Roger Edwards

The REV. ROGER EDWARDS was born January 22, 1811, at Bala--a name associated for ever with some of the noblest and most romantic traditions of Methodist piety. He received a good education, and preached his first sermon on the verge of his twentieth year. In the year 1834 he settled at Mold, and there he remained till the end of his days. No one ever deserved a title better than he did that of 'Bishop of Flintshire,' given him by the unanimous voice of the people. His memory remains beloved in all the Churches. Possibly, however, in after years his name will be remembered more through his intimate connection with the rise of Welsh periodical literature, He settled at Mold for the purpose of editing one of the pioneer newspapers of the Principality. In 1846 he was appointed sole editor of Y Drysorfa, the monthly organ of the Calvinistic Methodists; and he held the appointment until his death. But perhaps still more important was his connection with the premier review of Wales--Y Traethodydd--started, in 1845, under the joint-editorship of himself and the late 127 Dr. Edwards, of Bala. In 1840 he edited a denominational hymn-book, for which he wrote several hymns. He also published, in 1855, a volume of moral and sacred songs, which has passed into a second edition. Simple, chaste, and serious is the note of all he did. The first given is a song of early piety: