Rhyl Record and Advertiser

English Calvinists Methodism in Wales. THE REV. GLYN DAVIES OX THE SITUATION. The annual Conference of the English Pres- byterian Churches in Wales opened at Llandrin- d.od Wells on Tuesday, when the retiring Pres- ident, the Rev. J. Glyn Davies, of Rhyl, deliv- tred an address on the future of the English Cal- vinistic Methodisi churches. He said that in common with other branches of the Christian Church, there something oi an arrest at present in the rate oi theit pro- gress 569 was the actual decrease of member- ship. It compelled him ..0 ask if Calvinistic Me- thodism was as vigorous as it ought to be and used to be. There were those who said tlw Nonconformity was a spent force, and that the Established Church was winning its way back into the affections of the people. There were those also who said that Calvinistic Methodism was essentially and only Welsh and Welsh- speaking, and that the spirit of English which was now so characteristic of Wales was of ne- cessity hostile and fatal to it. Thev, however, <lid not believe that Nonconformity was a spent force—(cheers),—and they did not believe Cal- vinistic Methodism was essentially and only Welsh and Welsh-epeaking.—1("heer>), In spite of some disquieting symptoms, if they of the English churches, did their duty Calvinistic Me- thodism should live and grow. Calvinistic Me- thodism deserved to live it could and should live.—(Cheers). They had a tradition and a puwer worth preserving and an opportunity wcrth using. They had 969 ministers, 337 prea- chers, 6,378 elders, 167,082 members, and 82,311 children—a fairly gallant show, and if every one of those would rise in his place. Wales not many <lays hence would be a regenerate land (applaute. The great feature of the day was the rise of the democracy. The church of the future would be the church of the people—a truly democratic church,—not the churcft of the rich or the church of the poor, but of the people,—the church in wliic-h the .millionaire was only a man and in which the pauper was also a nian-iiot a church that would dine with the rich and preach to the I»aor—^(cheers),— nor yet a church which would pander to the poor and scandalise .the rich— (cheers),—a church which would open its doors and its pews and its offices alike to the man who had money and to the man who had none.— Cheers). Calvinism was -the doctrine fcr the future, and Methodism was the polity for the future, a blend of Conservatism and Liber*.] ism, a blend of the spur and the brake. Wales was changing very rapidly, and bad changed great- 1y since the Confession of Faith was .sanctioned *m 1825. There were the change,, in education, the effect of English influences, the influence of developments in local government, and others. The English churches had done well during these changes. The present number of English churches was 315, as against 239 ten years ago, an increase in the 10 years of 76. or 31 per cent. (Cheers). The mnneber of Welsh churches was 1,1-34, as against 1,098 ten years ago, an increase of 36 in the 10 years, or of 3 j>er cent. The En- glish churches were therefore increasing at a rate 10 times faster than. the Welsh. The num- ber of English churches now was 315, as against 3Cl last year, an increase of 14. The number of ^elsh churches to-day was 1,134, as against 1,141 c làst year, a decrease of seven. The English church members now numbered 27,450, one- sixth of 'the whole Connexion. Those figures showed that Calvinistic Methodism c ould live in its English form,-(,Cheers!. Their business as English Calvinistic Methodists was to spread Calvinistic Methodism in the English language. It was a .mystery to. him that they had not e:s- tablished English churches in London. Manches- ter, and Birmingham.—(Cheers). They should be more aggressive and take their Methodism and their Calvinism north, south, east, and w.t.—/Cheer- l THE NEW PRESIDENT. The Rev Clyn I/avies afterwards introduced the new President, .Sir Herbert Roberts, M.l\. whom, he said, they welcomed for the sake of 1 his grandfather and also for the sake of his fa- ther, Mr John .Roberts, whose name was asso- ciated with the Sunday Closing Act. They also wdcomedhilrn for his own sake.—(Cheers). They were proud of the service he had rendered W ales in the House of Commons, and especially because of his service to temperance. — (Cheers). Sir Herbert Roberts briefly responded.—The Rev Edward Parry i(Newtown) moved a vote of thanks to the retiring President, and this was carried amidst cheers. Routine business occupied the afternoon, satisfactory reports from officers and commit- tees being received. Next year's conference was fixed to be held at Liscard, Cheshire, The Rev Rees Davies, Talgarth, was elected president, the Rev E R Harries, Aberavon, secretary. SIR HERBERT' .ROBERTS ON LANGUAGE. There was acrowded attendance at the public meeting in the evening, when Sir Herbert Rob- erts presided. He -said it was evident that the English language was spreading in WTales amidst Welsh Nonconformists, and that the expansion of the population in Wales, notably in the South was almost entirely Englisn. Therefore the ag- gressive work of the denomination was of neces- sity .mainly in the English section of the com- munity. He recognised the great value of the "forward movement" work, but the spirit and practice of the forward movement should be im- planted in the life of the denomination.—(Cheers) I He had a preference for NVe-lsh services himself, I' but questions of language should give way in matters of this import.—(Cheers.) Language was onlv secondary. There was, however, no evidence that the English movement in Wales meant anv los, of that sense of nationality as- sociated with the spirit and activities of the I Welsh Nonconformist bodies. Dealing with the subject of aggressive Chris- tianity, the President said that a Christianity which was not aggressive might profess the name of Christ, but it did not breathe the spirit of the Divine Founder of the Church. They must re- cognise the need of more aggressive work. Non- conformity in Wales provided accommodation for religious services to no less than 75 per cent of the population. But he placed even greater value upon what religion had done through Nonconformity in making the character of Wales —i Cheers.) He urged the need for greater uni'«i, and expressed his conviction that if the Christians of England and the Christians of Ger- mans canine into closer and more real touch \\ith one another they would do .much to arrest the dangerous trend of militarism. As a German pastor had told him, if these Christian peoples could only shake hands they would hear no more oi building Dreadnoughts.—(Cheers.) -:0:-

Prestatyn Police Court. These Petty Sessions were held on Wednesday before Mr W Elwy Williams in the chair, Mr T J Scott, and Mr T Parry Williams. DOG EXEMPTIONS. Peter Blythin, a farmer of Dyscrth was granted exemptions for two dogs, it being stated that he had M acnes, 13 cattle, and 49 sheep. The De- puty Chief Constable at first opposed the appli- cation but on learning that the applicant had some rough ground he did not press his opposi- tion. A SCHOOL CASE. Thomas Williams, TanLan, Ffynnongroew was summoned for not sending his girl Margaret to school, regularly. Attendance Officer John Rob- erts stated that the child had only attended 56 out of 116 possibles, and had declared his io- tcij.-io:: ;)f not scnding the child to school any- more as he wanted her to look after the house. An inclusive fine of 2.. 6d. was imposed. I HARD BUT NECESSARY. The adjourned case of Attendance Officer John Owen Roberts and Mary Price, widow of Elanasa came on. In this case Mrs Price had taken her girl aged 13 away from school before she had passed the required standard and refused to send her back, saving that she had gone out to service and she required her help. Her husband was killed in a colliery accident and she was allowed 10s. a week, but had a large family io maintain. The case was adjourned to enable the girl to un- dergo a special examination with a view of her obtaining a labour exemption certificate. The defendant did not appear, and the Attend- ance Officer stated that the girl had failed to pass her examination. She was not out in ser- vice and he was instructed to pres4 the case because as a result of it becoming known other parents had taken advantage of it and had kept their children away when they turned thirteen. Mrs Price appeared before the Holywell Guard- ians recently asking for relief, but they declined to gran: it her on the ground that she already received 10s. weekly as compensation, and went out to work herself. The Chairman said it might be a hard case, but they were compelled to see that the child had a fair education, and imposed an inclusive fine of 2s. 6d. A HONOURABBE RECORD. The jury lists were .submitted by the various assistant overseers and approved of. Mrs Gri- ffith, the wife of the Assistant Overseer for Gwaenysgor who stated that her husband was unable to be present, was permitted by the Bench to produce the jury list for that district. It was stated that Mr Griffith had not missed attending the Court on such occasions for forty-five years. o

Flintshire Education Committee THE TALACRE DISPUTE. RHYL PARENTS AND THE TEACHING OF WELSH. The Flintshire Education Committee met on Wednesday. 'Mr A M Ralli presiding, it was re- ported that a communication had been received from the secretary of the Rhyl Free Church Council urging the Committee to arrange for the teaching of Welsh to the children attending the Rhvl elementary schools. The secretary .also forwarded a requisition, signed by the parents of 334 children attending the Rhyl schools, in- timating their desire to have Welsh taught to their children. The School Management Sub- Committee recommended that the Rhyl Free Church Council be informed that the Committee had adopted a scheme for the teaching of Welsh and had left it in the hands of the managers of each school to decide whether it should be put in operation in their school or not. Mr Goodman P Edwards (Bagillt) asked wheth- eT it was ^possible that the .managers in this case were obstructing the teaching of Welsh. It seemed strange that a place like Rhyl, where Mr Tilby came from-(hear, hear), and members of the standing of Mr Ellis, Mr Perks, and Mr Storey, that it was not within their knowledge that the .scheme had been passed. The appeal by the parents of 334 children seeaned to be a verv strong one. The Secretary (Mr F Llewellyn-Jones) sug- gestcr that the Rhyl managers be asked for their observations, and Mr Goodman Edwards moved a resolution to that effect. Mr II A Tilby said he wished gentlemen would take the opportunity to find out the facts before they wasted time with motions of that sort. The organiser of this .movement came to him and asked him to assist. In response he sent the information on which the application was based. The whole question had been considered by The 334 children were spre ad over the whole of the schools in the town, and not more than 20 or 25 were in any one depart. ment and if a special teacher had to be engaged for the benefit of so small a number the expense would be heavy. He was in favour of Welsh teaching and was, in fact, endeavouring to ac- quire the language himself ,and had taken some trouble in that direction. Mr. Goodman Edwards remarked that he was glad he had raised the matter, if only because it had given them a little more of Mr Tilby's oratory.—(Laughter). If there was a grievance he would like it remedied. The question was referred to the Rhyl Sub- Committee to see if some arrangements could I be .made for tha giving of Welsh lessons in the schools. j TALACRE SCHOOLS. The Talacre Roman 'Catholic Schools again occupied the attention of the Committee. Owing to the refusal of the Committee some years ago to consent to the removal of a head teacher by the managers, the latter withdrew the school, which is the .property of Sir Pyers W Mostyn, from the control of the committee, and opened it as a private elementary school. Consequent- ly the Committee set up a Council school in the neighbourhood. Since then Sir Pyers and Lady Mosty.n have endeavoured frequently to induce the Committee to take over the school again as a non-provided elementary school, but the neg- otiations have proved abortive. On August 2, Sir Pyers Mostyn addTessed the I following letter to the Board of Education:- "I regret that I have to inform you it is not my intention to continue to provide the funds for the maintenance of these schools and the education of the children attending them after the end of the month. The records of the unjust treatment to which the ratepayers of I this parish and the children attending these schools have been subjected to is all on the files in the offices of your board, and I have only continued to maintain them at the earnest request of the parents and at considerable' expense since January 20th, 1905, in the hope that your board would take steps to eufore a settlement, and thus save the ratepayers the contemplated unnecessary expenditure for the erection of another school. I request, there- fore, that some provision be made to take over the children other than the Catholic children who now attend the TaUicre Schools or that a grant be made for their continuance." ,Sir Pyers again wrote on September 20th to the boaTd as follows:- "I much regret that no reply has yet been given-to my letter of the 2nd August beyond an acknowledgment, and no effort whatever ap- pears to have been made to provide education for the children referred to, numbering about 80; and as the attendance officer is threatening the paten is with prosecution because their children are not attending a school, and so that the parents, or children may not suffer, I have arranged io pay the costs of their education for a period of one month from this date, ex- cepting only the salaries of the teachers, who since 1906 have so generously given their ser- vices without payment. I trust that within one month some effort will be made to provide for the education of these children. The School Management Sub-Committee re- commended to yesterday's meeting of the Edu- cation Committee that a reply to Sir Pyers fostyu's solicitors, who sent copies of the letters be forwarded stating that there is already suffi- cient accommodation for the children of the Talacre district in the surrounding schools. Mr T O' Donovan, a teachers7 representative on the Education Committee, moved instead that the following resolution be sent to Sir Pyers Mostyn:—"That we, as members of the Flint- shire Education Committee, take this opportunity of conveying to you our appreciation of the ser- vices you have rendered to the cause of educa- tion in Flintshire, and we assure you that we recosrni?e and are grateful for the sacrifices yo'i have made financially and in various other ways to further that cause by placing within the Teach of every denomination in this district the means of advancement in learning and culture." Mr O'Donovan said the Committee ought gladly to recognise Sir Pyers Mostyn's public spirit, and the resolution carefully avoided any reference to the struggle which had been going on there fer a good number of months. Tha Rev LI R Nicholas, rector of Flint, seconded. A FUNERAL ORATION. Mr 11 A Tilby, Rhyl, said he had listened to 1 the speeches of the mover and seconder with considerable pain. They seemed to him a sort of funeral oration, and reminded him of the speech of Mark Antony I come to bury Caesar not to praise him." He was not so sure that Sir l'yers Mostyn, whom it was proposed to thank for his work for education in the past, was an. xious to commit, as it were, educational suicide at the present moment.—f'Oh," and laughter). Sir Pyers and I^ady Mostyn were quite prepared to continue the good work they had done for education, and instead of passing them a vote of thanks for their past efforts let the Committee ask them to proceed. They practically told the Education Authority that the School buildings were still open for the children of the neigh- bourhood, but the Education Authority replied, We cannot treat you as we have- treated people of another denomination."—(Dissent.) That j was what the authority meant. Dr Humphrey Williams: That is your version of it. Mr Tilby mentioned the case of Gwaenysgor, and asserted that on the application of the parents of only 30 children the Education Com- mittee took over a school as a ''nan-provided" school. He hoped Mr O'Donovan would with. draw his motion and that a resolution which he proposed would be passed, to appoint a sub- committee to see if there was a real desire on the part of the parents of these 70 children that the school should be maintained in the ordinary way. If so the Committee should accede to their rea son able* request. The school was open J for the children at the 'present time. I Mr O'Donovan withdrew his proposal and seconded Mr Tilby's resolution. p I Dr. Humphrey Williams, Flint, who was fre- quently interrupted and contradicted by Mr Tilby, declared that every reasonable endeavour had been made to come to an amicable settle- ment with Sir Pyers and Lady Mostyn in regard to this school, but the only settlement they would have was that the Education Committee should take into theiT service the three nuns who had been tea.ching there for the last three years. The Committee at the last conference, at which Bishop Mostyn was present, offered to take over the school en a lease and to give the bishop the right to nominate one teacher and one member of the body of management.—(Hear, hear.) 'Mr Tilby referred again to the case of Gwaen- I ysgor, .and the question was put to the secretary who said that a school was taken over as a tem- porary school pending the issue of notices, and these were issued almost immediately, for the provision of a Council school. Mr Tilby's proposal was put and lost by a ctonwiderable majority, and the reply to Sir Pyers Mostyn to the effect that the accommo. dation in the district was sufficient for the chil- dren in the Talacre school was approved.

TO VISITORS. The great attraction here is MACKINTOSH S Toffee It's fine. So is Vienna Toffee, MACKINTOSH'S latent.

A PRESTATYN SQUABBLE GIVING A POKER INTO CUSTODY. Some evidence was heard at the Prestatyn Petty Sessions, on Wednesday when Thomas Jones, a tailor of 11, Jubilee Terrace, Prestatyn was summoned by John Hughes, coal dealer, of 4, Spring Bank. On the Bench were Mr W Elwy Williams (in the chair), Mr T J Scott, and Mr Parry Williams. Mr Gascquoine appeared for the complainant, and Mr J Holland Roberta was for the defence. Mr Gascquoine's story'was that on August 31st Hugl]Jllë was in his mother's house when the de- fendant who was drunk came up and asked if his father were in. Complainant replied—" No, he is not in, and I dont want anything to do with you." Whereupon Jones then struck Hughes a tremendous blow on the face, knocking him down. Complainant would almit that he picked up a põker and hit defendant back, but it was not a very severe blow, and caused no injury. Jones again hit Hughes with the poker and went off with the poker. The Complainant bore out this statement. By Mr Holland Roberts: He had on the morn- ing in question been to Rhyl to prosecute his mother for steeling a dog, and he saw the de- fendant in court. Jones might have gone to his father's house to report the result of the case io him. Witness was vexed because the case was dismissed—but was not vexed because Jones was telling his father. Witness did not tell him to get out as soon as he saw him. It was his father's house. He did not hit the complain nt first, the latter struck the first blow. He did not remember defendant saying to him "What is the matter with you John?"—(Laughter.) He ad- rx'tted hitting Jones with the poker, whereupon Jones took the poker from him. If the constable said that Jones was not drunk, witness would still maintaira that he was. Mr Holland Roberts for the defence declared thi.t the facts of the case were very simple. De- fendant had a wife and five children, being em- ployed by a local firm with whom he had been. for 10 years, and his employer was .prepared to give evidence as to his character. On the morn- ing in question he went to the shop, and was told that there was nothing for him to do just then. Hearing of the case that was coming off at Rhyl he went there, and on coming back to Prestatyn went to tell complaintants father how the case had gone on. The father told him to call later and he did. Unfortunately he was received by the son, who was living there prac- tically on suffrance, and the latter no doubt be- ing vexed with the result of the case, immediately set upon Jones. The Latter had every right to go a.nd see the tenant of the house. He submitted there was no case to answer. Defendant bore out Mr Holland Roberts state- ment and swore that complainant first struck him. Mr Holland Roberts: Where was the blow-- In the h(,-iise., Sir.-(Loud laughter.) No. Where did you receive it—On the jaw, Sir.-iiiior,e laughter.) Defendant admitted that he hit complainant back in self defence, and took the poker from him Amid much hilarity defendant produced the poker. Mr Holland Roberts: Is that the instrument of torture—Yes.—(Laughter). Mr Gascquoine: You ran away then from this poor cripple?—Now then talk right man (laugh- ter.) Well did you go out?-How could I man, whe.i he gave me the blow first (lour laughter.) Did you strike the complainant?—Well he hit me an the jaw, and I gave him one back (.'a'Jgn- ter.) And knocked him down--No, he may say so. but I swear I did not. I P.C. Cheney created further merriment by I solemnly deposing that the defendant hnndc<' him the poker "for safe custody." Jones was excited, but not drunk. The case was dismissed, -:0:-

FOOTBALL. RHYL TAKE THE CHAMPIONS DOWN. On Saturday last Rhyl had as there visitors Tranmere Rovers, and naturally attracted con- siderable interest in that the visitors have been going very strongly this year, having in the pre- ious week defeated such a strong team as Chester by six goals to one in the English Cup compet- ition. The visitors were certainly at a disad- vantage without their Captain, Mr Muir, who although on the ground was unable to play through injuries sustained in the Chester match. The Rovers supporters declared that without Muir their team seem to be disorganised. The teams were as follows —Tranmere, R Jones, J Jones, E Price, W Myers, J Lee, F Milne, C Jones T Smith, H Fishwick, J Hilton, and T Butler. Rhyl—.Smith, R Roberts, W Williams, A Roberts Cartwright, Bertie Jones, T Harrison, Frost, David Hughes, and War but ton. From the outset the pace was furious, although Rhyl did not shew such good combination they quite held their own. Hilton soon after the start opened the visitor's account, but Rhyl quickly equalised through the medium of Harri- son who was playing a splendid game, only marred now and again by his temper getting out of control. The game continued to be ke nly contested, and each side appeared to have an equal share of the game. The visitors again got the lead, but Frost the clever centie forward from Cheshire who proved himself to be an ex- cellent pivot, equalised by a smart tap, the ball having sent him by Warburton after a splendid run up. Warburton gave a splendid exhibition and was just what an outside man should be. Time after time without indulging in too much finesse he ran the ball up and was not so eager to part with as some outside men are. He centr- ed beautifully and when he shot he was alwavs on the mark. Bertie Jones too the other outside home forward played a dashing game, but did not follow up the initial advantages he gained, and appeared to be rather eager to get rid of the ball at times. Both sides endeavoured to gain the lead, but owing to the sound defence on both sides nothing further was scored by half-time. Rhyl, 2. Tranmere, 2. Some sensation was produced immediately on the resumption by David Hughes, the inside right putting his team one ahead, and within a couple of minutes adding still another. Natur- ally the homesters were delighted and continued to play for all they were worth. The visitors too made superhuman efforts to reduce the lead, but their efforts were neutralised by the superb de- fence of R Roberts the Rhyl full back. His kicking was clean and accurate. Once he made a slight error, when he rushed at the ball to kick it, mi swing the ball rebounded and struck his hand quite accidentally. The referee, how- ever, awarded a penalty which the visitors man- aged to materialise into a goal. From onwards the visitors made desperate efforts to equalise, and if anything their play was a little superior to that of the homesters, shewing better exper- ience .and understoanding. Nothing further was scored although there were several shaves. Frost once nearly added another for Rhyl, but in his attempt collided with the Rovers goal- keeper who fell and iu¡-t his head. He had to be carried off and the game was suspended for five minutes. He was able to return however, and was accorded an enthusiastic reception. Cartwright the right half for Rhyl now and again put in some brilliant offensive and defen- sive work, but C Jones the outside man he had to face seemed to be a little too good for him at times. The match therefore ended in a victory for Rhyl, it being the first win to their credit this year. Rhvl 4, Tf-inmere. o.