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-----ONLY A LITTLE. - A FRIENDLY…

WHITSUN PILGRIMAGES IN WALES.

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WHITSUN PILGRIMAGES IN WALES. North and south, east and west, within our sea- girt island, across the channel, Whitsun week witnessed the departure of multitudes of those who inhabit cities for a brief period of rest, refreshment, and recreation. The weather was exceptionally favourable, and nature wore its loveliest aspect. There was a comparative rest from political controversy. One shrine, however, had its countless worshippers. One oracle never ceased to pour forth Delphic utterances. At Hawarden pious Nonconformists and rampant Radicals alike were supremely happy if only they could gaze on the face of the Grand Old Man, and hear him speak on any topic, whether it was the wrongs of Ireland or the charms of music. There are many sides to these Hawarden pilgrimages. They are at once amusinc and instructive, laughter-inspiring and the outcome of an enthusiasm .vbich, if only evoked in a better cause than mere hero-worship, would be of untold value. Would that those who hold the principles, of which the Grand Old Man in early life was so distinguished an advocate, had half the zeal and energy which make men and women devote their holidays to political rather than personal objects. We bear much of Hawarden, its castle, its rectory, and its church but the world knows little of the mother chuivh of the diocese in which the great lesson-reader dwells. Whilst Hawarden Park was crowded with worshippers of the Liberal leader, while far above its natural beaury was, to his followers, the glory of Mr. Gladstone's striking countenance, there was going on in the cathedral church of St. Asaph a series of noteworthy services, of which we gave some account last week. Thither, too, pilgrims wended their way, quiet country parsons and their wives and daughters, and faithful laity scattered amongst the hills of North Wales, who rarely hear the voice of a great preacher, sitting at the feet of Ireland s greatest and most genial prelate, whose marvellous power of word-painting is invariably used to illustrate and enforce great Catholic truths. Never was the Bishop of Derry happier in his pulpit efforts than last week, never were his many social qualities seen to such advantage as at the garden party in the unrivalled grounds of the Palace, or the "At Home," where the Bishop and Mrs Edwards vied with one another in making that conventional phrase a reality by the heartiness of their welcome to the clergy and laity of the diocese. The Bishop, Dean, and Archdeacon of St. Asaph may indeed be congratulated on the success of an unique effort. St. Aaaph is a tiny city, scarcely more than a village. Under the old regime the daily service of the cathedral was a mere form. Now new life is being breathed into dry bones. The congregations on weekdays are rapidly increasing, and last week for four days the catbredal was filled from all parts of the diocese, open house being kept not only by the Dean and the Archdeacon of St. Asaph, but by many inhabitants of the city. There was some idea I of asking the Grand Old Man. but it was tnougn; that even if he had dared to come-as he would have liked to have done had he consulted his personal rather than his public and political predilections—a genuine religious pilgrimage would have been marred by the crowds of political zealots which follow in the wake of the Liberal leader. Even the rector of Hawardeu was conspicuous by his absence, owing to the presence of the crowds of political pilgrims at his father's shrine, but he sent three curates, who no doubt reported on their return that there was an extraord- inary revival of religious life in the centre of the diocese, of which the Grand Old Man is the most conspicuous layman, but for which he has certainly not effected any great work. Courteous and pleasant to its chief pastor, smiling and genial as he was on Tuesday when under examination in matters scholastic by its Dean, and thoroughly alive to the social and other virtues of its Archdeacon, the tiny city of St. Asapb id, nevertheless, some- what of a bete noir to the lord of Hawarden. With Canon Malcolm McColl he has no doubt talked over the strikin" phenomenon of a Bishop, a Dean, and Archdeacon of the Church in the Principality which he regards as about to be thrown over,as a political Jonah, by his frantic worshippers daring to provide an alternative attraction to his own. The pilgrims at the one shrine were noisy and demonstrative, those on the b anks of the Elwy were quiet and devout. Even Nonconformists and pupils from an adjacent Jesuit, College were to be found in the cathredral of St. Asaph, attracted by the unwonted sight of crowds of the faithful worshipping daily in all the beauty of holiness, and hanging ou the lips of a great preachcr, of whom so many said, Oh, if he could only preach in \Velsh The effects of the Whitsun week at St Asanh will endure lone after the remembrance of a guest, that tarrieth but° a day; for the stirring of the dry bones, the setting forth of the Church's corporate life, and the bold enunciation of Catholic doctrine by the preacher, will do much to revive the drooping spirits of the Welsh clergy depressed by poverty and isolation, and wil". nerve them to fresh exertions and renewed efforts to deepen spirituallifp, both amongst themselves and their flocks. The Bishop, the Dean, the Archdeacon of St. Asaph are in the first rank of Church defenders they certainly proved last week that they possessed in no ordinary degree the virtue of hospitality, but they have also demonstrated afresh that the truest Church defence is vigorous Church life and work, the building up the walls of Zion with one hand even if the other is reluctantly, though of necessity, used is wai-didg off external assaults.- (hitrch Review.

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