The Aberystwith Observer

ABERYSTWYTH MOTOR SYNDI- CATE, LIMITED. The Aberystwyth Motor Syndicate, Ltd. has been formed for the purpose of carrying on all kinds of motor car business and intends introducing taxi-cabs at an early date. The Company has been registered with a capital of £2,000 in 21 shares and interest at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum is guaranteed. The registered offices are at the Smithfield reposi- tory, and Councillor Edwin Morris, Neath Dolau, Llanbadarn Fawr, is the managing director. The Waterloo yard has been pre- pared as a garage and its central situation makes its adaptibility as an up-to-date garage an easy matter. We understand some of the best names in both town and county are associ- ated with the new venture, and we wish Councillor Morris every success in his under- taking.

LLANBADARN PETTY SESSIONS.' THURSDAY. Before Dr Morgan, presiding; Messrs J G Hughes-Bonsall, Richard Thomas, and B Ellis Morgan. JURY LISTS. The jury and excuse lists for the various parishes in the division were passed. BROKE A WINDOW. Samuel Magor, haulier, Bow Street, was charged with having damaged a window at Cefnhendre Farm on August 29th.—Evidence was given by Evan Jot es, occupier of the farm, who said he heard a noise about two o'clock in the morning and saw defendant who, when asked what he wanted there, made no reply. Defendant threw a large stone (which was produced) and broke the window. Witness valued the damage at 5s. He did not recognise defendant then. Defendant, who had other company, came to him afterwards and apologised.—Mrs Magor, defendant's mother, said he was twenty years of age.—The Clerk Mr Hugh Hughes) read a letter from defendant, who is in South Wales, admitting the offence and expressing regret.—Fined 10s and costs, and defendant was also ordered to j pay for the damage. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. Lewis Jones, labourer, Penbrynrodyn, was charged by D A Lloyd, attendance officer, with having neglected to send his daughter to school.—The Officer said he had repeatedly warned defendant.—An order to attend was made. RATES. Ann Blair, charwoman, Brodawel, was sum- moned by the overseers of Issayndre for refus- ing to pay £ 1 Gs 8d poor rate. She was also summoned by W H Griffiths for refusing to pay 8s 3d poor rate.—Defendant did not appear and sent a letter that she would pay if given time. She had seven children. Only two of them were working and their wages were 9s.—An order to pay was made.—The Clerk suggested that defendant should remove into a smaller house.

r LOCAL WEDDINGS. WILLIAMS-DOUGHTON. An exceedingly pretty wedding, and in which much interest had been taken, was solemnised at St Paul's Welsh Wesleyan Church, Aberystwyth, at eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning, the contracting parties I being the Rev J. H. Williams, Wesleyan minister, Corris, to Miss Maria Doughton, daughter of Alderman and Mrs Robert Doughton, Great Darkgate street. The ceremony was performed by the Rev Llewelyn Morgan, pastor, and the Rev J. Cadvan Davies, Oswestry. As the bride entered the chapel, which had been prettily decorated, Miss Lizzie Jones, organist, played Lohen- grin's Wedding March," and as the happy couple left Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore an exquisite gown of ivory chiffon mouselline with vest and sleeves inlet with Maltese lace, the shoulder train being beautifully designed with true lovers' knots, the skirt being inlet with quipere, with which she wore a wreath of orange blossom inter- mixed with white heather, with embroidered Brussel's veil. The only jewellery worn was a gold and amethyst necklace, the gift of the bridegroom, and diamond and sapphire marquise ring, the gift of her mother. She also carried a shower bouquet of white roses, lilies of the valley, white chrysanthemums, white sweet peas, and maidenhair fern. The train bearers were Master Emrys Doughton and Miss Dorothy Mary Doughton, nephew and niece of the bride, the suit of the former being cream corduroy velvet with silk collar and cuffs, and the latter looked very charming in pink chiffon mouselline frock with vest and sleeves of net over white silk, made in Victorian style, with which she wore a wreath of myrtle with veil, and carried a basket of white chrysanthemums and white sweet peas, which completed the little maid's toilette. The two elder attendants were Miss S. Edwards Williams, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Anna Owen-Savage, cousin of the bridegroom. They wore white embroidered robes with pink sashes made empire style, and pink crinoline hats to match. They also carried bouquets of white chrysanthemums, pink carnations and pink sweet peas. They wore gold brooches set with rubies and gold breast pin, being the gifts of the bride- groom. The groomsmen were Mr W. P. Williams, brother of the bridegroom, and the Rev W. J. Arter, Llandilo. The bride's mother wore a black satin mervillo, the bodice composed of black silk lace over golden tissue and jet, her toque being of mauve and g(')..¡l tissue and white feathers, with grey ostrich boa, and carried a bouquet of white and mauve orchids, the two latter being the gifts of the bridegroom. Mrs D. L. Doughton wore a French blue bengaline with black moire hat to match. Mrs S. D. Doughton wore a pelrol blue eoline gown with hat to match. They also carried bouquets of white chrysanthemums. Mrs Savage wore a black chiffon voile gown with white ostrich boa and blacls and white toque to match. Mrs Williams, Liverpool, wore a mole costume with vu rose hat to match. After the ceremony the party repaired to the Lion Royal Hotel, where a reception was held. Among the invited guests were Rev and Mrs Llew. Morgan, Rev and Mrs A. H. Vine, Rev and Mrs Cadvan Davies, Rev and Mrs Edward Jones, Miss Morgan, Erwyd House, Miss L. Jones, Rev W. J. Arter. Rev and Mrs J. Hugh Williams left later in the day by motor, kindly lent by Mr F. R. Roberts, Penywern, for Chester, en route for Ireland, the bride's travelling costume being vu rose faced cloth trimmed with black moire and jet, with moire hat to match, and wore ermine stole and muff, the gift of her mother. On Thursday evening, after the Society meeting at St Paul's Welsh Wesleyan Chapel, a presentation was made to Miss Doughton of a silver tea and coffee service, entree dishes and kettle on stand (Georgian pattern). The presentations were made by Mrs Morgan, Erwyd House, and Mrs Cowley, Cambrian street, who are the oldest members of the chapel. Speeches were made by the Rev Mawddwy Jones, Rev Llewelyn Morgan, pastor, Mr David Jenkins and Mr Richard Hughes, deacons. The Rev J. H. Williams replied on behalf of Miss Doughton. The following was the inscription on the silver Cyflwynwyd i Miss Maria Doughton (organist) gan Eglwys St Paul's, Aberystwyth, ar achlysur ei phriodas Hydref 6ed, 1909." On Tuesday evening, at the English Wesleyan Church Schoolroom, Miss Doughton was presented with a handsome walnut-cased chiming clock, highly carved, and which bore the following inscription:—"Presented to Miss Maria Doughton, organist, by friends of Wesley Church, Queen's road, on the occasion of her marriage, Oct. 6th, 1909." In making the presentation, the Rev A. H. Vine, pastor, expressed his regret at the departure of Miss Doughton, as since coming into the circuit he had appreciated her playing, and he hoped she would not go far so that they could have her services at the organ occasionally. Mr .Robert Northey (deacon), said that during the time she had served them as organist she had done so faithfully and well and with a pleasing delight and agreeableness. They could always approach her and she was always ready to comply with any reasonable request. She and her partner had his best wishes for a very happy future. She had had considerable experience for a minister's wife and he believed she would make him a truly good helpmate. Mr Michael Williams (presentor), said he had been associated with Miss Doughton as organist, and be had always found her to bean agreeable one to work with and one who was always ready to fall in with any suggestion he would make. The only fault was :tbat they could not get enough of her services. They had worked amicably together and he was sorry she was leaving. He wished them every happiness. In replying, on behalf of Miss Doughton, the Rev J H Williams said he could assure them that she was very grateful for the kindly feel- ing shown towards her. She greatly appreciated the present given to her that night for her little services. What little she had done was her greatest pleasure for the cause. He was also grateful to them for the kind feeling shown to her. The meeting terminated with the singing of the Doxology. The following is a list of the presents :— Bridegroom to Bride, gold and amethyst neck- lace Bride to Bridegroom, Silvan Evans' Welsh dictionary (2 vols.) Father of Bride, cheque Mother of Bride, ermine stole, muff, diamond marquise ring, household linen and plate, crown Derby dinner service, tea ser I vice; Mr R T Doughton, fox skin sofa rug and oak and brass bellows Mr and Mrs D L Doughton, angora table cloth Mr and Mrs S D Doughton, carvers in case; Capt J. Hum- phreys (uncle of bride), silver breakfast cruet; Mr and Mrs J D Humphreys (cousin), ebony hall set; Mrs Williams (cousin), Oriental table centre; Mr D J Williams (cousin), ster- ling silver and cut glass sugar and cream; Bridegroom's brother, cheque Bride- groom's sister, cheque Mr and Mrs T Collins, morocco jewel case Mr and Mrs Savage, Trefeglwys, silver candle- sticks Miss Owen Savage, tea cosy Mrs Owen, Alltgoch, view in oak frame Rev and Mrs Felix, Manchester, eider down quilt; Mr I and Mrs W Williams, Liverpool, silver fern pots; Mr and Mrs Smith, Nuneaton, Wedge- wood butter dish on silver stand; Rev and Mrs Cadvan Davies, silver photo frame Rev Evan Isaac, fountain pen; Mr and Mrs F R Roberts, Penwern, sterling silver mirror Mrs Loxdale, Castle Hill, white satin and ribbon work table centre Master and Misses Roberts, Penwern, nightdress case; Mrs J Davies, Birkenhead, pair of silver frames; Mr Abram Brooksbank, silver fish carvers in case; Mr Blankenzie, gold brooch; John Shaw and Son, copper kerb; Mr George Proctor, flower vase Mr J Barker, tea service; Mr J Riley, pair of bronze marley horses; Rowatt and Son, lamp Mrs Morgan, Dairy Cottage, silver fish carvers in case Mrs Hawkes (senior), silver marmalade jar Mrs Hawkes (junior), silver mounted sugar dredger; Miss Jenkins, Caerau, silver spoon Mr and Mrs J Owen, blue satin cushion; Miss Maggie Morgan, silver and ebony rose bowl; Miss Katie Morgan, hand crotchet tea cosy and cake doyley; Mr and Mrs William Morgan, Welsh prose; Mr Bevan Cowley and Miss Georgina Jones, Worcester sugar and cream in silver stand; Misses Sand M A Morgan, hand crotchet tray cloth Miss C M Jenkins, Doulton plate with silver handle Mrs Reuben Roberts and Mrs Davies, Newtown, white shawl; Mrs Howell Evans, set of doyleys; Mr and Mrs James Jones, table cloth; Mrs Capt. Jones, table centre Misses Jenkins, silk blouse Mr and Mrs Jenkins, table cloth Mrs Probin, hand made leather frame and afternoon cloth; Mr and Mrs D R Jones, silver egg stand Mr Ed. Jones, silver kid slippers Mrs and Miss Lewes, corded silk tea cosy; Mr and Mrs Davies, Treddol, silver butter knife and jam spoon Miss Lloyd, Skinners Arms, set of jugs Mrs Mackenzie, drawn thread tray and afternoon cloth Miss Hughes, South road, pearl wedgewood salad bowl and cut glass vase; Mrs Stitt, damask serviettes; Mr and Mrs Williams, pair of pictures in oak frames Mrs D Lewis, picture (anxious moments) in oak frame; Mr J D Ellis, Skinners Arms, ruby and silver marma- lade jar; Mrs West, Reading, hand painted buttons; Mrs Roberts, Barmouth, braid doyleys; Mrs W Watkins, sideboard cloth Miss May Morgan, fancy table cover Mrs R Jones, fruit dishes; MissJ Jones, white Huted cake dishes Miss Gobert, tray cloth; Miss M A Davies, white fern pots; Mrs B Williams, table cloth; Mr and Mrs J Morgan, Irish crotchet duchesse set Mrs Williams, Albion, table cloth Late Mrs Neale, pair of oil paint- ings "Deer Studies" Mr Cooper, oil painting Craiglais Capt. and Mrs Humphreys, cut glass pickle jar on silver stand Misses Mary and Kate Phillips, sterling silver sugar tongs; M Jukes, silver sequin and green silk table centre; Miss Alice Roberts, silver vase; Mr Howells, eider down quilt Mrs Thomas and Mrs Jones, Bwthyn, hem stictched serviettes Mrs David Williams, Prospect street, pair of linen pillow slips; MIss P Richards, tray cloth; Mr and Mrs F Mot-gun, Angel, Irish crotchet tray cloth; Miss B Griffiths, Gwyndy, tray cloth Mrs Speller, duchesse cover; Miss Rosie Jones, doyley; A Friend, cheque; Misses Emma and Harriet Jones, silver jam dish Mrs E Jones, Machynlleth, marmalade jar Mrs J Parry, Aberdovey, mother of pearl and silver butter dish Mrs Kenrick, flower vase; Mr David Watkins, damask serviebtes Miss Dilys Parry, two pairs of curtain holders; Mr and Mrs Adler, sterling silver spoons in case; Miss C Rowlands, Bridge street, silver knife rests Miss Mary Evans, Corris, silver butter knife and jam spoon; MrsJ W Jones, Peniarth, silver bread knife Miss Lizzie Williams, Ailsa Craig," silver honey jar Miss Ynys Morris, damask supper cloth Mr and Mrs Morris, drawn thread pillow slips Mrs Doughton, Little Darkgate street, picture; Mrs W Rowley, picture Miss Pollie Jones, silver rose bowl Mr and Mrs Maurice Yoltman, London, silver flower vase Alder- man and Mrs C M Williams, Wedgewood silver biscuit box Friend, drawn thread side- board cloth Mr and Mrs Hatchings, bird in case Rev and Mrs J Humphreys, silver butter cooler Friend, silver inkstand Mr and Mrs Rufus Williams, silver vase Mr and Mrs Sylvanvs Edwards, silk cushion Mrs J Jones, North parade, afternoon cloth Mrs Edwards, Lampeter, vase Miss Collins, do, view in oak frame Mrs Mathias, do, tapestry I cushion Dr Ellis, silver tea caddy Miss Myfanwy Evans, pair of silver vases Miss Bamford, silver claw sugar tongs Mrs Jones, crotchet pin cushion Mr and Mrs Gwyn White, damask tablecloth Mr and Mrs Chambers, Glasgow, point lace tray cloth Mrs Jones, Graig Goeh, afternoon cloth, linen toilet set Misses M E and A James, damask afternoon cloth Miss Vaughan, plants. EDWARDS-JONES. A very pretty wedding was solemnised at the Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist Church on Friday morning, by the pastor, the Rev. R. J. Rees, M.A., in the presence of Mr William Jones, registrar. The contracting parties were Mr Willie Edwards, son of Capt. and Mrs Richard Edwards, 7 Marine terrace, Aberyst- wyth, and Miss Mary Lloyd Jones, the eldest daughter of Mrs Mary Jones and the late Mr William Jones, of 30 High street, Aberystwyth. The best man was Mr B T Lloyd, chemist, and the bridesmaids were Miss Maggie Edwards, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Hilda Jones, sister of the bride. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr Evan J Jones. After the ceremony the wedding party returned to the Bride's home, where an excell- ent breakfast had been prepared. The happy couple left later in the day for London, where the honeymoon will be spent. The following is a list of presents :-Bridegroom to Bride, dressing case; Bride to Bridegroom, gold cuff links; Bridegroom to Bridesmaids, gold bangle and gold locket and chain; also gold locket and chain to Hilda Edwards, neice of bridegroom Mother of Bride, household linen Sister of Bride, pair of blankets; Brother of Bride, E.P. cream jug and sugar basin Father of Bride- groom, pair of gilt framed pictures Mrs Edwards and Miss Jones, mother and aunt of Bridegroom, dinner service Sister of Bride- groom, bedroom ware; Mr and Mrs Tom Edwards, brother and sister-in-law of Bride- groom, damask table cloth and serviettes; Misses Jones, Ocean house, damask table cloth; Mrs Lloyd, Ystwyth house, set of Hall brushes; Miss Margaretta Lloyd, Ystwyth house, silver top scent bottles Mrs Jones, Plasmont house, counterpane; Mrs Jones, Granville house, E.P. teapot; Mrs and Miss Morgan, Erwyd house, duchesse set; Mrs and Miss Jones, Roath, Cardiff, E.P. sugar and cream jug; Mrs Thomas, Portland road, half-dozen dessert knives Mrs and Misses Jenkins, Trefor road, tea service; Mrs Rees, Boxburgh, half-dozen E.P. fancy teaspoons Mrs Evans, Trefor road, I half-dozen plated forks; Mrs Williams, South- j ampton, eiderdown quilt; Capt. and Mrs Allan Bowyer, London, silver mounted fish knives and forks in oak case; Mr B T Lloyd, chemist, barometer; MrsJ Jenkins, Princess street and Buarth, set of carvers in case Capt. and Mrs Jones, Bryn-y-don, Bridge street, E. P. dinner cruet; Mrs Capt. Humphreys, 49 Marine terrace, E.P. hot water jug Mrs Davies, Lome View, High street, china teapot and stand; Mrs Edward Davies, 22 High street, glass jam dish; Mr and MrsJ Davies, High street, marmalade jar Mr and Mrs Benjamin Davies, Bridge street, E.P. salt cellars Mr E D Evans, Manchester, silver mounted honey jar A Friend, E.P. preserve dish Mrs Levi, E.P. luncheon cruet; Miss Roberts, South Marine terrace, E.P. fruit plate; Mr and Mrs ( Lightwood, Birmingham, E.P. peppcrette and salt pourer Miss Gobert, Bridge street, silver mounted trinket box; A Friend, sugar sifter; Miss Williams, Rheidol house, Bridge street, I E.P. marmalade jar; Miss Griffiths, 7 Marine terrace, half-dozen table knives Mrs Davies, Hwyrfryn, High street, tapestry table cloth Miss Jones, Grafton house, Great Darkgate street, damask table cloth; Mrs and Miss street, damask table cloth; Mrs and Miss Charles, Grove Cottage, Llanbadarn, E. P. hot I water jug; Miss Morgan, Bridge End, E.P. flower vase; A Friend, half-dozen teacups and saucers and plates; Mrs J H Lewis, Hitr: street, E.P. sugar sifter; Mrs Watkin and i rofessor T A Levi, pair of E.P. flower vases; Miss Annie Jones, Northgate street, silver-mounted scent bottle; Miss J R Davies. High street, E.P. jam dish and spoon; Mrs White, Prospect street, sugar basin and cream jug; Mr and Mrs W J Jones, Dinas terrace, set of hail brushes; A Friend, pair of E.P. salt cellars; Mrs Edwards, High street, hot water jug; Miss Sarah Owen, High street, sugar basin and cream jug Miss Sarah Lewis, 7, Marine terrace, half-dozen dessert knives Mr David Ellis, Little Darkgate street, picture; Miss M J Thomas, South road, duchesse set; Mr and Mrs Giles, Great Darkgate street, pair of hand-painted vases Mrs Jones and Mrs Parry, High street, pair of hand-painted vases Miss M L Jones, Pensnett House, fruit dish Mrs and Miss Nightingale, High street, brass crumb tray and brush Mrs Captain Hughes, Nythfa, Caergog, cushion Mrs Williams, Albion, set of jugs; Mrs Olayton Thomas, Brittania, High street, pair of fruit dishes; Mrs J Williams, 20, High street, sugar basin and cream jug Miss Hurdlings, Bridge street, owl in case; Miss J E Jones, Sailors' Arms, duchesse set Mrs Evans, South road, four towels Miss Lloyd, Newry House, after- noon tea cloth Misses Johns, Pier street, duchesse set; Mrs and Miss Rees, Queen street, pair of hemstitched sheets Mrs Jones, College, damask table cloth Mrs Jones, 4, High street, bath towels; Mrs David Jones, George street, pair of placques Mrs Lloyd, Powell street, glass fruit dish; Misses Jones, Meadow View, Powell street, fruit dish Master D E Hutchins, i! 1 i street, cake dish; A Friend, cheque; .\Si-s M J Jones, Albion cottages, placque Mr an I Mrs Owen, Great Darkgate street, dorothy bag Mr and Mrs Williams, 8. Marine ternce, leather collar box; Mr T Thomas, Portland road, leather pocket book; Mrs Daniel Jones, Prim- rose House, fern. ABEL—THOMAS. The marriage was solemnised at Shiloh C.M. Chapel this (Wednesday) morning, between the Rev James Abel, B.A., pastor of the Congre- gational Chapel, St David's, Pern., to Miss [ Minnie Thomas, eldest daughter of Councillor and Mrs Daniel Thomas, Rockfield, 'LViVor road. The bride, who was given aw i b !nr father, was attended by the Misses M -'gui an 1 Nellie Thomas (sisters) as bridesmai Is. i1 it- l duties of best man were carried oat by Mr Penry Thomas. U.C.W. The ceremony was performed by the Rev T E Roberts, M.A., and the Rev Eli Evans, Congregational minister, Llanfair. After the ceremony the party repaired to the bride's home, where breakfast was partrken of, the following being present in addition to those already mentioned: Mr Evan Abel (father), Mr Joseph Abel (uncle), Miss Maggie Rowlands, and Miss S E Thomas. The Rev and Mrs Abel left by the 9-1.112 train for Cardiff and London, where the honeymoon is I being spent.

THE CHURCH CONGRESS. I MEETINGS AT SWANSEA. I BISHOP OWEN'S ADDRESS. The Church Congress opened at Swansea on Tuesday. There is a large number of Churchpeople present from all parts and a successful week is anticipated. The opening address was delivered by Bishop Owen who reviewed the work which lay before the Congress and proceeded to deal more particularly with the problem confronting the Church in Wales. He said:- The two remaining subjects on the pro- gramme, viz. the Church in Wales, and the Title of the Church to its Endowments, are called for by the circumstances in which the Church in Wales at present stands. In these circumstances of anxiety we value Ghø sympathy, and need the prayers of English Churchmen. Inasmuch as the Government is pledged to re-introduce and pass through the House of Commons next year a Welsh Dises- tablishment Bill, it is difficult for Churchmen in Wales, especially for those upon whom central responsibility for action rests, to keep steadily in mind that as the Church exists everywhere for service, so it exists in Wales to serve the spiritual welfare of Wales as a I whole. Church defence is a duty imposed upon us by the circumstances in which we find ourselves placed, and at the present time it has become a very pressing duty. It is as difficult as it is indispensable, never to forget, however pressing this duty may be at a time like this, that it must always remain a duty strictly subordinate to the primary duty of service. Church defence takes its proper place when it is viewed as the discharge of a trust handed down to us of this generation from the past for the future a trust to retain for the benefit of the future, if God will, opportunities and resources now possessed by the Church for service. In regard to this trust we have, in view of the controversy con- cerning it, to be clear in our conscience about two things. We have to be clear first us to the righteousness of the present position of the Church in Wales as an integral part of the Church of England, and we have to'be clear next that this position is of substantial value to the Church for its mission. The title of the Church to its endowments which, as far as I am aware, is just the same in Wales as in England, will be discussed at this Congress, and I have more than once given reasons for holding that Welsh Disendowment wouid cripple the work of the Church in Wales for many years to come. The distinctive principle of Welsh Disestablishment is the severance by Parliament of the Welsh from the English dioceses of the Church. It is this proposed severance which sharply distinguishes in point of principle the Welsh Disestablishment Bill from a Bill for the Disestablishment of the Church of England as a whole. It is not a case of our asking Parliament to sanction the initiation of unity between the Welsh and English dioceses for the first time. On the contrary this unity was in existence before the existence of Parliament, and according to the highest authority on the subject. Bishop Stubbs, it was not created by the State but was the result of 'the unityiug force of Chris- tianity.' It inflicts no kind of injustice upon anybody. It would be one thing for Parlia- ment, without the consent of Churchmen, to sever the existing relations between the State and the Church as a. whole. It is quite a different thing in point of principle, it is as unrighteous as it is without precedent for Parliament, without the consent of Churchmen, to cut off four dioceses and part of three others from their historic unity with the rest of the Church of England. Is the maintenance of this historic unity between the English and Welsh dioceses of substantial valne to the Church in its spiritual work? That is the next question about which we have to be clear. There are considerations on both sides of this question. We have to take note of the factf, that all the members of Parliament for W,,If-g are pledged to Disestablishment, and it is the duty of the Church in Wales as elsewhere t.-o j cultivate sympathy with all classes of the people among whom it works. What is meant by sympathy ? It does not mean agreeing or affecting to agree with opinions which we believe to be wrong. Church history contains many instances of the spiritual loss 'which tiier Church suffered whenever it courted popularity at the cost of principles committed to its trust. What true sympathy means is hearty apprecia- tion of all that is good in those with whom we have to deal, a sincere respect for them though they may differ from us iu otjl--iion, and a real desire for their welfare. It is not difficult for anyone who understands the We. h. people to sympathise with them, for though they have their faults like other people, thor are a warm-hearted race, quite capable of appreciating the presence of real sympathy iu those who may be obliged to differ from them- in opinion. The history of religion in Wales proves this. The religious revival of tho eighteenth century was due to men who showed the strength of their sympathy by fearlessly denouncing most of the things which were popular with the Welsh people at that titLt. Those great men understood their countrymen too well to fear to be true to what they believed to be for the welfare of Wales. As we look back upon the last thirty years or more or less continuous controversy about. Welsh Disestablishment, two broad facts emerge. The first fact is that the Church has made remarkable progress throughout Wales- during this period. Inferences from statistics have to be drawn with care. When, however, several independent colnmns of statistics all converge to the same conclusion, the cutnula- tive evidence of such figures broadly confirms the personal knowledge of those, who like my- self, have worked in Wales for the last thirty years, that there is solid reason to be thankful for the progress which the Church has made. The second fact is that the respect of the 'W'p¡.h people generally for the Church a'" vt spirit mil society is very much greater now than it was thirty years ago. A glance at the Welsh press thirty years ago, fifteen years ago, and now, shews a most striking and creditable change of tone towards the Church, There are some particular problems connected with the Welsh language and with certain features of Welsh character, but in our pre- sent position the Diocesan autonomy of the administrative system of the Church gives us ample freedom to deal with these particular local problems, far more freedom than is. possessed in civil affairs by Welsh local auth- orities. The main religious problems, how- ever, which confront the Church in Wales to day are not problems peculiar to Wales but problems common to both England and Wales alike, such as the problems placed on the programme of this Congress. Some of the=»er common problems indeed are intensified in. Wales as compared with England by the com- parative suddenness with which they have1 come upon us in Wales. It is difficult to express adequately the magnitude of the changes in Welsh life and thought which have taken place during the last thirty years, and which are likely to go on, probably at au accelerated pace, for many years to come. Wo have to look not only at the past thirty years but even more at the next thirty years, and the real issue, from a religious point of view, is whether the maintenance of the unity between the Welsh and English dioceses ol the Church wiil or will not help the Church in Wales in its spiritual work at this period of profound change. This change is due to three causes—the shifting of population, the advance of the English language, and tl1.a advance of education. The shifting of the population from the rural to the industrial parts of Wales has been going on for mom than thirty years, and is still going on. The population of the two Southern industrial counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth ad- vanced from 593,307 in 1871 to 1,152,248, or nearly double, in 1901, and is now consider- ably more than one half of the total population of Wales. The centre of gravity of Welsh life and thought, which formerly used to be in rural Wales, is now shifting with the population to these two industrial counties. The second cause of this change is the rapid advance of the Euglish language in Wales. A comparison between the census figures for 1891 and 1901 shows that during that. decade the number of the monog10t English-speaking: inhabitants of Wales increased from forty-two per cent. to fifty per cent. of the population, the number of those speaking both English and Welsh increased from twenty-two per cent. to thirty-Sve per cent., while the number of those speaking Welsh only decreased from twenty-eight per cent. to fifteen per cent. In the two industrial counties the percentage of Welsh monoglots fell from 16.6 to 5 per L cent. These figures do not sLow that the Welsh language is disappearing, but they do show a rapid advance in the knowledge of English within ten years. This linguistic? has had two results. First, it directly affects public worship. Tne Church in Wales suffered from the bilingual difficulty much earlier than the Nonconformist denominations, but as the strength of Welsh Nonconformists has hitherto been mainly among the Welsh-speaking inhab- itants of Wales, the advance of the English language within recent years in now bringing the bilingual difficulty to them in a very severe form on its English side. What, how- ever, makes this linguistic change profoundiy z, far-reaching is, that it has now opened out Wales to the influences of modern movements and modern thought. There is no natural boundary between Wales and England, but formerly the Welsh language used to form a practical boundary. This boundary is now rapidly breaking down through the rapid -n( advance of the knowledge of English. Tao third cause which has accelerated the changa in Welsh thought is the recent establishment, r of a well organised popular system of inter- mediate and higher education. Wales is now covered by a system of Intermediate Schools connected with the three Colleges of the Welsh University. The effect of this sudden development of secular education upon the religious thought of Wales is being felt, and is bound to be felt more and more in the future. It is not too much to say that a greau deal of Welsh religious thought is at the pre- sent time in a fluid condition. The teaching of the three larger Nonconformist denomina- tions in Wales used to be of a definite Cal- vinistic type. Now, however, for some years these denominations have been passing into an undenominational stage, and it is a question of grave importance to religion in Wales how this undenominationalism will bear the brnnt of the changes which are inevitable during the next thirty years.

PENRHYNCOCH. FIRE.—About two o'clock on Monday morning a, hayshed at Tynpyniarch, occupied by Mr John Richards, was discovered to be on. Ore. The fire had secured such a firm hold that it was hopeless to save the hay, and the attention of the workmen and villagers wbo had appeared on the scene were turned to pre- venting the spreading of the fire to the adjoining hay shed. The destroyed hay shed comprised all this year's harvested hay, which was valued at £ 250. A thunder storm raged about at the time, and it is be!ie?ed that the shed was struck by lightning. shed was struck by lightning.