Cylchgronau Cymru

Vol. ii. No. iq. FEBRUARY 1893. Price One Penny. THE LATE REV. STEPHEN JENKINS, HAVERFORDWEST. u And devout men carried Stephen to his lurial" f^llHE particular Stephen in this instance was the _< one whose name heads the present sketch ; and amongst the devout men who assisted in the last services, were the venerable William Powell, of Pembroke, and the no less venerable George Williams, of Llys-y-fran. The death of Mr. Jenkins took place on November 13th, 1892, and his burial four days later. Now, what does a buri¬ al by devout men signify ? It signifies that the past record is good, and the prospects of the future still better. There are some burials that refer only to the past. Their pomp, and pride, and circumstance, seem to say — "This man was somebody ; " but what is to become of him here¬ after there is no indication or hint. Such burials are of the world, worldly, and like a finger-post whose inscriptions are all effaced save the one that points backward, they tell where the man comes from, but not a word as to where he is going; but a burial by devout men points both ways. It says, " This- our departed brother is here ending a well-spent life, and is now entering npon a glorious reward. Stephen Jenkins was a native of Llechryd, a vil¬ lage in the southern part of the county of Cardigan, but spent most of his life¬ time in Pembrokeshire. When a young man, he found employment in the slate quarries of Cilgerran, but soon returned to engage in work of a like description in the quarries of Maenclochog. He travelled thither in company with a young man, who afterwards became known as the Rev. Thomas John, of Cilgerran ; and there is something significant in the fact of these two young men starting out in company, and seeking employment in the same neighbourhood. They were both young, they were both pious, they were both Methodists; and they had each a certain vein of oddity, that brought them into mutual accord with each other. From Maenclochog, Stephen Jenkins removed to Haver¬ fordwest, still in connection with the slate business; and it was here that he married, and while residing here, he began to exercise his gift as a preacher, at a place known as Crundale, which was a few miles out¬ side the town. He became popular in a very short time, and as a preacher for country congregations, there was no one in his county in greater demand; and as he was of a broad sympathetic na¬ ture, caring little with what denomination he laboured, so long as he served the cause of Chris¬ tianity, he was often seen in the pulpits of other de¬ nominations besides his own. He was a frequent supply at the Congrega¬ tional chapels at Zion's Hill and Keyston; was the founder of the Congre¬ gational 'church at Noul- ton Haven; and only a fortnight before he died he preached to a congre¬ gation of Wesleyans at Parkfield Gate. But the chief scene of his labour was at Burnett's Hill, where he acquired im¬ mense influence amongst his rustic auditors. In travelling to this place, he used to stable his pony at a farm-house on the other side of the ferry; and he once thought that this accommodation was going to be denied him, when the farm wife declared that she would stable the pony'no longer without pay. "And what pay do you re¬ quire?" asked the preach¬ er. " Well, Sir," was the answer, "You must drop a sarmont here as you pass." The condition was readily complied with, and as many a sermon was preached, the result was the found¬ ing of a church, and the erection of the chapel known as " Millin Cross." It was at one of the forementioned places, namely—■ Zion's Hill, that he gave a characteristic answer to a young deacon, at whose house he was being entertained for the Sunday. The mid-day meal had been concluded, and the preacher had fallen into a brown study, ''And how much will you take for your thoughts, Mr. Jenkins ?" jocularly enquired his host. " Well," was the reply,