Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

When samples of tea come to yon from various firms at low figures, don't say 11 This is good tea and only Is 6d a pound, AND I HAVE BEEN PAYING SO AND so." What vou should do is to try Phillips's at the same price as the tea offered you. That's the way to find out what Phillips's can do in the tea line. W. P¡,:lIips & Co., Ltd, Teamen, Wrexham. 155 I »

I PRESENTATION AT HOLT TO THE HON. G. T. AND MRS KENYON. On Saturday night, at the Kenyon Hall, Holt, the people of Holt and district made a presentation to theTlon. G. T. Kenyon, the late member of Parlia- ment for the Denbigh Boroughs, and also to Mrs Kenyon. The presentation was under the manage- ment of a representative committee, with Mr Edwin Bellis as an energetic and able chairman, and the response to the appeal was most liberal and spon- taneous, the feeling being general that the inhabi- tants of the ancient borough should publicly acknowledge the great services which Mr Kenyon had rendered to Holt during over a quarter of a century. It was also felt that Mrs Kenyon, who had always shown such an active interest in her husband's work, should not be forgotten. The Kenyon Hall was crowded. Mr Harry Barnston, of Crewe Hall, presided, and among those on the platform were the Hon. G. T. and Mrs Kenyon, Mr Tudor Howell, M.P., Archdeacon Howell, Mr and Mrs J. H. Leche, Carden Mrs and the Misses Barnston, Mr Philip Yorke, High Sheriff of Denbighshire; the Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham (Mr and Mrs Murless), the Rev. F. C. Royds, the Rev. L. E. and Mrs Owen, Mr and Mrs Gilbert Parry, Mr and Mrs T. R. Parry, Mr J. Oliver Jones, Mrs Maylor, Mrs John Leche, Mrs Davies, Mr J. Davies, Dr. and Mrs Parker, Mr and Mrs Salmon, Mr and Mrs Lowe, Mr and Mrs Thomas Jones, Mrs J. O. Jones, Mrs and Miss Stevens, Mrs Hughes, Hugmer-lane, and Miss N. Parry. The room was tastefully decorated, the walls being embellished with mottoes, while over the platform was a banner bearing the Holt lion and crest, with the Latin inscription, Semper eadem," and the two maces crossed. Apologies for absence were announced from the Duke of Westminster, the Hon. C. T. Parker, Captain the Hon. A. Lawley, Sir W. W. Wynn, the Rev. Sir T. H. G. Puleston, Sir Roger Palmer, the Rev. T. M. Bulkeley-O-.ven, Sir Robert Egerton, Sir Robert Cunliffe, Mr T H. Dixon, Mr George Bar- hour, Captain Ormrod, Mr W. C. Hughes, Mr Trevor Parkins, Mr Barker (Llyndir, Rossett), Captain Gladstone, Mr W. E. Wright, Mr R. Howard, Mr C. W. Townsheud, Mr J. R. Burton, Captain Griffith- Boscawen, Mr Trevor Griffith-Boseawen, Mr F. H. Hawkins, Mr Herbert Parr., Mr Robert Parry, the .N l r Robert Parr)- the Rev. Jenkin Jones (vicar of Holt), the Rev. H. R. Gray (late vicar), the Itev. R. Leigh Roose, and Mr Harrison (Farndon.) The Rev. H. R. Gray, in his letter, said The occasion would have been of especial interest tome, as I have had so many oppor- tunities of knowing what Mr Kenyon has done for Holt. Long before he was returned as our M.P., he proved himself in numberless instances a warm friend to Holt and all its interests. Almost from its commencement, he has been chairman of the Board of Governors and the Holt Endowed Schools, a.nd whenever any important question had to be decided, we could always rely upon his taking a thorough, business-like grasp of the subject, and giving us the best advice. The valuable help that he gave during all the long complicated negotiations with reference to the vexed question of Common Wood makes it not too much to say that Holt owes mainly to his exer- tions that the matter was at length settled in a way that promises so much benefit to the whole parish in the future." (Applause.) The Ch- --ti-,m, tii remarked t ia*. on such an interest. ing occasion, the pbsence of Mr Edwin Bellis was one which they all regretted, and especially so when they remembered the sad circumstances which pre- vented him from being with them. With this excep- tion, he (Mr Barnston) had never attended a more representative meeting in the Kenyon Hall. They had met to pay honour to Mr and Mrs Kenyoll- (applause) to thank Mr Kenyon for his past services, and to place their gratitude on record. So great was the esteem and popularity which Mr Kenyon had won, that gentleman of entirely different creeds and politics "had joined them in saying that to Mr Kenyon personally they owed nothing but gratitude and goodwill. (Applause.) There was one striking characteristic that he had observed about Mr Kenyon. He did not believe that anyone had ever met Mr Kenyon, no matter what his position in life might be, who had not realised that he met in him a friend, and one who would always be a friend in foul weather as well as fair. It was owing to this feeling of absolute sin- cerity and honesty that tha name of Kenyon had become what it was in that neighbourhood—a name that embraced all that was straightforward and honourable, a name that stood for all that was honest and true. Any words as to Mr Kenyon would seem incomplete without reference to Mrs Kenvon, who had won the respectful affection of all who had had the privilege of meeting her. (Applause.) He thought he wa,s expressing not only his own feelings a.nd the feelings of the people of Holt, but the feelings of the Denbigh Boroughs at large, when he hoped that the years before them- would be many and happy, and crowned with every possible happiness, prosperity, and health. (Applause.) Mr Oliver Jones bore testimony to the great services Mr and Mrs Kenyon had rendered to Holt. The address was then presented to Mr Kenyon by Mr Tudor Howell, M.P. It is a two-page folding address, under plate glass, with crimson plush borders, handsomely illuminated, with the family coat of arms and the Holt arms introduced at the top of the first page. It is bound in maroon Levant morocco with raised panels, and inlaid with coloured leathers elaborately tooled. The front of the case bears the gilt monogram, G.T.K. and the Kenyon coat of arms engraved to match on the back. The text is as follows :— I To tlte Honourable George Thomas Kenyon. Sill,—We, the inhabitants of the ancient borough of Holt and neighbourhood, desire to convey to you an expression of our cordial goodwill, and to place on record our high appreciation of the invaluable ser- vices you have rendered to us during the past five and twenty years. The close and cordial associations which have for so many years existed between the house of Greding- ton and this borough have ever been a source of much gratification to the inhabitints and to you, as a worthy representative of that house, in an especial manner, are our thanks due for the very many favours we have received at your hands, and through your kind instrumentality. As its representative in Parliament, you never missed an opportunity of attending to the wants of the borough when any measure was brought forward affecting our interests and we cannot forget that it was mainly through your exertions that the Common Wood property has been preserved to us, while the interests of those affected by the dissolution of the Corporation (and whose rights were imperilled there. by), ever found in you an able and zealous champion. Also, in your capacity as chairman, ever since its formation, of the Board of Governors of the Holt Endowed Schools, you have rendered inestimable ser- vices to the borough. It is fresh in the minds of all of us with what vigour you entered into the scheme for providing railway communication through the district, and which, if it had been carried out, would have been an untold benefit to us. We still hope that your efforts in this respect will be crowned with ultimate success, By such truly noble actions, coupled with your ever active sympathy with all movements affecting Holt, and by your uniform urbanity and unostenta- tious deeds of kindness, both in public and private, have you built up an enduring monument of gratitude in the hearts and homes of the people of Holt. In asking you to accept this address, we cannot refrain from adding the expression of our deep and lasting gratitude also to Mrs Kenyon for the unfail- ing zeal, kindness, and constant devotion with which she has ever co-operated with you in every good work. and it is our sincere and heartfelt prayer that YOU may both long live in the enjoyment of God's richest blessing.—Signed, on behalf of the Presentation Committee, EDWIN BELLIS, Chairman. Holt, 14th December, 1895." Mr Howell said he felt it a very great honour to have the duty imposed upon him of placing in Mr Kenyon's hands that sign of the gratitude of the people of Holt. CHear, hear.) He had learned some- thing of the people of Holt lately, and he knew that when they put this address into Mr Kenyon's hands it vvas not an empty formality, but an expression of heartfelt gratitude to him for what he had dt)ne for that neighbourhood. He would like also to offer to Mr Kenyon his grateful thanks for the kindness with which he had always met him in every way. He did it now, because it was a public occasion upon which he could acknowledge the kind feeling which Mr Kenyon had shown towards him. He thought Mr Kenyon would agree with him when he said that the position of a representative in the House of Com- mons of such a neighbourhood as that was not one all of honour, but one which was studded with difficulties, anxieties, and very hard work. He had only gone through one very short session which was not given to contentious business of any kind, but he could now realise to the full the extent to which the people of that neighbourhood owed Mr Kenyon their thanks for the work he had done on their behalf. He pre- sented that address, feeling to the full the amount of work which Mr Kenyon had done for many years, and knowing that the people of Holt offered it as an expression of their heartfelt gratitude, and that they would never forget as long as they lived what he had done for them. (Applause.) Mr Kenyon, who was accorded a warm ovation, said the associations which clung around that room and platform, the recollections of previous meetings there, the recollections of friends gained throu«h"a long series of years, made him almost unequal to say what he would wish in expressing his gratitude. There was hardly any task so difficult as to speak of one's self, unless one was animated by that extra- ordinary faculty of being able continually to blow one's own trumpet. (Laughter.) If on that occasion he did not seem to do justice to his feelings, it was because they had blown the trumpet so loudly for him—(laughter)—they had taken all the steam out of him, and rendered him almost powerless to express to such a large audience of sympathising friends what the heart really felt when that heart was so full of gratitude and thankfulness. He supposed every man who had spoken much in public had had the opportunity and occasion of telling his audience that that was the happiest and proudest moment of his life. He knew he had said so a great many times, and honestly and truly every time he had said so he had believed it. (Laughter.) Yet, though that was the case, he felt on this occasion he must dis- criminate. During his long connection with the borough of Holt, he had received nothing but kind- ness from every body with whom he had been brought in contact—(applause)—not only from members of his own party in politics, not only from members of the religious denomination to which he belonged, but from members of all parties, of all creeds, and of all denominations. (Applause.) The Holt people to him had been universally kind, universally generous. To others they might sometimes have roared like lions; to him they had ever been gentle and trusting as lambs. (Laughter and applause.) He could assure them that it was not without grave considera- tion and deep reluctance that he felt it his duty to sever the connection which had so long existed between them. To all of them there came, sooner or later, he thought, a time when it seemed necessary to take counsel with themselves. For himself, he felt that the time had arrived when it was his duty to take stock of what he had been able to accomplish in the career which he had set before himself, and to ask himself whether the portion of his life which might remain to him could not be better, more pro- fitably spent in another direction or in other causes than in the line which he had originally chalked out for himself. In the meridian of life, the ambitions —nay, the illusions—of youth were fading away. They realised the fact that they could not all be Prime Ministers, or Lord Chan- cellors, or Archbishops of Canterbury. The supply of these articles was greater than the the demand, and yet the necessity for that enforced contentment, :which old age brought with it, was not apparent. (Hear, hear.) And it might be that after a certain number of years spent in one particular line or vacation of life, it was better for them to con- sider whether in some other direction they might not be able to do what, after all, was the ultimate end and object of life-more good to those who lived around them. (Applause.) The problem they had to solve, then, was how to make what yet remained to them of life, of intellectual power, of energy, the must useful to others. (Hear, hear.) They might remember with thankfulness the noble words of the great English poet- God does not need Either man's work or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er laud or ocean without rest. They also serve, who only stand and wait. It was not from any mere feeling of indolence or want of energy that this step was forced upon him. It was that he might have time to consider his position, time to realise what had been accomplished, and time to forecast for himself and for others what was the best course for him to pursue in the future. Tho answer to the question must depend in his case, as in others, a great deal upon temperament and upon the circumstances by which they were sur- rounded. Some of them he thought would sym- pathise with the resolution that the old Greek king, after three score years given to a life of toil and wandering, gave utterance to:— Ail experience is an arch where thro' Gleams the untravelled world How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnished, not to shine in use As if to breaths were life. Death closes all, but something ere the end Some work of noble note may yet be done Not unbecoming men." For himself, the time was yet too brief for him to form a judgment, and he would now ask them to consider what had been accomplished and the aims with which he had accomplished what little he had been able to do. Let them look back twenty-five years over the political horizon. In 1869, when he first conceived the idea of entering into political life, what was the position of things in this country ? The suffrage had recently been granted to the county voters, and the prospects of what was then called Conservatism or Toryism, were certainly not of a very bright hue or nature. The election that took place about that time in that part of the world seated Mr Watkin Williams by a majority over the late Mr Mainwaring of 360 votes, the largest ever pre- viously recorded. In the county, though the per- sonal respect which everyone felt for the late Sir Watkin enabled him to retain his seat, yet as was well known it was more upon suffrauce than by the power of the political feeling which then represented Toryism; but at the same election the late Colonel Biddulph was supplanted by his (Mr Kenyon's) colleague and friend, the Right Hon. Sir George Osborne Morgan, who had held the seat ever since. It could not be said that those were happy days for Toryism. Toryism was, in fact, at a very low ebb. It had nailed its existence to impossible conditions. It had become identified with a policy which was a standstill, if not a retrograde policy. It remained for a great man, whose name would ever be regarded with pride by his countrymen, to whatever party they might belong-the late Lord Beaconsfield- (applause)-to lift that party out of the rut, and to secure ta it a fresh life and a fresh term of popu- larity. It seemed to him at that time, looking at the matter from a personal point of view, that if any- thing was to be done for Conservatism in Wales, if any career was open to a Conservative in Wales, it came under one of two heads. Either Toryism must bend to tlia circumstances, either Toryism must recognise the fact that the nation's ideas were in advance of its own, and must be prepared to march with the times, to associate itself more with those forward movements which did not really compromise the essence of Toryism. Or, at any rate, it must suake itself clear from that degrading idea that everything which was of a forward direction must be wrong, and that everything which belonged to the last generation must be right. He came to the con- clusion that if the Conservative party was to live in Wales, it must nationalise itself, and bring itself more in sympathy and harmony with the best feel- ings of the people. (Applause.) What was the case to-day ? Could the bitterest enemy, the greatest adversary of Conservatism, say that the present belief of Toryism was not very far in advance of what it was in the year 1869 '? Had it not cast the ancient shibboleths of intolerance behind it ? Had it not at any rate been able to associate itself with some of the most needed retorms wnicn the country bad asked for ? Did it not stand to-day on a basis totally and entirely different from that which it occupied at the commencement of the period he had mentioned ? The second point he asked himself was whether it was not possible to achieve some good for the Principality independently of party, nay, by the uso of both parties combined. There seemed to be so much upon which they agreed, and the questions upon which they differed were so comparatively few, that he thought it was possible to strike out a policy which would harmonise and bring together both parties at any rate in some great works for the social amelioration and improve- ment of the condition of the people. He might have been an optimist, but he would ask them frank, v if both or if neither of those works had been carried out. That had been the keynote of the little he had been able to effect during the time he had been in political life. None of them reached what they ex- pected to reach, none of them could grasp to the full, the objects which they had in view, but he thought those who knew him best would say that he had en- deavoured to the best of his ability and power, to accomplish both of those desirable objects. (Ap- plause.) In conclusion, he thanked them for their kindness and forbearance, for the many friendships he had made in Holt and throughout the length and breadth of the constituency, and for accepting with kindness and consideration the reasons for his with- drawal, if not from active life, yet at any rate for a time from participation on the political stage. The old Roman actor, after he had finished, turned from the stage to the audience, and said Plaudite et valete." They could clap their hands" if they liked, but he could not allovir them to say" farewell" I —he would rather ask them to substitute" God speed." (Loud applause.) Archdeacon Howell recalled the first occasion when he had the honour of meeting Mr and Mrs Kenyon, nearly 20 years ago. Shortly after the election when Mr Kenyon was beaten by Mr Watkin Williams, who afterwards became Sir Watkin Wil- liams, the eminent judge, a presentation was made to Mr and Mrs Kenyon in the town of Wrexham, in connection with their recent marriage. He (the Archdeacon), as newcomer from South Wales, was struck by the apparently kind and cordial terms on which the successful and defeated candidate stood towards each other. He was astounded to see the two gentlemen actually sitting at the same table, not throwing the knives and forks at each other—(laughter)—but apparently with a very fair measure of mutual goodwill. His astonishment wa3 still greater when Mr Watkin Williams said publicly it was his belief that if Mr Kenyon and not himself had been returned, Mr Kenyon would have become a member of the Conservative Government which had just been formed. He (tho Archdeacon) found before long, to his great gratification, that Mr Kenyon represented some of the very noblest tradi- tions of English political life, and that in this respect he commauded the respect, good-will, and even esteem of those to whom he was most opposed. (Ap- plause.) During the last twenty years, he (the speaker) had mixed more than most men with people of different political persuasions and different creeds, and he had never met with any opponent of Mr Ken- yon who spoke of him otherwise than most kindly and cordially. He was not sure whether they ought not to congratulate Mr Kenyon upon his release from the trammels and worries of political life, but he would never be released from public duties. (Applause.) Mrs Barnston then presented Mrs Kenyon with the fruit bowl amid loud applause. It is a reproduc- tion of a Georgian bowl, the original belonging to the period of George I. It rests on an ebony pedes- tal, and is embellished with very rich strap ornamen- tation, being a series of beautifully chased bauds or straps, rising from the base of the bowl and applied ) its body on a matted ground work. The foot and ij jider are covered with rich repouste chasing. In the latter appears back and front, two shields, on one of which is engraved the lady's initials, on the other the two coats of arms of the Leche and Ken- yon families respectively. The following inscription surrounds the bowl :—" Presented to the Hon. Mrs G. T. Kenyon by the people of Holt, as a metnento of their goodwill and esteem, 14th December, 1895." Mrs Kenyon briefly returned thanks for the lovely present, and for the kind welcome she had ever re- ceived from the people of Holt. Mr J. H. Leche also added a few words of thanks on behalf of his daughter and himself. Mr Kenyon, in proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman, said his acquaintance with Mr Barnston had not been a very long one, but it had been quite sufficient to sh ow him what excellent qualities he possessed—qualities which he inherited from those who had gone before him in the possession of the place where he lived. He was extremely pleased last year when the question of the railway communica- tion at Holt was taken up to find the noble and energetic manner in which Mr Barnston came forward to endeavour to assist his neighbours. It was true that upon that occasion they were not quite so successful as they might have wished, but he thought they had got a footing and laid a foundation stone upon which at some future time they might be able to build. At any rate it was a great gratification to him to find a young man of Mr Barnston's family coming forward at so early a period of his life to champion a cause which he knew his neighbours had so much at heart. Mr Barnston owed his position in a large measure to the training he had received from one whose name was a household word with all who knew her-his mother. (Applause.) He hoped he (Mr Kenyon) might live to see the day when Mr Barnston would attain a high rank not only in their affections, but in the greater world to which he would probably be called. It was with deep regret that he found his old friend, Mr Edwin Bellis, was unable to be present. (Applause.) Through many years he had looked to Mr Bellis in any matters of difficulty in Holt for assistance and kindness, and he had never found them wanting. He knew they all had a good friend in Mr Bellis, and he was sure thej would sympathise with him most trulv in the cause which enforced his absence that evening. (Applause.) Mr Tudor Howell seconded the proposition, which was warmly carried, and acknowledged by Mr Barnston. During the evening Mr L. Edwards; of Wrexham, gave an admirable rendering of A fine old English gentleman" and "Auld i? a,2? Syne," the accom- paniments being played by Mr Cunnah, Brymbo, ,Lbs uent ly a torchlight procession escorted Mr and Mrs Fen n over the Dee Bridge on their way to C, an a '11, and on their departure they were enthusiastically cheered.

I THE WREXHAM NONCONFORMIST ASSOCIATION. I ANNUAL MEETING. On Monday evening the second annual meeting in connection with the Wrexham Nonconformist Asso- ciation was held in the Zion Chapel, Regent-street, Wrexham. when Mr J. E. Powell, J.P., presided, and there was a crowded attendance. The proceedings opened with the singing of the hymn, All people that on earth do dwell," and the Rev. J. Hobson Thomas afterwards offered prayer. The CHAIRMAN promised that his address should be short. They had come to listen to Dr. MacKennal. He might say that he was in full sympathy with the work of the association, and believed that at no time had it been more necessary for them, as members of the Free Churches of the country, to unite to- gether. (Hear-, hear.) He believed so for more reasons than one. They had a past, and he felt that it was a past that they might well be proud of. (Hear, hear.) Their fathers fought for a cause which they believed to have been a good cause, and which un- doubtedly meant very much for this country of theirs at the time, and had proved a great blessing ever since. They felt that they owed to them a duty, and he for one felt that one of their needs at the present time was that of impressing upon their young peoDle why they were Nonconformists. (Hear, hear.) If that reason was fairly put before their younger people and children, and put before them rightly and properly, he had no doubt as to the result. (Hear, hear.) They had another reason for being banded together. They saw that they were not without possible dangers. They saw already that an attack was likely to be made upon their rights as citizens of this country. And as Nonconformists they should maintain the position they had held hitherto. (Hear, hear.) He felt strongly upon the question, and they had a resolution down that evening upon the education question. (Ap- plause.) Mr Price Hughes, in his address to the Prime Minister, said that they had been patient, and he (Mr Powell) felt that that was so. They were now talking about upsetting the compromise, but upon whose side were all the sacrifices in the compromise ? (Hear, hear.) Not certainly on the other side, but on their side. The case might press heavily in England, but he was sure it pressed much more heavily in the rural parishes of Wales. An instance came under his notice the other day, where of a hundred children attending a National School two were the children of Church of England parents, and the rest were the children of Nonconformist parents. And yet that school was entirely under the manage- ment of Church people. Was there any sense or reason in it ? It was for them to speak out, and as their fathers fought in the past, they in the future were ready to play their parts like men, and be true to themselves and their cause. (Applause.) Mr Snoros JONES said he had been asked, as president of the Wrexham Nonconformist Association, to give them a statement of the objects and work of the Association. He was happy to tell them that he was I no longer the president of the Association. He had completed his year's task, and the members at a meeting which had just been held had appointed as his successor Mr W. R. Evans—(applause)—and Mr Hawkins as vice-president. (Applause.) He was there publicly to deliver up his seals of office to these gentlemen, and to commend them to their confidence. It was a matter of great pleasure and encouragement to them all to find that federations of Frae Churches had been springing up in most of the large towns in England and Wales so rapidly during the past few weeks, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Mackennal and those who were working with him, and thanks also to the bishops, who were working against him. He be- lieved that their Lord's parable of the tares had been true of the Nonconformist Churches for some time past. While the husbandman was asleep, an enemy came and sowed tares, but he was thankful that Nonconformists were awakening at last to prevent any more of the tares being sown in the field-the tender field of the minds of their young people. (Mar, hear.) It behoved them to be united in order to safeguard the higher and spiritual interests of their young people. (Hear, hear.) As to the objects of federa- tion of the Free Churches in Wrexham and elsewhere, the first was a lofty and ideal one-" The extension of the Kingdom of God in the town and district." The kingdom of God, as they understood it—the spiritual kingdom established by the Lord Jesus Christ, a kingdom which, He said, was not of this world, but was in this world, and of which He is the sole head and law giver, the only mediator between God and man, the onlv sacrifice for sin. This was the fortress of Nonconformity. (Applause.) They would not surrender it. (Applause.) They would pray God to give unto them the spirit of Christ, the spirit of the Apostles, the spirit of the Martyrs, the spirit of the Puritans, in order that they might ex- tend this spiritual kingdom. (Hear, hear.) The second object was the promotion of mutual sympathy and goodwill among the Nonconformists and Non- conformist Churches in the town and neighbour- hood. He felt that their meeting together in committees, and especially their meeting together at their quarterly meetings for Bible reading and prayer, had largely within the past two years kindled a warmer sympathy among them as Nonconformists. They had had very happy meetings conducted by Mr Williams and Mr Hobson Thomas, for the mutual study of the inexhaustible riches of Christ as they found them in the Word of God. He hoped the meetings would be more largely attended in the future. They had also a social side to their work. He thought this, so far, was the most interesting part of their work as an Association, and had really justified the existence of the Association. He referred to the establishment of the Nursing Society. (Applause.) The Churches had supported this society very generously, raising during the past year nearly XIOO. He wished to bespeak for the society the same generosity during the coming year. (Hear, hear.) The committee had been fortunate in securing the service of a Christian nurse, well trained, and who was making her way to the hearts and homes of the people, by her skilful nursing and tender sympathy. Her work was unsectarian. The nurse knew no difference between church and chapel. (Hear, hear.) He hoped this institution would be well sustained, and that they would assist the committee in making known to them any cases of necessity in which the assistance of a nurse was required. The Association had also endeavoured to ) make known the principles of Nonconformity to the young during the past year. Very interesting lectures, which were well attended, were given in the Hill-street Schoolroom. Before he sat down, he would invite fuller co-operation. He invited ladies and gentlemen to become members of the society. The subscription was from a shilling per member upwards. They needed their co-operation and their sympathy. Some had been rather diffident in joining this association, lest they should compromise their churches in any way politically. They need not do that. He knew that as churches they kept politics out of the pulpit. He had not heard a political sermon for he could not say how long, and he did not want to. They joined that association as independent members, because they felt there was necessity for this organisation, and for their co-operation, because as long as the State had anything to do with religion, and as long as the State had anything to do with education, they could not exist as Nonconformists, unless they looked at the political side, and took their fair share in moulding the future, and in moulding legislation so far as it affected their interests. There- fore as independent members, feeling they were obliged to attend to this great work, they invited them to join this association. (Hear, hear.) The Nonconformist Choir of about a hundred voices, conducted by Mr Wilfrid Jones, R.A,M., then sang the trio and chorus from Elijah," Lift Thine eyes," and He, watching over Israel." Mr Frank Allmand accompanied. The Rev. ALEXANDER MACKENNAL, D.D., secretary of the Free Church Congress, then delivered an address. He said that it was a very great encourage- ment to find in Wrexham a meeting of this sort, and to see that -there were so many, and especially so many young people, who had come together, repre- senting the various Nonconformist Churches, for the purpose of being stimulated, and if he had caught rightly the spirit of the meeting, quite ready to be stimulated by an appeal for united action. (Ap- plause.) They would be very ready to sympathise with Mr Price Hughes, when he said that this move- ment for the federation of the English Free Churches was one of the greatest movements belonging to this century. (Hear, hear.) He (Dr. Mackennal) agreed with him that it was the culminating point which they had at present reached of the Nonconformist history for the last three hundred years. The move- ment had taken a surprising hold upon their British people. It was in October, 1892, that the first Free Church Congress was held in Manchester, and shortly after the holding of that Congress, the idea of having not only a National Congress but Associa- tions or Free Church Councils in counties and towns, received expression, and at the present time there were 200 such councils. (Applause.) They were not only in the large towns, such as Liverpool and Man- chester, in the Pottery towns, in Leeds and Notting- ham, but they had them also in many towns of the second class in population and industry, such as Grimsby, Burton-on-Trent, and the City of Lincoln. In the small rural towns, too, many such Associations were also found, such as that one in Wrexham. (Applause.) The movement had at last attracted the attention, and the respectful attention, of some mem- bers of the Established Church, and he believed most present would agree with him when he said that he believed the inevitable struggle which was before them for the freedom of religion from the patronage and control of the State, would be carried on with all the more graciousness and courtesy, to say nothing of fairness, when their opponents recognised what was the real force with which they had to contend. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Mackennal then referred to the work of the Church Councils, and referred as an in- stance to the work done at Llandudno. At Wrexham they no doubt had questions of their own, and he congratulated them very heartily that they had a body sitting to represent them--a council or parlia- ment of their own in which to come to a common understanding as to what was desirable, and a body that could speak with sufficient dignity and sufficient force, and with sufficient representative character to give weight to their views, in the same way as they were represented by their district, urban, and county councils. He should like to dwell for a short time on some of the circumstances which had led to the rapid growth of this movement in England, and also he was glad to hear in Wales. There were a great number of young people present, and it was abso- lutely impossible for them to understand what were the civil and political disadvantages and wrongs under which their grandfathers suffered. Seventy years ago saw the conclusion of the Test and Cor- poration Acts, and Dr. Mackennal referred to other disadvantages and wrongs which Nonconfo"mists suffered. Now there was a blessed and benignant change, and those changes had come about because Nonconformists had wrested everyone from the persons who resisted to the last the changes that were enacted. (Applause.) And Nonconformists of all the different communities had fought side by side not so much sinking their differences as not in any way knowing that there were any differences be- tween them. The chairman had asked why they were Nonconformists ? Some of them were Non- conformists because three hundred years ago certain men separated themselves from the national establishment under Queen Elizabeth. Some were I Nonconformists from the time of the Puritans, be- f cause they absolutely refused to recognise the episcopacy as an order of ministry that was binding upon all Christian communities. There were other Nonconformists who dated from the period of the Methodist evangelical revival of Wesley and Whit- field, both of whom died believing that they were members of the Church of England, but having set in operation a great religious and civil movement which inevitably compelled their successors to come out of the Church. (Applause.) In all the processes of learning by which they were taught that it was necessary for them to be Nonconformists and Dessenters, they came at last to the recognition that the reason was precisely the same in every case. And if that was so, was not the conclusion inevitable that the Church of Christ should be, and was sub- stantially one and the same. All evangelical Non- _L- ,t con tormisis were or tne same opinion as to what a Church of Christ should be. He did not say that that was so, as to how it should be governed. But they had come to the conclusion that the Church of Christ should be a permanent assembly of believing men and women. (Hear, hear.) Somebody might say that all churches held that, but it was not so. Archbishop Whitgift had laid that down, and the words had never been repudiated by any member of the Church of England speaking with any authority. The fact was that any man who choose to assert his right in a court of law, unless he be a notorious criminal-he was not sure that that in many a case would be held to be an objection—could come to the 'communion table of the Established Church. Dr. Mackennal then referred to the question of the Royal Supremacy, and then dealt with the differences of administration in Nonconformist Churches. He said that it was quite conceivable they should, like the Independents and Baptists, follow out the congrega- tional idea and transact the whole of their business by the votes of all the members in church meeting assembled. It was conceivable too, in his opinion, that the administration of the Church should be given into the hands of officers, as the Presbyterians, the iVesleyans, and the Methodists did. It was quite conceivable, in his opinion, if men were found so gitted and so graced by God that they could be permanent leaders of a spiritual community, and have a group of churches under their control, that their abilities should be recognised, and that they snonia De appointed permanent leaders. Matters of administration were, after all, only matters of method. I They found they could unite together for defence, and for the purpose of securing their rights, and why could they not unite for all the larger purposes of Christ's Kingdom, without one congregation laying down the law as to the methods of administration which should be observed. That was the decision of their Council and the voice of the Free Church Congress. (Applause.) A few years ago he was in Rome, and there was an interesting gathering at which English, Scotch, and American Christians of different com- munities were present. Of course there was some talk as to the Union. There happened to be present a minister, he thought, of the Waldensian Free Church of Italy. He told them that he had listened with the greatest interest to the talk as to union, and was in the profoundest sympathy with all that had been said. But, he said, they were hundreds of years before them. In Italy there was something to be asserted before they could be united, and that was the right of conscience. They were perpetually hearing about unity, and the one that was held out to them was that of the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The unity which was presented to them was the unity of the Roman Church, and before they e.or,ld even begin to think of a union such as had been presented to them, they must affirm the right and obligation of the individual Christian to be true to his conscience. (Applause.) That was true at the present day. He was glad to hear of their meeting together to study the Scriptures, and he was also glad to hear of the nursing institution. Churches did very largely forget the obligation which they were under to the nation as a whole. They had, however, come to recognise that the community outside demanded attention. Christ had told them to go and preach the Gospel to all the world, beginning at home. He had told them in Wrexham to look after the moral condition of their people to look after all the poor so far as they were able to do to seek to gather in the outcasts, to strive after pure habits and cleaner customs, and to look after the drinking habits of tne inhabitants of their town. This was laid upon them all in the name of Christ. He believed there was dawning upon the Churches a new idea of national Christianity—national with the sense of recognising what God intended them to do as Christians. There was coming up before his mind an idea of the day when there should be in the land only free churches, with no one claiming allegi- ance, coming between them and Christ and confusing their minds as to the sole allegiance which was due to Him. When all the churches were of this char- acter, then it should be said of England and Wales, what had never yet been truly said, that England and Wales was a Christian nation. (Applause.) After the anthem Blessed is He" (Owain Alaw), had been sung by the choir, the REV, M. 0. EVANS moved the following resolution :—" That this meet- ing, representatives of all the Evangelical Free churches of Wrexham, strongly protests against the demand which is now being pressed for further aid to denominational schools, whether from imperial taxes or local rates, unaccompanied by no sufficient local control of these schools, and declares its conviction that the grievances of Nonconformists in towns and rural districts can only be adequately met by placing all state-aided schools under the control of popularly elected bodies." (Applause.) Mr W. R. EVANS seconded, and the resolution was unanimously carried, the CHAIRMAN* adding that it should be sent to the leading members on both sides of the House of Commons, and the members of Parliament for Denbighshire and the Denbigh Boroughs. The REV. R. E. MORRIS moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, to Mr Allmand for acting as accom- panist, to the choir and Mr Wilfred Jones, to the deacons and officers of Zion Chapel for the loan of the chapel, and to Dr. Mackennal for his admirable address. Dr. ROBERTS seconded, and the vote was unani- mously accorded. The CH A nor AN replied, and the proceedings closed with the singing of the hymn, When wilt Thou save the people."

MOLD POLICE COURT. I MoxDA? —Before P. B. Davies Cooke, Esq., chair- man A- P. Hoberts, C. P. Morgan, E. U. Wain, Tatton Davies Cooke, A. Potts, and Thomas Parry, Esqrs.—This being the adjourned Quarter Sessions, Messrs. S. K. Muspratt, mayor of Flint, and J. E. Davies, chairman of Mold Urban Council, qualified and took their scats as justices.—Eliza Jones, Brom- field, was charged by Sergeant Sharpe with being drunk and disorderly in Wrexham-street on Saturday night. Fined 2s 6d and 9s 6d costs.—Esther Jones, of Maesydre, was charged by Margaret Mann with having struck her on the 30th of November as she was coming out of a shop in High-street. Mitrtha. Mather, sister-in-law to the defendant, said that both Mrs Jones and her witness were drr.nkfand were pushing one another. Their Worships dismissed the case.—-John Needham, of Church-lane, was charged by P.C. Fergusson with being druuk and disorderly on the 15th November in High-street. Fined 2s 6d and 7s 6d costs.—Mr John Lloyd, of Pantglas, was summoned by P.C. John Jones with kceping It dog without a licence. The officer was passing the house of defendant on 19th November when he saw the dog. He asked Mr Lloyd whether he had a licence, and he said he had not. Fined 20s and Ss costs.—Three farmers' lads, named Edward Williams, Thomas Probert, and Abraham Peters, were charged by Mr Robert Bellis, of the Wern Farm, with throwing down ten gates on the night of the 30th November. Two of them had been to him admitting the offence. The three were cautioned by the Bench and ordered to pay a fine of 2s 6d each, Is each damage, and the costs, in all 7s 6d each.—Robert Woodward, of Nerquis, was charged by P.C. J. Jones with carrying a gun at Nerquis on the 23rd of November. The officer was in that neighbourhood, and hearing shots, he went in that direction, finding the defendant in a field in the occupation of Mr Edward Jones, Cae- newydd. When defendant saw the officer he ran till he got on a footpath, and then over a stile into another field and on to the road. In the road he hid himself in the hedge, and when asked by the officer whether he had a licence, he said no. The gun was loaded. Fined 5s and the costs. Being asked whether he would take the gun home with him, he II replied, No, not now. I haven't got a licence to carry a gun." (Laughter.)

WHITCHURCH. I SINGULAR CHARGE.—On Friday, Mrs Cureton, a highly respectable farmer, residing at Broughall, was fined zE3, including costs, for stealing lib. of butter, the property of Mrs Bentley, of Talke-of-the-Hill, Staffordshire. The defendant sold 281bs. of butter to Mrs Bentley, at Whitchurch Market, and having delivered it stole lib. from the basket of Mrs Harper, Wroxall, who had also -old her butter to Mrs Bentley. When the police went for Mrs Cureton, she offered to pav anything. Counsel contended that the defen- dant had taken the butter in mistake. INQUEST.—On Thursday week an inquest was held at the Brook Cottage, Broughall, near Whitchurch, by Mr G. Gordon Warren, on the body of William Brown, late of Brook Cottilge.Ilary Louisa Lowe stated that she had acted as housekeeper to the deceased for thirty years. For several years be was a farmer, and retired about fonr years ago. He suffered a great deal from want of sleep, and she had reason to believe that he had been taking something for some time for the purpose of causing sleep, but did not know that it was laudanum. About three o'clock on the afternoon of Tuesday she was outside his bedroom and heard him breathing heavily, and about five o'clock she thought it better to see why he did not get up. It was something unusual for him to remain in bed the whole of the day. She sent for Mr John France, a neighbour, and he and the ser- vant girl went into his room. He had many times said things which led her to believe he would commit suicide. He often said he wished ho could die.— Alice Barlow, another servant, corroborated, and stated that when Mr France opened the door the deceased was lying dead. She found a laudanum bottle in the kitchen.—Dr. Watkins stated that deceased had been under medical treatment the last two years for the excessive use of alcoholic liquors. The jury returned a verdict of Death from an overdose of laudanum, taken by mistake."

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I DENBIGH COUNTY COUNCIL. An adjourned meeting of the Denbigh County Council was held at Denbigh on Friday, when there were present :-Mr S. Moss, chairman; Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., vice-chairman Messrs. Simon Jones, T. Jones, Plas Coch J. Watkin Lumley, Ruthin W. D. Wynn Griffith, William Jones, Trefnant J. M. Hughes, Penybont T. H. Roberts, Denbigh D. Owen, Tyddyn Ucha Thos. Thomas, Llangwm R. F. Graesser, Thomas Morris, Lloran Ucha; W. G. Rigby, Robert Ellis, H. Williams, W. Davies, Ruthin W. Carstairs Jones, A. Foulkes, H. Holland, E. Roberts, Abergele John Roberts, Trefnant B. Harrison, Wrexham J. C. Edwards, W. C. Hughes, Fennant W. Ellis. Wrex- ham P. E. Storey, J". McMurray, W. S. G. Ellis, C. JV. Jienson, Chancellor Trevor Parkins, Sir Robert E. Egerton, Captain Griffith-Boseawen, Dr. J. R. Jenkins, Colonel C. S. Mainwaring, and Captain Wynn Edwards, with Mr LI. Adams, clerk; Mr John Roberts, assistant clerk; Mr Lloyd Williams, surveyor, and Mr n. H. Roberts, auditor.—The Clerk read letters regretting inability to attend from Messrs. W. Thomas, Wrexham F. E. Rooper, J. Morris, Llangollen O. Isgoed Jones. J. Harrop, J. H. Darby, R. II. Venab!es Kyrke, E. Hooson, J. Sparrow, and W. E. Samuel.—Mr Simon Jones said he had to ask the leave of the Council to introduce a very pleasant matter, one which he was sure would receive their unanimous support. Since they last met, their Chairman had had the wisdom to enter the state of matrimony—(hear, hear, and laughter)— and he wished to propose a very hearty vote of con- gratulation to him on the happy event. (Hear, hear.) He said this for the information of the gentle- men of the western division of the county, that Mr Moss had selected for his wife a lady from a family held in very high esteem in East Denbighshire— (hear, l:e ir)—and he hop .d they would be very happy. (Hear, hear.) He understood that the Cit'v of Cnester had attracted him iuto their Council. He only hoped that their Chairman would not sever his con- nection with Denbighshire, but that the county for many years to come might have the benefit of his very valuable services. (Hear, hear.) He had much pleasure in moving a vote of congratulation. (Cheers.)-Sir R.E. Egerton seconded the motion, and :1 1 1 <0 saiu ne was sure tiley all joined 1:1 heartily wishing their Chairman every happiness which the marriage state could procure. (Hear, hear.) Thev were glad he had been wise enough to enter the state of matri- mony, and he agreed with all that Mr Simon Jones had said, and hoped their Chairman would have a long and happy wedded life. (Cheers.) —The Vice- Cnairman, in putting the motion, said it required no word from him to commend the motion to tnem, for he was sure it would be carried with acclamation- (h tar, helr)-and more than unanimously. (Cheers.) —The motion was agreed to.—The Chairman said he was very much obiiged for the vote, and he assured the Council he felt it very much.—Mr J. C. Edwards, Ruabon, was appointed for a term of three years a representative of the Council on the River Dee Conservancy Board.—Mr Lumley proposed that a resolution forwarded by the Monmouthshire County Council, in favour of the repeal of section 30 of the Local Government Act. 1888, and of delegating the power of the Standing Joint Committee to the County Council, be adopted by the Council. The magis- trates, he said, were responsible to nobody, and it would be far more satisfactory if the control of the police were placed entirely in the hands of the County Council.—Mr J. M'Murray seconded.—Sir W. W. WyLn (vice-chairman) thought it was a. most serious and important matter, because this meant doing away with the Standing Joint Committee en- tirely, and if tha,t was done the magistrates would have no voice whatever in the management of the police.—Mr \V. D. \V. Griffith said that in his opinion, if this matter were to be discussed at all, it should be done at the initiation of a member of the Council itself. It was now brought before them by a sort of side wind.—Sir R. E. Egerton proposed, as an amendment, that the Council proceed to the next busiiies.Ilr Gregson Eilis seconded.—The Chair- man said he wa.s thoroughly in favour of the resolu- tion. and should be very glad if the Council could see its way to pass it. \Vhile he agreed to a certain extent with the remarks of Mr Griffith, he thought the present system of controlling the police a perfect anomaly, and the sooner it was rectified the better. -On being put to the meeting, 24 voted for the amendment and 14 for the original motion.—After a long discussion, it was decided by a majority of 23 votes to 14 to confirm a recommendation in favour of the division of the parish of Henllan. The effect of this will be to give the Trefnant Ward, situated on the Vale of Clwyd Railway, a parish council of its own as distinct from the liylchanwarcl. In regard to the North Ward of the parish of Gwersyllt there was a letter from the Chairman to a Committee of Inquiry into the matter, stating that he enclosed the only nomination paper handed in at the Gwersyllt North Ward Parish Meeting. As they knew, Mr Clark and the so-called Chairman, Mr Wilson, gave him to understand that he should not be allowed to hold the meeting in accordance with the order of the Local Government Act Committee, and having regard to the fact that Mr Clark, in & great tamper, forcibly took away both from him and the assistant-overseer the notice convening the meet- ing, which he was about to read, he thought it more than likely that a breach of the peace would have been the result of his attempting to carry out the order. Under these circumstances, he would suggest that the committee appoint the two gentlemen nominate! to be parish councillors for the North Ward. He regretted he was unable to be present. The report of the committee stated that a motion of Mr Simon Jones's to elect Robert Ollerhead and Thomas Cotterill as the members was rejected by seven to six, and it was resolved that the clerk write to the Local Government Board for advice in the matter.—Mr Lumley said the course the committee took in rejecting the Chairman's recommendation was a direct insult to the Chairman, and through him to the Council. He was not going to suggest what the reas ms of the committee were for rejecting the recommendation, but the seconder of the motion in the Council, who was the Chairman of the com- mittee, declined to vote on the question when it came before them. That was not what they would expect from the seconder of a resolution when required to hold up the authority of the Council. He contended that their action was a direct insult to the Chairman -t insult to the C h a i rni-.i-i and the Council, and he thought the Council should ente" a protest against the committee treating their Uhairman as they had dc)ne.Ilr Wynne Edwards said Mr Lumley had made a kind of attack on him as Chairman of the committee. He did not think any- one could accuse him of not having the courage of his convictions. Had he voted the matter would have remained where it was, and it was left because there was a doubt as to whether they had a right to elect the persons named. Legal gentlemen gave their opinion that they had no right to do so. He should be glad to publicly take any steps to show their dis- approval of the way in which their chairman was treated at Gwersyllt. (Hear, hear.)—Mr Trevor Parkins sa:d it wns in no way to reflect on the chair- man that they did not adopt the recommendation, but to avoid difficulties, it was decided to take the opinion of the Local Government Board on the matter. He was sure they aU regretted the treat- iimlea,t' the chai'inan received at G\rersyUt when he went there as the Council's representative. (Hear, hear.)—Mr Simon Jones said the chairman of the parish meeting had acknowledged hat he committed an error at the first parish meeting by not asking if a poll was demanded, as he was bound to do, which had brought on these subsequent events. The recommendation of the chairman was blocked simply by a majority, and not on its merits. Mr Wynne Edwards acted perfectly impartially in the matter.—The Chairman said he must confess that the way in which the meeting at Gwer-Tvllt ended was somewhat a pity—that an individual in the parish, whether an employer of labour or whatever he was, should set at defiance the authority of ihs connty. To his mind, lie regretted the action of the Committee, but he would make no observation about it.—The matter then dropped.—A motion was on the agenda in the name of Mr Venables Kyrke, in relation to the withdrawal of Mr Lumley from the last meeting, and the want of a quorum, but in a letter to the Council he explained that he was unavoidably detained at Southampton, and would not be able to be present to take it up.- The Council rose.

0 THE EDUCATION QUESTION. A meeting, convened by all Nonconformist de- nominations in North Wales, wa s held late last week at Chester, with a view to organise a national protest against what are nnderstrod to be the proposals of the Government with regard to the Voluntary Schools. Mr Humphreys-Owen. MP., presided, and the attendance included Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., Mr Thomas Gee, and many representative Noncon- formists. Mr Thomas Ellis, M.P.. wrote suggesting a representative conference, to he held in January. Lord Rendel, in it letter, said "If, in this matter of the national schools and their threatened further subsidisation by the State, the Nonconformist bodies of Wales will in their corporate capacity throw the weight of their authority and influence into the balance, I shall have some hopes of a favourable result upon all questions bearing upon the relations of the Anglican community to Nonconformity in Wales." His lordshin further said that England should impose upon Wales a network of schools, and practically support them ont of imperial taxes, should ;grnt them a monopoly and compel the attendance of the whole of the children of the poor for the express purpose of promoting their education in the principles of the Established Church, was a state. of things which only the weakness of Wales and the self-co-nplacencv and arbitrariness of Eng- land can explain." A stroncr resolution was passed in favour of organising Welsh Nonconformity. Mr Thomas Gee said that Welsh parents in districts where there were no unsectarian schools would be justified in refusing to send their children, whatever the leijal consequences might be. It was decided to hold a central conference in January, and to invite a member of the late Government to attend, probably Mr Acland. Before leaving Birmingham on Saturday, the Dnke of Devonshire received two deputations on the educa- tion controversy, the first from the Birmingham and Midland Education League, and the second from the organisation established for the defence of the volun- tary school system. To the former the Duke stated that itwas quite impossible that all the members of the present Government should approach the con- sideration of this problem from an identical point of view. Whilst guarding himself from the suggestion that there was any difference of opinion in the Government on the question, he declared that some Ministers at least were in sympathy with the deputa- tion in their desire to resist anything which could be shown to be likely to give just offence to the con- sciences of Nonconformists, and that they altogether sympathised with the desire to resist anything which would really seriously or practically tend to impair the standard of education. Mr Chamberlain was. present at both interviews, but did not speak.

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