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MERTHYR TYDVIL. AN BRECON,…

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THE BISHOP OF LLANDAFF at a meeting held last week at Abergavenny, the proceedings of which are recorded to-day in our local columns, has again put forth his exalted influence to- wards promoting the increase of Church accom- modation, in the mineral and manufacturing districts. To his Lordship's speech we beg, on the part of our readers, the most especial atten- tion. That there is a fearful deficiency of the means of spiritual instruction in the districts to which his Lordship refers, every one resident near them can vouch and the obvious question arises,— Whose duty is it to supply the deficiency ? In our humble sphere, we would echo the sentiment of our venerated Diocesan, and say that they who have drawn immense populations around their manufactories, and who employ them for their own pecuniary profit, are the people who should charge themselves with this holy work. We have before urged that,in the lowest view of the case, we are fully convinced that the funds laid out in the erection and endowment of Churches, will effect a considerable saving eventually to those who so expend them. We would refer to the speech of the Vicar of Aber- gavenny, at this same meeting, for an illustra- r, tion of the good effects of this principle when brought into active operation: for the most pre- judiced mn will not deny that that population will be the happier which is kept in order by means of Bibles, rather than by cart whips and fetters. But men do not always view such tilings in their proper light. Present economy or expediency is too often the rule of their con- duct and as Mr WILLIAMS, the eloquent minis- ter of L-knvapley says in his speech, England in her conquests of old has too generally thought but of ensigns of justice, and neglected both the symbol and substance of religion;" whereas she would have found her account in acting like the Spaniards, who "set up a pole where a gallows should hereafter stand, the emblem of justice, and fixed a cross, the site of a future church, the emblem of religion-" The fact is, to possess a good, honest, and trustworthy working population, we must have a loyal and a pious population and though we believe the Church of England in the present day possesses a more able and zealous ministry, and a greater number of spiritual members than ever, still in the words of Mr BEVAN, to the Abergavenny meeting, If ever there was a time to make extraordinary exertions, to furego all superfluities, to retrench unne- "cessary expenses, that time is, unquestionably, the present; when infidelity and licentious- ness are arming themselves against reHgion, and making such awful and desolating progress through the land." For it is not the profession of true Christianity alone which has progressed, but practical infidelity, demi-popery, and vice, have made their onward marches too. These then must be opposed opposed with arms which alone are irresistible,—the Word of God,— quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. But it will not be enough to provide Churches and Ministers, unless something more be done, to promote the spiritual welfare of the iron dis- tricts. We fear the fact is indisputable that an enormous quantity of labour is performed at all the iron works in Glamorganshire and Mon mouthshire, on the Sabbath. Surely it is worth a consideration, whether a committee of inquiry could not be appointed from amongst so res- pectable a body of individuals, to ascertain how much of it could be discontinued. Things which a few years ago might be works of neces- sity, by the progress of science, of discovery, and invention, may have become no longer so. And whether (his prove to be the case or no, still the example of hallowing the Sabbath, is scarcely second in importance to the providing of the means of religious instruction. The Dowlais Company, for instance, generally lessen their furnace work on Sunday considerably, while the other Companies do not. At one esta- blishment engines aud machinery are repaired, and the whole place is subjected to a cleansing operation while at others all this is never thought of on the Sunday. There is, therefore, evident room for enquiry. We have seen lately in some very sensible remarks on the subject of Sunday working, the argument atlduced,specially addressed to workmen,—that employing Sunday labour adds, in effect, one-seventh to the working population, and tends to lower wages. On this point we are at issue with the writer. We believe no such result will follow. Let any man work for one entire year, the whole seven days of every week and Jet another, his equal in every res- pert, rest on each seventh day; and we hesitate not one moment to say that the latter will be found in the end to excel the former hatll in the quality and amount of his work; that his bodily health will be in measurably better;—and, what is of the utmost importance,—he will not have periled his soul by pursuing the wiser course, ia obedience to the commands of holy wt it. On this point we are content to appeal alorite to the physical history of man and to the Employer and employed we therefore say,—if nothing is to be gained by the desecration of the Sabbath, why persist in so dangerous a course ? The interests of both parties are equally involved in the issue. (From a Correspondent.) The report presented at the annual general meeting of the Rhymney Iron Company, held on November 21, 1838, has already appeared in our columns and a further reGnvncc to it will be found in our report of the speech of the Bishop of LLANDAFF at the meeting at Abergavenny last week. III stating it to ùè our firm opinion that all Iron Masters or other manufacturing companies ought to act likewise, we do not wish to give the Rhymney Iron Company a niggardly praise, or to substract anything from the merit of their Christian benevolence and well applied liberality. May God bless and prosper undertakings which have set out with honouring His name and providing for His worship, and instructing the immortal souls which their active enterprise has drawn together! They have set the first example of. providing at once, and without delay, for the religious instruction of their workmen. Others when an unbounded success had given them ample means, and the absence of religious in- struction had awfully demonstrated its necessity, have rendered a tardy homage to the Being, who has proclaimed the rich to be but stewards for the poor. As in the case of the Rhymney Works, thousands may be collected inft barren wilder- ness, farVemoved from any temple hallowed to their Maker's worship, and deprived of the means of spiritual cultivation which they have before enjoyed. What wonder, if from minds thus left to themselves, then abandoned, without counsel or exhortation, to the unrestrained im- pulse of their passions, proceed evil thoughts and evil acts—drunkenness, debauchery, riot, and murder? The enterprising manufacturer, in the laudable design of improving his own worldly condition, has drawn together from the peaceful hamlet, and rural village, where the voice of the pastor was ever heard and respected, thousands of his fellow-creatures with the hopes of worldly wealth he attracts myriads from a land of spiritual riches to one of utter dearth and desolation; let him duly consider the re- sponsibility of his situation that the product of his industry is not all to be devoted to his own comforts and pleasures let him beware how he may incur the awful charge of erecting his fortunes on the ruin of other men's souls. It is for these reasons that we have held out for imitation the spirited, the well-directed and Christian liberality of the Rhymney Iron Com- pany.

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THE REVENUE. ..

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TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE LITERATURE OF WALKS.

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