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"ALONG THE COAST." ------
"ALONG THE COAST." (By a Travelling Correspondent). My compliments to the gentleman who had an interview with the justices at the Conway Sessions, on Monday. Ho had been invited to take a prominent position at the magisterial j levee, and he did so with conspicuous coolness and utter atcencc of "ftage fright." The Bench wanted to commit him about his language. They had heard that on a recent occasion he addressed a constable in Welsh, his expressions not befitting one of his Majesty's honoured sub- jects. The visitor listened with grave demean- our to the narrative of the constable, who came to describe what had occurred in that clapsio quarter known as the Col!ege Gate, but Eeomed rather puzzled when the transcript of his "lan- oiago" on a slip of paper was pas-red over to their worships for perueal. He was by and by allowed himself to eec the document, and ho then observed that what was written was written in We:fh. lie began to read aloud the words set down, but the Chairman in- terrupted him, and reminded him that the pre- caution of the constable in bringing the scrip- ture eo that he might not need taint his tongue nor the ears o-f the Court with what was there writ down would be nullified if the memoran- dum were read out. This view of the matter was at once accepted by our obliging friend, who thereupon turned, with beaming counten- ance, towards the Bench, and ga-,e utterance to oracular words, which conveyed the idea that when ho had drank "not wisely but too well" of beer, he never epoke Welsh. » » I did not use the term "oracular" just now without due thought of its import. The pro- nouncement of the oracles, whether those of Delphi or elsewhere, were always somewhat am- biguous, and the remark of our exponent of language was marked by the eame distinguish- ing quality. But I was pleased with the loyalty to our mother tongue which the observation dis- closed. Our friend at least goes so far as to decline to speak his native language when "in beer," thus keeping it from being stained by its use under euch circumstances. For that I am euro all ardent Welshmen will be grateful, and I 6Uro all ardcnt \clt;:hmen will be grateful, Rnd I 0.11 rea.l well.wishers of tho mall who is EO con- t;jùemte in his en1tployment of Wd6h will also hope that there will never be in his own best int,ore,s,t6 any oceak-oiig wlien it will be neces- er this rule cd to fe,ry f,>r him, unO' detert his mother tongue. • » • • Mns A. J Oldman has a taking way with her. She goes down to the Board of Guardians, and Tfl in her place, and says she has something important to communicate—will the Chairman allow the standing orders to be suspended? Now, jwhen he is assured by an eloquent lady that there is something important to be oommuni- cated, what chivalrous chairman could bluntly nay, "Can't!" We are a curious sort of animal and it would require more than human nature to refuse to listen. So, when, last Friday after- noon, Mrs Oldman informed the Board of Guardians that she had an urgent matter to Jay before the meeting, the permission to state her eaee was at once trustfully voted. » < 8he proceeded to say that there was a pest in the Infirmary! The very word "gave one the shudder." We immediately thought of the plaguo of London, which was called the pest, and of the "black death," which is so graphic- ally described in Charles Read's wonderful story, "The Cloister a.nd the Hearth." No wonder that Mrs Oldman was bringing the subject forward ae a matter of urgency I » » » But as the lady guardian proceeded we felt J to some extent reassured, because the pest she x,eferred was not necessarily bubonic, nor was it choleraic, specifically, though we soon real- ised that, under given conditions, it might eet up am epidemic of either of these murderous distempers. Nevertheless, the pest at the Con- way Workhouse was sufficiently serious. The house of Pharoah was once afflioted By it,- "and there came a grivous swarm of flies into the house of Pharoah, and into his servants' housee, and into all the land of Egypt; the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies." Mrs Oldman communicated to her fellow-guardians the intelligence that "swarms of flies" were corrupting the Infirmary ward, and giving cause for much distreee and discomfort to the sick people and those who had to attend upon them. • She pleaded that the Guardians should ro something to abate the 'abomination. Wo could not turn to Mosee, to interfere for us HJKI cure the removal of the swarms of files, so that there would remain not one. But we could at least employ the miraculous means of x;:od-;rn science to effect the desired riddance, and tho lady appealed that this should be done. But then there arose a rather curious if not amusing debate. It would have been amusing, that is to pay, if the nuisance to be dealt with had not been so- urgent and material. Mr Raynes made the sensible suggestion that the lady members Df the Board should take the slaughtering of the flies in hand. Fearing, no doubt, that the ladies would hardly have the stoicism and nonchalance needed to undertake such a wholesale butcher- ing contract without a little masculine stiffening of their gentle natures, he proposed that Mr Owen W. Roberts sshould join the execution com- mittee. There was method in that nomination, too, because Mr Roberts is the chairman of the House Committee, whose obvious laxity had allowed the plague to assume such huge pro- portions. Some members in the subsequent dis- cussion were inclined to "pooh-pooh" the matter, and to question the seriousness of the nuisance. But they were warmly rebuked by other speak- ers, who asked that all levity should be allowed to cease. w w w Perhaps, if we had carried on the discussion fifty years ago, we might have agreed that the subject was not worthy of such prominent at- tention, but these are tho days of the bacterio- logist, whose conclusions must be respected. A Jecturer in Manchester said the other day that flies arc of no service to mankind. It used to be thought that they were good scavengers; and perhaps, even in spite of the lecturer, they would be useful in that direction, by consum- ing organic wastes. But these are days in which we scavenge for ourselves, and we hasten to re- move organio wastes, and destroy them. In clean houses, at all events, flies are a useless encumbrance, especially as they nibble our food and contaminate what they leave. Flies are covered with bacilli from the tips of their paws to the ends of their wings, and these may bo tho germs which produce typho-id, or cholera, or tuberculosis, or other malignant disease. Tho old notion that they adhere to ceilings or win- dow panes by means of suckers at the soles of their feet seems to be mistaken. As a matter of faot the creatures have the power of secreting fxom glands in their feet a. gummy substance which practically glues their feet to the wall or ceiling. They "maintain themselves in impos- sible locking situations not by suction but by adhesion." The lecturer, Mr Hewitt, dealt with the mischievous part played by house flies in the distribution of disease producing bacteria. Hs explained how the feet of the fly and other parts of its. body are so formed as to make effec- tive carriers of germs, and as an illustration of what a single fly can do in this way he showed a photograph of a culture plate"—a bit of glass ooated with gelatine, and rendered moist and of the right temperature for any germ which touches the gelatine to live upon that pabulum, and multiply—"upon which a fly had been al- lowed to walk. In the tratk of its feet colonies of bacilli had grown 1" » 4 How important, therefore, that flies should be excluded from such a place as an Infirmary, es- pecially an Infirmary in which persons suffering from various diseases are ocoupying the isanie ward. A fly, for instance, may walk near the mouth of a patient suffering from phthisis; get ite legs covered with the bacillus of tuberculosis, and immediately carry that disease to some per- son in the ward suffering from some other com- plaint of less dangerousaiess, but in a weakly and therefore receptive state. The prospect of the mischief that may be done is appalling. In the end the Board entrusted the task of dealing with the pest to tho Works Committee, a body of elder men who have done some very good things for the good of the inmates of the House in past time, and for tho good likewise of the ratepayers. I hope that the Works Com- mittee will realise the responsibility of their task, for it is no .matter of child's play, or to joke about. They have already approached the Conway Corporation with t,1)o request that they should cover over with sweet eoii the tip near the Workhouse, and this wiil be done. For this year, however, the flies that are out of doors will not be likely to give much trouble. They will be killed off, after depositing their eggs for next summer's broods. The best way of clearing the flies indoors is undoubtedly to poison them with the old-fashioned fly papers,
1 THE CHARGES AGAINST A LLANRWST…
THE CHARGES AGAINST A LLANRWST SOLICITOR. AN IMPORTANT CORRECTION. With reference to the report which appeared in our issue of August ist of the proceedings at the Divisional Court con- cerning an application made on behalf of the incorporated Law Society in the mat- ter of Mr W. P. Roberts, solicitor, Llan- rwst, we are informed by that gentleman's solicitor that one of the statements therein is absolutely untrue. According to the re- port, one of the charges alleged to have been submitted by the Law Society's coun- sel was one relating to transactions which Mr Roberts had with the estate of the late John Davies, whereas, as a matter of fact, no such charge was brought to the notice of the Divisional Court, Mr Roberts having produced certain documents which satisfied the Committee of the Incorporated Law Society that no offence had been com- mitted, and whereupon the charge was withdrawn. \Ve very much regret that we published this portion of the report, which was ex- tracted from the columns of a contemporary and published by us in good faith. We take the earliest opportunity of giving a correct version of the matter.
CONSERVATIVE REORGANI-SATION.…
CONSERVATIVE REORGANI- SATION. GRAMOPHONES, LANTERN VANS, AND WORKINGMEN SPEAKERS. In connection with the scheme of reorganisa- tion generally, the Chief Whip of the Conser- vative Party (Sir Alexander Aeiand-IIood, Bart., the chief agent (Mr J. Percival Hughes), and the secretary of the National Union (Mr Thomas Cox), have been in constant consulta- tion for some time past with the committees of t.he National Union. It has been decided to tour the country with lantern vans. A small army of vans will leave London early in November, each taking a diifc- rent route. They will be pcciaJy built, and will each be equipped with a lantern and slides, Speakers will accompany each van. Meetings will be addressed outside factories and mill gates a.t mid.day, and at night lantern lectures will be delivered. Literature will be freely distri- buted en route. Gramophones — the records being short, telling speeches and political verses set to topical tunes—will accompany the vane. The vans will be posted with cartoons and specially dra.wn posters. It ia intended that this tour shall continue until the end of April, 1908. The vans will also be available for summer open-air meetings. By both these schemes many thousands of meetings of an educational character will bo held, and they will directly appeal to the work- ing man. It is also intended to arrange a series of largo meeting-s in convenient centres during the autumn and winter, to be addressed by promi- nent members of the party. In addition to this, a scheme h been drawn up with a view to starting a permanent organiza- tion of workingmen speakers in all parts of the kingdom. By this means also some thousands of outdoor meetings other than those already mentioned will be held, and wall be addressed by workingmen speakers, October 8th, 1907.
A LLANDUDNO LANDLADY AND HER…
A LLANDUDNO LANDLADY AND HER LODGER. UNFOUNDED CHARGE OF THEFT. At a special police) court at Llandudno, on Tuesday, before Messrs Wm. Bevan and J. O. Thomas, Ernest Bernhardt, a respectably-dressed young man, described as a musician, was charged by Mrs Elizabeth Davies, of 16, Jubilee-street, Llandudno, with stealing the sum of £5. from her purse. Mr James Marks (Messrs Marks and Marks) defended. The complainant stated that the defendant lodged at her house, and was engaged at the Hippodrome during the season. Ho paid her 14s a week for his lodgings. She often used to lend him money, but he always re-paid her promptly, and paid all ho owed her before leav- ing. On the morning of the day in question she put £7 12s 6d in her purse, and placed it in a drawer in the parlour. When she returned home at night she found only £2 12s 6d in the purse, £5 having gone. She then sent for the police. Cross-examined, complainant said that the defendant stayed with her about ten weeks. She kept her money in a drawer in tho parlour, which room was used by the defendant and four other men. She kept the front door, as well as the parlour window, open. Fred Ball stated that on the day in question he was with the defendant all morning until 12 o'clock. After having been bathing he went to Mrs Davies' home, and saw the defendant there, who told him that ho had received a telegram to appear at the Olympia, Liverpool, that night. Defendant said good-bye, and then left for tho station. In reply to Mr Marks, witness said he had seen Mrs Davies put the money in the drawer. Miriam Simon was called by tho complainant, but said that she knew nothing of the affair. The Chairman (to complainant): Unless you can produce some more material evidence it is useless to go on with t.he case. Supt. Roes: Then I take it that the case is dis- missed. The Chairman: Yes, wo dismiss the case. Mr Marks said he did not think the matter would end there. He asked for a certificate, then the parents and others who held respectable positions could take such steps as they wcro advised.
------------FLINTSHIRE LIBERALS.…
FLINTSHIRE LIBERALS. SELECTION OF A CANDIDATE FOR THE BOROUGHS. At a meeting of the Flintshire County and Borough Liberal Association, it was decided that steps should be taken to select a candidate for the boroughs at the next general election, the present member (Mr llcwell ldri) havmg inti. mated that he will not again contest the seat. In accordance with this resolution, a meeting of tho Flint Contributory Boroughs was held on Wednesday night, when Alderman S. K. Mus- pratt presided. After discussion, it was decided to submit the following names in tho order named:—Mr J. W. Summers (chairman of the Flintshire County Council), Mr W. E. Gladstone (Hawanlon), Mr Max Muspratt (Liverpool), Alderman S. K. Muspratt (Flint), Mr T. Il. Parry, barrister (Mold). The name of Dr. Humphrey Williams, Flint, was also mentioned, but he declined to alicw it to go forward. Tho Chairman also thanked the meeting for sub- mitting his name, but ho was afraid that circum- stances would not allow him to become a candi- date. Seventeen delegates were appointed to attend the meeting of the Central Association, which, it was stated, would be held at the end of the month, to consider the names put for- ward by the several contributory boroughs.
--WELSH SECONDARY SCHOOLS…
WELSH SECONDARY SCHOOLS REGULATIONS. RESOLUTION BY THE N.U.T. At a meeting cf tho Welsh Committee of the National Union of Teachers, held in London on (Satur- day- the greatest dissatisfaction was expressed at the 'financial provisions wade in the Welsh secondary school?, regulatiooa which place Welsh secondary schools at a disadvantage us compared with the se- condary schools in England, and it was resolved that the matter should be made the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Welsh Federation at Cardiff, and it was also resolved to ask the executive of the N.U.T. to deal with the matter. The matter w subsequently discussed by the executive of the N.U.T., when the following resolution wa passed That the executive of the N.U.T. desires to call public attention to the injury likely to be done to Welsh education as a consequence of the differentia- tion in the payment of grunts under the regulations recently introduced by Mr McKenna, as under those regulations the grant for children in Welsh secondary schools has been fixed at a sum varying from .£3 15s to £5 per head, whereas the corresponding grint in English secondary schools has been fixed at the uni. form rate of JE5 per head." Copies of the resolution were ordered to be suit to the Prime Minister, the President and Parliamen- tary Seeretary of the Board of Trade, and the Welsh members of Parliament.
[No title]
The "Times" gives a description of a, new method of illumination by petrol gas, which, it is said, will cost about 9d per 1000 feet. The new illuminant is described as cleaner, than coal gas, and is practically non-explosive. It is ap- parently well adapted for cooking purposes. Professor Masson, Historiographer-Royal for Scotland, and for thirty years professor of En- glish Literature in Edinburgh University, died on Sunday.
IWELSH OHURCH COMMISSION.…
WELSH OHURCH COMMISSION. THE QUESTION OF HISTORICAL SURVEYS. METHODS OF PROCEDURE DISCUSSED. The Welsh Church Commission continued its sittings on Friday, in London, Lord Justice Vaughan Wiliia-ms presiding, Tho first witnetvs to appear was the Rev. J. Morgan Jones, Cardiff. Air Jones proposed to speak of "tho rieo and growth of Welsh Calvin- istic Methodism." The Chairman: I am not going to tako any objection, Mr Jones, to your reading this his- torical eteav, but it is no part of the duty en- trusted to uii by the King to give an account of the history of tho rise of Nonconformity or any portion of it. Thait ie the construction I put upon the terms of our reference, and my view is shared by, at all events, a number of my brethren. Principal Fairbairn, when he was a member of the Coanmksion, entertained a very strong opinion that history did not fail within our instructions. So fax we have acted upon tha.t principle. We have to make a report, you know, au to the provision made and the work dono by the churches and denominations in Wales and Monmouthshire for the spiritual wel- fare of the people, and the extent the people avail themselves of such provision. However, you have taken tho trouble to prepare this paper, and although it is my duty to see that the labours of the Commission are not increased by allowing people to give evidence or to read papem on matters not properly within our re- ference, 1 shall make no objection to your read- ing it. It. js not a long payer, and it deals principally with facts which must be perfectly familiar to anyone who takes an interest in the history of Nonconformity. Hut I do not wish it to be supposed that 1 have in any way departed from the practice maintained up to the present of not al.owing witnesses to come here to favour us with narratives of the lives of the heroes of Nonconformity. The Witness: I thought a short historical eseay liko this would show our present posi- tion. Too Chairman: It does not show your present position. It shown the antecedents of your pre- sent position. We have laid it down again and again that the present year is what we have to do with. Jjord Hugh Cecil: I think it is very desirable that we should settle at once whether any qucs- tiona are to be asked the witness on historical matters. If questions are to be asked they must be allied in considerable numhers. The Chairman: I should be perfectly contcnt myseif that Mr Jones should read his paper, and that it should be put on the note without any questions being aeked. I do not proposo rnysc.f to ask him a g-ingle question. Brynmor Jones: 1 do not propose to limit my daw ret ion ae to tho questions 1 shall put but so far as 1 can see there is no occasion to ask any questions. The Chairman: You will remember that in the course of the summer there was a. correspon- dence in the newspapers on this question, in winch a. protest was made against the exclu- sion of history and tho limitation of the evidence to the present era. Among others who wrote was the fin-hop of St. Asaph, who said in his letter that ho had given up a considerable por- tion of his leisure to writing a paper upon the rise of the diocese off St. Asaph, which, he sug- gested, I think, was the moot interesting of tho dioceses. The Bishop said that this his- toiica.1 would be thrown away under the practice which had been adopted by the Com- mission. Of course, I cannot prevent the Bishop of St. Asaph from coming and reading that paper. I oan guess, indeed, the part of the his- tory that he will dweil upon. It is difficult, of course, to let in one piece of evidence of this sort and not another, though I had hoped to have the pleasure of doing an act of courtesy to Mr Jones by lotting hi.m read his paper (which I may say is admirably written), and nQlt to treat it as an event which is to blot out the whole of the ante- cedent practice of the Commission. Archdeacon Evans: If this paper goes on the note it wiil be there permanently as evidenco of the stato of things in Wales at the period referred to. It would, therefore, only be fair that there should a.so be on the note a state- ment on the other side, or that a few questions should be asked to-day, not in a controversial spirit, but merely as to matters of fact—as to whether, for example, certain facts of the period wero in Mr Jones's mind when he wrote this paper. Lord Hugh Cecil: The paper teems with statements of a. controversial character. The Chairman: You must bear this in mind, that if this witness is not allowed to read his paper other witnesses may refuse to give evi- dence. Lord Hugh Cecil: Then the fewer the wit- nesses tha.t the better, unless they came from motives of public duty. If they do not come from motives of public duty they confer nL° obligation upon the Commission. I shall therefore not at a.i be deterred by considera- tions of that kind. I find this phrase in Mr Jones's proof—"By this action of the Bishop of the Church of England threw away her la&t chance of becoming tho National Church of Wales." Surely it is not suggested that this observation is not controversial. Sir D. Brynmor Jones: The sentence must be lead in its context to see how far it is just. "k°r^ Cecil: It is not questions of jus- tice that we arc enquiring into. The Chairman: My position has become most painful to me, because every attempt I make to keep the inquiry within the limits of the terms of reference is again and again opposed. Those who. want this gentleman to read this paper knew perfectly well wha-t was our rule as to history and controversial matters. Perron- allv, I do not think that much harm will be done if, out of courtesy to this gentleman, we allcw him to read his paper without asking him any questions; and this, of course, would annlv to both sides. Sir D. Brynmor Jones: It is very difficult to define or explain what any Nonconformist sect or denomination is except by referenco to history to show what were the circumstances which led to its breaking off. It is only in that way that the eo-callcd historical evidence is impor- tant. Arciidoacon Evans: But Mr Jones takes one eot of facts, and writes his paper on those facts. There are other facte, and what I want to know is whether he had these other facts before him when he wrote his paper? Sir D. Brynmor Jones: And the only question I proposed to ask him was what were the autho- rities for his facts? Tho Chairman: If you want this Commission to be effective yon must remember that it is in tho mam a statistical duty that we have to perform. Need you be so anxious in some sihape or rather to bring forward those facts which you think rcdo.und to the credit of the Noncon- formist bodies and to the discredit of the Church of England? Of course what yen want to read these papers for is not to put information be- fore the Commission, but to bring before the re.igious public of the world the fact that it was the fault of the Church of England that the Method!Eta left it. No.body can possibly doubt that too party in the paper would present that appeofc to the Commission. Well, it is not material to anything we have to dec'ide, but the advantage of it is tha.t you get it printed and circulated all over England. Archdeacon Evans: I would like to urge the Commission either to put certain questions to M.r JÜIW8 or to agree that his paper should be answered by another paper, which would a'eo appear en the note? Lord Hugh Cecil: I think this a most astonish- ing wa,o.t.e of time and public money. The Chairman: May 1 suggest that on either side sufficient statements have been made to mako it plain what the opposing views aro COMMISSION'S DECISION. On tho suggestion of tho Chairman, the room was cleared that tho Commissioners might con- eider the matter further in private. When the public were re-admitted, the Chair- man, addressing Mr Jonca, said: We do not proposo to ask you to read your paper. You have, no doubt, spent much labour in prepar- ing it, and it is an excellent paper. But it travels into history matters which aro outside the terms of our reference, and we think tho best thing to. do will be to print it in The ap- pendix that we shall publish to our report. It wuuld, therefore, not be lost. Mr Jones: That will suit my views. The Chairman: There may be other papers, on one side or the other, which are not strictly speaking within the terms of our reference. All such, papers we shall deal with in the same way aa we pro-pose to deal with youre. Mr Jones: I have no desire to be unfair to the Established Church in Wales. The Chairman: I hope you do not for one moment think that a desire to be fair to the Church of England is exceptional among the Nonconformist ministers who came before us. They have generally shown every desire to be ST. ASAPH AND WREXHAM WITNESSES. Mr Peter Roberts (St. Asaph) continued his evidence (begun on the previous day) with re- gard to the connexional funds of the Calvinis'tio Methodistis. He said that a e as tent at ion fund was a dream of the future. Archdeacon Evans, at tho close of Mr ROo berts's evidence, expressed his appreciation of the foreign missionary work being dono by tho Calvinistic Methodists. Ho had learned from people well able^to judge that the missionary work of this Church was, perhaps, the meet successful in India. Mr John Davies, of Pandy, was the next witness who offered himself. His object was to read a paper on "Welshmen outside Wa!e?. The Chairman said that Mr Davies, in his paper dwelt a good deal upon the love of the .w el.sh people for their own language and the pleasure it gave them to worship in it. It was not subject matter whioh feil within the terms ol the Commission's reference. The paper, which was a valuable one, would not, however, bo lost; it would be printed in the appendix to the report And the Commission would not trouble Mr Davies to read it. The Rev. J. Williams, Wrexham, secretary of tho Homo Mission Society of the North Wales Oalviniotic Methodist Association, was the next witness. Ho said that during the last thirty years there had been a very large growth in the work of the society. The number of mission stations in 1892 was 50; in 1907 it was 112. The society now helped many churches which had been weakened through the depopu- lation of the rural d'istriotu. Tho develop- ment of great industries in some districts of North Wales had necessitated the opening of a number of mission Rations, and these were Ku]xperted by the society. The ]ast census re- turns showed that a very large proportion of those born in North Wales migrated to Eng- land. In Lancashire alone 63,704 persons were enumerated as natives of Wales and Mon- mouth. The religious welfare of this large \Ve1:<:1 population in England had been an object of concern to the Welsh Calvinintic j Methodist Connexion from its very earliest j period. I -the Chairman interposed with the remark that they were only concerned with the re- .'glollii th-o p4?,?p'le I I "gioii made for in Walep. After some discussion, the Chairman, as a concession, permitted the witness to give some details of this part of the society's work. Tho work of the English Churches fund was also put before tho Commission by Mr Williams. Mr Thomas Thc-mm attended to give a ehort sketch of the history of Congregational music among the Nonootniormi&ts of Wales in general and the Calvinistic Methodists in particular. The Chairman said he had consulted his col- leagues and they agreed with, him that this was not a paper it would be practicable to rend. II would bo published in the appendix to their report. Mr Thomas, he said, agreed that this was the proper course to take.
CALVINISTIC METHODIST STATISTICS.…
CALVINISTIC METHODIST STATISTICS. THE QUESTION OF A RELIGIOUS CENSUS. Before the Commission, on Tuesday, Mr John Owen; of Chester, presented a series of tables constituting statistical and financial evidence in respect of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist 1 Church. He said the number of Welsh churches was 1128, English were 283, and the Welsh chapels and preaching stations numbered 1324, and English 296. The communicants were 189,296, of whom 161,643 were Welsh. The total in the churches was 272,711. Regarding subscript ions, he said that at the thanksgiving services workingmen not only forfeited a day's wages, but also contributed to the collection. During the 50 years covered by his tables t.he forces opposed to Nonconformity in Wales were at their strongest. That opposition was three- fold political, agrarian, and educational—but thanks to the growth of democracy and the security of the ballot the first two factors had ceased to exercise their baneful influence on the character of the nation. Notwithstanding chapel and preaching stations, children, Sun- day School scholars, and the total adherents had doubled in the period mentioned, and collections had increased nearly threefold. The amount for which the church and chapel prc,,I),crt' 14?s we r4? insured at the end of 1905 was £1,601,655, and their estimated value at the same period was £ 2,822,221. The chapel debts at the end of 1905 were £ 539,148. The Chairman expressed the opinion that the figure at which the Church properties were vaiued represented the whole cost from first to last, rather than the present value. He pointed out that while the value was put at je2,822,211 the amount, of the insurance was £ 1,601,655. That, he thought, was a proof that tho value given in the table was not accepted by the Church for any practical purpose. In answer to a question from the Chairman, the Witness said he did not think a denomina- tion would be imprudent which insured its pro- perty at half its value. The insurance, how. ever, was usually taken at two-thirds of the value of the property. THE CENTRAL EVIDENCE COMMITTEE. The witness was questioned by the Chairman at some length as to his attitude to the Central Evidence Committee. He said he knew of the existence of such a committee. The Chairman: What wae it for? The Witness: I do not know that it is my duty to answer that. The Chairman: Oh, I think EO. The Witness: Of course I know generally what they have in view. The Chairman: Would you like to tell me generally or would you rather not? The Witness: I would rather they answered for themselves. The Chairman said that in December last year, at the time when Mr Owene said his proof was prepared, he reoeived an official communica- tion from the Central Evidenco Committee stating that they represented the Nonconformists of Wales and had been appointed for the pur- pose of supervising the preparation of evidenco. Was that accurate or not, so far as the witness was aware? The Witness said that "represented^ was rather a broad term. The members of the com- mittee were all members of the Free Churches in Wales. Lord Hugh Cecil: Your denomination did not assist in tho constitution of the committee? The Witness: Not as a denomination. The Chairman: It includes several distin- guished members of your Church? The Witness: Yes, but they were not officially appointed as representatives. The Chairman They would not have become members of the committee without the approval of the denomination ? The Witness: Not without the tacit approval of the denomination. Mr Davies: Are not these people also poli- ticians? The Witneas: I have no doubt they are. Continuing, ho said he was aware that the Central Evidence Committee was preparing evi- d,?noe c,)i ao couiity bafio. lt did ii'o't isupc-rvire cvil 13, iellc'e in any tvay nor had he b?ceii tsk-ed i,o e?-iid a 1?rcof to the ??n?irnittee.. The C'htiriiian; You are aware that, tli4e couiitv are inkr?ded to give ev-1 d-ence UPO'N many of the matters in your evidence? The Witness: I believe so. The Chairman: So that if we hear them as well as you we shall be hearing some evidence twice over? The Witness: But on an entirely different basis. They will take all the denominations together m a given area. I give the figures for the Calvinistic Methodises separately. of at least a 3d rate (hear, hear). FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS. Continuing, th; witness submitted a table slcwmj the progress made by the denomination during the las: filty years. The only decrease was in tie number of probationers. This, he said, was rather satisfactory than otherwise when taken in conjunction with the increase m com- rruiiicams. The period covered by the table, the 'd, 1%1111 I, 3 -al ;r?cluded soiie 6?' the yca,-?s when the ft ices oppose to Nonconformity in Wales were at thci.- it longest This oppcsition was political, agrarian, and tducational Thanks to the growth of democracy, the security of the ballot in I'ar- lianuntary elec ions and a rioro enlightened and toicrant view of the relationship of one class to another, ti'e lirot two factors had to a large extent ccased to exercise their baneful influence upon the circumstances and character of tho ration. The sectarian tests imposed upon teachers in tho national schools—necessitating the abandonment by Nonconformist candidates of the form of belief in which they had been trained --had acted with less leal injury to Noncon- formity than to the Established Church, and to tho sclf-rehpcpt of those who were compelled by circumstances to adopt a form of belief without its reality. Notwithstanding the forces Nonconformity had had to contend with the number of chapels, preaching stations, children, and Sunday School scholars, and also the total adherents' of the Calvinistic Methodist Church had doubled in the period mentioned, the ordained ministers had nearly quadrupled, the communicants had more than trebled, and the total collections had increased nearly threefold. Notwithstanding the extent of the debt on church buildings, the amount collected between 1867 and 1905 for the erection of now chapels, for repairs, and in tho payment of interest upon loans was not far short of £ 2,000,000, an average of 946,236 per annum. In the last five years the average had been £ 68,424. The witness added that the denomina- tion had been seriously hampered in tho erection of its chapels owing to the absence of any legis- lative provision by which sites could be com- pulsorily acquired. In some districts, notably in Blaenau Festiniog, a large portion of the money required for new chapels had been lent by the members free of interest. WELSH CHURCHES OUTSIDE WALES. A separate table was put in, giving statistics of th-3 Welsh Calvinistic Methodist churches outside Wales. Of these 88 were entirely Welsh, and regarded as a striking illust.raticii of the vitalitv of de-ioii-iination. "The denoin' nation," id l?Ir Owens, "is inainly Welsit in its origin ,al and history, and si long as the Welsh language continues to be spoken so largely in Wales the necessity for these churches out of Wales will continue, so as to meet the religious needs of those who, though absent from their native coun- try, prefer to worship in their mother tongue." To show the tenacity with which Welsh people cling both to their language and their re- ligion on migrating into English towns, he pointed to the growth of the denomination in London, where its churches now number 16. Tho same fact was proved by the existence of Welsh Calvinistio Methodist churches in Liverpool, Manchester, anti elsewhere. He also pointed to the existence of the English churches of the de- nomination in Wales as an indication of the efforts of tho denomination to do its share in pro- viding for tho religious needs of those who only knew English.
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LLANRWST DISTRICT GROUPED…
LLANRWST DISTRICT GROUPED SCHOOLS. MEETING OF MANAGERS. ''tity nic?eting of the manag@rg i?,f the libjve The m,], schools was held on Monday, Mr W. J. Williams pre- siding. There were also present Messrs. O. Isgoed Jones, Dr Owen, Wm. Hughes, E. Mills, W. E. Jones, wtih the Olerk (Mr J. K Humphreys), Assistant Clerk (Mr Huberts), and attendance officer (Mr Thomas Williams). EGLWYSBACH SCHOOL. A letfJei* wyvs JsaU from the County Education Authority stating that it was their intention to pro- vide a new public elementary school to accommodate about 70 children in the village of Ejjiwysbaeh. MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTHS ACCOUNT. A bill sent by Dr Morgan, Conway, for examining about 150 children suffering from a skin complaint some ttmo ago was referred to the MedicaJ Officer of Health. A letter was now read from Dr Fraser, stating that the examination of children for infectious disease did not oomc within the bounds of his ciuties. The Medical Officer'? contention was confirmed by a further letter from the Local Govern- ment Board. It was resolved that these replies be sent to the County Authority. CHANGING SCHOOLS. A letter was read from Miss Roberts, headmistress of the Council school, Llanrwst, asking for the Coun- cil's instructions in regard to a case where two ellil- dern had been remoevd from the non-provided school to the Council school. This, it was stated, was against the rules embodied in the circular re "capricious renjovais." It was, however," resolved, as it was the beginning of a quarter, that the children be allowed to remo^ e. and that copies of the circular referred to be printed in Welsh and English, and distributed amongst the children. COAL TENDER. The tender of Mr Robert Evans, Trelriw, was ac- ccpted for the supply of coal to the schools for the winter months. LLAXDDOGET SCHOOL. It was resolved, owing to the prevalence of whoop- ing oough amongst the children, that the above school be closed for a fortnight. A message was re- received later from the Medical Oflicer of Health ordering the closing of the school for a period of ifuee week*, [
----- ---__---------LLANDUDNO…
LLANDUDNO JUNCTION RAiEPAYEKS' AbbOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING.. The second annual meeting od the Llandudno Junction Ratepayers and Improvement Associa- tion was helu' on Monday evening, Mr H. W. Hughes (Stanley Stores, presiding over a z{<o& attendance. ANNUAL REPORT. Mr J. Stott submitted the committee' report for the past year. in which it was stated that one of the most important features of the year s work was the victoiy oi the Association at the l\.w-ilSih Council election, where six of the eleven members of tihe Council were now re- ct ion Ratepayers' .seo- j olatir-ii. Ihrougih the efforts of the Association, three new street lamps had been obtained for the Junction, nd the lamps wero now kept alight until 11 p.m. instead of being extinguish- ed at 10 p-m. as 'hitherto. A police constable was new stationed at the Junction. In t-he matter of postal facilities there were three de- liveries of letters daily. Tiikrt- were also poll- ing booths at election times, all of which had been obtained1 through the efforts of the Rate- payers' Association. Illat.t r_ 'dercd by tlio o&lllll- Otherescoji,,i d!ura'ng tl-ie ve?a,i- bat vet into ic: Tole nl?h fzc-ilities', Piiblic? Hall, )-ntc-r iver gr entertainments, gas tuppl- for the Junction, removal of unsightly hoardings, extension of time for sale of stamps at the Post .Office, -,iid advertising the Junction as a :h;J.liday centre. The oo-nmiittee were pleased to report that they C<)IICILLkied thcir T-ear'is wcric n*t ciilv f7e- froiii d??-b, but, -%i-?-th'a F,.iia-11 balance cii -,Le *.1, ry,,t the prcpc6it;ion of -Ur Griflifli. %eocntie-d by -Nir David tdie rep-ort adopted. THE FINANCIAL mATEMKKT. Mr J. H. Irlam presented the {Statement of aoouniis, which showed a small credit balance- Mr Griffith drew attention to an item incJuded _tllcc l? in i li-c ba i?lietit -,s "meiiiLxrv,' wibecriptifjns fines. etc." H.) desired to know the amount of the subscriptions apart the fines. Mr I ri- stated that ulio fines were Impcsed upon members for non-attendance, etc. Mr Griffith again asked for the total amount of subscriptions to be stated. Mr Llewelyn Jone.3 said he also would like to have the information- Mr Irlam put bis book and papers aside on the table and w-alked out of the room. Mr David Jones said that as the treasurer had left t.he room there was no one present to anonver any qu?eLI. no on the accouw,,?, '<) so that he could see no other course but to propose the adbpiioii of the balance sheet without know- ing anything about it. -NI r 11 u t- ,ii ttenes ?,econded, and it %va? carried. RROPOSED AMALGAMATION 0; DISTRICTS. A discussion took place upon the question of amalgamating the Conway and Llangystenin por- tions of the Junction for the purposes of the As- sociation. Mr David Morris pointed out that the member- ship of the Association hitherto had been con- fined to the Llangystenin portion. Although he believed that both districts should be admitted into the Association there was one question that might arise some day which might cause dis- agreement, and that was the proposal to include the Llangystenin portion in the borough of Conway. To such a scheme he would be a strong opponent, and believed that all right- thinking ratepayers in Llangystenin would do all in their power to oppose such a scheme if it was ever mooted. He thought it would be the duty of the Ratepayers' Association to oppose it with all the power they possessed. That was the only objection he saw to taking members into the Ajpoc-iation from the Conway portion of the Junction, otherwise he would gladly welcome thorn. Mr David Jones proposed that the membership of the Association should embrace the whole of the Junction, as they would be a stronger body to work together for the advancement of the place than by being divided. Mr R. S. Hujhos seconded. Mr Hugh Jones, whilst speaking strongly against embodying Llangystenin in the borough of Conway, favoured the amalgamation for the purpose of the work of the Association. After further discussion, the proposition that the Association should embrace the whole of the Junction was carried, only two voting against it. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The following were elected members of the Executive CommitteeMessrs Hugh Jones, Trefriw House; H. W. Hughes, Stanley Stores; D. Clwyd Griffith, Holborn House; David Jones, butcher; Peter Gray, Mona House; David Morris,-Frondeg; J. R. Hughes, butcher; Hugh Hughes, John Hughes, wheelwright; J. A. Williams, Llewelyn Jones. Pensarn; Thomas Evans, greengrocer; R. S. Hughes, D. Robert- son. J. H. Irlam, George Edwards, Broad-street; J. Stolt. C. Barraclough, and Fred Butterworth. The new committee meet on Monday evening next for the purpose of electing their officers for the coming year.
SUCCESSES AT THE JOHN BRIGHT…
SUCCESSES AT THE JOHN BRIGHT SCHOOL, LLAN- DUDNO. Appended is a list of successes recently achieved by pupils attending the John Bright School, Llandudno:— 110-NOUIIS CERTIFICATE. W. J. Elliott., mathematics, Franch (with con- versational power), and Latin. SENIOR. CERTIFICATES. A. E. Arnold, composition, literature, history, mathematics (honours stage), Latin, and French (with conversational power). Claud Davies, composition, English language, literature, history (with distinction), arithmetic, mathematics, and Latin. Myfanwy Griffiths, composition, English lan- guage, history, mathematics, Welsh, Latin (with distinction), and French (m-ith conversational power). G. C Lines, < cmpcsiticn. English language, literature, history, arithmetic, mathematics (with distinction), and French (with conversational power. Awena Roberts, composition, English language, literature, history, mathematics, Latin, and French (with conversational power). Ceridwen Roberts, composition, literature, his- tory, mat hematics, Latin, French (with conversa- tional power), and Y\*elsh. Ethel Smith, composition, English language, literature, history, mathematics, Latin, and French (with conversational power). Elizabeth Williams, composition, literature, historv, arithmetic, mathematics, and Latin. F T. H. Bowdage, composition, Scripture, English language, arithmetic, mathematics, French (with conversational power), and ge,o-r- ipliy. Ethel Brown, composition, Scripture, English language, history, arithmetic, mathematics, French (with conversational power), and geography. Reginald Davies, composition, Scripturc, En- glish language, history, arithmetic, mathematics, Latin, French (with conversational power), chem- istry, and geography. Walter Davies, composition, Scripture, English language, history, arithmetic, mathematics, Latin, French (with conversational power), chem- istry, and geography. Amelia. Ellis, composition, Scripture, English language, mathematics, Welsh, and geography. Megan Griffiths, composition (with distinction), Scripture, English language, arithmetic, Latin, French (with conversational power), and geography. H. Richmond, composition, English language, Latin (with distinction), Scripture, history, mathematics, French (with conversational power). Pauline Spahn, composition, Scripture, En- glish language, arithmetic, French (with conver- sat.ior,al power), and geography.* Rogers Jones, Englis?h I,ouie la,-iguage, Ln'lii. aritlime6c, niathemntlep, Frei;ch (ia-ith 'onal power). and geography. Winifred Tc-wlcr, composition, Sei-ip?ure, En- glish language, arithmetic, French (with conver- sational power), and geography.
[No title]
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FCX HUNTING. ------
FCX HUNTING. FROSPECTS IN WALES. IFrom the "Bystander-") Duke of Westminster as M.F.H. Prominent among the new Masters of Foxhounds is the DUKe 01 >> under whose cunnuiuid North and South Cliesinre are brought together, aid become a country. Luse v'i tle (jlrosvenors, the Oulc it passionaleiy devuted to lux hunting. No day which could be spared for tJI" sport hae been wasted by him, and the bj-hew is efjuatiy enthusiastic. Ttiev have been out nearly every day this week. The Duke can be depended upon to turn out the hunt in splendid style, and it wouid realiy selil that no more suitable Master oould have been -iound for Cheshire. It was uniur- tunate, perhaps, that the amalgamation 0f the two sides of the country, bringing it back to ite ortginal state, (should unavoidably have involved the aban- donment of Mr Rrg-iiiaid Corbet's fine pack but the Dul¡e is determined to do his best for both 6ides, and happily 110 obstacles Will be placed in hia way in South Cheshire. Prospects in Wales. There are ominous signs of mange in a corner of Sir Watkm Wynn's country, and it is feared that it may spread into the neighbouring Flint and Denbigh district. Several of the Weigh countries have known what it is to be ravaged by mange of late years, but, generally ppeukmg, the prospects for the en- suing season are satistactory enough. Mrs T. H. R. Hughes, one of the keenest of lady Mabters, expects to do well with the Noua-dd Fawr Hounds; hopeful reports have readied us, too, from countries like the Pan'jrlas, the Monmouthshire, the Carmarthenshire ("exceedingly good outlook, any number of healthy foxes; we have cne of the most genial and best M.F.H.'e in the Kingdom, alwave with his hounds, an'd loved by his field"), Mr Ourrt'e, Viscount Trede- gat"8._ the Tivyside, the Glamorgan ("excellent pros- pects' ), and the Llangibby ("must encouraging, no dearth of foxes, and a splendid young entry, the number of couples having been increased to meet the wants of the country"). A change of Master- ship has been made in the Pembrokeshire Hunt, where Lord Kensington is sucoeeded by Mr Ernest Allen, the youngest son of the late Mr "C. H. Allen, who was Master of these hounds from 1871 to 1881, when he showed excellent sport and was very popular with ull classe-E. New Masters in Ireland. Lord Southampton is prominent among the new Masters in Ireland. He resigned the Mastership of the Graft n pack, previously held by Lord Penrhyn, and has taken over Mr Lambert's oountrv, which, under this regime, is to be known ae the East Kilkenny. Ireland has also come to England and Wales for her other new M.F.H.'s, Colonel Mogley Leigh hav- ing gone from Cheshire to hunt the Island country, and Mr G. H. 'Lambert from Anglesey to manage the Wexford. In all these countries prospects of sport are bright..
ABERGELE VOLUNTEERS' SH001-ING…
ABERGELE VOLUNTEERS' SH001- ING COMPETITION. WINNERS OF TRADESMEN'S PRIZES. Appended is the list ot thuse who won prices in the tradesmen's competition, promoted by the H. Company 2nd Y.B. itoyal Weieh Fusiliturs, KC th* ForyJ range, a few days ago. The names of the donors are given in parentheria- Pte. Roberte, pair 01 blankets (Mr Fraser). Pte. W. Davies, half ton of coal (Mr Harrop). Serg-r. W. n. Jones, ham (Messrs. E. B. JoBes and Co.). Pte. H. Davies, cash 5t (Mr Metcalfe). Col. Scrgt.-lnet. J. Brown, teapot (Mr Jones, jeweller). v Fte. W. H. Jones, cash 5E (Mr Wffliams, ]Etiu-p H?,tei). Bergt. J. P. R. Daves, box of cigars (Mr Hopkins, Hesketli Hotel). Pte. H. Evans, cash 5s tMr WorraiJ, Cambrian Hotel). Pte. J. Owens, oil stove (Mr BushnerJ). Pte. J. Jones, cash 2s 6d (Mr Hughes, Buij Hotel). Pte. C. Davies, boots (Dicks' Boot Shop). rte. Rd. Roberts, groceries (Messrs H. and J. Thomas. Pte. T. R. J ones, leg of mutton (Mr D. W. Vaughan). Ite. D. L. icne, leg of lamb (Messrs. Morris Bros). R. Hugl!e?-, 3]b. tea (MeBs,-s I)j-er and pte. ?T. Parr,, 9-]? 5-- (Mr Haniiali. chemi:it). Pte. If. liag4f?L?, 2B tid.(hir Williams, C(,mpto& H-)u?4e), Pte. S. It-)berTi?, (:Iiioken (Mr Tv,er, li?,:Iiiiioriger). I'te. R. 3'. D:ivieF,, 5 ewt. of C,)al*(Me.?srs. I'z-jtch&r4 J,Jll,ls and 0,).'P. rte. 1. R,;Iez-ts, ca,Ii 2-, 6d (Meiwre. Needham Bros.). I'te. J. D. Wjl!iam??, lib. tca, (Mr Pari-), I'te. T. G. Hugiie! ,%sil 2e (ldr j(,nes ])lumber). Pte. W. il.,wiiali, cl'?zle hose (Mr -ts, London llou,). Pte. D. cake (Mr Jones, Mc-t,rcpoJe.). Pte. f,. H. Pickup, Cycle lamp (Mr Jones, C.Rr.Lge). Pt(l. IV. Dayie?-? llt). Of sbag (Mr C4vst-e Hotel). W. IL. -T,Iics, ditto ,Mr Davies, railway Ool. Sergt.-Inst. J. Brown, pa:r of brackets (Mr Jones, lsitoi office!. Serg-t. J. r. R. DaYiCl', l:igaf caBÐ (Mr Roberts, Drug :t(.rCE ). Pte. J..Tnnes. umbrella (Mr Mi1Jwllnl. draper). Pte. Rd. Robert.f', h¡¡t {Mrs Roberts, M:;¡,nchester Houscl. Lance-CarpI. HugheR, tIb. beet. !iha.g (1fr ûwajD June!!). Pte. D. ¡{{,berte, h"x of cigar!' (Mr Thoma!; Barber). Pte. J. D. Wfthams, pa.ir of braces (Mr Jones. saddlerL Pte. H. Hngl¡es, poc:];et knife (Mr Joneil, iron- mungel' ¡. Pt.e. Rd. R,¡l\erts. hat (Messrs. Lewis Brof<.). Pt.e. W. DaYies, shppel'l! (Mr June/ bootmaker). Pt('. J. Robert! t)¡ppers (MI' C. HlIghee). PtE'. D. Da"IPs. doy.. cabmet photus (Mr T. Leigh). Fte. C. Dane/ couple of rabbit.¡¡ (Mr Brooks fish. m',ngf'rL R. T. Dayjes, Pair vases (Mr Chester, Watef Pipe and case (Wr barber? "Crgt- W. P. Jonc-s, bottle Of POrt (Miss Williams. Crown H,,tei)_ Lalll,-e-C,,rl,l. D. "H. Williams, ei-(,Ie ho-e (Mr Wil- iaml.l. drat'r.. Pt e. T. R. j calb lr, (Mr Wj.'Iiams, P(e,' Gardens).
--------------FOOTBALL.
FOOTBALL. (Continuation from 4th page). COLWYN BAY SPARKS. The "Red" have to meet Conway at, Conway on Saturdav in t-lie first round of the -North ales Coast Amateur Cup. Tho match i, boul id to a-,tract a 1^?rge -nu? iber ?Df siii,ioorters, aiid _Irran,?ezilents ?,ave been iiiade for the party to be convcyed in brakes. « The team has not as yet been finally chosen. This is due to Walter Parry having been or- dered to give u;) the game. •» • • • The loss of his services will be no small one to the Bay. • • • • Walter was a worker, and was always known to give a good account of himself. j* # ♦ • The committee have, fortunately, men at their disposal, admirably suited to fill the position. Herein lies the difficulty. Which of these will bo the best to play, is the problem that the "heads"' aje bothering over. # # Now boys, buck up! let us have of your best on Saturday. Last year yon played a drawn grame in the corresponding match. Endeavour to beat that achievement. < « Conway are worthy opponents, and will force you the full ninety minutes. • • • You will immediately return to Colwyn Bay after having changed into "mufti," and arrange- ments have been madë for tea to be prepared for you. • Don't forget where the goal is this week, and let us see that your sorry exhibition at Llanrwst is not what we are always to expect. « Let your motto be "make for goal, shoot for goal,. a?:d -ecro a -oal."
GOLF.
GOLF. A tournament is being promoted in connection with the Llanrwst Golf Club by the Captain and Vice-captain. t,lie, rri7,ps for which are now on 'jil Uc,zige. It is uiztter- vicw a. Mr David J,?n", Ber? s;6-d ttiak the t(,url'.ILMeLt coni;iiue 'Lir tliree months, play being on Thursdays and Saturday* AU golfers are "invited to put in cards, so as to mak« the event as successful as possible.
CALVINISTIC METHODIST STATISTICS.…
SUNDAY ATTENDANCE FIGURES- The wit noes did not otter anv information ae to the average Litteu'a'arrce at une Bund-ay ser- vices, and tnore was eomo dascuesi-on as to row t.he infcrnuation couid be obtained. "ome members tucugmt that reliable figures could be obtained by applying to tnc- ministers of the various oiiuro.iea 11113 Chairman favoured this view, remarking that members of the Coonmis- Ston who habiuiajly went to one on urea would havo no difficulty in gin-iiig a reliable esiimvte of tiie number "tho attended. Lord Hugh Cecil: 1 am certain I could -lot. The Rev. Moirgan Gibbotn: My experience is that the etilmwtej of laymen are, as a ule, ab-runu'lv exaggerated- 1 would place more re- liance on tihe estmuuee oi a minister- Sir D. Brymmior Jones: At election times my agent, waa always, able to Eupoly me with tne number of people present at. tue meetings, .nd even tho number who "boocd," at mo daugh- ter). Asked if it was feasible to get tihe informa- tion, the witness said that a minister who preached in his own ohapel two Sundays a montri ehould be able to give a very fair -jisti- mate, but for the large number of churches where there were no peters; reliable informa- tion could not be obtained. Continuing his evidence, the witness said that the percentage cif the population winch he reckoned as adherents of the C;dvinist:c Metho- dikit tilenomittt-akai ranged from 16 2.5 per ciot. in l'lmniniro to 41 in Merioneth.- giving an average of 30 per cent- for North Wales- ihe percentage for 80uuh Wa-iee was lE per cent. LORD HUGH CECIL AND A RELIGIOUS CENSUS. Lard Hugh Cecil: Wouid you have any ob- jection to a roiiig-ious census ? Witncrw: 1 tnink t.he SIate hat; no right to a-k a. iiian to what roi'igious denomination he belongs. Lord iiugih Cccil: Apnxt from that would not tiie restart of a rolrgLoiis consDC instruc- tive ? 'line Witness: Not in the least. Asked his reaeon for tJ,, Llikiiig Mr Owens said that a rohgious census would give a false idea ori the strength of the UhtsFch ot England. People who realJy belonged to no ohuroh wouid put themselves down as belonging to Lhe Cirnron of Eihgi.-ind. Lard Hugh Cecil: But is that not a fact of some interest, assuming it to be a fact ? The Witness: No doubt. Lord Ilugh Cecil: Your conception of the misleading character of the census would de- pend upon tihe swelling of the Church figures, not the diminution of t-no Nonconlormist figuree i The Witness: Yes. Lord Hugh Cecil: What motive would a man have to put himself down as a Churchman nather than as belonging to any otlter denomi- nation ? The Witness: Am I bound to answer I-iat question ? The Chairman: I think eo. Lord Hugh Cecil: You need not be afraid of vpouixiing my feelings. 'Do you suggest that he would do so under some sort of intimidation ? The Witness: No, nrJo. What I mean is that to many men it moans nothing to belong to the Established Church, though to tihe great pro- portion of its members I hope it means as much as it do 36 to me to belong to my church. But, as I pay, there is a largo margin t.o whom it does not mean anything at alL and a man who !had boon once or twice to the vnurc-h of Eng- Land would put himself down as beloriging to it. 4DI I.o--rd IluiTh (3c. 'I A,Liiiiirkg all you r-ay, it would remain a fact cl interest tJiat lie did pre- fer the Churdh to that extent ? The Witness: You are foromg me to answer qlJeGtionø wthiclh I do ro-A care to answer. The inference** that would be drawn from such a census would,, in any opinion be disastrous- Lard Hugih Cecil: I think they very likely would bo (laughier). The examination of the witness was not eon- cludtad wpnen tihe Oe4nmi0vio.11 adjou.nted- THE CHAIRMAN REBUKES A WITNESS. At yesterday's sitting of the Commission, Mr John Owens, of Chester, continued his evi- dence. Archdeacon Evans referred to the terms of the Commiæion\" reference, and ¡u-k.cd whether the figures given by the witness did not include churches outside Wales and Mon months hi re? The Witness said that the churches jn Liver- pool, Manchester, and London formed an in- tegral part of the Calvinistic Methodist body. They were proof of the vitality of the denomi- nation in Walo-, and the beet proof of all that tho do nomination provided for the Welsh peo- ple when they left their native land. Archdeacon Evans asked what wa^ the differ- ence between the Welsh a.nd English members in the Weltdi churches? The Witness said the terms of the reference did not require him to answer such a ques- tion. The Chairman: It i no part of a witness's duty to explain the meaning of cur terms of reference. Of course, you are a voluntary wit- ness, but I, as Chairman, M-k you to answer the question. The Wit-nose said the figures were in his proof. POPULATION AND CHAPELS. Archdeacon Evans pointed out tha.t, whereas in Anglesey the population had gone down eteadily since 1851 the chapels and preaching stations had increased by eighty. The Writnes.5: That is a tribute to the vigour of our denomination. We do not build chape's 1 for fun, but to accommodate our people. Lord Hugh Cecil asked whether the witness I agreed with other witnesses that in WTales there wa.s no one who did not belong to some denomi- nation? The Wiinees said he did not agree with that statement. Archdeacon Evans mentioned a case where two denominations already provided accommo- dation for more than the population, and aFk('ù why the Calvinistic Methodists added to their accommodation when they had a chapci twenty minutes' walk further away? Lord Hugh Cecil thought that this excessive provision might lead to good competition be- tween the two churches. Witness: My inference would be that, there was no need for the Church of England there (laughter). The Chairman (t-o witness): If the questions arc dka-greca-b'e to you, you need not answer, but you should not make disagreeable observa- tions—even though they may be witty. The Witness: Lord Hugh Cecil does not mind. The Chairman said that Lord Hugh might not mind, but when he came to deal with this evi- dence he would take care to make it plain that the witness had thought it a proper way to deal with the questions.