The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

JSírtbs- Marríagcs- Ðeatbs .J MARRIAGES. NEGUS—DAVIES—February 24th, at St. Peter's Church. Carmarthen, by th Rev. B. Parry Gri- ffiths, Mr. Willis Negus, eldest son of Mr. Thomas Negus, Little Water-street, Carmarthen, to Miss Mary Davies, eldest daughter of Mr. Davics, Llanllawddog. DEATHS. BURNHILL.—February 21st. at 4. Sawmill-terrace, Carmarthen, Mrs. Ellen Burnhill, wife of Mr E. E. Burnhill (a former constable in the Carmarthen Borough Police Force), aged 56 years. LEWIS.—February 12th, at Tynewydd, Dryslwyn, Golden Grove, Mrs. Rachel Lewis, aged 84 years. Interred at Llanfynydd Churchyard.

THE WELSH NONCONFORMIST REVOLT A deadly glow has been struck at the Welsh Dis- establishment and Disendovvment Bill by Noncon formists themselves. How deadly it is can be seen from the anger it has aroused in political Noncon- formists. Both in the Press and the Pulpit they are doing their utmost to discount and to kill the movement. There is indeed a significant resem- blance between the methods of Welsh political Non- conformists and Irish Nationalists. Both bring the strongest possible pressure to bear upon their more ignorant supporters, especially in country districts. and both are ready to use spiritual terrorism and social ostracism as potent weapons against those who dare to exercise independent judgment and to ex press opinions contrary to those held by their spiri- tual and political pastors and masters. In the rural districts in the south and west of Ireland boycotting is epidemic, and at election times voters are driven like sheep to the polls, n on the pretext of illiteracy, thousands of vot are recorded under the eye of the local priests. I Wales the chapel bell is not rang, as in Ireland. the chapel screw is equally eff: ct.ve, and it is ruthlessly applied. The pulpit is unblrshingly used as a political platform, an' the peep e are warned not to sign petitions or to ta other action in opposition to the policy of their political and religious leaders. But;, as Mr. ORMKBY- GORE remarked in moving his amendment to thr Address, the threads of the chapfi screw are getting a little worn. Hence the petition which has jusi been presented to'the Prime Minister signed by over 15.000 Nonconformists in the counties of Flint and Denbigh protesting against the disenclowment of the Church in Wales. Failing in the attempt to show that the promoter# of tcid signatories to the petition were not Noncon formists, the Committee and most of these who signed it are now stigmatised as Conservatives. The Chairman, Mr. WILLIAMS, does not deny that although a Nonconformist he is also a Unionist; but this does not apply to all the members of the Committee; and even if it did, what then? Are we to understand that no Nonconformist can bo a Unionist without being regarded as faithless to his religwn The argument is as bigoted as it is absurd. Mr. LLEWELLYN WILLIAMS, M.P., indignantly pro- tests against statements by Colonel WYNNE-EDWARDS that Nonconformists have been warned by their political and other leaders not to sign petitions against the treatment meted out to the Church under tho Bill. But though he may be abio to show Mr. HERBERT LEwIS did not actually take the course attributed to him, evidence is overwhelming that the strongest pressure was brought to bear upon Nonconformists in the diocese of t. Asaph not to sign the petition. Wo notice that some of the leading Welsh organs reveal their panic by the admission that petitions are being signed by the religious leaders of the Non- conformist denominations and by persons who hold official positions with the party of Progress." In the face of such extracts it cannot be maintained that pressure has not been brought to bear by leaders of Welsh political and religious Noncon- formity to prevent Welsh Nonconformists from expressing their real feelings regarding the Welsh Church. The NoTicontormist revolt is, however, only in its infant stage. Committees of Nonconformists aro being formed all over Wales to get up similar peti- tions. In tho diocese of St. David's for instance similar organisations are in full activity. In Cardiff a very strong and representative Nonconformist committee exists and they have obtained the active sympathy of some leading men there. such as the Messrs. Radcliffe, Mr. Richard Cory (an ardent Nonconformist worker) and many others. At Car- marthen the movement is in full swing and on Wednesday morning last as many as fifty names of local Nonconformists had been secured. No one but Nonconformists over the age of 21 are allowed 10 sign, and they all do so with the full knowledge that their names will be open to the widest publicity and the closest scrutiny. We should like to warn Nonconformists that the strongest possible pressure will probably be put upon them in order to prevent them from signing, but wo ask them to remember that in attaching their names to this protest they do so in company with some of the best Nonconformists in Wales. They must set aside all the feverish talk about the "fight for religious liberty," the blood of their fore- fathers," &c., &c.. and remember that one of the greatest religious forces in the world is about to be crippled and through it many other humane institu- tions gravely injured by the Bill to disestablish and disendow the Church in Wales. No

NOlES OF THE WEEK Twm 'Barels Notes To his Inglish ffrends came to hand as we were going to press. It will appear next week. A reader of the JOURNAL Jiving near Rugby writes a very kindly appreciation of the paper. He says:- We are very glad to observe that the popular organ of the old neighbourhood sustains and even improves upon the high standard of literary merit that it has obviously recently set itself." The Welsh National Museum has proved at least its sense of what is true National patriotism and decency by declining to accept the share of the Church money allotted to them by the Bill und up to the present that share has not been allotted to any other institution. rntil the Welsh National Library follow suit we hope all Churchmen will treat this appeal with the scorn it deserves. We know as a fact that several influential Churchmen who used to support the Library by gifts and valu able "finds" have stopped doing so. and no doubt there are hundreds of others doing the same. A departed worthy recently gone aloft will be much missed for his incomparable feats of imagina- tion as related by Jiimself in his byegones." One of his best was his experience with a two-year-old bull. Being young and strong, he was not afraid of any living thing, but this particular bull attacked him unawares, before he had time to present his old muzzle-loader. He had no bullet at hand, and the first object he found near was an acorn, which was gladly used as a missile and safely ambedded itself in the brute's forehead. The bull was stunned and enabled the hero to escape! Years afterwards, a remarkable bull was the great attraction in a loca' Christmas show, for it happened to be the very bovril-provider which our friend stunned with the acorn which had by this time developed into a fine sturdy young oak, growing out of the very same forehead! I heard a good story in Llandilo the other day," writes. a correspondent. A local tradesman had deposited somewhere near his premises a number of dummy tobacco packages—ounces and half-quar- ters. These were eagerly picked up by passers by, and afterwards disposed of at considerably under market value to purchasers who were under the impression that they were buying tobacco not saw- dust. When the purchasers found out how they had been sold the language used by some of them was such as would set printing ink on fire. In the whole crowd of those by whom the finds were made there was apparently but one honest man. He simply picked up the packet and returned it to the owner, believing that the contents was tobacco. What with complimentary dinners and demon strations of welcome the nine Syndicalists deported from South Africa are being made to feel as though they had really done something of which to be proud. It will be interesting to see, however, how long this absurd hero-worship is kept up by the Labour members. The latt-er .gentlemen have vied with the British Socialist party and the other red- flag revolutionaries in denouncing the action of the South African Government, but remembering the fate that befel Larkin and the cold-shouldering of the Tilletts, Tuppers and other disgruntled agitators, it is not improbable that their feelings towards the deported heroes will sooner or later undergo a re- markable change. The Labour members profess to regard with disfavour the Sympathetic strike and other forms of industrial anarchy—which is perhaps not to be wondered at seeing that if this policy were substituted for political action they would no longer draw Parliamentary salaries and enjoy the amenitier- of St. Stephens. But such is their consistency that they are now supporting the men who advocate these and all the other items of the Syndicalist policy. When the deportees embark on their "Fiery Cross crusade.and start stirring up trouble among the workers, the Macdonaldites will perhaps realise that they have adopted a very fc 'ish and short- sighted attitude. What they are now doing is merely assisting to free a Frankenstein's monster. Publio bodies all over the country aro being asked to open a fund towards the 215,000 which is needed to place the National Library in a position to claim the Treasury grant of 250,000. The Carmarthen Town Council and no doubt many similar bodies, have agreed to this request and wo notice that the National Museum authorities intend sending lec- turers around the country to speak on behalf of the institution. We would be the first to join in wel- coming any workers on behalf of the Welsh National Library, but if these gentlemen intend to pursue the appeal for contributions to the £ 15,COO referred to, we feel sure that the thousands of Churchmen at least, if not many Nonconformists, wiii turn a colil shoulder to the appeal. They must remember that under Clause 18 (b) of the Welsh Church Bill, the National Library is one of the institutions which is to receive a share of the plunder ft-oni the Church money and under these circumstances we fed sure they cannot treat this appeal but as an insult added to injury and will offer it the most strenuous oppo- sition. The Bishop of St. David's continues his vigorous opposition to the Welsh Church Bill. He visited tho Oxford Union last week, when that measure was under discussion, and completely pulverised the arguments that were advanced in its favour. He denounced the Bill as the moanest little measure ever put before the country, and declared that the separation of the Church in Wales from the Test of the Province of Canterbury was an outrage for which there is no precedent. He pointed out that the disestablishment of the Church was diametrically contrary to the fundamental principles of the Government, and he urged that it was contrary to the principle of democracy for the Government to foroc th(. Bill through without any authority from the people. The Bishop's speech formed a fitting answer to Priucip tl Selbie's contention that the Church would be helped by giving her her "free dom It is worthy of note that Principal Selbie, a distinguished Nonconformist, admitted that the I is Church in Wales to-day is "stronger, more active, and more earnest than evr before." Why. nen. it may be asked, do so many Nonconformists desire to inflict upon the Church this crashing blow V The Rev. R. T. Davies, vicar of Llwynhendy. wr;tes:-Sir U. Brynmor Jones speaking on the Address in the House of Commons en February 16":h, used the following- words: "Would they (Church- I people) be satisfied if the Welsh people adopted the I methods cf the inil-tant Suffragettes, and pursued a policy of potty persecution of bishops and deans? I The Welsh people, as their history proved, was I like a sword of steel. They bend it. 11," t., would not break it. Their hearts were set on this measure." These are the words of a man filling an important place in political and legal circles, and the chairman of tho Welsh party. But the following are the words of his father, the late Rev. Thomas Jones. the great preacher, who loomed infinitely larger in the world of religion than even his able son does in the world of politics and law. "The great preacher," who was a very keen observer, saw the great work of the Church in various parts of the world: The dear old Church, the repository of so much learning, so much wisdom and so much piety. She has her grand old liturgy to fall back upon, while the Non- conformist pulpits were being filled by men, v. "a/ men. men of no intellectual attainments—fools, and that it were not that eight out of every ten of the hearers were. unthinking, and unreading listeners. Such preachers would never venture to ascend the pulpit stairs." Let the reasonable Nonconformists reflect upon these words uttered by one of the most mighty prea-jhers Welsh Nonconformity ever pro- duced. We commend to the consideration of those Liberals who believe that the Home Rule Bill, if it became law, would produce a final settlement of the Irish problem, acceptable at least to the Nationalists, tho subjoined characteristic comments, expressing the opinion of the Nationalist extremists, which appear in the current number of their organ, Sinn Fein." The people of this country have, through their representatives in an alien Parliament, sustained an English Liberal Government in power since December, 1905, in the belief that that Government would redeem its pledge to enact A MINOR MEASURE OtF SELF-GOVERNMENT FOR IRELAND. For over eight years they have awaited this redemption and submitted to a series of acts which has increased their taxation and injured their commerce in the interim. The measure in which they were induced to acquiesce withheld from them all the essential powers of control over trade, commerce, and revenues which the smallest of the self-governing British colonies enjoy. The feature of the measure which induced many Nationalists to refrain from opposing its acceptance was that it set up in Dublin an Irish legislature responsible to the people of Ireland. Cribbed, cabined, and confined though that legis- lature would be by the terms of the law which created it, YET IT WOULD HAVE WITHIN" IT THE GERM OF NATIONAL UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT." CONDEMNED ON ITS MERITS. "Sinn Fein" add, (For the first time in a century it would compel the foregathering and deliberation of all sections in the island upon the affairs of Ireland as a whole, and beget the common interest where under the existing system ancient prejudice nourishes ill- will and misunderstanding to the common loss. For the first time in a century, Ireland would again speak with a national organ—however feeble the speech might be. The Irish State would have a head. This consideration—and this alone—IN- DUCED IRISHMEN WHO DESPISED THE PROPOSED MEASURE FOR ITS MEANNESS OF CONCEPTION AND DETAIL TO REFRAIN FROM CALLING IFIOR ITS REJECTION WITH CONTEMT." The capitals are ours. THE TALK IS:- That the utterances in Nonconformist pulpits at Carmarthen next Sunday will be worth hearing. That the Christy minstrel entertainments are likely to yield a not profit of from JM5 to JB40, and that if other appeals for the same object would subscribe in the same proportion the total would reach a satis- factory sum. That the Military Ball at Carmarthen was a great success and sheuld do much to popularise the local territorial forces. That the latter ought not to need artificial aids to its popularity. Welsh patriotism, if healthy and manly, should put the promoters of the local terri- torial forces above anxiety, but real patriotism is found least among those who talk most about it. That the only military manoeuvre which appeals to that class of person is the bloodless and supremely safe one of waving" the flag of freedom and pick- ing up soft job,. That the farmers of Carmarthenshire Cannot on the whole be accused of wanting the right kind of patriotism, but that there are many splendid fellows still outside the rallies of the leomanry who would find the experience a very enjoyable one, and a fine hobby.

THE PARLIAMENTARY MACHINE EVENTFUL DAYS. MR. ASQU1TH AND HOME RULE. (By "Junius.") House of Commons, Westminster. HOME RULE. ¡ With dramatic suddenness the debate in the Com- I mons became purposeful and grave on Tuesday night, when the Opposition demanded of Mr. Asqiuth that he shou.u tell Parliament at once and plainly what alterations it is proposed to make in the Homo Rule Bill. A group of Radicals, some fifty strong, filled the paper in advance wila notioes of an amendment to tile Unionist motion in which the hint was given to the Prime Minister that he must make no concessions to Ulster and that the only proper course in the circumstances is "full steam ahead." Uood reason can be adduced for the statement that Mr. Asquith was not over-grateful to his friends for their energy. He was quite aware that the amendment was meant to be a censure upon himself because of the language he used about Lister on the opening day of the Sessions, and at times in his speech h.s tone revealed something of his annoyance. Apparently the "great disclosure" 'l-n0! t0 miKjc Just yet. "Wait and see' u still the order of the day. But what if the order is not respected ? THE DANGER OF DELAY. Many Liberals are beginning to realise the risk of a policy of postponement. Certainly Unionists are fully alive to the dangers which are being run, aLd if anything untoward happens in Ulster or elsewhere it is leit that a due share of the responsibility must now be laid upon the fifty pairs of shoulders be- longing to the "men of the amendment" as they are aiready dubbed, who have t\v.s openly enrolled themselves against a peaceful settlement. It is no exaggeration to say that the Coalition is at length pasi.ng through the most serious crisis of its career. The men who want to lead are distracted by cozi fJict JIg counsels; the men who want to follow feel contused and muddle-headed in the babble of com- mands Much is being made in the House and out of it of a frank confession which appeared on Sundav 'n a London paper which supposed to represent the views of Sir Henry Dalziel, one of the stalwarts °ff f°r 1 .Tii;s confession was to the a11 tlle enthusiasm with which the Session opened on the Liberal side had nearly evaporated. Everything was going wrong. The outlook was black and Ministers were told that the exclusive life they were leading seemed to make them incapable oi know ng anything about the feelings and the de- sires of their rank and file supporters. SCOWLING COUNTENANCES. The spirit which animated this confession has come up to the surface in the House several times th.s week. It was most noticeable on Monday, when the victor of Bethnal Green took his seat. The scowling "ountenance.s along the Liberal and Labour benches were eloquent. They plainly accused the Treasury Bench of culpable blundering. Why bad any by-election been permitted? Why were not the impatient in the junior ranks of Ministers told to curb their impatience? Unionists understood the scowls and cheered and cheered again. IN THE LORDS. The House of Lords has been once more a centre Qf deep interest. Night after night well-filled benches and crowded naileries have belied the Radical gibe that nobody cares a fig in these days whether the peers sit or not. The Murray debate was worthy of the occasion. Lord Lansdowne's speech, in which he moved for the appointment of a new Committee of Inquiry in regard to Ministers and Marconi shares, etc., was the most striking he has made for many a day, and that is saying much. Its effect was like that of a maxim gun. The shots rattled out m rapid succession and spread confusio* Lord Crewe was particularly feeble in his reply. Liberals or a cross bench mind and there are a good manv 'such about just now, afterwards admitted that it was quite apparent that his heart was not in his task. Neither he nor Lord Morley, nor the Lord Chancellor, can feel anything but repugnance in presence of the noisome thing's which the Marconi controversy has brought to light. The Committee is now in course of constitution. And when the names of the members are disclosed it will be feft that the Committee is strong and impartial and that jus- tice will be done. THE HONOURS DEBATE. Another debate in the Upper House was on the difficult matter of the connection between honours and the party funds. Lord Selborne carried a reso- lution declaring that a contribution to party funds should not 00 a consideration to a Minister when he recommends any name for an honour to His Majesty, and that it is desirable that effectual measures should be taken in order to assure the nation that Governments, from whatever political party they are drawn, will act according to this rule. Lord Crewe gave on behalf of the Prime Minister a categorical assurance that a contribution to party funds had not been a consideration to him in recommending men to His Majesty for honours. What has caused the present revival of interest in the subject are the recurring rumours that the Liberal party funds managers did some time ago acquire very considerable sums of monev in this way. The party fund is in the absolute control of the Chief Whip as was disclosed in the last Marconi inquiry. The most helpful suggestion made in the debate came from Lord Milner. It was that when honours are announced some brief statement should be made of the reason why they are conferred as is now done in the ca-se of civil list pensions.

SOCIETY AND PERSONAL Mr. R. Peel, son of Mr. Herbert Peel. Taliaris, who is now at home on a holiday, has gone away to Ireland for a month's hunting. Wo regret to hear that Miss Charlotte Harford has left Falcondale, where she has been staying for sometime with her brother. There was a large meeting of the Carmarthenshire Hounds on Tuesday near Mvdrim. A good many people from the north of the county went down by train, including the Misses Pry se Rice, Llwynybrain; Mr. Jack and Miss Hunter, of Abermarlais; the Hon. Mrs. Fryer, and several others. We hear that the Red Cross SoQietv in Llanv- byther is progressing most favourably, and great interest is taken in the movement by several lead. ing people in the district. The most active and foremost is Col. Davies-Evans, lord-lieutenant of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Eccles1 have left the Mansion, at Broadway, Laugharne. and are staying at the Hotel Continental. Miss Fc^'e^ '-efairK at home with her young brother, Master Lindsay, who is rapidly recovering from his recent illness. Mr. and Mrs Pry-p R'ce. Llwvnvbrain. have very generously borne the expense of levelling and beautifying a large portion of the n»w churchyard. A year hence this part of the churchyard, with its new grass and shrubs, will no doubt look as "God's Acre" should look. Acre" should look. The christening of the infant son of Captain and Mrs. Rivers-Bulkelev took place on Saturday 81 the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The Duke and Ducheas of Connaught (for whom Major Malcolm Murray and Countess Cawdor will stand proxy), Earl Curzon, and Mr. F. V. Meredith, of Montreal, act as godparents, and the child received the names "Robert Arthur Henry Rivers." The Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal, Canon Edgar Sheppard. officia- ted.