Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

DISTINGUISHED WELSHMEN. ACHIEVEMENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD. A paper which will be perused with much interest by Welshmen was read by the Rev. J. Frimston, of Llaugefm. at a meeting of the Cymdeithis Cymru Caer (Society of Chester Welsh- men) held in the Grosvenor Mustusm, Chester, on Wednesday evening, November 22 nd. The chair was occupied by Mr. Henry Ta.ylor, F.S.A., town clerk of Flint, and there was a fair attendance. Mr. Frimston, in the course of his paper, claimed that Welsh genius had exercised an enormous power and had played an indispensable part in the annals of the world. Before Rome ever attained the title of mistress of the world, the Kymry, from time immemorial, had their own code of laws, manners, and customs. But the immediate object of this paper was to touch upon the most prominent points in the career of distinguished Welshmen abroad. No country could be pointed out into which the Welshman had not penetrated. He had made his way along the banks of the Missouri and Mississippi, the Hudson, Thames, Tiber, Nile, Ganges, and other rivers. He had mixed company with the Red Indian, the Italian, the Saxon, the Soudanese, and even the dwarfs of Central Africa. Among Welsh authors who had distinguished themselves abroad might be mentioned Abel Morgan (1730), a native of Alltgoch, Llanwenog, Cardiganshire, who emigrated to America and published the first Welsh Concordance to the Bible, seven years before- that of Cruden in English. Francis Hopkins (1737-90). born in America of parents who had emigrated from Cardiff, in addition to being the author of the national air, Hail, Columbia wrote the Battle of Kpggs" and other valuable works. In the same category might be included the Rev. Edward Jones, Ohio, who produced a book on shorthand in 1859 Iorthryn Gwynedd, "History of the Welsh in America," 1872; Dr. Rbys G. Jones. "Exposition of the Book of Revelations," 1867, in Utica Rev. D. T. Phillips, Philadelphia, The Heroes of Faith," 1871, &0. Wales, too, had been well represented among foreign explorers. Much had been said and written of late on the supposed discovery of America by Madoc ap Owain Gwynedd about the year 1170, which would be 322 years before Columbus. The time at his (Mr. Frimston's) disposal was not sufficient to discuss this point, but the fact could not be easily explained away that such words as Pengwyn, Craigwen, Gwyndwr. &c., terms which abounded in the nomenclature of Madoc's birthplace in Wales, were currant also in the 17th century among the Whita Indians along the banks of the Mississippi. Again, Davis's Straits were discovered about 1,583 by Captain John Davis, of Cwm, Neath, Glamorganshire. Others belonging to this category were Hugh Salisbury (1662), great-grandson of Morris Salisbury, of Llanrwst; John Evans, of Waenfawr, Carnarvonshire (1790) David Thomas, of Castell, Neath, Glamorganshire (1842) and Mr. Henry Morton Stanley (John Rowlands), the well- known explorer, who was born at Denbigh in 1841, passed his childhood at St. Asaph, and sailed as a cabin boy to New Orleans, where he was adopted by a Mr. Stanley, whose name he afterwards bore. The next category dealt with was that of Super- visors," and in this connection Mr. Frimston mentioned James Beynon (for Iago ap Einion), who in 1866 was the manager of extensive collieries, mills, and iron works in Leetonia, Bedford, America; Thomas Goff, a native of Rhuddlan, who after residing in Chester and Birkenhead, went oat to Canada, where he occupied a high position as manager of a carriage department belonging to Brassey and Company, afterwards establishing a branch of the same business in Denmark Mr. T. Davies, J.P., of Bootle, another native of Rhuddlan, went out to Egypt representing a Liverpool company, and there amassed a fortune in a short period Samuel Job, of Beaufort, Breconshire, now the general superintendent of the Pullman Iron and Steel Company, Illinois Mr. Davis, of LI an- samlet, now the general superintendent of the Oliver Springs, Tennessee and John Morris, of Rhymney, who, after a distinguished career first in America and then in Germany and other parts of Europe, had returned to America, where he was appointed general superintendent of the Alliance Public Schools, Ohio, at a salary of $15,000 a year. Among Welshmen who had gained distinction as financiers abroad was Robert Morris, who when a merchant in Philadelphia in 1789 was among the most liberal of the capitalists who gave loans to the American Government. Thomas E. Lewis, a native of Swansea, who acted as treasurer of the Columbia Company during the World's Fair, was one of the directors of the Eisteddfod at Chicago, himself signing a bond for$12,000, a sum equal to the whole awards offered. Samuel Roberts, a North Wabs blacksmith, who a number of years ago arrived in Watertown, America, with only a shilling in his pocket, was estimated to be worth $125,000 at the commencement of this year. Besides these, the. Rev. R. D. Thomas (Iorthyn Gwynedd), in his History of the Welsh in America," had given the names of 14 capitalists in New York city, 2 in Philadelphia, 15 in Pennsylvania, 10 in Ohio, 21 owners of large quarries in Lehigh County, Vermont, and 72 other capitalists in the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The Welsh bards abroad embraced Mr. Josiah Jones, a native of Llan- brynmair, the noted bard, musician, compiler, author, and hymn writer. Gwilym Canoldref, third son of Richard Middelton, of Chirk Castle, was a dis- tinguished soldier and bard, and while in the West Indies he completed his rendering of the Book of Psalm3 in close rhythm (cynghanedd gaefch). Goronwy Owain, born in 1722 at Llanfairmathafar- neithaf, Anglesey, who was said to have mastered Arabic in three weeks, and could interpret Hebrew, Greek, and Latin with ease, was the writer of several poetic works, his principal poem being the cywydd on "The Judgment Day." Maria James, whose works were published by John Taylor, of New York, in 1839, was a Welsh girl, who emigrated rpv, ^"mer*ca w^ea on'y seven or eight years old. I he Rev. H. Cefni Parry, D.D., a native of Anglesey, emigrated to America in 1870, and had since been the recipient of many eisteddfodic awards in Wales and America. His ode to the Cimmerii," which took the prize at Aberdare in 1861, was now con- sidered a masterpiece. Having next dealt with eminent Welsh missionaries, Mr. Frimston proceeded to refer to Welsh musicians who had distinguished themselves. Dr. Joseph Parry, now of the South Wales University College, first made his public appearance in Pennsylvania. Professor Protheroe, a noted American musician, who conducted the choir which took the prize of $1,000 at the grand musical eisteddfod at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, was oorn at xstradgynlais, near Swansea. Professor George M. Evans (Llew Llyfnwy), now occupying a high position in Pennsylvania, was a native of Maesteg and Dr. J. J. Mason, the writer of the music for the grand opera in three acts for the Chicago Eisteddfod, was born in Monmouthshire. Another Welshman, Dr. John Henry Gower, gained the degree of Mus. Bac. at Oxford in 1876, and attained the degree of Doctor of Music in 1883, being the youngest on record to win the latter title, and had since had a brilliant career in America. David Richards, who gained great distinction in the States as a sculptor, many public monuments being the work of his genius, was born at Talyllyn, Merionethshire, and went over to America 40 years ago as a farm labourer while another Welshman, Thomas Jones, was considered one of the best modellers of busts in the United States. As philanthropists, Mrs. Caroline Chisholm (of Welsh birth) and Timothy Richard, a Welshman, had distinguished themselves the former in India and Australia, and the latter in China in 1884; while prominent places among American inventors were occupied by John Williams, a native of Eifionydd, and Philip Richards, of Newport, Mon. Admiral Penn, the first governor of Pennsylvania, was the descendant of a noted Anglesey family. President (William Henry) Harrison was of Welsh origin, and the Hon. Tom M. Bowen, ex-senator of Colorado, was a Welshman "of Llangolhn type," who deHghted in tracing his pedigree from the Fifteen Tribes of North Wales." Other Welshmen who bad gained distinction as foreign statemen were Samuel Adams, of Massachuss -tts Button Guinett (Bwthyn Gwynedd), once president of Georgia State; John Morton (loan Myrddin), of Pennsyl- vania,who was on the committee which reported the Articles of Confederation Benjamin Harrison, of Virginia, who was chairman of the committee Ic which reported the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson, who was Secretary of State under Washington, and afterwards elected president by the decisive majority of 02 votes against 16 General Lee (Llai), commissioner to the courts of Vienna and Berlin. &c. Mr. Frimston then gave a list of Welsh buccaneers, and another of well-known I Welsh antiquaries, and still another of distinguished Welsh soldiers and sailors, mentioning 14 Welsh generals, seven Welsh colonels, and four Welsh captains who were included in the list of American service, 1745-90. He also cited a number of distinguished Welsh linguists, literatti. journalists, physicians, magistrates, colonists, and engineers, and in conclusion said—Thus far we have travelled through the various fields of history, and have found that the Kymry are still of the same type as Tacitus, the Latin writer, described them about 2000 years ago—li a people of great renown." The sneer that the Welsh have produced no genius is but the outcome of sheer ignorance, alike disparag- ing of an honourable race and condemned by all facts of history. To say the least, they stand on a par with either or all the civilised nations, whether from a scientific, political, social, or religious point of view. There are now more Welsh than has ever been the case in all the World's modern history, whether at home or abroad. The Welsh language is to-day the government tongue of Patagonia, is studied in the day schools of the Principality, is encouraged in the three Welsh universities, adhered to with undying love, and taught in thousands of Welsh families in England, Scotland, and Ireland; is cherished in the principal colleges of Europe, and instead of being spoken by about 700,000 people, as was the case in the Middle and Dark Ages, it is now, according to a reliable census, current among over 200,OOJ people of the United States, to say nothing of the thousands of descendants in various territories and towns, and, according to that expert, Dr. Ravenstein, it is spoken in the United Kingdom by some 1,000,300 persons. Without mentioning London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Chester, Manchester, and other great centres of population and industry, where Welsh nationality and customs take deep root. Liverpool alone can count, as one author has of late described, among its citizens 4,000 Joneses, not reckoning their wives and children, above 20 Welsh chapels and preaching stations, and no less than 13,000 WTelsh-speaking communicants. These are no signs of declension far otherwise, it is progress against formidable opposition. We do not mean to say that the Welsh people are the best in the world, or to discredit the achievements of other nations, much less of those with whom it is our lot under providence to asso- ciate and form the British Empire. Neither do we calculate that the Welsh will ever be predominant in commerce, but we do believe that Wales will ever be a centre for religious feeling, and its success no one can deny. The Romans have entered into our fortresses, the Danes have navigated our waters, the Saxons have cut down our forests, and the Normans have built some 400 castles in our Principality; but even now those castles are in ruins, and are as many monuments of our undying possession of the land, and in the British Parliament itself, where sits the most august assembly in the world, Wales has already and repeatedly earned her laurels of victory. (Applause.)

THE NONCONFORMIST CONGRESS. A congress, at which 135 Nonconformist churches were represented, was held in the Welsh Indepen- dent Chapel, Aberystwyth. on the 15th ultimo. The congress was convened by Mr. Owen Owen, Oswestry, and was largely attended. The first meeting was held at 10.30, under the presidency of Mr. Llewelyn Edwards, M.A., headmaster of Ardwyn School, who, in opening the congress, said the reason why he was a Nonconformist was because he was a descendant of one who had been driven out of the Church by the then Bishop of St. Asapb. That was, he thought, a sufficient answer that day, but he had a better answer. He was a Nonconformist because he believed in the principles of Nonconformity. They must live as Noncon- formists, at least for a year or two, were it only to bring about the disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales. But they would live after disestablishment, because they had the keeping of a spirit and of truths that must live.—The Rev. Elvet Lewis, Llanelly, read a theoretical paper on "The Principles of Nonconformity and our duty to teach them," at the end of which he said that Nonconformity had its beginning in true spiritual heroism, and when they lost that bravery the knell of Nonconformity would be sounded.—The Rev. J. Humphreys (Corris) said the principles of Noncon- formity were freedom of conscience against a fixed ritual and settled creed.-The Rev. J. Bowen (Pont- rhydfendigaid), the Rev. J. Miles, the Rev. J. A. Morris (Aberystwyth), and others took part in the discussion, the Rev. J. Miles saying that when the Church was disestablished it would go over to Roman Catholicism, and Nonconformists would still have work to do. Nonconformity did its best work when it was not considered respectable to be a Nonconformist. Its great danger at the present time was respectability and the want of a knowledge of the principles of Nonconformity.— At the end of the discussion it was resolved to request the churches to instruct the congregations in the principles of Nonconformity, particularly the young.—Mr. T. J. Humphreys (Llanrhaiadr) next read a paper on The Religious Aspect of Disestablishment." He contended that the Established Church was not in accordance with the teaching of the New Testament. He remarked that the Church of England in Wales was the only religious body in Wales that had not experienced the power of the Holy Ghost in a spiritual revival. The Church, during the century, had not produced any national preacher. Nonconformists were free from the trammels of the State, and could do good work, and so could the Church when it was free. Those then were the best friends of the Church who worked hardest for disestablishment.-In the afternoon papers were read on Some of the Difficulties in the Way of Establishing a National System of Education," and on The Duty of Nonconformity towards the Social Life of the Country."—In referring to the Cardigan inter- mediate scheme, the Rev. Llewelyn Edwards, chairman of the joint committee, said the Lords having thrown out the scheme on the ground that Lampeter College desired scholarships for their denominational school, the committee would now proceed with an amended scheme, in which the matter of scholarships for the Lampeter district would be deferred.-Reference being also made to the throwing out of the Merioneth scheme, it was resolved to deplore the action of the Lords in throwing out the two schemes, considering that a gross injustice had been inflicted on the youth of those counties as the result of the irresponsible action of the House of Lords at the instigation of an extreme clerical party in Wales. ::> CADBURY'S COco.A.Cad!mry's Cocoa contains in a con- densed and increased form all the nourishing properties of the Cocoa Bean, the proportion of flesh-forming ingredients being 21-as compared with 13 in natural Cocoa (Cccoa-nibs) and the meagre proportion of 16 in the ordinary Cocoas of Commerce prepared with added Starch and Sugar. Cadbury's Cocoa is absolutely Pure and always alike in quality.—the Analyst.

NORTH WALES LIBERAL FEDERATION, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AXD THE GOVERNMENT. On Saturday a meeting of the Executive Com- mittee of the North Wales Liberal Federation was held under the presidency of Mr. A. C. Humphreys- Owen. at the Westminster Hotel, Chester. There was a, fair attendance, among- tho-e present being the Rev. H. M. Hughes (Liverpool), Mr. J. L. Muspratt (Rbyl), Messrs. E. Bryan and R. Bromley (Holywell), Rev. J. Morgan Jones (Caergwrle). Mr, O. Owen, M.A. (Oswestry), Mr. W. C. Dodd (Llan- gollen), Rev. W. Caradoc Jones and Mr. Simon Jones (Wrexham), and Mr. F. Llewelyn Jones (Denbigh), secretary. The meeting was called principally to make preparations for the approach- ing annual meeting of the Federation, and January 18th was provisionally adopted as the date of the meeting. Other matters, such as the selection of speakers outside the circle of Welsh members of Parliament, and the choice of the town in which to hold the meeting, were referred to the chairman and secretary, with instructions to report to the next meeting of the executive. Resolutions dealing with Welsh Disestablishment and Disendowment and other subjects, which were intended to be submitted to th annual meeting, were considered and discussed, but were not finally adopted. The following resolution, however, moved by Mr. Bromley (Holywell), and seconded by the Rev. J. Morgan Jones (Caergwrle), was unanimously carried :—" That this executive committee condemns the effort made to obstruct the progress of the Local Government Bill, and assures the ministry that they will receive the support of Wales in any measures which they may think desirable to take in order to ensure the passing of the Bill in its integrity. 4

THE QUEEN AND THE WELSH UNIVERSITY. A CHARTER IS GRANTED AND THE LORDS' OBJECTION IGNORED. The Press Association is enabled to announce that the charter for the University for Wales, having been finally sanctioned by thePrivy Council on Thursday, has now been signed by the Queen and at once becomes law. The opposition in the Upper House to the granting of the charter has thus been ignored, but effect is given in the Merioneth intermediate education scheme to their lordships' objection to the clause with reference to religious instruction in the boarding houses as well as to the exhibition and bursary parts of the scheme. The next step will be for the Education Department to notify to all the electing bodies that they should proceed to elect their quota of members to the court of the new university. Thirteen members are to be elected by the Government in the name of the Crown, and amongst the other election bodies are the county councils, the univer- sity colleges, the public elementary teachers of Wales, and teachers in the secondary schools in the Principality. The court and senate when formed will proceed to the responsible duty of drawing up the university statutes, a task likely to occupy, as the preparation of the charter occupied, several months. The best-informed authorities state, however, that they do not think that there is any reason why the new university should not be fully formed and in operation as early as next summer. +

LORD ROBERTS ON THE EFFICIENCY OF THE NAVY. Lord Roberts was presented with the freedom of Dundee, on Thursday, and in returning thanks said he wished to take the [present opportunity of making a few remarks on a subject of vital im- portance to the future welfare of the British empire. Their prosperity and the prosperity of the whole country depended upon the maintenance and extension of our foreign trade and especially the trade with the East. This involved the con- tinuance of England's supremacy as a naval power. It was true we required a well-organised, well- trained army, but England's chief line of defence is the navy. If we lose our naval supremacy our empire must be undermined and our national inde- pendence endangered. The question is whether our fleet is sufficiently strong, whether it is stronger than the fleet of even one of the continental Powers, not to speak of the combination of fleets belonging to countries the interests of which are opposed to ours. Experts viewed with great apprehension the present strength of our navy as compared with the navies of the principal foreign Powers. Their opinion should be listened to by all who have the national interest at heart. The balance of naval power in the Mediterranean has been naturally altered by the presence of a Russian squadron, and our predominance in the sea can only be restored by reinforcing our Mediterranean fleet. Even supposing that in the event of war we should have to be content to adopt the Cape route for our vast Eastern trade, we surely are not prepared to abandon our seaborne trade with Italy, Austria, and the Levant, the value of which, he understood, was not less than 50 millions a year. He urged them to consider these matters, because he believed that the preservation of this great empire depended not so much on the individual exertions of our statesmen, our sailors, or our soldiers, as on an active and intelligent interest being taken by the British public in all questions affecting the strength and efficiency of the navy and army. 0 IT TOUCHES THE SPOT." Aye, that is what HOMOCEA does. And does it quick, too-whether it's a toothache or neuralgia, with all their shooting pains, or eczema with its painful and distressing irritation—or piles that make thousands of lives wretched. Rheumatism in the joints or muscles has been cured even of years standing-while for cuts, burns, and bruises it's far, very far ahead of any ointment that has ever been put before the public. LORD CARRICK says HOMOCEA cured him of bleeding piles, when all else failed that he gave some to a labourer who was lamed by a stone falling upon him, whom it cured. A woman had a pain in the elbow and could not bend it for a year, and it cured her. And another used it for scurvy on her leg, and it was doing her good-one letter from him closes with the words, It is the most wonderful stuff that ever came across." LORD COMBERMERE says -'HOMOCEA" did him more good than any embrocation he had ever used for rheumatism. H. M. STANLEY (the great African explorer) says "HOMOCEA" is a most soothing and efficacious unguent. It is as soft as oil and almost instantly mollifying in the case of severe inflam- cl mation. BISHOP WM. TAYLOR (American Methodist Episcopal Mission) says I have used HoMOCEA," and have found its healing virtue both for severe bruises and flesh wounds, and also to kill the virus of mosquitoes. A well-known Liverpool Physician (name at office of company) says I have found "HOMOCEA" an excellent remedy in different forms of neuralgia, and the pain of inflamed piles is more quickly relieved than by any other remedy. MR. J. W. C. FEGAN, The Boys' Home, South- wark, writes "HOMOCEA" does all it's guaranteed to do, and is not only a wonderful lubricant, but strongly antiseptic, and relieves inflammation and pain almost instantaneously. For stiffness, sprains, muscular rheumatism, sore throat, mosquito bites, &c., it is a real boon, and no praise can be too high for it. Remember that" HOlllOCEA" subdues inflamma- tion and allays irritation almost as soon as applied. Sold by dealers in medicine at Is. 1 Jd. and 2s. 9d. per box, or can be had direct from the HOMOCEA. Company, 21, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead. [398ï]