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DEFENCE OF THE CHURCH
DEFENCE OF THE CHURCH ANTI DISESTABLISHMENT CAMPAIGN OPENS AT CARMARTHEN. GREAT ENTHUSIASM AT CROWDED MEETING. CANON CAMBER-WILLIAMS REPLIES TO THE REV. EVAN JONES. The campaign against the Disestablishment Bill, in the Diocese of St. David's, was opened on Mon- (4aw night with a town meeting at Carmarthen, and if "Carmarthen is typical of the diocese at large the eampaign bids fair to eclipse anything seen before in connection with the subject of Disestabhshntent, or anv other phase of the Church question. A tort night." ago the Rev. Evan Jones, president of the National Federation of Free Churches, with all the eclat of his office, and his far-famed eloquence, had in the same town to content himself with a chapel not more than a quarter full; and this experience waA repeated elsewhere. As one of the speakers put it: "Instead of a tr.umphal progress the visit of the President seemed more like the tramp of a packman whose wares were not in demand." The contract 011 Monday night was significant. Long be- fore the hour for the meeting to commence the large Assembly Rooms, floor and gallery, were full, and aiill people forced their way in till at the com- mencement of the proceedings the building was packed to suffocation, every inch of standing room being occupied, and the crowd of d.aappointed People thronged the ante-rooms, landing, and tho staircase leading up from the street, »nd Ghat though the speakers were no strangers but two veil-known gentlemen, one of whom resided in the town while the other, till recently resided there as well viz., the Rev. Griffith Thomas ami the Rev. Canon Camber-Williams. The ventilation of the room is none of the best at any rime. On Monday night, after the broiling heat of the dav, it was reminiscent ol the Biac»< request to keep the doors open was met by the reply. "The pol cemen say they cannot keep out the lóurging- crowd outside if the doors are once opened. Yet the sweltering audience, standing and sitting, for two hours and a half, keenly followed the al)oakers, bursting out into tumultuous applause at each .lativ or point made, their enthusiasm render- ing them" oblivious to the discomfort of the situation. One oS tho occupants of tho crowded ladies gallery •rood throughout on the back ra.l of ft seat holding on to a gas bracket with one hand, while she bea„ her applause on the wall with the otner hand. The floor of the room was mostly occupied by men. -_J.J +- A -Teat many Dissenters were present^ out uisheut was none. The speakers as tney r» «j •ddrw* the meeting, had to stand mute ior social minutes, while the audience fheered and roared their reception. The Rev.. Griffith Thomas sub- jected tho Bill to a searching criticism, and his style, w.th homely local illustrations whicn drove every noint home, raised tho audience to a hi<rh >r pitch of enthusiasm. The Bill proposes to go-liti.,icate endowments given prior to 1662 on the ploa that what was given before that date was given to the whole people. a portion of whom have now <1 e, left the Church." One Baptist chapel hero has an endowment of two houses, suppose a split, occurred and a portion of the members left, did the remain- der sav, "Here take one of these houses." The meeting did not wa't for the application. No point in Cenon Camber-Williams' close examination of the ReT. Evan Jones' historical blunders, though some- what technical, was missed. We have. heard many strati' conceptions of religious equality, ancient and modern, but surely this is the most. bizarre. The Welsh Dissenter, wh Je in power under Cromwell, turned seven hundred Welsh clergy out of their under the Act of 1649, and loud shouts of "h,tme" drowned the sneaker's voice. "The Welsh Church under the Act of 1662 turned sixty-one of tha intruding speakers out from their livings, there- fore in tho came- of religious equality the Church Was to be robbed of he1* property and the Dissenters to retain theirs." And the shouts of "Shan-io" were redoubled. One of the most striking features of th's very '■narkable meeting was the intense earnestness and Power with which the laymen spoke. The most noint in the whole meeting was maae by Mr. Brigstocke in his short speech. "Last week I tttw tiie original deed which bestowed JB7 out of the tithe rent-charge to the Vicar of St. Peter's. As <'hur('hwardens wo have the custody of the Church Pinto, among others of a chalice, and the date on it- 1574. Our ormonents are ashamed to rob us of the but they propose to take away the J67 for proTidinsr a man to use it." A strong Tesolution against the Bill, passed amid *xtr»()r(linary enthusiasm, and with, as the Chairman declared, half-a-dozen dissentients, brought to a the best meeting, according to the testimony of c old Ciarmarthenite«5, ever held in the town, a meeting which a few years ago could not have been thought of. THE MEETING. A public meeting in connection with Mr. A-quith'o Disestablishment and Disendowinent Bill was held at ;he Assembly Rooms on Monday evening last, ■)!" T. Dowdeswell; Llanstephan, presiding over a ci:j.vded building. The gallant Major was supported on the platform >*v the Rev. Canon Camber-Williams, the vicar of /!a»ipeU-r, and the Rev. Griffith Thomas,- diocesan Wch Defence lecturer (tho two speakers of the e.yeninK) ■ rs. Dowdeswell; Mrs. Griffith Thomas; jh<« n0Y 4 E. Parry (Principal of the South Wales fj'aining College); the Rev. J. Marsden, vicar of kWlhvch; Capt. E. C. Harries, Bryntowy; Mr. D. Thomas, Starling Park; Rev. T. Thomas, Aber- Rov. D. D. Evans, Llangunnor: Mr. Walter ?f>«rre!l; Mr. T. E. Brigstocke; Mr. Albert Harries; A. LI. Davies; Mr. W. V. Howell Thomas; Mr. ft. Arthur; Rev. D. Morgan, Newchurch; Mr. E. Collier; Mr. Wm. Thomas, Hall-street; Rev. D. Alban; Rev. Aldred Williams; Rev. D. W. 1'H mas; Mr. E. Colby Evans; Mr. E. Ham; Mr. T. Bland Davies; Rev. T. Thomas; Rev. J .Evans, Merthyr; Rev. Owen Jones; Mr. James Davies, t-'cheldir; und other local clergy and prominent townspeople. The. Chairman said thai it was 14 yeavs since Mr. ■^(uith introduced a Disestablishment and Disen- dowmoin Bill, when Churchneople in England and aies had had rallied together to repel it. Each attaek that had been made had been the means of strengthening the Old Church, and that day they Wer« ■l)]^ tQ congratulate themselves that she had 20.000 more communicants than the strongest religi- ons body in Wales outside her communion. In Conclusion, the Major alluded to the Old Church *iii?h they all loved, and which even the Noncon- forming must revere because she was the Mother of them all, and they never tired of her "yr Hen Fam" (applause). LIGHTING SPEECH BY THE REV. GRIFFITH THOMAS. Tiit. Rev. Griffith Thomas, who was received with »ou;i cheers, said that after 14 years of quietude Mr. Asqiuth had launched a Disestablisment and Dis- fc"iiwment Bill upon them. After all those years, they expected that the Bill would be much most just thaii (he other one, but, unfortunately for him and the parry to which he belonged, Mr. Asquith's Bill, exqc, t)t for the clauses dealing with th tour Welsh fj^tliedrais, was identical with h.s firt~t one. Air. Thomas felt sure that the Bill would never bo l^orded on the Statute Book of the Realm. The was an attempt to cut them off from the great historic oast which went back before there was an ^'igH.-ihman walking on English moil (applause). If ''is Biil passed, tney would be in just the same as Ireland was, and would have no voice in a.tirig the terms of their liberty, but would have act "in a. constitutional way as the Act allowed ilium ("rihamo"). Dealing with the. question of the OUr Welsh Bishops, Mr. Thomas said that they did 1101 get their seats in the House of Lords as the J^uii of a preference shown them over Noncon- They were there 500 yearn before there a single Nonconformist in Wales (applause), iiiey were not put there by law, but sat in the '{1 Courts with the English Bishops before Parlia- ment was constituted or dreamt of. It wTas not a ^•"ivilege but a national right for which they ought si and up. This was also an atteifipt to deprive t*U' nation of its national recognition of God. Even Rev. Evan Jones had confessed at Whitiand that the j,,wlsh Church was the mouthpiece of the nation, v that were so, they must be logical, as they were 'Wling with a God who was unchangeable, and ^hat v.as true in one age could not be false in pother. Let them disestablish the devil if they l!*(,d. but. it was a. mark of the decadence of a Ration when one beheld it clamouring for the dis- ^Hblishment of God. Instead of the Church being j»dyiri<r one, she was so strong and vigorous that x?<\V Wanted to erinnle her in future. Mr. Llewelyn L Shams'had said that the Church in Wales joined kV^S with the Church in England as the result of a Jf'ticaj trick. Now in 1120, David, Bishop of j *nffor> was selected to take the oath of obedience \r1''e Archbishop of Canterbury. He would ask Op. Llewelyn Williams, who was the ruler of ales years ago? Why, Gruffydd ap Cynon, who was />T tVio man to be joked with. He stormed Rhudd- Castle, and cut oil' the head of its Norman lord ft lth one blow of his sword. If the Bishop of ^"gor 1,;)<1 gone un to Westminster Abbey to be L.°'is<»crated bishop, "and afterwards gone down on P"5 kn<M?s in a servile manner and taken tho oath of p nonioa) obedience, and then come back and told c!ruff>-dd an Cvnon that lie had taken tho oath of Corii-al obedience to the Archbishop of Canter- Kry. and so merged the Diocese of Bangor into :;nSland he would have seen that sword come out of L",tt I iand his head would have been cut off as H <'ut,s of a cockerel's head on Saturday mght for VoLS;i!'d^v dinner (laughter and applau.se). Ho «ntured to say that the union of the two Churches tlr. a spontaneous act 800 years ago, and they had lv^T'°r'x right to break that union than to break the fv of a man and woman united m holy wedlock. en- enomies said they were in the majority, and C going to dictate io them, as if we were not v0: In Wales, and had not Welsh blood in our fu Hnreiy we understood our own feelings bettei t. People outside? (annlllu;.t.). Where was ihe Th -of thc Bill? Why* in the money (applause), th 'Endowment, question was quite as illogical as fof C>0ri and more so really. Their opponents had tnp. °ut a kind of dividing line when all the honest alln WtM"° born, and all the rogues died, and that d Pr°Perties given to the Church previous to that 9 was to be taken away from her. They wished r to take aW3.1 from the Church what had been given to her for a sacred purpose, and they were trustees over a heritage which they had no right to barter away. He contended that as trustees for future generations, it was their duty to hand on unimpaired the properties now in their hands. Pro- pert es that were never given by the State should surely not bo taken away by the State and devoted to purposes for which they were never originally given. They wero given to carry on in the parishes of Wales tho service of God in a language that every man could understand. Every parishioner had a right to worship God and no one asked him how wide he was. as if they could buy God by the cubic foot (laughter and applause). At present they received from the Ecclesiastical Comm ssioners a sum of L74,000 per annum, and the amount received by the Commissioners from Wales every year was about £ 54,000 a year, so that they were indebted to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in this matter alone for a sum of E40,000 a year. If the Bill was passed, not only would they loss that amount, but also the £ 34.000. Wa-; it then to be wondered that they opposed the excuse of plunder on the flimsy pretexts of a so-called political majority? (applause). The Church was not living on what was left her, but had revived, and was more alive than ever. Sho was a living Church, going on from elevation to elevation (applause). FREE CHURCH STATISTICS. Canon Camber-Williams, who received an ovation, congratulated most heartily the organizers on the magnificence of their meeting. It was such a con- trast to the meeting which Mr Evan Jones, the president of the Federation of Free Church Coun- cils of England and Wales, addressed at Carmarthen a fortnight ago, when, according to the JOUHXAL, one chapel was about a quarter full to listen to him, and that according to a very eminent authority they had in many of the Nonconformist churches of the town "the blood of fishes, the backbone and the flabby disposition of the flat-fish, and the wriggling characteristics of the eel" (laughter). He begged to heartily congratulate them on tho fact that there did not seem to be anything fishy about that meet- ing—(laughter and applause)—and in the powerful sneech they had heard there was not very much of tho wriggling of the eel about the speaker (laugh- te- and applause). Instead of a triumphal progress, the visits" of the president of tho Free Church Council to that district seemed to have been more like the tramp of a packman whose wares were not in demand (renewed laughter). The meeting at Whitland, ho was informed, was more flabby and flat-fishy than the meeting at Carmarthen, while at I Aberystwyth a conference grandiloquently descr bed as "Progressive citizens of Merionethshire and Cardi- ganshire' wan such a farce that the righteous soul of he Liberal agent revolted, and he said it was a piece of impertinence for them to call themselves by that title. Some years ago he (the speaker) had occasion to teach Mr. Evan Jones some Scripture history. Mr. Jones, speaking from a Liberahomst platform twenty years ago. said that there were no tithes among the Jews after the return from the captivity in Babylon. Speaking from thc presiden- tial chair at Swansea the other day, however, it (lid not do to give vent to his feelings in the same way as ho did from a Liberatiomst platform. In his soeech at. Carmarthen, Mr. Jones replied to some criticisms of the Canon's upon his (the presi- dent's) Swansea speech. He was forced to admit the "great, and inestimable obligation of Wales to the Church in the post, and to find some other justifica- tion for her proposed dismemberment and spoliation he made an excursion into the realms of history, unfortunately for him with disastrous results. Ho asserted that the Church persistently and invariably drove out and persecuted faithful Churchmen, who desired to reform the- Church from within; and that those reformers who remained inside were frowned upon while living, and that their work was allowed to die after their day. The examples of faithful Churchmen which he gave were Vavasour Powell, John Penry, and the so-called Two Thousand. The question was whether those persons, as he had rashly asserted, faithful Churchmen, desiring to re- form" the Church from within, the resistance of whose efforts could be described as a resistance to the spirit? One might just as well call Dr. Clifford or Mr Evan Jones faithful Churchmen who wished to reform the Church from within to-day (laughter and applause). The State Papers Domestic of Charles II. showed that whatever the reason for the imprisonment of Vavasour Powell by Cromwell, he was imprisoned after the Restoration, not for preach- ing the Word, but for being tho head of a wide- spread plot to inurdei- the King and overthrow his two brothers (hear, hear, and applause). He was the man whom the Rev. Evan .Jones regarded as having a special manifestation of the spirit of peace (laugh- ter). Because Vavasour Powell had been kept in prison by the State for the safety of the State, the Church was to be robbed and spoiled, he (the speaker) failed to set* the connection (laughter). The Rev. Evan Jone.s did not trouble to search any records. All he could offer in reply, after three weeks' time, was the argument generally, but erroneously, supposed to be favoured only by female disputants—(laughter)—a flippant- repetition of his former statement (applause). The second example was John I'enrj, and here again Mr. Jones had no reply to make to his (the speaker's) quotation from Penry's own words that lie had laboured to secure the complete overthrow and destruction of the Church. Was he a faithful Churchman? (laugh- ter). He was the man who had no better names for Bishop Morgan and his co-workers in the work of translating the Bible than "swinish rabble." The Canon recommended wl Mr. Evan Jones to read same of Penrv's writings and then to see whether ho still considered him a man who in a superior degree manifested the spirit of charity and peace (laughter and applause). But because, three hundred years ago, in a court with which the Church had nothing to do, three judges and a jury of twelve London citizens found Penry, the anti-Churchman, guilty of felony against the Queen, the Church of Wales was to be dismem- bered. With regard to the so-called two thousand ministers, which were supposed to have been ejected from their livings in 1!662 under the Act of Uniformity, the speaker ventured to suggest in criticising Mr. Jones' Swansea speech, that he should look who these men were. They were the men whom Dr. Owen, the Puritan, had implored Parliament to restrain and put a curb on them, be- cause of them men were going over to Rome. There were conscientious men among them, but they were anti-Churchmen. Would the Rev. Evan Jones allow a Methodist pulpit to be used for the teaching of Baptist or Armenian tenets? The speaker thought not. Those were the men who turned cathedrals into cow-sheds and pig-styes, and made the reading of the Prayer-Book, even by a child, by its sick mother's bed, an offence punishable by a year's imprisonment, if done more than three times over. These were the men who hounded the clergy from their livings and made it an offence for a dispossessed clergyman to go within 20 miles of his living. They were specimens of faithful Church- men, whose efforts at reform the Church had con- tinually resisted. There was one thing at which he (the speaker) felt bound to protest. When he charged Mr. Jones with having said that the 2,000 were excommunicated, Mr. Jones denied every say- ing so, but brought them forward to show that the Church had tried to stop reform. Unfortunately he forgot to look at the translation of his speech in the "Goleuad" and the "Baner." evidently inspired articles, of which not a line was different, and in which the word ''excommunicated" ( 'diaelodi") ap- pears constantly, and yet lie said he did not say so, why, the very basis of his argument demanded that he should say so. That was a sample of Free Church Council controversial ethics (laughter and applause). Now let them look a bit at Free Church controversial logic. The Welsh Dissenters, under the Act of 1649, cast out 700 Welsh clergy, and the Welsh Church, under the Act of 1662, cast out 61 of these intruding Welsh preachers; therefore the Welsh Church was to be deprived of her property and the Welsh Dissenters were to retain theirs (shame). This wa-s religious equality, of a new order —the Free Church Council fashion (laughter). Mr. Jones' attitude towards statistics reminded him of the chameleon which changed with changing sur- roundings. Speaking at the conference of the Na- tional Free Churches of England and Wales at Swansea he rested his case upon statistics. When t, it was pointed out by the, Bishop of St. David's that the correct figures disproved his contention, Mr. Jones considered the statistical argument a low and unworthy one, and said that the Church statis- tics were utterly unreliable. At Carmarthen Mr. Jones rested his claims to Disestablishment upon the unalienable rights of man, his enunciation of which, reduced to every-day language, amounted to a right to form or to belong to any sect he might choose, and these rights, he said, the National Church utterly denied. If that were so where did the .300 and odd sects at present existing come from 9 Let Mr. Jones form a new sest of Buddhists if he likes, who will interefere with him? The National Church he says. He (the speaker) would like to ask Mr. Jones in what iota the Bill would give him liberty? Would it give the Calvinistic Methodists the right to discuss, much less change their con- fession of faith ("Cyffes Ffydd) which they were at present strictly forbidden! to do, or to make the General Assembly the head of the body. Mr. Jones had said that the State controlled the Church alone. The Dissenters Act of 1874 decided what should be taught in the old Presbyterian Chapels, now occu- pied by the Unitarians, and had done so in many other caies. He also said that the steadily supported the Church at the expense of the poor Free Churchmen." When challenged by the Bishop to prove It, he said. "Does the Bishop mean to deny it?" (laughter). Although the president had made that statement in an assurance of infallibility which must have made the Pope turn green with envy cnuld he have heard it, the Canon would not argue on the subject, but would do as had been done in the past, and offer a sum of JE5 to anyone who could prove to the satisfaction of two justices of the peace that ho contributed a single farthing towards the Church, except by way of rent (laughter and ap- plause). So far from attempting to establish an equality, the present Bill proposed different treat- ment for tho Church as distinguished from the other religious bodies. The Welsh Weslevans, Inde- pendents and Baptists, were integral parts of the same bodies for England and Wales. The Bill pro- posed to allow that union to continue, but to rend tho Church in Wales from the Church in England. and to forbid its representatives to attend the Con- rocation of the whole Church, which they had been doing for so many centuries. In attempting to main- tain his assertion that the Church was a Church of a dwindling minority, the president cut a sorry figure. When challenged by tae Bishop, he first said that he did not mean a numerical minority, but a mino- rity generally, lie (Lit) Canon) was not sufficiently conversant with higher mathematics to understand a minority which was not a numerical minority. Then the President said that what he meant was a minority compared with the increase in the popu- lation, but unlortunately for him the Church had in- creased at a vastly higher rate than the increase of population, then the pres.dent stated that tho Church statistics were utterly unreliable. After li. ing figures which he did not understand, and after being corrected, he charged the Bishop with a charge so abhorrent that it was a wonder that every man in the meeting did not shout him down. He charged the Bishop with falsifying the communi- cants' lists, lists for which the whole of the clergy and churchwardens of Wales were respnosible, Speak- ing at, Swansea, in the presence of leaders of Noncon- formity throughout England and Wales, he gave them figures which he had not taken the trouble to verify at first hand. He presented an incomplete list of tho number of communicants, in which he made.a mistake of 20,000 in addition. He also made a mistake of 338,650 in giving the Sunday School figures, a mistake which a glanco at the official year-book would have enabled him to avoid. But, worse than that, in all his peregrinations througn empty chapels, he had never once expressed his re- gret for those mistakes in his figures, or attempted to withdraw them. There were dwindling minorities nearer home, which the president might well take the trouble of enquiring into. He, the speaker, asked them to condole with the Government—was there ever such a blind bat of a Government as this? (No, no and laughter). Three years ago they appointed a Welsh Church Commission, with a judge of the High Court as chairman, and they had not presented their report yet (laughter). He had at- tended almost all the sittings of the committee, and listened to the evidence from both the Church and Nonconformists points of view, and he would venture to advise the Rev. Evan Jones to withhold his criticisms upon the relative statistics until the Com- missioners' Report was published. He had examined the Sunday-school lists from the Diocese of St. David's himself, and the lists of communicants had been in the possession of the Commissioners in Lon- don for the last 18 months to do just as they liked with them, but of course they were not such com- petent men as the Rev. Evan Jones (laughter). On the other hand, not ono single Nonconformist com- municants' list had been laid before the Com- missioners. Repeated requests had been made by members, and had been met with promises that they would be forthcoming, but they had never been furnished. Mr. Jones had said that three-quarters of the population were Nonconformists. That was a categorical statement which ought to be capable of proof. As a matter of fact, not quite half of the population (2* millions according to Mr. Asquith) were Nonconformists. They had examined Mr. Jones' history, and found it bad, they examined his statistics and found them worse, now where was his justification for disestablishment and disendow- inent? He (the speaker) had come to the conclusion that when the report of the Commission is pub- lished, the Rev. Evan Jones will be sorry he spoke (laughter). He was certain that the country would accept neither the figures of the Church or the Nonconformists, but demand what was done in Ire- I land and other parts of the Empire—a religious census (applause). The Nonconformists, however, had a rooted objection to a religious census. Con- tinuing, the Canon said that the clergy were offered a handsome bribe to lteeo quiet over this Bill, and barter the vested interests of the laity by retaining their livings all their lives, but it was not their vested interests which they had to safeguard, but the vested interests of the laity. What was to become of them after the deaths of the present incumbents? In conclusion, he hoped that that meeting would record its solemn protest against any proposal of that kind. Mr. T. E. Brigstocke, in proposing a resolution protesting against the Bill, said that he wa3 ac- quainted with a great many Nonconformists in Car- marthen who, he knew did not agree with the Bill, and would repudiate the suggestion that the Church in Wales was an alien Church. He asked those pre- sent whether it was? (No, no). He said that last week he saw _the original deed which bestowed £ 7 out of the tithe rent-charge on the Vicar of St. Peter's, not for him, or his sons, but "for ever (ap- plause). The churchwardens had the custody of Church plate, amongst others being a chalice, bear- ing the name of the parish and the date 1574 on it. Their opponents were ashamed to take away the chalice, but they proposed to take away the 1;7 for providing a man to use it (shame). Mr. E. Colby Evans seconded, and Mr. T- Smith supported the resolution, which, on being put to the meeting, was carried with only about half-a-dozen dissentients, amidst loud and continued applause. Canon Camber-Williams then proceeded to answer a question which had been sent up, as to why the bishops were not allowed to vote on financial matters in the House of Lords. He first of all wished to express his sympathy with the friends who had had to listen for so long to what was not exactly sweetened sugar (laughter). He complimented them on the very gentlemanly way in which they had conducted themselves. He wished to say that, every- thing which he had said that night, or at any time, applied to the people who for political reasons ad- vocated the Bill. It was not meant for the many thousands of pious people who really and sincerely believed in it, and among whom he had not only relations, but very many dear friends. With regard to the question which had been asked him. The reason why the bishops could not vote on financial matters was not, as the questioner evidently thought, because they would have to vote for their own salaries. The historical reason was the same as that why a clergyman could not sit in the House of Commons, while a Nonconformist minister could. It was because they used to meet and tax them- selves. At this luncture, the Rev. A. E. Parry whispered something to the speaker, who said he was informed that the Bishops could vote. Mr. T. Bland Davies, who proposed a. vote of thanks to Major Dowdeswell, the late high-sherffi, for the splendid way in which he had conducted the meeting that night, said that he had gone there prepared to find a good many dissentients from the resolution, but he was glad to find so many wise, and so few, to him, foolish people in the town. The meeting was one of the best and most orderly ever seen in Carmarthen. Major Dowdeswell was a staunch Churchman, and a true gentlemaV (applause). Mr. Walter Spurrell seconded, and the vote was carried with acclamation. The meeting terminated with the singing of "God save the King."
THE LATE MR. ARTHUR LEWIS
THE LATE MR. ARTHUR LEWIS As briefly announced in our last issue, the death tooii place at his residence, Trenewytld, Llandaff, on Wednesday afternoon in last week, of Mr. Arthur Griffith Poyer Lewis, stipendiary magistrate of Pontypridd, and Chancellor of the Dioceses of Llandaff and St. David's. The deceased, who was about 62 years of age, suffered a nervous breakdown, the result, it is said, of overwork, twelve months or 60 ago, but he attended to his duties until quite recently. Early in the present year he was walking with a friend at the Docks, when his foot caught in a rail, and he fell somewhat heavily, injuring his knee. Then gout developed, and Mr. Lewis suc- cumbed to dilation of the heart. The deceased leaves a widow and four children—Miss Margery Lewis, Mr. Wilfrid Lewis, who was called to the Bar in 1908, and practices on the South Wales Circuit; Mr. Ronald Lewis and Mr. Eric Lewis, the last- named now being at Oxford. Mr. Arthur Lewis was leading junior of the South Wales Circuit for many years. The only son of the late Bishop of Llandaff, he was born in Berkshire, February 29th, 1848, where his father was then curate-in-charge of Douchworth Parish. He was educated at Eton and University College, Oxford, taking his B.A. and M.A. degrees. Ho rowed in the inter-University Boat Race for Oxford in 1870. In 1877 he married Annie Wilhelmine, second daughter of Dr. James Ellison, Surgeon to her Majesty's Household at Windsor. Mr. Lewis was called to the Bar at Lin- coln's Inn in 1873, and joined the South Wales Circuit, where he enjoyed an extensive practice for many years. He acted as one of the Revising Barristers for South Wales from 1890 to 1905. and was a Justice of the Peace for Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Glamorganshire. He was ap- pointed Recorder of Carmarthen in 1390 by the then Homo Secretary. Sir Henry Mathews, and elected vice-chairman of Quarter Sessions for the county of Carmarthen in 1891- In HJUO, on the death ot the late Mr. Ignatius Williams, he was appointed stipen- diary magistrate for Pontypridd. He became vice- chairman of Quarter Sessions for Pembrokeshire in 1908. in which year he was also elected chairman of Quarter Sessions for the town and county of Haver- fordwest. One of his recent duties (by no means a light one) was that of chairman of the Evidence Committee appointed to prepare statistics and evi- dence for the Royal Commission on the Church in Wales, to which subject Mr. Lewis devoted con- siderable time. By the death of his father de- ceased inherited considerable fortune in the Henllan estate, in Pembrokeshire. The family of Lewis, of Henllan, is of ancient date. Deceased was a Free- mason, and a Past Grand Deacon of England and Deputy-Provincial Grand Mark Master of South Wales. He understood the Welsh language, and having lived all his professional life in the Princi- pality, was able to appreciate the national senti- ment he knew the conditions of the people, and had a thorough knowledge of the important district over which he was stipendiary magistrate. The funeral took place on Saturday, the remains beinrr conveyed by .train from Cardiff to Clynder- wen. Pembrokeshire, where the deceased gentleman's tenants on the estates of Henllan. MoHeston. and Groy: had foregathered. The cortege w-is formed in the following order:—First carriage, containing the Arch do "icon of Llnndaff. the Rev. Isaiah Roberts (vicar of Cowbridsre), Mr. Fred J. Smith (renristrar and ecretary of Llandaff diocese), and Mr. George T. Smith (agent, of the Pembrokeshire estates!; the hearse, with the coffin, bearing on a brass shield tho inscription. "Arthur Griffith Pover Lewis: born Feb. 29, 1848: oTtjfl May 5, 1909"; second carriage, Mrs. Lewis (widow), Miss Marjorie Lewis (daughter), Mr. Wilfrid Lewis (eldest son), and Captain Ronald Lewis (third son), the Rev. G. L. Richardson and Mrs. R chardson (brother-in-law and sister-in-law;, and Mrs. Bliss (sister-in-law); fourth carriage, Mr. O. J. Ellison, Dr. W. A. Ellison (brothers-in-law), Mr. J. Eldon Bankes, K.C. (father-in-law of the heir), and Mr. Henry Goodford; fifth carriage, Dr. Skvrmo, Mr. T. W. Barker (registrar of the diocese of David's), and Mr. A. G. Howell (clerk at the Llandaff Registry). The cortege was joined at several stages by carriages occupied by representa- tives of county families of Carmarthen and Pem- broke. The cortege was met at the churchyard en- trance by the B shop of St. David's, the Arch- deacon of Lland-ifi', and the vicar of the parish (the Rev. John Williams), the last-named reciting tho opening sentences of the Church of England burial service, whilst the body was being placed in front of the altar, Mr. George Smith played on the organ, "0 rest in the Lord." The Archdeacon then read a special Psalm and the lesson, and the congre- gation sang the hymn, "Let saints on earth in con- cert sing." Wh'lst the coffin was being lowered into the grave,, which was lined with moss, ivy, and double arabis, from Trewern Gardens, the Bishop performed the commitment rite. Among the sympathisers in the churchyard were Mr. F. Dudley Williams-Drummond, vice-chairman of the Carmarthenshire Court of Quarter Sessions; Sir Owen Scourfield. Williamston; Mr. G. S. Pro- theroe-Beynon, Trewern; Rev. R. G. Lawrence and Dr. Henry Lawrence, Tenby; Mr. Egerton Alien, ex-M.P. for Pembroke Boroughs; Mr. Stokes, town clerk of Tenby; Mr. R. H. Buckley, chairman of the Narberth Bench of magistrates; Rev. T. Lewis, rector of Lampeter Velfrey; Rev. John Thomas, vicar of Laugharne; Mr. Ernest Howell, Penbigwrn, Mydrim; Mr. William Lewis, solicitor, Narberth; Mr. Robert Lock, solicitor, Tenby; Mr. John Roberts, registrar of the Narberth County Court; Rev. ft. Roberts-Jones, rector of Crumwere; Mr. Olive, Whitland; Mr. Evans, Whitland. Wreaths were sent by Mrs. Lewis (w'dow); Mr. and Mrs. Wilfrid Lewis; Miss Marjorie Lewis, and Messrs. Ronald and Eric Lewis. A number of flora) tributes were sent by Judge Owen; the magistrates nt Porth; the members of the South Wales Circuit: the Dean of Llandaff and family; the Rector of Llandewi and familv; Mr. W. P. James. Lindens: Mr. John Sankey, Mr. Donald Maclean, M.P., and Dr. Ewan Maclean, Mr. F. J. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Snrth, Mrs. Evan Lewis and the Misses Lewis, Mrs. Griffith Phillips. Mrs. Graham Dorn- ford; Mr. T. Rodway Hunt, Dr. and Mrs. Skyrme, Mr. and Mrs. Ree. Mr. W'liiam Davies. Mr. F. E. J. Blackburnc, "Aunt Mary." Deaconesses Alice and Florence "My Own," "Henrv and K'*tv." "Oborne and Jessie," Nurse Lewis, Mr. John Howe, servants at Trenewydd. Mr. Arthur Lewis's Mark Masters' Lodge No. 585, Glamorgan Lodge No. 36. Lan-gley Lodge of Mark Masons. Prince Vewellyn T/v-lcre, Five Arches Lodge. Tenby. the principals, officers, and companions of the St. John's Chapter of Royal Arch-Masons No. 36. the P.G. Ledse of Mark Master Masons of South Wales. Herd^e I/octee No. 3,250, Caerdaf Chapter Rose C'-oix. Mr. Brewer. mnnarer of the London and Provinc:al Bank. Narberth: Colonel Mirehouse, Antrle; Mr. R. Phillips. Molleston; Mr. H. R. Shield. Parcglas. Narberth: Mr. J. D. Lewis. Narberth: Mr. F. P. Jones. Lloyd, solicitor. Pembroke Dock: TZ-v -T. Morris, rector of Narberth; Rev. O. J. Jones, Llan- dyssiilio; and C!non Bowen, Pembroke. v: "T'
LAMPETER
LAMPETER GOLF.-The following were the best cards in the weekly competition played on Peterwell links on Saturday last:—Dr. Evans, 89 gross, 71 net; D Jones, 88-77; Phillip Jones, 94-76; H. W. Howell, 99-79; Emrys Jones, 103-81: Worthington Davies, 105.-31; W. J. Williams, 104-90; J. S. Jones, 100—91: Clarke. 120-95. LAMPETER DEANERY CHORAL FESTIVAL.—Prepara- tions are being made for this festival, which will be held at the parish church, June 9, and the Rev. Glynfab Williams, rector of Dinas, Pern., the tra'ner of the choir, attended at St. Peter's Church on Tues- day evening, when a rehearsal of some of the choirs took place. ACCOMMODATION.—Lampeter bore well the strain of the vast multitude which attended the fair last week, and succeeded in housing and feeding thou- sands of people-a feat which could not be per- formed in many towns of a. larger size. TOWN COUNCIL.—A meeting of the Council was held on Friday last. Present: Aldermen Timothy R. chard (mayor) and Charles Evans; Councillors W alter Davies, John Evans, Evan Evans, Lewis Jones, John D. Owen. Wm. Jones, David Davies, David Jones; Mr. J. Ernest Lloyd, town clerk, and Mr. R. John, inspector of nuisances. Report.-The Inspector (Mr. R. John) submitted the loliowing report fcr the month ending 29th April. 1909:—"The sides and trenches of all the outlying roads have now been completed. I have made the usual weekly inspections of the public light meters, and following is the consumption of the various lamp" ;-Bridge-street 300, West End 300, and Station-terrace 200, the readings for the past quarter being Station 1,000, West End 1,000, and Bridge-street 1,100 respectively, which I consider is very satisfactory. Twelve loads of unbroken stones were carted from Troedyriw sandpit to the Common. Fifteen loads of rough stones have been carted from Coctieiddig Quarry; I regret to state that the haulage from the latter place had to be suspended owing to the indisposition of the Corporation horse. In consequence of the dry weather which prevailed in the early part of tho month, the work of street watering had to be resorted to. The dam and leat near Plas-y-bryn were repaired and cleansed. The channels in the main thoroughfare have been receiv- ing attention, and all weeds removed. I have made daily visits to the slaughter-house and found things carried out in a most satisfactory manner, the in- terior of the main buildings and out-houses have been thoroughly cleaned and the walls white-limed the manure is also kept very neat. I have made frequent visits to the reservoir, and on each occasion found the water up to the overflowing mark. The settling tanks at Capeli and Henefddau were cleansed, the public taps at Drovers'-road, the Com- mon, and Peterweli-terrace were found defective, and repaired. Several other fittings and service pipes were found to be in a bad state, and steps were taken to remedy the same. Fire Brgade drill was gone through on the 24th ult., when seven members attended. The usual Easter market was held on the 10th, when there was a good attendance. Collected and paid to the treasurer j61 4s. 3d., being market tolls and storage fees, and 12s. for rent of four vehicles for two nights, total JE1 16s. 5d. In accordance with your instructions, I wrote the District Education Committee calling upon them to provide and connect to the sewer proper sanitary conveniences at the Peterwell Girls' School, but have received no reply, but I understand that the work will probably be carried out during tho summer vacation. The borough is entirely free of all notifiable diseases. You will be pleased to learn that I have prevailed upon the contractors who are now carrying on building operations in Ht'-ford- square to remove portions of the hoardings so as to facilitate the traffic during the three days of Dalis Fair. I beg to draw your special attention to the practice of young children and youths, freqaeiting the market place and causing damage to the build- ings, as well as vehicles and other articlei are left there, for storage. I shall thank you for in- structions as to what course I may adopt to. prevent the continuance of further damage."—With regard to tho Inspector's reference to children entering the market-place and doing damage there, the Inspector was directed to ascertain their names so that they may be dealt with. Alarm BelL-The Inspector called attention to the condition of the alarm bell, which had become un- workable owing to the lever having gone out of order.—Mr. D. Jones said there was not a sufficient distinction between the alarm bell and the other bells in the town. Some other mode of giving alarm should be adopted.—Mr. Walter Davies praised tho fire brigade for their work at the Canterbury Build- ing fire. He said the College Authorities are very pleased with the action of the men.—Mr. William Jones said the brigade should have more tools. They had neither a hammer nor a hatchet on the last occasion.—The matter of the alarm bell, as well as the tools, were referred to the Committee of' the Brigade.—Mr. J. Evans questioned the Inspector as to whether a member of the brigade had disobeyed orders on that dav.-The Inspector said that it did not amount to disobeying orders exactly. The mem- ber did show a disinclination to mount the ladder.— Mr. J. Evans said he proposed that any member disobeying orders should be immediately discharged. -Alr. Evan Evans congratulated tho member of the brigade for refusing to mount the ladder, because the brigade had no practice on ladders.—The Inspec- tor said -Nlr.-k;vans was very indiscreet in making a statement of that kind, and showed that he was pre- judiced.—Mr. Lewis Jones said the member might have some objection to do what- he was then told to do, but it was not the proper time and place to disobey the orders of the Captain.—Mr. William Jones said it was a mistake to invite young men to join the brigade. They should have older and more experienced men even if it meant increasing their pay. Dalis Fair.—On the motion of Mr. Walter Davies, a resolution was passed thanking the War Office for sending a representative to the Fair. An Old Charter.—The Town Clerk sa;d he had heard from Mr. J. C. Harford, who had found an old charter dated 1814 belonging to the borough, and which he was anxious to show and read to the Council.—It was agreed to meet Mr. Harford on Wednesday next for the purpose. A Complaint.—Mr. Walter Davies brought for- ward a motion disapproving the action of the Tre- garon Rural District Council in making use of the name "Dalis" in connection with their fair on the 4th inst. He quoted an advertisement in a local paper, where the fair was designated as "Ffair Dalis, Tregaron," and he was very much surprised when he saw it. He had no fault to find with Tregaron in getting up a fair, but public authorities should ob- serve some code of honour between them, and not act unfairly towards each other. To make use of the word Dalis in connection with their fair was not playing the game fairly-it was hitting below tho belt. Lampeter had a just claim to the name, as they had had 60 or 70 years possession of it. He was. however, glad to find a letter in the papers by a Tregaronion disapproving of the action of the District Council, and maintaining that the fair 6hould be called St. Reubens, which was the name applied to it by its originators. The new name- "Uaiis"— was given to it by the- Rural District Counc.l without the approval of the residents of Tre- garon.—Mr. J. Evans seconded the motion.—Mr. J. D. Owen thought there was no oocasion for the motion, and that the name would not be made use of in future.—Mr. Lewis Jones supported the motion, and characterised the action of the District Council L as mean, misleading. He was pleased to leam that there was great objection to it at Tregaron.-The Mayor said they all had the welfare of Lampeter at heart, and they could not help feeling that Tre- garon Council had overstepped it a little in the mat- ter of their fair. If they, as Council, did not take notice of it now, the same course might be adopted by them again next year, and perhaps more pub- licity would be given to it by advertisement in the English pal)ers.-Ilo motion was carried "nem. con." Memorial Hall.-A communication was read from the Local Government Board with reference to vesting the Hall in the Council. The Board had been communicating with the Charity Commissioners who had stated that the transactions which have taken place with regard to the Assembly Rooms do not &eem as yet to have resulted in the establish- ment of a Charitable Trust, and they suggest that the position might be regularised by a conveyance (to be executed and enrolled in accordance with the requirements of the Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act, 1888) by the present owners to the Town Council upon and for the trusts and purposes men- tioned in the Agreement of the 8th September, 1906. The latter continued: "The Commissioners would then be in a position, if desired, to make an Order authorising the Town Council to mortgage the pro- perty comprised in the conveyance to secure the amount of purchase-money and incidental expenses. The Town Council will no doubt wish to consider this suggestion, but I am to point out that there would still be the difficultv that the Town Council would not be able to levy a rate in respect of the building-s.-I am, Sir. your obedient Servant (Signed) JOHN* LUL-UBY, assistant se-cretar-v.-The Clerk explained that the effect of the communica- t on was that the hall would, if the suggestion be carried out, be vested in the Corporation who could then mortgage it. but that the payment of principal and interest could not be made out of the rate. The Clerk was directed to make enquiries as to the cost of the execution and enrolment of the convey- ance in accordance with the requirements of the Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act. 1888.
KIDWELLY
KIDWELLY CHTKCH MATTERS.—A most enthusiastic meeting of Churchpeop'e was held at the Parish Room, lydwelly. on Tuesday of last week, the Vicar pre- siding. The question of the debt of some £ 100 on the Kidwelly National School and £ 40 st'll remain- ing on the Mynyddvgarreg Mission Church was fully Considered, and it was r-bsoSved to make strenuous efforts at cnce to wipe these off, as well as to raise the sum of £ 60 or so required to put in a gas lighting installation in the Parish Church. A strong committee was formed, ard the sum of £ 30 was promised in the room. OBITUARY.—It is with very deep sorrow we have to place on record the death, on Friday morning of last week, of Miss Annie Davies, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Davies, of the Pelican Hotel, in this town, after only a very brief illness. Miss Davies was down in Carmarthen on the Friday week before her death she had some throat trouble, and this brought on other complications. No one thought Miss Davies was so near her death. She went olf almost at once. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Davies and all the family, who are prostrate with grief. The funeral took place on Tuesday last, the body being taken by tram to Lampeter, and then by road to Celian, in the churchyard of which very ancient church the family grave is situate. The funeral at Kidwelly was attended by many of the leading men of the town. including the Mayor (Mr. D. G. Anthony). A short service, was said in the house bv the Vicar of Kawelly (Rev. Gruffydd Evans, B.b.). At Lam- peter a large concourse of friends met the funeral party and the three miles to Cellan was made in carriages. The burial services was conducted (first part) by the Rector of Cellan (Rev. W. Ernest Jones), and the committal and other prayers said by the Rev. J. Herbert, vicar of Llanllawddog, an old friend of the family. The Rev. Daven Jones (vicar of Llanfynydd), late vicar of Kidwelly, had also intended being present, but his motor-car broko down on the journey to Lampeter. Flowers were sent by tha following :-Ir. and Mrs. Brown, Marlborough House, Tenby; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Sydney House, Swansea: Mrs. M. Hughes, Kid- welly; Mr. and Mrs. Marsh. Stackpole Court; Miss Lizzie Evans; "Sarah and Mary," Pelican Hotel; "A dear friend," etc., etc., as well a s lovely wreaths "From her sorrowing father and mother" and "Her dear sister and brother, Kate and Ma urice." Messrs. R. Morgan and Sons, of Kid- weiiv. were the undertakers. As before stated the geatest sympathy is felt with the family. It was only in September last another daughter was buried. —On Saturday news arrived hero of the death, at Carthff. after only a week's illness, of Mr. Richard Ernest Davids, son of the late Mr. R. H. Davids and Mrs. Davids, of Lady-street, in this town. Mr. Davids, who was a railway clerk, had only left for Cardiff, a few weeks ago. His brother, Mr. Harry Davids, being also engaged rhere in the same capacity, it was the intention of the whole family at once to leave Kidwelly and reside at Cardiff, preparticn to this effect having been almost com- pleted when this sad blow fell. "Ernest," as he was popularly called, was very greatly liked by all with whom lie came in contact. He had been very ill some months ago before, but had apparently quite recovered ere he left for Cardiff. He was only 22 years of age. The body Was brought home from Cardiff on Monday evening, Mr. Gwilym Jones, also a Kidwelly boy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Jones, West End, who is also a railwav clerk, coming down with the body. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, the interment being at St. Mary's Churchyard, the Revs. Gruffydd Evans (vicar) and D. T. Jones (curate) officiating, the Rev. D. G. Owen. C.M., an old friend of the family, giving out a hymn. Wreaths were sent bv the fol- lowing amongst others:—His cousins, Rev. W. G. Graveile, St. Michael's College, Llandaff, and Mr. George Gravelte, Lampeter College Scfrpol, this being inscribed "To our cousin from Willie and George. Lord keep his soul through Him who is tho Resurrection and the life. R.I.P." His fellow clerks at the Goods Office, G.W.R., Cardiff, 'A tribute of sincere sympathy"; "All at 17, Rich- mond-crescent, Cardiff, with sincere sympathy"; the Clerks in the Goods Office, G.W.R., Llanellv, "in loving memory"; Mr. Bertie Mansell; etc. eta. Bisatt, Cardiff; his friends Lil and Bessie, "in loving memory"; Mr. Berite Mansell; etc.. etc. Tho funeral was verv largely attended. The follow- ing represented the Llanellv G.W.R. Goods clerks- Mes.srs. Galley. Richards, and Gwilym Jones.
WHITLAND
WHITLAND GIRL KILLED BY -NIOTOP.-At the Town Hall, Whitland, on Tuesday last, Mr. Thomas Walters, coroner for West Carmarthenshire, held an inquest as to the circumstances attending the death of Mary Roes, aged 8, youngest daughter of Mr. J. Rees, railway signalman. Moss Cot tag, eNort hRoad, Whit- land (formerly of Carmarthen). It appeared that the child was run over on Saturday last by a car which belonged to Mr. Toombs, solicitor, FiEhguard, and which was being driven by George Harrison, a chauffeur in the employ of the Deasy Motor Car Company, Ltd., Coventry; and who had been sent down to instruct Mr. Toombs how to drive it. The car was being driven very slowly through the town, but was raising a lot of dust.' Deceased was crossing the road. Not noticing the silent approach of the car, she was knocked down, and sustained a fractured arm and other internal injuries. The chauffeur (who was perfectly sober), to his credit be it said, at once pulled up the car in its own length. The child was taken home, and attended bv Dr. J. T. Cresswell, Whitiand, but died in the evening of the same day from shock, the result of the accident. —The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and expressed their svmpathv with the parents.
NEWCASTLE-EMLYN
NEWCASTLE-EMLYN EMLYK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, LTD.—A meeting of the committee of the above society was held on Friday last, the 7th inst., at the office of the society. Owing to the death of Mr. Thomas, of Moelon, vice-chairman of the society, it was necessary to appoint a successor. On the motion of Mr. J. Bowen, Llwyneinon, seconded by Mr. W, Jeremy, Sussett, and unanimously agreed that Alderman J. Lewis. Meiros Hall, be aponinted vice- cho-irman.-On the motion of Alderman J. Lewis, seconded by Mr. D. Jones, and unanimously agreed to pass a vote of condolence with Col. Lewes Llvs- newydd, the president of the society, owing to his recent illness, but was glad to find that he is pro- gressing favourably. STATISTICS.—The Clerk stated that the sales dur- ing the month of April was JE839 17s. 2d.. compared with £ 575 10s. 6d. in the corresponding period last year. Total sales from January 1st to April 30th was E2,115 17s. 6d., compared with £ 1,765 6s. 5d. in the corresponding period last year, which shows an increase of JBS48 lis. ld. in four months. The society is in a flourishing state, and increasing steadily year after year.
LLANDOVERY
LLANDOVERY LICENSED VICTUALLERS' MEETING.—A public meet- ing of the Licensed Victuallers of the town was held at. the Town Hail on Friday evening, under the presidency of Mr. Daniel Morgan, Half Moon. The chairman briefly explained the provisions of Mr. Lloyd- Budget, in so far as they affected ihe trade, and stated that the object of the meeting was to fix an advanced uniform price for in- toxicants to meet the additional imposts which wts to be fixed on the trade. During the proceedings the advisability of forming a Licensed Victuallers' Association for defence purposes was also under con- sideration. It was decided to raise the price of Hennessy's Three Star brandy to Id. per glass; all spirits usually sold at 3d. to be increased to 4d.; all spirits sold at 4d. to be advanced to 5d. Spirits isold for consumption outside to be increased in price 6d. per pint. Stout and beer in bottles, 3d. per bottle. As to tobaccos and cigarettes. it. was decided that the prices be the same as those to which they had been advanced by grocers, chemists, and tobacconist*
. NOTES OF THE WEEK
NOTES OF THE WEEK A ratepayer at the Association meeting en Wednen day night referred to the "incentitive to join." The "much ado about nothing" over the assew ments is now being called the battle of bluaders. v The price of whisky is down a halfpenny. Vide Licensed Victuallers' Association meeting on Wed- nesday night. With the increased price of drinks, a wag sug- gests that licensed victuallers should adopt this motto: "No change here, but a change of govern- ment." -ee-- This has been quite a record week for challenges— three in two days. It can safely be predicted that, like other challenges issued in Carmarthen, they will not be taken up. ———— Mr. Wm. O'Brien, formerly M.P. for Cork, it .going to take up his residence permanently at Jeru- salem. The Radical Party have often wished the whole of the Irish members at Jericho. A sale of Welsh Industries will be held at Hyde Park House, London, on May 20th and 21st. H.R.H. the Princess of Wales has graciously promised to attend the sale on the afternoon of the 80th. By a strange coincidence Free Church and assess- ment statistics were wrongly quoted in the same week, and a month later these mis-statements wer* corrected, and the true Church and assessment figures given in the same week. At the Ratepayers' Association meeting. The Mayor: "It is agreed that the subscription be Is. per annum." A Voice: "I propose it. be 5s. for the gentlemen on the stage.' But the parrot cry is: "Why not treat aU alike?" If an independent valuer of any kind is engaged for re-assessing the town of Carmarthen, he should at least be a man who will be always at hand to justify his assessments whenever they are challenged before the Assessment Committee. A spider at the Carmarthen Labour meeting th» other day said that one of the weaknesses of tho Welsh people was that after getting an Act passed they were very slow and reluctant to administer it. For Welsh "people" read Radicals. Whilst the members of the newly-formed Rate- payers' Association were electing the vice-presidente, the Mayor's dog showed his approval by "saying- bow wow." It was said that the animal was seek- ing tho post of honorary watch dog, or canine assessor. A good story is told of an external valuer who re-asse6sed a certain district a few years ago. At old ruined mill had been unoccupied for 12 yaare. It had been struck off the valuation list for some years and the assistant overseer did not even know of its existence. The external valuer, however, dis- covered it and assessed it at £ 15! ♦> The Anti-Disestablishment movement in thE- dio- cese of St. David's started at Carmarthen on Mon- day night last, and if one of the most successful meetings 4ever seen in the history of the borough can be t^cen as an indication of the feeling against tha unjust Bill, no wonder the political Noncon- form^ fear a religious census. QUER\ .-ARTHUR JONES, OF ABERDWYLAN. Can any of tho readers of the JOURNAL throw some light on the above gentleman. He was High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1759. All traces of him seem to be lost. It is curious not to find him, as tho name "Arthur" is rather uncommon. Where was Aberdwylan situated? Any information, however meagre, will be welcomed by Ernest J. Waters. Eurwcrn, Carmarthen. The gentleman who writes assessment notes to the Welshman has either a poor recollection, or cliae he does not know what he is talking about. He says: "As showing how compliant the local assess- ment committee is, it may be mentioned that no such appeal has come before Quarter Sessions within my recollection." The observation is on a par with the rest of the nonsense he writes on this subject. If his recollection does not go back to the Joint Counties Asylum's appeal to Quarter Sessions he had better leave assessments alone and take to selling coke. At the Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture, a member, with great gusto, stated how proud they should be that at last agriculture had been recognised by the State, through the inclusion in the Budget of a grant of L200,000, towards develop- ing the vast resources of the industry. The Budget also contains a different kind of recognition of agri- culture which will not be received so joyfully. The beggarly grant to be given to the greatest industry in the country will como out of the fine revenue which that industry will be called upon to pay in the taxation of land values. It may be well to remember at the present time, especially in Wales, that Nonconformist chapels are exempted by Act of Parliament from rates and taxes so long as they are used exclusivelv for public re- ligious worship. The Act 3 and 4 William IV sec 1, chap. 30, runs thus: "That no person or persons shad be rated, or shall be liable to be rated, or to pay to any Church or Poor Rates for or in respect of any Churches, District Churches, Chapels, Meet- ing Houses, or Premises, or such part thereof as shall be exclusively appropriated to Public Religious Worship," etc. In spite of this, we constantly hear of purely political meetings being held in chapels It has been asked again and again. "Why do Nonconformists object to an official religious census?" and no adequate reply is forthcoming to the inquiry. Yet as a matter of mere commonsense it is obvious that such a census is required before it can be justly determined what the religious professions of the people really are. We are .glad to see that this matter will be raised on the second reading of the Welsh Church Bill, for it is obviously a most perti- nent one. The Church has never shrunk from such a census; on the contrary, the leaders of the Church in the Principality have said that thev will wpl",nm,p, it. It is passing strange that the Government should have determined to disestablish and di.nd, the Church in Wales without first of all taking steps to ascertain wha.t proportion of the Welsh people be- loligs to the Church, and also without waiting XGr the Report of their own Welsh Church Commission and the evidence upon which that Reoort will be based.
^ COEDYBBYN (LLANGUNLL01
COEDYBBYN (LLANGUNLL01 CONCERT.—A successful concprf wo, 1, 1/ Bryn Council School on Friday whpn th ° e of the previous evening at "Newcastle repeated by the Bargold Te fi P T* and others. Sir Martein- 1 „ u? Part/> present; the family, however Miss Joan Lloyp1. The Re"' E^O.lon^M Llangynllo, presided. At the close of the cofcert' w S3 other" families Th Broaw^d' Mo™t Gernos, and menT thTf^ to aug-
Family Notices
BIRTHS. TVheAIw?fe~^r Mr.' AlbSrt^Thomw (daughters). Thomas, of twins THOMAS.—May 6th, at Llangorwen Vicara«« Aberystwyth, to the Rer. T. D. and Mre. TfeonSt