Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South Wales Independent

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1899. CROMWELL AND ROYALTY. The "long arm of coincidence" brings many persons and events into queer conjunctures. Probably, the "loyalty" and ''enthusiasm" aroused by the Royal visit-we ought to say "ducal" but we are too "loyal" to do anything of the kind-at a time when Wales might be supposed to be celebrating the tercentenary of its illustrous son, Oliver Cromwell, alias "Wil- liams," is amongst the queerest of these con- junctures. Cromwell was certainly no Royalist in the extreme sense. But then the Welshmen of his day were not Parliamentarians in any sense. Mr O. M. Edwards might perhaps have been elected for Merionethshire—for Colonel been elected for Merionethshire—for Colonel Jones, the regicide, represented the county. But Sir Hugh Pennant would have scorned the decision of the Tories of to-day not to contest the seat. Harlech was the very last castle that held out for King Charles. That counts one for the Royal visitors. Alas, we must add that the castle was the last to hold out for the Lan- castrians against Yorkists; and, therefore, the balance is redressed. And what of the Carnar- von boroughs, now represented by Mr LIcyd George (who made a speech in London in praise of Cromwell, while his erstwhile opponent, Sir John Puleston, was piloting the Royal duke and duchess to the top of the Eagle Tower) ? In the days of Cromwell, Mr Lloyd-George would have to beware of falling into the clutches of Arch- bishop Williams, a more terrible personage than even the Bishop of St. Asaph. At any rate, that course would have been prudent for 111' Lloyd-George at first; but afterwards, when the Archbishop came over to the side of Cromwed, they might have got on famously together. As for Carnarvon, we wonder whether Sir John Puleston informed his distinguished guests thai- in 1644, Captain Swanley, on behalf of the Cromwellian party stormed Carnarvon Castle taking 400 prisoners and a vast quantity of arms and ammunition, that Lord Byron afterwards recaptured it for the King, that for the second time the royal garrison was turned out (but "on honourable terms") in 1646; that the Royalists besieged the town two years later? We are afraid that Sir John Puleston did not get up— or, at any rate, did not expound-all these facts and, perhaps, it was quite as well. Otherwise, what happened when the Duke, then a little boy, visited the Castle might have been repeated with appropriate variations. Is it not written in the book of the Chronicle (and of the "Herald" also for that matter) that the Duke, when told the history of the Castle, said "Oh, bother; I am after those sheep." In his lively imagination, there seemed no doubt some con- nection between the Castle sheep and the General Mutton (or Mytton) of Cromwellian times. How natural, therefore, that he should wish to chase them round the Castle and drive them into the dungeon! Seriously, the conjuncture is perhaps not so queer in reality as at hrst sight. For the "whirligig of time brings its revenges" in mani- fold ways. Few of UR, probably, even after a diligent reading of Carlyle, have anything like an adequate idea- of the kind of man Cromwell was. Dr Parker, of the City Temple, apparently thinks that Cromwell was a very austere person, and that he was in particular averse to horse racing. Now, nothing is more certain than that Cromwell was as fond of horse racing as Lord Penrhyn is. He was a great horse breeder, and he encouraged horse races all his life, except during one short period when he forebade them on the ground that Cavaliers took advantage of the gatherings to plot against the Common- wealth. As to the hereditary monarchy, it is fairly certain that Cromwell had no inveterate objection to it. Had Charles on the one harAl and Parliament on the other allowed themselves to be persuaded by Cromwell, history might not have had to inscribe on her page the tragedy at Whitehall. As it was, it is quite obvious that amongst the permanent results of the Cromwellian policy was the revolution of 1688, and the introduction of the Hanoverian dynasty. Thus, we may say that if it had not been for Cromwell and his work, North Wales could never have had the opportunity of welcoming the Duke and Duchess this week and the Prince next week. Moreover, while Wales has changed her political convictions altogether, and become I (notwithstanding all transient and fortuitous appearances to the contrary) thoroughly de- mocratic if not republican in her sentiments and I aspirations, it must be remembered that the constitutional monarchy of our day is by no means the same thing as the monarchy as under- stood by the Stuarts. Nobody now pleads the "divine right of kings to govern wrong." Royalty, in fact, stands mainly for two things- first, the unbroken continuity of national life and progress, notwithstanding the swing-swang of political parties; and secondly for elegance, ur- banity, culture, and other legitimate results of leisured ease. There are those who think that a Royal residence in Wales is to be deprecated, on the ground that it would tend to sap the sturdiness of our democracy. For our part, we think the apprehension groundless. The fact that the host of the Royal visitors on this occa- sion was the chairman of the Welsh Land Com- I mission is distinctly reassuring. The sovereigns of Great Britain will in future be the fathers of the people and not merely the chiefs of the aris- tocracy and the sooner the landed interest re- cognises that fact the better. Lord Carrington has already done much for Wales. We trust he will in the near future be able to arrange a Carnarvonshire residence for the Duke and Duchess of York.

At the last meeting of the governors of the Bangor University College, a resolution was carried, by a large majority, asking the Court of the University of Wales whether the time had not come to include theology among the subjects qualifying for a degree in arts. It is an interesting question, for it is claimed by some that the request may, if granted, have the effect of reducing the value of the Welsh B.D. degree and likewise that of the arts degree. A good deal may be said in favour of the proposal. Inasmuch as the degrees in divinity are post graduate degrees, and that at present residence for three years at a constituent college is a condition precedent to graduation in arts or science, it is argued that only exceptional men I can undertake the course. The great majority of ministerial students are, therefore, admittedly I regarded by the supporters of the suggested change as not being exceptional men, and for their benefit it is sought to include theology as a subject qualifying for a degree in arts. On the other hand, it may be doubted whether this can be done without affecting the value of the art-s degree, and it certainly seems to go against the aim of the Theological Board in framing the syllabus of the B.D. examinations, which aim was to force the theological colleges to equip themselves efficiently. It is a fact that the theological colleges in the past have been theological mostly in name, many .of the students being therein instructed in ordinary arts subjects. It is, however, desirable that such candidates should not enter the ministry at all, and this is being gradually realised by the various denominations, as witnessed by the efforts made to raise the standard of admission to the ministry. If this could be brought about, then the inclusion of theology among the sub- jects qualifying for a degree in arts might be regarded without much misgiving. Apart from these matters, the post graduate nature of the B.D. degree constitutes a grievance, and the de- velopment of the controversy will be watched with interest.

TOWN & COUNTRY NOTES. I see that the Llanberis School Board have passed resolutions strongly advocating tke al- terations in the Education Code which Sir John Gorst would have liked to introduce, but which his Tory friends would not allow him. Pro- gressive boards, like that of Llanberis, can do ¡ much though, and I am not aware that there is anything to prevent at least some of the altera- tions to be carried out. At the Bangor Police Court, the other day, I, quite a number of parents were fined for neg- lecting to send their children to school. This seems to be a very common offence, and I have noticed that complaints are sometimes made that the magistrates are not always disposed to deal as stringently as it would be desirable with this class of people. At Bangor, one of the magis- trates said that many children who neglected school were engaged in some kind of work, and suggested that their employers should be fined. This certainly seems to imply that the law, deficient as it is, might be carried out more strictly. i "Croesaw i'r Duke and Duchess o York." '1 Such, I am told, was one of the mottoes seen at Carnarvon on Tuesday. It may have been loyal- ty, but it was neither Welsh nor English. In- deed, I am afraid there is better Irish than Welsh at Carnarvon. "Ceand Mille Failthe" is I terse and has a good ring about it. As for the supposed Welsh motto, an English, or even an "Inglis" one, would have been better. The Duke requested the Eryri Male Voice Choir to give a second rendering of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau," and an old Welsh hymn. and whilst both were being sung, His Royal Highness stood bare-headed, which was a graceful compliment I to Wales. The members of the choir also very properly bared their heads in singing the Welsh national anthem and the hymn, as they had done I in singing "God Save the Queen." It may not be generally known that there is J a Lord Gwydyr. Such is the case, and his lord- ship entered upon his ninetieth year on Thurs- day. He has only one senior in the Upper House, namely, Lord Tankerville. My lady readers will be interested to learn how the Duchess of York was dressed at the concert at Llandudno. She wore a violet velvet gown with a chiffon bodice of a slightly paler shade, and a garniture of handsome creamy lace which formed a very high collar. This, with a pretty violet bonnet, completed a particularly smart costume. diving evidence at the Carnarvon Police Court the other day, the Rev Father Jones said he would "expect to find marks of fleas" in most workingmen's houses, and would not be sur- prised to see them in gentlemen's houses. I say nothing of the case in which the Rev Father Jones gave evidence, but what of the saying that "cleanliness is next to godliness?" I have seen houses of the poor as clean if not cleaner than the house of any "gentleman" I ever hap- pened to visit. I hope the Rev Father would not make poverty an excuse for uncleanliness. <: The bards are intensely loyal, but it is really time they should turn their attention to poetry or anything besides "englynion" and compli- mentary addresses. The "Englynion" which I Hwfa Mon recited at Llandudno were passable Welsh. I saw an English translation which, I should hope, was not read. There should be bounds even to loyal enthusiasm. ♦ Now, that we have had a visit from the Duke and Duchess of York and are expecting the Prince of Wales next week at Ruthin Castle, it must have occurred both to the distinguished guests and to the Welsh people that it is anomalous there should be no Royal residence in the Principality. This is all the more curious because the Heir to the Throne takes his prin- cipal title from Wales. There are Royal re- sidences in and near London, as is appropriate; there is a Royal residence in the Isle of Wight, and a couple in Scotland—Balmoral and Aber- geldie-but none in Wales or Ireland. We have shown the Duke and Duchess of York some of our most lovely scenerv-I hear their Royal Highnesses were greatly struck with the extreme beauty of the Conwav Vallev-and we have welcomed them in a manner which for heartiness and loyalty left nothing to be desired, and it is to be hoped attention will be directed in influential quarters to the fact 'that Wales has charms which can compare either with the softer loveliness of the Isle of Wight or the grandeur of the Scotch Highlands, and that a Royal residence here would give gratification to Welshmen and women the wide world over. ♦ Colonel and Mrs Cornwallis West, with their youngest daughter, arrived at Gwydyr Castle on Tuesday afternoon from Ruthin Castle. I had not seen Mrs West since she entered the showyard of the Flintshire and Denbighshire Agricultural Society, at Wrexham, dressed in white satin and driving a splendid four-in-hand, a good many years ago. Age has dealt gently with her, and she is still an extremely beautiful woman, and at the Junction, on Tuesday after- noon, she and her charming daughter attracted much attention. Next week, Col. and Mrs West will entertain the Prince of Wales for the Chester races. I hear that Col. West will meet his Royal High- ness at Chester station on Tuesday at noon, and escort him to the Roodee, and after the day's sport the return to Ruthin Castle will be made by special train. The Mayors of Ruthin and Denbigh with the corporations of both towns will welcome the Prince to Ruthin, but the pro- ceedings will be more or less of a private charac- ter. There will be no addresses presented, but an album containing local views will be accepted by his Royal Highness. Chester will be visited on Wednesday and Thursday and there is likely to be an enormous attendance on the Cup Day.

LOCAL & DISTRICT NEWS. Lord and Lady Penrhyn leave England shortly for a cruise.

The Bishop of Bangor has taken Pantreidal Hall, Aberdovey, as a residence. j

Prince and Princess Henry of Pless have re- ] turned to London from Egypt and the Riviera.

At Tanat-Side Hunt. Races, Sir Watkin's "Son and Heir" won the Tanat-Side Hunt Steeplechase for the fifth time in succession.

It was stated at a meeting of Welshpool Town

Council, last week, that the borough had the lowest school attendance in the United King- dom.

Letters of administration of the personal estate, valued at £ 11,097, of Mr Thomas Ellis, M.P., who died intestate, have been granted to his widow.

-—■—-—- Earl Carrington, Lord Aberdare, and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman have accepted Mr Alfred Thomas's invitation to the Welsh Parlia- mentary dinner.

The Baptist Church, Llancarfan, Glamorgan- shire, has unanimously decided to invite Mr T. P. Lloyd, of the North Wales Baptist College, to the pastorate.

The Rev J. W. Humphreys, pastor of the Welsh Baptist Church, Rhosddu, has accepted a call to the pastorate of the Mount-pleasant Eng- lish Baptist Church, Ponkey.

The installation of Archdeacon Shadrach i Pryce as Dean of St. Asaph has been fixed to take place in May. The Archdeacon and his family arrived at St. Asaph last week.

On Friday evening, the Rev Professor Harley, of London, delivered an address to the students of the Bala-Bangor Congregational and the Baptist Colleges at Bangor on behalf of the National Temperance League. The Rev Dr Probert presided.

The Calvinistic Methodists of Narth Wales have chosen the Rev S. T. Jones, of Rhyl, to deliver the address on "Church Polity" and the Rev D. Roberts, of Rhiwbryfdir, Blaenau Fes- tiniog, to deliver the ordination charge at the next Association.

Mr John Roberts, of the Bristol Branch, has been promoted to the management of the Menai Bridge branch of the National Provincial Bank, vacant by the appointment of Mr Jenkins as manager of the Machvnlleth branch.

— —— — —— We understand that the Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, who has been consulted in re- gard to the candidature of Mr O. M. Edwards, has stated that his return for Merioneth will not in any way interfere with his position in the Universty.

Mr 0. M. Edwards, M.A., the new member for Merionethshire, has written to Mr Guthrie Jones, secretary of the Merionethshire Liberal Association, intimating his intention of being present at the North Wales Quarrymen's De- monstration at Festiniog.

The "Tablet," the leading Roman Catholic review, in discussing the case of the Aberyst- wyth scholarship, from the benefits of which Roman Catholics and Unitarians were to be excluded, is puzzled to know what connection there can be between Unitarians and Catholics which should cause them, while so widely dif- ferent in religious beliefs and ceremonies, to come under a common ban. It considers, how- ever, that the action of the college authorities in declining to take the money with the limitaions imposed upon its application is. "much to the credit of the University College of Wales." The Unitarian organs also warmly applaud the stand for religious equality made by the college.

The report of the committee of the Anglesey County Council, and the Bangor Universitv College, for the season 1898-9, in connection with the scheme of agricultural education for North Wales, has just been issued. The Council voted a sum of JB150 to the work for the season, and appointed five representatives, who, to- gether with seven gentlemen elected bv the college, formed the agricultural sub-committee for the Council. The grant was allocated as follows:—Dairy classes, £ 30; dairy scholar- ships, £ 10; field experiments, £ 30; in-collesre exhibition, £ 20; extension lectures, JB60. Daily classes were held at the following places, the number of pupils being given in brackets — Llangaffo (12), Rhoscolyn (12), Llanddeusant, first class (9), do., second class (8). As a result of an examination of the classes, two dairv scholarships of L5 each were awarded to Frances E. Hyder, Ty'nybuarth, Llanfflewyn, and Margaret E. Williams, Treaserth, Llan- gaffo. Field experiments were carried out in five centres of the county. The in-college exhi- bition was not awarded. Lectures were given at Cemaes, Llanddeusant, Talwrn, Penrhos- llugwy, Rhoscolyn, Llangaffo, and Llangoed, the attendances not being large, but the reports were satisfactory.

At a meeting of the t:xt:l:u1:i'?<>. "ommittee of the Liverpool Welsh Free Church Council, Friday, the Rev D. Powell referred to the adoption of the Free Church catechism by the Liverpool School Board as a very important step, which would lead, if he properly understood the question, to important consequences. If they gave their support to the introduction of any one catechism into the schools, their position as Nonconformists was entirely gone. The Rev Griffith Ellis said he did not agree. He saw no objection to the catechism, which, not being distinctive of any denomination, was not illegal. The objection came from Unitarians and secu- larists, and what he said was, let them object. The Church party had undertaken to introduce this catechism unsolicited. He did not see why they should object. The Rev W. O. Jones also spoke in the same strain. Ultimately, the fol- lowing resolution was carried -"That this ex- ecutive desires to express its strong disapproval of the action of the Liverpool School Board in introducing the Free Church catechism into the Liverpool Board Schools and while heartily approving of the contents of the catechism, the executive regards its introduction as a violation of the spirit of the Education Act, 1870, as re- I gards religious instruction."

At a meeting of the Machynlleth Board of Guardians last week, Mrs Maglona. Lloyd was elected vice-chairman.

° A Cromwell tercentenary meeting was held at Llandderfel on Tuesday evening. The Rev I. J. Davies presided, and addresses were de- livered by the Revs H. Cernyw Williams, of Corwen, J. J. Phillips, and Professor Ellis Edwards (Bala).

On Sunday, the death took place at Plas Gwvn, Llanrug, of the Rev James Parry, a re- tired clergyman of the Church of England. The deceased gentleman was educated at Jesus Col- lege, Oxford, and graduated B.A. in 1834. He resigned his charge in 1881. The funeral, which will be of a semi-private character, will take place at Llanrug, on Friday, at two o'clock. i

A meeting of the Welsh Parliamentary party was held on Monday afternoon, Mr Alfred Thomas in the chair. An interesting discussion took place on the Secondary Education Bill and its possible effect on the Welsh educational system, especially in regard to the examination of intermediate schools and the relation of the Central Board under the Act of 1889 to the central authoritv proposed to be created under the new bill. The matters affectinff these points were exhaustively explained by Mr Humphreys- Owen, chairman of the Welsh Central Board, and Mr Herbert Lewis. After some discussion, the meeting was adjourned, with a view to a conference of the parties. The second reading of the bill was taken in the House of Lords at the same time as the meeting was helG. Apart from the result of the discussion in the Upper House, it is stated that a satisfactory arrange- ment has been already made with the Govern- ment in accordance with the general sense of the Duke of Devonshire's speech at Presteign, in which his Grace said there was no intention of interfering with the system. as established in i Wales. I Scottish business prevented the introduction of Mr Ellis Griffith's Welsh Local Veto Bill on Wednesday afternoon, and deprived the House of some remarkable facts which the member for Anglesey had ready in support of local option. It is curious to find that for the last ten years no new licenses have been granted in the county of Anglesey, and that there are in England and Wales 1000 parishes and estates on which no licenses at all are allowed to be granted.

At Chester County Court, on Thursday, Wil- liam Evans, formerly a grocer at Ffynnongroew, near Mostvn, applied for his discharge ^"bank- ruptcy. The Official Receiver (Mr LI. Hugh Jones) stated that a first and final dividend "of Is 2d in the pound had been paid. His Honour commented on the small dividend that had been paid; and on ascertaining from the Official Receiver that about another J310 would be sufficient to make the dividend into 2s 6d in the Pi°UJn,?i'. u panted the discharge on condition that the bankrupt entered into recognisances for' £10.

From our advertising columns it will be noticed that the Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Company, Limited, announce the commencement of their daily sailings (Sundavs included) between Liverpool, Llandudno, Beau- maris, Bangor, and Menai Bridge. On Satur- day, 6th May, the favourite paddle steamer "Snowdon" will make her first trip under new ownership, and it is to be hoped that she will continue running with the same regularity as in past seasons. The funnels of the steamers "St. Tudno," "St. Elvies," and "Snowdon" will, in future, be painted cream colour to the top without the usual black band.

Mr -Owen T. Hobday, merchant, of Amlwch, was driving in his trap from Llancrchymedd, on Monday, when the horse, a spirited one, took fright at a roller which which was being taken along the road, and bolted at an alarming speed. In the effort to hold it back the reins broke, and all control was lost over the animal, the man servant fell violently to the ground and sus- tainel considerable injury to his head. My Hobday kept his seat till the vehicle was fairly in pieces, and then extricated himself and es- caped with little hurt. The horse was stopped by Mr Roberts, the Gardener's Arms, before it reached Amlwch, or serious damages might have been done.

Canon Page Roberts paid an affectionate tri- bute, on Sunday last, to the late Sir William Roberts, who was a member of the canon's con- gregation at St. Peter's, Vere-street, London. Among other things, he said that this eminent physician was versed in philosophic thought. He took larger views of the world and life than are possible for those who have no care but for professional assiduity and no conversation but the gossip of their calling. Because his views were large he could not help being religious. But he was religious in no narrow way. In words which were scarcelv audible he murmured in my ear, "It is deeds, not creeds." He loved the Bible, and when the sensations of deadlv sickness abated he referred to its sacred pages with the familiarity of a divine. He inter- preted it. however, for himself, and expressed his thought with characteristic humour. Even when the fatal moment seemed just at hand he almost smiled when referring to the didactic pro- ductions of my profession, he said he had often been disposed to use the words of St. Paul-the foolishness of preaching. To the scientific and philosophic spirit Sir William united a beautiful affectionate smplicity. The mysticism of his race was an element in his spiritual life and his last days were soothed by the hvmns which were sung to him by one who watched him with the loving devotion of a daughter, in his native Welsh.

On Friday evening, Mr J. E. Southall, of Newport, read a paper on "The Future of Welsh Education" at a meeting of the London Cymru Fydd Society, held at the Welsh Baptist Chanel. Castle-street. A melancholv interest attached to the occasion, as the meeting was arranged at the instance of the late Mr Thomas Ellis? who was to have presided. Owing to Mr Ellis's- death the chair was taken by Mr LIovd-George. M.P., president of the Society. On Mr George's proposal, seconded by Mr Timothy Davies, of Putney, the meeting passed a resolution of con- dolence and sympathy with the widow and re- latives of the late chief Liberal Whip.—Mr Southall, in his paper, called attention to the statistical position of the teaching of Welsh in elementary and other schools at the present time, and dealt in an interesting manner with the familiar arguments in support of the conten- tion that the national interests of Wales will be best served by the development of its educa- tional life on a truly Welsh basis, of which the Welsh language must be a primal and prominent element.—A discussion followed in which Mr Howell J. Williams, Mr William Jones. M.P.. and others took part.-On the proposal of Mr Llewellyn Williams, seconded by Mi- Evan Griffith, it was resolved to take an active part in an effort to revive and to widen the scope of the Society for utilising the Welsh language, possibly under another name.

The authorities of the Paris Exhibition of 1900' have set apart, a considerable space for the education section, and have arranged that in one building the educational exhibits from all the chief countries of the world shall be shown side by side. The exhibits from England. Scotland, Ireland, and Wales will occupy separate por- tions of the space allotted to the United King- idom' The unique position of education in Wales, with its perfect graduation from the infants' school to the University, should be made a strong-feature of the Welsh exhibit, and the education committee of the Royal Commis- sion has arranged that a preliminary educational exhibition be held at Cardiff, in July, ths year. from which selections will be made for the Welsh education exhibit a± Paris, In order to render