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------a.------_----"BUGBEARS…
a. "BUGBEARS OF ROMANISM." REPLY TO MR. S. SMITH, M.P. Preaching at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Flint, on Sunday evening, to a large copgregation, from Genesis xxvi., 13-15-18, the Rev H. Lucas, S.J., M.A., of St. Beuno's College, delivered the first of two sermons in reply to the pamphlet recently pub- lished by Mr Samuel Smith, Member of Parliament for Flintshire, on The Claims of Roma."—In the coarse of his sermon, Fr. Lucas eaid:— It is with no jieesmreable feelings that a Catholio Priest finds himself Constrained to bid the din of controversy to echo in the House of God. And ia particular I would willingly refrain from anything like personal controversy with a gentleman in many respects so estimable as Mr S. Smith. But if a man were to go about tb. country stopping up the wells with earth like the Philistines of old, it would mani- festly be the duty of the local authorities to restrain that man from pursuing his career of mischief; and this they would do without waiting to take account of his private virtues and personal character, or to ask themselves whether-perohance-he was the victim of a delusion as to the value of a supply of pure water Now, to the Church of God is entrusted the keeping of the well-springs of the water of truth-of the truth in regard of man's relations to his Creator and Redeemer. And we, Catholic Priests, cannot stand by and see Mr Smith engaged in the work of stopping these wells with the earth of calumnious aeousations and ignorant mifrepresentationp, without Raising our voices in protest against a line of eonduct whioh is more mis- ohievoua than that of the Philistines, by how much the soul is more precious than the body, and the water of truth than the water that flows from natural springs. In the Gospel Lessons which are read at Mass on the Sundays of this present season of Advent, we are more than once reminded of him-the Baptist —of whom the prophets spake u Behold I send my messenger before thy face, to prepare thy way before thee." It is in accordance with God's dealings with men that He should prepare the way for His great works, that He should make ready the hearts of men for the operations of His Holy Spirit. And when the end in view is a great change of heart on the part of multitudes of men, one necessary element in the preparation is a general awakening of the sense of sinfulness, of the conviction of a great need under which men lie, of a deep seated feeling of dissatisfaction with their present positien. Now, be- lieving as I do that there is in store for large numbers of our countrymen the inestimable blessing of re- union with the one true Church of Christ, I am greatly convinced that a first step towards this happy oon- summation must necessarily be the awakening in their minds and hearts of a sense of dissatisfaction with their position as members either of the Established Church or of the innumerable sects the evidence of whose sepasate existence meets us at every street oorner. Now it is an indisputable fact that God sometimes maltes use of the most unlikely means and instruments for the accomplishment of His purposes, that He has the power of drawing evil beginnings to ealatory ends. And if I am not mistaken, the recent utterances of Mr Smith will prove to have been one of those unlikely means and and instruments which God will surely turn to the furtherance of His benefioent designs on behalf of the people ef this country. For when men come to see, and to see clearly, that calumny and misre- presentation are the weapons employed by defenders of Protestantism in this controvertiial war against the Catholio Church, it oannot but be that they will feel some misgivings as to the soundness of the cause that stands in need of such means of defence. Bat it is time to oeme to Mr Smith's pamphlet in detail. As he tefts the reader in his few words of 'preface, its first chapter is in substance identical with an address delivered in this neighbourhood. To this address I have already replied some months ago, and although I shall have more to say about it presently, it may be convenient to turn in the first instance to the later portions of the pamphiet, And in fact to the appendix, wherein the writer has gathered together a number f testimonies, such as they are, which are designed to confirm and strengthen his main positions. On page 51, Mr Smith quotes a number of state- „ ments made by Miss Golding, the so-called rescued nun, the trutb of which, be declares, he sees no room to doubt. Among them is this It is a custom in suoh convents [as the one in which Miss Golding lived] for the commonest, coarsest, most brutal woman to be appointed Lady Superior, so that she may tyrannize over those who are of gentle birth and breeding." Mr Smith, as I have said, declares that he sees no reason to doubt this state- ment; But does he really believe it P Does he really believe that of those hundreds of thousands of ladie • who, following the scriptural counsel of virginity that they may more thoroughly devote themselves to the service of Christ, who chose a Virgin for His mother, and to the servioe of Christ's poor and of Christ's little ones, does he really believe that in this army of consecrated maidens, an army of nurses and of teachers such as, outside the Catholic Chusoh, the world has never seen. "It is a oustom for the commonest, coarsest, most brutal woman to be appointed Lady Superior, so that she may tyrannize over those whe are of gentle birth and breeding" P Do you believe thst Mr Smith believes this t But this is not the worst. Another of Mifs Golding's statements which Mr Smith sees no reason to disbelieve, is as follows Punishment (in the aonvent) consists in what is called I sote throat.' -Somedecoction is given you In your food, you do not know where or when, and this is continued. Your throat gets parched, the next day you are feverish, the following day diaay the cold settles in your lungs, you take to your bed, and then you are told to prepare for death." Now does Mr Smith really believe that these nuna are guilty of wholesab murder? Miss Golding'a statements were made in 1891. It is true that they have been shattered to fragments by the testimony among others of her own relatives as you may learn from a little pamphlet which may be had at the church door. But Mr Smith sees no reason to disbelieve them. And so for 5 years he has lived contentedly under the convictLj that scores, nay hundreds of innocent ladies are habitually being done to death in France by the common, coarse, and brutal women whom it is usual to appoint as Superioresses in these convents. Has he never raised his voice for their protection ? Has he never thought it worth while to enquire whether, in the convent of whiah Miss Golding speaks all the sisters die between 30 and 40," or whether these statements are the hallucinations of an hyeterioal lady whose mind has been unhinged. I do not know whether Mr Smith has a sister. I have, and she is a nun, and I have bad two other relatives who were nuns, one of them the Superioress of a oonvent for many years. Many of Mr Smith's fellow members of Parliament and many of his former constituents have relatives who have devoted themselves to the servioe of God in thin kind of life. And there are two convents within the limilt of Mr Smith's present constituency. I mention these facts that you may understand on the one hand the extent to which he has wilfully stirred up the deepest indignation in our hearts on the other hand the wantonly reckless manner in which he has committed himself to statements, the grotesque absurdity of which he might so easily have ascertained. Now I put it to you, if any man, on the single and unsupported vacillating aud self-contradictory testimony of one woman, had dared to bring an accusation of wholesale murder against the members of some institntion with which Mr Smith's sister (if he has one) might be connected, and especially if this were done under ciroumstances which precluded the members oof that institution from seeking redress would not such a man be justly regarded as a heartless and cowardly scoundrel ? I will not apply these terms to Mr Smith. I am content to point out to you that ha is a man who is deficient in critical acumen aud in oommon sense; and most assuredly no safe guide in natters of religion. On ptges 53, 54 of Mr Smith's pamphlet you m&y read these wordf. I may add," he says, that a Convent Enquiry Society has bien formed their report issued thia year, makes some dreadful charges of barbarity and wick-dties* which I do not qu(itt-, as I have co means of judging of their truth" but I think the public should know that they sum up their ciarjps in the following wor ls, page 16 I Th, facts which hava come to the kuowledge of the C. r] S., aro suoh that the Committee are oonvicced that tatyre is enough iniquity and crime secretly practised in Convents to inure th.-ir immediate dn-solution, if the evidence could he brought out and proved to the publio and the hope of the society is w.t something may oome before them which will enable them to arouse the public to j a sense of theii duty upon this great and serious question." I Now just consider for a moment Mr Smith's procedure here. He has before him certain alleged facts, and certain conclusions deduced from these supposed facts. He will not vouch for the so-called "faota"; because he has no means of judging whether they are facts or not; but he thinks it right that the publio should know the conclusions. And so on the basis of statements of such exceedingly doubtful value that even Mr Smith can hardly digest or even swallow them, he thinks it right to publish in general terms charges of barbarity, wickedness, iniquity and crime, against the Convents of England, which as he well knows count among their inmates membera of every Catholic family of standing or distinction in the country. This is his notion of British honesty and straightforwardness, and truthfulness and honour. If this is the kind of honesty, and straightforwardness, and truthfulness, and honour which is the fruit of the Reformation in England, surely we Catholics have some grounds for our belief that the so-oalled Reformation was the greatest misfortune in the moral order which ever befel the people of thia oountry. But I have not quite done with this part of the subject. So far I have given a provisional credenoa to Mr Smith's statement that he has no means of judging the truth of the statements put forward in the report of the Convent Enquiry Society. This report I have not been able to see. I have made due application for it to the worthy secretary, Mr S. J. Abbott, but I need hardly say that my application has been unsuccessful. The purveyors of mendacious and filthy garbage are obliged to be a little carefui in the selection of their customers. But though I have not been able to see the report of the Society for the current year, I have been fortunate enough to seoure a copy of a pamphlet oalled Monasticism Unveiled," published by Mr John Kensit, for the Conventual Inquiry Society, whioh is, I presume, ths same institution to which Mr Smith refers. The author of the pamphlet is General Sir Robt. Phayre, K.O.B. (now G.C.B.) and about half of it is filled with the ravings of some anonymous lunatio who desoribes how in a convent in which she lived, her confessor took her by the hair of the head and kicked her; how for a penance she had to ohop up a live baby and how she saw several other babies crushed to death, bones and all powdered up and burnt—quicklime I Are these the sort of charges concerning which Mr Smith declares that he has "no means of judging of their truth"? And is Mr Smith aware that Mr Keneit, the publisher of this pestilent compound of falsehood and obscenity, to this day coutinues the issue of that abominable farrago of lied entitled The revelations of Maria Monk ? They are not expensive works and if Mr Smith can afford to expend several pounds in the distribu- tion of his own contributions to literature, he can surely manage to invest a few pence in the purohase of the publication of Kensit. When he has oarefully perused them, will he still have the hardihood to say that he has no means of testiog the truth of the charges made by Kensit'a patrons against the nuns of England ? Next as regards the extracts from the works of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose name-by the way- Mr Smith thrioe mis-spells. Perhaps the best thing that I can say about these is that Mr Smith ought to be ashamed of having printed them, and the more so becanse he has borrowed them-obviously with- out verification-from a traot by Mr C. H. Collette, a man whose controversial dishonesty is notorious, and beyond the reach of acy palliating exouse. But apart from the question of veracity, of which I shall have something to say presently, what is to be thought of a man who panders to the prurient tastes of the mob by setting before them passages whioh, while perfectly harmless and indeed most salutary in their proper place, can have no other effect when spread abroad than to excite evil thoughts, and arouse unjust suspicionsf Again I ask Does Mr Smith really believe that the practice of confession corrupts the morals of a Christian people ? He is no doubt aware that the statistics of bastardy in Protestant, as compared with Catholic oountries, are not suoh as to afford an English, or Soottinh, or Welsh Protestant unmixed satisfaction. In Catholic Ireland the percentage of illegitimate births, as Mr Smith may easily inform himself, is about 4, in England rather more than 4, in Scotland nearly 7 t. Moreover, whereas the general average for Ireland is l, the particular percentage for Protestant Ulster is more than 3i, while that for Catholio Connaught is less than one (0.7). Why is it that where the praotioe of oonfession prevails the standard of morality is so much higher than whare it is unknown f Why indeed, except that it provides -as it was in tended to provide—a powerful deterrent and dissuasive from sin. If Mr Smith should ever have an opportunity of turning over the file of the Scotsman, he will find in an issue for July, 1869—I cannot give the exaot day-these words "The sum of the whole matter is that Presbyterian and semi-Scotoh Ulster is fully three times more immoral than wholly Papish and wholly Irish Connaught- which corresponds with wonderful accuracy to the more general fact that Scotland, as a whole, is three times more immoral than Ireland as a whole." At least Mr Smith might have taken a little paina to enquire whether as a simple matter of fact the con- fessional is an instrument of oorruptign, and whether —granting that there are countries nominally Catholic in which a good deal of immortality prevails —whether I say there are oountries in which con- fession is habitually praotised, and not, rather for the most part neglected. It is no doubt unfortunately true that priests have fallen into sin, and true that sacramental con- fession has been made, alas, the ocoasion of siu. The priesthood, like every other calling and occupa- tion, has its special temptations and dangers; and against them St. Liguori warns his brother priest* in words which are however not quite correctly represented by the translation quoted from Mr Collette in Mr Smith's pages. But the fact that there have been and are bad priests in the world affords no better argument against the priesthood, than the disgusting literary productions of General Sir Robert Phayre, G.O.B., or the filthy output of the publishing office of Mr John Kensit, affords an argument against the profession or occupation of author or publisher. More than this, when St. Aiphonous Liguori apologiee for the oharacter of the subject with whieh he has to deal in one section of his great work on Moral Theology, he is in fact rendering an nnconscious testimony to the purity of mind and thought which is happily prevalent among Catholic young men when they have been brought up amid Catholio surroundings. He is dealiug with a subject which unfortunately is only too femiliar even to the boya and girls of our streets and of our Board Schools in Protestant England, but which is fur the most part kept from the thoughts of children brought up in a good Catholio home, and this to such an extent that it is no un- common thing for young ecclesiastics to reach man- hood not only in eutioe innocence, as regards the actual commission of sina of this kind, but also in happy ignorance of the very nature of such sins. Mr Collette and Mr Smith may disbelieve this if they like. I apeak of a fact of which they can have no knowledge, but to which anyone who has had any experience in the trainihg of Catholio ecolesiastioal students can bear witness. And this at least I would ask What is to be thought of a man who-in the interests of morality furlooth-scatters broadcast a page from the writings of St Liguori, in which that Doctor of the Church expresses the reluctance with which-as a matter of duty-he enters upon a subject on which it is necti-'iry that the Priest should be informed, but on which no right-minded mac, be he Priest or layman, would willingly utter an unnecessary word, or bestow one moment of thought. I know of no more contemptible exhibition of byprooitioal pbarisaism and prurient prudery than is contained in thees paragraphs from Mr Collette's pamphlet, whioh Mr Samuel Smith, M.P., has thought it right to transfer to his pages. But Mr Collette, and Mr Smith obediently follow- ing in his turbid wake, has done even more than quote these passages from St. Liguori. On p. 49, we read: Every Catholio woman in a parish, old or young, married or maid, is bound under pain of mortal sin, to disclose to a celibate priest all her acts and inmost thoughts to the minutest particular." Of this sentence I say deliberately that the sug- gestion is disgusting, that the assertion is scandal- ously false, and that to asoertain its falsehood was a matter of extreme facility. So far is this state- ment from being true, that a priest would sin grievously were he either to enquire into, or to allow the penitent to enter upon the minute particulars," wt-ioh it would seem have found a lodgment in the unclean imagination of Mr Collette. Next as to the Church and the Bible. On p. 14, we read '• Nothing is more certain than that in every country whero Rome is Bupreme, the circula- I tion of the Scriptures is forbidden." It is proverbial j that none are so blind as those who won't see. But Mr Smith must really have shut his eyes very tig >n indeed, and must have very sedulously refrain-0 from enquiry, if he has never read the Brief of I Pius VI., which is prefixed to most, if not to ali, the editions of the Duuay Bible. The Brief is not addressed to an English Prelate, but to Monsignor Antonio Martini, Arohbishop of Florenoe, a oity situated in one of the countries wherein, to adopt Mr Smith's phraseology Rome is (or was) supreme.' At a time," eays Pius VI., writing in 1778, At a time when a vast number of bad books. are circulated, to the great destruction of souls, you judge exceedingly well, that the faithful should be excited to the reading of the Holy Scriptures; for these are the most abundant souroes which ought to be left open to every one to draw from them purity of doctrine and of morals, to oradiodte the errors which are so widely disseminated in these corrupt times. This you have aeasonably effected, as you deolare, by publishing the Sacred Writings in the language of your country, suitable to every one's oapaoity; especially when you tihow and set forth that you have added explanatory notes, which being extracted from the Holy Fathers, preclude every possible danger of abuse." Now I am perfeotly well aware that from 1564 till 1768 severe restrictions were placed upon the iudisoriminata reading of the Bible in the vernaoular, and I have elsewhere explained the motives which led to these restrictive regulations. I do not intend at present to go over that ground again, though I may pro- bably have something to say on the subject in my next lecture, but in the meanwhile it is a plnin and simple duty to protest again the dishonesty of passing over in silence this Brief of Pius VI., and of quoting the prohibitions issued againt the circula- tion of Protestant Bibles or even Catholic versions as printed and circulated by the Protestant Bible Societies, as if these prohibitions expressed tht; whole mind of the Church on her relations to and use of the Bible. But there is another statement on this subject, occurring in Mr Smith's pamphlet against which I must protest still more emphatioally. Onthesime page from whioh I have already quoted, we read in the course of a long passage quoted from the Monthly Letter of the Protestant Alliance, It is a fact that the Rhemish Testament includes the forged so-called First Epiatle of Clement to St. James." Now it is not a fact that the Rhemish Testament inolades this Epistle. It is an impudent falsehood— not of course on the part of Mr Smith—but on that of the person who first made the statement; for it is evident from his mention of a marginal note on 2nd Peter, i, 15, that he bad the book before him. The Rhemish Testament does not include the spurious Epistle of Clement. It is quite true that in the mar- ginal note on 2nd Petter just mentioned a passage from the Epistle is quoted in the earlier edition of the Rhemish Testament, and that the marginal not- j was not corrected till after 1806. But marginal notea are not part of the Testament, nor are thu original Editors of the Rhemish Testament the only persons who have made mistakes concerning the genuiness of ancient documents. Even Mr Smith, that ohampion of truth and uprightness, is liable to be deceived, nay even un- wittingly to transgress the plainest oanona of literary honesty. Then on page 10 he gives us in inverted commas, as if they were taken from the Syllabus, a series of propositions not one of which is to be found in that document. With reference to this portion of Mr Smith's pamphlet I will only say what I said recently in dealing with a letter from one who came to his rescue in a local paper, viz., that I cannot undertake to discuss the Syllabus with controversialists who will not be at the pain to quote it correctly. There is really no excusi for this misrepresentation. It is now 23 years since Cardinal Newman in his famous letter to tha Duke of Norfolk exposed the dishonesty of turning the condemned propositions of which the Syllabui in a list into private assertions which are assumed to be the contradictories of these condemned pro- positions, and of their quoting this assertion as if they ooourred in the Syllabus. I dwelt on this point in my reply to Mr Smith in July last: I have oalled attention to it again and again in a oontorversy with a :gentleman signing himself Welsh Churchman in the Rhyl Journal. But all to no purpose. And then, this is not a matter of opinion, not a question on which two viowa are possible. It is the plainest canon of literary honesty not to attribute to another—even though he should be the Pope of Rome—words which he bu not used. But thia is not the only instanoe of mu^uofsrtion in Mr Smith's pamphlet. On page 21, he prof«><>e-i to quote some works of Gregory VII, for which he gives a reference to Mansi xx, 53G," Thepasiiage however is not taken from Mansi xx, 536, but from a work entitled "The Pope and the Council," by "Janus" page 110 and if Mr Smith had taken the trouble to look at the foot of this page, he would have seen that the quotatioain the text is not-as it professes to be—a translation of the Pope's words, but a distortion of them. Of the words the Pope actually did use, I shall have something to say iu my next lecture. Next comes a passage, professedly taken from the Bull Unalll Sanctam of Boniface VIII, but in reality borrowed (again without acknowledg- ment) from the work of Janus." I do not deny that in this case <l Janus has more or less oorreotly summarised the doctrine of the Bull, though a tone of harshness is imparted to the summary by its very brevity but my present point is that it is not in accordance with the laws of literary honesty to quote as the words of Bouifaoe a passage in wnioh a hostile author sums up the dootrine of that Pope. After dealing with the remarks as to the Spanish Inquisition—the preacher went on to say :-Mr Smith, as usual blindly following his blind leaders, waxes eloquent on the subject of the forged Decretals, which are supposed to have so greatly helped the Popes "in imposing their arrogant pretensions in Christendom," and in which they are declared to have grounded their monstrous assumptions." It would be foolish to oredit Mr Smith with any real knowledge of the subject on which he writes so confidently. If he were capable of pursuing a more profitable line of investigation than is involved in the employment of scissors and paste upon the works of deolared enemies of the Papacy such as Janus, and Dr. Guinness, and Mr Wylie, he would learn some faots which might induoe him to modify his judgment. Having given a brief history of the forged Decretals, the preacher went on to say- Mr Smith is deeply shocked to think that no Pope in after times has ever oondemned the cruelties of the Inquisition and of the religious wars of the Middle Ages, and takes occasion to draw a contrast in this respect betweeen his virtuous self and these benighted Pontiffs. "No one," he Bays, has denounced the cruel treatment of the Irish Catholics more than the writer [i.e., Mr Samuel Smith, M.P.] has done; but there is this enormous difference the Protestants of to-day repudiate and condemn those prosecutions. but no Pope has ever oondemned this cruel policy of former Popes." Mr Smith has perhaps forgotten that though, in his own estimation he enjoys a prerogative of infallibility such as no Pope ever claimed, he is not yet a reigning Sovereign. It would be more to the purpose to ask—not what Mr Smith may have done in the way of denuncia- tion-but what English King or Queen bas ever denounced—for instance-the masagleres of Glencoe, or what Act of Parliament has ever condemned the massacres of Drogheda or Wexford or the inquities. I do not tay of the penal laws iu themselves, but of their infamous administration. Every man of sense knows how to recognise that the detuunioation of bygone crimes may afford a congenial oooupation to politicians out of office and amateur pamphleteers, but that it hardly bUs within the line of duty of serious and responsible Statesmen. Individual Catholics have deplored as deeply as individual Protestants, the cruelties of a sterner generation than ours but we are perhaps not so ready as some of our neighbours to Bit in judgment on the aotions of individual men wbe, finding themselves at the helm of Government ia an age of social and religious cataolyism applied to violent evil a violent remedy. If you would judge aright of Catholics, and of the Catholio Church, we claim to be judged by our acts, and words. and teaohiog to-day, not by the deeda of days gune by, wherein your ancestors ou:, rivalled ours in religious peraeoution. Or rather, »s we cannot forego the appeal to the past, we oltthn that our whole hiatovy be takim into account, and that instead of fixing their attention on ecaudais whioh none deplore more deeply than ourselves, men should remember rather the holy and exemplaiy l' lives of those in whom the principles of the Church have found a visible embodiment, and in particular the unceasing and devoted service rendered by the Churoh through all ages to the poor and the afflicted L and her great work in bringing heathen nations to the knowledge of thu Gospel. We appeal to our devoted nuns, the servants of ,G"d'ø sick, of God's poor, and of Gol's little ones, and the objects of the ignorant and boorish slanders of those graceless fanatics to whom Mr Smith has given a too ready oredenoe. We appeal to our intrepid missionaries, who with no thought of pay or salary, or of return to their native land, fearing no dangers, shirking no hard- ships heeding na persecutions, give themselves up to a life of labour and privation that they may win souls to God, happy if they can crown such a life with a martyr's death, and making no milk-and-water con- verts, but raising up a generation of Christians whom no torments cau induoe to renounce the faith they have embraced men who are so occupied at this day men who were so occupied all through those earlier and darker days when Protestant England made no effort to win to Christ her conquered people and when Calvinistio Holland was pushing her traffio with China and Japan at the price of trampling on the sign of oar salvation. My task this evening is an unpleasant one. My object has been to let you understand bow blind a guide he is who has set himself up for your teacher in the history and doctrinea of the Catholic Churoh. Read by all means the history of the matters and events to which he refers. Read the history of the Forged Deoretala, and of the Waldensea, and of the Albigeuia, and of the Hugenot, and of the Massacre of St Bartholomew, and of the Inquisition. But be honest in your verdict; do not judge us on the sole testimony of our enemies. Do not flattor yourselves that you have studied history when you have read pamphlets by Mr Smith, Mr Collette, Dr. Guineas, and Janus."
. HOLYWELL RURAL DISTRICT…
HOLYWELL RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held at the Union, Holywell, on Friday last, Mr Isaac Hughes, Ooleahill, presiding. There were also present Councillors 0. J. Batters, Tanlan; W. 0. Pickering and William Roberts, Mostyn; D. Price, Rhosesmor; Wm. Astbury, Northop; William Williams, Gronant; Edward Hughes, Whitford; John Williams, Halkin; Robert Williams, Newmarket; Wm. Thomas, Oaerwys; Mrs Webber, Mold, and the Rev W. Williams. Nannerch; Clerk—Mr P. Harding Roberts; Inspectors—Mr J P. Jones, Holywell, and Mr E. W. Jones Surveyors— Mr EL. Judd, Holywell, and Mr E. Foulkes Dr. James Williams (Medical Officer of Health). LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS. The Clerk said that he had received several notices of contemplated improvements by the London and North-Western Railway Company, by which they intended in some way of interfering with roads in the parish of Whitford marked 32 on the plans; roads in the parish of Llanasa-crossing of a public road, oulvert, telegraph poles, etc.—Mr Batters: It will be a good thing; I know what they contemplate doing.—The Clerk: They intend crossing six footpaths in Whitford, and six publio footpaths ] in the parish of Holywell. Plans and notices had been deposited with him. He suggested that the Council's Surveyors be requested to make a report upon the whole and submit it in writing for the consideration of the Council.— The Chairman Would it not be best to ask the Parish Councils to report as well?-The Clerk pointed out that the Parish Councils would also have been served with the notices.-It was decided that the Surveyors and the Parish Council be requested to report upon the plans. —The Chairman remarked that in a matter of that kind they should take care so as not to be blamed by the future generation for doing wrong things. A BUCKLEY FOOTPATH. The Mold Parish Council wrote and enclosed a copy of a resolution passed by the Council at a meeting held on the 3rd instant, with regard to an alleged interferance by Mr P. B. Davies- Cooke, lord of the manor of Ewloe, with a footpath at Buckley.—The letter intimated that as the property affected was in Holywell district, and the footpath was in the Qawarden district, they were unable to deal with the matter.—The Surveyor was instructed to report upon the path at the next meeting. PANTON COP. A letter from Mr Dawson (engineer of the London and North-Western Railway) was read, stating that he could deal no further in this matter until he had further particulars. There was no obstruction of any public footpath that he know of.—A letter was also read from the Holywell Parish Council, requesting that something be done in this matter for the public of Bagillt.—It was decided that Mr Dawson be requested to meet the District Council's sur- veyor on the spot. FOOTPATH AT MILWR. The Clerk of the Holywell Parish Council wrote stating that in the opiaion of his Council they considered the Rural District Council were under a wrong impression with regard to the Milwr footpath, and it was suggested that a joint commirtee of both councils be requested to meet and consider the question on the spot.— The Chairman said it was a very fair thing, and it was agreed to. A PETITION FROM NORTHOP, A numerously signed petition, dated the 8th of April, was read calling attention to the Berthddu Lane, Northop, which was in a bad state. -The Mold Surveyor reported that he had visited the lane which led up to the mountain, and was in a very bad state of repair. It had never been repaired by the Mold Highway Board. All the people who lived along that road were part owners, and he considered they were the persons to repair the road.—The Clerk asked how it was the people had been so quiet for the last 25 years.—Mr Price There is very little trailic.-It was resolved that the Surveyor try and arrange with the owners as to the repair of the road. ALLEGED ENCROACHMENT AT NERQUIS. With regard to the alleged encroachment by Mrs Griffiths, the Mold surveyor reported ttiat he had ascertained there were some pig styes on the spot Elome years ago.—The Clerk said that the Mold Committee reported that it was not desirable to move furtheir in the matter. ROADS AT NORTHOP. The Surveyor reported upon the condition of a number of roads at Northop, of which com- plaints have been received from the Northop Parish Council, It appeared that ithe report had already been before the Mold Committee, and their recommendation was adoped. ALLEGED ENCROACHMENT AT LEESWOOD. Mr Foulkes reported that a Mr John Roberts had fenced off a portion of the roadside near the Board Schools, Leeswood. In reply to the inspector he said the land had been bought by him, and he refused to take the fence down.- The Clerk said it was stated at the Mold com- mittee that the fence had been taken down, and if the Surveyor found this to be the case there the matter would end. SUBSIDENCE OF THE ROAD. Mr Foulkes reported there was a subsidence of Land at Nerquis, on the 30th of November but it had since been put all right. BRYNCELYN FOOTPATH. Mr H. Judd reported that the path at the upper end of Bryncelyn, Greenfield. had not been repaired by the late Holywell Highway Board. ANOTHER ENCROACHMENT. Mr Judd reported that there were complaints of an encroachment which had been made upon the footpath leading from Caerwvs to Oaerwys Station, and he would like the Council to appoint a committee to visit and report upon the place, Messrs W. Thomas and W, Matthews were appointed. DANGEROUS QUARRY AT GWESPYR. Mr Judd reported thdt thd fence and wall alongside the upper quarry at Gwespyr were in a dangerous condition, and they should bL repaired by the Council as the late Highway Board put up the wall.—The Surveyor was instructed to carry out the necessary work, j THE DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC.' Dr. James Williams (Madicai Officer of Health for the Holywell district), reported that during the past fortnight 19 cases of diphtheria had been notified in the whole district, of which 11 were in Bagillt; six in Ysceifiog, and one in Whitford. The Bagillt cases were traceable to a continuation of the epidemic. The six cases im Ysceifiog parish were in the same house—a small farm oalled Llyndu, Babcll, and all the children sickened together. It was traceable to the fact that an elder brother of the children came home from Bagillt convalescent from diphtheria, and slept two nights at the house. He desired to call the attention of the Council to the fact that the means of disinfection were very inadequate to the requirements of the epidemic existing at Bagillt. No doubt, the Council spent a good deal of money on disinfectants, but the means of applying them were very scanty. He suggested that a steam disinfecting apparatus be obtained, which would render the work ot disinfecting more real, and probably save the Council a good deal of expense, as well as rendering to a great extent tke destruction 01 bedding and clothing, etc., almost unnecessary. NEWMARKET DRAINAGE. It was reported that a meeting of the Newmarket Parish Council was held on the 7th inst., when the Council were of opinion that a main drain through the village was quite unnecessary, as it would only benefit two property owners, and would at the same time be a great hardship to the ratepayers, throwing such a heavy expense upon them for so little gain.—Mr Batters (one of the committee appointed to inspect the village), said that although agreeing that the parish was too poor to make a drain, they thought the Inspeotor should take vigorous action. Some of the houses were in such a state as to be positively unfit for habitation.—Dr James Williams said the bulk of the nuisance was caused at the back of the Mostyn Arms Inn, where there was a large open cesspool. This eesapool received the drippings from the roof and a lot of water from the ground; causing the liquid to overflow into the roads. If a covered and cemented receptacle was made the nuisance would be remedied to a great extent.-Mr Robert Williams said what Dr. Williams complained ef had been to some extent abated, by drains and traps.—Mi Batters thought that all that had been done only made matters worse.—Mr Roberts con- sidered that the worst nuisance was caused by the overflow from the pigstyes which were on the high ground abeye the houses. This ran over and soaked into the ground.— Mr Williams said about two-thirds of the whole village belonged to a Brewery Company, in fact they had the cream ot it," and ought to do some- thing.—After some further discussion Mr W. Roberts proposed that the Kelsterton Brewery Company be written to and asked to meet Dr. James Williams on the subject. OUTBREAK OF SCARLETINA. Mr E. W. Jones, the Mold Inspector, reported several cases of acarletina at Buckley- RESIGNATION OF MR. H. T. BARKER. A letter from the Local Government Board was read with regard to Mr H. T. Barker's resignation as district Councillor for Bagillt, and intimating that the reasons assigned by Mr i Barker justified them in accepting it.-The Clerk said he would now take the necessary steps for another election. THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE. Mr Bradley (deck to the Mold Urban District Council) wrote etating that his council had appointed a deputation with regard to the proposed conference, and suggested that the council should be held at Chester or some othei central place (itiughtor).-It was remarked thai as no replies had been received from all the councils invited, the question of fixing a date would be considered at the next meeting, MOLD URBAN DISTRICT. ) The Clerk reported that plans of the extended area of the Mold Urban district had been for- warded by the County Council, in accordance with the orders made by that body, THE WELL AT HOLWAY, A complaint from the Holywell Parish Council, as to the condition of the Holway well, was considered.-lhe Parish Council asked that the well be built up and two pipes provided- one for tho east, and one for the west end oi the district. THE NEW ROADS AT HALKYH. The Clerk said from the accounts in the various papers he saw that the Halkyn Parish Council had made complaint to the Flintshire County Council about the roads in the parish. it was, however, a matter that could be well explained at the proper time. THE COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING. The Council will hold its next meeting on the 24th instant. ■ BOARD OF GUARDIANS. This meeting was held subsequently to that of the Di-striet Council, Mr Wm. Tnomas, presiding and in addition to the District Councillors there wert; present—Messrs Joa. Garner and J. IL-rfoot Evans, Holywell; W. H. Lloyd and Jas, Priuoe, Connu.h'¡< Quay Samuel Wilkintion and John Roberts, Flint; Misa Hughes, Coleabill Mrs Webber, Gwernaffield Mrs Keene, Mold olerk-Mr P. Hardmg Roberts, THB HOUSE The Master's Journal showed that since the last. Board-day, when there were 201 in the house, 5 haa since been admitted, 1 birth, 1 death, 5 discharged, leaving 201 remaining in the house. The number, of vagrants relieved during the past fornight wac 51, against 71 the corresponding period of last year. THE CHRISTMAS DINNER. Mr Isaac Hugbea proposed that the usual Christ- mas dinner be given to the inmates.—Mr Samuel Wilkinson secouded, and eaid he should have pltannre in providing beer for the inmates. He thought that this time he would not meet with so muoh opposition as previously.—Mr W. H. Llovi supported, aud said he would be pleased if the I Board would accept a couple of boxes of oranges for the inmates. The proposition was unanimously earried.-Both Mr Lloyd and Mr Wilkinson wer., accorded the thanks of the Board for their kind gifts. DEATH OF THE BEV. T. Z DA VIES—VOTB OP CONDOLENCE WITH MRS. DAVIE8 AND FAMILY. Mr J. Kerfoot Evans said he did not think it would be right to allow the proceedings of the Board to be brought to a close without passing a vote of oondoleace and sympathy with the widow and family of their deceased chairman. During the whole time he had been acting as their chairman, ha had done so in a most courteous and generous manner, and although an ex-offioio member of the Board, Mr DavieB had been the bet chairman they ever bad. Six weeks ago, he was amongst them, with the intention of taking the duties of his offioe- truly the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak -and it was with regret that they now said he haii since died. He felt that he was simply apeakiug th i sentiment of the members present, when he said how much they all regretted the losi of their ohairtnar. As chairman of the Assessment Committee, again, they sustained a severe loss, for a mt r-j consistent and impartial chairman could not bo obtained. They would remember, some years ago, the action h I took even agaimst his own parishioners, such was hin j thoroughness that even those who for the time wer») bis enemies had to admit his ability and honorable- ness, and could not but admire him (hear, hear), j As » guardian be had done all he could for the poor, and he tried to do all in his power for all with whom I he came in contract. He felt it his duty to propose that it be inserted upon the jniuutes, that the '=- Board conveys a vote of condolence and sympathv chairman. wlSh Seconded ^hitforl, speaking ia S^c°nd9d the proposition, and said ho en- h,d k„ow» M, Davie",™ r'i09 °0Mr wt'Vh bfn3 8J,tC.and 11*W- i? Jiis (tao ^airman}, al*o endorse! he could^Hh 1dt £ 7 ChG Sp^kfer"' aad Peraoaally „ 1,, thflt tho more be was brought in m? -Davies, the moro he liked him. The Cierk (Mr P. Harding Roberts), said ho feIt sure t e chairman and members would not think it out of place i he, on behalf of the Several officers o\ the Uaion, asked to be allowed to join in the ex. pression of sympathy. A more courteous and kind chairman they bad never had, and he ai-ked to be permitted to join iu the vote of condolence with the widow aud family of the late Chairman.-The vote of condolence was unanimously tarried.—The Clerk then read a letter from Mr J. L. Musprstt expressing his sorrow upon hearing of the death of their re? speo-ed Chairman, and asking that his speeial sympaty be conveyed along with any resolution of the Board to the bereaved family; He was sorrv t a e would be unable to be present to join in the expression of sympathy which he felt sure the Board would express. rru r<- 8.UPHEANSUATION CP OFFICIALS. 6 Je5 stated that as the Board would at the wain 0?eetmS be considering the question of the valua°LnUrnrr?Uati0n'they WOuld fix the m^itary So as to bfl f6 ma8t.er ani3 matron's emoluments. • *° consider the subject more fully he submitted the scales that several Unions had akeadv SS « t^R TMr Isaao HuShee said he °ous dared that as the Holywell Board was fairly on a par with Wrexhaua, it be fixed the same as Wrexham at .£"60. The .Clerk explained that it was compulsory except m those cases where the officials had con- tracted out.-The Rey W. Williams seconded Mr dtaSsSo? "s"xdt0 a,t5E M.A P. ROOKING FOB A LOST HUSBAND. rea u-a,letter recei*ed from a lady in f whlch she made enquiries for a lost husband, stating that he had been Lced to a We £ h Umon. He (the Clerk) said the non was in the R U8^' man raa(^e appearance before the Board, and in answer to the Chairman said he had « LZoTVSJ118 wife b^au.e he had no means naaghterl ixtct.6 0Ut lfc^" h° le provided iTfc wo^i^ "Smi" w°a,d TilE MOLD MEDICAL GFFICBE. ihe olerk read an acknowledgment from the Local Government Board of the receipt of the letters rejatmg to the complaints with regard to the Mold Medical Officer of Health. (Dr Ed. Wiliiams). RP, N, ,ACT^0N 0F A FLINT OVEBSEEB. Ihe Olerk drew the attention of tho Council to the action of Mr O. W. Jooes, Overseer of the Flint parish with regard to a certain Chas. Jones, whom he had sent in a COIlveyance to the worthoaie. He bad written to Mr Jones asking him what was tho urgent reason for granting an order of the kind-aa an Overseen had no right to make an order save in a case sf great necessity. He had replied that the man lived with his two sons, but had to be turned ou because he was unfit to live with them. He did not order a trap for him, but supposed that be had been driven up for old acquaintance sake." The Clerk fa^her pointed out that such cases put the Master of the house in an awkward position, The other day tho Board had ordered several men to leave the house, and he was sorry to say that the next day almost every one uf them was back again with an order from Mr Jjnes. The Guardians remarked that the proceedmgs was highly improper, and it waa decided that the Clerk write to Mr Jones again. COMMUNICATIONS, n k' 4s" 9d- waa received from the Denbigh County Council.—A communication was [fn,1Ved boys could be take on the Clio training Ship at a charge of 6s. per head per week. PINANOa. hand, l{. Gd.; ehFqucd required fur £395.-The TIR, WOUID B° F,ID treasurer that day.
. GREENFIELD.
GREENFIELD. GOLDRII WEI)DIZZG.-i'vlr William Brown, chairman of the Welsh 11 laural Mills) celebrated his golden wedding arsday l„t, anr1 recPlvea the congra- tuintions of numerous friends. The employ^ of Messrs Brown and Co. recognised the event by presenting him with a handsomo silver salver, and holding a dance in the evening. Mr Brown, though over eighty, is remarkably well and active. are pleased to announce hat MbS Louie Williams, daughter of Mr Thomaa Williams, foreman at Hotyweil Station, has received a certificate of the first olass (preliminary) with honours, and a bronze modal of tho Sooiety of Science Letters and Arts, London, for practioal music. Miss Williams, whose ago is nine years, is a pupil of Miss Gregory of Holyweli, and was examined at Chester in July last. CHUECH LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.-On Wednesday last Mr J. B. Ankritt read a most interesting paper before a good attendance of the members on "The Mission Field." The paper, which was a particularly able one, was well received and on the couelumoa a discussion took place in which several members took part. The meeting clohod with a hearty vote of thanks to the reader.
---. ST. ASAPH.
ST. ASAPH. ST. ASAPH CHBISTMAS CATTLE SALE.—Mr Frank Lloyd heid his annual Christmas sale on Thursday last. The entry comprised over 1.000 cattle, sheep, calves, and pigs. Buyers were very numerous, particularly from the seaside towns of Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, LJandudno, Bangor, Prestatyn, &c. The judges for cattle, sheep, and calves, were Mr John Jones, Llandudno; Mr John Kuott, Crewe, and Mr Liunall, Norf-ilk; and for pigs, Mr Capper, Denbigh. l'ho champion prize for the best beast in the Smithfield was awarded to Mr P. P. Pratt, Bryullythrig Hall, St. Asaph. The following prices may be of interest :—Siv Devon bullocks, fed by Mr P. P. Platt, Brynllithrig Hall, St. Asaph, made Lt,5, L,32 10a., JE33 10s.t £ 30 10s., X32, and C33; five shorthorn bullockti and heifers, fed by Captain Conwy, J33 10s., 130 IDs., £35, X35 58., and L30 five Vale of Clwyd bullocks, fed by Mr Jos. Lloyd, St. Asaph, £ 35, £ 30 10s., £ 30 10s., £ 26 10a., and X25 os. the sixteen beasts making an average of over £ 32 8s. Tne prices ranged from 42s. to 60s, per owt live weight.
—♦ DYSERTH.
—♦ DYSERTH. TALAEOOOH MINB.—in consequence of the stoppage of ihe ancient and extensive T-u h Lead Mints every cause, whether religious or social, has suffered, and has to resort to various methods in augument- ing their funds. By the way, there is a rumour now in this district that at last Captain Eilia has succeeded in floating a company to restart Talargoch Mine. We sincerely hope this rumour is well- formded, and that before long the old works will be in full swing, giving employment to hundreds of people as of yore. e.
Advertising
COULD NOT STAND UPRICHT. 41, POTTER'S HILL, ASTON, BIRMINGHAM, Dec. 29th, 1890- DEAR SIR,—A few weeks ago I received one of your pamphlets, and found that one of the testimonials describes what I suffer-great Weakness and Pains in my Back and Sides. I have been under treatment in thvo hospitals, but can get no lasting benefit. I have tried Patent Medicines, but they seem to weaken me rather than give me strength. After reading your pamphlet, I resolved tc try the Quinine Bitters. I have now taken three bottles, and have derived great benefit. When I commenced taking them I could not Stand upright with the pains in my back and sides, but now I am glad to say those pains are gone, and I can walk with ease. I feel stronger, and my appetite is improving. My wife, who suffered much from bad Liver, seeing the benefit I received from the Bitters, takes it as well, and finds It does her more good than any medicine she ever toot. v Tom yf. LAMB, Printed and Published by the Proprietors DAVIES AND Co., at their General Printing Office, High- street, Holywnll.