[The following letter by John Parry (b. 1789) was published
in the Christian Messenger and Reformer,
January 1841, p. 398.]
Newmarket,
November 23, 1840.
Dear Brother,
“As cold waters,” says the wise man, “to a thirsty soul, so
is good news from a far country.” To Christians who have themselves tasted that
the Lord is gracious, it cannot fail giving pleasure to hear that our
Redeemer’s kingdom is spreading in the earth. If there is joy in the presence
of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth,
how suitable it is that we should rejoice when we hear of our fellow mortals
submitting to the government of our King. Under these impressions, I shall beg
of you to submit to the readers of the Messenger the following interesting
information.
Last
month it was in my mind to revisit some places where I had been some time back
sowing the good seed, and proclaiming the ancient apostolic gospel. At that
time I knew not above two in the principality of Wales that knew the apostolic
gospel; but now, to my exceeding joy, I have visited several churches, which I
believe are founded on the doctrine of the apostles of the Lamb: hallelujah. In
Merionethshire I preached several times to many hundreds at a time: all my friends were greatly
comforted, and many of the audience, by all appearance, were convinced of their
error. As I was preaching one Lord’s day in a place called Ramath,
in Merionethshire, the audience appeared like as if
they were ready to shout for joy: others in tears: one man after the sermon was
over, stood upon a bench, and said, “Be it known to every man that I am for
receiving remission of my sins today;” that instant, without any further
information , he was led to the water to be born again, or immersed for the
remission of all his past sins. Glory be to God. I
expect to hear every day that there has been many more added to the church
since I left.
I
have written, and published lately, a large essay on the Christian Religion. In
the preface I have said that the whole doctrine of Calvin, and that of the Arminians, does not contain the doctrine of reconciliation,
and I could prove it as easy as I could prove that Christ died on a cross. I
have also challenged one of the champions of the age, a Methodist circuit
priest; one that derides baptism very much, or any other Wesleyan, Calvinist,
lord Bishop, or Pope, to debate on the subject of baptism any day.
J. PARRY.
[The following is an English
translation of a paragraph from Hanes y Bedyddwyr yng Nghymru
(History of the Baptists in Wales)
by Spinther James, published in 1903.]
In 1819, we have John Parry, Newmarket,
Flintshire, as preacher in Bryndeunydd
church, Llannefydd, and a J. R. Jones wishing “of the
Lord to make him a blameless worker truly sharing the word of truth.” John
Parry was a stone mason by trade, a man possessing a knowledge higher than the
ordinary, but unstable in his religious views. When Alexander Campbell’s views,
together with his order of establishing churches under the name “Disciples,”
abstaining from all forms of creed and discipline, and all council authority,
became known in this country, John Parry embraced them enthusiastically; and it
appears that he succeeded in getting some small churches, and amongst them Moelunben church, to join him, and they, about 1842, were
called “John Parry’s Association.” He published a book to explain his
principles under the name “Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” In the end he
joined the Mormons, and went to Salt
Lake City.
[Comment from Paul Dover from Wales:
“I find the comment about the ‘John Parry Association’ interesting; probably
this was a name used by his enemies rather than friends, names like this were
always anathema to us.”]
