Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

THE WELSH NATIONAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY. THE notice issued this week by Lord LONDONDERRY—the Lord President of the Council-with reference to the proposed establishment of a National Library and Museum in Wales is very encouraging to the friends of Aberystwyth; and should greatly strengthen the claims of that town for the Library. This notice states that gifts in kind, from whatever quarter, for the purposes of either the Library or Museum will be taken into consideration by the Com- mittee when determining the question of the location of the two institutions. This point, we think, should make the claims of Aber. ystwyth to the Library absolutely incon- testable. The grounds of this claim are briefly summarised in an appeal which has been issued by the Mayor this week. Eight county councils have already passed resolutions in support of Aberystwyth, and it is to be hoped that other public bodies- especially in Mid-Wales—will not hesitate to do likewise. Although it does not merit either, Cardiff, for the sake of self-aggrand- isement, is making a determined effort to secure both the Library and Museum. Cardiff makes a vulgar boast of its wealth but there are treasures which money cannot buy-and these are in the possession of Aberystwyth. It is, we believe, generally admitted that it would be a grievous mis- take, if due consideration be not given to the value, rarity, and extent of the priceless collection of Welsh books and ancient manuscripts of Aberystwyth. Even if the Welsh National Library goes to Cardiff or any other place, the Peniarth, Llanstephan, Cwrtmawr, and Shirburn collections will remain at Aberystwyth, and to attempt to establish a National Welsh Library without these would be an absurdity. We take it that the "gifts in kind mentioned in Lord LONDONDERRY'S notice mean something other than brick and mortar; and if Cardiff lavishes its thousands on palatial buildings it will still only have the husk of a National Library-it will have to be content with the casket, for the jewels will be kept at Aber- ystwyth. Mr. J. H. Davies, who is an acknowledged authority on the subject, pointed out at the Newquay meeting last week that Aberystwyth already possessed nine out of every ten of all unpublished manuscripts of national importance, taking into account the prospective possessions by bequests of public libraries. Principal ROBERTS also stated that, even if the Na- tional Museum and Library were established at Cardiff, the policy of Aberystwyth would not be affected. They would, said he, go on adding to the present library, relying on the generosity of men of truly national spirit; and the present possessions and future ac- cessions would make the Aberystwyth library a truly national one.

THE REVIVAL. Mr. Evan Roberts in Cardi- ganshire. Mr. Evan Roberts is still at Newcastle Emlyn, Writing on Wednesday, our cor- respondent states he is much improved in health and is taking exercise by cycling. One morning last week Mr. Evan Roberts called at Mr. Harries' (of the G.W.R.) house, Newcastle Emlyn, to see a sick man, but the medical advice was that ho was not to be disturbed. Though Mrs. Harries said that that need not prevent him going up, Mr. Roberts replied that he had asked what he should do, and the command was that he was to go again. In the course of the morn- ing he visited another sick man. At Henl-lan on Wednesday evening, Mr. Evan Roberts visited Oapel Drindod, and conducted a Revival meeting at the Metho- dist Chapel. His visit was kuite an unex- pected one, and noboldy seemed to know of it before his arrival by the 5 p.m. train form Newcastle Emlyn. The news of his arrival spread like fire, and the chapel was soon crowded by people from the district. The revivalist proceeded straight into the chapel. The meeting was then conducted. Prayers were offered and popular revival hymns sung. Mr. Roberts delivered a brief exhortation on the duty of people to submit and obey the dictates of the Holy Spirit. He after- wards proceeded to read a few Scriptural passages; but he soon stopped, and was greatly affected, his features telling effec- tively of something that pained him. He shouted 'Dyw hi ddim yn glir yma" (It is not clear here.) "There is some one here who is not at peace with his fellow men." He asked him to pray for forgiveness, and added that he was speaking to a man and not a woman. A change was soon noticed in his countenance, and he smilingly said that it was alright now. Afterwards he read the two verses he had omitted during the above-mentioned incident. The congre- gation were greatly affected, and sang "Diolch Iddo." The people were requested to repeat "The Lord's Prayer" in Welsh and English. The meeting concluded at 6.30, when Mr. Roberts and his lady helpers walked out, followed by the crowd. The people were very anxious to have another meeting with him. and he promised to re- turn should the Spirit tell him to do so. He and several others went to the residence of Captain Jones, and a prayer meeting was held there. At the chapel, where the peo- ple had returned, prayers were offered ask- ing God to direct the Missioner back to them again. At five minutes to 8 the Rev. R. R. Davies and others entered, bringing the disappointing news that the revivalist was not told to return. However, the meeting wajs proceeded with, when testimonies and prayers were fervently given. The crowd had now greatly increased with the arrival of more people from the neighbouring dis- tricts. The meeting was closed a short time after 10.30. It may be interesting, to note that Mr. Evan Roberts took part in a re- vival meeting held here a few days before his first appearance at Loujjcher. NEW QUAY. Mr. Evan Roberts paid a visit to New Quay on Thursday. The journey from New- castle Emlyn was made under threatening conditions, but most of the distance had been passed before rain fell. The brake con- veying the revivalists got to New Quay by about two o'clock, and at that time the pressure at the doors of the Tabernacle chapel was such that it was necessary to lock the doors. The service was commenced by a patriarch, who has memories of four revivals, and the Welsh hymn of praise was sung several times over. The Missioner threaded his way through the crowd to the pulpit at half past three, and Mrs. Dr. Ev- ans engaged in prayer. Mr. Roberts com- plained of the whispering that was going on and said they should remember that they had come there to worship. The rebuke was effective, and in a vast sea of faces no lips moved except in prayer. Addressing the congregation in an earnest manner at first he said they should prepare themselves to give glory to God that afternoon. Had all of them given him their hearts? No, he feared not. Thei-d were some who had not given themselves to Jesus, but he knew there were some who1 were going to give themselves to Him that day. Now the missioner had to pause owing to his emotion, which stirred within him, so that he had to steady his face with his hands. Gazing with fear on this scene, the congre- gation were silent for quite ten minutes, when someone started singing "0 Yr Oen, yr addfwyn Oen" and relieved the strained feeling. Miss Annie Davies, Maesteg, ar- rested attention by a particularly sweet solo, and a New Quay lady sang, while at the same time young women were in tears in the big pew. The Missioner was all this time facing the congregation, looking at them, yet seemingly at the same time to be absorbed in meditation.—The hymns that followed were not taken up very enthusias- tically. but when a little verse was com- menced more fire was introduced into the service. The miissioner's attitude was how- ever. affecting the spirit of the meeting, the people waiting for each other and for Evan Roberts. There was a moving prayer from the gallery, and then the hymn "Gad im deimlo" was started, but was taken up only in a half-hearted manner. The Mis- sioner had been for upwards of an hour seemingly oblivious to all about him, when he suddenly straightened himself and said that scores of them had! disobeyed that after- noon. The Spirit should move them. There had been great disobedience, and if they would not bend they would be in a fearful place. Someone tried to dispel the uncomfortable feeling that was evidently, stealing upon the congregation by singing, but Mr. Roberts sharply said there was too much disobedience for their singing to be received as praise- offering. The fight was now beginning. A woman on the gallery near the pulpit cried out painfully and gestulating wildly scream- ed that Christ had paid the premium on our lines and that all should give Him the policy. There was another effort at singing bl1t: again it was stopped. The Missioner's actions arising from an inward tempest were ^trangely weird. Miss S. A. Jon^s, Nanty- Bpoel, having spoken briefly in English, the were asked to pray for' two ^jfhutes, and they complied almost as one -fe^ono ^n.oar £ hn; being mfngjled with the Vnuttering of prayer. This seemed to give the Missioner an in- spiration. When the united effort had finished he said he had now found out what was the matter, but he would not say. Scores of them said he, knew what it was. If they would onlv look to Jesus it would not have been so hard that day. They must let nothing take their attention away from Christ on the Cross. God had refused the singing just before, but he would accept it now. Great fervency was thrown into a hymn and when the singing had cleared the at- mosphere, as it were, the Missioner continu- ed and solemnly asked the congregation whether they could answer the question sat- isfactorily "Have you received the Holy Ghost. Not only the spirit sanctifying you, but the entire gift of the Holy Ghost." God must first clean their hearts. That after- noon some of them had deprived the AI- mightv of the glory and they had offended the Holy Ghost. He asked a minister to test the meeting. and directly afterwards there were joyful exclamations of "Diolch Iddo." Two other conversions quickly followed, and then a young man in response to the appeal to accept the Saviour exclaimed "I will" and this rousing the hitherto rather latent feel- ing tOI a. marked degree. One or two per- sons who did not hold up their hands when the test was again made were pointed out by other people. but. although Mr. Roberts al- most demanded another convert there waJ; no response. The meeting lagged on after this, one or two now and again pleading for better things. Miss Annie Davies. Maesteg. sang, but soon afterwards the congregation commenced to leave, and in a short time the I meeting just subsided. Mr. Roberts put on his coat. and made his way out of the chapel, which quickly emptied. The service lasted j five hours. i MR. EVAN ROBERTS' HEALTH. I The strain of Thursday's meeting, follow- ed by the drive home in the damp air, was too much for the_Missioner' health, and he had perforce to remain indoors on Friday. By means of careful nursing and consider- ate treatment at the hands of the family at whose residence he is staying, he recovered sufficiently to be able to enjoy the beautiful weather of Saturday by taking a walk out with the Rev. Evan Phillips. Late that night, however, he was again indisposed, and anxiety of his friends was quieted by an im- provement towards early hours of Sunday morning, but there was another relapse. He had rather a bad day on Sunday, and was unable to attend the service at Bethel or even to speak at the house when the crowd gathered round. Undoubtedly, a length* holiday would be the most sensible course instead of taking such a responsible step as the undertaking of the Liverpool mission in his present state. » IMMENSE CROWD DISAPPOINTED ON SUNDAY. Anticipating the presence of Mr. Roberts at the evening service at Bethel Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Newcastle Emlyn, on Sunday evening, a very large crowd had come to town in the afternoon. Brakes ar- rived continually during the afternoon from Cardigan, Cilgerran, Llandyssul, etc. de- depositing hundreds, of visitors, but they were doomed to disappointment. It must be understood, however, that the Missioner had given no definite promise that he would be present at the meeting, his words being that he "desired" to hold another meeting before he left Newcastle Emlyn, Three hundred people commenced to enter Bethel about three o'clock when a young men's prayer meeting. was in progress, and a revival ser- vice started spontaneously. A good number took part, and one suppliant pleaded for the presence of Evan Roberts at the evening meeting. This service ended about ten minutes to five, the congregation leaving the chapel for tea. Immjedi^tetly tyfterweirds people began to pour in for the evening service, and soon there were but few seats unoccupied. A quarter of an hour before starting, the place was literally packed and the heat was get- ting almost stifling. After much hymn sing- ing, a man came forward to speak. He said that they must not let that meeting go down because Evan Roberta was not there. After a prayer by a young man, a person on the gallery gave out a hymn, but it was not until a second appeal had been made that a tune was started, and then the effort was very unharmonious, different bodies of people taking several hymns. Mr. Roberts seems to have improved much in health during the last few days, and has several times made use of a bicycle for ex- efrcise. On Monday afternoon he set off about one oclock accompanied by Mr. Wil- liams, Llansamlet. and reached Gwernllwyn, near Capel Drindod. It had been the earn- est wish of an aged man at Gwernllwyn, four miles from Newcastle Emlyn, to see Mr. Ev- an Roberts, and the missioner visited him. The old man, who was ill in bed. expressed a wish to hear a hymn sung, and the wish was granted. The missioner, addressing the people who were now crowding the pre- cincts of the cottage, spoke of the vastn of God's love, and when he asked for pra r the response was enthusiastic. While .me man- prayed the missioner began to t.mg '0, Anfon Di," and the people joined in with fervour. After further prayers had been offered Mr. Roberts gave out a hymn to close the impromptu service, but before this was started a man selected another, namely, "Dyma Gariad," the rendering of which clos- ed the meeting. The missioner held his aged host's hand throughout the meeting. Mr. Roberts had two spins on Tuesday, and on Wednesday he went to Cardigan. On Tuesday it was stated that the mis- sioner would be leaving for Loughor on Thursday, and would go to Liverpool fpom there. Speaking to Mr. John Phillips, Mr. Roberts said he would certainly go on the Thursday because the Spirit had directed him. Mr. Phillips asked what day he would go to Liverpool, and after struggling with himself he replied 'I cant tell you" implying that he did know the date. There have been many callers at the Rev. Evan Phillips house, many having come long distances to see Evan Roberts, and the results of the re- vival. SCENES AT PONTRHYDFENDIGAID. The powerful influence of the revival spirit is wondenully reit in connection with the Baptist Church at Jfontrhydiendigaid, Cardiganshire. Since the beginning ot Dec- ember, 61 adult persons have been baptised by immersion, by the pastor, Rev. T. R. Morgan; seven backsliders readmitted, and eight through letters, making a total ad- dition of 76 to the membership of the church. A very striking incident occurred last week in connection with a baptismal service at the source of the river Marchnaut, in a dingle at the foot of the Ddisgwylfa and Drawsallt, the range of mountains between Pontrhyd- fendigaid and the Birmingham water works. After the baptism of two converts, who had previously applied to the pastor to be bap- tised in the Marchnant, the usual appeal to the unconverted was made, and a young girl and a man of 40 years of age made their way through the large crowd of people towards the minister in the river, who after a. public testimony of their faith in Christ were bap- tised. Another appeal was made to the un- converted again, and there were no signs of any more coming forward. The pastor, who was waist deep in the river, offered a prayer, and immediately afterwards a middle-aged man descended to the water and was bap- tised. The pastor made another powerful appeal, and prayed earnestly that people should acknowledge Christ as a prophet and priest, but as a King also, and a young man of 21 years immediately came forward. The afternoon was now far spent, and the people made their best for the different paths for Pontrhydfendigaid, but when they were passing down through Ffair-Rhos an agonis- ing cry was heard from the direction of Bryn Rhosog, and the pastor and people quickly directed their steps towards the place, where they found a young woman of 30 years of age in tears, appealing to be allowed to follow her Saviour in baptism at onee, and as the river Lluest was within a few yards of the place the pastor again descended waist deep to the water, and- the young woman was baptised: and although darkness was com- ing on, as it was 7 p.m.. another touching appeal was given, and a young man of 30 years of age came forward, and in an excit- ing way appealed to be baptised, and by this time the people had no control over their feelings, and the sound of their praise to God might have been heard some tmiles away. Three more were baptised at the chapel baptistry, on Sunday. THE LIVERPOOL MISSION. MR. EVAN ROBERTS EXPECTED. The Welsh revivalist meetings in Liver- pool and district last week bore evidence that the movement is distinctly on the in- crease, notwithstanding the non-arrival of Mr. Evan Roberts. The congregations were larger than at any period since the mission commenced, and the enthusiasm greater. The chief gatherings on Saturday evening were held at the chapels in Prince's-road FitzclareiSce-street, Anfield-road, Stanley- road (Bootle), Claughton-road (Birkenhead), and Liscard-road (Seacombe.) The first-named place of worship, spacious as it is was filled to its utmost capacity. A section of the audience consisted of a number of non-adherents whom the canvassers had discovered, and for these special prayers were offered. The Rev. John Williams, who presided, read a telegram which he had received the previous night from Mr. Evan Roberts, who said that he could not do otherwise than come to Liverpool, and urged the people to stick to their weapons and to continue in prayer. Mr. Williams added that, if Mr. I Roberts did not arrive on Monday, it was fully expected he would be amongst them early this week. BISHOP STUDYING THE MOVEMENT. The "Standard" announces that the Bishop of Dorking has been spending the last few days in Wales to study the revival movement there, incognito.

NEW SHERIFFS. At the Council held at Buckingham Palace the King "pricked" the sheriffs for the pre- sent year for England and Wales. Among, those appointed were the following:— Cardiganshire.—Mr. Edward Roberts, of Oakfield, Hale. Altrincham, Cheshire. Merionethshire.—Mr. George Henry Ellis, of Pen-y-Mount, Festiniog. Montgomjeryishire.-—Mr. Daniel Wwtring- ham Stable, of Plas Llwynon.

I Aberystwy th Steam. Packet Company. ANNUAL MEETING.. The annual meeting of the directors and!; shareholders of the Aberystwyth and Aber- dovey Steam Packet Company was held om Wednesday afternoon at the Compafny'p Offices, Rofawr, when there were present- Mr. John Watkins (chairman) presiding; Captain T. Doughton, Captain Humphreys, Mr. I. Hopkins, Mr. Edward Evans, Mr. Mcllquham^. Mr. John Owen, Mr. Rufus Williams, Mr. Evan Davies, Mr. John Jen- kins, and Mr. Fred Morgan (secretary). The Chairman made reference to the loss sustained by the Company through the death. of iVir. Griffiths, the late secretary,, who had devoted sixteen years to the besb J interests of the Company, and proposed vote of sympathy with Mrs. Griffiths and Miss lGriffiths in their bereavement.—Captain, jjDoughton seconded, and this was carried. 1 he report or tne directors was as roilows: — lour Uiieccoi'S in presenting, .a. statement- ot accounts lor 1:JV4, are pleaded to Oe aole to state that the worKmg ox the (steamer "countess oi lias resulted, atter deducting income tax. in a nect profit (in- cluding x-ly os. 7d. orougnt torvvam from. last account) or £öÚ u, lour Uirectors oeg to draw tile te>narenoiueis' attention W, the large amount spent w, repairs .t:¡. las. ■i), and as tney tiunk it would be unrair to place this large amount entirely against the earnings of the year, lDiii, they have aecided to debit the reserve account with the sum of £60 paying a dvidend01 4s. per share (or 4 per cent; and carrying lorward fhe sum to the credit ot reserve fund will then be JE105 13s. 9d. The steamer during tne year 19J4 maae only 4 trips irom Liver- pool, instead of 62. lnis was caused p^i» tly on account of rough weather in the early montns ot the year, and also on account of the then dangerous state of the Harbour,, but the Town CouWil have now placed the Harbour in a better condition than it has been for many years, at a cost of i:14,000, so your Directors hope that the steamer will be able in future to make all average of one trip a week from Liverpool. The dividend will be paid at the Noitn and South Wales .bank, Aberystwyth, on or alter April 3rd., l9Uo. The chairman, in submitting the balance sheet, said he was sorry it was not as good as those of the past few years. Repairs on. the steamer, during the year had amounted to £300. Another cause ior the smallness of the profit was the reduction in the charges- for blende one. In 1903 they received £:¿46 tor carrying blende ore from Aberystwyth to- Liverpool, but last year they only received £63. This was due to the price of blende at. Antwerp being less than at Swansea. An- other thing which materially affected their revenue was the loss in the petroleum trade,. the petroleum being now brought to th0 town by rail in large tanks. How were they to recoup themselves for this loss? thought if they all threw a little more en- ergy into the business and increase each cargo by £10, it would make up. for the loss. Speaking of the improvements at the Harbour, for which they ought to thank the Town Council, Mr. Watkins said rhen the old jetties were washed away some people*- were of opinion that the harbour should be closed, as it did not pay. Even if it did not pay, however, without the harbour the rail- way charges on goods to Aberystwyth would be raised very much. Why was it the Cam- brian Railway Co.. charged as much, if not- more, to carry goods to Newtown as to Aber- ystwyth, which was forty miles further? Not only that, but the hadbour helped more than they thought to foster local industries. This week they had shipped for Mr. Green, the Foundry, fifty tons of machinery to Col- ombia. Mr. Green had told him that were it not for the cheap rates he could get. through the harbour, he could not tender for many of these contracts. Mr. Green's foun- dry for the last three or four months had been working overtime every night, and he had been obliged to get other foundries too assist him as he was tied to time. If Mr. Greerh had lost this tender through heavy railway charges instead of 70 or 80 workmen working overtime every night there would. perhaps, have been 30 or 40 men working three> quate time. When the advantages and dis- advantages of the habour came to be put into the scale, he believed the advantages would be found to predominate to a great extent. Captain Dougliton thought what was: want- ed was steamer with a carrying capacity of 40 or 50 tons more. which would be worked as cheaply as the present steamer.. The Chairman proposed tae adoption of the balance sheet, which was agreed to. Messrs. R. E. Morgan, J. Mcllquham, D. C. Hobert8 ,and T. Griffiths were re-appoint- ej directors, and Mr.. A. Lloyd Williams was re-appointed auditor. The question of the purchase of a new steamer was mooted by Captain Doughton, but no action was taken.

POT AND KETTLE. Sir,—Kindly allow me to remind that- raw and talkative juvenile member of the Aberystwyth Town Council that Llanbadarn, bad as it may he,. cannot yet boast of building where little children are done death," as his father says is the case at Aberystwyth. If but a tenth of what his father says of Aberystwyth be true then Llanbadarn is a Paradise compared with it" We all know that dirty birds foul their own nests, and when some people at Aberystwyth talk of "filth filth" it is, like the German band, a sign of the approach of summer. PADARNv

GOGINAN. Death of Mr. Jonathan.—The death t^ofa* place at Goginan, on Friday last, of" Mr., Jidward Jonathan, who for many years was. a prominent tradesman at Blaenau Festiniog^. He had also been an alderman of the Mgr- ioneth County Council. Mr. Jonathan was a native of Carnarvon, and it was his in- tention to remove there shortly from Gogj- nan. He was. a Liberal in politics, and had taken an active part in the public life, of Merionethshire. He leaves a wife, and two sons to mourn their loss. Mrs. Jonathan is a daughter of Mrs. Williams, Amwell, Cot- tage Dairy, London, and formedy of Gogi- nan. The body was brought to Aberystwyth on Tuesday morning, ana taken by rail to Ca^npn-von., for itii|enni3ii{j in. the family vault. A large number of friends,froja Gogi- nan followed the cortege to the Station.

.:¡¡;¡, LLANILAR, Theft.-At the Petty Sessions QJk Friday last, before Dr. Hughes and Mr. J. D. Per- rott, a labourer, named James Jones of Glyn Neath, was charged by SQllt. Jonea with stealing a mackintosh, value £1, from Glanystwyth Farm, on the 12th inBt. Ac- cused had been working on the farm for a u01't an^ aft^,r left the mackintosh, which belonged to E. D. Jones,, cowman, was missed from the stable. Accused was sub- sequently arrested at Lampeter, with the mackintosh in his possession—He now- pleaded guilty, and expressed great sorrow tor his conduct.—The magistrates sentenced him to qjie months, itnpristjnsoje'fit.

LL4NRHYSTYD. Obituary.—We regret 1tQ.¡ have to chronicle. the death of Mrs. Jones, Moelivor, which took place in a painfully sudden manner on Friday afternoon. She had been suffering from heart affection for some time but was quite in her usual health the day she dafldL She had gone out to. caU Mr. Jones in ta tea when she felt something coming over her, she sat down on a kg in the yard, and her youngest son coming by, she asked; him, to letch her a drink of water as she felt well. Another son and his brother and daughters ran out with the watter, and brought her in the house, when she told them she felt hotter. But in a few seconds after she called to her sonv John William; by name twlC He ran to her, and placing her arm round his shoulder she said f am dying." and loosening h<e>r grip she passed away peacefully; The funeral is to take place at i 1 o clock to-day (Thursday). The deepest sympathy is felt for the family in their., bereavement,

NOTES AND COMMENTS The facts and figures submitted to the Tregaron Rural District Cbuncil by their Medical Officer on Tuesday should interest all who live within that district. -,}- The Board of Education, with the con- currence of the Local Government Board, has appointed an Inter-Departmental Com- mittee to report upon the medical inspection of children in public elementary schools, and the provision of meals for children who are, from malnutrition, below the normal physical standard. -1/- The Light Railway Commissioners at an inquiry at Tarporley, sanctioned a scheme for the construction of a light railway from that place to Mouldsworth, on the Cheshire Lines. The estimated cost of the line, which will be nearly eight miles in length, is £ 46,000, and the capital proposed is £ 54,000. -Il- At a meeting of the Cardigan Town Coun- cil on Tuesday a letter was read from the Great Western Railway Company stating that it would be impossible for them to es- tablish a motor-car service between Cardi- gan and Newcastle Emlyn at present, owing to the limited number of cars at their dis- posal, but the petition of the town council would be kept. in mind in the event of its being possible to extend the number of motor- carriage system. -11- A conviction appears to be growing even among those who are entirely in sympathy with the revival in Wales that the strain which he has undergone for several months past has proved too much for Mr. Evan Roberts's strength, and that the young mis- sioner is in grave danger of a complete breakdown. Under such circumstances it is to be regretted that he is pressed to visit Liverpool and other large centres. All who are wishful for the continued success of the revival should give Mr. Evan Roberts the rest for which he yearns, and which he so evidently needs. -Jl- Signs are multiplying that the We'h language is not going to be allowed to die just yet. At the quarterly meeting of the Llanbadarn-fawr Rural Deanery on Friday there was an interesting discussion on "How to provide Welsh books for our Sunday Schools"; and a resollution was adopted asking Archdeacon Williams to ascertain the feelings of those interested by holding a conference of the clergy and Sunday School teachers at each centre, during his next visitation, to discuss the question. -1)- Under the auspices of the Free Church Council a very successful series of meetings were held at Aberystwyth during the past week. The special missioners were the Rev. John McNeill, and Gipsy Smith. Both at- tracted unusually large crowds and hund- reds had to be turned away from each ser- vice for want of room. Every effort was made to cope with the exceptional pressure' and, on Sunday evening, Gipsy Smith con- ducted two services, when it is estimated he addtre&sedil fully 2,700 people. < -11- Mr. Augustine Birrell, K.C., who $re- sided on Saturday at a meeting of the Inter- national Arbitration League, said the peace- able, honourable, and complete settlement of the Dogger Bank incident by arbitration marked an epoch in the blood-stained annals of humanity, and it was something which it would be very hard for humanity to go back upon. It was more worthy of the celebra- tion of oratory and of song than were the anniversary of Waterloo or a Trafalgar. We did well to be angry, but now everyone was glad that this passion of the moment was not to prevail. Mr. John Morley addressed a meeting under the auspices of the League of Young Liberals in London last Monday night. He severely condemned the tactics of the Prime Minister and his colleagues, which had brought them to a state of political and moral humiliation unprecendented, so far as he knew, in the history of the country. The party in power had deserted their principles and had had the audacity to launch a fiscal policy on the country which they had not the courage to attempt to settle. He urg- ed that the Liberal party must. look at the Irish question with a clear and steady gaze and try to bring it to a satisfactory end, and expressed the hope that Labour would be represented in the next Liberal Cabinet. -11- The Lord Mayor of Manchester, speaking at the meeting of the Education Committee, asked for the teaching of plain, useful cook- ery at the new Municipal School of Domestic Science and Arts. Too often, he said, school children were taught to make fancy cakes and other things most indigestible. It was, he added, the same in the dress-making and millinery classes. Flimsy articles and dainty bonnets claimed attention instead of practical work calculated to make working men's homes happy—the proper cooking and serving of food, and the ability to patch and darn or stitch o nthe "hooks and eyes."

HUNTING FIXTURES. The Ne addfawr Foxhounds wll et on I Monday, March 27at Cefn Haf;>d; and on l Thursday, 30th,$lossopi;4 Lodge. Both (lys at 11 o'clock.