THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
a
was A Syllabic Dictionary of the Chinese Language (Shanghai, 1874); it was a quarto volume of 1,336 pages, containing 12,527 characters, and their pronunciation in four dialects. He was the author also of Easy Lessons in Chinese (Macao, 1842); English and Chinese Vocabulary (1843); Chinese Topography (1844); A Chinese Commercial Guide (1844); The Middle Kingdom: a Survey of the Geography, Government, Education, Social Life . . . of China and its Inhabitants (2 vols., New York, 1848; new ed. rev., 2 vols., 1883; a standard work); Tonic Dictionary of the Chinese Language (Canton, 1856); and, in collaboration with F. K. Dobbins, False Gods; or the Idol Worship of the World (Philadelphia, 1881). BrstiocRapHy: F. W. Williams (his son), Life and Letters
of S. Wells Williams, New York, 1888.
WILLIAMS, WILLIAM: Welsh Calvinistic Methodist and hymn-writer; b. at Cefn-y-Coed (a hamlet near Llandovery), Carmarthenshire, Wales, 1717; d. at Pant y Celyn (near the same city) Jan. 11, 1791. His father was a Calvinist, who intended his son for the medical profession, but the young man, chancing to hear Howel Harris (q.v.) preach, determined to devote his life to religion. He was ordained to the deaconate in 1740 and appointed curate of the Established parishes of Llan Wrtyd and Llan Ddewi Aber Gwesin, but his interest became centered in Methodism, and in three years, without having been priested, he ceased to hold any position in the Church of England, though he still alleged himself one of her clergy. From 1749 his home was at Pant y Celyn, though he preached regularly at several small stations and devoted some weeks each year to evangelistic tours in Wales.
Williams wrote some 800 hymns, both in English and in Welsh, and was one of the greatest hymnwriters that his country has ever produced. Among the more noteworthy of his collections, hymns from which still form the staple of Welsh hymnals, may be mentioned Alelwia (Carmarthen, 1744; complete ed., Bristol, 1758), Golwg ar Deyrnas Crist (“‘ A Prospect of Christ’s Kingdom,” a long religious poem, Bristol, 1756; 6th ed., Newcastle Emlyn, 1845), Hosanna to the Son of David (Bristol, 1759), Caniadau y rhai sydd ar y mér o wydr (“ Songs of those who are on the Sea of Glass,’’ Carmarthen, 1762; repeatedly reprinted), Aleluwia Drachefn (1785[?]; a collection of three former hymnals), Gloria in Excelsis (Llandovery and Carmarthen, 1771-72; Eng. ed., Carmarthen, 1772), and Rhai Hymnau Newyddion (3 parts, Brecon, 1871-87). Of his hymns by far the best known are his ‘‘ Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah” and “O’er those gloomy hills of darkness,” while some others still in use are “ Jesus, my Saviour is enough,” “ My,God, my God, Who art my all,” ‘ Beneath Thy Cross I lay me down,” and “ Jesus, lead us with Thy power.”
Among the other writings of Williams the more noteworthy are Pantheologia (a Welsh dialogue history of the religions of the world; Carmarthen and Brecon, 1762-74), ‘‘ Life and Death of Theomemphus ” (a Welsh allegorical poem in dialogue, somewhat analogous to Pilgrim’s Progress; Carmarthen, 1774; 7th ed., Newcastle Emlyn, 1845), Crocodil Afon yr Aipht (Carmarthen, 1767), Hanes Bywyd a
Marwolaeth y Tri Wyr o Sodom (1768; 3d ed.,
Swansea, 1852; dialogues on envy and the use of
riches respectively), Aurora Borealis (Brecon, 1774;
3d ed., Ruthin, 1832; a Welsh letter on the revi-
vals in the north:of Wales), Templum Experientie
Apertum (Brecon, 1777; a Welsh essay in dialogue
on ‘‘ experience ”’ meetings), and Ductor Nuptiarum
(1777; a like essay on the marriage of believers). A complete edition of Williams’ hymns was ed-
ited by his son John at Carmarthen in 1811; and
editions of his collected writings have been prepared by J. R. Jones (Glasgow, 1867) and by N. C. Jones
(Holywell and Newport, 1887-91).
BisutiograpHy: E. Morgan, Ministerial Record; . .. Account of the Progress of Religion under . . . the Rev. W. Williams, London, 1847; 8. W. Duffield, English Hymns, pp. 197-199, New York, 1886; DNB, |xi. 462-464; Julian, Hymnology, pp. 1284-1285, 1251.
WILLIAMS, WILLIAM R: Baptist; b. in New York Oct. 14, 1804; d. there Apr. 1, 1885. He was graduated from Columbia College, New York, 1822; studied law for three years in the office of Peter A. Jay, whose partner he became; but because of religious convictions he abandoned law and turned to theology. He was ordained and installed as pastor of the Amity Baptist Church in 1832, where he remained till his death. He was a man of great learning and famous for his eloquence. He was the author of Miscellanies (New York, 1850); Religious Progress: Discourses on the Development of Christian Character (Boston, 1850); Discourses and Essays (New York, 1850); Lectures on the Lord’s Prayer (Boston, 1851); God’s Rescues; or, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son (New York, 1871); Lectures on Baptist History (Philadelphia, 1877); and Eras and Characters of History (New - York, 1882).
WILLIBALD: First bishop of Eichstaédt; b. in England 700; d. at Eichstadt probably July 7, 787. He came of a noble Anglo-Saxon family, to which Boniface was related. Later accounts call his father Richard and erroneously give him the title of king. In consequence of a sickness when Willibald was three years old, his parents vowed that if he recovered he should enter a monastery. In accordance with this vow, he was sent in his sixth year to the Abbot Egwald of Waltham for his education. There he renounced not only worldly position but also his native land in his desire to carry out fully his idea of complete monastic devotion. In this he persuaded his father, after considerable pleading, and a brother Wunebald (Winebald), who was a year younger, to accompany him; and the three, with a considerable retinue, left England in 720 and traveled through France, visiting the tombs of the saints, and went to Italy, where the father died and was buried at Lucca. The brothers went on to Rome, where they stayed two years, keeping monastic discipline, although suffering from fever much of the time. After Easter of 722 the brothers separated, and Willibald undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land by way of Naples, Reggio, Syracuse, Cos, Samos, Ephesus, Asia Minor, and Damascus to Jerusalem, he and two companions arriving there in 724. From 727 to 729 he was in Constantinople, whence he went by way of Sicily to Monte Cassino,