The North Wales Express

THE BANGOR ELECTRIC LIGHT" ING SCHEME (To the Editor of the "Observer and Ex- press"). Sir,—Councillor T. J. Williams deserves the praise of every right-thinking man, for having prickad the "Bubble" and exposed the fallacy and weakness of the Bond, in connection with this scheme, the result of his plain speaking being that copies of the Bond have been issued, so that the rate- payers will be able to ascertain the exact nature of its provisions. I venture to think, that after a careful perusal, the majority will come to the conclusion that this much- talked-of Bond (which is the outcome of the generosity of the Electric Light Party), after all is said and done, will not be of much (if any) value to the heavily burdened rate- payers of Bangor. I notice that the name is now changed from "Bond" to "Agree- ment," which no doubt is intended to strengthen and make valid some of the guarantors' protective clauses. For instance, should any of the guarantors wish to avoid paying the share of their liability, they could make strong and probably effective use of Clause 1, by raising the plea that the Cor- poration had not done all that was neces- sary to insure its success. Again, I very much doubt whether the Council had a right to adopt the agreement without first con- sulting the ratepayers..1., therefore, doubt its validity, Now, that Mr David Owen has been returned on the Council, trust he will give us further light on the matter.— Yours, Ac., Bangor, November 24, 1898. F. L.

TE DUTiCEMONAlPeraidd. TE DULCE, MONA inewydd. TE DULCEMONA I Adfywiol. Is 6c i 3s v pwys gan Grocers. Y mae yn ddiod berffaith flasus, peraidd, ac adfywiol. •

University College of North Wales Further subscriptions to the farm stock and equipment fund have been received as folliows :-Sir James Joisey, Bart., Gre- gynosr, Mont., £ 25; Mrs Hunter, Plaseoch and BT-rn-ldi, & Anglesey, £ 25 Edmund Peel. E., Bryn-y-Pys, Overton, £ 25; T. Barker, Esq., Mossley Hill and Llandudno, £ 25; Sir iiujrh Ellis-Nannev. Bart., Gwyn- fryn, £ 10 10s; Colonel Wynne Finch, Voelas, Bettwsycood, £ 10; Dr G. H. Bryan, Bangor, R5.

CHOICE Dri/TEMONA TEA (Young. CHOICE DFLOEMONA TFAlFre-sh. CHOTCF. DTJLCEMON A TRA I Tnvigoratin p; Is fid to 3 per ]1, of all Grocers. 2 Gold Medals for Excellence and Purity. I

BANGOR NOTES (BY EN AVANT). I am extremely sorry that my friend, Dr Emyr Owen Price has been returned to the Bangor City Council as member for North Ward, and as a supporter of the present phase of the electric lighting policy, or, as I prefer to call it, fad. I have very little doubt that the genial Dr will claim his elec- tion as "the voice of North Ward" in favour of the fad, just as he remarked to me a fortnight ago that the town at a municipal election some two years ago had given its voice unmistakeably in favour of the electric lighting fad. because the principal advocates of that policy had then been returned, at the height of the agitation against the light, I beg pardon, fad. But I eg to oppose my opinion on this point to that of Dr Price. At the election two years ago, Dr Grey Ed- wards, for example, was not returned be- cause he was the advocate (not to say the principal promoter) of the fad, but simply and solely because he was Dr Grey Edwards. If, however, Dr Price insists that his view of the question is the correct one, then I would ask him how it came about that at the same election an opponent of the fad, in the person of Mr J. E. Roberts, our pre- sent Mayor, was also returned to the Coun- cil ? Clearly, it is very much a question of persons. And in saying this, I am not in the least reflecting on the personality at Mr Beck, the defeated candidate at the bye-election on Tuesday last. The fact that he was defeated was not, in my opinion, due at all to any inferiority of attractiveness of per- sonality. I hare only the very slightest acquaintance with Mr Beck, and as far as I know, have never spoken to him in my life, but I know that on this occasion he has been opposed, not by one personality, but by many, and it is to this, in my opinion, that his defeat is due, and not to the preference of the majority of the electors of North Ward for the fad. And the scandalous part of the opposition lies in the fact that these personalities are some of them opponents of the electric lighting fad* themselves, at least they have been returned to the Coun- cil under that flag, and those who have not fought this question recently, have in every possible way identified themselves with the opposition of the fad. In this connection I would ask those that are professed opponents of the electric fad, why they should have thrown themselves so vigorously into the fight against Mr Beck i As to that absurd letter to the Manchestei Guardian," on the day before the polling, a more inane defence of the blunder into which these three gentlemen, amongst others, have fallen, it would be difficult to produce, but its publication in the columns of a great daily papar, at the last moment almost, was bound; to carry some weight against Mr Beck, and probably it made quite the difference of 27 votes by which his opponent was returned. Well, the position now stands thus. The party of the electric lighting fad having failed to induce the town to give its consent to the introduction of the fad fairly and squarely, devised a scheme by which the ratepayers generally were led to think that the guarantors Under the now notorv- bond were going to pay all the losses which might be incurred by the introduction of the installation into the town for a period of five years without any other condition than that the thing be done. That, I say, was the general impression. It is not too much to say that not one tenth of the rate- payers knew that the guarantors would be repaid any of the money that they guar- anteed, still less that they would be paid interest on their speculation I don't say that this impression was purposely created, or that the ignorance to which I have alluded was the outcome cf special efforts by the other side to bring about such ignorance. But I do say that both the erroneous im- pression and the ignorance existed, and that among, I should say, quite nine-tenths of the ratepayers. To do Dr Grey Edwards justice, I must state that I was told on Wed- nesday, by a gentleman in whose word I place the most implicit confidence, that so far from having kept the terms of the bond secret, Dr Grey Edwards certainly made them public, even as to the repayment of the interest, and that a report to that effect may be found in the columns of the North Wales Chronicle" some tune back. l <w not deny this, but the fact remains that it was a revelation to the vast m^ontyof the ratepayers, who have to pay the piper when done, to finS that th*, ors would be entitled to repayment at the end of five years if the works pay. However, by means of this device, a sort of tacit consent has been won to proceedmg, at the cost of the town, with the electric lighting, which the town rightly condemns as far too previous at the present time. I am willing to concede to the promoters of the fad all they claim as to the superiority of the electric light to gas, and even, it they like, that it would be cheaper to produce than gas. But after conceding all this, they are not one whit advanced on the path of removing the one fatal objection to the in- troduction of the scheme at the present time, and that is that the town cannot afford to run the risk. We have the white ele- phantine Pier on our shoulders, and it is pretty-certain that that will not be a paying concern at the end of the five years covered by the bond, and it is also equally certain, in my opinion, that the electric lighting scheme will not pay at the end of that per- iod either. Well, says Dr Price in one of his squibs, if it does not pay at the end of that time, the guarantors will not receive a penny of the amount of their bond hack, they will lose every penny of that bond, and all that money will be a free gift to the ratepay- ers. What a gift! What good will it do to the ratepayers? The only thing it will have done in that event will have been to have saddled upon our shoulders a concern that will raise the rates still higher, just to please the whims of a few faddists. And this is the policy, or fad, which. Messrs Thomas Lewis, J. E. Roberts, W. Bayne, and Farrar Roberts have gone over to! They have opposed the fad up to the date of this device of a bond with all their power, and now they have been taken in by so transparent a device as this. Why, they might as well have agreed at once to let the electric light faddists have their own way immediately. For the sake of a spuriously generous "bond syndicate" they have done the very thing they have all along been fighting against, and run the risk of an en- ormous addition to the already overbur- dened rates of the town because they have been tickled by the generosity of the bond- holders. I hope, however, that the still staunch op- ponents of tbF' fad' on the Council are not Lyoing to sit still under this bouleversement of some of their number. It is not vet too late to scotch this insanity The course which I would recommend the Council to take is to Jet the Provisional Order lapse, and lose the money incurred in obtaining it, sooner than undertake new liabilities under tf1 Order of which no one can tJredict the ultimate cost. Further, I would see to it that the unscrupulous promoters of this fad, who have already been charged with aaving spent Corporate money in this connection without the sanction of the Council, should, if this is true, be made to refund that money out of their pockets. It will be quite time enough to take up the question of electric lighting when we have seen our way out of the forest of financial embarrassments with which we are surrounded in connection with the Pier and the School Board rates. The poisonous cesspool at the bottom ot Dean street is as bad as ever, and perhaps the addition of yet another doctor to the medical strength of the Council will lead to some steps being taken at once to remove this disgraceful and malodorous evil, which is a scandal to the Council responsible for its existence.

HORTII WALES FEDERATION OF FREE CHURCHES SPEECH BY MR LLOYD GEORGE, M.P. The first conference promoted by the above Federation was held at the Pendref Chapel, Bangor, on Wednesday afternoon, the Rev T. J. Wheldon, B.A., presiding over a large attendance. The proceedings having been opened with prayer by the Rev James Donne, Llangefni, The Chairman addressed the meeting, and reminded those present that they were as- sembled under the shades of a Cathedral, and that they could not expect to find so much enthusiasm in that city as they would else- w Ilere. ,He rejoiced in the name that had been given to the federation, it being a name which spoke of their freedom as Noncon- formists. He was afraid, however, that Nonconformists in Wales did not avail them- selves of the rights which they possessed, more especially with regard to marriages and burials (hear, hear). And if that con- ference were the means of 1" pressing upon Nonconformists throughout North Wales the importance that each denomination should exercise their rights much good would' be done. In many parts of North Wales at the present day clergymen of the Church of England officiated at the burials of Nonconformists. This was entirely due to the fact that Nonconformists did not place value upon the freedom and the rights which they possessed1. The speaker then referred to the burning question of educa- tion, which, he maintained, should be placed above pecuniary considerations Dealing with the religious question, he said that in the olden time the Church of England was looked upon as the force that would stem the tide of Romanism in this country, but recent developments had demonstrated the absurdity of that belief. The Anglican Church had now embraced Romanism, and she could not be released, from its influence. Cardinal Vaughan had said that the thirty- nine articles of the Church of England had been 'anished as a rule of faith, and Romish practices were being adopted. The Church of England, added the Cardinal, was aping the Church of nome. If there was perfect unity amongst the Nonconformists now a priest would be impossible in the whole of the Principality (hear, hear). The Rev Thomas Law, of London, secre- tary of the National Federation of Free Churches, delivered an address, in the course of which he said that the movement with which they were associated was a great one; in fact, in less than half a century it would be regarded as a most remarkable movement. It was a movement that marked a great epoch in the history of England, and one that was becoming international in its character. At the central office in London it was being seriously considered whether a deputation should not go round the world in connection with the movement, and he believed that the ultimate result would be that the whole of the English-speaking world would be belted together in one organi- sation (hear, hear). He was pleased to un- derstand that the movement was taking a strong hold of every place, and at present there were very few places in Wales without a council. The movement was specially directed towards the great centres of popu- lation, and he did not know whether they in Wales realised that the population was drift- ing from the rural districts to the towns. This was a matter which religious workers were bound to face, and face more effectually than they had done in the past. If they could not have one ecclesiastical system was there any reason why they as free churches should not be so perfectly united as to have one voice at any moment in regard to great social questions? (hear, hear). They must realise the fact that the forces of the devil were everywhere uniting, and if they as Nonconformists meant to deal with these forces they would also have to come to- gether (hear, hear). What was -'esired could not be accomplished by prayer meet- ings and class meetings, though these would be means to an end; it was necessary that Nonconformists should organise. In the great English towns the Nonconformists were already united. Five years ago he could count the number of free church coun- cils on, the fingers of both hands, but at the present day there was not a large town in England without a council (hear, hear). Not only was the movement directed towards the great centres of population, but also towards the rural districts, which greatly needed the support of the Federation, on account of the persecution that took place in small villages. Mr Law went on to say that the Church of England to-day was the free church (hear, hear). The Anglican Church was not the Church of England, because it did not repre- sent the majority. He could not repeat too often that the foundation stone of the pre- sent movement was spiritudal, and they were building a solid temple which would last (hear, hear). Every free church in order to succeed must. be parochial; that was, every church must have its parish. As long as a church was in direct communica- tion with the people in their homes that church would succeed. He failed to under- stand why the parochial system should be left to the Anglican clergymen (hear, hear). Why should not every free church have its streets allocated to it ? (hoar, hear). Non- confomists must combine against gambling hells and other iniquities, and he agreed with the Rev Charles Garrett that there was no town where Nonconformists could not turn the balance f properlv united. He maintained that Nonconformists alone could shut up the gambling hells ardl turn un- principled men from public boards—(hear, hear)—and if they were good they must do it (cheers). But they could not. do it by passing resolutions, by attending prayer meetings, by preaching eloquent sermons. Until they came together they would never do it (hear, hear). It had been argued that the young people should have amuse- ments. All he could say was that if they must have amusements it was a great deal better that the church and not the devil should provide them (hear, hear). "h{\y a>s Nonconformists hnd *»ot gathered to- gether for the purpose of denouncing the denominations, nor was it necessary that they should be of one way of thinking. He did not wish the introduction of party pol- itics into their proceedings, though he him- self was a politician to the core. There ought to be a distinction between1 politics and party politics. What he contended was that right was right and wrong was wrone always, and if any Government, Liberal or Conservative,, wanted to make it easier for him to sin he would be dead against it. They were politicians because they were religious men,T- (hear, hear) and they did not wish to allow the devil to make the laws. Deal- ing with Nonconformist services, Mr Law said that a great many were leaving the church of their fathers because they did not understand the battles that they had fought. If they did understand they would not for shame leave the church of their sires (hear, hear). But the Federation of Free Churches was determined that these people should un- derstand, and with this object in view ap- propriate literature for circulation was being prepared. In conclusion, the speaker said that the free church movement was calculated to save the Anglican Church, which owing to its ritualistic practices, was now in a hopeless condition, and he trusted that Wales would rally round the movement (hear, hear). The Rev D. Oliver, B.A secretary of the North Wales Federation, explained the ob- jects of that body and detailed its history. When the movement was started in North Wales there were only 13 councils, but now they had 25 (hear, hear). In many a town there was an element of sectarianism, and this to a great extent prevented the success of the movement. An open discussion then followed, in the course of which Professor Daiv-ies, M.A. (Bangor) asked whether it would not be pos- sible for the true Protestants and the Pro- testants of the Church of England to take concerted action against Ritualish ? The Rev T. Law replied that so long as the Church of England remained Established he had no hope. The Rev Dr O. Davies (Carnarvon), pro- posed a resolution commending the North Wales Federation of Free Churches to the notice of the various churches, and urging them to co-operate heartily in the move- ment. The Rev Dr Probert (Bangor) seconded. Dr Roberts (Menai Bridge) in supporting the resolution, drew attention to the need of having a Nonconformist home for waifs and strays in North Walim. They had one in the district, but when Nonconformist children went there they were usually con- verted from the day they entered to the Church of England. A home was wanted where they could place their orphan child- ren, instead' of letting them drift to other denominations (applause). The motion havin" been adopted, i a Rev D. Oliver proposed, on behalf of the executive committee, that Dr O. Bavies (Carnarvon) be elected president of the Federation until the end of the year. This appointment was rendered necessary by the death of Mr T. G-. The motion waa seconded, and agreed to. The treasurer, Mr Nuxm (Colwyn Bay), stated that the subscriptions secured, amounted to j634 18s, the subscribers in- cluding Mr Cadburyand Mr Samuel Smith, M.P. He also stated that in all probability the expenditure would exceed the income, and hoped that the meeting would use their best efforts to increase the funds. The Rev Mostyn Williams proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Law or his address:, and the Rev Samuel Owen (Tanygrisiau) sec- onded. The motion having been adopted the pro- ceedings of the conference terminated!. PUBLIC MEETING. SPEECH BY MR D. LLOYD GEORGE, M.P. In the evening a public meeting was held in the Tabernacte Chapel, which was well filled. Mr Lloyd George, M.P- presided, and was supported by the Rev Dr Clifford (London), the Rev Griffith Ellis (Bootle), and a large number of Nonconformist ministers and laymen. Mr Lloyd George, upon rising to address the meeting, was received with cheers. Re- ferring to the resignation of the Bishop of Bangor, he said he., deeply regretted the circumstances which had caused him to take that step. He had said strong things from time to time about bishops, but he couM not recall a single instance in which he had said a harsh thing about Bishop Lloyd, and he would tell them why. The late Bishop of Bangor had always shown that he pos- sessed the conscience of a true shepherd. He, at any rate, did not harry his flock like a mad dog. He was,; moreover, a real pat- riot. Wales had a warm corner in her heart for all those in high places who cherished her ancient tongue (cheers). BisBop Lloyd was the first prelate of the An" glican Church for the last two centuries who edited a Welsh book. He was the first bishop for two centuries to promote a cler- gyman purely for services to Welfeh litera- ture. Unfortunately, the traditions of the Established Church in Wales had bon in this, as in all other respects, anti-national. No one can rob Bishop Lloyd of the distinc- tion of being the first member of the episco- pal bench in Wales who in recent tilrv,, de- parted from that fatuous policy. For all the good he did, which he had episcopal pre- cedent for despising; for all the evil he did not, which he had equally exalted sanction for perpetrating, he is and will be honoured amongst all ranks and creeds of his country (applause). And now that he is stricken down in the prime of his years, the esteem, good wishes, and the blessings of men of every Church, Free and Established, throughout his diocase will follow him into his retirement to assuage his sufferings and to mellow his affliction. A WAR OF SUCCESSION. Since the announcement of his retirement there has been a war of the succession going on (laughter). You know how these wars were generally commenced. An unscrupu- lous and anibitious, neighbouring potentate wishing to annex the vacated dominion to his empire, knowing that he cannot very well occupy the throne himself, endeavours to thrust one of hiS own creatures into pos- session of it, in order to rule through him. These wars have always been fierce and pro- longed, and this contest has in that respect the characteristics of every conflict of its kind1 in history. It has accomplished at any rate one good object, it has shown that there is a deepl-rooted dissatisfaction amongst the best men of the Church with the present state. of things. There is an uneasy sense that the episcopal bench dbes not now, and has not for some time, represented the finest characteristics of the nation, and they know full well if it is to maintain its position as the National Church that condition of thiags cannot remain. Look at the present occupants of the bench. We have all a right to criticise them. They assume to be the national leaders of religion, and we have therefore a right to canvass their merits and demerits. Youi would expect them at any rate, having regard to the religious tradi- tions of the Welsh pulpit, to be great preachers. Take the great preachers Wales has produced during the last century and a half. Their story has yet to be written for the outside world. When it is published, I believe it will! be acknowledged that no nation of the same size has ever produced so many orators of the first rank during so comparatively short, a period (cheersV Surely, men who aspire to be religious heads of such a nation: ought to have amongst- thorn ft least one representative worthy of taking rank amongst t,ho--e. brilliant men. But what is the state of thins? Is there a sincta—I Trill not say great preacher—but good praacher amonjrst our bishops? Have you heard them P I do not believe the r<"Mmstic Methodists would ask ore rf theirr a Mecfmd) time to wrench at their Cvf- rn-fod! Misol. YO*T come to the men in the Free Churches of Wales who were or nre contemporaries with the present Bishops, and you will find what a different story one has to tell. The heart of every Welshman throbs with pndle when he contemplates the oratorical triumphs of such men as Dr Owen Thomas, Dr Herder Evans, John Evans (Eglwysbach), and Dr Charles Edwards. And in England the brilliant speakers reared in the Free Churches of Wales are everywhere adding to that national reputa- tion which is part OF THE STOCK-IN-TRADE OF EVERY YOUNG WELSHMAN. Wherever you go the great cities and towns across the border, you will find Englishmen thronging to listen to these eloquent men of our race (applause). The Chairman of the Wesleyan Conference is a Welshman; the Chairmen of the Corgregational Union for the last three years have been Welsh- men. I ask Churchmen whether they can hon- estly say that a single Welsh Bishop would add in the slightest degree to the orato- rical reputation of his country's pulpit ? And when you coire to consider .other attri- butes essential for that great post, do mat- ters improve? If you look at tie English Bishops they are all men who have distin- guished themselves in some way or other. They may be great administrators, states- men, men who represent in a high degree the virile intelligence of the English race, like the present Archbishop of Canterbury. Brilliant orators like the Bishop of Ripon, great historians like Bishops Stubbs and Creighton, great theologians like Bishop Ellicott, and all of them great scholars. BUT WHAT ABOUT WELSH BISHOPS? Are they distinguished for scholarship? The Bishop of St. David's had a second in Ox- ford,-and he is- the best. The Bishop of St. Asaph came off with a third, the Bishop of Lkndaff with a fourth. This is not be- cause Wales has produced no scholars. The Welsh pulpit can boast of men who achieved, first class in the English Universities—men like Principal Edwards, Principal Roberts, Principal Prys, Professor Lloyd, O. M. Ed- wards,^? oung Evans, Puleston Jones, and others I might name. But they are all Free Churohmen. But in the Anglican Church you have Mr Hartwell Jones, who has been twice jockeyed out of the principalship of Lampeter College because he is too good a Welshman for the post ("Shame"). Are the Welsh Bishops successful administrators? Just look at the condition of the diocese of St. Asaph at the present moment. There you will find an answer to that question^ The Bishop, having quarrelled his best per out of the diocese, is now engaged in blackthorning his own clergy. No wonder the Bangor memorialists objected to having a schoolmaster for a bishop. The cane gets into their nervous system. The clergy of St. Asaph are in a state of revolt, the meek- est, mildest and most submissive set of men that ever applauded a bishop. The man who drove such a clergy into rebellion would have excited an insurrection in a herd of shorthorns (loud laughter). Are they theologians? No doubt they passed their examination, bat that is all that is known of their qualifications in that respect. Now, you cannot make a first-rate bishop out of a third-rate scholar, a fifth-rate preacher, a no-rate theologian and an irate priest (hear, hear). But the difficulty is that the appointment of a successor to the present Bishop of Bangor is entirely in, the hands of a person who knows very little of Wales or its requirements. The clergy and the laity of the Church in the diocese have absolutely no voice in the matter. LORD SALISBURY IS THE SOLE r ARBITER in the situation, and however well-inten- tioned he may be, he has no time to study the question. He is too busy with the affairs of the world at large to devote much time to eccUesiastical appointment in a re- mote corner of the Principality of Wales (hear, hear). No doubt he could tell you every palm-grove from Dongola to Sobat. He has thought of very little else for the last two or three months, but what does he know about all the complexities of the situa- tion here? The result will be that he will in all probability appoint another bishop of the Asaph bra,nd-possessing none of the qualities which history has repeatedly proved to be the only passports to the Welsh heart. And the reason why is not far to seek. The temporal exigencies of the Church are supreme. She is placed in an anomalous and indefensible position (hear, hear). She claims to be the national Church, and as such, to enjoy national possession, and that in sprte of the repeated and emphatic pro- tests of the overwhelming majority of the people of that nation. You must, there- fore, get a man fit to cope with the position of chronic strife which such false pretensions involve. Thus you do not want a preacher, you do not want what the memorialists des- cribe as a spiritual man, what is needed is a person who fulfils the description which St. Paul regards as positive disqualification for the sacred office of bishop, namely, a striker (loud applause). The Chairman afterwards paid a tribute to the memory of the late Mr Thomas Gee, who was chairman of tho Federation, dwelling upon his great ser- vice to Wales in every department of nation- al life and progress. Addresses were subsequently delivered by Dr Clifford, the Rev Griffith Ellis, and others. The following resolution was also passed -"That this meeting calls attention to the movement known as the North Wales Free Church Federation, the object of which is to bring the Evangelical Free Churches to co-operate on behalf of the kingdom of the Messiah and- to defend their interests as Nonconformists—a movement which we consider to be very timely in view of the aggressive attitude of the Churches of Rome and England towards Protestantism and Nonconformity in the kingdom."

CARNARVON MORIAH LITERARY SOCIETY. On Wednesday evening, Mr H. Isgaer Lewis, in the, chair, a. miscellaneous meeting was held, when songs and recitations were given by Mr H. Vaughan Davies, J. CottreU, R. R. Jones, Miss Hughes, ar.1 Mr J. S. Owen. There was also several competitions which proved very interesting. Mr Orwig Wil- liams accompanied. SHILOH LITERARY SOCIETY. The weekly meeting of this society was held on Wednesday night, when the Rev R. D. Row- land, (Anthropos) gave an interesting lec- ture on "The Poet's Kingdom." Remarks were afterward's made by Messrs Henry Jones (who presided), D. T. Jones (Dewi Glan Teifi), J. Owen, Edward street, and J. Wynn Parry. EBENEZER LITERARY SOCIETY. On Wednesday evening, the Rev Cadvan Da- vies in the chair, a debate took place on the subject "Is Protestantism in danger from Romanism?" Mr David Roberts, Water- loo House, was for the affirmative, and Mr Hugh Pritchard, Pool Street Market, for the negative. ENGEDI LITERARY SOCIETY. — On 1 Friday evening, under the presidency of Mr R. O. Roberts, an interesting lecture was I' delivered by Mr Robert Bryan, of Wrex- ham, on the subject "Scenes from the Hills of Canaan." t PENDREF LITERARY SOCIETY. At I a meeting of this society on Wednesday night, Mr T. J .Roberts, Thomas street, read an instructive paper on the subject "Keep thy foot." OAEPCMLEM LITERARY SOCIETY — In conncr-!inn with thi<: ervlotv, a miscellan- I eous meeti'i, was held C". Tuesday evening, under the presidency of Mr J. Parry Owen. The following took part in the proceedings —Misses Annie Roberts, P,¡ street; Lizzie J Jones, Newborough street; May Hum- L | phreys, Lizzie Mrris, and A. J. Williams, If Messrs 0. R. Owen, T. 0. Jones, R. R. Jones, G. J. Pritchard, and J. H. Williams. SALEM LITERARY SOCIETY. On Wednesday evening, the Rev D. Stanley Jones presiding, a very intersting lectuer was delivered by the Rev Gwylfa Roberts on "Graves I should like to visit," and enu- merated those of John Penry, John Gibson, Richard Wilson, John Evans (of Waenfawr), Robert Owen (the reformer), and Goronwy Owen.

BANGOR CITY COUNCIL: The electric Light The following correspondence has ap- peared in the "Manchester Guardian" this week:— -,Sir,-In the last hsue of the "North Wales Observer and Express" there appeared a let- ter from Mr Charles Pierce, an ex-Mayor of this city, containing statements which griev- ously reflect upon ourselves in an important matter of public duty, and we venture to ask you to allow us an opportunity of at once controverting them in your columns. Mr Pierce charges us, "the three members of the opposition," who recommended to the Council the acceptance of the compromise on the electric lighting question, with > "never thinking of ascertaining the exact meaning of the bond, and apparently ac- cepting the garbled and misleading verbal statement of their opponents." He proceeds to say, further, that what took place at the last meeting of the City Council "cleavly shows that these three gentlemen nevt r knew the contents or the meaning of the bond, notwithstanding all the numerous meetings they attended to discuss the sub- ject with their opponents." Now these are grave statements, and we are surprised that a gentleman of Mr Pierce's long experiem^ of public life should have made them with- out having himseJf "ascertained exact!)" what we did and what we knew in the mat- ter. The actual facts, so far as we are concerned are as follow —Not only did we see and read the bond for ourselves, and not only did we discuss and debate its provisions with our opponents, but we actually insisted upon having many of the original conditions al- tered, and upon having the bond sent back to counsel, to be redrafted in accordance with the amendments agreed upon at C'H initiative. When the bond was drawn up in the form that finally satisfied us its prin- cipal clauses were read to the City Councl. and it was laid on the Council table for anv member to read and inspect. This uisposes olike of Mr Pierce's charges of ignorarifce s, rd of "gullibility" on our part, and of the wild allegations made in certain quarters as to the "terrible secrecy" which is supposed to attach to the bond and everything connected with it. Mr Pierce makes capital out of what he calls "the fact that the guarantors are to be repaid with interest at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum." A per- usal of clause 5 in the bond will show that this is another grossly "garbled and mislead- ing" statement. In the first place, only such of the guarantors as are also consumers are to be "repaid" for any loss that may have been incurred1; and, in the second place, such repayment is to ta-kea the form of "a rebate on the amount payable by the guarantor to the Corporation." Further, threbates shall be "with simple interest at the rate of 5 pounds per cent per annum," and the rebates are to be made "at the ab- solute discretion of the Corporation." This should be sufficient to show that no money payment chargeable to the ratepayers^ is at any time contemplated, so that Mr Pierce's statement that "it is proposod to tbrow the repayment of the money to the guarantors on the future ratepayers of Bangor" is quite inaccurate and misleading. In conclusion, we may be allowed to state that we, with others, fought strenuously and determinedly against the original electric lighting scheme for years, and would be still prepared to do so were a proposal made to proceed in the old lines. When, however, we found that sixty responsible gentlemen and firms came forward and expressed their readiness to guarantee the city from loss upon the undertaking on the terms of the bond, this fact, allied to other considerations of the highest importance, induced us to accept the compromise. We are satisfied that we acted in the best inter- ests of the ratepayers of Bangor in recom- mending the compromise to the Council, and the most signal justification of our action is to be found in the distorted methods now resorted to by those who seek to discredit it.—We are, <ftc., THOMAS LEWIS. JOHN EVAN ROBERTS. WILLIAM BAYNE. Bangor, November 19. Sir,—In the "Guardian" of yesterday I find a letter under this 'heading and signed by three members of Bangor City Council. May I trouble you for space to publish the following in reply thereto? I am blamed for having made certain itatements without having "ascertained exactly" what the three signatories to the letter had done and what thev knew in the matter of the bond. I wrote my letter and based my observations entirely on the only information which had been made public—namely, what Mr T. J. Williams had stated', and which Mr Tho- mas Lewis had characterised in the Council as "startling." But as neither he nor any other member of the Council had made the slighest attempt to contradict a single statement made by Mr Williams I was iusti- fied in basing my remarks on the only in- formation available at the time. I am not surprised at this silence on the part of these gentlemen, for having since perused a copy of the bond which has been circulated for electioneering purposes I find that clause 5 amply confirms every statement that Mr Williams made. After all, what is the real difference between payment in cash, as alleged in the Council, and payment in kind in the form of rebate with 25 per cent, as provided by the bond P Let there th1-ee gen- tlemen attempt to explain the difference. Now that Mr Williams's statements are borne out by the provisions of the bond, why did Mr Lewis characterise his statement as "startling" and not believe a word of it, if he knew exactly the contents of the bond ? And why did Mr J. E. Roberts and Mr Bayne remain silent if the information riven to tehe Council was really "startjing," and if thev knew that the statements were incor- rect? From the above I feel that I was fully justified in drawing the inference that I dii, and that these gentlemen have no reason whatever for feeling aggrieved.— Yours, &c., CHARLES PIERCE. Brynymor, Bangor, November 22, 1898.

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PANGCR SUNDAY SERVICES. CBTTKCH OF K!"GL ■ Nl) -.I The Cathedral (English) The Rev the Canon in Beddencc.. (Welsh) Revs W. Edwards, J Davies, B.A. St. James's (English) ltevkv.L,(,Wal.(Is M-A and Rev D. U. Pugh, M.A St Mary's (English; Itevs T. Edwin Jones, M.A and B. Thomas, B.A „ (Welsh) do do St. David's (Welsh) Rev T Lewis Jones. B.A. (English Evening Service).. Rev T. Lewis BAPTIST. English Chapel Iter "VY SaundexJ fennel Rev E. Evan Aiueo, Gisuiadoa CAi vi NISTIC MmiomsT. Princes Road (English) Tabernacle Rev J K YVi I i j LIS, R h y bach Twrgwyn Rev James Dome, Llangefni l' ;rk Hill Rev Owen Puny, Cemacs Hirael Rev W Matthews, Llanfaiifechan tflanadda Rev E P Jones, B.A. WE-UiYAN. English Cliapel Mr. S Evans, Carnarvon Horeb lievs W R Williams, Bangor, and s. John Relly at .raul Revs John Keily, ana John Jones, TT. Llaufairfechan HmMil 2, Rev J. Kelly, d, Rev A. Lloyd Crlanadda Rev A Lloyd Hughes, and Mr, Edward Jones CONGREOATlOJfALISTS. libenezer Rev Ellis Jones A Student HIRAEL A Studen liOMAN CATHOLIC. St Mary's Rev Fat Dr Rowland Jones has been elected sup- erintendent of the Infectious Hospital in place of Dr Langford Jones. Mr D. Pryse Jones, Newborough, has been elected to conduct the annual Calvin- istic Methodist musical festival in March, 1899. TEA PARTY. On Tuesday, a tea party was held at the Hirael Congregational Chapel in connection with the Band of Hone THE SCHOOL BOARD. Mr W. Llovd Jones has been nominated by the Wesleyan body as their candidate at the next School Board election. HOREB LITERARY SOCIETY. A meeting of this society was held on Tues- day nignt, Rev J. Kelly in the chair, when a discussion took place upon the question .whether it would be right to give the Ban- gor Corporation power to sell intoxicants. Mr J. R. Pritchard, Vron Eirian, Mr Ho- ward Lewis, and others took part; and eventually a vote was taken, the majority being on the negative side. I'DIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NORTH WALES.—The following students of the College have passed the Degree Examina- tion of the University of London held in Octrber, 1898:—B.A. Division [I, Francis C. Henry, Katharine L. Johnston, Eiddon R. Jones, and Rhys R. Williams.—B.Sc. Division II, Frank R. Tinkler and W. Mor- ,7i, Williams. Two former students (Isabel Davies and Katharine L. Day) also passed the ¡i.A. examination. MUNICIPAL BYE-ELECTION.-On Tuesday the Polling in the North Ward, Bangor, to fill the vacancy caused by the elevation of Mr J. E. Roberts (Mayor) to the aldermanic bench, took place. The contest was very keenly fought by Messrs Beck and Dr E. O. Price, both of whom are Liberals, but are opposed to each other on the ques- tion of the introduction of the electric light into the town. The result was declared at nine o'clock as folliows:—Price. 257: Beck. 220. SPECIAL POLICE COURT. At a special police court on Monday, before the Mayor (Mr J, E. Roberts and Mr T. Lewis, an Irishman, named James Thompson, was charged with obtaining money from var- ious persons by fraud. Evidence was given to the effect that he called upon several persons in the neighbourhood, including Mr Charles Pierce, Col. Savage, and others. with a letter purporting to have been signed by Mr Watkin Jones, builder, stating that the defendant had been in his employ, ?nd that he had lost a valuable horse, and urging people to give him money to get another. Mr W. Jones, however, proved1 that he knew nothing about the matter, and it was as- certained that the whole thing was a fraud. He was committed to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions. BALA-BANGOR COLLEGE. On Sat- urday evening, at the annual reception of the students of the Bala-Bangor Congrega- tional College, an address of welcome wa presented to the Rev Dr Lewis Probert, who recently entered upon his duties as principal of the institution. The address, whick was signed by 31 students of the College, referred to the valuable services rendere 1 by Dr Probert as one of the leading We! theologians, expressed gratification that he had accepted the principalship of the Col- lege, and wished him success in his con- nection with the college.—Principal Pro- bert, in his reply, said that he and his c)- workers on the teaching staff of the College ought to be able to do something, for th y bad a splendid set of students in the ir classes. He was not only fully satisfi d with rl:em, but was proud of them (a p- plause).—Professors T. Rhys and J. M. I a- vies afterwards spoke, expressing their j >y at the appointment of Dr Probert to tie post of principal of the institution, and touching upon the work and future of the college. HOME TEACHING SOCIETY FOR TE E BLIND. The annual meeting was beld I n Friday, at the Queen's Head Cafe, under t ie presidency of Mr H. Bulkeley Prioe. T Hon Secretary (Mr E. A. Young) presented the annual report, in which attention as drawn to the diminishing balance at the bank, and a hope was expressed that fhcm interested in the work of the Society wol;td endeavour to obtain new subscribers. Al- though the number of blind persons visi od and taught varied little from year to year, still it was necessary to have the assistance of a second teacher, as the work was scat- tered, much of the time of Miss Ellis (the principal teacher) being taken up in trav l- ling. Miss Jones, of Eisteddfa-, n w worked entirely in the Pwllheli and Fest.n iog branch. From July, 1897, to Ju e, 1898, the number of blind persons oni he Society's books was 224, to whom 724 vie- ts had been paid by the teachers. The ni n- ber of volumes in the Society's library, iD- cluding books purchased and presented, as 1249. Pensions were granted to 38 b] I (I persons. According to the report of he sick and industrial branch, it appeared that the work had proceeded satis4-c- torily in regard to the sick bli .d but the industrial side had rot yet been developed, owing to the insuffi- ciently of funds. The statement of ac- counts for the year ended July 1st was pre- sented by the bon. treasurer (Mr Thonus Webster). There was a balance in hand of R25 19s 3d, and a balance of £ 33 Is 81 in favour of the sick and industrial branch — The Rev R T. Jones moved the adootioi of the report; which was agreed to.—Principal Fairchild, M.A., in movine the adoptior of the report dealing with the election of "he eonmr.ttee, regretted the resignati through business duties, of Mr who had acted as hnjiornrv tri,ifor branch -1<" it. institution. It was a Ill .1 remarkable thing to find that the blinc Wales were not being pauperised, but t] as shown by the department returns, t were able to shoy- R good rword.—Mr E. Young seconded the Dr J. Lloyd was ap-ooint^d on cormniotc;. j placc of Colonel the Hc:i. W. E. Saskvi I West.