parliamentary candidate, but he took no notice, because he knew he would be in the wrong place. Fair play, he had never heard of Congregationalists or Baptists putting “Gurnos” on a committee or even to move a resolution in a “Cwrdd Undeb,” or a “Cymanfa,” because it was not in his line. But, strange to say for a strong man, “Gurnos” seemed to have been filled with a kind of fear of two things, one was poverty, that he would someday be allowed to drift into poverty, and the other was, that his works would not be properly dealt with if left unpublished until after his death. He had mentioned those matters to him (the speaker), among others, and had said, if you see me in poverty, be sure to help me.” Now, that came from a man whose free-handed generosity and kindliness of heart were, as had already been, said unbounded. Was it not strange? He was not, allowed to see poverty. He was, suddenly taken from the midst of his work, direct into glory, and there certainly was glory in connection with “Gurnos.” He alluded in touching terms to the widow and son, and concluded with the words:

“Henffych foreu cawn gyfarfod
Yn Nhy ein Tad.”

"Hail tomorrow we will meet.
In our Father's House."

“Aberystwyth” was, then sung. After a short prayer by the Rev. Silyn Evans, the coffin, borne upon the shoulders of friends and the deacons of the little chapel at Llanbradach, was carried out, and when the shades of night were falling it was lowered into the bricked grave in the old burial-ground of Groeswen, within the precincts of which at least a dozen of Wales’s most eminent men are lying with the dust of the forefathers of the hamlet. At the graveside “Bydd myrdd o ryfeddodau,” was then, sung, and the closing prayer by the Rev. E. Morgan, Tongwynlais, brought to, a close a most touching service.

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