The Aberdare Leader

COURT ROOM REFORM WANTED COURT accommodation is extremely limited at Aberdare, and the cry of the Aberdare Chamber of Trade is for more room. Both the Police Court and the County Court are held in the Police Station, which is far too small. On state days court officials and litigants are- to borrow an editorial term-" pressed for space," while the general public are crowded out altogether. Again the solicitors have their woes and their wails. They have no room to consult their clients or interview witnesses. This has to be done on the stair landing or in the public streets. There is not even room for the barristers to hang up their drapery. Then the County Court offices are seven or eight minutes walk from the Court Room. The Registrar's Court is held in a small, dark, dingy room adjoining the offices. Its distance from the Judge's Room causes very great inconvenience to solicitors and litigants. We trust that the Aberdare Chamber of Trade, after taking this matter up, will not leave it where all preceding agitators have left it. The late Judge Gwilym Williams could not understand why the people of Aberdare and district did not move in the matter, and insist upon having better court accommodation. But, after all, the tardiness of the general public in the matter is not to be wondered at. People who never go to law themselves have but little desire to study the convenience and comfort of their neighbours who go to law. On the other hand the people who frequent the courts in the capacity of litigants consider that their patronage of the courts costs them enough already, and they are not inclined to support any movement in relation to court accom- modation which, would mean a further demand on their exchequers. This fact makes us doubtful as to whether the Chamber of Trade, in any step they might take in this direction, will get the public sympathy and support which one would consider such a movement to be deserving of. Inasmuch as this matter is so closely associated with the interests of the legal fraternity and their clients it is a wonder that the Incorpor- ated Law Society has not done some- thing. A few years ago hopes were cherished that the pressure of work and limitation of space at the County Court offices would be remedied by opening separate offices at Mountain Ash or Abercynon for the lower portion of the district. But so far those offices are castles in the air. Now that the Chamber of Trade have set their hands to the plough we trust that they will drive their furrow right to the headland. More power to their elbow in their effort to secure more elbow room. Whatever may be done we hope that it will be arranged to get the Registrar's Court and Judge's Court held under the same roof. This is an absolute necessity,

He is not only idle who does nothing, but he is idle who might be better em- ployed.

Brecon College and the New Theology. Has the Rev. J. Morgan Jones been victimisedP In the South Wales Dcuily News for Saturday last "TopJis" writes as follows The recent transactions of the com- mittee of the Memorial College, Brecon, particularly their treatment of those suspected of leanings towards the New Theology, is being much discussed just now. Some time ago a candidate who did not disguise his theological tenets sought admission as a student. After investigations he was received. At the end of the ordinary period of probation the committee took the unusual step of giving him a second period of probation, and, I am informed, appointed a com- mittee to investigate, and, as a result, the student was refused admission into the college. It was a drastic remedy, out of all proportiou to the gravity of the matter; but as considerable con- fidence was felt in the judgment of the committee the matter was allowed to rest, and considered as solved. Mora recently, hov. ever, an incident has happened, whether in any way connected, except accidentally, with the above I cannot say. I do know that it has given rise to a grave heart-searching and indignation. The Rev. J. Morgan Jones, the gifted and fearless pastor of the Tabernacle Church, Aberdare, always ready to take the side of "the under dog," is reported to have remonstrated and protested against the exclusion. It is well-known that the authorities resented what seemed like interference with their methods of discipline. Whether for that or for some other reason it is nob ea-y to say, but the fact remains that Mr Jones was not re-elect- ed to the commititee at its last meeting. As Mr Jones, in addiuion to being an alumnus of the College, has served the committee with great fidelity and remarkably efficiency, his exclusion is, in any case, ill-advised. Coming, as it does, so soon after the non-admission of the student, it cannot but be regarded as a most unfortunate move. In reference to this matter the "Wes- tern Mail sa,ys;- The action of the subscribers to the Congregational College, known as the Brecon Memorial College, at their last annual meeting assembled, in not 're- electing to the executive committee the Rev. John Morgan Jones raises the ques- tion, especially when taken and regard- ed in conjunction with the action taken by Mr. Richard Cory and a former pastor of the Longeross Street Baptist Chapel, Cardiff, with respect to the Rev. Oliver Bo wen, B.A., the present pastor of that church, an avowed follower of the Rev. R. J. Campbell, of the City Temple, London, whether the Nonconformists of Wales are starting a campaign of boycott against those ministers who sympathise with the views known as the "New Theology." This is not the Rev. John Morgan Jones, of Cardiff, the superintendent of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Forward Movement. Neither is. it the Bev. John Morgan Jones, M.A., the minister ot Hope Street English Calvinistic Method- ist Chapel at Merthyr Tydfil, but it is the Rev. John Morgan Jones, M.A., the minister of the Tabernacle English Cong. Chapel at Aberdare. Mr. Jones is a former student of the University College, Cardiff, where he was a fellow-student with Principal Thomas Rees, M.A., of the Bala-Bangor Congregational College, at Bangor. He was also an unattached student of the Oxford University, taking his degree with honours in theology in that university. He also studied theolo- gy in German universities, and was a former student of the Brecon Memorial College. He has, without doubt, for some years past drawn attention to himself in Wales as one who sympathises with the new school of Biblical criticism, and also with the school of a New Theology," not only by his outspoken sermons in his own pulpit, as well as in other pulpits, but also by his weekly notes in the a Sunday School Chronicle, and more especially by his articles on Biblical criticism in "Y Diwygiwr," a monthly Congregational publication. His dafence of an unfortunate student of the Brecon Memorial College who did not conceal from his tutors and the exe- cutive committee his New Theology" leanings has simply brought matters 10 a head. Mr. Jones may be the first vic- tim, but he certainly will not be the last. If the Nonconformists of Wales intend to establish an inquisition against the adherents of the New Theology" m their pulpits, then they will soon find that this new Welsh Nonconformist in- quisition will be as fully occupied as the historic "Holy Inquisition" in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is only fair to state that the posi- tion of Mr. J. Morgan Jones in. the world of theological scholars may be gauged. from the fact that recently his name was favourably mentioned for the princinai- ship of the Rotherham Congregational College, which position was given to another Welshman, who also sympath- ises with the "New Theology," the Rev. E. Griffith Jones, formerly of Balham, London, the author of a well-known book, entitled, "The Ascent Through Christ." The Western Mail" writer has made some errors in his article. The Rev. J. M. Jones was all but elected to a pro- fessorship in Bradford College, but the position was obtained by Mr. Grieve, who is also a Welshman. The Rev. E. Griffith Jones was and is the principal of the college, and it is hardly correct to say that he sympathises with the "New Theology. Besides, it is to the "Christian Com- monwealth that Mr. Jones contributes, and not the Sunday School Chronicle." The former periodical is generally re- garded as the organ of the New Theolo- gy and its adherents. The Rev. J. M. Jones had been on the executive of the Brecon Memorial College for about 10 years. Of course, the fact that he has been excluded from the exe- cutive, and an orthodox mimster-the Rev. H. P. Jenkins, Saron, Aberaman, if we are not mistaken—elected to his place, may have been a pure accident, and no motive whatever attached to it. But the fact that Mr. Jones's exclusion happened so soon after he had entered his protest against the student's exclusion, has caused several close observers to put two and two together and draw conclusions. The executive committee of the college is appointed annually by a meeting of the subscribers to the College, but in- asmuch as the personnel of the meeting of subscribers and the personnel of the committee are practically one and the same it may be said in a sense that the committee elects itself. The Rev. H. A. Davies, formerly pastor of Moriah Aman, is the chairman of the committee, and the Rev. J. Grawys Jones, Ebenezer, is also a member. It is understood that a member of the college staff is somewhat hostile to the Rev. J. M. Jones and his views, and there is reason to believe that this pro- fessor has influenced the committee to take this drastic step. STUDENT A MOUNTAIN ASH MAN. The student who was refused ad- mission to the college is Mr. S. O. Davies, who was brought up at Soar Cong. Church, Mountain Ash, of which the Rev. D. Jeremy Jones is pastor. He does not conceal the fact that he holds very advanced theological views, and it is highly probable that this accounted for his non-acceptance by the Memorial College authorities.

Cwmbach Miners Killed. Coroner and the Public. Mr R. J. Rhys held two inquests on Tuesday at Cwmbach. The first was on Elias Price, collier, who died on Friday as the result of injuries sustained earlier in the day at the liletyshonkin Colliery. David John Williams, (15), who work- ed with the deceased, said the latter was struck down by a tram, the horse having started unexpectedly. J. R. Williams, who was working close by the deceased, said that while under the tram he heard Price recuark "I haye no feeling; I believe my back is broken." A verdict of "Accidental Death was returned. A similar verdict was returned in the case of J. Lewis Davies; a haulier at the same colliery, who died on Sunday from injuries through being buried beneath a fall, on the previous Tuesday. It appears that prior to the opening of the inquests an attempt was made by the public to gain admittance, but P.C. Kear, of the Coroner's office, refused to allow them. When the Court opened Mr William Thomas, solicitor, Aberdare, (appearing on behalf of the Miners Federation), referred to the action of the officer, and said he thought that coroner's courts, like other courts, were open to the public. The Coroner: Certainly, the public can attend, provided there is sufficient accommodation and they behave them- selves. The public was thereupon admitted. Mr Elias Price lived at School Row. Cwmbach, and formerly at the Farmer's Arms. Mr Lewis John Davies, who lived at Ynyscynon St, was a brother of Guardian Meth Davies. He leaves a wife and family. Much -sympathy is expressed with both families in their great sorrow.

Aberdare Horse Show. We are pleased to learn that the entries for the Horse Show to be held at the Athletic Grounds on Thursday next, the 25th inst, are exceptionally good. Some of the finest Hackneys in the country have entered and a fine show is promised the spectators. The Jumping classes are very well filled, and the jumps are, if anything, stifter than usual, so that some keen competition will be seen in the three jumping classes The local and all the well-known trotters and gallopers have entered. These competitions do not start until about 5 o'clock, so that most people will be able to take advantage of the reduction to 6d. in the admission at five o'clock. The Committee and Hon. Sec. have worked very hard to attain the high standard they have, and they deserve the support of all classes and the kind consideration of the clerk of the weather.

jii^m —i..—i» ■ Penrhiwceiber Man's Behaviour. Samuel Abraham, butcher, Penrhiw- ceiber. was before the Ystrad Rhondda magistrates on Monday charged with behaving improperly in a T.V.R. carriage towards Miss Lizzie Singleton, of Porth. The evidence showed that prosecutrix made a complaint to the guard of the last train from Treherbert on arrival at Treorchy, and he put her in a separate compartment from defend- ant, who, it was alleged, was under the influence of drink Mr J, Watkin Jones, for the defence, expressed regret on behalf of his client, the lapse being due to his having taken too much drink. Mr Jones asked the Bench to deal with the ease as one of common assault. The Bench agreed and a fine of 40s and costs was imposed.

46 Yeapal Service. Glynneath Councillor's Retire- ment. A large gathering assembled at the Butchers Arms, Glynneath, to present Councillor W. T. Rowlands and Mrs Rowlands with an address, silver tea and coffee service, and purse of gold, as a tribute of respect from the British Rhondda Colliery workmen and other friends. The gift was made on Mr Rowlands retiring after an exceptionally successful career at the local colliery for 46 years. The chair was occupied by Mr D. Lewis, Pontneathvaughan, and speeches were delivered by Messrs Jno. Williams, Jno. Richards, Jno. Perkins, Wm. Harris, and others. The honour of presenting Councillor Rowlands fell to the lot of Messrs Morgan Morgans, and T. F. Williams, Rhigos, and Evan Rees, Glynneath, and of presenting Mrs Rowlands to the host- ess, Mrs Havard. A striking feature of the programme was the fine rendering by Mr M. E. Jones, Rhigos, of Make new friends but keep the old."

Over-reached Herself. MOUNTAIN ASH WOMAN'S TRAGI0 DEATH. Yesterday (Wednesday) morning a woman named Mrs. Collins, wife of }ir. Stanley Collins, 53, Cardiff-road, Moun- tain Ash, died very suddenly, her dead body being found on the floor of her house by a neighbour, Mrs. Regan. It is believed that Mrs. Collins was in tlle act of pulling up the window blind. 8M stood on a box, and over-reaching bet- ad self she slipped and fell, and sustained internal injuries. She died from shoclt and hemorrhage before Dr. McCarthy was able to arrive. She leaves tØ'° children who with the husband are ob- jects of deep sympathy.