The Aberdare Leader

Aberaman. For posters, handbills and cards in connec- tion with concerts and.all kinds of meetings, go to the LEADER Office, Market-street, Aber- dare. POSTPONEMENT.—The Prize Drawing of Mrs Thomas, 2, Foundry-view, Aberaman, has been postponed to May 29, 1905. Wm. Williams, 17, Duffryn-street, Aberaman, secretary. [Advt. ACCIDENT. — Last Friday, an accident occurred at the Aberaman P.D. Siding. Two mineral trains collided near the gates. One of the engines was greatly damaged, and traffic was delayed for a considerable -time. The thick fog which rendered the signals invisible was the cause of the colli- sion. OBITUARY.—We regret to record the ,death of Mr Wm. Bull, of King-street. The deceased, who was employed by Messrs Wigley & Rhydderch, coal merchants, had been ill only a short time. The funeral took place on Thursday, and notwithstand- ing the inclement weather a good number attended. The Rev. J, J. Davies, M.A., -officiated. PASTORAL.—The Rev T. Thomas, late of Salem, Llandilo, has commenced his pas- toral duties under very promising circum- stances at:N oddfa Congregational Church. Mr and Mrs Thomas bring with them an excellent character from the church at Llan- dilo, as well as from the ministerial union of the vale of Tywi. They were recently the recipients of valuable presents, including .oil portraits of themselves, given by the church and congregation, and a beautifully illuminated address from the ministerial union. We wish them God speed in their new connection.

Mountain Ash. WELSH WESLEYAN CHURCH. At the quarterly meeting of the Aberdare Circuit, held at Hirwain last Saturday, it was resolved to give an invitation to the Rev John Lloyd, Trefeglwys, to become pastor of the above church, at the termination of Rev David Morgan's usual period of three years, in August next. Mr Lloyd is a son- in-law of Mrs Watkins, grocer, Cross street, Aberdare. We are glad to note that this church, makes the best out of the present revival, with the result that they gain numerically and spiritually. It is also gratifying to find that the minister is making progress after his late indisposition.

Abercynon. RAILWAYMAN'S FUNERAL.—On Sunday.the funeral of James Taylor, an engine-driver on the Taff Vale Railway, who died on Tuesday week was buried at Abercynon. A special train was run from Aberdare to Abercynon to enable employees of the company to attend the funeral, which took place at the new cemetery. The Rev Morgan Jenkins officiated, and two of the deceased's fellow- workers spoke at the graveside.

-ii. For posters, handbills and cards in connec- tion with concerts and all kinds of meetings, go to the LEADER Office, Ma.-ket-street, Abcr- dare.

CHIPS OF NEWS. Falling unnoticed into a large ice-cellar in a Berne caf6, a workman was, it is supposed, rendered unconscious by the shock, and was subsequently found frozen to death. A Monaghan paper states that Fee, the Clones murderer, who was hanged on Thursday, ejaculated the word "Guilty" as the execu- tioner pulled the lever. Fee was sentenced after the third trial. Mrs. Anna Walker, the richest business woman in America, who recently inherited E20,000,000 from her father, the Quinine King," is retiring from the chemical business on January 1st, as she finds the burden of management too great. The amount of money squandered on betting and football is a disgrace to our boasted civili- sation, said Sir William Arrol recently, lament* ing the thriftlessness of the working classes at the annual meeting of the Glasgow Savings Bank. So great is the parcels traffic at Blackburn that the Post Office authorities have taken possession of a parish school for sorting pur- poses. The school was closed for Christmas two days earlier than usual on this account, much to the delight of the scholars. A Glasgow boy of twelve left home recently and walked all the way to Peterhead, where his grandmother lives. He took a fortnight to cover the distance, obtaining food at farms by the way and sleeping in barns. His excuse for leaving home was that he did not like Glasgow. St. Catherine's Lighthouse, Isle of Wight, has just been fitted with a flashlight which is esti- mated to be equal to 15,000,000 candle-power. The old light was equal to only 3,000,000 candle-power. George Deards, collector of taxes for thirteen parishes in Hertfordshire, has been at Hitchin committed for trial on a charge of embezzling iE562 14s. 3d., received by him in his official capacity. Mr. Charles J. Glidden, who drove a motor- car across the Arctic circle, is now on his way to the Antipodes, and will endeavour to drive his Napier motor-car to the most southerly point yet reached by a motor-car. On the arrival of the Laird Line steamer Cedar at Sligo an unknown male child of eighteen months was found among the passen- gers. No one claimed it, and nothing definite could be ascertained as to how the child got aboard. In taking stock of their position at Christmas time the Catholic community of Great Britain find that for the first time since the Reformation the number of Catholic churches, chapels, and stations in Great Britain exceed 2,000 in number. The exact total is 2,008. The Norwegian steamer Anglia, in connection with the stranding of which the seven Newbiggin fishermen lost their lives, has been sold by auction for Z525. She will be broken up. Whilst at work in a field at Silverton, Devon, a man ploughed up a watch which was lost in the same field eighteen months ago. The watch is still in working order. On the body of a man killed on the Great Western Railway near Cullompton, Devon, was found a small potato. He had been carrying it as a cure for rheumatism. Mr. J. W. Smith, of North-green, Pulham Market, has again maintained his reputation as the biggest sender of Norfolk turkeys to the London market, having killed, plucked, and dressed over 4,000 fine birds this Christmas. The arbitrator's award in the proposed acquisition by Bournemouth Corporation of the Poole and District Electric Tramways has been published. The price is fixed at £ 112,000. The company had asked Z450,000, and the Corpora- tion offered between E60,000 and £ 70,000. It is stated that the Duke and Duchess of Connaught will visit the King and Queen of Portugal shortly, and will go to Lisbon by sea. A young, girl named McGlone, of Killy- gordon, Co. Donegal, was suffocated by using a bucket of coals to heat a bedroom which had no fireplace. The German Crown Prince has given his fiancie, Duchess Cecilia of Mecklenburg, a magnificent pearl necklace, worth 37,000 marks. The ruin of Lord Lindsey's Lincolnshire mansion, Uffington House, which was destroyed by fire last week, is now complete, the walls having collapsed. One of the Welsh revival converts says he is an actor and had booked engagements for this year's pantomimes. At whatever cost, he has felt it his duty to break them. George Jackson, trading as the Kiel and Danish Butter Association at Radcliffe, was fined L150 or nine months' imprisonment at Bury for selling margarine as butter. According to the Bus, the petition of 3,000 old Catholic families from Bohemia that they should be received into the Orthodox Church has been granted. Count Gyldenstolpe, Swedish and Norwegian Minister at St. Petersburg, has been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs. He has already assumed control of the Ministry. "Gone out" was the information given to a warrant officer who went to serve a summons on the landlady of a public-house in South London. The woman had died two days before. The Church Flour Mills, Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove, which have only recently been fitted with new machinery, were destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at upwards of L5, 000. In a production of "Faust," in Tokio, Mephistopheles was represented as a Russian, and Marguerite, in the final tableau, gave her hand to a victorious Japanese warrior returning from Manchuria. Mr-'Lane, K.C., at the West London Police- court, held that it was ridiculous to suppose that a man received no benefit from an insur- ance on his life simply because he did not personally touch the money. When Joseph Wass, of Richmond, was sum- moned at Kingston for driving a motor-car at twenty-five miles an hour, he offered to give L10 to any charity if anyone could make the car do more than seventeen. No one took on the wager. A project is on foot in Russia for despatching an expedition to explore the North-East passage, after the war, at a cost of £ 250,000. The Russian Government- has hitherto opposed dis- couraging obstacles to enterprising explorers of the North-East route. Mr. William Sladen, bell-ringer at Whalley Parish Church for sixty-years, has just retired at the age of seventy-six. By way of farewell he and his fellow-ringers rang a complete peal of Grand-sire Bobs," with 720 changes. To the Devonshire Education Committee an account was submitted for 6s. for clay^pipes, used by the children to blow bubbles. ™* On their line between Seacombe and Wrexham, North Wales, the Great Central Railway Company intend to introduce motor coaches. A Dublin porter picked up a purse containing L200 at a street corner a day or two ago, and on finding the owner was presented with a shilling. The King's gifts of coal to persons over sixty years of age in Windsor and surrounding parishes were distributed on Friday, the total amounting to close upon fifty tons. To Sir William Treloar the Queen has for- warded L10 as a donation to the Little Cripples' Christmas Fund, and to the social work of the Salvation Army £50. Through a runaway lorry colliding with an engine on a colliery railway at Aberdare four men were injured, one, a contractor's foreman, named Johnson, seriously. At a doll bazaar held in Chjcago for the benefitbof orphans and cripples, one of the exhibits was a golden-haired doll attired in white, trimmed with Valenciennes lace, sent by Mrs. Maybr'mk. While wai* g in a surgery at Moulton, Lincolnshire, for medicine fo'- his wife, William Branson, a farmer, fell and died, the cause, as shewn at the inquest, being h -art failure. For five hours on Friday a miner named Michael Martin was buried under a fall of "roof" in Lord Ellesniere's Mosley Common Colliery, but he was eventually rescued alive, though badly hurt. The King'has presented the Venerable Ernald Lane. Archdeacon of Scoke-upon-Trent, to the Deanery of the Cathedral Church of Rochester, void bv the death of the Very Rev. Samuel Reynolds Hole. D 0-

Revivalism under Personal Magnetism. [By AP TUDOR.] SIR, Kindly allow me to tender "Expert" my sincere gratitude for con- descending to reply to a person who has rushed to the fray armed with ignorance and bluster," but who, nevertheless, is not ignorant enough to be satisfied with a pick-and-choose sort of reply. If my article was such as to demand a whole column in reply, why did he not, instead of endeavouring to adorn his lame subject with classical expressions, give a direct reply to a straightforward question, rather than create, in catechism-fashion, a query and reply to suit his own convenieuce? I never enquired how long a hypnotic spell takes to subdue but, nevertheless, we are grateful for the information obtained that in some cases it may last a life- time," for it aftords me the slight suspicion that "iExpert" has not yet been awakened from the trance-state that:some "gentleman" placed him in, otherwise he would not have such conceit of his great ability. These are unmistakable signs that he is still under the hypnotic spell, for when hypnotised, the first thing the subject does is to imagine himself someone else. I would warn the readers of the LEADER against the danger of taking this person seriously, for, having failed to find any existing fault in my last article, he proceeds to manufacture them deliberately, as I hcve shown by the above maliciously inaccurate quotation. Also, the following quotation was not in my last letter Is it imaginable that a young man of ordinary intelligence, with no claims of culture, could wield such influence over congregation after congregation, valley after valley, without will power." Can he point out the paragraph in my letter that dis- puted the will power of Evan Roberts ? No, I will defy him, notwithstanding the great intellectual ability he fancies he possesses. Expert" not only misconstrues my letter, but contradicts his own, for he asserts that "the best intellects of Noncon- formity holds aloof," when in the previous sentence he deplores the interference of Principal Prys. This is really wonderful, for Principal Prys is one of the best intel- lects of Nonconformity. We find the writer unhappily posing as an Expert in matters appertaining to hypnotism, and yet he makes the indiscreet declaration that a gentleman had long "-observe the word long practised it on him in a very artful way," and, I take it, "Expert" was unconscious of the fact. This is an insult to common decency, and an abuse of common sense. How could this modern Svengali know at a glance that Evan Roberts was a hypnotist, when he failed to recognize a friend of his as such ? I wonder if Expert" can explain why he denounces Mr Roberts' ignorance in the last article, and gives him credit for being a hypnotist and a magnet in the first letter ? Is it conceivable that the evangelist could be an ignoramus and a hypnotist? He asks, in heartrending despair, where in his letter did he suggest that Evan Roberts had hypnotised districts he had not visited ?" and I hasten to inform him that I am not aware that I did suggest it; but we should like him to explain why there is such reli- gious enthusiasm in places not visited by Mr Roberts, and which fact, therefore, cannot be attributed to the missioner's personal magnetism." Again we have him making the bare- faced suggestion that secrecy inus4 be observed to ensure the success of a hypno- tist, and with the next twist of the pen he enlarges on the supposed Daily Chronicle interview, in which Mr Roberts is reported to have said that he was charged with mag- netism. Surely, if Mr Roberts purposed keeping the matter a secret (providing he had a secret to keep), a newspaper man would certainly be his last confidant, for bitter experience has proved to what extent the press can hold a secret. I may inform your correspondent here that I am a believer in the science he advocates, but regret that the science has not an abler champion than himself, for he either shamefully abuses it, or deliberately misrepresents the facts concerning it. If he will excuse my presumption, I would teach him that "hypnotism, personal magnetism, and auto-hypnotism" are three distinct bran- ches of a marvellous science but in his pitiful ignorance he has muddled up the whole science, and we find it in a state of chaos. But it is not necessary to under- stand this great science to reply to his criticism. Expert has yet to learn that assertions blasphemous, hideous, and glaring, without a single authority to support them—are not arguments. Sentences be- spattered with capital "I's are not proofs. Personal attacks under the cloak of a nom- de-plume are not respectable, and certainly not convincing. Misquoting an opponent's aiticle is far from being honourable, and further removed still of its object in con- verting the stray sheep. Woe betide Israel if this be her chosen prophet, for I am still waiting patiently the appearance of an argument that will not disgrace me to follow it. It may satisfy Expert to lull him- self to a sleep of ignorant contentment, under the delicious delusion that the con. version of Aberdare is within reach; but before he begins to dream, I would shout in his ear, "0 1 Baal, hear us," for I am waiting for proofs "—unalterable, unmis- takable, undisputable proofs. Will he refer to my last letter, and prove to me that my friend, whose watch refuses to work when on his person, is a hypnotist ? Does the chil- dish argument with regard to Mr Roberts' altered countenance justify the accu-, sation that he is a hypnotist ? It requires the faith that removes mountains" to believe that Mr Dan Roberts, who had probably slept, eaten, and drank with his brother, had not the remotest idea that Evan was reading strange books." If Evan Roberts was a hypnotist, was it neces- sary for him to hear a sermon at Newcastle Emlyn to convince him of the fact ? What of his parents ? These respectable people must have been blind for many years to be so ignorant of their son's aspirations. Expert" retreats under the cover of secrecy being essential to the success of a hypnotist. Did the renowned Dr Bodie, who was a great exponent ot the science championed by him, succeed to delude the public for such a long period, by exerting himself to no further extent than to rejoice I exultantly in the secrecy of an inner chamber, in his supposed great power ? Many profess to have cultivated a similar power, but would share his exposure and expulsion if they appeared publicly. Expert's reliable information is so doubtful with regard to Mr Evan Roberts, that I cannot help asking him to publish them unhesitatingly, if they exist. Surely, he will do this in justice to the humanity whose pitiful condition he deplores. If the the theory he advocates be true in this connection, and the slip-shod eloquence with which he adorns his slipshod convic- tions sincere; if he wishes to prevent further ecstacy supposed to be the Holy Ghost," let him divest himself of a fictitious name, and produce his reliable" infor- mation without further argument. All Christians have a duty to perform, and my love for an erring sinner will not allow me to let this occasion pass without imploring my friend -1 Expert" to glance high above the possibilities of an argument —in fact, close his eyes to what Evan Roberts may, or may not do, and look towards the Cross. Evan Roberts is a very mean instrument in the hands of a magni- ficent God; and he whom God choses, who are we that would refuse him ? Oh! the pity of it all.

Yule-tide Religious Services TRINITY, ABERDARE. The Rev J. L. Jen- kins, the pastor, occupied the pulpit of Trinity on Sunday, Christmas Day. In the morning Mr Jenkins preached from Matt. 1. 23. He observed that there was much mystery attached to the birth of Christ, but the existence of that mystery was quite in harmony with the object of Christ's coming to the world. Man was by Nature inher- ently corrupt, and before the birth of Christ many were wondering whether some one would come into the world, who would re- deem men from this original sin, and who would not be born in iniquity or inherit sin like other men. However, Christ came, taking to himself a human soul, and uniting it to his Godhead. It was necessary that he should be sinless and yet human. The Christ born of one parent was a mystery, but this supernatural birth met the neces- sities of the case. In these days we heard a great deal about men being converted. What was conversion ? It was the birth of God in the soul of man brought about by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, It was the making of one's own heart at Beth- lehem for Christ to be born in. What made that man who was filthy of mouth and filthy of life a new creature? What accounted for the purified homes, the abandoned music halls and the emptied public houses It was the miracle of incarnation over again. TABERNACLE, ABERDARE. On Sunday evening a musical service was held at this place of worship. The choir, trained and conducted by Mr E. Moses, the organist, acquitted itself very creditably indeed. The following renderings were given by the choristers :—Carols, Far distant in the ages," What child is this ?" Sweet Christmas Bells," and Long ago in solemn midnight." Anthem, There were Shep- herds" Miss Alice S. Williams, L.R.A.M., taking the solo. The pastor, Mr J. M. Jones, B.A., having read portions of the Old and New Testament, gave an address on the meaning of the Christmas Festival. He ob. served that the festive element in this cele- bration was almost as old as humanity, and it was more Pagan than Christian. In a Christian sense what did Christmas mean ? Some held that in the forefront of the Chris- tian religion we should place the stories regarding the miraculous birth of Jesus. No greater mistake was ever made by man. If Christianity was based on external things it would never stand. They could take from the gospels of Matthew and Luke those chapters relating the miraculous events in connection with the birth of Christ, and the essence of the gospel would still remain. Before they could really enter into the life of Christ they must follow his whole career through Samaria, around Galilee to his death at the capital of his native land. The strange stories regarding his birth had per- plexed many. but why should they ? Let them not think for a moment that they had finished with the Christian religion because they could not believe these stories. A man who had never heard of the miraculous birth and the stories woven around it could be a good Christian, TaKe St. Paul for in- stance. He never mentioned them. The first generation of Christians never heard of them-at least they never referred to them. People should celebrate, not the miraculous birth of Christ, but the real life that he lived and the death that he died. Let them go back to the simple heart of the religion of Jesus. HIGHLAND PLACE, ABERDARE. Rev George St Clair occupied the pulpit of Highland Place Unitarian Church on Christmas Day, and preached very appropriate sermons. In the evening he based his discourse on the words Watchman, what of the night ?" in the course of which he alluded to the question of International Peace. In the afternoon, a service of song was gone through by the choir. At a communion service held the same day, Rev G. St Clair referred to General Booth's visit to Aber- dare. He had noticed that on General Booth's collar were the words Blood and fire." He asked in all seriousness what had Christianity to do with blood and fire. On the Sunday afternoon the General spoke of eternal hell in all its primitive hideousness. With all due respect to the great and good work accomplished by the Salvation Army and its founder, he must say that it was a matter for keen regret, that General Booth should hold such views as he did, and it was not to be wondered at that someone in the body of the hall shouted never when he went on to describe the torture of souls in a bottomless pit. ST. ELVAN's CHURCH.—On Sunday (Christ- mas Day), the services were all well attended. At 11 o'clock, the communion service was sung to Adlam in F. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dewi Williams, B.A. In the afternoon, the Vicar gave an interes- ting address to the children. At the evening service, the Rev E. S. Morris, B.A.. preached an eloquent sermon. At the close, the choir sang several pretty carols, under the direc- tion of Mr J. Williams, who presided at the organ. The sacred edifice was very taste- fully decorated, and the services throughout the day were of a hearty nature.

ABERDARE VALLEY STEAM LAUNDRY NOW UNDER ENTIRELY NEW MANAGEMENT. First Class Work, Promptness and Correctness in collecting" and delivering assured. A TRIAL SOLICITED. A postcard will ensure a call from the Manager or Representative. All particulars can be obtained from the Manager, J. O. WICKS. MR. E. T. DAVIES, F.R.C.O. (DOWLAIS), visits Aberdare weekly and receives pupils in Singing, Organ and Pianoforte Playing, Harmony, Counterpoint, &c. at 20, DEAN ST., ABERDARE-Mondays. Pupils prepared for Examiqatioqs & Competitions. Numerous recerjt successes. For terms apoly Handel House, Dowlais. INCREASED INCREASED BONUS FOR BONUS FOR TEA DRINKERS 8™M TEA DRINKERS The Sastle Tea So. encouraged by the SUCCESS of their Bonus System, hitherto applied to the highest price only, are now including in their offer teas sold at 2/2 and 2/4 per lb. and IN EACH QUARTER POUND PACKET at 2/2 and 2/4 per lb. will be found a OW BONUS CHECK WHICH SHOULD BE CAREFULLY PRESERVED for the following reasons:— As an inducement to the Public, and to further increase the sale of OLD CASTLE TEA during the years 1904, 1905, and 1906, we, the OLD CASTLE TEA COM- PANY, undertake to GIVE AWAY IN EXCHANGE for OLD CASTLE I I Checks" as follows Checks. A magnificent Real Gold Gent's Watch, Guaranteed Jewelled Movement for 2000 II Real Gold Lady's Watch It II .0 for 2000 Real Silver Gent's Watch for 480 Real Silver Lady's Watch for 48() Small Silver Gent's Watch, Good Timekeeper .0 for 240 „ Small Silver Lady's Watch II .0 for 240 „ Oxydised Steel Gent's Watch It It .0 for 200 Gilt Lady's Watch .0 for 200 Checks. 1 Case containing 1 Pair Carvers and Steel for 480 1 „ II 6 White-handled Table Knives for 480 1 It 6 Electro Silver-plated Table Forks for 480 1 6 Electro Silver-plated Dessert Forks for 400 1 „ 6 White-handled Dessert Forks o. 0 0 for 400 I" 6 Electro Silver-plated Tea Spoons and Sugar Tongs for 300 A Magnificent Electro Silver-plated- Checks. Checks. TeaPot for 240 Breakfast Cruet for Hot Water Jug for 240 I Toast Rack for 120 Sugar Basin o..0 for 200 Jam Bowl and Stand for 120 Cream Jug. for 200 ¡ Pair of Sugar Tongs and Sifter for 100 Butter Dish and Knife for 150 l Pair of Salt Cellars for 100 These goods are only given to the public consumers of OLD CASTLE TEA. and will be sent DIRECT TO THE CONSUMERS ONLY. The Checks must be sent up direct to the OLD CASTLE TEA COMPANY, 8 CROSS LANE, EASTCHEAP, LONDON, E.C., or to the South Wales Branch at QUEEN STREET, CARMARTHEN. All Checks bear the Signature of the Company across Trade Mark. tW FREE SAMPLE ON APPLICATION. TOM DIX, Boot Hotel Mews, Aberdare. NEW FURNITURE VAN, Of most modern and approved construction. Adapted for Removing Furniture from Cottage or Mansion, by Road, Rail, or Sea. for stocking Furniture. Terms moderate. Packed by experienced pn -kers. Estimates free upon application. Terms strictly moderate Parcel Agent for the G. \V.R. Co. Luggage collected in advance. Nat. Tel. 042. PRINTING! Every kind of Printing now executed at the Leader" Office, Market Street, Aberdare. Quality, Promptitude ( > Guaranteed. and Cheapness Note the address— "Leader" Office, Market Street.