The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

Mayor's Sunday at Conway. Stirring Sermon by the Vicar. Duties of True Citizens. Impressive Service. FINE weather prevailed on Sunday morning, when the Mayor of Conway (Mr James Porter, J.P.) attended Divine service at the old Parish Church in his official capacity. At about ten o'clock a procession was formed outside the Guildhall. It comprised the Town Brass Band (under Bandmaster Williams), the "E" Company of the 1st V.B. of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, under Captain Tuxford and Lieutenant Thomas; the Conway Fire Brigade, under Captain Jones; a posse of police, under Supt. Rees his Worship the Mayor, accompan- ied by his predecessor, Mr Albert Wood, J.P., D.L.; the Deputy Mayor (Councillor W. M. Sever), Alderman Hadley, the High Sheriff (Mr Ephraim Wood, J.P.), Mr H. Kneeshaw, J.P., Dr R. A. Prichard, J.1' Dr Dalton, J.P., Mr J. Adey Wells, J.P. (representing the local magis- terial division), Dr Brooks ^oolwyn Bay Urban District Council), Alderman Joseph Jones, -.C., Councillors A. J. Oldman and A. G. Kaye, Messrs Conway-Jones, Hugh Abram, T. E. Parry (town clerk), F. A. Delamotte (borough engineer), T. M. Jones (borough collector), H. Parry (borough accountant), Clarence Whaite, P.R.C.A., and numerous others. On arrival at the church, the choir sang "On- ward, Christian Soldiers," followed by one verse of the National Anthem. The service was intoned by the Rev Robert Roberts. The Vicor's Sermon. THE DUTIES OF TRUE CITIZENS. Choosing the words, "For this cause pay ye tribute also, for they are God's ministers attend- ing continually on this' very thing"—Romans xiii., 6-the Vicar, in the course of a telling ser- mon, said the first question in the shorter Cate- chism of the Scotch Church asked, "What is the chief end of man?" And the answer which it supplied was about the best that they could give "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever." In other words, the chief design of man's creation was that he should in all things acknowledge the sovereignty of God, and co-operate with him in seeking for and in enjoying the higher life. The Higher Life. For the continuance and further promotion of this higher life, God has two institutions—the Church and the State. God ordained the Church and also the State. The ends or objects in each case were identical—the higher good of man. The provinces or spheres were identical; they both worked among and for men. The methods or functions were, however, different. The Church sought man's highest good by working from within. The State promoted man's welfare by working from without. The Church was to promote the spiritual life by sup- plying the means of grace and witnessing to the Unseen and Eternal-and this was most im- portant-lest man should foriget the true propor- tion of things for man, overwhelmed by the sense of immensities all around him, would most surely fall back into spiritual atrophy and despair, unless he was sustained in tnis world by faith and means of grace. The functions of the State. No less necessary were the functions of the State. The State was to see that the spiritual growth of the nation was not hindered by bad surroundings or made of no effect by unhealthy conditions. The, "mens sana" must be "in cor- pore sano." The spiritual contribution of the Church to the general health of the people must be met by the no less necessary contribution of good government by the State. "The two kinds of authority, civil and ecclesiastical, flow from the same heavenly source, and tend to the same heavenly consummation." Both the Church and the State were the min- isters of God unto us for good. "For there is no power 'but of God the powers that be are ordained of God." An Institution of God. The family or home was an institution of God, and it was intended by Him to be in love and happiness, to be the pledge and foretaste of our home in heaven. The city, which is but a collection of families and homes, must be also an institution of God; and every city in the purpose of God should be so well governed that it raised the hearts of the citizens to think of the Eternal. Let them, therefore, remember that the mer- chant or tradesman was, in the wonderful econ- omy of Providence, a minister of God in that Divine service of providing mankind with their daily bread. Let the merchant or tradesman remember that aspect of his vacation. Let him never forget that his work was always to be done in a religious spirit—i.e., he was to do all things as in fhe presence of God. In this way, he would best avoid "that hard and fast dis- tinction between things religious and things secular, which ended by degrading secular life into the pursuit of private gain, and religion into a mere desire for escaping a material hell and reaching a sensuous heaven." Fine Distinctions. They were all more or less inclined to draw too fine and too ready a distinction between things sacred and tilings secular. In God's sight, no profession, no trade, no business was really secular. It only became secular when they forgot God's presence and forgot to be true and just in all their dealings'. A good Christian was a good citizen in all his relations of life. A good citizen did not put away his religion like his Sunday clothes, but he remembered that a man's life was but the picture book of his creed. A man's business, after all, was but his reli- gion translated into deed. If, then, every trade, every business, and every profession was a ministry for God, what would they say of that great instrument of human happinessthe Mayor and Corporation of a town? Theirs, surely, was a sacred work. The health, good government, and the prosper- ity of the borough were, for a time, committed to their care. They were ministers of God for the public good. Granting that those things were so, three du- ties necessarily followed. Three Duties. In the first place, there was a plain duty for the Town Council. It was' their duty by attend- ing some such solemn service as they were hav- ing that morning, to, give expression to the sacred character of their responsibilities; to acknowledge the sovereignty of God by paying homage to Him, whose servants they were; and thus at the commencement of their year of office, to pray to be endowed with power and guidance in the arduous work before them. The Greater Reward. "Brethren of the Town Council,"continued the preacher, "you have commenced the year well, because you have this morning humbly acknow- ledged that you are but servants of the Most High, and you have prayed for God's blessing upon your labours. May He hear your prayers, and bless you indeed with His own grace and guidance, until at the close of the year you will have the greatest reward of all-the approval of your own consciences and the sentence of the ,Still, Small Voice, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.' The Citizen's Part. The second duty was obviously the loyal obedience and co-operation on the part of every ,good citizen. Even when the authorities were heathen, St. Paul urged Christians to be exem- plary in loyalty. How much more should this be! so when we live in a free Christian country, and where the Constitution and laws are foun- ded on the Word of God? Addressing the brethren of the congregation, the Vicar said: It is our bounden duty to honour those who, at considerable sacrifice of time and leisure, are doing our work for us, but especially are we called upon to honour them, because in superintending the affairs of the borough they are, as St. Paul says, "God's min- isters attending continually upon this very thing." And it is in special reference to this sacred character of State authority that he says, "Render, therefore, to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom tear to whom tear; honour to whom honour." Uflavaiiing Excuses. The third duty mentioned by the preacher was the duty of every man who was qualified,by character and education to be willing to give the borough the benefit of his services on the Town Council. An ex-Prime Minister, recently visiting a Welsh borough, said that it was no- thing less than a national peril that so many men of learning and education, and qualified as such to lend the State valuable service in muni- cipal government, should content themselves in criticising from their armchairs the efforts of men who, sacrificing well-deserved leisure and repose, were nevertheless devoting themselves and their time to the cause of good govern- ment." Brethren (continued Mr Lewis), the cause of good government is a sacred one, and God calls the best of the citizens to give their best in this matter. Problems and difficulties arise which require, for their solution the best intellects and gifts which the State can supply. Those who can render signal service, and refuse to take their fair share without sufficient cause, incur the gravest responsibility. It is not enough to say, "It 'is too much trouble," "It interferes with my leisure or my business," or "I hate all elections." All these reasons may be very can- did, but what do they amount to? They are only so many candid admissions that their patriotism vanishes just when it is most wanted. Is History to Repeat Itself? If Englishmen and Welshmen up and down our country have got to be so comfortable and enervated in the lap of luxury that they cannot, at the call of duty, make an effort to defend their own inheritance-and what greater earthly in- heritance is there, than the inheritance of every British citizen?—then it does not require a pro- phet to predict that history will again repeat itself, and that England will follow the example of other great powers, and perish from its own inertion. Nay, God forbid that that should ever take place! It is rather for us to pray to-day for King, for country, and for ourselves that we shall be renewed in loyalty and devotion to King and country. A collection was made in aid of the District Nursing Fund, over £15 being realised. At the end of the service a verse of the Na- tional Anthem was again sung. Attended by a few of his fellow-councillors and one or two of the aldermen, his Worship attended a devout Welsh service conducted in the evening by the Rector of Llansantffraid ("Penfro"). The attendance was, if anything, better than in the morning. In our Welsh page will be found a few of the points which the preacher touched upon in the course" of a very able sermon.

A Rhyl Doctor's Affairs. AT the Bangor County Court, on Monday, be- fore his Honour Sir Horatio Lloyd, Mr Daniel Williams, assistant official receiver, applied for the committal of Dr Summerhill, of Rhyl, for the non-payment of the sum of Zio in January last, that amount being the first instalment due upon a judgment of £300 entered against him when he applied for his discharge in bankruptcy in the year 1899. Mr Daniel Williams informed the judge that in the year 1899 the debtor applied for his dis- charge in bankruptcy, and the judge agreed to the application upon his consenting to judgment being entered against him to the extent of £300, but up to the present he had not paid anything. In July the bankrupt applied that the judgment should be modified, so that he could pav bv in- stalments. The Judge ordered him to pay £ io per -annum, but still nothing had been paid. per annum, but still nothing had been paid. The debtor now informed the Judge that he was not in a position to pay the money, and urged that his receipts this year had gone down continually. As a medical man, he had a posi- tion to uphold, and he lived in a large house. His Honour said that he would not say that, under the circumstances, £ 10 was not a reason- able sum to fix. The Debtor I have no money to pay my way, nor have I any friends to assist me, and the' probabilities are that my receipts this year will be lower than they were last year. The Assistant Official Receiver pointed out that the debtor had made no attempt to pay the money, although repeated applications had been made. The Debtor: I must pay my rent, and I must get food. His Honour suspended the order, provided the debtor paid 6.5 within six months and the balance within twelve months. Dr Summerhill said that he thought he could comply with the judge's request.

Robert Lyons, of Pendleton, Manchester, died on Tuesday in his 103rd year. He, was an ex-soldier, and, according to his statements, took part in the Battle of Waterloo.

Return of Lieut. R. Vaughan Wynn. Rejoicings at Corwen. ON Saturday, this gallant officer arrived at Corwen from South Africa and India. In November after the declaration of war, the 9 Lancersjin whicK'regiment Lieutenant Va-ugn Wynn is an officer, was ordered out, and during the whole period Lieutenant Wynn was at t e front. After peace had been declared he went direct to India, and arrived in England on Thursday evening, the 13th ins-t. A committee of some of the most prominen men in the district was formed when it became known that Lieut. Wynn was on his way hom, and arrangements were made to celebrate hIS home-coming. Considering the short time the committee had to prepare for the rejoicings, they deserve to be commended for the ar- rangements, and the manner in which they were carried out. On the arrival of the young squire at Corwen station, he was received on behalf of the com- mittee by Mr R. R. Roberts, who escorted him to the carriage. Outside the station several hundreds of tenants, townspeople, and friends awaited to give him a hearty welcome-home- The happy face' of the brave lieutenant, and his desired to shake hands with the crowd, prove that it was a "red letter day in his life." Many strong men had charge of the ropes- attached to the carriage, and Lieutenant Wynn s position on the box was one of advantage. Leading the procession was the Cynwyd Brass Band, who played "See the Conquering Hero Comes." Presentation of an Address. When the Market-square was reached a halt was made, and Mr Pugh, of the Bank, on be- half of the Reception Committee, presented the following address to Lieutenant Wynn:- To Robert Vaughan Wynn Esq, Lieutenant 9th Lancers. Sir,-We, the undersigned, on behalf of your numerous friends and well-wishers at Corweo and district, desire respectfully to offer you our most sincere and hearty congratulations on your safe return home from the war in South Africa. We followed your military career with pride and pleasure, and are especially thankful to Almighty God, whose protecting care preserved your life in the many engagements in which you took part. We desire to associate ourselves with every expression of goodwill towards you which this auspicious occasion calls forth, and we earnestly hope for you a happy and useful life, and that you may be long spared to your country, your honoured parents, and your friends.—We are, your obedient servants, D. It. JONES, Chairman ot Reception Committee. J. O. PUGH, Treasurer. L. LLOYD JOHN, Hon. Sec. The address itself was designed and illumi" nated at Liverpool, and the framing by Mr Williams, Corwen. d The following gentlemen delivered addresse9 of welcome: Messrs W. E. Williams and Fd* Sy O. V. Lloyd; Rev D. Griffith, and Mr Davies, of Wernddu, on behalf of the tenants. Lieutenant Wynn was loudly cheered when hh commenced his speech. He said that although he had been away for three years, he had no forgotten his Welsh. The war had been a pr0" longed and severe one. Still, he believe that when the' Boer had been fully reconciled to the new state of affairs, he would be as good a soldier for his King as the Welshman. As regards the Welsh yeoman, he had only PralS for him. The Hon. C. H. Wynn thanked the towns- people for the very kind reception given to son, and said their action that day would bin closer the Rug family to the town of Corwen- Following the presentation a procession was formed, headed by the band and the committee, the tenants again escorting the lieutenant. In the evening there was a fine display of fire" works, both at Corwen and at Rug. On Sunday morning a thanksgiving service the was conducted at the Parish Church by of all Rev D. Griffith for the safe return home of a officers and men of the district.

♦ The Talk of the Village! What Bile Beans did for a Miner. Liver Disorder, Chest Pain, and Indigestion Cured. HAVE you ever been the talk of the VILLAOE' or town? Frequently this distinction belongs crack footballers, but William Maskrey, Hawthorn Cottage, Betley (Crewe), was, a snO time back, in this most enviable position- "Crewe Chronicle'" reporter, writing recently ? the subject, states:—"In the course of an terview I had with him, Mr Maskrey said • "I am a miner, and some time back began be ailing. My liver became out of order, a^er experienced great difficulty in breathing. meals, I was subject to great pain across chest, due no doubt to indigesdon. I a suffered agony from pains under my shoulde • In the morning, when I got up, I felt fit nothing. I was even more tired than when of went to bed the previous night. This state affairs continued so long that I became very -j0 spirited and melancholy; and for several day at a time I would be quite unable to go to ni work. Nearly every day I had a frighti"^ bilious attack, and could not take my food- at was attended by several doctors, but did 11 j derive much benefit from, their treatment- had given up all hope of ever getting when there arrived at my house a book tell* to' of what Chas. Forde's Bile Beans had done.*g cases similar to mine. I thought I would g1 them a trial, and I was soon glad I had done s > for as I went on with them, the pains acr?iy my chest and under my shoulders graduaU began to dissappear, and my sleep ceased to disturbed. In the mornings I awakened gJ. refreshed and able to leave for my work as che ful as anybody could wish. They have no completely cured me of all my ailments and ■case and my cure have been the talk of villaSe- the This is the kind of event which has xnacle ,r6 Bile Beans a world-wide reputation. If suffering from any of the following diseases, them They have been proved to be a indigestion, liver and kidney disorder, cons ip^g tion, piles, headache, debility, dizziness, Pa in the chest, nervousness, female ailmen q> colds, -chill, rheumatism, and a Prevent^V<Lay influenza. All -chemists stock them,, or yotl n. obtain them direct from the, Bile Bean E C., facturing; Co., Red Cross-street, London, by sending prices, is ij^d. or 2s 9d per box 9d box contains 3 times is IUd\.