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llRIDGEND.

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llRIDGEND. LANCASTER! AN SCHOOL.A public meeting in connexion with the opening of the above school was held at the schoolroom, July 3ist. The design which led to the establishment of th's school was not a desire to overthrow any institutions already existing in the town, but to give the advantages of education to the children of the town and neighbourhood in general, and of the poorer class in particular, 0:1 conditions within their reach, and without doing violence to the conscientious scruples of their parents. The school is to be conducted on the principles of pure voluntaryism and unsectarianism, as being those which are believed by its imme- diate friends at least to be the most consonant with the dictates of truth and ju t'.ce, the most harmonious with the evident design, rule, and scope of God's moral administration, and incomparably the best adapted to the demands of the age. The schoolroom, although exceedingly large, was nevertheless crowded to excess bv pirioiu connected with the various religious denomina'ions in the town, thns testifying their attachment to the principles on which this school is to be conducted, expressing their sympathy with those who have been its immediate promoters, and evidencing the profound interest which they felt in its welfare and prosperity. The Rev. H. Roberts, from Norfolk, was called to the chair. The Rev. J. E. Jones moved the first resolution, who, in an able speech, forcibly discussed the great importance of diffusing as much as possible the advantages of education to all classes and conditions of the people, and the urgent necessity of establishing the present school at Bridgend. The rev. gentleman then pointed out and most appropriately expatiated upon the superior advan- tages of the rising generation, and sincerely hoped that they would duly appreciate them, and that they should live to the age in which they would realise their value. Mr. Edward Smith, schoolmaster, in seconding the resolution, briefly explained the nature of the monitorial system of teaching, and ably pointed out its advantages. The. Rev. J. D. Williams proposed the second resolution, and said that he wished briefly to vindicate the imme- diate promoters of the school from the unjust imputation which had been Cist upon them by some of having originated the school in any hostility to the Free School, or what was called the National School. He thought the Free School had done some good; but would have dune much greater good if it had been as free in all its conditions as it had been in regard to the terms of admission. That system of developing the mind, whether it be intellectually or religiously, which compels it to a belief of conventional creeds and grown out tenets, is at variance with its fundamental princi- ples, destructive to'the independency of its operations, and tends p rather to weaken and contract its capabilities than to strengthen and enlarge them. As to the national Church, he had no hostility towards it at all; his hostility was directed merely against its COrlnexion with the State. He firmly believed Government as such had nothing to do with either education or religion, and he hoped that at no period in the history (f this school the principles of absolute voluntaryism and unsectarianism would be abvtildoned by its managing committee. He was glad beyond expression that the school had been set a-going—its interest had for some months tested near his heart—and he felt convinced that nothing but un- faithfulness would frustrate its prosperity. Mr. J. P. Jones, Baptist minister, seconded the resolution, and said that he "W(1, Ipppy to think, that those who had the means of imparting educa- tion thought it their duty to do so, and were resolved not to relax heir efforts in carrying' Jluir purposes into effect. lie felt grate- ful that his lot had fallen amongst them. He was very much pleased with all the principles of the school but with no one more than its perfect unsectarianism and pure voluntaryism. He thought it right to state that he did object, and always had ob- jected, to Government interference in matters of education. His conviction was that Government could not interfere to advantage. He (Mr. Jones) quarrelled not with persons, but with systems. His desire was that every man and every institution should rise or fall according to their merit and where there was any merit or virtue, it would stand up without the aid of props. Mr. Jones, in the course of his address, rehearsed many humourous Welsh anec- dotes; and, after expressing his ardent inishes for the prosperity of the school, sat down.—-—The third resolution was moved by Mr. Davies, Llangynydd, in a short but comprehensive address and was very ably seconded by Mr. John Hussey in Welsh. The merits of the fourth resolution were clearly and fully pointed out by Mr. David James, Brynmenyn, and Mr. Morgan Rees. The thanks of the meeting having been given to the chairman, the meeting then separated, greatly pleased with the prospects of the school.

RHUMNEY.

PONTYPOOL

ABERSYCHAN,

NEWPORT.

B RE C ON S111 RE SUMMER ASSIZES.r

IIIRWAUN.

MERTHYR.