South Wales Daily News

DEAN VAUGHAN AND EPIS- COPAL HONOURS. It is a fact not generally known that when Bishop Murray died in 1860 the See of Rochester was at once offered by Lord Palmers ton to Dr Vaughan, who had just resigned the head-master- ship of Harrow. If Dr Vaughan had accepted the offer he would have succeeded Longley as Archbishop of York, and would now have been at Lambeth. There is a story that shortly befor Dr aughan left Harrow ho rashly announced, before a l.rge company, that he would never accept a Bishopric, and I have heard fchafc he would have consented to succeed Bishop Murray at Rochester but for the fact that some friend reminded him of his declaration on the subject, which he had himself forgotten.—Truth.

If a man continually complains of feeling" out of sorts," you may be sure he does not wear one of Harness' Electropathic Belts, because these world-famed appliances not only counteract the injurious effects of climatic changes, and keep the body at a uniform and healthy temperature but they never fail to brace up the whole system so long as they are worn. Husbands, wives, and delicate children-in fact, everybody who desires to be permanently strong and healthy—should wear one of these genuine Electric Belts. Thou- sands of original, convincing testimonials may be seen at the Electropathic and Zander Insti- tute, 52, Oxford-street, London, W., copies of which may be had with descriptive illustrated I paniphlet gratis on application. iSote.—Consul ca tioo3 are also free, either personally er by letter.

THE CATHAYS PARK SCHEME. At the ordinary meeting of the Cardiff County Council, which will bo held in the Town-hall on Monday next, Mr Councillor Munn will move, pursuant to notice, the following resolution anent tho Cathays Park scheme li That a special committee be appointed by the Corporation for the purpose of considering the desirability of initiating negotiations for the purchase of Cathuys Park from Lord Bute, and devoting the same principally to the erection of such buildings and institutions of a public character as are or may be required by the authorities of the County Borough of Cardiff, with instructions to confer with chose authorities in order to ascertain the quantity of land, they would respectively need, and the sum they would give therefor and also to report upon the value of the site of the existing Town-ball and Municipal Buildings, the amount already paid for sites adjoining thereto, and the amount asked for the sites, the acquisition of which has been suggested for the extension of the Municipal Buildings, viz. :—Those in Westgate-street and Quay-street belonging to Messrs Stacey, as well as for the sites in Quay-street belonging to the trustees of the late Mr Frederick Vachell, Capt. Tynte, Lord Tredegar, and the trustees of the late Mr David Lewis, and to furnish this Council with a comprehensive report upon the whole question."

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES. DEATHS MARRIAGES. DAVID—CHAMBERS.—At 11 lveston Church, Alveston, on the 3rd instanc, Joseph David, of St. Fagan's, to Lucy Evelyn, youngest daughter of Mr W. O. Chambers, Alveston. 536 PROUD—BEDFORD.—On Wednesday, August 3rd, at the United Methodist Church, Guilford-street, Cardiff, by the Rev J. T. Cox, Anthony, second son of Richard Proud, to Annie Louisa, eldest daughter of George Henry Bedford. 563 DEATHS. MARTIN.—At Avenue Villas, Llanelly, on the 1st instant, James Martin, aged 40 years. Funeral at the Box Cemetery, on Thursday, at j 2 o'clock. LEWIS.—August 2nd, Margaret, beloved wife of Rev J. W Lewis, Calvary, Morriston. Funeral, Friday, 4 p.m., at Zion, Morriston. Deeply lamented. 2993 WARREN.—On 1st August, at Clytha-park, Newport, John Warren, Civil Engineer a.nd Surveyor. 2967

STATE RELIGION. Tff'^ponfererice of Welsh members of Par- liament with the Committee for the Disestablishment of the English State Church in Wales, to be held this afternoon, is certain to produce the usual crop of rumours, misrepresentations, revilings, and slanders of Welsh Nonconformity and Dissent with which the experience of years has made us familiar. The Disestablishment and Disendowment of the State Church in the Principality is a primary article in the Liberal creed, and in the struggle which is now imminent the defenders of State Churchism—for the credit of the system they attempt to buttress-had better resort to other weapons than their usual ones of calumny, traduce- ments, and abuse. It may be a debateable subject whether the Disestablishment and Disendowment of the State Church be right or wrong, just or un-1 just, expedient or inexpedient but the question can never be settled by cen- sures or vilification, or, by the imputation of unrighteous motives and the calling of names, which unhappily seem to be the only stock-in-trade of a certain class of Tory journalists, and of the unsavoury tribe of Church defenders. Invective is not argu- ment, and insolence, as Mr DISBAELT said I QIl a memMaMe acDs is not invec- tive and it is a recognised canon in argument that these controversial methods are' only resorted to by persons who are conscious that they have a bad cause to defend, or who are mentally unable to defend a good one. Whilst reading a series of letters on the State Church controversy which have just appeared we were irresist- ibly forced to the conclusion that it is as in- expressibly foolish for persons to engage in controversy who have no distinct appre- hension of the essentials of the question at issue, or the kind and the amount of proof which the subject demands, as it would be for a pigmy to attempt to scale j Olympus where the Titans had failed. What is it that Dissenters and Noncon- formists wish to accomplish in seeking to Disestablish and Disendow the State Church in Wales ? To uproot religion, or, at least, to damage and weaken its influence, say certain bellicose champions of the State Establishment which proves to demonstra- tion that they are wofully ignorant of the question on which they discourse so flippantly. What is the State Church ? Is it a re- ligious institution at all or merely a political State engine 1 GIBBON, in his Decline and Fall," tells us that to the Roman people all religions were equally true to the philo- sopher all equally false and to the States- man all equally useful. But any English Government which would venture to affirm that it upheld a National Establishment of religion not because the religion was true but because it was a useful agency in political Government would outrage the moral sense of the people, and would speedily be driven from.oince with ignominy and loathing. It is then as religion, as the truth sent from GOD, and not as a useful or a convenient engine of Statecraft that the State pro- fesses to uphold a national faith and to legis- late for a national worship. But the State is merely an institution and not a sentient being, and cannot, therefore, possess or even apprehend religion, which is an individual entity, a personal experience, and the State is un- able to legislate for what it cannot appre- hend, and which, as a living individual experience, is beyond its ken. It cannot even legislate for a Church, in the true acceptation of the word,because, as the 19th article of the Church of England affirms, a Church is a congregation of faithful men in Ethe which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments be duly administered." What the State can do, and what the State has done, is to declare itself a Church, and all the subjects of the State members of that Church by birthright, and not by the possession of individual religion. The distinguished historian, Mr E. A. FREEMAN, who was a sincere and devout Churchman, declares that the State Church is not any particular sect or denomination, but the whole body of the people exercising ecclesiastical functions. It is not religion, then, which is established—for that the State cannot recognise, and consequently cannot establish — but ecclesiasticism and what Welsh Dissenters and Noncon- formists are aiming to accomplish is to Disestablish and Disendow Ecclesiasticism, which in all ages of the world's history has been a system of preference and privilege, of excommunication and persecution. The State Church, the Church of England as it is called, is the entire body of the people of I England and Wales exercising ecclesiastica functions, or legislating on ecclesiastical matters. The State clergy, the Church clergy are the ecclesiastical servants of the State, appointed to discharge ecclesiastical duties, and the State is the whole body of the people in their political character and relationships. Viewing the question thus— and it is the method adopted by the great historian who has but recently passed away from amongst us—we are better able to ,apprehend whether the Disestablishment and Disendowment of what is called the State Church in Wales is not only demanded by State policy and national well-being, but by every principle of righteousness, morality, and justice. The State Church, then, as such, is not the Church of CHRIST is not religion or a religious institution at all, but a system of State Ecclesiasticism in which every Englishman and Welshman is included, not because he is an Episcopalian or a Noncon- formist, or even a religious person, but because he is an Englishman or a Welsh- man. The Church is the people of England and Wales in their ecclesiastical character. Whether it is not a grave immorality, a high injustice, and a cry- ing wrong in the State to attempt to exercise ecclesiastical functions does not come within our purview at present. We are now dealing with facts, the moral will follow hereafter. There was, no doubt, a time in the history of the nation when the injustice of a State Church was not so grievously felt or so glaringly apparent. When the whole nation was of one religion, as it is called, of one ecclesiastical faith—or, to use the Scriptural phrase, "of one language and "of one speech"—the wrong and the injustice of State Ecclesiasticism were not so manifest and so far as each individual subject of the realm was concerned, was neither favouritism nor political injustice, nor oppression. When all the members of the State believed in the same ecclesiastical' system, held the same ecclesiastical creed, although there was impropriety, immorality, and wrong doing looking at the matter in the light of religion, there was no political injustice in the State enforcing its ecclesiastical jurisdiction upon all any more than there is political injustice in the State compelling each of its members to bear his full share of responsibility for State protection and State development. But in the present day, when a very large percentage—a full half, probably—of the inhabitants of England and Wales are utterly opposed to State Ecclesiasticism, the perpetuation of that ecclesiasticism is a crying injustice and a wrong, because it has degenerated into a system of ecclesiastical preference and privilege, and the enjoyment of State emoluments by one section of the subjects of the State to the practical exclusion-the excommunication, in other words—of the other sections, who are equally loyal to the State, and who bear their equal share of State burdens. Or, to put the matter in its true light, it is paying for the ism of some with money taken out of the pockets of all. In the Principality this injustice and wrong is more grievous and intolerable, inasmuch as three-fourths of the people disown State Ecclesiasticism, repudiate the teaching of the ecclesiastical officials whom the State has appointed to teach them, and pay for other teaching and; other religious ministrations out of their own 'pockets. It is an unjust preference, therefore, inequitable and un- righteous dealing with loyal subjects for the State to patronise and dignify and pay for the propagation of the tsm of 25 per cent. of its subjects, whilst treating the other 75 per cent., who are equally loyal and. equally law-abiding, as if they were pariahs and outcasts from State sympathy and.help. j The 75 per cent., moreover, ask for no State help, no State support, no State emoluments, and would indignantly refuse to permit their ecclesiastical systems to rear their mitred heads— to use BUBKE'S sophistical metaphor—in Courts and Parliaments. They only ask: that the State shall not intermeddle with ecclesiasticism; shall no longer legislate, on ecclesiastical matters and they ask this on many groimde j because State interference -.4 with systems of religion is inimical to the spread of real religion, and is in deadly opposition to its spirit; because it produces social and political strife in a community; and because it is gravely inexpedient and opposed to the welfare of the State to give preference and honours and emoluments to any section of the sub- jects of the State for professing belief'in a particular ism. The State should treat all its subjects impartially and alike. These are but the elementary principles which I underlie the grave question of the Dises- tablishment and Disendowment of the State religion and they are not to be extin- guished by invectives and revilings and abuse. Other aspects of the crucial ques- tion will be discussed hereafter. =======

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. THE PLANET MARS IN OPPOSITION, j AUGUST 4TH. [BY THE REV W. E. WINKS, CARDIFF.] To-night this most earth-like of all the planets is in opposition to the sun. That is, ho is on the meridian at midnight, and so comes into the most favourable position for observation. He is very low down, it is true; only about 14 degrees above the southern horizon, and yet he is a conspicuous and beautiful object to the naked eye, and an object of immense interest to the" telescopic observer. This term opposition" signifies that he is in exactly the opposite quarter of the heaven to the sun, so that we look at his face fully illuminated, just as we look at the moon at the full. While his low position in the sky is a serious drawback to those who wish to make careful observations with the telescope, it must be borno in mind that this present opposition has a certain great advan- tage. It happens to occur when the planet is almost as near as he ever comes to both the sun and the. earth. His path round the sun, as is well known, lies next in order outside our own. This path is not round, but elliptical; and its eccentricity is so great qhat at one period of opposition he may approach to about 34% millions of miles from the earth, and at another he may be 62 millions of miles away. In this instance he is almost at his nearest distance from U3, namely, 34,864,930 miles. The nixt time he comes into the same relative position—that is, in about two years—his distance will be increased by five millions of miles. If he were only higher up in the sky this would be a grand opportunity for examining the surface of our interesting neighbour. For such an oppor- tunity the telescopist must go much further south. Even as it is, all tbe main features of his bright face may be made out with good instru- ments the ruddy complexion, which becomes paler and more varied under high telescopic powers; the strangely shaped continents with their interlacing gulfs, bays, and straits or canals, and what to many observers is the most fascinat- ing feature of all, the snow-cap at the south pole. In addition to all this, we havo the evidence of a cloudy atmosphere like our own, by which vast stretches of land and water are at times hidden from our view. The tilt of the axis of Mars is vry similar to our own, 27 deg., as compared with 23%. On this account bis seasons are not unlike ours. His day is also of similar length, and his year would make two of ours, minus 43 of our days. We have pretty nearly all the conditions, as far as we can tell, for inhabitants like ourselves. As for their com- munication with us, on which one has read so much lately, remarks may safely be reserved until we receive the first message. I am not aware of any Martial news agency having been estab- lished at present.

MADAME PATTFS CONCERT. TO THB EDITOR. SIR,—The arrangements for this event (which is to take place at Neath on Thursday, 11th August), are now complete, and no effort has been spared by the committee to make the occa- sion brilliant. The Corporations of Neath and of Brecon will be officially represented, and an illuminated ad- dress of thanks will be handed to Madame Patti- Nicolini at the Gwyn-hall during the concert. A procession will escort the diva and her party from the Neath and Brecon Railway Station to the Gwyn-hall, the streets being decorated all along the route. It only remains for the public to back up the committee by securing promptly their places in the concert-hall, thus making certain that this charitable enterprise shall prove a financial success. As stated in your advertising columns, I will gladly select tickets for reserved seats on behalf of persons residing out of Neath on receipt of their orders and remittances.—I am, &c., EDWIN C. CURTIS, Hon. Sec. to the Conceit. Town Clerk's Office, Neath, 3rd August, 1892.

ALLEGED ABDUCTION AT CARDIFF PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. At Cardiff Borough Police-court, on Wednes- day—before Dr Paine, Alderman David Jones, and Mr J. W. Vachell-Edward Davies (22), was .again brought up charged with abducting a girl named Rose Kimber, 15 years of age, on the 22nd ult. The mother of the prosecutrix produced the certificate of her daughter's birth, and said that Rose had been "keeping company" with the pri- soner. She had objected to the suit from the be- ginning, on account of the youth of the girl. About Christmas he came to live at her house as a lodger, but she dismissed him because he persisted in paying attentions to her daughter. — The evidence of the prosecutrix, which was taken on Friday last, was briefly to the effect that she first met tbe prisoner in the Theatre Royal, being 'there introduced to him by a young girl. She afterwards kept company with him, but did not let her mother know until about a twelvemonth ago. Early last month she heard that the police were on her track for" going with the prisoner, and told him that she would leave Cardiff. He offered to accompany her, and they both went to Barry. They stayed there two nights.— Sergt. Scott said that on Thursday evening, the 28th inst., he apprehended the prisoner on a war- rant, the prosecutrix being with him at the time. He formally charged him with abducting Rose Kimber out of the possession and against the will of the mother, Lydia Kimber, 011 the 22nd July," and in response he said, She asked me to go with her to Barry Dock." He now pleaded that the prosecutrix insisted on following him about, even when at work and when he wished to break off the engagement, owing to the dis- satisfaction of her mother, she replied, 44 Oh, never mind my mother."—He was committed on this charge to take his trial at the Assizes at Swansea. A further charge was then preferred against him of having criminally assaulted the prosecu- trix, Rose Kimber, on the 8th and 9th June last. She stated that on the former day they both went together to a house in Bute-road, occupied by a Mrs Griffith, and he seduced her.—Sarah Ann Williams, a married woman, living in Bute- street, said that on the 8th June she resided with Mrs Griffith a.t a refreshment- house, in Bute-road, and remembered pri- soner and the prosecutor staying two nights at the house. The young lady asked for the room, observing that it was for she and her husband." -Prisoner-was also committed for trial on this charge. _—————

CAMBRIAN MINERS' ASSOCIATION. ELECTION OF SLIDING SCALE MEMBERS. We are asked to give publicity to the following: Fellow-workmen, — Inasmuch as none but .Messrs W. Abraham, M.P., and Councillor T. D. Isaac have been nominated to the vacant seats belonging to the Rhondda District on the Sliding Scale Committee, these gentlemen having together been nominated by four of tho workmen of four: of the largest collieries in the district, it is with pleasure that I announce they, in consequence, have been re-elected unopposed.—I am, &c., WM. EVANS, Sub-Agent." Rhondda Valley, August 3rd.

FINED FOR OVERLOADING. Charles F. Reid, master of the steamship Man- gara, of Glasgow, was fined £25 at Glasgow on Wednesday for overloading his vessel at lbau.

LONDON LETTER. ol (FJROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. J [SPECIALLY WIREE.J LONDON, Wednesday Night. MR GLADSTONE AND THE SPEAKER. It is not finally settled this evening whether Mr Gladstone will be present in the House of Commons to-morrow during the election of the Speaker. It will depend upon what view Sir Andrew Clark takes of his condition after a visit to be paid in the morning. There is, however, small prob- ability of his being kept at home. His cold has now quite vanished, and he has been able to devote himself throughout the day to the enormous labours that attach to a Premier-designate on the eve of his taking office. Mr Gladstone is particularly anxious to take part in the proceedings connected with the re-election of Mr Peel. Of the variety of rumours current in, Ministerial circles, perhaps the most foolish and uninformed was that which attributed to him and the Liberal party the intention of opposing the re-election of the Speaker. Mr. Peel, as a Speaker, was the creation of Mr Gladstone, an event which, at the time, gave rise to some surprise. His perspicacity has been triumphantly vindicated by Mr Peel's success in his high office. The reason assigned for the fabled intention was that Mr Peel is a Dissentient Liberal. That may be so. I really do. not know, since Mr Peel's conduct in the chair is so ordered as scrupulously to obscure the slightest indication of political leaning. CONFERENCE OF LIBERAL CHIEFTAINS. This afternoon what will stand for the first Cabinet Council of the coming Ministry was held at Carlton-gardens. Members of the former Cabinet present were Sir Win. Harcourt, Mr John Morley, Earl Spencer, Lord Herschell, the Marquis of Ripon, and the Earl of Kimberley. The draft of the amendment raising the question of No confidence was submitted, but not finally approved. It will be held over till the terms of the Queen's Speech are communi- cated to Mr Gladstone. As this will be done on the evening preceding the motion of the Address, there will be full opportunity for varying the amendment in form should such a course appear desirable. I believe the drift of opinion in the Council was in favour, not of moving an amendment to the Address expressing regret at the omission from the Queen's Speech of a particular pledge, but rather of boldly declaring that the course of the elections have shown that the country have no confidence in the Ministry, and calling upon the Queen to dismiss them. MR GLADSTONE AND IRISH LEADERS IN 4CCORD. Mr Gladstone was able to communicate to his colleagues the result of an important meeting held earlier in the day. At noon Mr John Dillon, Mr Justin McCarthy, and Mr Sexton called by appointment at Carlton Gardens and had a long conversation with him on the subject of the forthcoming Home Rule Bill. The fact that at Mr Glad- stone's particular request Mr John Morley was present throughout the inter- view confirms the general impression that when the new Ministry. is formed Ireland will be committed to his charge. Viewing the scope and characteristics of the Liberal majority, it is important to receive the assurance that the authorised exponents of public feeling in Ireland, having had the main features of the proposed Bill disclosed to them, express their absolute concord wite the Liberal party and their full confi- dence in Mr Gladstone. The foundation for this state of things was laid at the inter- view the same gentlemen had with Mr Gladstone on the eve of his departure for Scotland. It was confirmed and completed to-day, a conclusion the importance of which it would, in the present state of parties, be difficulb to exaggerate. Conservatives might hope that the unfolding of Mr Gladstone's scheme of Home Rule in his speech on moving the first reading might disclose fissures l the link between the English Liberals and the Irish party, but as the Irish leaders are in advance made fully acquainted with the principal lines of Mr Gladstone's scheme and accept them as satisfactory to the Irish people this hope threatens to prove delusive. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. The proceedings in the House of Com- mons to-morrow are not expected to occupy more than an hour. They will be confined strictly to the election of a Speaker, which means the delivery of speeches from the representatives of parties. Once upon a time the process was simplified by the fact that there were only two parties in the House—the Whigs and the Tories. Now the' sub-divisions are many and the speeches are numerous accordingly. After Mr Gladstone and. Mr Balfour have spoken in succession to the private member who is to move the resolution, Mr Chamberlain will feel it incumbent upon him, as the leader of the Unionist party, to say a few words. Mr McCarthy will express the sentiments of the Irish Nationalist members, and probably worthily to crown the performance, Mr John Redmond, on behalf of his nine followers-or is it eight ?—may graciously intimate his approval of the proposed selection. THE CEREMONY OF SWEARING-IN. The swearing-in will not commence till Friday, and will be carried on in batches of five, each man whilst he repeats the oath clutching at the New Testament with finger and thumb. Two tables are set forth down the floor of the House whereat members stand and swear. By this arrangement it would seem that a not particularly practical or useful ceremony might be rattled through in a couple of sittings. But there is more to be done than swearing-in-. It is the signing of the roll of Parliament and the subsequent personal introduction to the Speaker that fill up the time. It is pretty certain that even with a Saturday sitting there will remain on Monday a con- siderable number of members unsworn. Nevertheless there are some sanguine authorities who still believe the division on the Address will be taken on Tuesday night. It was originally proposed, in communica- tion between the Whips on either side, that this event should take place on Thurs- day, and it is not improbable that that may prove to be the day. The threat to take excep- tion to Mr Davitt'sswearing-in does notcause much anxiety on the part of those concerned for the progress of public business. It is believed to be nothing more than a brutum fidmen, and, if persisted in, can effect no other object than that of inflicting pain on a man to whose sterling character testimony was borne even in the courts of the Parnell Commission. MR. COURTNEY'S POSITION THREATENED. Whilst Mr Peel will be elected to the chair by acclamation, it is now pretty certain that Mr Courtney's career as deputy speaker will be cut short. There is a dispo- sition in some influential quarters on the Liberal side to overlook his political action during the past six years, and in recognition of his successful tenure of the difficult post of Chairman of Committees to permit him to resume his seat at the table. But there is an uncompromising body who will not have this arrangement on any terms, and unless Mr Gladstone puts his foot down, which there is no reason to believe he is disposed to do, Mr Courtney will be relegated to private life. In the interests of public business this is to be regretted since he was unquestionably a capable and rigorously fair-minded chair. man. Mr Osborne Morgan's name is mentioned as his probable successor, a selection doubtless based upon that gentle- man's successful occupancy of the chair from time to time in Grand Committee.

SAD ACCIDENT TO A LADY. On the arrival of the down Irish mail at Holy. head on Wednesday, a lady passenger attempted to alight at the mail jetty before the train had been brought to a standstill. Her foot got caught between the carriage step and the platform and was terribly crushed. The lady's name has not transpired.

MINERS' NATIONAL CON- FERENCE. THE EIGHT HOURS' QUESTION. LOCAL OPTION PRINCIPLE CONDEMNED. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] BIRMINGHAM, Wednesday Evening. The Conference of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain was resumed at Birmingham to- day. The proceedings of the morning were private. Mr S. Woods, M.P., presided. SATURDAY PLAY DAY. After considerable discussion on the Saturday play day, the following resolution was carried :— That, in the opinion of this Conference, the Saturday play day should be continued for the present, but, after hearing the reports from the districts on the general question, the Conference hereby agrees that the stop day be discontinued after Saturday, August 27th. PAYMENT OF WAGES. On the motion of Mr STANLEY, it was re- solved That where districts or counties are not paid until Saturday, and coal is wound after 12 o'clock, this Conference strongly recommends them to arrange for the pay to take place not later than two o'clock in the afternoon, and pledge them every support. THK DEFEAT OF MR BROADHURST. Mr WHITEFIELD (Bristol) next moved, and Mr Walsh (Yorkshire) seconded :— That this Conference desires to express its thanks to Mr J. Bailey and the miners of Nottingham for the loyalty of their action during the late General Election in opposing Mr Broadhurst, who was a declared opponent to the Miners' Eight Hours' Bill. The resolution was enthusiastically agreed to. PROPOSED LABOUR MINISTER. In the afternoon, when the proceedings were open to the public, Mr. BAILEY (Nottingham) proposed That this conference of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain urge upon the Prime Minister the im- portance of appointing a Labour Minister to whom shall be delegated all bills specially dealing with labour qnestions, and as in other departments of the Government, to be responsible to Parliament for all matters dealing with labour and labour interests. He said that for a number of years there had been expressions from various organised bodies on the constitution of Cabinets, and almost every side had been specially looked after by a Minister or a Department except the great labour interest. There had lately been a Minister of Agriculture created, but this did not go far enough for them. In the House of Commons Bills were introduced affecting the industrial classes, and there was no one besides the Home Secretary to whom they could be relegated for consideration. As the work of the Home Office was of such a miscellaneous character, labour questions were frequently,dealt with in a very slipshod fashion. The CHAIRMAN said the question had been put 'before the Government many times, but although they had never succeeded, he believed the present time was more opportune for the consideration of the question than ever before. The motion was carried. THE EIGHT HOURS' QUESTION. Mr HARVEY proposed :— That this Conference recognises the increased sup- porters returned to the new House of Commons in favour of the Miners' Eiarljt Honrs' Bill, and is further determined that every effort be made to carry the Bill through the next Session of Parliament, but in no case can this Federation entertain the idea of Local Option in this matter. He said that the resolution was of vast im- portance to the mining community. The resolu- tion recognised that the efforts of the Federation to secure the return of members of Parliament who were favourable to the request of the miners had been successful, and he thought no one could dispute the fact that they had, as an association, been successful in returning an in- creased number of supporters to help to carry the measure. (Hear, hear.) They wished to congratulate their men, whoever tli-ey might be, who had carried out the mandate of the Federa- who had carried out the mandate of the Federa- tion. (Hear, hear.) The resolution Implied the duty of the officials of the Federation to inter- view all the new members of Parliament upon the subject. The Federation had held out no idea that it was in favour of local option in the matter. They went in for the full Bill in the interests of the preservation and lengthening of life. Mr OOWRY (Yorkshire) thought the Conference ought to give to the public its opinion regarding the various positions taken up by distinguished statesmen upon the Bill. Mr Gladstone had said that he had no objection or otherwise. He would give it his consideration providing the Bill were made optional. He (Mr Cowey) should take his stand upon the whole Bill and nothing but the Bill. (Hear, hear.) It was not particularly the adult members of their trade who were bene- fiting by the Bill, but the greater portion of those who would benefit were youths and young men. Not only in Northumberland but in Durham young men were employed to convey coal to the pit's bottom and were employed for long hours. Would they at the last moment throw over these young men who were working ten or eleven houra? (No.) They would be traitors to every principle they had professed, and would go back on their former pledges if they did so. l'um Mann or Ben Tilfett mightthink they knew something aboutevorythina^ but they knew nothing about the miners' busi- ness. He was not prepared to take dictation from anyone. (Hear, hear.) If they would mind their own business and the trades to which they belonged, Messrs Mann and Tillett would do well. Local option would set one district against another, and, in fact, one colliery against another. He hoped tlrey would let the men know who had promised to support the Bill- and God knew there were a lot of them-that they would be held to their promises and if they did so, he believed the Bill would be carried. Mr BAILEY (Notts) asked whether it would be worth while to make, it known that whilst they damanded the Bill for themselves, yet if thero was any district that did not want it it might be empowered to ask Parliament to make an exemp- tion in that particular case. ("No" and Never.") The only opposition that the three Labour members in the House of Commons had offered was not of principle but of expediency for their own districts. Mr HASLAM expressed his surprise at the doctrine of the last speaker. They had objected to contracting out on the question of employers' liability now Mr Bailey was apologising for the same thing under another Bill. The last. election brought forces to their side that they had never had before, and to be consistent they must oppose all optional legislation. Mr PABRATT (Yorkshire) said the men in his district were not only in earnest, but they were enthusiastic on having the eight hours made as firm as a rock for all persons who went down a coal pit. The CHAIRMAN said he thought they were de- termined to have the Bill and nothing else. What were the conditions of the people who wanted local option ? They could not want the Bill for themselves because they only worked six or seven and a half hours a day, but by a permissive arrangement they wanted to continue to keep boys at work for 10 or 11 hours. (Shame.) It would be an act of inhumanity on the part of the Federa- tion if it receded one inch from the position they had taken up. (Hear, hear.) The majority in this instance was five to one in favour of tha Eight Hours'.Bill. The success that had attended their efforts during the last six weeks had ex- ceeded the most sanguine expectations. They had returned to the House of Commons froua- their ranks and from outside a large number of men who were in favour of their principles. The elections had been fought in many constituencies upon the eight hours' question, and when thoy had men like Mr Gladstone, Mr Morley, and Mr Broadhurst, who had cither had their seats greatly in danger or had entirely lost them, In thought it ought to inspire them with fresh courage to press forward in the way they had commenced. The resolution was then put and agreed to unanimously. It was next resolved that the representatives of the Federation at the Trades Union Congress should do all they could to press forward the Eight Hours' Bill. EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY. Mr HASLAM moved That it be an instruction to Messrs Pickard and Wood to co-operate with the other labour members to press upon the attention of the Government the urgency of pressing an Employers' Liability Act, urgency of pressing an Employers' Liability Act, abolishing the doctrine of common employment free of the power to contract out of the law's provision, ex- tending the time for giving notice, limiting the right of appeal from the decision of the county-court to sums above £ 200, and also to prohibit the present system of joint assurance. The motion was seconded and passed, and the Conference adjourned till to-morrow.

THE CARDIFF BUILDING STRIKE. PRESENTATION TO THE MASTERS' SECRETARY, There is yet no sign that this dispute, which has entered upon the fourteenth week, will be brought to an end soon. Both employers and operatives declare their intention to hold out. A largely-attended meeting of the Cardiff Master Builders' Association was held in the Angel Hotel on Wednesday evening, under the presidency of Mr Alderman David Jones, when, we are in- formed, business of a formal character was transacted. At the close of the ordinary busi- ness the President, in the name of the Associa- tion, presented Mr W. M. Shepherd, hon. sec., with a valuable chronograph gold watch, having minute recorder for timing first and second. On the inside of the case was the following inscrip- tiou :Presented to Mr W. M. Shepherd, by the Cardiff Master Builders' Association, for valuable services rendered by him as hon. secretary. July, 1892;" and on the back the recipient's monogram was artistically engraved. Mr Shepherd suitably acknowledged the gift. The watch was supplied by Messrs Hoitzman and Sons.

A FALL INTO THE ROATH BASIN. -Late on Tues- day evening a dock labourer named Henry Brady accidentally fell into the Roath Busiu, but was rescued by a dock gateman named Thomas Cooper, apparently none the worse for his ducking. DR. DE JONGH'S LIGHT-BROWN COD LIVER OIL—THE FACILITY WITH WHICH THIS OIL IS DIGESTED IS ONE OF ITS PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS.— Dr Edgar Sheppard, Professor of Psychological Medicine, King's College, writes :—Dr Sheppard has made extensive use of Dr de Jongh's Ligut-Brown Cod Liver Oil, and has great pleasure in testiiyfng to its superiority over every other preparation to be met with in this country It has the rare excellence of being wel Iborne and assimilated by stomachs which reject the ordinary Oils. Sold only in capsuled lin- perial Half-pint a, 2s 6d Pints, 4s M Qnar;s, by all chemists. Sole consignees, Ansar, Harford aud Co", j 'iijuited, 210, High Ho&orn, Loudon. 1021 1

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS. ANNUAL HIGH COURT. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] IPSWICH, Wednesday Evening. The High Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters resumed its deliberations this morning at Ipswich, High Chief Ranger Bro. George Crickmer presiding. RELIEF OF COURTS APPLICATIONS. The consideration of applications for relief (f courts was proceeded with. There were 27 of these applications, and although in a considerably proportion of cases discussion on the recom- mendations of the Executive Council took place, they were in every instance upheld by the delegates when submitted to vote. The result of tho application was that Courts 109 (Liverpool), 133 (St. Helens), 315 (Hyde), 3,223 (York). 5,133 (Wilton Park), 5,422 (London), and 1,559 (South-Western District) were ordered to be dissolved, and the members placed i-ipon the High Court Sick and Funeral Fund. Courts 1.52 (Manchester), 770 (Sunderland), 1,613 (Elles- mere), 1,699 (Tutbury), 1,774 (London), 1,909 (Bristol), 2,980 (Middlesbrough), 3,247 (Wath- upou-Dearne), 3,446 (Northampton), 4,872 (Lon- don), and 4,965 (Nordley) were ordered to be relieved, and remain as courts. Court 387 (St. Helens) was not entitled to relief inasmuch as it had not complied with the general laws. Applications of Courts 1,481 (Whitehaven), 3,943 (Dublin), 4,738 (Northwich), 5,235 (Chester-le- Street), and 930 (Workington) were declined, and those of Courts 2,410 (Lowestoft), 3,251 (Bristol), and 4,210 (Dawley) deferred. DEPUTATION OF LOCAL ODDFELLOWS. During the morning the delegates as assembled were photographed, and received a deputation composed of local officials of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, headed by provincial corres- ponding secretary, W. O. White, who desired, in recognition of the high chief ranger being an Ipswich born man, to present him with an illuminated address of congratulation, whilst at the same time conveying their fraternal greetings to the Ancient Order of Foresters expressing ap- preciation of the valuable work which the Order (numerically tin strongest in the world) had done. They trusted the deliberations of the High Court might tend to undoubted financial stability, that the momentous question of old-age pensions might be advanced, and that the future of the Ancient Older of Foresters might witness continued prosperity. The presentation was loudly applauded by the delegates, and the High Chief Ranger made a feeling yet vigorous acknowledgement of the continued kindness of his friends in Oddfellow- ship which had dictated the gift. Bros. GRAY and SMITH, delegates from New Zealand, spoke in sympathetic terms relative to the cordial relations which existed between the two Orders in that colony. THE AUDITORS' REPORT. The auditors' report was adopted without dis- e cussion, and also that of the Parliamentary agent pro tern., with the addition of the following, proposed by Bro. W. BENNETT, and seconded by Bro. G. BKITTON, both London delegates That this High Court regrets the delay in the publication of the tables of contributions and benefits by the actuary of the Friendly Societies' Registry." The auditors' summary of the various funds under the control of the Executive Council showed assets 230,083, and liabilities 23,450, leaving a balance in hand of £ 26,638. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Bro. ALFRED CHAPMAN, the Parliamentary agent pro tem., in his report, referred as under to the revised draft scheme of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain as regards assisted old age pensions I (1) These State-aided pensions to the people can be provided for only out of the pockets of the people in the slupe of largely increased taxation direct and in- direct. (2) Those members of societies who, by personal thrift and mutual self-denial, are providing for them- selves will be compelled to pinch and pay for those who in the main are careless and improvident. (3) If the State aids the individual or society, the (3) If the State aids the individual or society, the State ought and must interfere to see how the money is expended. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S REPORT. The Executive Council's report on the balance- sheets of Courts out of the district was next con- sidered. They had examined 272 out of a total I of 310. Such Courts showed a marked improve- ment upon last year's numbers, but some Courts wero so badly managed that increased supervision was absolut.lv necessary, especially with the knowledge that; a number of them were in a most unsatisfactory financial condition. They added that there was every reason to believe that the practice of paying what was termed "wet rent" to landlords of houses in which Courts were held was not altogether stopped, in support of which they gave a list of eight Courts in which amounts ranging from L34 downwards were so paid. The report was adopted, with the addition that the incoming Executive Council be instructed to use the strictest vigilance in this matter. The Executive Council reported 23 districts and 754 Courts now under suspension, and it was resolved that all Courts suspended prior to 1887 be forthwith struck out of the Ordor, and the remainder com- municated with. The sum of 40 guineas was awarded for services rendered by the Parlia- mentary agent during the year, the sum to be equally divided by the incoming Executive Council. ELECTION OF PARLIAMENTARY AGENT. Two nominations han been received for the post of Parliamentary agent—Bro. Alfred Chap- man (South London), who had acted pro tem., and Bro. Thomas Wildroke (London United). Bro. Chapman received 272 votes, and Bro. Wildbore 77, and the High Chief Ranger de- clared Bro. Chapman duly elected. Bro. CHAPMAN feelingly spoke in recognition of the honour done him, expressing his determina- tion to do all in his power in the interests of the Order, and Bro. WILDROKE, in thanking those who had supported him, said he felt the delegates had made a wise selection. MISCELLANEOUS. Permission was accorded, amongst others, to the Durhain representative to leave the High Court, and £ 150 having been awarded to the Executive Council, the High Court adjourned until to- morrow. The delegates afterwards proceeded to Orwell 'Park, a lovely demesne a few miles from Ipswich, on the invitation of Bro. Capt. E. G. Pretyman, where they were hospitably entertained.

SOUTH WALES UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. A meeting of the, council of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire was held on Wednesday at the College, Cardiff. Mr Louis Tylor presided, and other members present were the R&v T. Evans, Mr John Duncan, and the Principal (Mr Vinamu Jones). It was resolved that a lecturer in English history be appointed, at a stipend of 2200 per annum, and that a demonstrator and assistant lecturer in biology be appointed at a salary of £ 120 per annum. Tho question of the appointment of a medical officer of the normal department was de- ferred. It was decided to raise the salary of the professor of engineering from jSSOO to B350 per annum. On the recommendation of the Princi- pal, Mr Farnsworth was appointed assistant teacher in art, under Mr Bush.

OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR The Opposition of Mars will be the astronomi caleventof to-day(Thursday)morning. Foronthat date, at 13 minutes past one, this fiery planet, the sober earth, and the blazing sun wiil be on nearly the same straight line, Mars being dis- tant about thirty-five and a halt million miles from our orb. Upwards of fifteen years have elapsed since the last favourable opposition presented itself. On that occasion Professor Hall, of Washington, dicovered that the planet was accompanied by two minute satellites. One of these moons, Phobos, is dis- tant 5,800 miles from the planet's centre, while the other, Deimos, is 14,000 mile3 away. But so quickly does Phobos revolve, that Mr Larkin has calculated that if there are any inhabitants in Mars they all enjoy nearly four mouths of that moon every day. But this morning it will not be so much Phobos and Deinios which will keep the spectro- scopists out of bed. The red and greenish spots on the Martian surface must be examined to ascertain, if possible, whether they are really land and water, or have changed much of late years. Again, should the white patches at either pole, which enlarge or diminish as they receive little or much sunshine, be proved to be snow, the demonstration will go far to fortify the belief that Mars possesses a climate suitable for beings framed after our own modeL-Daily Graphic.

THE IRON TRADE. WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.—Trade to-day showed a slight improvement in pig iron, owing to sma.llness of supply and increased forward demand by consumers. Staffordshire medium and cinder pigs were worth more by 6d to Is per ton native cinder pigs were quoted 37s 6d part mines about 45s all mine hot blast, 62s 6d and ('C)cI blast 95s to loa" midlands are in tolerable -ale demand, uomially at Bll 123 6d to 911154

NEWS IN BRIEF. Sir George Grove has gone abroad to Vienah Naraka is the nama given by the Hindis to hell. A boy was very backward with his tongue, but recovered soon after being sent to a (?irls' school. Pnnce Albert, th3 heir to the Belgian throne, is an enthusiastic bicyclist. Bonelli, the Corsican brigand, has been iberated on condition of banishment from the island. The eruption of Mount Etna has now lasted 23 days without stopping, and at present it shows no signs of decreasing. Alg >ria has been swept by a sirocco which has in many districts destroyed the vines and caused immense forest fires. Mr W. D. Howells told an interviewer the other day that he makes at the outside from £2,000 to £3,000 a year by his pen. Captain O'Shea is reported to be very ill. Rheumatic gout has supervened upon the fever from which he has been suffering. In the green drawing-room at Windsor Castle is a Sevres dessert service valued at £50,000. In one of the corridors is a little cabinet of Rose du Barri china valued at £30,000. 20,299 wild dogs have been killed within the past six months in California in consequence of J61 a head offered by the State Government. The wild dog in question is a prairie wolf. Mr Balfour is said to be longing for release fioir. the toils of office. He has intimated to his friends his intense satisfaction at the prospect of being able to use a subscription ticket to the opera, "a privilege as far out of my reach as the planets for some time past." The Countess of :Carlisle, of the Women's Liberal Association, besides being a most accom- plished platform speaker and successful political canvasser, is, moreover, one of the most skilful farmers in England. She delights in superintend- ing every detail of agriculture, and is intimately acquainted with every labourer on the estate. Aber, a prefix denoting the situation of a place at the mouth of a river or a confluence of waters. It is a word belonging to the Cymric branch of. the Celtic stock, the corresponding Gaelic term being inver." Not a single word beginning with Aber is found on the west coast of Scotland, in Ireland, or the Hebrides; but on the east coast of Scotland and in Wales it is common. Lord Apsley, who by the death of his father becomes the Earl of Bathurst, is in his 28th year. He is a captain of the Gloucestershire Regiment and a D.L. of the county. Cirencester House, Cirencoster, where the deceased earl passed away and to which the new earl succeeds, is a pic- turesque manor in the midst of a beautiful land- scape. The town house of the family is in Gros- venor Gardens. On the recommendation of the Duke of Rutland, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, her Majesty has appointed Mr William Wilbraham Blethyn Hulton, J.P., D.L., of Hulton Park, near Bolton, Lancashire, m the historic and ancient office of Constable of Lancaster Castle, rendered vacant by the death of Lord Winmarleigh. Mr Hulton is a member of an old Lancashire family, and is a prominent member of the county council, His grandfather held the same office for 32 years. Mrs Cecil Samuda—probably the best woman swimmer in England—is almost as accomplished in other sports as in the sport natatorial. She is the captain of a cricket eleven, and enjoys the game intensely. The latest diversion is skirt- dancing, and she manages her swirling skirts and airy feet with as much grace as when diving or floating. That she is beautiful goes without say- ing—large, somewhat dreamy eyes, perfectly curved eyebrows, and the sort of mouth the novelist style chiselled. Professor Gautier is now in training at Folke- stone preparatoiy to an attempted swim across the Channel. Gautier believes that if a time could be chosen to suit the Channel currents, the passage could be made in about fourteen hours, and without any abnormal fatigue to the trained natationist. In order to test his powers of en- durance he will shortly attempt a swim from Folkestone to Dover with his hands and feet tied, and then either join Fisher in his :proposed swim or enter upon the feat alone. Sir Walter Parratt, one of the new knights, has* been for ten years organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, where he succeeded the veteran Sir George Elvey. His memory is wonderful. It is said that as a boy of 10 he performed all Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues by heart, and among the feats which have been credited to him in private life is that of playing blindfolded three games of chess and one of Bach's fugues, the fugue playing and the calling out of his moves in the chess games going on simultaneously. An Englishwoman, who is the daughter of a missionary, and was born and brought up in Syria, has come to this country to study under a famous oculist. The disastrous effects that the fearful hot winds which prevail in Syria have upon the eyesight of tho natives showed this woman how she could be of use in the country of her birth. She intends to devote special atten- tion to the Syrian children, and endeavour to save their eyes from the diseased which are so frequently brought about by climatic influences. The opening of the new House of Commons is threatened with the re-appearance of a difficulty analogous to that which played so important a part in the history of the Parliament of 1880-5. When Mr Davitt presents himself to take the oath, objection will, it is saij, be taken from the Ministerial benches on the ground that he has not completed the full term of his sentence passed on conviction upon a criminal charge. There seems, however, to be nothing in the point, as the period of Mr Davitt's sentence has long since expired. The fee of 30s an hour which Mr Sims Reeves will receive from his pupils at the Guild- hall School of Music is just double that allowed to professors of the first grade. Although it is by special permission of the Court of Common Council that there exceptional terms are allowed to Mr Sims Reeves, it should be understood that it will not in any way injuriously affect the revenues of the school. Quite the reverse, for the professors are not paid out of school funds, but contribute to them by the payment of a certain percentage upon the amount they receive in fees. The Order of Saint Michael and St. George is usually regarded as a Colonial distinction, and perhaps tho reason why it has been bestowed on Lord Mayor Sir David Evans is because of his efforts to relieve the distress caused by the recent disastrous fire at St. John's, Newfoundland, and by the tornado in the Mauritius. By the way, the statement that the Lord Mayor's badgo of office contains diamonds to the value of £120,000 is sternly denied by the Hawk, who asserts that the value of the badge, which is worn by every Lord Mayor, and belongs to the municipality, is only £3,000. Writing with reference to the health of Pope Leo XIII., which he says is still very good, the Roman correspondent cf Le Figaro points out that since the beginning of the 15th century no fewer than 16 Popes have lived to over 80. The youngest of octogenarians was Pope Gregory XVI., who died in 186 at the age of 80 years and eight months. Three Popes, Gregory XII., Callistus III., and Benedict XIII., were 81 at the time of their death two, Alexander VIII. and Pius VI., were 82; four, Gregory XIII., Innocent X., Benedict XV., and Pius VII., were 83; one, Paul III., was 84 and three, Pius IX,, Clement X., and Innocent XII., were 86. The two oldest were Clement XII., who had nearly completed his 92nd year when he died, in 1742, and Paul IV., who, elected Pope when 89, died at the age of 93. Few admirers of James Russell Lowell art. aware how much he owed to his wife. Ona who knew intimately both Mr Lowell and his wife has placed on record the following tribute to the latter:—Frances Dunlap Lowell, beautiful in person, attractive in manner, had fine literary instincts, which Mr Lowell fully recog- nised. He used to submit all that he wrote during the period they lived together to her criticism, and said that he valued her opinion above every other. She hesitated not to give adverse criticism whenever she disapproved of what he wrote, or thought him not at his best. That wonderful "Commemoration Ode" he read to her page by page, as it was written, as well as the last series of the "Biglow Papers." He said to more tha.n one person, She has a. perfectly rounded character, and is superior to any woman I have ever known." The fees payable by a newly-created Knight of the Garter to the Dean and Chapter of Windsor and the lay officials of the Order, amount to upwards of J3500. Lord Palmerston, on receiving a demand for these fees, positively refused to pay them. The Dean of Windsor and Garter King at Arms informed Lord Palmerston that until tha fees had been paid his banner would not be hung in St. George's Chapel, nor would a stall be allotted to him. Lord Palmerstone replied that neither the Dean nor "Garter" could prevent him from wearing his blue ribbon and insignia, and that he neither knew nor cared anything about his bann r while, as to the stall, it would be of no use to him, as he had no intention of attending Divine service in St. George's Chapel. The result was that the fees were not paid, and the astounded and enraged ecclesiastics and officials found that they were quite unable to en- force their extortionate demands,