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WALES AT THE FREE CHURCH NATIONAL…

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WALES AT THE FREE CHURCH NATIONAL COUNCIL. At the Annual Meeting of the National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches, held in Birmingham last week, the following resolu- tion on the subject of Welsh Disestablishment was carried with acclamation :— "That the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches deems it important, immediately after the election of a new Parliament by over- whelming Progressive majorities, to reaffirm its adherence to the principle of religious equality, and the freedom of all State Churches from State patronage and control; and the Council calls for the application of this principle to the Principality of Wales and Monmouth, which has just sent to Parliament the whole body of its members pledged to demand and vote for the Disestablishment of the Anglican Church in that country. Such a pronouncement, in the opinion of this Council, entitles the people of Wales to the fulfilment of their national aspira- tions after religious equality without unnecessary delay, in the course of the present Parliament." Amongst those expected to speak to the resolution was Sir Alfred Thomas, the chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary Party. He was unavoidably absent, and his place was taken by the Rev. J. Morgan Gibbon, who expressed his delight at the enthusiasm which had been evoked on behalf of the proposal. He per- sonally regretted the absence of Sir Alfred Thomas, the leader of the Welsh Party, who was an honest, earnest, kindly, universally beloved, trusted, convinced, and resolute man. He was a Welshman indeed in whom there was no guile, and he was especially glad that the present suggestion of Disestablishment in Wales was linked with the name of a man who at the utmost stretch of the imagination could not be associated with fanaticism. It was essential to Nonconformists at this time that they should do their work in the spirit of Christ, and he wished to dissociate himself from every allusion that could be construed into disrespect of any of their opponents, and more especially to that eminent man to whom Birmingham owed so much, and of whom they might naturally be proud. Whilst he wished to exercise every courtesy and kindness to those who differed from them, still they must not sail under false colours. He would be courteous, but not mealy-mouthed. They were Nonconformists, and Nonconformity meant Disestablishment. Whether Mr. Chamberlain would help them or not, they had Mr. Chamberlain's head, mind, brain, and conviction in this matter, and whether they offended Birmingham or not, they must stand for their principles. If they left the tree standing it would again produce fruit of its kind. Passive resistance must complete itself into Disestablishment. Wales had big claims upon Birmingham. Birmingham owed to Wales its water supply. The fame of Scot- land and Ireland rested on another liquid, but that liquid did not conduce to the health and sobriety of the nation. His nation stood for pure water. Since it had taken the Welsh water Birmingham had become cleaner and healthier, and he was told that one embarrassed householder had found a fish in the water. That showed how generous his country was. In conclusion, he contended that the religious revival in Wales had struck a final blow at ecclesiasticism. A meeting of the Welsh delegates to the Council was held, under the presidency of the Rev. J. Glyn Davies, of Newport, to discuss several matters immediately affecting Wales. The question of representation for Wales on the Executive of the National Council was considered, and it was unanimously decided that Wales have two representatives, one for the North and one for the South. After nomina- tion and a ballot the Rev. Dr. David Oliver, of Holywell, and the Rev. J. Glyn Davies were selected. Another matter considered was the question of a Welsh National Convention for the Deepen- ing of Spiritual Life, on the same lines as the one held at Llandrindod last year. It was the unanimous opinion of the delegates that a con- vention of this kind would be the means of consolidating the results of the recent revival, and some of the speakers intimated that Mr. Evan Roberts had expressed his willing- ness, to attend such a gathering. It was after- wards resolved that a National Convention for Wales be held in the spring of 1907. It was further agreed that the Rev. Dr. Oliver and Mr. G. A. Herbert Price call the secretaries of the different federations together in order to place this matter before the respective councils included within their area.

CHURCH SCHOOLS IN LLANDAFF.

OLD BALLADS AND BALLAD SINGERS…

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