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THE GELLIQAER MILITARYI TRIBUNAL.

THE DANGERS OF PHILLIPSTOWN.

EMIRe DAY AT BEDWELLTY.

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EMIRe DAY AT BEDWELLTY. 1 AHUQRGA?HKRIN? '? i __hU_ TH-J^RECTOR'S POWERFUL SERMON. bince the institution of Empire day the Rector of Bodie-lfv, Rev. H. W Roberts, B A. has observed with much keenness at th.' hi-itf,rc church, but on no previous occasion has there been scch a largo and representative gathering of all ccctiocs of Military, public ard srrni-pnblie organisations as that which assemble d. on Sunday !ast in ideal weather. A procession, hcadted by the Aberbargoed Briss Band, under the conductor-ship of Mr T. Thomas, and accompanied by the rii-n of the Royal Defence C,-rps (Lieutenaut Dunn), Firo Brigades (Lieutenants Harry and William?-), St. John's AmHuInnce Brigades (Ser- geant B»P. Rees^ Church Lids Bri- gada (SerIaes itt i nst rii c t.r Joneik) R..d Cress Society (Mrs B. Rres), together with largo contingents of several lodges of the R,A O B and rhe New Tredegar Silver Band, marched to the ohurch The pro- cessionists were joined at the church by a large assembly cf the general public, who were favoured with a powerful sermon ably delivered by (he Rector. At the conclusion of the service a link of the members of the R.A.O.B. lodges was formed war the litch gate under the supervision of Knight John, New Tredegar. The lodges who took part in this were, Brittania, Abeib r^oed, Prim re ■ ,Naw Tredegar, Quoen Victoria, Cwmsjfiog, Victory, Argoed, Prince George, Ar. goed, Prince Llewollyn, Hollybush. The "link" totalled 131, but ten in excess of last year which Knight John said was very gratifying, having re- gard to the nnmber of absentees now on active service.—The Rector 'him- self a member of the Order) drew attention of the lodges to the flag staff now on the tower of the church but which had not a flag. He asked the menbers to co-operate to perchase a flag to be unfurled there, and thus enable the members to worship under their own Sag. THE SERMON. I Taking his text from the 3rd verse of the 113th Psalm -"From the rising of the sun to the geing down of the same, the Lord's name be praised "—the Rector said the psalm was supposed to have been written for use at the dedication of the sec ond temple It was one of the^ special Psalms used on Easttr Day. It did not literally mean from the rising of the sun to the setting, but from east to west. From one boundary to the other the rospel shall be preached and the Lord's name praised. They were that day celebrating. Empire Day. It was so established that the people may once a year realise their inheritance. To-day their empire was on the thorns and death sting of war, and they knew not yet how it would end. They thanked God that day for the long list of victories which bad already been accomplished, and for the many triumphs over a cruel and relentless enemy. Their insular position was a cause for much thankfulness, but even its se- curity, was now being threatened at its weakest point and their food supplies were being intetcepted, but still tbey thanked God they were not as ponr Belgium or the northt rn poitions of France. The empire's great bulwark was the sea, and their ram- parts the Navy but even with these they were not secure from invasion. Unfortu- nately, they were a people who were over- confident, and he reminded them of the general boast made at the outbreak of the war tbat "we would be in Beilin before Christmas." An over-confident man was a half-beatec person. They were to-day face to face with a foe of the gravest and most cunning type. If they failed to grip and throttle this submarine danger, then their Empire Day in the future may be very dark indeed. No one doubted for a moment bnt that victory would be their's at last Theyeould not conceive that the title,, un- speakable barbarity of tie Huns o'dd tiiumph, but God had his own way of ae- complishing this. They were called upon to make sacrifices. There would be no festivities, and no feateting as in pre-war days. They were called to greater respon- sibilities of duty. Sympathy and self- saenfioe were now their wateh-words. He reminded them of the emblem infroat ef the pulpit, covered by the Union Jack, and .bearing the words, "rawMnory of the fallen." A foolish ruler had once called them a contemptible little army," but .he had now learned to change bis views. Then they had their navy. But-it was inot-,tiitil-the war waa over, and the whole truth revealed, could they realise what had been done by their army and navy, by Ihe mine sweepers, and the mercantile ser- jvice. The women of this country, too, had made great sacrifices, and they were proud ;'jf tbe many examples of noble character liaplayed. On the other hand, he was afraid there was now many a child who j would grow up to-oiirse the memory of its partn• s. By giving absolute freedom to the young niiiid they-put the child's feet on tbe road to ruin and the devil. It was aii awfal thought, when they fully realised the position that a child may grow up to curse the memory of its parents. "Spare the rod and spoil the child was a sentence wbieh never had greater importance than in the present day. The children of to-day were tbe men and women of the future In the present day they bad strikers, shirkers, cowards .d conscientious ob. jectors. The child wa observant. He was pleased, however, to fir-d that there was no word in the Welsh language for striker, so that obviously that was a foreign element to the Principality. Be bad every respect for a conscientious objector—a man who was gennine in pwpofte and sound at heart upon his convictions—but a multi. fcude of people bad screened themselves behind this term, and were now tho con- scientious objectors at Dartmoor. Au idler or a coward was a strange ihing in the Briiish Empire, but where such inen ) existed, if they could Dot -lie secured by any other means, then the atmng-- arm of t'be military powers afcould take hold of them. He then referred to the fact that the British Empire comprised 12 million MJIWO miles, or one-fifth of the whole world; •;iid had under its flag 360,000,000 people, of all tribes, tongues, and colours. The fact that some of these heatheti tribes were now fighting side by side witb the Englishman shewed the inlfuence of the Missionaries. They wete a devout people now and this way an immense testimony to Christianity.

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JUDGE ON WAISTCOATS. I

MONMOUTHSHIRE TRIBUNALI

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