The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S And Welsh National Life. Religion the Only Safeguard. Speaking at, Bargoed on Thursday, the Bishop of St. David's continued his examin- ation of the case against the Welsh Disestablishment and Disendowment Bill from the point of view of a true conception of Welsh national life. He remarked that at a time when the spirit of the ago set strongly in the direction of broad movements political, industrial, mental, moral, which imperilled the future of small nationalities, the preservation of the distinctive historical characteristics of Welsh national life was a difficult problem. In what direction should they look to prevent the loss, not only to Wales itself but also to the common weal of the United Kingdom, which would follow the decay of the distinctive reality of Welsh national life ? The Welsh language, much as they loved it, would not be a safeguard since more than half the people of Wales did not know it to-day. The growing stream of immigration to Wales from outside, and the steady emigration from Wales to other countries made race an impossible safeguard of Welsh nationality under modern con- ditions. The habits of social life were rapidly changing, especially in industrial Wales, under modern conditions, and were, therefore, an unstable foundation for the future of Welsh Nationality. Religion, y c which even more than language or race or habits, had been the most distinctive essence of Welsh national life in the past, could alone preserve the distinctive reality of Welsh national life in the future. History bore witness to the close connection between religion and the national life of all nation- alities, and that connection had been specially intimate and continuous in Wales. It was, therefore, a grim instance of the irony of life that those who were pushing forward a bill for the withdrawal of Wales from its historic national recognition of religion, and who were planning to reconstruct Welsh national life- on a secular basis because they had failed to learn the secret of its organic corporate reality, should be pleased to call themselves, on that account, Welsh Nation- alists. THE END OF WELSH PUBLIC OPINION. Welsh public opinion, especially in industrial Wales where more than half the people lived, was moving very rapidly indeed, more rapidly than in most parts of England, in the direction of invoking the care of the State for almost all departments of life. This gave sinister significance to the short- sightedness of Welsh Free Church Council leaders in adopting the secularist cry that the State as a State had nothing to do with religion. To invite the Welsh nation to invoke the State, in the interests of morality, to take under its care almost all the aspects of life with the sole exception of religion, was to push the divorce of morality from religion, which was always dangerous, to the point of disaster. The forces which to-day were pulling down the personal lives of Welshmen into materialism were many and strong. Nobody except Mr McKenna, whose attitude towards facts was eccentric, was now under the delusion that material- ism had made no progress in Wales." It was to him inconceivable how Welsh Free Church Council leaders were so blind to the meaning of the organic life of society, as not to see that in face of the present menacing advance of materialism in Wales, the last thing that religious men ought to desire was the repudiation in the name of Welsh national life of the national recognition of religion in Wales, which was what this crude bill at bottom meant. PAROCHIAL SYSTEM ATTACKED. Those who could not s-e below the surface ought to discern at any rate one side of the proposed repudiation of the care of the State for religion which lay on the surface of the bill. The speeches of Mr McKenna on more than one occasion showed that he was well aware that the Bill was an attempt to break down the parochial system of the Church upon which he had made some futile attacks. The essence of the parochial system was that there was no person in Wales, whatever his religious opinions might be, who did not possess from the fact of his living in a particular parish the right to call upon his parish priest for pastoral minis- trations to himself and his family free of charge. The pastoral services of the paro- chial clergy were available to all, but were forced upon none. It was a solid fact that these pastoral ministrations were valued and welcomed by thousands of Nonconformists in all parts of Wales, especially in times of sickness and sorrow, when frequently the services of no resident Nonconformist minister were available. There was a limit to that mischief which Parliament could do in this respect. The territorial system of pastoral ministry had its roots in the universal mission inherent in the Catholicity of the Church. Were the bill to pass, it could not deprive the Church of this essential character of its mission, which was at the root of its claim to be national, as compared with other religious bodies which did good work on the congregational plan among those who adhered to each of them respectively in the various parts of Wales. SOME EFFECTS OF THE BILL. What the bill could do and would do was to cripple the Church in its parochial ministry by depriving it of endowments which were already insufficient to meet the special cost: of the parochial as compared with the con- gregational system of ministry. The bill, likewise, might do serious harm in weakening the sense of right to the Church's minis- trations, which would be no small loss to those who were already too indifferent to religious observances. These were the people who specially needed help, and it was in regard to this class of the community that the voluntary principle specially broke down. For the State, at a time of growing indiffer- ence in Wales, to deprive the Church of endowments, admittedly well used in parochial ministrations, for the sake of giving imperial taxpayers a miserable dole equivalent to less than the fourth of a farthing in the pound on the Income Tax, or for the sake of giving the ratepayers of Glamorgan, for instance, a reduction of rates which came to less than a penny in the pound, was absolutely unjustifiable from the point of view of national welfare. What the petty plea, that responsibility for pastoral service gave the parochial clergy any priv- ilege except the privilege of service, came to was that the people ought to be deprived of their rights merely because Nonconformist bodies did not work on parochial lines like I the Church. The effect of the bill upon the parochial system illustrated the way in which it combined injury to the nation with injustice to the Church. It was clearly unjust to the Church, not only to secularise wantonly all its ancient endowments, but also to demolish at a stroke the whole of its existing legal organisation, as was done in the Disestablishment clauses of the bill. The bill needlessly went out of its way to attempt to break the continuity of the Church's legal organisation. It was, there-

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Brecon Postal Staff Entertained. Through the generosity of Mrs W. S. Miller, Forest Lodge, all the members of the Brecon Post Office indoor and outdoor staff were entertained to dinner on Wednesday night last week at the Council Chamber, the catering being efficiently carried out by Messrs J. Williams and Co. In the absence of the mayor, Councillor Evan Morgan, the chair was taken by Dr. G. P. Francis (the post office medical officer), who was supported by Miss H. K. Miller, Mr T. R. Morgan (senior clerk), Miss Bell (senior lady clerk) Mr J. Matthews, Mr C. P. Moss (head postman), and Mr Edwin Davies. At the outset Mr T. R. Morgan read a letter from Mrs Miller regretting her inability to attend owing to illhealth and expressing the hope that the company would have a pleasant gathering. The Chairman having given the loyal toast Mr C J. Morgan gave "The Army, Navy, and Auxjlary Forces," to which Messrs J. Davies, Harry Thomas and E. F. Rowlands responded. Mr Edwin Davies proposed "the Post Office." He remarked that it was one of the finest institutions in the country and was the first branch of the civil service. With regard to Brecon, they had seen an enormous tn' growth in the Post Office. He remembered the time when the office was situated in a building opposite the present Town Hall and the only person in charge was an old lady, and the whole of her staff consisted of two or three auxiliary postmen. Now they had a large staff and the work in the office was as satisfactorily done as was possible. The officials wewe courteous and obliging. (Applause). Replying Mr T. R. Morgan said his mem- ory was carried back to the days when the doors of the Post Office were closed while the bags were sealed and it was a case of "side door for telegrams." (Laughter). Those were the days when the Merthyr Cynog postman only had the small sum of lis per week. He used to start out at 8 o'clock in the morning and they would not see him until the following day. (Laughter). He much regretted the absence of Mrs Miller, who had now shown her kindness to them for a good many years. (Hear, hear). The Chairman proposed the health of their hostess (Mrs Miller) and expressed the hope that she would have a speedy recovery. They had for many years enjoyed the hopitality of Mra Miller and they could again only thank her most sincerely for her kindness. (Applause). He hoped Miss Miller would convey to her mother their sorrow at her illness and the hope that she would have a speedy recovery. (Hear, hear). The toast was received with enthusiasm. Responding Miss Miller assured the com- pany that her mother much regretted being unable to be present and that her great wish was that they would enjoy themselves. At this stage a vote of condolence and sympathy was passed on the motion of Mr T. R. Morgan, with the family of the late Councillor J. Williams. Mr Barrington proposed the health of the Chairman and in responding Dr Francis stated that he had presided over a number of meet- ings in that room both of the Town Council and the Police Court, but this was the first time he d presided over a dinner there. (Laughter). He was sure they had all enjoyed Mrs Miller's hospitality. (Applause). During the evening songs etc were rende- red by Miss Campion, Messrs C. P. Moss, C. J. Morgan, James Be van, E. Williams and Greenland. The accompanist was Miss Miller.

W Domestic Servants a are in great demand in K § HEW ZEALAND I i RICH COUNTRY—GOOD CLIMATE. I i HIGH WAGES —WORK WAITING. I t SPECIAL FARE £ 2.16s. ONLY I 3 The Ordinary Fare for Domestic Servants is I £ ig. The Government thus practically gives ■ gj them £ 16. 4s. They do not repay any of thi» I 3 amount. Fares are advanced by the Government B if required; the £ 2. 16s. being repayable out of earnings by easy instalments. •fe Domestic Servants under this scheme arc assured of Government protection, from the M Pnited Kingdom to their employment in New 3 Zealand. Selected Hostels in London. Matrons, '1 specially chosen by the High Commissioner. look after the welfare of the girls on the voyage. rSj C. ompetent doctors on each steamer. H Xo distinction whatever is made as to treat- rf: mcnt on the steamers between Reduced Rate *j and Ordinary passengers. H Government Officers meet the steamersin New 3 Zealand and arrangefor reliable accommodation. Women officials of the Government obtain L suit.-ibie situations for competent domestic W servants on arrival at their destination in New Zealand. Full /'('l1"h'c1f,'tp'\ urn ¡'. t,Ùlaàtea' (J}l a/plicatin" 10- IV CCMMIbSIUKEti for NEW ZEALAND, M Victoria Street, I-* ikIoii, S.W.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS. The Position in Breconshire. As Reviewed by Archdeacon Bevan Sarvfeyiug the educational posItion in Breconshire, at the first meeting of the Local A1.b0r\t:y year on Friday !ss% Archdeacon Bevan (the chairman) first men- tinned a Domber of new building works and extetisionH 3od improvements of schools, and then proceeded to deal with THE HYGIENIC DESK FAD. He said 1738 additional scholars had beeu euabled to test the hygienic properties of the lftteat approved type of desks during the past year. Since the "appointed day" 8830 scholare bad been provided with deRk accommodation coudnoive to their highest mental and physical development. Daring the coming year these privileges would be extended to a farther batch of good scholars atd the costly task of I equipping the county with desks of the approved brand would thas be happily com- pleted. It might be hoped that a few years would elapse before an annual charge for renewal of these articles of furniture had to appear in their budgets. Meanwhileanamber of disoarded desks in first rt te condition, but alas lacking the bail mark "Hygienic," were to be seen in some of the playgrounds of their schools. The oommittee would welcome offers for the purchase of them for the older uuiverBities-(Iaogbter)-or from lending public schools in England or Wales. They were vastly superior to the desks asaally found in these latter institutions. (Hear, hear.) The expenditure of the coanty on building, repairs, desks, and other farniture had been approx- imately £ 8000, a decrease of £ 1,000 as compared with the previous year. THE DEARTH OF TEACHERS. The problem of the shortage in the supply of teachers in the county, as elsewhere, bad lost none of its urgency. The ooanty had trained on an average 19 papil teachers in the last five years. Of this average number ten only bad (on the average) remained with them. Their normal requirements demanded 26. Of 173 trained sinoe the "appointed day" 103 qualified as uncertificated teachers. Of the 178 so trained 67 were with them as uncertificated teachers and 16 were serving them as supple- mentary teachers. They did not retain, therefore, more than 50 per oent. of those they trained. The committee had at present under consideration (1) a revision of the scale for uncertificated teachers, (2) a further scheme for the training of teachers. If through improved conditions of pay they could retain a larger proportion than the 50 per cent. of those they bad trained, and if they could secure a larger number of boys and girls for training, it was to be hoped their present difficulties would be substantially relieved. GOING BACK TO OLD SYSTEM. The one consoling outcome of the present distress was that the Board of Education bad frankly recognised the necessity for some return to the old pupil teacher system. Many saw in the re-introduction of that system the j key to the solution of the problem of the inadequate supply of teachers. Many would rejoice that the opportunity of a liberal occupation would be restored to children of the working class from whom it was virtually removed by the transfer of the training of teachers to the secondary schools. The issue of the welcome regulation on the matter by the Board of Education had been. followed by encouraging action on the part of many education authorities. According to provisions already adopted in various counties, head teachers in rural schools-remote from secondary schools—were to be suitably remun- erated for the training of the pupil teachers under their care, while parents in poorer circumstances were to be encouraged by the financial arrangements made for their children during the period of their apprenticeship. Certainly the regulations for the extension and improvement of the pupil teacher system in the rural districts deserved a most cordial welcome from that and all other Education Authorities. THE PROPOSED "AFTER CARE" They were spending some £ 44,000 a year on elementary education in that county. Were they getting value for their money ? As regarded the quality of the teaching, he was convinced there need be no doubt. Were the children able in all cases to benefit by the teiohing bo conscientiously and efficiently off r*-d to them? Unless they were physically fit it W9, ob'ioas they aoold not. A great deal of their txptroast remain unproductive. TbEy could not ignore the financial aspect of the queetiou, but they ahoulJ keep in mind that the supremely important aspect was the health aud happiness of the children. The sum they nw npent oc medical inspection oooid nnt yif-Id kh full rptnfn priJas* the work of the School Medical Officer was followed up by some "YBt,om of ntsrsin". The qaefiioo bJld 1-1180 a very real bearing upon thai of attendance. Education was free, and yet they npeiit over X1000 a year in efforts (through their at<;> ndance officers) to persuade reluctant or indifferent parents to accept the nation's free gift,whilst they lo-t another £1000 a year in grants owiug to the failure of these Efforts. Sickn-HF-, of course, was responsible for some portion of the irregular attendance and their cooHequent loss. They might con- fidently look for a substantial decrease in that portion of their loss through an effective system of scboo! Bnmrig. (Applause).

or Cakes, Pastry, Puddings & Piea^k pOR wicks)

Breconshire Live Stock Committee. The second meeting of the Breconshire Live Stock Committee was held at the Shire Hall, Brecon, on Friday afternoon, with Mr Owen Price in the chair. Others present were Messrs John Smith, D. Williams (Ystrad- gvnlais\ Evjin ^Villiams ■ Bni!th\ Mervyn Davies, J. L. Davies (Merthyr Cynog), Ben Davies, W. S. Miller. Thomas Price (Tre- philip), Howell Powell, and W. T. Isaac (hon sec.), with Mr D. D. Williams (the Live Stock officer for Wales). At the last meeting the Chairman was requested to draw up a list of thirteen districts in the county for bulls and he divided them as follows :— Ystradgynlais comprising Higher and Lower and Glyntawe. Devynock, comprising Cray, Senny, Maes- car, Trainglas, Trainmawr, Sclydach and Llandilofaen. Aberbran, comprising Llanfihangel-nant- bran, Merthyr Cynog, Aberyscir, Trallong, Battle, Vennyfach, and Llanfihangel-fechan. Felinfach, comprising Llanddew, Llande- falle, Talachddu, Llanfillo, Llanywern, Llanfi- hangel Tatyllyn, Llanhamlach and Llangorse. Builth No. 1. Builth No. 2. Erwood. Talgarth. Hay, Crickhowell No. 1. Crickhowell No. 2. Vaynor, comprising Penderyn and Ystrad- fellte. Cantref, Glyn, Modrydd, Llanfrynach, Llanthetty, Llanfigan and Llanhamlach. Mr Williams (the Live Stock officer) explained that there was a considerable distance between places in certain districts but the difficulty could be overcome by stationing the bull in one place one year .and another the following year so that each I place would have a bull stationed there in turn. I It was reported that neither Mr Isaac nor Mr Williams had yet received any applica- tions for bulls, boars or a shire horse and it I was pointed out that if applications were not made by Friday, February 6th, it would be too late for this year. It was also pointed out that if there was no application from any particular district a second bull could be allocated to one of the other districts to make up the thirteen. The meeting was adjourned for a fortnight.

-u f i I Leslie dainty, 1 Walsall. Cured of Violent Choking Attacks by Veno's Lightning Cough Cure. "My little boy" Leslie, had suffered almost from birth with a cough that nothing relieved. He was always coughing, and about once every month a violent choking attack would come on, generally in the night. It almost stopped his breath, and his poor little neck would draw away in with the. 'frightful struggle he, had to make. This went on till he was eight, when he caught whooping cough, and started to spit blood. I thought he was going in consumption. When things were at their worst I tried Veno's Lightning Cough Cure, and he went easier almost at once. He. is now at school, and in the best of health." Ifr. Dainty, 31, Spout-lanc, Walsall. Awarded Grand Prix and Gold Madal, International Health Exhibition, Paris, 1910. 9| J Fop Coughs and Colds, JT H Bronchitis, Asthma, 2 u ■ Influenza, Catarrh, and all Chest and Lung Per Bottle. Troubles in old or young. Larger Sizes The surest and- speediest remedy 1/11 St 2/9 known. VENWSN_IG 11 W COUGH CURE

HOLIDAY-MAKING CANADIANS —Much was heard during the holiday season of the Canadian invasion of the old country, no fewer than 25,000 Canadians having, it is stated, travelled to British ports. What was not so commonly commented upon, however, was the fact that the great majority of these, at least 90 per cent., travelled on return tickers and are now in many cases on the return journey to their Canadian homes. Mr Geo. McCullock farming near Mortlach, Saskatchewan, who was one of the Christmas visitors, throws an interesting lifjht on the ramarkable nature of this holiday traffic. He was a passenger by the S.S. Hesperian, from Halifax, arriving at Glasgow on the 19th of December. From enquiries made of his fellow passengers, he stated that so far as he could ascertain, all with the exception of one intended returning to the Dominion, and that one excep- tion had not made up his mind. The incident is interesting as affording an insight into the holiday-making resourses of the Canadian work- ing and middle classes.

fore, in its main features contrary to democratic ideals. The repudiation of the national recognition of religion was contrary to the organic unity of society which was the fundamental ideal of progressive democ- racy, and was, likewise, contrary to the common good of all, which was the moral ideal of national progress. The forcible disorganisation of the Church bv Act of Parliament against the will of Churchmen was contrary to the principle. of liberty, upon reverence of which the future welfare of democracy specially depended. A NOBLER IDEAL FOR DEMOORACY. There was a nobler ideal for the young democracy of England and Wales than the petty conceptions upon which this bill was based. That ideal was such a broad con- structive re-adjustment of the relations of the State to religion as would not only preserve but alsa strenghten the religious foundations cf national morality, and at the same time give the Church of England, as well as other churches, which were at present imperfectly Free, liberty to reform them- selves, each of them according to the convictions of its own members and none of them according to the tactics of politicians. It was the reform, not the abolition, of the existing relations of religion to the State that national welfare and the ideals of democracy required. The Established Church of Scotland, which had in all respects as much liberty as Welsh Nonconformist denominations, and in one important respect much more, was a standing witness against the misconception that there was anything in the nature of what was called Estab- lishment that was incompatible with liberty. The movement for Church reform, therefore, which was a constructive policy opposed to the merely negative policy of Disestablishment, was on the solid ground of national welfare and liberty in seeking for the Church in England and Wales, without repudiation of the national recog- nition of religion or forcible disorganisation or the secularisation of religious endowments, the same reasonable liberty which the Established Church of Scotland possessed, so as to improve the efficiency of its national service. There were many reasons for hold- ing that such a constructive ideal would not only be in far better accord than the Disestablishment proposed in this petty bill with the principles of religious liberty and religious equality, but would also meet in many ways the special needs of modern democracy.