The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

OSWESTRY SCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS QUINCENTENARY. In front of Oswest y Grammar School, between the GothC chapel and the school classrooms, mere asiembled at noon on Monday an interest- ing group who represented a long historical descent, and linked the present day with that in which the Oswestry School was established five nundred years ago by David Holbache and his wife. Holbacne was at one time "Crown Pleader and Attorney" for the whole of Wales, and be- came War Treasurer to Henry IV. He repre- sented the county of Shropshire and the borough or SU-ewsbury in Parliament, and "it is even said that Owam Glyndwr was pardoned through his intercession." lie was Escheator of Shrop- shire and of the Marches of Wales, and steward ot the town and lordship of Osw&stry. IIol- bache founded the school in 1407, and, it is with the exception of Winchester, founded 1387, the oldest grammar school in England. The names ot the first trustees and an account of the land given for the support, of the school are still pre- served in a copy of "An Order touching the Stipends of the- School Masters." A picturesque i.all-timbered house close to the parish cluuch is believed to have been the first schooLhouso. Tiio school removed to the present site about 1/BU, and the present buildings have been added by instalments, the chapel being built in 1863. The play-ground, now known as Maes-y-Llan, is the site of the Battle of Maserfield, at which King Oswald was slain in 642. For generations the 5icpoot has had a good tradition, and haa turned out many distinguished men, including Dr. Bray, foullder of the S.P.C.K. and of the S.P.G.; Dr. Spooner, of Oxford; General Colin Mackenzie, the Indian Mutiny horo; Colonel Burnaby, the famous author of "The Ride to Khiva, Ao\ld nunv moio.. ADDRESS to the primate. Monday's assembly at the school was for the purpose of c--Lebralirg )ts (p inecntonary and for ucitig fionou." to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who pan.' the school a visit on tne occasion. Xtie Archbishop, who was accompanied by Mrs Lavidsoh WUJ reCGivtd by the headmaster (Mr o Lloyd Williams) and the boys now at the scaiol/uni al-M by many "Old Oswestrians," in- cluding Dr. Spooner and his brother, the Arch- uoacon of Maidstone. Thera were also present ine tarl of Fowls, Lord Harleoh, the Bisnop of St Asaph, Sl- Watki-l Williams Wynn, and the Hon. Niri Bulkeley Owen. Tno address, which was presented by Mr J. J. LLu D WILLIAMS}, M.A., the headmaster, waa Ih tollc'w! "To the Most Reverend His Grace the Lord Arohbiihop of Canterbury. "Mv LordArc.ibishop,On behalf of the masters and" boys of Oswestry School, we beg to ten- der to your Grace a most cordial welcome with- in the precinots of the ancient school. We would recall to your mind that here we stand ipon the traditional ground where, fighting against the forces of the pagan Penda, in a dark hour, Oswald, tho Christian King, gave his lifo for the faith and gained a martyr's crown. "fieri we have the 'ma.'lterfield' of early En- glish history; behind stands what still bears me significant name of the 'Field of the Cross;' before us lies the 'Field of Heaven.' "It is not Ihe fir-t occasion upon which an Archbishop cf Canterbury has visited the bor. deL own of Oswestry, for wo find that Wil- lian Fitzalan entertained Baldwin Arohbiahop of Canterbury when this fervent preacher of the Crusade'made his famous progress through Wales. "In .-rie wordj of the Chronicler, 'inde versus Oswaldestrce iter aggrc3si sum us, ubi, tanquam m .psa regionio Powisieiisis ora, occurrerunt {.obi" Powlsi::h "rillcipp, The courteous Lord- of Pc »»ys and of these border lands are in Os- we,tri again to-day to greet as of old the ex- ailed occupant of St. Augustine's Chair, and with one accord we jcin tban in their welcome to your Grace "As memberj of this school we are proud that amidst arduous and pressing du.'ies you hav> found it possible to bo present at this, the 500th anniversary of our foundation. Established in the stormy days of Owain Glyndwr by ono David Holbaehe and Gwen- tiwyfar his wife (whose chief memorial now remains in tho foundation they left behind them). Oswestry School has a long roll of illus- trious 'alumni' -^ho have borne their part in the service of Church and State. "Ivot to dwell on others, we may specially alhiu-. in your lordship's presence, to the fact that it WAS tho privilege of Oswestry School to prepare for his life work the pioua Founder t I of the society for promoting Christian know- ledge—the revered Dr. Thomas Bray, 'whose L praico is in all the churches.' "We. in these later times, are grateful for their memory, and add our unfeigned praise for the noble example they have set before us. "In the visit of your Grace we recognise an appreciation of the work dene by the smaller grammar schools in the past and in the present, and we regard it as an encouragement to those who, in the more restricted spheres of educa- tion, are seeking with what resources they pos- sess to advance the 'studies of godliness and good learning.' The ARCHBISHOP, in replying, said he had been reminded that that was the first visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to that ancient scene of Christian victory, enlightenment and progress since the days when his warlike predccesaor, Arch- bishop Baldwin, made a triumphal procession through those parts of Wales. If they were to study history they would find that Archbishop Baldwin was the only archbishop who had been buried in the Holy Land, for he died during the Crusades some 700 years ago. at ft time when the school wa3 not born. Seeing the time which had elapsed since his predecessor in office had been to see how the school had been going on, ho hoped to arrange that future Archbishops of Canterbury should always come to the school once every 500 years (laughter). He believed the In school and others like it were doing a very real service to Church and realm in the distinctive, particular work which they were enabled to con- tribute to their educational progress as a whole. He, therefore, prayed that the very highest blessing might rest upon the school in the word"* of the school itynin Et, quot sumus hie sodales fac sanctorum oommensale} in perenni gloria" (applause). cØ the old school of the kingdom the envy of the world. It wou'.d bo simply disa»troufi» to k)Od out of the life of the kingdom such school as that of Oswestry for instance, and it would bo a very evil day for England, if even the bmt type of moderniy constructed schools were cut on the one set, cast-iron system throughout (ap- plause). In conclusion the Arohbisihop proposed "Prosperity to Oswestry School." EARL POWlS responded, and remarked, in the course of an interesting specch, that Oswestry had preceded such a great and well- known institution as Eton. Mr W. C. BRIDGKMAN, M.P., proposed the tomst. of tho Mayor and Corporation, and the MAYOR responded. The. LORD BISIIOP OF ST. ASAPII, in sub- mitting the toast of Lord Harlech, remarked t'hat, whilo the Archbishop had referred to the vit of Archbishop Baldwin his Grace had not ex- plained bhat. the real object of that visit was io hrmly establish his power over the see in Wales, but they were aLl glad to acknowledge their loyalty to the Archbishop of Canterbury to-day (laughter and applause). He (the Bishop) had rejoice.d to hear the Archbishop enter lÜ pro- test againut a cast-iron uniformity in their svr.tem of education (applause). Coming from Wales that protest appealed very strongly to him because in Wrales, vvhero they had a large number of schools doing excellent work, he thought they were very muoh "cut to pattern" (hear, hea-r). In such education he was at pre- sent a very strong Nonconformist (laughter and hear, hear). Concluding, tihe Bis-hop paid a glowing tribute to the work accomplished by Oswci-.try School. LORD HARLECH suitably acknowledged the toast. I ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. I In a briof speech the HEADMASTER thanked the Archbishop for his good wisehs and prayers, and the oeremony terminated.

LORD HARLECH'S LUNCHEON. The gathering then repaired to the Borough Gymnium, where they were the guests of Lord Harloeh, president of t.ho school governors. Among the many hundreds who sat at the tables were the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Ha.rlech (in. the chair), the Mayor of Oswestry (Mr W. H. Plimmer), the Eari of Powin, .Hi.r Wat/kin Williams Wynn, the Bishop of St. Asaph, Canon Spooner, Archdeacon Wynne Jones,' Hon. I/aurence A. Brodrick, Hon. G. Ormesby-Gore, Archdeacon Donne, Mr J. J. Lloyd Williams (headmaster of the school, Mr W. C. Bridgernan, M.P., the Rev. T. Redfern (rector of Denbigh), Mr R. L1. Kenyon (rectoir of Oswestry), Mr A. Wynne Corrie, Major Atcherley (chief-constable of Shropshire), Mr C. G. Low (former chaplain of the school), Mr W. H. 5heatoor (mayor-elect of Oswestry), Rev. W. James (chaplain of the Bchooi). Mr A. Min- shall, Mr W. H. Ell (hon. secretary to the (fd Boys' Re-union), Mr S. Pryco Pa.rry (Town Clerk), Mr Avlmer Lewis, Mr E. 0. V. Lloyd, of Rhagatt. the Rev. J. H. V. Macmillan (chap- lain to the Archbishop), and others. The 10Y31 toasts were proposed by LORD HARLECH. The MAYOR OF OSWESTRY, in the course of a short yet eloquent speech, then submitted the toast of the Archbishop of Canterbury, his worship observing that if he were to use ten thousand words he could no more fully express what was in hlia heart than by simply saying that from its deepest depths he thanked them for the great honour bestowed upon him in being per- mitted to propose such a. tewt. The toaat was enthusiastically honoured. The ARCHBISHOP, on rising to reply, was cheered with all the vchemence characteristic of an assembly composed largely of schoolboys.. His Grace said a visit of that kind was a solace and cheer to him, and he would return to his own particular work the better for being for a while in touch with the work they were engaged upon in setting forward by means of a great school all things high, strong, pure and good (applause). Continuing, Dr. Davidson said that though he had not been in that part of the country before as a man he had visited the neighbourhood as a boy. This was in 1860, and one of the recol- lections whioh had impressed itself upon his mind had been established in conaequenoe of tho excitement prevailing in regard to a most unepieoopal event, namely a prize fight between Heenan and Savers (.'oud laughter). If they wero to read the history of ETIglarid-(Iatt-htor) —they would find that that fight took place, in 1860, and he could perfectly well remember how interested hii boyifth mind had been in reading the graphic and deta-iled account of the contest whioh appeared in tho newspapers of t-hat time (laughter). He oould not claim to have any looail knowledge or link in one sense with Oswestry or its school, but in another -.onoo he found one link, for Oswestry School had produced some eminent ecclesiastics, and amongst them was the Archdeacon who had ex- amined him as to whether he was fit for holy ordors. He referred to the Archdeacon of Maid- stone (applause). But for the careful training that the Archdeacon had received at Oswestry he might have decided that he (his Grace) had been unfit- for the work ho had undertaken with the probable result tha.t he would have been denied the pleasure and privilego of attending there that da-y- (applatuso). Proceeding to speak of modern education, his Grace said lie was one of these who looked forward with high hopeful- ness to tho progress of education in England and Wales during tho next 25 years. But one thing he was really afraid of. He was certain that tho peril which mizst beset educational re- forms was tho getting things cut to one pattern, having too many schools ono like the other (applause). Because one type of education was suited to one place was no rcu-on tihat it suited and was wanted in every other place (hear, hear). They diet not' prepare fo>r tfho tume variety of education which characterised the successful English ochoola of days gone by. They should retain wherever they could that variety of school work wiuoh he felt oonvoiced had helped to make

RECEPTION AT PARK HALL. After the luncheon the assembly found two special trains awaiting to convey them to a specially constructed temporary station situated within two minutes' walk of Park Hall, the ancient and delightful country seat of Mr and Mrs Wynne Corrie on the outskirtw of Oswes- try. Apart from the thousand guests received by Mr and MrLi Wynne Corrie they also entertained th-o following as a house party:—The Bishop of St. Asaph and Mns Edwards, the Bisihop of Bangor, Colonel Howard, C.B.. the Hon, and 1r6 Laurence A. Brodrick, Countess of Dun- donald, Mr Livingstone, Miss Corrie, Colonel Sandbaoh, Mrs Davics-Cooke, Mrs i-yres, and Mr Walter Williams- The guests were sumptuously entertained in a huge marquee erected on the lawn, and so excellent were the arrangements that the re- past was over and the party back again in Oswestry within two hours.

CONFERENCE SERMON BY THE ARCHBISHOP. As the fir-it act in connection with the St. Asaph Diocesan Conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury preached on Monday night in Oswes- try Parish Church. Tne service was attended by the Mayor and Corporation and by hundreds of the clergy and lay delegates. The Archbishop said the custom in the diocese of beginning tho Diocesan Conference with a great service was a laudable one. in simple language the object of the Conferenoe was to help tnem to roalise and how best to promote the things which they were striving to bring about in their common life to-day. What were these things? He spoke of them without a thought of controversy. They belonged to all Christian people. We wanted that the upbring- ing of our boys and girls should be Caristian, that the home life should be pure, bright, and simple, full of mutual service and the mutual loyalty of young and old. A diocesan conference was a. gathering of the trusted and accredited men in a particular bit of a Christian land.

ESTABLISHMENT—GOOD OR BAD IT "You are 10 consider how we can best set all that forward in cur own land You are going to discuss it now as it presents itself in the En- glish or Welsh life of to-day. For example, you I ura going, I see, to discuss how far our active religious iife. o.ir life us ireinber4 of Chrtst.) society, is helpod or is hindered by its being formally and oHv-ially recognised as a part of the nation's life as lielf We ask ourselves, or we EL shttdd be asking ourselves quietly at such a ti)}e, would it. help or would it hinder our spiritual advance if a great change took place in the condition)? How would the betting tor- ward of the faith and love of God, the deepening of delinir.- Christian life, be affected for good or for evil if in England or in Wales a new sys- tem began wherein the national, the civil life from thj Sovereign downwards had no religious expression at all except so far—and the exception is a large oro—as depends on each individual con- cerned? Should we be stronger or should we be weaker if we got rid of the plan of having men in our parishes, both clergy and chosen laymen, who have a definite official responsibility to the nation for the well-being in the highest ways of those parishioners who care to use the ministry offered to all? Should we be stronger or should we be weaker if our old parish churches were to cease to have in religious matters a quite dis- tinctive character? These things are all meana to an end Are they the right means, or are they the wrong? We have to fulfil the trust given ua by Christ Himself to sot forward here His king- dom among men. AN ENTIRELY OPEN MIND. "You note, I hope, that I em not in any way discussing the Tightness or the wrongness, the use- fulness, or the harmfulness of one way or an- other of doing that. We all know that changcs may oome. You are going to discuss how far 3uch changes would harm, how far they con- ceivably would help. God give you grace to face a diVuission liko that in the spirit whioh wo be- I live our Lord Himself desires to see us have in our I hearts and sot forth in our words. If anybody f • on earth is absolutely right in doing so, a dio- cesan conference is absolutely right, provided we keep in such a gathering to tho religious as con- trasted with tho merely political side, although I in no way diminish the importance of what we call the political side of anything, for it means after all the well-being of our nation." »

RELIGIOUS ASPECT OF DISESTABLISHMENT AND DIS- ENDOWMENT. STRIKING OPENING ADDRESS BY THE BISHOP. ADDRESSES OF WELCOME TO THE ARCHBISHOP. Tuesday's formidable programme began with celebrations of Holy Communion at the lV.rish and Holy Trinity Churches at 8 a-m Then at 10.30 the Bienop presided over tho Coréernc at [> Victoria IlaLl. The spacious room, whioh had been effectively decorated for tne occasion, wa.s crowtfed with delegates. Amongst 'hose also oil the stage wore the Arohbisnop 0; Canterbury, Mrs Edward3 (the Palace), Dean Pryce, Lord Mostyn, Hen L A- Brodrick, Col- Howard, C.B., Archdeacon Thomas Mr P. p. Pennant, Mr It. \V. Living- stone, Lord Harlech, Earl Povvis, Sir Walkm W. Wynn, Chancellor Trevor Parkuv, the Principal o; Lampeter College, Mr i>;ikhvyn Yatos, Canon Joyoe, and others.

A MUNICIPAL WELCOME. At the outset the Mayor of Oswestry (Mr W- II. Pl-inimftr) and tho Town Clerk kalt, S. Pryco Pairry) stepped on the platform, and muist IOL14 applause tho BIbHOP announced that his Worship had sjimetaing particular make public- 111 ii WWhip them asked the Town Clerk to read an add,ross ot woloome to his Gn,ce the Archbishop- The message was as tojtanvs: — "To his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury and tho St. Asaph Diocesan Oonfere.nce,—We, the Mayor, aldermen and burgesses of this borough, ci'esiire to accord to you the most hearty wclcome to this ancrent borough. We welcome your Grace a6 the s- iritual head of the great Church whose influence for good is lelt throughout the longtli ztti4 breadth of our empire- Yve greatly appreciate the honour ot your Grace's visit to our ancient borough, as- sociated as it is in our parish Church with our history for many a century. We welcome this Diocesan Conference Oft tho Lord Bishop, oiorigy and delegates attending the Conference and trust, your assemblage will help forward the solution o; the many difficult religious 'and social problems of OUr, time The unique on- casion of the visit of your Grace at the St. Asaph Diocesan Conference is doubly welcome, and we pray for God's guid.anoe on all your en-abavottrs.— Signed, on behalf of the Corpora- tion. 1 "W. II PLIMMER, Mayor. "S. PRYCE PAltK Y, Town Clerk." In prebcm.irig tho document to the Arch- bienop, rno MAYOR said Your Grace, I have tho grealist possible ploasu.no in asking your acceptance of this address (cheers)- In addition to til9 address, I most heartily and sincerely offer YOll a right royal welcome to this bor- ough (applause). Continuing, Mr Plimmer said his Grace had stamped a dignity upon the borough, and raised it to a very much higher level. From the bottom of his heart he thanked his Grace for his most excellent ser- mon at Mk, Parish Church on the previous mining Ibere choearMasfcera in C*be- shire, and tea-ta«tars at Oswestry. Ho was personally, aeorwon- t aite r -([ a u gi i t,r), a d m that capacity be would give way to no one- lot years lie had had pleasure in makitnr aermonn, and he had once made a serious at- tempt. to pre-para one on the text from whioh his Grace prepared his sermon, but he had If™'1 aft0r ,ttst ri^ht," added the Mayor, I shall never attempt it ag.>in" ? thealogioil ^and oeremonic standpoint the Couii orenoe «> far has boon a thorough success, and its influence upon the town and neighbourhood must have far-reaching results (applause). I wish. the Conference a very pbtuse). lntS from beg-i.nlling to end (ap- pIa use). ^j^Mf'ISHOP, in response, eaid he thanked the Mayor and Corporation inost cor- dially for tiic ktndneas of their welcome- Ho was not so 1.11-iiu.ormecf as to imagine f|,at the welcome was m any absorbing sense of a per sonal kind baoauise he thought they ritr^tlv nemombared that upon such an I wa* onarged with work whioh concerned the nation s hfe m setting forward what was pure just and true in faith and the fear of God (c leers). The Mayor was concerned with the magisterial and life, and had a snnihr responsibility m jm own way, with tho supj.o-t tkt wh° w_ere gathered tiiere that day in setting forward what was righteous true and just in the common life T-tnr™eof I? {I °f th«m (heaT heS b^ra of th/Ji fY. 10 A •^x>r ar*d the other mem- I 1- rI,oratK>u at the two great »ar- s3ed to him'T^™ Conference, him to be a good augurv for the wholesome progns* and oontinu^ wed bcinff of the historic town over ivhich XT presided lie thankad them sincerely for their Some and joined wi n them in hoping for th^ ,n'

FREE CHURCH WELCOME At this stage the Rev- A- E. Gui4, Rov. J J. Poynter, a^' Mr J. Burgee (secretary)! re' prooentahvt* of the Oswestry and District Free 1 huroh Conncil, appeared on the stage for the purpose o_ pre^nting to ttw Archbishop an H ddroou ot welcome on behalf of rhut The visitors were heartily cheered, and his GrIlO oordÙJJy each of the ^«t»tion by the hand. Mr JAMES BURGESS read an illuminated address, which wae to the effect that on behalf OIf the Oswestry and' District Free Church Council the signatories offer ed to his Grace a very cordial welcome- They rejoiced to recognise the splendid contribution towards the religious life of the nation niade bv tho great and historic Oburoli over which his Grace presided with such zeal and d'istinction. They bad no much in common between tibel-ii and there was so muoh to ba done by all the churches for the spiritual welfare of the f)eo- ple, and they were wishful in this way to give expression to their 661.00 of tho brotherhood and all who wero unitod in the aervioe of the one Lord and Saviour, Jesus Ohrist. The Council prayed' that his Graced visit and the Conference might prove a source of inspiration to all the ohurelies (loud appiauise). In handing over the address to his Grace the Rev. A E GUILE, President of the Free Church Council, said that owing to a lack of time his words must neoeasarily be very few but ho need hardly assure the Archbishop that they woulld be very sincere- There were ■some of them who would like to acknowledge their personal debt to the groat scholars of the Church of England, among whom were Light- foot and Weotioott., who had hoir>ed to under- stand their Bibleii the better, and be thus the better able to explain the Word of God to their congregations. Neither did they forww thair d-obt to the Church's great preachem such mon aa l<. IJoberteon and' Canon Liddon who had inspired them to better effort in their own pulpits- Moreover, if they did not recogniso the magnificent work of the Church in general tbev would be hopelessly blind to the facts of history and to the activi- ties of the day in vvhiWh they lived (loud an- plauseV Ho ventured to aay that there was no ona in that Diocesan Conference who anti- cipated a greater futuro for their -reat Church than he personally d'id, and ha felt sure ho spoke for his brethren who were there 0Ill be- hal; of the Free Church Council (hear, hear). Thc'y were not unwillmg that the Church of England should lead them in the betterment; of the lives of the poopl-o- Let the Church make tho pace as hot as ahe could in that di- rection, and the Free Churches would endeav- our to keep up with her (applause). IIi) would like to think that in that all the Church- es of Ohrist could co-operate, and he hoped they would unite in tii&ir efforts to try and find a solution to those great and pressing problems that were in the minds of alii of them (loud applause). The Rev- J. J- POYNTER, the senior Free Church minister in the district, also epoke- The ARCHBISHOP, in replying, said the m-orda spoken by the representatives of the Free Church Council would abide in their memories and cheer them as Churchmen in anxious day." (hear, hear). lie d'asired, so far as ^tlie words of the speakers related to him- self, to cordially thank thean, and 'more espec- ially was he grateful for the spirit which un- derlaid them (hear,, hear). He was also very thankful for the references to Bishops West- cott and Light'oot, because botu had been in intimate connection with him at various per- iods of his life- He was equally ready to ac- knowledge the services of such great Free Churchmen aa Dr. Dale, of Birmingham (hear, hear). It meant muoh to the whoLesomenoss of their common li e that such a greeting as that of the Froo Church men of Oswestry had been ex- tended to him that day. They all felt, and he was sure he was speaking in the name of all there that day, that deep down in the well spring of the Christian Church the Christian faith, and the Chniistiain purpos.e there was an influence whioh united them all larger and stronger than any whioh sundered them (loud applause). THANKS TO THE ARCHBISHOP. EARL POWIS then proposed a voto of thanks to the Arol«bi&hop fur attending the Conferenoe, and in a few appropriate words his lordship referred to the pleasure which had been felt in consequence of tho fact that Dr. Davidson was accompanied by Mrs Davidson. SIR WATKIN W. WYNN, in seconding said his Grace ha.d come among them at a. mo- mont when they wanted help, and the words which had fallen from both tho members of the Free Church Council and his Grace would he felt, sure live long in the memories of those who had heard them (applause). which is legally given to my brethren. Person- ally, I should discourage these marriages, and do nothing to facilitate thern. I would not my- self celebrate or al^pw them to be celebrated in my own ohurch. Those who would use the freedom given by the State arc provided by the State with the means of exercising tiha.1; freedom. I pass now from the sphere of opinion. Is it justifiable to exclude from Holy Communion those who have contracted these marriages? What justification, what power or authority have we for excluding from the highest means of spiritual edification those who have acted con- scientiously, and not only legally, but in accord- ance with the practice of many portioM of the Church of Christ? I will not share the respon- sibility for any such exclusion (applause). But it may be said that such exclusion, without being general, may be. particular. It may be urged that there are cases where these marriages have been preceded and surrounded by circumstances that will justify such exclusion. If those cir- sumstances constitute "open and notorious evil living" then such exclusion becomes a duty, but let us keep our action very clear. In these cases we are exoluding from Holy Communion for misconduct, and not for contracting this form of marriage (applause). One word more, we are being told continually that if the Church does not pursue such and such a course in reference to these marriages disestablishment must follow. Curiously enough, this threat comes chiefly, if not exclusively, from the avowed advocates of disestablishment. Now, if there is one thing more than another which would not influence an honest man, it is these threats of what will fellow if he does not follow some particular course. We may well disregard in all our ac- tions these threats in which moaner minds in- dulge (hear, hear, and applause). EDUCATION. Among the questions which still press heavily upon us is that of our schools (hear, hear). Since wo last moll an Education Bill has been intro- duced and rejected, of which it may be truly said that tihe few measures of the first import- ance have ever secured for its final rejection such universal disapprobation, whether we regard tha disappointment and chagrin which it called forth from the party which produced it, or the profound sense of injustice which it aroused in those who opposed it. It perished, "wept by no good men" (applause). But the strife has not been fruitless. We all know this country is not prepared to accept a system of education BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH. I LORD MOSTYN, who supported, paid he prayed God that the kind words they had just heard from the Free Church ropretfefita-tives, and the remarkable words uttered by his Grace, won (I tend to promote unity where there might pcssi-bly be discord (hear. hear). The BISHOP OF ST. ASAPII. who also sup- ported, asked tho permission of his Grace to in- clude in the vote of thanks an acknowledgment of their indebtedness to others who had rendered such val-uable services in connection with tho Conference. Amongst others there were the members of the local committee, who had been responsible for the arrangements in the town, with the Rural Dean, the Yioar, and the clergy for a,il the arrangements at the churches. Then there, was Lord Harlech, who had shown very groat kindness to the Conference, and no doubt it was a great satisfaction to all of them that hiii Graoe had f-pcnt his time under the hos- pitable roof of Brogynkyn. Again, Ihe (his Lord-ship) did not think any of them would for- get the wonderful gathering entertained at Park Hall on khl previous day by Mr and Mrs Wynne Corrie—(hear, lioar).-t(" both of whom, especi- ally Mrs Conric, they felt particularly grateful. Further, he desired to thank the Mayor and the members .of the Oswestry Corporation and the Free Church Council for their kind word, and hearty welcome to tho Archbishop. Concluding, the Bishop said it would be orcsumption on his part, to utter praise in respect to his Grace's scrv-ioois, but lie might be permitted without any breach of good taste to say that anyone who had watched at all closely the life of the Church of England during the last few years must be pro- foundly thankful that t.ho leader of that Church was one whose wise statesmanship, Christian moderation, and splendid patience, all men re- cognised (loud applause). The motion as amended was carried, 30:1 the delegates upstanding. The ARCHBISHOP, in responding, said he would ilit requite the large measure of kindness shown to him upon his visit if he were to do- tai-n them any further from the work which they had all attended to do. In conclusion, hi, Grace remarked that during the afternoon he hoped to be in South Wales to take part in other Church work (applause). The Archbishop then left the hall midst a rousing cheer.

THE LATE BISHOP HUGHES. INTERESTING P R ESE NTATIO N- The next incident was the presentation of a painted portrait of the late Bishop Hughes to the Bishop. The gift -was formally handed over by Chaincei'.lor Trevor Parkins, on behalf of the subscribers. CHANCELLOR PARKINS said that in appointing the late Bisbo Hughes to the Seo of St. Asap'h, Mr tjWad- xtone had been influenced by the opin- ion that it wa« desirable that a Welsh bishop should bo himself a Welshman, and they had every reason to hope that the same course would continue to be followed in that matter in the futuro (hear. hear). Those who knew the late Bishop Hughes would agree witih him that by his conduct he had ful>y justified Mr Glad- stone's choice (applause). B.'diop Hughes, by h;('. unpretending piety, kindliness of disposi- t.ion. diligence, and care, had done a very great deal for the welfare of his people (applause). The BISHOP, in a brief speech, accepted the portrait. He remarked that frienciship with Bishop Hughes began at Llandovery, fifty years ago, and anyone who knew him could nat help respecting him profoundly. It was a happy oo-incid'ence that' the portrait was presented ia the C,otiferonoe held in the town where the first Conference over which the late Bishop Hughes had presided, was also held (hear, hear).

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. DESEASED WIFE'S SISTER BILL. Tho BISHOP said ho would trespass as little as possiblo upon the time already pledged to the discussion of grave subjects, but on one subject the whole diocese hacl a right to hear tneir opililoil. He used the word "opimon" advisedly, and not "direcr-ion." An Act had been ]>ass.id to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister. lie did not like the Act, and still loss did he like the-methods by whic-h it was promoted. He did not believe, in spite of for- tuitous majorities, that there was any over- whelming demand for such an Act. lie had never mat a woman, who dosired the legislation of these marriages, nor had he met a man who desired the legislation of marriages with a de- ceased brother's widow. Moreover, the mo- ment, when the marriago tie was alatm- ingly lac or brittle wis not the mo- ment to tamper with the marriage laws (applause). His own view with regard to these marriagos, whioh he had already ventured to ex- press. was that they wore "lawful, but not ex- pedicnt." He was unable himself to acquiesco m tho conclusion that they wero forbidden 101 or by Holy Scripture. Tjje reference to the Canon Law was enfeebled by the complexities, the contradictions, the acknowledged omissions, tho whoUy ohanged conditions that now Sir- rounded its application. "Granted the in- expediency of these marriages, what, is our duty"' askod the Bishop "as priests in a Church which does not owe its existence to Parliament,' and whose priests do not regard 'the Sovereign and Parliament as the true and only supreme head of tho Church?' Here let me repeat bhat I oxpress only my own opinion, and have no desire whatever toO trespass upon or to restnot that full freedom of aot.ion from which religion is banished (hear, hear, and I applauso). Until that religious instruction is safeguarded and the right of the parent to sa- cure for his child that religious instruction which he desires has been firmly and irrevocably se- cured there will not be peace. The ultimate solution of this question profoundly concerns all Christian men (hear, hear). A Christian nation will not banish Christianity from its schools. We are oontending not for self-interest or pri- vilege, but simply and solely that t,he children of this country should be brought up in the faith of our LordJesus Christ,and we must not allow other controversies to divert us from this one supreme aim. It has boon said that a sihort and drastic measure will be introduced next session, not so much in the hope of solving this problem as of dissolving the House of Lords. Assuredly the education of our "children is too sacred and vital a subject to be degraded to such uses." Il is lordship then referred to their own clerical I education society, and said their experience of life taught them t.ho importance of the personal factor in all human efforts. If the Church lan- guished in this or that parish, it was because in the majority of cases she had been in that parish badly served. In his opinion the training and preparation of candidates for holy orders came first in urgency and importance. It was not quite easy to enlist the attention and tho sup- l>ort. of clergy and laity alike to this work in its earlier stages. They must not be content to wait until men offered themselves for ordination. The parish priest must keep his eyes open, and mark those young souls among his flock who seemed to bo given and gifted for the work of the ministry. They must. seek and follow them, and when necessary help them with advioe. guidance, and funds in the first grade and in- termediate schools, in the universities, in their own Lampeter, and in tho university and theo- logical colleges. lie claimed not to have pressed upon the diocese objects which had not justified their support. He appealed to every clergyman and to every layman in the diocese to look into and to support their clerical education society. Of course, it had its critics. Who in Wales was without his critics? (laughter). What honest man objected to criticisln? All he wanted to say was that. thoir clerical education society, through its warden, the Rev. Arthur Ogle, was rendering DEAN OF ST. ASAPH. I invaluable service to the Church in the diocese, a service which will remain long after wj have passed away (applause). DISESTABLISHMENT "I must' briefly touch upon the question of disestablishment and disendowment. I desire to thank the diocesan and parochial committees for the assistance which they havo given, and es- pecially those laymen and clergy who have most kindly and efficiently taken part in the valuable work of instruotion lectures, and it would be not only false modesty, but injustice, if I omitted to mention the toil and time which have been given to the organisation and the equipment of Church defence work in this diocese by Mr Windsor Lewis (applauso). The evidence which this diocese is prepared to lay before the Royal Commission has been carefully prepared and tested, and in this arduous work I must not for- get. to mention our devoted friend, Mr Cleaver (al)plauiie)-who has been greatly assisted by Mr Joseph Lloyd and Mr Marley Sampson (ap- plause). I leavo tho record to speak for itself. One aspect of this question which is of supreme importance is going to bo discussed by you this morning, and I do not intend to anticipate that discussion. I will only say this: It is no longer contended that the Church is not striving to realises to tho full her mission and opportuni- ties. No ono suggests that, the Churoh in Wales is rich. No ono who is not ignorant or wilfully blind denies that sho reprosenis the oldest branch of the Church of Christ in this country. The Church is tho one ancient institution in Wales, j the one institution in tho past that preserved the idea of unity, th3 ono institution that has Cll- nobled the whole course of our history (applauso). It is hard to understand how the religious cljar- aotor of the people is to be strengthened, how the 'I faith of Christ is to ba advanced, how the morai welfare of the whole community is to be promoted by unjustly despoiling and for a time paralysing the Church. Fifteen years ago the claim foi 1 dj-sestablishment was based upon "The case for Disestablishment." That case waa made up of I oharges which, if substantiated, would have been grave. Fifteen years ago searching enquiry showed that those charges could not be sub- stantiated, and I believe that the work of the Church to-day shows that such charges are ri- diculous (hear, hear). The solid fact stands out that these charges are no longer repeated, and even the chairman and champions of the dises- tablishment party are constrained to testify to the excellence of the work done by tho Church. If then the "case" has gone wha.t remains of the 'claims?" (applause). One thing is clear, and that is our duty. We will not be deterred by obloquy, by threats, by the attribution, still loss by the promotion of selfish motives from defend- ing what wo believe to be a sacred trust which we are protecting not for ourselves byt for thoee who come after us. It was recently said that the bishops and clergy of the Welsh diocese^ will naturally use their utmost endeavour to maintain their privileged position." To this charge I cannot conscientiously plead guilty (laughter). It is unusual to find such an impu- tation of base motives forming part of a bishop's visitation charge. I cannot think that it can be in the interests of any good cause to use suoh a solemn occasion as art episcopal visitation for accusing the clergy of Wales before their brethren across tho border with being actuated by un- worthy motives (hear, hear). I must not closo this painful reference without acknowledging the unvarying support and kindness which wo have received from the clergy and laity of tho con- tiguous and semi-Welsh diocese of Hereford (applause). Referring to the Congo question. his lordship said that years ago when the mas sacres of Armenia sent a thrill of horror through Europe they would remember how their author was described as "This Great Assassin." The horrors of the Congo "Crown domain" dimmed by distance were qtiIl in realitv not loss awful, and he trusted that the voice of Christian England would be utteftd in such tones that our Government might be strengthened in their efforts to put a stop to the unspeakable cruelties which the demons of lust and avarice still shamelessly and persistently perpetrated upon these defenceless natives (applause).

DISESTABLISHMENT AND DISENDOWiVltNT Religious Aspects of the Ouestion. The first subject for discussion was the ro- ligious y tspocrs of the question of D is establish and Disendowment- W- LIVINGSTONE, Feliow of Corpus L-ftrip'ti College, Ox lord, was tho opener. Pur- {►osety leaving out of sight the question of Dis- ondowm&nt, the disadvantages of Which were so obvious, Air Livmgistono said he had tried to u W1 th'3 the esstablisihmeiifc. Which at least, appeared to hamper trie Churoh as much as it benefited it, an.d' with which there- fore it seem a gam to part. It they ask ed what tne establishment in tne church m Eng- land meant they were at once met by oertam la-ot-s. I' trst was the influence which the btate exerctsed over the Church in its right to noivura.to bishops and other officors, and tiro right to make laws in matters of dootrine ar- discipline- Secondly, there were oortaijn pointe m wni-ch the Church exercised influence over tho State: it had bisfhops m the House off Lord, at held' a religious service at the Corona- tion and its prayers were read at each meeting ul the Houses of Parliament If the Church wore disestablished the hisn.ops would lotse their soats and the Coronation service and the pray- ers would disappear, certainly in their present ionn, parhaps completely. At the same time the Church would be freed from the State freed to govern and to legislate tor itself. Would not that be an enormous gain The present pomhon ot the bishops, the coronation and other services weie attractive symbols, tustor/c cus- toms and ceremonies, but. were -'3Y an advan- tage 80 great that in order to preisorve them they should sacrifice as they did at prcwent the power of the Church to govern and control it- I JlH> rK;t consider the question of establishment without feeling at trice the strength of the arguments a-gainst it- ,.hat oould selm more ahi^ura than that a body luce Parliament, not a religious body, should make laws to re gxilate the doctrines of the Church, or that a purely secular official liko the Prime Minister who might be an At,hoist, should have tihe ap. pointment to Church office# ? Few, he supposed even among those who belioved most strongly in an estabii^ned' Churoh, had not felt the at- traction of the ideal of a Church with full self government, ohocsing its own bishops and ministers, controlling, rewarding, punishing and depriving a Chu-roa still preserving something ot apostolic simplicity an-d purity, really an as- semblage of the elect, chr.sen, not merely a mixed asi^mblago ot all who chose to call ttioaus'olvcj's Uhröst¡¡éllÎ!1 without foclin." any obli- gallon to load a Christian life. During the firet threo centuries of itu existence, the Church had thw purity untiil under Constantino it emerged from its isolation to become the Church of tho Roman empire, to become for the first time an established C/iuroh- And yet, though it was ton saLu' that the stop the Church took in 324 A. D. was the beginning of all its corruptions he imagined tinat it was something more L than an eof judgment or a declension from duty, which caused ita action- What he wanted to ask was what Christians thought they-were do ing when they took that to-" and then whether that thought was right. TO PURIFY POLITICS. lie supposed the thought o™ those who wel oomod the proposal of Constantino to make Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire this: Tney believed that the Church, by engaging iteolf with politics, would purify tihom instead of losing its own purity; that a man's d'uty as citizen a.nd as Christian might be the same; and that men might have on earth a counterpart of the city of God in heaven. On that idea he supposed tiho establishment of any Chuch ultimately ropted It was in that belief that its membeus consented to resign their com- plete independence. When the Churoh was established religion might become political, but politi also boca-mo religious, and that was the justification for an establishment- And that surely ^was what they believed- They held that the Stare Wis a Christian institution, to be guLdbd in its policy and legislation by Christian principles. So to take. two questions which in Jate years .had agitated England, they bolioved tihat. the questions of the Sout-h African war and of Chinese labour should have boon de- cided—he did not say whether this w or was not the case—by re.cr-enoe to Christian pânoi- p &>. And to a question which was going 00 agitata England in the future, tiny bohovod that tttey s.iouid duouss the question of Social- ism not merely as oapitai.sfi> und poor men, but on both sides as Cnmcians- They bolioved in tstjOrt, that the State was no me.re eartnly body, existing to promote material bll-prin and attain mu kwiltl enUtt. but a spiritual body, through which the wiil of God was worked' out on tho earth. If this view (JIi the State ivas a true on*3, suroly, it followed that it must profess its religion Or were they going to have a State whioh religions but calJod itself secular? A man might as well be a Mahornmedan and call himself a Roman Cathoho- A Stato that had a religion would pra.ess it, would establi.ih l. If their idea of tne State was such as he had sketched it followed that it must have an es- tablished religion, and surely if it called itself secular, secular it. would be. The duty of such an establishment was to that the State reaU, did act. on Christian principlca and such if it did its duty would be trie effect of an established Church That was why they believed ao strongly in tho establishment of the Church. Now, let him suppose the OhuToh dieestab- ii»hod. W-o should have a purely secular State, quite indifferent to the sects composing it', pro- fessing no .religion and declaring that suoh a profession was not it« business. That view of tho btato was one largely held at the pretvomt day, mainly by people who were agnotict; or atheists or indifferent, but, also, st tangoly enough, bymiLny devout. Christian Nonconform- ists. And tho bitter thing in the whole situa- tion scorned to him to be this. There wore cer- tain people in England who were icai secular- ists, to whom Christianity was an abomination or at an obsolete folly. Thete people right- ly and legitimately supported a secular State, and were anxious lor the overthrow of anything in the form of an establishment. But few were they that they wouid be powerless if they could not use as a, tool Nonconformity, whioh in the e-wentiai (kum1 s to Christianity, was tho natural ally of the Church, and ha.d only boon estranged by political jealousies now and by the Ciiurch's own faults in the I'a&>t.. Let them ex- amine this view of the State a little clcr. The Slate, many told us, was a- secular institu- tion. designed not to produce religious citizens, but efficient ones. Desirable and necessary as the things leading to efficiency were, they were only temporal, only material. "A man's life," we- were told, "is not in these things." Might they add that it was the same with a. nation. And more: If they thought the State waa to b& secular, lie thought they would find themcyclves committed to a jvocuiar view of man. The ten- dency of a modern school of thought was to debaoe man; iet him devise, we wore told, a Scale, which wouid make liirn pro-perous and comfortable, ana be contented if he could do that. Against such a view of the individual man the Church was here to protost. She did not discus* the origin of his t-'pecies, but she as'rdrted that he was made in t.he lik-enes of (d. and put into tho world to carry out God's purposes in it. It seemed to him that tho Church was bound to protest a-gainst the FCCU- br idea of the Slate, and to claim a higher purpoeo for it. Or did thev disagree there, lie should make argument clearer if he took twu examples. Let them think of the enormous influence for good or bad that tho foreign policy of a country everted. Let them think what, a Christian stat<v.u;<in like Mr Gladstone did for Italy and Greece, and the states on which the hand cf Turkey fell so heavily. Let them think what wo might have done, for Armenia, and Macedonia, and the Congo. Wero they content that such a power should be directed solely with a secular aim to promote our personal comfort and pro&perily't