MAURICE OWEN ROBERTS, NEW YORK.
Peth anfynych ydyw galw dyn mor ieuanc â Mr. Roberts i wasanaethu fel diacon yn ein Cyfundeb. Ond galwodd eglwys New York y brawd hwn i weinyddu cyn ei fod yn bump ar hugain oed - yn y swydd sydd mor gysegredig yn ngolwg llawer. Y mae hyn yn llefaru yn uchel am ei allu, ei weithgarwch a'i ffyddlondeb. Ychydig yw nifer ein blaenoriaid da, ond yn ôl pob arwyddion buasai Mr. Roberts yn cymeryd ei le yn fuan yn mysg ein blaenoriaid goreu. Yr oedd yn naturiol yn ddyn medrus, yn llawn o awydd gwneyd daioni gyda chrefydd, ac er nad oedd ond ieuanc, yr oedd trwy ei fedrusrwydd a'i allu fel cyfreithwr wedi adeiladu busnes helaeih iddo ei hun.Gwaelodd yn raddol o dan ddylanwad difaol y darfodedigaeth, er ei fod yn gallu codi o'i wely hyd y diwedd. Ni chafwyd llawer o'i bresenoldeb yn yr eglwys er's dros flwyddyn. Ni raid dweyd ein bod yn teimlo colled a chwithdod ar ei ôl fel eglwys, a bod ei le ef yn wag. Ond i'w briod, yr hon a fu yn ei wylied yn ddyfal ddydd a nos, hi a gafodd golled fawr - yr hon a fu yn cydweddio ag ef, ac ar ei ran, ac yn dal y Beibl iddo i'w ddarllen pan wedi myned yn rhy wan i'w ddal ei hun.
Cafodd un o'r angladdau parchusaf a welir yn y ddinas, o Gymry a Saeson, pan y gweinyddwyd gan y Parch. H. Pritchard (Presbyterian), a chan yr ysgrifenydd. Gan fod y nodiadau canlynol wedi eu traddodi yn Saesneg yn y capel ddydd yr angladd, ni bydd yn dramgwydd iddynt ymddangos yn yr iaith hono :
Our departed friend was well known in this city, especially among his countrymen. We all know that he fought a good fight. We may say that he had fought a good fight for his health. He had finished his course; he kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, whicb the Lord, the righteous judge shal1 give him at that day, and not to him only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. One of his last utterances was "The battle will be over soon."
Life is a conflict to every one of us. The reason we see about us so many discouraged and defeated men and women, from whom all of life's hopes seem to have vanished, whoes golden age is all in the past, who have no future to which they look with joy, who have no courage with which to wrest victory from defeat, is because they have given up the fight.
Mr. Roberts was born in the town of Pwllheli. Carnarvonshire. Wales, in May, 1868, and died in New York January 31st, 1899. His father. Rev. Morris Roberts, was well known as a minister of the gospel. He was the youngest child in the family. His mother died December 16th, 1873. when he was five years old. The death of his mother was a great loss to him at such an early age, because she was an excellent wife, a good mother, and a woman of superior character and education. But his father took a special interest in him, and gave him a good early training. So that when he was twelve years of age he was appointed an asistant teacher in a boarding school in his native town.
In September, 1882, he left Wales, and came to New York. His brother, Wm. M. Roberts, was already there, in Scott Lord's office. After being in the city for a few weeks his brother introduced him to Mr. Lord, who employed him as his private secretary. In that office he began to study law, and in course of time entered the law department of the University of New York, where he graduated and received the degree of LL. B. He at once began the practice of his profession. and continued in it for ten years. or until his decease. Although a young man he acquired considerable prominence as a lawyer.
June 29th, 1892, he was married to Miss Ella Morris of this city. He was a man of much refinement, kind, obliging, and social among his companions. and beloved by all who knew him. He was a man of strong convictions; lived a genuine Christian life, and enjoyed a devout and holy spirit. In his death we have lost one of our most active workers. He served as a Trustee of the church in this city for ten years. He was an efficient teacher in the Sunday School, a leader of the Christian Endeavor Society and an elder. He was in touch with everything pertaining to the Bible. which he continued to read daily to his last moment.
His religious habits were not formed without reflection, but rather with a careful forethought, a sober choice and a resolute purpose. He always regarded the Bible as God's message to his soul, so that by reading it the motives of his conduct were continually reinvigorated. He was brought up in a household that had stated times for prayer, and he perpetuated the family altar in his own home. It does not seem real that his career is ended. Can it be? Has he indeed gone to swell the silent majority? Alas, his honne today proclaims unmistakably that he has passed on to that undiscovered country whence no traveler returns. The true friend, the good husband, the thorough going Christian, has gone before us, we are satisfied, into a more genial clime, and to be in a more congenial company. Sleep on, my brother, and take thy rest.