LEWIS

See also:

• EDWARDS, AMELIA ANN BLANDFORD (1831-1892)
• EDWARDS, BELA BATES (18o2-1852)
• EDWARDS, BRYAN (1743–1800)
• EDWARDS, GEORGE (1693–1773)
• EDWARDS, HENRY THOMAS (1837–1884)
• EDWARDS, JONATHAN (1703—1758)
• LEWIS EDWARDS (1806–1887 )
• EDWARDS, RICHARD (c. 1523–1566)
• EDWARDS, T
• EDWARDS, THOMAS CHARLES (1837–1900)

EDWARDS (1806–1887 )  , Welsh Nonconformist divine, was born in the parish of Llanhadarn Fawr, Cardigan-shire, on the 27th of October 'Roo . He was educated at Aberystwyth and at Llangeitho, and then himself kept school in both these places . He had already begun to preach for the Calvinistic Methodists when, in December 1839, he went to London to take advantage of the newly-opened university . In 1832 he settled as minister at Laugharne in Carmarthenshire, and the following year went to Edinburgh, where a special resolution of the senate allowed him to graduate at the end of his third session . He was now better able to further his plans for providing a trained ministry for his church . Previously, the success of the Methodist preachers had been due mainly to their natural gifts . Edwards made his home at Bala, and there, in 1837, with David Charles, his brother-in-law, he opened a school, which ultimately became the denominational college for north Wales . He died. on the 19th of July 1887 . Edwards may fairly be called one of the makers of modern Wales . Through his hands there passed generation after genera: tion of preachers, who carried his influence to every corner of the principality .. By fostering competitive meetings and by his writings, especially in Y Traethodydd (" The Essa) ist "), a quarterly magazine which he founded in 1845 and edited for ten years, he did much to inform and educate his countrymen on literary and theological subjects . A new college was built at Bala in 1867, for which he raised £io,000 .

His

chief publication was a noteworthy book on The Doctrine of the Atonement, cast in the form of a dialogue between master and pupil; the treatment is forensic, and emphasis is laid on merit . It was due to him that the North and South Wales Calvinistic Methodist Associations united to form an annual General Assembly; he was its moderator in 1866 and again in 1876 . He was successful in bringing the various churches of the Presbyterian order into closer touch with each other, and unwearying in his efforts to promote education for his countrymen . See Bywyd a Llythyrau y Parch . (i.e . Life and Letters of the Rev.) Lewis Edwards, D.D., by his son T . C . Edwards .