A few weeks ago all those--and there seem to have been many
thousands--who regarded the Teacher as their spiritual adviser and
leader, became aware that he was entertaining a guest at his lonely
mountain home, for the first time within public remembrance. A
strange man had appeared at the little railway station in the
valley, and by Mr. Lys' orders he was carried up the mountain by
various of the Teacher's adherents and disciples. The man, who was
known only by the name of Joseph, was evidently recovering from a
severe illness. He remained in Lluellyn's lonely cottage for some
time, and the two men were attended by an old widow lady whose name
is Mrs. Price.
During the stranger's sojourn strange rumors were spread round the
countryside. The Teacher had more than once referred to him in
public as the "Master," and had hinted that he was about to conduct
some great religious campaign, the precise nature of which was
never clearly specified. It was also said, and said very generally,
that some most extraordinary things were happening at the top of
Moel Llan-y-Van.
Incredible as it may seem to-day, there are at the present moment
hundreds of people in this part of Wales who confidently assert,
and offer to prove, that Mr. Lluellyn Lys possessed the gift of
healing. Dozens of cures are attributed to his agency. Be this as
it may, the consensus of opinion not only credits the Teacher with
something like miraculous power, but said that his strange visitor
was possessed of even more wonderful attributes than he was.
A week ago Lluellyn Lys died.
It seems that, in mystical language, he had already foretold his
decease. And now we come to the strange part of this excessively
strange story.
Two days ago Lluellyn Lys was buried. But his was no ordinary
burial; and, moreover, it is quite within the bounds of possibility
that it may yet become the subject of an official inquiry.
When the news of the Teacher's decease spread over the surrounding
country, from valley and mountain an enormous concourse of people
assembled. The body--it is described as being like a statue of
white marble--was taken from the cottage without a coffin and
buried on the very highest point of the mountain Llan-y-Van--a spot
where the dead preacher had been wont to pray.
It is understood that this was done by the dead man's wish and
stipulation, though, probably quite contrary to law. No one,
however, interfered--and interference would, of course, have been
useless against several thousand people, who appeared to be in an
ecstasy of grief, and who were obviously determined to carry out
the wishes of their dead friend to the letter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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