Rhyl Journal

ST. ASAPH DIOCESAN SOCIETIES. The annual meetings of the various diocesan so- cieties in the St. Asaph diocese were held at St. Asaph on Wednesday week, under successful auspices. Very Bishop presided, and there was a good attendance of both clergy and laity, amongst them:—Very Rev. the Dean, Archdeacons Thomas, Hugh Jones, the Rev. Principal Owen, the Rev. the Warden of Ruthin, Canon Fletcher, Chancellor Richardson, Revs. T Lloyd (Bala), J Morgan (Denbigh), Trevor Owen (Llangedwyn), F J Reece (Llanfwrog), T LI L Williams (St Asaph), Henry Jones (St Asaph), D Davies (St. Asaph), David Evans (Abergele), J S Lewis (Guilsfield), D Jones (Llangerniew), Dan Edwards (Rhyl), Griffith Jones (Mostyn), E M Rederick (Mold), J Hamer Lewis (Diocesan Inspector), John Morris (Llaneli- dan), W Rhys James (Llangollen), Davies (Brymbo) J Williams (Llanrhaiadr), E J Evans (Chirk), W. LI Xicholas (Flint), Williams (Holywell), Elias Owen (Llanyblodwel), Canon D. Lewis, &c., &e. Lord Powis, Sir Watkin W Wynn, Bart., Sir Ro- bert Cuuliffe, Bart., Sir William Grenville Wil- liams, Bart., Mr Edmund Peel, Messrs E 0 V Lloyd (Berth), H Goodman Roberts (Mold), E A Turnour, M.D., T Gold Edwards (Denbigh), Col Mesham, Capt Mytton, T. Howes Roberts, C Tomkinson, P P Pennant, Col Cornwallis West, T Wynne Corrie (Oswestry), Major Birch, Col Hore, W Trevor Parkins. H A Cleaver, S Roose, S Perks, and many others, both clergy and laity. ARCHDEACON EDMOXDES. The Bishop said there was one matter which was not upon the agenda, but which he wished to bring before the meeting of the Diocesan Committee, feeling sure that all would agree with the subject, painful as it was. He supposed that during the last 30 or 40 years there had been scarcely any man to whom the Church in Wales owed so much as the late Archdeacon Edmondes (hear, hear)—a man who devoted his life unselfishly to the Church, and, as the Dean said on Sunday, a man whose life seemed to be and not to seem at all." He asked them to pass a vote of sympathy and con- dolence with the family, and also an expression of the loss which the Church had suffered by his death. The vote was then passed in silence. CHURCH EXTENSION SOCIETY. The Dean of St. Asaph, as secretary, presented the annual report of the Church Extension Society, which showed that the receipts for 1892 amounted to 9814, and the expenditure in grants and general expenses £ 1,174. The financial statement was not a pleasant one. The estimated income from col- lections, &c., was t.809, and the expenditure for the current year left a deficit of 1485. During the last two or three years they had-he did not like to say recklessly—devoted grants to everyone who had applied, and they had trusted to have the money come in somehow. They had made grants during the past year one-third in excess of their income. It was a very serious problem for the society to have to face, but he had no doubt that they could by an effort increase the income. (Hear, hear.) He did not find fault with the society for making the grants, because it was most important when a man was striving to meet a want to give him encourage- ment and throw as little cold water as possible. (Hear, hear). The Bishop said that the deficit was not due to the falling off of the subscriptions, but rather to the large increase in the grants they had under- taken. It was not a discouraging symptom by any means (hear, hear), and he trusted that they would be able by a special effort not to drop any of the grants they had made. The following grants were then renewed :—Bagillt E.30, to return jElO Brymbo £ 35, return £ 15; Penycae 1:50, re- turn 99-0; Rhosddu 950, return 930 Bala f.60, return £ 25; Berriew £40, return £30 Bistree E80, return ZIO CVfn (St Mary) E10, return E5; Chirk 950, return 930 Deganwy £40, return 130; Denbigh 950, return 940; Flint (2) £100, return f40 Gwersyllt f50, return £ 20; Holywell £50, return £ 35 Llanfaircaereinion jE50, return £::?5 Llanfairtalhaiarn £ 50, return E20 Llangollen £50, return £ 15 Llanllwchaiarn £ 50, return £ 30; Mostyn £ 50, return £ 20 Minera £ 60, return £ 10 Mold £ 60, return £ 40 Pontbleiddyn £ 60, return £ 10 Pontfadog £ 10, return £ 5 Rhosygwalia £10, return fo Welshpool 1:40, return £25. The statement of account shewed :—Estimates for 1893 Subscriptions, Offertories, and Collec- tions (1892) jE809 4s Od Expenditure, £ 1289 Os Od. Offertories or Collections were received—in 1890 from 122 parishes in 1891 from 94 parishes in 1892 from 107 parishes. EXTINGUISHING THE GRANTS. A recommendation of the sub-committee was presented to the meeting. It was :—" That in the opinion of this meeting, the grants should be gra- dually reduced, with the view of eventual extinc- tion, in order that the society may aid new parishes which at present are not receiving any external assistance. C) The Dean urged that they should copy the ex- ample of the colonies, and provide the man first and then the church, and when the latter was pro- vided they should aim at sustaining the clergymen by permanent endowments. Mr Wynne Corrie (Oswestry) said that it was useless to provide a man unless they had a build- ing to worship in. Sir W. W. Wynn said they should obtain help for the building and for the man at the same time. Principal Owen remarked that during the past three years the society had been the means of ad- ding 13 new curates to the diocesan clergy, and at the same time they had built 10 new churches. (Hear, hear). In reply to Canon Fletcher, the Dean said that notwithstanding the decrease now made in the grants, they would still be t300 short of the grants made. The recommendation of the committee was then adopted. ORGANISING SECRETARY. Principal Owen moved that the Rev. Henry Jones, one of the vicars of St. Asaph, be asked to act as assistant secretary for the society, with the special object of promoting public meetings as early as possible in the various centres of population in the diocese. He pointed out that in addition to the sum subscribed for church extension by that society, at least the sum of £10,000 a year was given voluntarily in the diocese for church exten- sion work in the maintenance of curates, and alluded to the vast sums given for church building within the last 40 years. He therefore had great faith in appealing to the generosity of the laity of the diocese, and he was sure the Rev. Henry Jones would do his work in the most painstaking and business-like manner. The Warden of Ruthin seconded, and it was carried una voce. COMMITTEE. The committee was then elected as follows The President (the Bishop), Vice-Presidents. (Lord-Lieutenants of the Counties, Members of both Houses of Parliament, County Court Judges, Chairman of Quarter Sessions), donors of jEoO, and all annual subscribers of £ 10 (tx-ojh'do)., Revs. Chancellor Richardson, H Wynne Jones, David Evans, Warden of Ruthin, Canon W. Fletcher, Cecil Hook (clergymen); Colonel Mesham, Messrs C S Mainwaring, J C Edwards, Marshall Dug- dale, T Gold Edwards, D H Mytton, Wynne Corrie, A E Turnour, H Goodman Roberts, Lt.- Col. H R. Hughes, and Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones (laymen). DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION. The annual report was presented as follows by the Rev T LI L Williams, secretary :— The Committee were glad to point out that the estimate they formed of the effects of the assisted education had been more than justified, the great majority of the church schools have availed them- selves of the Act, and so far none of the disastrous results dreaded by many friends of the church had come to pass and the schools being in a flourishing condition before the passing of theActareasefficient and prosperous as in former times, and they should therefore look forward with confidence. Great difficulties stared them in the face. Hardly a year passes but some new difficulty arises through the manifold diversity of the regulations of the Education Department, and no sooner is one difficulty surmounted than another arises there was, however, one advantage in that inasmuch as managers were not allowed to go to sleep, but were prepared to meet the difficulties as they arise. But the difficulties that threaten church schools in future are of a very formidable character, and reference was then Ifllade to the reports to be made by the Inspectors as to the positions and condition of the schools, shewing that the depart- ment is determined to demand a high standard of comfort as well as efficiency in the elementary schools, but the Question asked by the department shewed that the schools of thinly populated districts had not been taken into consideration, no distinc- tion being made between town and country schools, reference being made to the demands being made for playgrounds in connection with country schools which stand on the hill sides and where are acres .)f litnd aii(I country lanes free to schoolars, and far bjtrer than auy playground. Morf ami more is required of voluntary ><;lx<ols. and if this is not • liough to tax the energies of those who have all iklont oui, their best for education long before the Education Department camc- into existence and long before the burning zeal of our modern education Iiltt had had an opportunity of shewing howactivo it could be. we are threatened with the loss of those I endowments upon which we have been accustomed to count in the hard struggle to maintain the voluntary schools in the state of efficiency. Small as 1 the endowments are, the loss will inflict a grevious burden upon many a struggling church school. Reference was made to the universal condition of this state of things and the demand made in some quarters for a share of the public rate, upon which opinions were divided, and in this diocese they must wait for leading from the church at large, Till the solution came they should strive to keep the schools in the highest state of efficiency, and let it never be said that they failed to give the very best education in their power. The report concluded thus: Touching upon the nature of true educa- tion, your committee cannot conclude their report without reference to the great and lasting work which the Rev Elias Owen, our late Diocesan Inspector, has done in the diocese. It would not be too much to say that during the last 17 years he has had a larger share in influencing the minds and hearts of the young people of this diocese than anyone. His face is familiar in every parish in the diocese, and the cherry way in which he conducted the examinations made him always welcome to the teachers and scholars alike. The healthy influence that he exerted upon the religious tone of theschools was known to all, and the valuable work that he did for the church in this way can hardly be over- estimated. He carries with him into his new sphere of work the hearty good wishes of young and old, of parent and child, of teachers and scnolars. e are glad to report that in the Rev J. H. Lewis we believe that we have secured an inspector that will worthily carry on the great work which was so well commenced by the late Rev J. A. Jackson, and continued with unflagging industry aud zeal by the Rev Elias Owen." Lord Powis in moving the adoption of the report said that they should not take a pessimistic view of the requirements of the Educational Department. If they only viewed them in a proper manner, it would be seen that they could he overcome without difficulty. The Government at least did not intend to force all the schools to at once complete all the requirements of the new regulations, but the object of the Education Department was that in course of time all schools should be brought up to the high state of efficiency which was required by the circu- lar which was sent out for the purpose of ascer- taining which were the most crying necessities with regard to education, and there was no idea on the part of the Government to enforce unnecessary im- provements in schools in a high-handed manner but, for instauce, where the sanitary conditions were not perfect they would at once take steps to hive them made perfect (hear, hear). Archdeacon Thomas seconded. He said that the teachers were doing a grand work for the rising generation, and they were entitled to their hearty sympathy and loyal co-operation. Notwithstand- ing the great fears entertained in 1870, the Church had been going on year by year, filling up the gaps; and, though they had been a little bit flurried by the recent circular, they must admit that there were certain things in their schools which required to be seen to, though they would be able to carry on the work the same as ever for a number of years to come (applause). Col. Cornwallis West said he saw something in Lhe report to the effect that there was some diffi- culty in obtaining the assistance of committees of laymen. He for one considered that laymen should take as much interest in the education of the child- ren of the parish as clergymen. He thought it would be most desirable if the clergyman of each parish should use his utmost endeavour to get lay- men to act on the committee of the schools (applause). rhebishop. One of the greatest arguments against our voluntary schools system is that it is a one- man school management by one man in the parish. It is a very strong argument against the system if it is so. It is most desirable that the interest of the laity of the parish should be secured in the carrying on of what is certainly as important as de- partment of church work as any—the education of the young (applause). I advise you to make it as representative as you can, to interest as many people as you can, and you will make your schools a success (hear, hear). The narrower you make your schools the narrower you make your educa- tion (hear, hear). We have in our public schools a number of new regulations put before us. I was in a certain parish the other day—I see the in- cumbent present here—and I admired the beautiful green fields and the fresh air, and I thought that it did deem a little comic to have an imperative order from the Education Department that you should have a quarter of an acre set apart for the children, who were living within a stone's throw of the sea, and with beautiful fresh air all round their schools (laughter and applause). Do not let us run away with the idea that the Education De- partment are acting unfairly e are anxious to make the secular education of our children in our schools as good as it can be (applause). We shall be giving all entirely false impression if we give the impression that we are not in favour of mak- ing our schools as efficient as Board Schools (applause). The Education Department, under Mr Acland, are issuing a great many orders but let us be fair to Mr Acland. He is fair all round to all voluntary schools, not only Church of Eng- land, but Wesleyan and others, and he is pressing these regulations upon them all, and so long as they are likely to benefit education we must assist them (hear, hear). When a Church School is closed I consider that it is a bad thing, not only for the church but for the community (applause). WOCESAN INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Rev. J. H. Lewis, Diocesan Inspector, then read his first annual report as follows :— I have the honour of laying before your Lordship my first report as Diocesan Inspector of Schools. As I did not enter upon my duties until the commencement of the month of April of the present year, that is just three months ago, I am, naturally, not in a position to present a report except of the most fragmentary character. In fact, my work belongs to the current year rather than the past my experience in the work is of too limited a character to admit of my making many general observations based upon such experience, or any suggestions for improvement or guidance in the future. I may state, however, that I com- menced my duties at Corwcn, early in the month of April, and since then I have visited 79 schools, and have examined and reported upon them all with one or two exceptions. In one case a school had only jusf^ been re-opened after having been closed for some weeks owing to a prevailing epidemic. Under the circumstances it was thought desirable to defer the examination. In another case the notices sent had, through some in- advertence, not been put up, and the teachers were not made aware of the examination. In both cases I visited the schools at the appointed time and made the acquaintance of managers and teachers. Of the 76 schools actually examined 11 obtained the mark of excellent. This mark of distinction is reserved for those schools that excel in each division and in each branch of the work of the syllabus; 22 schools obtained the mark very good, 30 good, 7 very fair, and H fair. It will be seen that 44 per cent. attained the very creditable position of excellent or very good, 84 per cent. good, and only 16 per cent. below good. In some of these 16 cases, too, local circumstances of an adverse and transient character account for the results. If the work I have already done may be looked upon as a fair sample of the diocese, and I think it may, I have no hesitation in saying that the religious instruction imparted in the schools of this diocese is most creditable to all concerned, and of so valuable a character that no efforts should be spared to sustain it. The pupil teachers' examination was held at various centres on the 26th May as in former years. The revision of the papers is not yet quite complete, but I hope it will be in the course of the next fortnight. Two questions of a very simple character were set bearing upon the history of the diocese, the church history subject specified in the syllabus. These two questions have been left severely alone. Very few indeed have made any attempt whatever to answer them, and such attempts as have been made are not satisfactery. This is a subject that evidently requires more attention. I shall make no further remarks at present on the pupil teachers examination. A tabulated statement of the schools I have visited and certain data con- nected with them is appended, similar in character to those furnished annually by my predecessor. In future I intend arranging the schools which se. cure the highest mark of distinction Excellent" in a separate list. I think it would also be in- teresting to your Lordship and the diocese in general to know how we stand relatively to other dioceses in certain respects. I hope to be able to draw up a comparative statement of this kind for the occasion for the present it must be deferred. In conclusion, I have to acknowledge with grati- tude the great cordiality with which I have been received in the diocese by the clergy, school- managers, and teachers, and by no one with greater cordiality than my worthy predecessor. The following items were contained in the ap pendix to the report: I Knyi troys' School (Mr H. Tilby)—No. on book.s 100, average attendance 82, present at examination sch°°l, very good. Rhyl Girls' (Miss M. E. Ditchfield)-S8, 67, 8.), excellent. Rhyl Infants' (Miss R Burns).—115, 95, 102, excellent. Wellington Hvnd, kilyl Jane Jouesj-S5, 63, tW, good. Vain Road. KhylfMiss Agues Hill) jOt, NOT examined. A^aph Boy (Mr A. O. Evans)—92. si, S7, very good. St. Asaph i >f Miss Margaret A. Jonesy—-7^» 57, 70, very good. St. Asaph Infants' (Miss Mary Williams)—103, 71, 80, very good. Colonel Cornwallis West: I hope the inspector r will take pains to inform all children in all ele- mentary schools that, under the Education Act, they have an opportunity, by study, to raise them- selves from the elementary schools to the inter- mediate (hear. hear). The report was then adopted. "ORTH WALKS TRAINING COLLEGE. Principal Fairchild, of the Carnarvon Training College, next read his annual report In May, Mr Oakelcy made his annual inspec- tion of the College, and afterwards met the Com- mittee at the Chapter Room, Bangor. The build- ings lgft from the fire were a terrible makeshift, and the Department could not possibly recognise them as suitable for the training of teachers. Un- less new buildings were proceeded with at once, lie must recommend the Education Department to withdraw its grant, which would result in the closing of the college altogether. He spoke well of the plans sent in by the architect for a new College, and thought they would be in every way suitable. He congratulated the Principal on the very beautiful Chapel lately restored by the old students and friends of the College, and was glad to learn that all the materials could be transferred to the new building. He dwelt particularly upon the importance of having a College Chapel, and the enormous influence for good that it had upon the students. The lessons given by them were remark- ably good. Of late years the illustrations and models made by the students and used in giving theic lessons had greatly improved. The reading and recitation of the second year men was good, that of first year a little too declamatory. The students of the 2nd year passed a fair certificate examination, those of the 1st year did exception- ally well. Forty-six per cent of these were in the 1st class, the remainder in the 2nd class, none in j the third. This result was highly creditable con- sidering the low position of the men on entrance, all except three being 2nd class Queen's Scholars. One student obtained the Royal Geographical Prize. Carnarvon was the 1st of the smaller provincial Colleges that had gained this distinction. The College generally was doing good work, and there had been a steady improvement in the results during the past few years. The Very Rev the Dean of Chester made his annual visit in October. He heard some of the senior students give lessons in religious knowledge, and afterwards examined, viva voce, the students in each year. Sir Jchn Stainer examined individually the senior students in their practical knowledge of music on Saturday, Sept. 27th IS out of 22 were classed as excellent, and the remainder were successful in passing. Sir John Stainer said that Carnarvon could now be placed among the best Colleges with respect to its musical advantages. The Committee have been busy during the year selecting plans and arranging for the tenders of the new College to be built at Bangor. In'November, the tender of Messrs Par- nell and Son, Rugby, was accepted, amounting to £ 8,416. Although many have given most generously, the Committee are in great need of further help, and they are particularly anxious in this respect seeing that the £ 1,000 voted by the S.P.C.K. is conditional on the whole amount being raised ne- cessary for the new Building. Of the £ 10,000 needed, about £ 7.500 have been collected from all available sources." Mr Edmund Peel I hope and trust that the education at this college will go on improving. The report was adopted, and the executive com- mittee re-elected, the Rev. Canon Roberts (Colwyn Bay) being, on the motion of theVicar of Abergele, elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Rev. D. P. Jones (Colwyn). PRESENTATION TO THE REV. ELIAS OWEN, The Bishop 'next proceeded to present to the Rev. Elias Owen, the late Diocesan Inspector of Schools, a handsome illuminated address in token of the regard and esteem in which he is held by all who have come in contact with him." The presen- tation was the outcome of a movement amongst the school managers of the diocese to give Mr Owen a parting tribute of esteem. Accompanying the address was a heavy purse of gold. The Bishop, in making the presentation, said that he had been honoured by the committee to present the address to the former Inspector for this diocese, and lie felt that very few words were necessary in doing so. The address, he was sure, spoke the feelings of everybody in the diocese with regard to the work of Mr Owen. Seventeen years' service, such as his, was a long time to have carried on that most important and arduous work. He would never forget the impression made upon his mind as to what Mr Owen had told him with regard to the mere effort of travelling from place to place—yet Mr Owen had carried it on for seven- teen years (applause). There was another aspect of the matter. The Inspector of Religious Know- ledge was, in examining the children in what they considered to be the most important part of education—a part of education which was not recognised by the State — when he visited a school compelled to be dependent very much upon his own efforts. He was not, when he went to a voluntary school, clothed by Government with authority. But his visits had always been looked forward to in vicarage houses all over the diocese (applause). His cheery, genial presence always made him welcome (applause). In conclusion, the Bishop expressed the hope that Mr Owen might be spared to enjoy many years of happiness in his new parish and his new sphere of work (hear, hear), and he thanked him for the faithful way in which he had served the Church in the diocese during the past 17 years (applause). The Rev. Elias Owen appropriately responded, and said that, as that was his last appearance in connection with the Inspectorship, he would perhaps be pardoned for dddressing them at some length (hear, hear). Mr Owen then entered into a most interesting account of the progress made during the past 20 years in the schools of the diocese. Upon referring, lie said, to the report of his predecessor for the year 1873, he found that there were 23,180 names on the books in the diocege, the average attendance being 15,220, and the number present at examinations 16,846. He had made up the corresponding numbers for the current year, and found them to be respectively 27,750, 20,053, and 22,998 (applause). The increase of names on the books, therefore, was over 4,500 or 19 per cent., whilst the average attendance had increased 31 per cent. and the attendance at examinations 36 per cent. (applause). In 1870, a new system the School Board system was brought into existence, but during that period the results of their Church schools had been most highly satisfactory (hear). An important change was made in connection with that system—free and assisted education. It was a fact that parents of children in both schools were very considerably benefited by this change. He found on referring to the Blue-book that children in Board schools paid annually in school fees in England and Wales an amount which saved the Education Department 9 £ per head, so that it would seem that the rate- payers had been benefited to that extent. Free education was not asked for by the Church party. It was forced upon them (hear, hear). Thefreegrant was not made to their schools, but it was undoubt- edly made to the parents of the children attending their schools. It was made, he might almost say as a sop to the voters. This free education had been used in a manner detrimental to Church schools. Some said that their schools should be governed by the Board because they assisted by a free and assisted grant. He did not say that, however. If anyone was to lose their liberty because of a ten shilling grant to a child the school should benefit (hear, hear). It had been said. he believed, that Board schools were more efficient than Church schools. He hoped and trusted that their schools would be made thoroughly efficient and that they would endeavour to carry out the suggestions of the Department if they were in accordance with the Act. He thought very much was required in many of their schools to make them efficient (hear, hear). The Board schools with an unlimited supply of money got 9]d more than their Church school scholars got, the Church schools costing £ 1 16s 4d per head per year. That was, the Board schools spent 8s 3d to get 9'id (laughter) and then they were told that their schools were in a higher state of efficiency than Church schools, and well they might be when they spent that amount of money to get 9;cl (laugh- ter). Really and truly the Church schools were doing extremely well, and he had not the slightest doubt that they would do equally well in time to come (applause). Board schools were a necessity undoubtedly, -but why could not the country at large recognise the necessity for the existence of their voluntary schools ? Do unto others as you would have others do to you (hear, hear). But that law seemed to be ignored entirely in this particular manner. They wanted to take posses- sion of the schools and destroy them. He thought that their voluntary schools could teach a lesson of economy to Board schools, and Board schools could possibly teach a lesson to their schools in attaining a higher state of efficiency but he thought they should be allowed to exist side by side, each doing its work in its own way (applause). Those continual changes of government were, he -submitted, unnecessary. Every year they were expected to take a new Act. He remembered Mr Lowe's Act; but he dared say that those present knew more about Mr Lowe's Bill now (laughter). W hat was it all ? It was simply in a manner trusting the judgment of the H.M.I. What was wanted now was thoroughly popular school managers. They could not possibly go on with all those new regulations unless they would see to the working of them. They wanted the assistance of laymen in carrying on the great work. There should be a thorough understanding that they were in full accordance with the people and the people with them (hear, hear). He thanked them for the presentation, which he would always highly prize and value, and concluded with the well- known line from Virgil- "Flaec olim meminisse juvabit" (laughter and applause). The Chairman I had the pleasure of hearing the Bishop of London recently make a most remarkable speech. He was talking about the question of Church disestablishment and so on, and lie said he hoped everyone would recognise that we were loyal in our efforts, and he further said that there was one thiny, of which Englishmen as a na- tion were more proud than any other-that was the high sense of duty, and, to use his own words, he said—" That idea of duty has been branded upon the English character by the teaching of the Church Catechism (applause). The assembly then adjourned to the Palace for luncheon. CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETY. After luncheon, the annual meeting of the above Society was held.—The Treasurer's Account was presented and carried. It showed a balance in hand of C438 Is od as compared with a balance in hand last year of £1,0i7 9s 7d. The total receipts were £ 1,368 Is 5d.—The report, wl ich was of a satisfactory nature, was read by Canon Lewis and adopted.—The following grants were made :— Bagillt (St. Mary's), C30 Caerwys (St Michael's), £ 60; Denbigh (St. David's), 190 Llangynof, £ 45 Oswestry (Holy Trinity) £ 120.—Mr W. H. Spaull, Oswestry, wrote offering to become the Diocesan Architect but the Bishop explained that such an appointment would possibly involve them in very many difficulties, and consequently no action was taken in the matter. WIDOWS AND ORPHANS' CHARITY. The annual meeting of the above society fol- lowed.—The Treasurers' accounts, showing 9668 Os. Id. available for distribution, were passed, and 28 grants were made. The income of the society during the year was E714 Os. Id., and the expenses 946, including E30 which was retained in hand for contingencies. VOTE OF THANKS. Colonel Cornwallis West moved a vote of thanks to the Bishop for presiding over the meetings (applause). They lived in very peculiar days, and he thought that the Bishop of this diocese deserved the support of every layman and clergyman (hear, hear). He had borne the brunt of the battle (applause). They ought to revere and respect the Bishop for the stand he had made (applause). He himself was not one of those who wished to see the great struggle carried on with bitterness or ani- mosity (hear, hear). He wished to see it fairly carried out, but he did say that it was the duty of every Churchman to support the Bishop in the struggle (applause). They had been told, and had also read in the papers, that there was a way of conducting this struggle, which was to meet their opponents half-way and to have a policy of concilia- tion. He for one said that a policy of conciliation was at the present time out of the question. It was the duty of every one of them to persuade those opposed to them that every honest man should realise that the proposals that were being made for the disestablishment of the Church were of such a confiscatory character as to deserve the horror of every one of them (applause). He had great pleasure, as a layman in the diocese, in asking them to support the Bishop (applause), and what he had said that day would be, no doubt, agreed to by those persons who took any part in the struggle of this world, who lived at home quietly, but who had strong feelings on this point (hear, hear). He ought to have support, and they meant to give it him, and he hoped and believed that when the present struggle was over, and they looked back to it, whatever the position of the Church was, that their Church would go on for ever (applause) and they would look back upon the action of the Bishop as true, honest, and conscientious (loud applause). Lord Powis, in seconding the vote, said that he fully concurred with everything which Colonel West had said. He did think that the present was the time when laymen as well as churchmen should give, as Col. West had said, their Bishop their full support (hear, hear). It had been a trying time for some years past for a prelate, and more especially for their prelate in this diocese, and for that very "reason he thought they should show him how fully lliey appreciated the efforts he had made, and which had been accompanied by considerable trouble and anxiety and enormous work on his part (hear. hear). He could not help thinking, if he might say so, that he had a certain amount of reward at the meeting in the Albert Hall (applause), when he was called upon to make a speech (hear, hear). He thought if they would all give their Bishop the support which was his due, that they need feel no fear as to the power of their Bishop to overcome the difficulties under which he might he at any time placed (applause). Sir Robert Cunliffe supported the motion, as a layman, and added his word in support of the vote, which, he submitted, was no mere conventional vote (hear, hear). From the way in which they had received the speeches of the proposer and se- conder he was sure that he was speaking not merely for the laymen of the diocese, but also on behalf of his clerical brethren, when lie said that they desired in the future, even more than in the past, to give to the Bishop the loyal support which his character and his conduct deserved (applause). The Bishop had had to face many obstacles which opposed him. All men who held high positions were opposed in some way (hear, hear); but their Bishop had been met on different occasions and in different quarters with a great amount of criticism —not to use a stronger word (hear, hear). But they should remember the words of a great orator who said—" Obloquy and abuse are essential parts of triumph (applause). However much there might be some people who attributed to their Bishop unworthy motives, it was only part of the law which applied to men who held honourable positions (hear, hear). The vote was then carried with acclammation, and The Bishop, in reply, said :—I thank you very warmly for what you have said in moving this vote of thanks. It is very hard for any of us in posi- tions in the church not to be misunderstood (hear, hear), and if I have made any blunder in defence of the church I ask pardon from those whom I have endeavoured to the best of my power to de- fend (applause). I say with all the feeling of my heart that my only object is to try and defend the church (applause), and in doing that I have never said any word about those who differ from me which I wish to withdraw (applause). I have tried to state the truth, and what was said about abuse and obloquy that is part of it (laughter and applause). I am not going to break my heart over it, however (applause), and I only promise you, my brethren of the laity and my brethren of the clergy, that as long as God gives me health and strength I will endeavour to do my very best for the interests of the Church, and I ask you-I implore you—to keep up in this great controversy and in this supreme hour of the Church in Wales (applause). The interests of the Church must go to the heart of every honest man—if he has stood faithful and loyal by the Church he will be able to say that he has given its interest his consideration (applause). As long as we are putting the Church first, I ask you, and I know I do not ask you in vain, to give me and anyone else support in the defence of the interests of the Church (applause). Ever since I became Bishop of this diocese I cannot speak too warmly of the way in which the laity have backed up every request made of them (hear, hear). I have never received anything but kindness from them, and I may say the same of the clergy (hear, hear). We have all of us our difficulties, and I sympathize with all of you from the bottom of my heart; but do not forget that we all have our difficulties, and I desire your sympathies as well (applause). The proceedings then terminated.