Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser

Notes and Comments. THE laying of the Memorial Stone of another rew Baptist Chapel at Penarth, has led us to look back and note the growth of the denomination in the counties s*- • of Glamorgan and Carmarthen during the pa§t fifty ) years. We note that the Baptist Association for these counties was established in 1860 with 12 Churches, but the strenght of the membership is not reported until 1865, when it stood at 2,062, with 14 Churches associated. Ten years later the strength of the Churches and membership had more than doubled itself, and during- the next ten years the growth had been maintained, for in 1885 it was reported that con- nected with the Association were 68 Churches with a total membership of 7,948, and the past ten years have shown that the Baptist cause has continued its rapid extension, for, according to the returns at the annual meeting of the Asseciatioa, hald at Swansea, in June last, we find the number of Churches to be 82, with a membership of 10,580. But in addition to this number there are seven Church as who did not send iu their returns un IiI too late. One of these last year returned 324 members. The Taber- nacle Church, Penarth, was established in 1868, with 14 members, but there are now 236 persons in fellow- p ship, Stanwell Road was formed in 1886, with 11 members, but the number has now reached 86. In addition to. these there is also the Welsh Church. It will thus be seen that the Baptist cause in Penarth is the strongest of the Nonconformist denominations, although it is very gratifying to note that recently there has been a substantial growth among all sec. tions but, better still, rich spiritual blessings have k been poured upon the Churches generally. 4 MUCH has been said and written about the We-sleyan Sunday School Anniversary. With some of the re- marks we have been in accord, but one or two have indulged in extremes. Let us see to it when we enter into a discussion upon any subject, and especially a subject dealing with any religious questions, that we are actuated by right and pure motives, and in a. prayerful spirit, for otherwise we may be led into a discussion at once harmful, both to our own selves and the question we are anxious to I defend. Whilst we do not agree with all that was done to promote the success of the anniversary in question, yet we are willing to believe that Mr John- son would not wilfully do anything which would injure any other cause in the town, or which would „ give offence to any of those with whom he may be more closely associated. If, to assist any weak .part, Mr Johnson hac7 invited two or three w singers from other places, he would have done well, but with such a staff of singers as Arcot-street can boast, we think it was a pity that so many outsiders I were invited to assist: but Mr Johnson knows his his position best, and whilst we may, from our stand- point, condemn, yet if we were acquainted with all the circumstances we may not blame him. Mr- >* • 4 Wood, the conductor of the band who assisted at the r. morning and afternoon services, has replied to our last week's correspondents from his own standpoint. His closing quotation, "Roni soil qui mal y pense" ("Evil to him who evil thinks"), does not, however, » show the spirit we should like to have seen mani ♦ fested. Let us hope, however, that out of evil good may come, and may this little storm in a tea-cup lead all to greater watchfulness in the future. AX. important and largely attended meeting of the B. W T. A. committee, was held at the residence of the President, Miss Tregelles, on Thursday afternoon, to .consider the winter's programme. It is pleasing to note that thorough agressive work is proposed and O (that we are likely to have the pleasure of listening to some of our ovm country's and America's best tafent. 7- One very important question discussed was the ne-1 cessity of some place as a counter attraction to the public house. A place where men may meet of an evening for reading, amusements, refreshments at a cheap rate, and social intercourse. Many of our working men are driven to the public house because there is no other place where they can meet- The coffee tavern has done good, service but it does not meet thedemands, and wefeel iure this will only be done through some such medium as the B. W. T A. or the Total Abstinence Federation. Now that the ball has been set rolling, may it be carried onward until the dream is fully realised.

FOOTBALL. (By ONE OF THE CROWD). A SUCCESSFUL PAST. Although the echoes of cricket have not yet died away, the advent of football will be hailed with keen delight by its many followers in South Wales. Numbers of our friends in the North, especially the lads from" o'er the Border," have been playing for some time, the hot weather notwithstanding and it is probably by way of emulation of these early birds" that Penartb set the ball rolling a week earlier than usual. To-day (Saturday) the Penarth campaign begins with the Abergavenny match, and let us hope that the season upon which we are now about to enter may prove to be a thoroughly successful one for the Penarth club in every respect. Certainly, our towns- men have a reputation to maintain, and they must strive to still keep Penarth the formidable football centre it has been for some time past. Looking back at the fixtures for the last two years, and seeing that they included matches with so many clubs pre-eminent in the world of Rugby football, and that out of the 65 matches tenaith only lost ]3, one cannot help thinking that Penarth piayers will have something to go on with to keep up this high state of excellency. A GATHERING OF THE CLANS. Judging by the practice match on Saturday last, our men mean business. What a gathering of the clans there was to be sure It certainly was the best practice match the Seasiders have had since they have. developed into a club of standing Men from Barry and Grangetown were there, and many promis- ing A" team playevs turned up. How the Grange men came tohearof the match no one can tell, but a regular 1, firry cross'' seems to have gone round and attracted them to Penart.b. The Committee, how- ever, should think twice before they definitely re- solve to play men from that quarter. The Grange is dangerously near Cardiff, and history repeats itself. Penartb has had considerable trouble with Ckrdiffians before. THE PLAYERS. Mortimer, who has-played at half for the Loratto School, was at the Penarth practice match on Satur- day, and did fairly vrell. Prole, from Grangetown, proved himself to be exceedingly smart, and I see the Committee have picked him for the match with Abergavenny. Hey wood will probably take the place of the old veteran Dick, but our friend Hey- wood must get himself in condition. Jones, of Barry, who played threequarter for Penarth last season, was in capital fettle, and Charley ELirby, Herby Morgan, George Shepherd, and Tom Dewar again gave promise of first-class work. Pengellev was particu- larly promising. He is a man who is always fit, and will probably take the place of Jackson in the pre- mier team. There was a big, raw-boned recruit from Grange who worked exceedingly hard in the for- wards, and will make a really good man when he gets a finish to his work. Edwards was quick, and Angove and Stamp deserve a word of enCOUI a.ement, Taking the watch altogether, it clearly shows that Penarth has young blood galore, and most promising ones, too. especially in the back division. The for- wards will have to be looked up. THE OLD PLAYERS. Many of the old Parliamentary hands were conspicuous by their absence. Evans has been removed to another district and will probably not be available this season. Dick Garret and Peter Jackson will probably retire With these exceptions Penarth will practically play last year's team. Gibbs and Hubert Alexander may not play tomorrow, but it is to be hoped they will soon turn up, especially Gibbs, who seems to be quite ready for work. Owing to the loss of Evans and Peter Jackjon the f,)rward depart- ment will want men of strength and speed. Peugelley and Williams of Barry are two good men, but in addition to these it would be:well, if possible, to have others to fall back on. ABERGAVENNY MATCH. To-morrow's match will show how Penarth men are going to shape. If we bave a strong team of for- wards the backs will do the work, and there should be no'di)Rciilty in defeatizig -the visitors.

United Kingdom Library Association. MEMBERS ENTERTAINED AT PENARTH. VISIT TO THE TO" LINE LI HOUSE. On Wednesday afternoon, the members and their hiends, nnmbeiiug between 200 and 300, journeyed by special train cn the Taff Vale Railway to Penartb, where they were conducted over the Turner House Art Gallery by Mr Herbert M. Thompson, and Mr ft, Carslake Thompson, Mr Pyka Thompson being unavoidably absent. The vioitors were much in terested in the choice collection of art treasures which Mr Pyke Thompson has thrown open to public view in the Turner House. Mr T H Thomas gave a concise account of the classification and various examples of different schools which the gallery contains, taking separately the oil paintings, the water-colour drawings) the engravings, the etchings, and the porcelains. He also spoke of the great success from an educational poitic of view that had attended the establishment of the collection. Upon the proposition of Councillor Shackell, seconded by Alderman Britton, of Sheffield, a hearty and unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Mr Pyke Thornf ton, to Mr H. M. Thompson, to MrG. CaraLake Thompson, and to Mr T H. Thomas for their kicQ¡. services. Upon leaving the Turner House, the visitors proceeded to the Penarth Hotel, in the beautify grounds of which tea and light refreshments were provided, while a varied .programme of music waS. performed by thebandof the Submarine Miners Royal EngÍueen, conducted by Mr J. The party returned to Cardiff by train from Penarth at about six o'clock. The weather, though 'not very settled, wag lfiue, and the afternoon proved a highly enjoyable one.

I Church Lads' Brigade. On Wednesday evening an entertainment was D'iveu in Andrews' Hall by the Snowflake" Minstrel Company in aid of the funds of the Brigade. The troupe and other performers acquitted th.emsel ves in a creditable way, and in the interval. Captain Lloyd and Lieutenant Singer distributed prizes to E. Davies, A Roberts, J. Roberts; and W. Best, who won them in Julv last at Cardiff, when the battalion was inspected by Lord Tredegar.

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