REV. HUGH WILLIAM GRIFFITH. LUCERNE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
He was born on Glasynys farm, Edeyrn County, Carnarvonshire, Wales, the youngest child of William and Catherine Griffiths. His brother, Humphrey W., is a minister of the denomination in Cincinnati, Ohio; and another brother of his, Richard P., serves Cwmystwyth Church, Cardiganshire, Wales.He learned granite quarry work and became a set-stone mason when quite young. To follow this calling he came to Utley, Green Lake County, Wisconsin, the beginning of summer, 1888; and after this, the end of the summer, he went to Dell Rapids, South Dakota. He went to Ripon College at the end of 1889. Since the quarries were at that time closing up one after another, he worked in various places-Pike, Marinette County, Wis.; Dell Rapids the second time; and East Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
He came to Oshkosh about March, 1891, and became a member of Salem Church, where he is still a member; and he went to the Normal School there. He went to Ripon College the second time the winter of 1892, to graduate a B.A. in June, 1898. When a lad in the quarry he attracted attention as one with the fear of God in his heart.
While in Dell Rapids the first time he was persuaded by David Griffiths, a deacon with the Congregationalists, and David Thomas, a deacon with the Methodists, to say a word in the Welsh prayer meetings held there. Blasphemous sins were raising their heads, and his first text was, "There shall be no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:21. When in Ripon College in 1889 he was urged the second time to start preaching by deacon Richard Owen, Utley. He ventured to say a little to the Welsh there on the word, "The judgment was set, and the books were opened."
He was in great fear of going into the ministry without being called by God. He corresponded all this time with the minister of the Oshkosh Church. The church of this place brought him to the attention of the Presbytery in May, 1891. Messengers were sent to the church in the summer and his case was discussed in the September meeting. He was turned over to the examiners for the last meeting of the year; and he was received as a preacher on probation in the city of Columbus November 19th, 1891. One of the examiners remarked at the time, "I believe we can entrust the Gospel to him." In a year he was accepted as a regular preacher. Christmas, 1894, he was elected president of the Christian Endeavor Convention of Wisconsin and Illinois; he was re-elected Christmas, 1895; and he was chosen the third time Christmas, 1896.
Though tied down with his education at Ripon, he has still done a great work in the churches of that section and in conjunction with the Endeavor movement. It is hoped to see him as a good soldier for Jesus Christ with the Welsh contingent for many years and that he may receive the victor's crown when "the books are opened."