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NATIONAL CONFERENCE AT CARDIFF.

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE AT CARDIFF. Stirring Speeches. The National Conference of the Order of the Sons of Temperance Friendly Society of Great Britain and Ireland, which is being held in Cardiff for the second time since its origination opened auspiciously at the Cory Hall on Satur- day night by a very largely attended public meeting of welcome and entertainment. Earlier in the evening a reception tea, arranged by the four kindred Temperance Societies in Car- diff, was given, and the delegates, who were met at the stations by the Reception Com- mittee, were cordially welcomed to the city. Brother the Rev. Hugh Williams, G.W.P. (Llandaff North), presided at the public meet- ing, and he was supported by officers of the National Division from all parts of the country. The chairman welcomed the delegates in a short, but very compressed and stirring speech. Thank God, he said, the Licensing Bill gave Wales an opportunity to lead the way in temperance reform. (Applause.) He praised the Licensing Bill. You may talk if you like," he said, of Free Trade or Pro- tection to guard your industries, but I know this, that if you want to get rid of your greatest industrial rival, get rid of drink." (Hear, hear.) As a result a great impetus would be given to industry. The sister measure of the Licensing Bill was the Old Age Pension scheme, and while they asked God to bless the people who promoted it, they, as temperance people, must not be lax in their work. True temperance wort was founded on love, purity and fidelity. Phenomenal Progress. Bro. Robert Smith, M.W.P., West Hartle- pool, chairman of the conference, recalled the previous conference at Cardiff, 11 years ago, and compared the phenomenal progress of the Order since then. The Order in those days had 37,000 adults and 16,000 cadets now they had 86,000 adults and 60,000 cadets—an increase of almost 200 per cent.—and to-day they stood a mighty organisation for the uplifting of humanity and the teaching of the principles of temperance and thrift. He expressed, on behalf of the Order, warm appreciation of the united welcome of kindred temperance socie- ties in Cardiff. He declared that there was no room for unhealthy rivalry they must be as one. and: there must be one steady intent amongsl every regiment of the temperance forces. '(Applause.) Bro. Walter Davies. Manchester, the or- ganising secretary, delivered a fiery oration on the need of unselfish temperance reformers, and Mr 'Leonard Page, Cardiff, gave some interesting figures on Sunday closing and clubs. In Cardiff, with a population of about 180,000, they had 30 clubs, and in Swansea, with 94,000 population, there were eight clubs. In Huddersfield, where there was no Sunday dosing. in a population of 90,000 there were 83 clubs, and in Reading, 72,000 people, they had 20 clubs. He asked the delegates to bear these facts in mind when they argued for Sunday closing. (Applause.) Bro. T. Berwick outlined the very thorough arrangements for the comfort and pleasure of the delegates during the conference, which lasts until Wednesday. Bro. H. Bruntnell, who represents an Aus- tralian division, delivered the most remark- able speech of the evening. TIe enlarged, amid much cheering, on the advanced ideas of tem- peraijce held by people down below." The Licensing Bill was, indeed, so moderate a measure that he was doubtful whether they would accept it at all. He disdained the threats of brewery shareholders to withdraw subscriptions from churches and charities, the talk of-robbing the poor man of his beer, that beer would cost more, and the like. They had overshot the mark with all this bluster, and they were beginning to see it. Christ came to the world to destroy the works of the devil and not make them respectable and if ever there was a work of the evil one it was the drink traffic. (Loud cheers.) He touched on his personal experiences in New Zealand, where he had been to districts in which public- houses were unknown, and had met children, of 14 and 15 years of age who had never seen a drunken man. (Applause.) Sister Knight, from London, delivered a beautiful solo, and the Cardiff and District Blue Ribbon' Choir gave several choice selec- tions. The meeting concluded with a very hearty rendering of Just as 1 am."

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I'. South Wales Meetings,

GWENT RHYMNEY.

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GWENT RHYMNEY.