Wrexham Guardian

(BT TELEG RAPI:i) ei CORN MARKET. P LivEitPOOL, Friday. rl A very limited business has been done in wheat at a f] reduction of Ld. per cental from the currencies of t" Tuesday. Flour dull, and to effect sales lower prices t have been taken. Beans firm, and 3d. per qr. dearer. Oats barley, and oatmeal quiet. Indian corn moved slowly, aad quotations are reduced (id. per qr. for both J old and new. LONDON, Friday. Y Wheat closed quietly, without alteration. Barley c dull and drooping. Oats in slow request, but a unaltered in value. Maize, beans, peas, and barley a not so firm. Flour depressed. a

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. F The Houses of Parliament were opened yester- ( day (Friday), by Royal Commission, her Majesty having been reluctantly forced to abandon her intention at opening the session in person owing to j the condition of H.R.H. Prince Leopold. On Thurs- f day a Privy Council was held at Osborne, the Ministers present being the First Lord of the < Treasury (the Right Hon. B. Disraeli), the Lord < Chancellor (Lord Cairns), the Lord President of < the Council (the Duke of Richmond), the Chan- ] cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Colonel J E. Taylor), and the Lord Chamberlain (the Marquis 1 of Hertford). The Royal Speech was submitted to her Majesty and approved of. Mr H. S. Keating, the late senior*puisne judge of the Court of Common Pleas, was sworn in as a Privy Councillor, and took his seat at the Board accordingly. Sir Arthur Helps, K.C.B., was clerk of the Council. Mr Disraeli's parliamentary dinner to the mem- bers of his Cabinet, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and mover and seconder of the address, and some other invited guests, took place that evening at the right hon. gentleman's town resi- dence in Whitehall-gardens. There were 40 persons present. Earl Granville, as leader of the Liberal party in the House of Lords, entertained a number of peers at dinner at his residence. Later in the evening the Countess Granville had a reception. The usual Opposition dmner to members of the Lower House did not take place. (BY TELEGRAPH). The following is the text of the QUEEN'S SPEECH. MT LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, It is with great satisfaction that I again meet you, and resort to the advice and assistance of my Parliament. I continue to receive assurance of friendship from all foreign Powers. The peace of Europe has remained, and I trust will remain, unbroken. To preserve and consolidate it will ever be a main object of my endeavours. The Conference held at Brussels on the laws and usages of war has concluded its sittings. My Government have carefully examined the reports of its proceedings, but bearing in mind on the one hand the importance of the principles involved, and on the other, the widely divergent opinions which were there expressed and the improbability of their being reconciled, I have not thought it right to accede to proposals which have been made for further negotiations on the subject. The correspondence which has passed will be presented to you. The Government of Spain, presided over by Marshall Serrano, has ceased to exist, and the Prince of Asturias has been called to the throne under the title of King. In concert with other Powers, the newly restored mo- narchy is at this moment beforelmy Government, and its decision will not be long delayed. It is my earnest hope that internal peace may be speedily restored to a great but unfortunate country. The exertions of my naval and consular servants m the repression of the East African slave trade have not been relaxed, and I confidently trust that they will bring about the complete extinction of a traffic equally repugnant to humanity and injurious to legitimate commerce. The differences which had arisen between China aad Japan, and which at one time threatened to lead to war between those States, have been happily adjusted. I have learnt with pleasure that the good offices of my Minister at Pekin have been largely instrumental in bringing about this result. The past year has been one of general prosperity and progress throughout the Colonial Empire. On the Gold Coast a steady advance has been made in the establishment of Civil Government. Peace has been maintained, and I have procured the assent of the protected tribes to the abolition of slavery. Henceforward I trust freedom will exist there as in every part of my dominions. In Natal I have found myself under the necessity of reviewing the sentence which had been passed upon a native Chief, and of considering the condition of the tribes, and their relations to the European settlers and my Government. I doubt not that 1 shall have your concurrence in any measures which it may become my duty to adopt for ensuring a wise and humane system* of native administration in that part of South Africa. Papers will be laid before yoa on these several matters. The King and Chiefs of Fiji, having made a new offer of the Inlands, unfettered by conditions, I have thought it right to accept the cession of a territory which, independently of its large natural resources, offers important maritime advantages to my fleets in the Paoiflo. An ample harvest has restored prosperity to tk* provinces of my Eastern Empire wnich last jmr were visited with famine. By the blessing of Providence, my Indian Government has been able entirely to avert the loss of life which I had reason to apprehend from that great calamity. QWMMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, I have directed the estimates of the year to be prepared and presented to you without delay. MT LOBDS AND GENTLEMEN, The condition of the finances is satisfactory the 1's;e of the country in the past year has some- wkr* fallen short of the year 1874, but the general prosperity of the people, supported, as it has been, wa excellent harvest, as well as by the •edaotion lately made in taxation has led to a steady increase in the consumption of all the MMWuriee of life and of those articles wfckh.eoa- trifcmte to the menrw. .ih The various statutes or an emnorary n-itnre now in force for the preservation JN )f peace in Ir-laiul will be brou-ht to your notice, m vith .i view to determine whether .-»ome of thorn maj iOt dispensed with. ni Several measures which were unavoidably post, )iied at the end of last session will be again e( •,troiluced. Among the most important are thos< w ror siiuolifyinjj- the Transfer of Liand and com pie t- !*rr the reconstruction of the Ju lic'-vture. li "Bills will be also laid before you for facilitating the n Improvement of Dwellings for the WorKing Clashes m large towns, for the Consolidation and Amenameut of the Sanitary Laws, and for the Prevention of the d Pollution of Rivers. r i measure has been prepared for Consolidating and h A the Laws relating to Friendly Societies. Its h object will be to assist, without unnecessarily mterter- 1 i-' with the laudable elforts of my people, to make pro- vision for themselves against some of the calamities ot [fri ✓ rk. bill for the Amendment of the Merchant Shipping v Acts will be laid before you. Your att>-ution will be moreover directed to legis- 1 kition for the better secarity of my subjects from c personal violence, and for more effectually provid- £ ins: for the trial of offences by establishing the office of a public prosecutor. i Although the report of the Commission issued] by me to inquire into the state and working of the t law, as to offences connected with trade, has not yet t been made to me, I trust that any legislation on this subject which may be found to be expedient may take place iu the present session. You will also be invited to consider a measure for improving the law as to agricultural tenancies. I commend to your careful consideration these and other measures which may be submitted to yon, and I pray that your deliberations may, under the Divine blessing, result in the happiness and contentment of my people. No leading members of the Government or the Opposition were present at the opening of Parliament. The Commons were summoned to the House of Lords at two o'clook to hear the speech. There were fewer spectators present than usual.

APPOINTMENT OF THE REV. DAY I D IIOWELL TO THE LIVING OF WREXHAM. The Western lJlail (Cardiff) referring to the ap- ointment, remarks If we were to say that e had much pleasure in making this announce- ient, we should not be true to our feelings, and e know we should grievously outrage the senti- lents of many thousands in Cardiff to whom, with- ut distinction of sect or party, the vicar has adeared himself, and who will hear of his antici- ated removal with surprise and concern. They, re are persuaded, will share with us the unmixed 3o-ret with which we contemplate his secession rom us. On the other hand, it cannot be doubted st hat Mr Howell has acted wisely in relinquishing P: he heavy duties of his present sphere cf usefulness ai or the lighter work which the living of "VVrexham of rill impose on him. It is well known that the ef abours which the vicar has undergone for many cl 'ears, and which have been ceaselessly on the in- a., rease, have over-taxed his strength and energies, II nd that the time has at length arrived when no "w .lternative remained but to make the unwilling d' .cknowledgment that they were in excess of his oj )owe rs of ° endurance. It is within our knowledge st hat Mr Howell has had more than one offer of pre- ti erment, more lucrative in its emoluments, and less t( merous in its labour than that which he now holds, fc md that he has declined these simply because he P las considered that duty bound him to Cardiff so a ong as he was able to discharge it. His recent t llness has, however, we regret to say, affected him s severely, though, we trust, not seriously, and his t nedical advisers have prescribed for him a season IF )f rest, and a less energetic pursuit of his holy 3 jallino- than that in which he has for so long been v engaged. The Bishop of St. Asaph, from the honourable and conscientious desire to fill the 1; vacant church at Wrexham efficiently, has, in I terms the kindness of which well accord with the I excellence of his lordship's motives, offered this s valuable living to Mr Howell; and we cannot doubt that it will greatly delight the parishioners of that 1 historical town to know that so deserving and good 1 a man has accepted it. That which Cardiff cannot < but regard as a loss they will hail as a gain. Let us hope that the connection so shortly to be 1 formed will long continue, and that it may be ac- ? companied by the happy and enduring results which have marked Mr Howell's ministry at Cardiff. We part with him indeed with regret—but our 1 regret is mitigated by our recollection of his eminent services and the success that attended them—by the impress which his high and spotless character has left on the Church and upon the town-by his wide-spread philanthropy-his unfail- ing charity-his ceaseless labours-his self-denial— his unaffected humility—his devotion, which ever found expression in the words of the Apostle, Ye are in our hearts, to die and live with you,"—and the immunity from jealousy which he has never ceased to evince to those from whom he differed in Church doctrine and discipline, and some of whom, it is to be feared, preached Christ even of envy and strife." We are painfully aware that no words of ours can add aught to the merit of a life so honour- ably and beneficially exercised, but we would not willingly permit the occasion to pass without paying to a meritorious and good man, at one of the pro- minent incidents in his career, the tribute, not only of our honest esteem, but of our affectionate regard. We trust that his health will be speedily re-estab- lished, and that in his new sphere of usefulness, or in any other, and possibly more exalted, position in which Providence may place him, he may long be spared to the Church and the world, to enforce by his teaching, and to illustrate by his example, the precepts of the great Master of who;;e commission of mercy he is the befitting bearer, and who, when in human form, became "the servant of all." Of Mr Howell's early life we know but little. He received his early education at a school in Cow- bridge kept by Mr William Lewis. Reading what books and periodicals fell in his way, and making the best use of limited opportunities, Ln mind expanded, and he found play for hit; originality and aspirations by contributing articles from time to time to the Monmouthshire Merlin. Whilst thus engaged in an uncongenial pursuit—desultory reading and occasional writing-he attracted the notice of the present Rector of Neath, the Rev. John Griffith, then the incumbent of Saint Mary Hill. Mr Griffith is a noble gentleman, free, generous, bold, out-spoken, and full of sympathy. He was just the person to whom a young man, placed as Mr Howell was, would be likely to be attracted, and it is not to be wondered at that an attachment sprung up between them, which has lasted ever since, and has been by no means barren of good results. Under Mr Griffith's kindly and fostering care, his young pupil's mental faculties enlarged, and his desire for knowledge quickened. With knowledge came thought and reflection, and the youthful student, whose sympathies with his kind friend had been stimulated by their intercourse, aspired to become like him-a clergyman of the Church. Accordingly he went to the Diocesan Theological Institute at Abergavenny, where he remained three years under the care of the princi- pal, the Rev. Canon Williams, "damm et venerabile nomen." During his residence there, he made the best of his opportunities, and studied with zeal and diligence. In 1855, he received ordination at the hands of the present Bishop of Llandaff, and his first curacy was at Neath under his old and attached friend, Mr Griffith. There he remained about 18 months, working energetically and successfully amongst the parishioners, and making a great im- pression by the zeal and eloqupnee of his preaching. So powerful and effective were his oratorical quali- fications, that he received the appointment of secretary for the Principality to the Church Pastoral Aid Society. His merits as a speaker were even then far beyond the average, and he had the power —perhaps we should call it the secret-of so com- mending himself to the audience he addressed as to awaken and sustain that sympathy between them and himself which never fails to make a speaker effective. The wear and tear of duties such as those connected with an itinerant service of this kind, made him glad to exchange his appointment for the quiet of a country vicarage, and accordingly we find him at the end of three years presented' by the Bishop of Bangor to the living of Pwllheli, in Carnarvonshire, where he remained for a similar term. What was the nature of his duties here we are not informed, but it is probable that he found time for stndy, not quickly ,to.,be accorded to him again, and of which he did not lose the opportunity of availing himself. But a time was now approaching for him to buckle on his armour, and to take a far more responsible and more prominent part in the business of lifelthan had hitherto fallen to his lot. In February, 1864, the important living of St. John's, Cardiff, which had been held, we believe, for thirty years and up- wards by a non-resident, was resigned to the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. The Dean, to whom Cardiff owes not a small debt of gratitude, was, we know, most deeply impressed with the necessity of .I.LI.5 "£4" -rr- lumerous applications for the vacant living were t lade. Some of these were baekel up by persons v igh in position, and considerable influence was p rought to bear on the Dean. A petition, a umerously signed by members of the St. John's on cremation, on behalf of a most unsuitable person, I i-as° presented. All was of no avail. The Dean esolved o be influenced alone by considerations of 1 he public interest. His choice fell upon Mr 1 In well,$rid bonv, far the choice was justified is not t lOW a matter for speculation or doubt. j AN-lien ir Howell commenced his labours at Car- ) liff, the congregation was select and respectable. ts'ger tilides had not been disturbed by rude or larsh utterances from the pulpit. No innovations aad taken place. Order and decorum prevailed, riie doctine was moderate, and such as could nut offend sensitive ears. Those points which excise rancor amongst the parties who divide the Church into'its present'well-defined sections were not m- sistedVm. -But such as the congregration was so it had,been for thirty years and more. The town in- creased in population and wealth, chapels and con- gregations increased, but the church stood still. It is true that after years of begging, and appeals to unwilling charity, the church of St. Andrew s had been finished-not indeed according to the elegance of its original design, but still finishe< and open for the celebration of divine service. The services in the parish had doubled in number for, in addition to two at St. John's, there were two at St. Andrew's. And to the credit of the times be it stated that there were two Church schools and a little more than 200 scholars. This tameness and a-oathy were not congenial to Mr Howell. Had such a state of things existed even in his little parish of Pwllheli, his three years' residence there would have been intolerable. He determined to initiate a new regime. In spite of lukewarmness and opposition, he resolved to be true to his Master and his mission. His powerful preaching awakened the profoundest attention of his hearers. They were reminded of their short-comings in a way to which they had been unaccustomed. The solemn verities of our most holy religion were clearly un- folded. The punishment which awaits sin was faithfully pointed out. But while the preacher did not scruple to unmask the terrors of the law," his more congenial duty was to dwell on the doctrine of the Atonement, and to commend that grace which the New Testament so freely offers. Here was an anxious, earnest, man, deeply impressed with a sense of his own responsibility, and affec- tionately solicitous of the interests of those he ad- dressed. His pleadings were as though he pleaded for life—" with tears, with pathetic gestures, and burning words." His matter, and his manner, too, never failed to remind us of Cowper's description- Would I describe a preacher, such as Paul, Were he on earth, would hear, approve, and own, Paul should himself direct me. I would trace His master-stroke, and draw from his design. I would express him simple, grave, sincere In doctrine uncorrupt in language plain, And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste, And natural in gesture much impressed Himself, as conscious of his awful charge. And mainly anxious that the flock he feedii May feel it too; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A Messenger of Grace to guilty man. The powerful and intensely earnest preaching of such a man as the new vicar could not long fail to produce effect. The churches both became crowded, and new life was apparent everywhere. Possessed of new energy and power; the Church became more effective in her ministrations, and the results were clearly perceptible without. Fresh charities were awakened, an(T%irmant faculties were quickened into life. NeiA^fwas the effect spasmodic, nor were its resulWBfcpofSry. Time would fail us to describe the new agencies which the restless energy of the vicar called into existence. Suffice it to state that in lieu of apathetic and thin congrega- tions, enthusiastic and crowded assemblies meet together to pray and prfrise. Instead of two 01 four weekly services, there are thirteen; in the place of two schools, there are six; the children attending these number 1,755, as against 200; there are 1,821 children attending the Sunday schools and there are five curates and one scrip. ture reader actively engaged in the work of thE parish. This, we think, is enough to show thai Mr Howell has proved himself a thorcugr working and a, successful parish priest. He has been eminently useful, and we trust that hii labours may endure in their effects long after his presence has been withdrawn from amongst us But whilst we have called attention to his work; and services, we think we should do him justice,, we were to omit mention of the broad catholicity by which his views are distinguished. He h 1 never been one of those who see no good in forin of worship other than those of the Church a England. Whilst warmly attached to her cory munion, he has not hesitated to declare that Niff conformity has been a great blessing to ell r, Principality, and that its ministers are donnev great work for good, which the clergy are unabl esf undertake. Without sacrificing any principle led has ever been ready to recognise as fellow wor sut in the cause of Christianity all those who are en I to their mission, and who do not make it a vea bi cloak it cannot be called-for undisguised polrks propagandism. Hence it is that his labours' wel have excited no ill-will amongst those of nn t1 communions. All have been willing to apprnid; v, his efforts, and no grudging approval hase affl accorded to his acknowledged merits and um his requtation. Indeed, so highly is he esteeme4me e to their credit be it said, some generous Disor so; have from time to time anonymously entrustomew with money, to be expended as he uligbhougl advisable, for charitable purposes. We mu?vittl I ever, draw our remarks to a close. In looki'eve'ra' what we have written we see nothing but seated onlncristio. It could not be otherwise, if V" onlncristio. It could not be otherwise, if Churel true to our own conviction. A late emine has observed that unqualified eulogy is sign of a waak mind. Be it so. We wou confess our weakness than gain a spurious the cost of truth. A sketch of Mr Howell as a preacher appeal Western Mail, on November 9, 1874, froir cull the followingThe Vicar is a mode'l pastor. He preaches earnestly, and well; bi a pulpit-talker, nor a Preacher proper, as tl stylo themselves who, in the ministry, can nothing else but preach. He is a parochial he acts up to his responsibilities. He halt pulpit homily; nor, the sermon over, does r by proxy. Nor does he lounge lazily throug of his clerical office, influenced, as many 7 practical Christianity than by priestly assir appears, indeed, to sink his sacerdotal chara^ in the sympathetic emotions of the man. J that the two influences are incompatible in » but I have known those who demonstrate es that they are so. I have heard it said t! holiest man in the Church. He ia certa? most ubselfish. His greatness consists in P of parochial labour. With him the work 3 a necessity which knows no law but th > and attention he devotes even to a miracF application that is a surprise to everybelf. He is wrapped up in his parish, and his up in him; and to say his work; is a lab 10 bestow faint praise.. In the pulpit, the Vicar loves to contran- quil beauty of a Christian life. His s^e the beneficent river, which irrigates hr forth refreshing dews at night, reflecting" its placid breast the wondrous wealth: above, in star, and sun, and moon, whet. Sn But his heart is sensitive to the driving1 reciprocated effort, as the river sadden pass over it. As the wanton wind ^eam into trembling life, so does the s,pirituciess.of human thought, wherever it arises in hiomain, disturb his heart to tremulous solicit18' says, to me a matter of surprise and)w that while millions of money are so easily o'urposes of worldly speculation or national jf construction of railways, harbours, an"10?" building of ships, towns, and pala £ °o painfully difficult to obtain adequa10 ">ose benevolent and Christian agencies v"y salt of society. How long this is to me to say. To me it is, beyond exF™~°'"B and depressing." His heart thus a which has been the plain for ages £ explained to the contemplation of t p<i nature aright. His discourses 5eeD,nc„ of sweetness, and gentleness, a spiritual graces of a Christian life. f a loving principle that leads wit q{ tender tolerance, nor seeks to a » harsh polemical disputation. It ir votional beauty, that worships a_ » kindness, drawing therefrom the P Where, in others, the chasm is so > him a vivid impression of reality him hearts, and clinches affection. angle for with clever unreality ii, a degree. He draws a distmct.^ reyPektion revelation of saving truth, and t • t of theological truth—warns tb^ loy^an^ that zeal should at all times be influenced by wisdom, and ftnd tolerant words: ^'Wemustent^ zeal, tempered with discretion hdr em)rs from us on religious topics tc we believe them." precision and The Vicar's sermons^ chaPtimeg wjth closeness of ethical reasomn^ral narrative anecdotal lustration and e< q{ that takes a picW shape,^ gim licit discourses, how- ever, lies I *°d ,°t X appeal to the heart rathe d t^. to the emotions rather t tbeir spirit of appeal, cL m rceir recognition ot truth as we bolk-ve it, imtirev^ioii m >r>? uleasing than lasting w ^pa-ssion, in the nature of a photograph, retires b' from the mind of the bearer, and leaves the icT of the pleading preacher in placd of the sentiments ¡tted. He is love,) by those who are too simple to stand him, and has a place in the affections of th" °f the extent of which, perhaps, he is not hii>ware- This is a touching tribute to his own sini cf hpart, which appeals to the hearts of others lö invincible force of honest humility. His style iral and uzii g,cfed-oliai-ininq because simple; but mplicity never becomes com- monplace, for the mcat all times true, and just. and noble. The Vicar is Evangelical school of thought, and while with true8*'4" liberality, he is tolerant in his con tem plat ionic rs, he is always found true to his principles to t!at spiritual landmarks of the Church to which heRs- In this there is no waver- ing. nor is there anolute perplexity. All i definite ,mel :it'cisive. His is,at religious Conservatism which is afraid of its ownw- One man, he says, looks to tv>^ hio-h nhilnsonF0(l's Word, and his soul is wrapt toaSSKrlSS* to consistency, another rellis;cs iwithin, and sees only this one phase of the Deihese are types of two different classes, and he (Jem- as he says, to show how possible it is for r he full of true Christianity, and vet to have ma^s on which there will be com- paratively little lthy between them. There is enough of comound for them to hold closely together- enou/^et:7 °f niind to afford plentiful subjects for conl- The Vicar ina^ these respects, be accepted, to mv thinking. a!ect model of a parish pastor. He preaches by hifct with an eloquence which words alone can neve. and that conduct is more eloquent from the abse any atte-pt to make it so. His eloquence wiresli and green when that of the pulpit-orator t.te. Mr Howell has contributed less, perhap"Jlt literature than some of his more philosophic ei have done but he has contributed much more thial happiness than many and while others have Jntent to let the cold light of their intelligence er f""031 the reading-desk for the benefit of if13 who could go thither and were able to understa.he Vicar has taken the light in his hand, and, cg away, has borne it through the dark placets dismal passages of parochial life throwing nd warmth where warmth and light were not, ¡[lUg out the indwelling emotions of his own lovin;lse]fi-h nature has awakened the tearful Igratitude oor, and drawn to himself the perfect uffection Beloved by those who can distinguish the graci truly tolerant mind through the hazy clamour tolerant atmosphere, the Vicar possesses Tutrinsic^k'0*1 have made less deserving men more pn'n annals of their country's Church, and plac11 higher up in the list of awards for navnesti zeal m the discharge of clerical duties. V cIng to the Western Mail, says :—" It is with e-re £ ret Cardiff public has to-day heard cceptation by the Rev D. Howell of the iinpor raSe of Wr«xham. I am sure, when first the rtfched my ears>1 eouI(1 scarcely believe it and P best reasons for knowing that hundreds' were wIth myself incredulous. However, the fact ?re 110 blinking it, and all that remains is foiwho haVe sympathised with and admired ji his long career cf usefulness at Cardiff to r ill and by a token thoroughly worthy of iliai, 1. the their esteem of the rev. gentleman. I have bee assured-and I am certain the statement wiromed wide and far-that it is intended that tkVe from the town of the Rev D. Howell shall Dolce without that gentleman hiving been made th,t of a tangible token expressive of the high reis parishioners and fellow-townsmen." r ileyan," in the same journal, writes:—" I am ate who felt during the late School Board con- ti was desirable that the Nonconformists should tst, one vote to the Rev D. Howell. In express- illentiuaent through the medium of your columns, ie pleasure of knowing that I was quite at many Nonconformist friends who have never idmire the indefatigable and earnest efforts of t ll. I am sure that not only the parishioners of Ji's, but members of Dissenting Churches, will, elf, be desirous of marking our appreciation of 'ell's labours ia Cardiff by the presentation of a testimonial." J South JV ales Daily ivews (Liberal) in referring 1ditonal columns to the vacancy created in the 4School Board through the appointment of Mr I to Wrexham, says: There are not so many 1. energetic, and successful Christian workers in that we can afford to lose any of them, and still L man of Mr Howell's character and influence il. He has, by the earnestness of his pulpit minis- s, by his self-denying pastoral labours, as well èhe success which has attended his ministry, won iself the respect and goodwill of men of every nd of no creed, who have witnessed his undying" and his abounding efforts. The inhabitants of as a whole will with oursolves deeply regret Mr l's departure, and will desire him, in the sphere of v labours, the same success and the same respect :eem fcr his Christian character and efforts as at- his work here. We wish him every happiness xess, and believe that he will carry with him ie goes from amongst us the good wishes of all." ographical sketch of Mr Howell, this journal re- :—" No man worked more earnestly than Mr 1. No man spoke with greater warmth of feeling ie pulpit, rebuking the proud, or encouraging the and few spent more time in visiting the sick and icted. He makes his religion the earnest reality life, and he endeavours to make others feel the arnestness in theirs. This incessant toil has been me time undermining a constitution which was hat shaken in early life by close study, and al- L there can be no doubt that the step was taken lesitation, and only after mature reflection, his ice from Cardiff, where he has done so much, so many useful institutions, giving vitality to l life which it did not possess before, was not de- ircided upon but with regret. He leaves the parish in a very different position to what he found it. The popu- lation has increased by several thousands, but instead of two churches he leaves practically five. Instead of two curates attending to the spiritual wants of the parish, there are five and a Scripture-reader, one being exclu- sively for the Welsh church. As a preacher his earnest- ness and eloquence have filled a church which was only sparsely attended before, and the number of communi- cants has been increased tenfold. Among the poor he has always been an active, hard-working minister, and his spiritual consolation was seconded by efforts to re- move physical suffering. He has done a very large mea- sure of good to his parishioners, and he will take with him the blessings of those who were the frequent reci- pients of his charity, and to whom he was always a frioo.,d! as well as a pastor."

WREXHAM DEANERY CHURCH ASSOCIATION. A Chapter meeting of this association was held at the Savings Bank, on Friday. 29th ult., the Ven. Archdeacon Wickham in the chair. There were also present-the Rev W. H. Boscawen, rural dean; Rev W. Davies, Rev James Dixon, Rev W. Jones, Rhosymedre; Rev J. Williams, Minera; Rev John Jones, Rhos; Rev Canon Cunliffe, Rev T. V. Wick- ham, Rev G. H. M'Gill, Rev D. Edwards, Berse; Rev J. H. C. M'Gill, vicar of Bentham, Yorkshire; Rev F. Slater, Hanmer; Rev George Francis Coke, Gresford; Mr J. Burton, Mr D. Rasbotham, Mr T. Clayton, Mr T. P. Jones-Parry, Mr John Lewis, Mr F. Page, Mr Sykes, Mr Price, Erbistock; Mr Law- rence Roberts, Gresford; and Mr Whitehouse Brymbo. In the unavoidable absence of Mr Trevor Par- kins, the Rev W. H. Boscawen acted as secretary.

THE LATE HON. SECRETARY. A letter from the Rev Thomas Williams, of Con- nah's Quay, late hon. secretary and treasurer, was read, thanking the association for the resolution which the association had been kind enough to pass at a previous meeting. He was at a loss how to express his thanks for the kind terms of the reso- lution, and also for the beautiful form in which it had been sent to him. It was certainly most beau- tifully executed, and he assured all his friends that he should prize it very highly, and should ever look upon it as one of the most valuable things he possessed. In conclusion, he added his sincere wish for the prosperity of the association, and his fervent prayer that it might be of that service to the Church which he always thought it would be. On the motion of Mr Lewis, seconded by Mr Jones-Parry, the letter was ordered to be entered on the minutes. THB CHORAL UNION. The Secretary announced the failure of the Choral Union Committee to make arrangements for a choral festival, the committee not having received sufficient support from the different parishes to justify them in engaging a choirmaster and making other preparations for a festival this year. TIB REFORM OF CONVOCATION. The Rev G. H. M'Gill, in introducing this sub- ject, observed that he was not going into a history of Convocation, which went back to the remotest ages' of the English Church, but during that long peiiod Convocation had acted in the name and on the behalf of the bishops and clergy of the Church. Time had rolled on, and the number of clergy had rapidly increased, and the extensive influence of the Church had also increased; but Convocation had remained in its primeval condition. It had undergone no changes so far as its constitution was concerned; and for a great many years after the time of William and Mary, Convocation was almost a dead letter. It met at the opening of Parliament for one day, and was adjourned to the end of the session. No business whatever was brought before it, and although it was suppoaed to be a representative body, yet really and ttruly no utterance ever came from it in consequence of the Royal authority not being given to it to take matters of business into consideration. Having referred to the vigorous and successful efforts made some 20 years ago to restore Convocation to something like its ancient position, he said the happy change then effocted had been seen in the gradual extension of its power and influence as:1 representative assem- bly but it had been reserved for the coming ses- sion to give Convocation an opportunity of discuss- ing the most momentous of all subjects which could concern them as clergymen and churchmen, namely, the rubrics of the Prayer Book. The Ritual Commission had reported to the Government, and he believed that report was to be submitted to Convocation in a few weeks from the present time. Now, if Convocation was to be taken as represent- ing the bishops and clergy, it ought to be a really representative body. In its present constitution he would venture to say it was not a proper repre- sentation of the clergy. He was not going to complain of its present members, for it was an"his- torical fact that Convocation had made no changes whatever for hundreds of years. He found in the time of William, at an important Convocation held in 1689, there were 16 bishops present in the Upper House (several being at that time suspended as non-juniors, an archbishop among the number); and in the Lower House 21 deans, 48 arch- deacons, 24 proctors of chapters, and 48 clergy. There were 93 cathdral dignitaries out of a total number of 137—that was to say, there were more than two to one of cathedral digitaries com- pared with the representative body of the clergy. At the present time, if they examined the list of Convocation, they would not find there was very much difference. The Upper House consisted of 21 bishops; and the Lower House of 23 deans, 58 archdeacons, 3 proctors, and 42 clergy. Thus out of a total number of 140 mem- bers only 42 represented the entire body of tb» clergy apart from the cathedral dignitaries. Now when they considered that the number of the various members representing the Southern Pro- vince did not exceed 140 or 150 at the outside, that 101 of that number were cathedral dignitaries, and that Convocation had to deal with questions affect- ing the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, he thought they would agree that this was not a fair proportion of representatives of bene- ficed clergy, In fact there were only 42 clergymen to represent the 15,000 in the 21 dioceses of which the Southern Province was comprised. He was not a revolutionist. He was one of those who thought this country had grown up in prosperity, and. on the whole, much happiness from the vari.institutions that had been handed down to us by our forefathers, and he should be one of the last to uproot any of those institutions; but he thought it was a true Conservative policy, it was the wisdom of the age, wherever they found any- thing requiring revision and that might be altered with advantage, anything that would remove the notion that injustice was being done, to strive to do it quietly and calmly without any utterance of ill-feeling towards others, but so to bring it about that it might be consistent with the times in which they lived. He concluded by moving, "That a committee be appointed by this chapter to draw up a petition to the two Houses of Convocation, pray- ing for an increase in the number of proctors representing the body of the clergy beneficed and unbeneficed, and for an addition to the Upper House of all the members of the episcopal body, suffragan, colonial and retired, who may be resident in England and Wales," The Rev W. H. Boscawen seconded the motion. After a few words from the chairman, in refer- ence to the reforms which had been begun in Convocation, Mr Clayton submitted as an amendment, That in case of any reformation or reconstruction of Convocation a proper representation of the laity be admitted." Whatever extra number was added to the 42 clergymen, supposing this step in the right direction proposed by Mr M'Gill were taken, he was quite sure it would be inoperative. In the primi- tive church the laity had their place in the coun- cils of the Church; and considering the great advances which had been made in education and spiritual privileges it was perfectly inconsistent to attempt to exclude from Convocation a spiritually- minded laity, men who would submit to as keen a test of tneir ability for a place in that assembly as any clergymen, be he a proctor or one in an ex- officio position. The Church was on her trial, and unless some improvement took place very speedily, no doubt disestablishment would take place. He complained of the little interest taken in Church matters as evidenced by the small attendance of laymen out of some 93 or 94 who ought to be present; while of the clergy 14 were present out of 31. He wanted the Church to be what it was at the time of the Reformation. To have no lay representation put laymen in a worse position than laymen in the Church of Rome. Practically every bishop in his diocese is infallible, and the only fallibility that can be shown on his part is when he has to take a case to an ex-judge of the Divorce Court to have it settled whether a thing is orthodox or otherwise. If something was not done to a much greater extent than was recommended by Mr M'Gill, he was perfectly satisfied that dises- tablishment was inevitable. The amendment wa3 not seconded for some minutes, and Mr Clayton then left the room. On the chairman rising with the intention of putting the motion, the Rev W. Davies seconded the amendment. Mr Lewis wished to say a word in support of the original motion, and for this reason, that he thought Mr M'Gill's motion was quite germane to the efforts of Convocation herself (hear, hear). It was sup- posed by some men of eminence in his profession that Convocation had the power to reform herself; but there seemed to be considerable doubt upon that subject, and therefore the proposal for Convo- cation to carry out a reformation of the body by the archbishop issuing a fresh form of writs would be impolitic, and the sanction of the Legis- lature must be had in order to legalise that pro- ceeding. He thought Mr Clayton must have forgotten the grand landmarks of the British Constitution, that the Government of the country should be vested in the Crown with the thre estates of the realm. It seemed to him that there were'an intrusion of the lay element in C vocation it would swamp the voice of the cb They were represented now by Parliament. 1 'the House of Commons in the present d sisted of men of divers religious views, it must be so long as the British Empire a^j. jn the same state as Spain, where eve ,rW^'8/Jwas coerced. This was a free country; a Qcj^ only consistent that they should have m l6n j of opinion in their lay legislator e; func- tions of the clergy in Convocation bad a] beeQ kept separate; and he thought the first step towards breaking down one their ancient land- marks would be to infuse, a )ay element into Convocation (applause). The original motion Was then adopted almost unanimously. Owing to the latenrssof the hour, f* meeting having been called at three o'clo-in jthe after- noon, another sublet for dis(n.6slOn which was to have been introduced by hhe chairman, viz., "Is any revision of the rubrics desirable?" had to be postponed. The meetirg then terminated.

MOLD. FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS.—Thomas Lloyd, High-street, Mold, grocer, 13th February. THE ESCAPED PRISONER.—Samuel Woodvine, who was committed to take his trial at the next assizes for obtaining money under false pretences, and who effected his escape from Mold gaol last week, has not been heard of, and there is no clue as to his whereabouts. He is a native of Welshampton. We understand that Captain Digby Morant, R.N., brother-in-law to Captain Philips, of Rhual, and who has resided for some time in this neighbourhood, has been elected Inspector of Irish Lights, by the Irish Light Commissioners, out of sixty-seven candidates for the appointment: Captain Morant has seen active service on several occasions, and is decorated for his services in the Crimea, Burmah, and China, and has been especially mentioned in despatches. PETTY SESSIONS. TUESDAY.—Before Colonel Wills, and W. B. Buddicom, Esq. IN SEARCH or GAME.—Thomas Lamb, William Stone, and T. J. Stone, were summoned by Joseph Goose (gamekeeper to Miss Wilson Jones) for trespassing in pursuit of game, on the 25th ult. They had a lurcher and terrior. When they saw the gamekeeper they drepped a rabbit and ran away.—Fined 10s each and costs, in default, seven days' hard labour.

FLINT. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST A PUBLICAN.—On Monday, the Thirsk magistrates terminated a two days inquiry into a charge preferred by William Corn forth, spirit merchant, of Flint, against his brother in-law, George Scott, innkeeper, Thirsk, of committing wilful and corrupt perjury in that Court. On the 25th November, Scott swore that Cornforth, who was distraining for rent, struck him a severe blow over the head with a chair; and upon the charge of assault with intent Cornforth was committed for trial at the Northallerton quarter sessions. The jury there dismissed the case. Cornforth afterwards applied to the Thirsk Bench for a summons against Scott, stating that he never used the chair as a weapon, but only his fist. The Bench dismissed the charge, and said it never ought to have been brought in that Court.

t DENBIGH, NON-COMMISSIOVED OFFf:CERS' AND TRADESMEN'S BILL. On Thursday evening, the secondfannual ball of i„e non-commissioned officers and friend of the Denbigh i volunteers and the yeomanry cavalr> took place at the I e'unty Hall, Denbigh, under the patnriage of Capt. C. i. Myawaring, D.Y.C.; Capt. R. LLjd Williams, 3rd J- Parry-Jones and Htaphrev Roberts, | and Jr J. Lloy.i Roberts, Vale-street. r:iie whole of the |/ arrungjinents were entrusted to the following gentlemen f. who acted as stewards Sergeant- Majoijyialt. Sergeant s> J. h. Roberts, Sergeant Edwards, Mr Jdin Lloyd, Bull Hotel; Mr J. B. Pritchard, Gailtfaenall jsenreant G. T. i Smith, Mr Isaac L;wis, Vale-street; Sergeant J. A. York, Mr W. G. Helsby, nnd Mr James Ughes. MrG. T. Smith acted as hon. sec., and to the captions of this young gentleman the success of the mdertaking is' chiefly due. The whole arrangements W're admiraby carried out. Through the courtesy of Capain R. LMK. Williams, the whole of the elaborate decorat0ns prery for the officers' ball were allowed to remain ,x/ The stewards were aiso indebted to Mr 1. R. Wi K seedsman, for the use of choice plants, IV ILI much to the beauty of the decorations. Clow. J- retiring rooms were provided for the ladiis un?d charge of Mrs Dew. The Council Chamber vaspd, into use for the refreshment-room, where ill he viands and wines were supplied by Mr andMjAt F,triuers' Intl I Denbigh. We are requestedl,o iof ledge the receipt of C2 from Sir Watkin Wes, Bart., M.P., in aid of the funds, and also Z VWA letter from the lion. George T. Kenyon, tnnni .• cheque for £ l is. 1 find Dancing commenced at half-past nine o'<ag i music being supplied by the band of the volunteers, whose performances were mud th^ The ball was opened by Capt. R. Lloyd Wflbigtt Mrs Backlog. The ball throughout vas :tgriaised. Great praise is due to Mr G. T. Smith for is and and tact he displayed in the management ofjeqess. taking, and for his labours as master of thejnergy ou the night of the ball. anc^r- The company included the following :P01TC8 Captain E. LI. Williams Captain C. S. Main waring, D.Y.C- v Lieutenant .J. Parry-Jones { Dr LI. Roberts f £ John Davies, Esq., solicitor Mr ami Mrs li. Holgate Mr G. T. Smith, and Miss Emily Smith { Mr, Mrs, and Miss Backlog f" V Sergeant and Mrs Edwards hJ. i"i Mr Williams, Vale-strect TfSy'iii Mr Maddocks f Mr Foulkes and Miss Edwards, Rhyl Mr W. Koberts, Gailtfaenan Mr Simcox Mr VV. Simcox, Rhyl r Mr and Mrs Heather, Rhyl Mrs Jones and Miss Bierne, Rhyl jt^ Mr Thomas Jones t K Corporal T. E. Edwards t Miss 3latthews and Miss Slater, Glanywern Mr A. Goodwin Mr G. J. Miller, Penmeanmawr Mr Thomas Davies Mr Arthur Denton Miss Parsonage, Mostyn Mr George Edwards, Holywell Miss Edwards and Miss E. Edwards, Mostyn Miss Andrews, London Miss Nowell, Birmingham t Mr Pierce and Mr ilorton, Vale-street V" -'fW Miss Maddock, Ruthin Miss Jones, Castle Arms Mr Wright, Kuthin Mr E. Jones and Mr R. Jones, National Proviao England Bin(ca Mr Overton, Bristol Mr Read, Vale-street Mr G. J. Morgan, Railway Station Air and Mrs Cottora, Vale-street Miss Williams, Ruthin > Mr Edward Griffiths, Bethosda i Mr S. Holgate. Holywell Miss Jenks, Cheltenham r Miss Price, Denbigh Miss Hogan, Crown Square Mr W. Keepfer Miss M. J. Williams, Rutbin Mr J. VV. Williams, Love-lane Mr W. E. Davies and Miss Smith j Mr Phillip Messinger, Mr R. Roberts Mr Reece Williams, the Infirmary Miss Elizabeth Lewis Miss White, Cheltenham Mr J. Lewis, Henllan-street Mr Perry, Castle Hall Miss Ffoulkes, Segrwyd Miss Flex Mr Win. Jones, Castle House Miss Williams. Castle Ttrrace Mr W, Dew, Love Lane Mr Lawrence Williams,Hawk and Buckle Dr Pierce Williams, The Abbey Miss Barker, Henllan-street Miss Alice Maud Wood Miss Roberts, Cross Keys Mr Helsby Sergt. P. Lewis Roberts and Mrs Roberts Col.-Sergeant Walmsley and Mrs Walmsley, Ruthin Sergt. J. A. Yorkc Mr Robert Daviss, Bwaflatia Miss M. Roberts Corporal R. H. Roberts, Cross Keys Mr J, Lloyd, Buli Hotel Miss Woodcock, Ystrad Miss Williams, Garnedd Mr John Davies, Henllan-street Miss Mary and Miss L. Williams, Portland Place Mr Ashley Mr Isaac Lewis Miss Anne Williams, Portland Place Sergeant-Major and Mrs Malt Mrs James Hughes Mr Powell, Vale-street Ar Mr J. E. Lewis Miss Smith, Elton, Manchester —- Mr W. C. Roberts, Vron Terrace v Sergeant and Mrs Edwards, Love Lane _#. Miss Maggie Jones, the Castle, &c., &c.

RUABON. PETTY SESSI FRIDAY.—Before H. W. Mereditl Captain Conran, and Edward ,1, Es. in the chair ASSAULT ^Sj i-i Mary Jones, of Wells-str moned for an assault upor> was sum- 0tLJAA.NIRY\ TT u Bu^to«, on Mr Alhngton Hughe? Complainant who li- the morning o the gth ultimo°^ «« th*t on some ground belonr to mar' soon as he got on ° Bu+tv-1 came to shov Sr°™d Mrs Jonts Ad Tthusband three times, ^m off the ground. She phed him e Jones gave corroborative evidace. Th, II fined defendant Is and lIs 6d efts. Jc gers, of the New Inn, Cefn Mawrwas sum- r jr assaulting P.C. Wynne Jones or the 13th .ppeared from the evidence of the witesses that policeman was sent for to quell a distnrbace at de- .dant's house, about half-past ten on tb night in iuestion; but the landlord resented the inteference of the officer and struck him several times ii the face, knocking his hat off. "fte Bench fined him X2 -nd 13s osts. DRUNK AND IUOTOLS_ Joseph Jones and Richard Morris, c--)Iliers Cefn, were charged by P.C. Wynne Jouee with figu;n(?1I1(i creating a disturbance iij the street on the nighf •3-Suurday, 16th ultimo. They were bound over in the sum of £ 5 to Bp the peace for six months, and ordered to pay costfS each. Charles Edwards, collier, Stryt Issa, was clged by P.C. Price with being drunk and rioteus on thrd ult, 9n the highway.-Fiuel w od and 8s costs.

AERATED WATERS.—ELLIS ,d SON QRYSTAL SPRINGS.—ELLIS and aQJ* pUREST MAKE.—JELLlS and — NDER the AUGUST PATRONAGE uf- the* ROYAL FA MILY. E LLIS'S CARBONATES SODA WAUFE. JYJARBLE and SLLATE OIMS^BY ELLIS md SON. JgLLlS'S POIAS^ d jVLLIS'ir LimLV ajad ^LLIS'S Se|t^EK WATER and CHAMPAGNE LEMONADE, a LL PREPARED on a N>VEL and lM £ TtOVE&~ A. PlilNC^LEj JL ( ^O LEADLTSTIRNS-EVER USED, CAUTlON.-ELLlS an¿ SO beg to callattentioD \J to the following inporttnt TESjpM AL which guarantee the absolute ^nrity WATERS manufactured by thetl A ERATED~WATERS (EtfJS Edon, 24 th 8 U ppS0 Mond-stre,t, 4 ERATED WAERS.I-^LLIS JpTwN we AO j\_ lead cyterns o lead. pipg»|j^ — TpOR GOUT, use ELLIS and SON'S LTHIA ami POTASH WATER. Printed and Published on FridayB a.naSaturdays, at the Guardian Stea^ntuig Offi<^ 26, Hope street, Wrexham, BF WII^IOAH 5, Earl-street, Wr«ham, LAKEMAN, 7, Derby-road, WrexhaA, Published at the Establishments o! M Pring and Prico, Sigh-street, MgU, « £ «* £ Phillips, Rhyl, in the county i* tie Bees, Old ParWent-street, BohgH castie- county ef Merioneth; and Mr R. square, #ftrHarv»n.—February 6tn, J* | .J J .1