The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

THE NEW "MANCHESTER SCHOOL." The "Manchester School" was the title applied to a party of English Radicals founded by Richard Co fades. It was identi- fied with Free Trade' and utilitarianism, aaad was opposed to all Government interfer- en-ce either with factory labour or with the natural course of troo." It was a party whi<Th ha.d no conception of our Imperial heritage, or of the position which a great nation mucjt maintain in the oormcifLs of tho Powers. Its members sought only to epin their cotton in peace, to obtain labour an the cheapest possible terms, and to exchange their -nufact-Lires-dm ■which tJiev had no foreign coin further -raw material for their sp indues and looms. 11:at- school is now as extdnct as the dodo, "unless perhrps Mir Harold Cox may claim to be its last re- presentative. But, from its -and in the city of its birth, a new, more patriotic, amd more Imperially-minded School has arisen, and this walls of theut Mecca of Cob- vueniisim, the Free Trade Hall, wix! resound next week with th.3 proclamation of a fullcsr and broader political gospel and a more enlightened national policy than Richard Cobden ever dreamt of. It wag a happy inspiration of the T air iff Reform League to hold its annual mee/ting and conference in Manchester and in the hall which has long outlived its use-fulnjese. It is weJ tnat the note of coming triumph should be sounded in the very citadel of "Free Trade, ke to briing encouragement to friends and to disconcert the enemy. More- over, it is a gavol-f ud tribute to those un- dauntied Tariff Reformers in Lancashire who have bcien spreading their principles with magnificent courage, and in the face of much W"on, during the last seven years. It is impossible to over-rate the vai ue of the spade-work done dify by day in every town of Lancashire by earnest devoted working men, for it is to their exertions more than to any other cause that the great progress made by Tariff Reform in the country is due. The significant and important manifesto just isetuied by the Cotton Trade Tariff Reform Astociatiion comes at a timely moment, and cannot fa.i.1 to influence the minds of many Lancastrians who have hitherto looked some- what askance upon the movement. Tihe very fact of the successful formation of such an Association proves thait there is a large end growing number of influential cotton spinnere and manufactubers who emphaticcCly condemn the present fiscal system of this country. They maintain, and they state in unequivocal language ill their manifesto, that "the free inipoitation of manufactured cotton goods is in a high degree prejudicial to the cotton industry of this country, and that it constitutes a serious and increasing ohst.acle to its expansion and prosperity." They also maintain that the chief remedy for the unsatisfactory conditions now pre- vailing in the trade is a reform in our fiscal system, to include means for tariff negotiation with foreign countries and the establishment of mutual preferential arrangements between the various States composing the British Empire." They declare that they dissent entirely from the assertions of Free Traders (1) that cheapness of production has beetn brought about by "Free Trade," and (2) that Tariff Roform will increase the cost of production and 60 endanger the trade. They point out that the cost of! production has been reduced to ita lowest point, and that the organised short time which had become a normal feature of the trade must increase the cost of production whiie diminishing employmeai-t. They state also, their emphatic opinion, that "the only way of increasing employment is to in- crease trade, and this can only be dooe by securing larger markets at home and abroad by a measure of Tariff Reform and Imperial Preference." The oft-repeated assertion of Cobdenites that the cotton trade in Lancashire is hostile to Tariff Reform is refuted by this virile manifesto. The sbe-m logic of bitter cx- perience has convinced masters and employees eWih) that in Tariff Reform lies the only hope for the future of the industry. The old bogeys of dearer production, increased price of commodities, and enhanced cost of living have ceased to alarm. Cotton operatives cow realise that free imports metun low wages, dear food, and long spells of short time or of unemployment. It is not by adhering to the laisscz-faire doctrines of the old Man- chester School that such evils can be re- medied, but by adopting tho potiicy of the mew Manchester School as set forth in the manifesto quoted, and by accepting the doctrines which will be simuitaneously pro- claimed next week from scores of Lancashire platforms. Manchester, we are convinced, will once more become the centre of political light and leg. The otd Manxuhostor School is dead, but the new Manchester School is showing every sign of vigorous life. Unlike the old School it is not a political clique or a narrow party, for its foundations are as broad as the British Empire, and its objects are the prosperity of trade and the welfare of the people in every part of the King's dominions.

AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION. Thje agricultural industry in this country has for so long been conducted upon such uniform methods that innovations meet with tardy acceptance. In the matter of organ- isatiioai the agricultural industry has made camparaJtivefly little advance meat but with- in recent timea the Agricultural Organ- isation Society has made so successful a be- ginning that it seeans destined to play am important part in the future progress and development of agriculture. When. farmers in Wales come to fully realise what is to be gained from the Society, the movement will no doubt be as substantially supported in tihe Principality as it is to-day in England. Last year twenty branch societies were formed in. Wales, six being in Glamorganshire atone. The parent body had on December 31st, 1909, a. total membership of 19,500, the aggregale turrw>ver increasing during tiha>t year from X749,000 to about £ 850,000. The Society necogmises no political colour, class nor aroed. Its object is wholly and soleiy to propagate the principles of co-opera- tion amongst agriculturists, and to and aæist in an eminently practical manner 411 its membesa. It oWTw-e On MO trade. It makes no profit. It is supported by voluntary contributions supplemented by a small grant from the Board of Agriculture, 0 Branch societies established in various dis- tracts are entirely self-supporting amd self- governing. Affiliated to the parent Society, by the payment of a nomimai subscription fee, each branch is entitled to the inany benefits, eeca-uing from the knowledge aaid experience of tho Central Society, which is at their disposal; advice in matters of policy and business, assistance in negotiations with Government departments, railway ooan- panics, etc., and, finally, the affiliated societies all oveT tho country are brought into touch with each other—by no means the least potent fca/ture of the Society's pro- gramirie. Of tho many objects of the local branches a. few should bccitcd. By obtain- ing for the memibers theix manures, eseds, feedisig stuffs, impLeiments, etc., directly from the manufacturers, wholesale merchants or importers the Society enabues them to buy at a considerably clieiaper rate, and to ensure the quality of the goods. By organising milk supplies on a co-operative basis they help the f-airmcr .to find tiuj best markets, and at the E-Ojne time ensure for the customer purer milk, inasmuch as the Socioty aims at bettering the sanitary conditiass under which it is produced- It also aims n.t the development of the sterilised milk trade; ma-king butter and cheese in oo-operative factories; establishing co-operative egg depots where eggs are pro- perly sorted and packed which ensures a reliable article for the cons-uincr and a better price far the producer; reducing the cost of transportation; opening up remote districts by means of motor wagons, and th.c establisihmefnt of credit banks where the members may obtain leans a.t low rates. The Society's ultimate suoocss depends entire- ly upon the whole hearted support of agri- culturists generally. Farmers wouLd do well to attend the series of meetings promoted throughout North Wales during the next few weeks with a view of bringing before them the objects of the Society.

BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WELSH SCHOOLS. The remarkable criticism of the Welsh in tormediiiate iscthool system by tthe Board of Education, in its recent report, has draw-in from at least one County Education Autho- rity—that of Denbighshire1—an indignant pro- test. At Friday's meeting of that commit- tee, a. resolution is reported to have been unanimously Fted, strongly objecting to the report em the ground that "tihe criticisms it contained were one-sided, that the manner in which the report was issued was more likely to injure the schools than to effect an improvement, and that as far as the county of Denbigh was concerned tihe charge that I the schools were 'producing a wooden and unintelligent type of mind' appeared to bo unifound-ed, end not in accord with the ex- aminers' reports." In some respects, no doubt, the Board's criticism waa unneces- sarily severe, and optl.tain phrases might well ha.vo been more happlily expressed; the sen- tence concerning the production of "wooden and unintelligent types of mind" was, for in- stance, calculated to stir up the feelings of mo-it Welsh educationists. It should be re- membered that the report was pro-luced not by an unsympathetic Englishman, but by the Welsh Departmemt of the Board of Edu- cation, at whose head there is a Welshman of unquestionable practical experience in Welsh County School adminustration, a Na- tionalist in the true sense of the word. There is reasom to believe that the criticism, such as it is, is that of the candid friend bent upon the advancement of his fellow-country- men. To attribute "jealousy," "spleen," "spite," and the rest of it to tho Department da obviously out of place, to say the least. It would be more pertinent to take into con- sideration the hints contained in the report for the impiro-v-ement of the Welsh Secondary School schemte. The principal point em- phasised in the report is the necessity of differentiation in the schools. He would in- deed ba a bold man who would challengo the Beard's view on that score. At -t special meeting of the Denbighshire Coumail, held at Wrexham, in September, Mr W. G. Dodd, chairman of the Denbighshire EducatioOO1 Com- mittee, and one of the three gentlemen upon whoso report the committee adopted Friday's resolution, stated that he was "convinced that if tihey wished to get the best out of z, their educational fey-tern they must provide moro differentiation in. the schools." Tho Bishop of St. islaph has not without sound reason described the Welsh intermediate sys- tem as a cast-iron system, and when Weilah educationists have dome all they reasonably cam to bring about the very necessary im- provemeait in the County Scthool syliaibus, suggested by the Board, they will be in a stronger position to resent well-meant critic- ism.

How K.C.'s Originated. Th promotion of Mr Ellis Griffith and Mr Ralph V. Bankes to the nonk of K.C. recalls to tho mimd tho origin of this title. It was the gineat Francis Bacon, C., who invented the order. Not being a alid having no wish to become one, he persuaded Queen Elizabeth to constitute him" Queen's Counsel Extraordinary," ard when James I. came to the throne he secured a patent confirming his statiis as "one of our counsel kaaned in the law"—still the official designation of the K.C. Sir Francis Bacon, who did not (lip- prove of services being performed gratuitous- 1 y, had the ainnual salary of X40 annexed to the position, and «ill K.C.'s and Q.C.'s oon- tinujed to Teoeive this paymemt in half-yearly moieties till 1831, when they were depirivc-KI of it by statute. The same Act of Parlia- ment swept away their customary allowance of stationery and bags. Up to the year 1886 the K.C. who had been offered a brief on bohalf of an accused pereon was required to obtain a licence before he could accept it. He had sworn to take "no wage nor fee" in "any master against the King, whtem. the King is pamt aM, the Crown being the prosecutor in every criminal case, the sanction of the Sovereign had to be secured. At one time the licence was an expensive thing; but it aamk as years went by from £ 0 to 10s. There axe now some 300 K.C.'s holding them- selves out, more or less successfully, for em ployment. Since 1898 they have swollen in number by sixty or so. In tihat year there were 236. The period of their great increase and 3nultiplioation was the Victorian era. In 1832 there were but 44 ell told. Fifty years later they had become 200. FOUIrteen was the total in 1775; in 1789 there were 20; in 1810 there were 30. They have in 100 years aneiw,cd by 270.

The Church Commission Report. November 1st—the appointed day for the publication of the Report of the Welsh Ch itrroh Commission—has passed and the official re- port has not appeared. A "forecast" was certainly issued on Monday in the "Daily Mail," and which we reproduce elserwfhere, but it was repudiated as being unauthorised, a statement the Radical press have made the most of, amd the statement was made that the Report will not be issued for some days. When we have been waiting for many months it is something to the good to be toCd that the suspense is now only a matter of days. Whonerver the Report is issued, it will de- mand tihe most careful attention, and it is satisfactory to know that the Central Church Committee has all its arramg-emmuts made for analysing the Report and for examining in the light of carefully ascertained facta the chief condusians arrived at.. The publica- tion of the Report amd of the Evidence mil throw a heavy burden upon the Oemtral Church Committee, and we venture to express tihe strong opinion that Churchmen should supply the Committee with the mueh-rteeded funds for the purpose of placing before the ooxaotry as quickly aftd as fully as possible the results of its amolysiis and examination.

■ <i- Merits of Eisteddfod Adjudicators. North Waliaas are nothing if not cikm- nÙili. A Carnarvon paper has been taking a plebiscite of its readers as to the relative merits as Edsteddfod adjudicators of the leaeng Welsh bards. The plebiscite resulted in placing twelve well-known bards at tha top of the list dm the following order:— Dyfed, 194; Fedrog, 191; Borw, 184; Cad- fan, 173; Gwili, 172; Professor J. Morris Jones, 156; Elfed, 143; Job, 139; lolo Catnr- narfon, 109; J. J. Williams, 95; E-ifion Wyn, 89; and G wyrtodd, 88. Th is list is instruc- tive. It will bo seen that the Hint five re- present five different sec-ts, in the following order:—Calvirus-tie Methodist, Independent, Church of England, Wedleyaai, and Baptist —end tihis is probably the order of numerical strength of these bodies in the county. Of the twelve selected four aTe Calvin is tic Metho- dists, four Independents, two Ghuceh of Eng- land, one WeaLey&n, and one Baptist. Geographically divided they stand thus: — Noct.h Wales, 7; South Wales, 3; London, 1; Liverpool, 1—and off the seven Nocrth Waliains, five are drawn from Carnarvonshire More significant perhaps than all is the fact tSiat, although the plebiscite was taken, in tho very stronghold of the new echoed of bards, who have been recently kicking up s-ueih a row, the old school smote them hip and thigh from DaJIl even unto BocashoLa, only two new Itedd-, figuring in the whole list, and .these having to be content with sixth and dxvenith place respectively.

=3> Conway Municipal Election. Notwithstanding the vigorous ,attack upon their seats, Mr James Porter and Dr. R. Arthur Priehard secured their re-election by the Conway burgesses, on Tuesday. The electors thus indicated in a practical manner that the Territorial camp bogey had no ter- rors for them, and, at the same time, marked their appreciation of the invaluable services which both men have rendered during their long connection with the Town Council. Dr. Prichjard has occupied the Mayo-cd challir for six years, and represented the boTough in practically all important offices in county ;and .town government; and a more faithful public worker it would be difficult to discover. Mr Porter's list of achievements is, if shorter, none the less creditable, and the sound finan- cial policy which he initiated eight or nine years ago, and which has since borne such excellent fruit for the town, is in itself suffi- cient to merit the highest esteem. By the defeat of Mr Edward Jones. Deganwy has t> lost the services of a most conscientious pub- lic worker, and in view of the inadequate re- presentation of that &ide of the borough on the Council, his absence will be particularly regretted. On his second appeal to the elec- torate, Mr J. W. Hughes has been veTy suc- cessful, and, as a keen student of local govern- ment, 1b:3 will no doubt prove an acquisition to the Council. Mr John Jones, the otJJør successful candidate, is a native of Conway, and haa interested himself largely in the housing question and the fishermen's wel- fare.

Hallow's Eve. Tuesday was IT alio we 'en—'All Saints' Eve, which in olden tioues was celebrated in North Wales by the burning of a. bonfire called "Coel Ceith." This was kindled in the moat con- spicuous raoc luear the house. A gooddRal of ceremonial took place in connection with the ancient custom, such as rumncng tiarough the fire and smoke, each member of the household casting a stone prevaousCy marked into the fire, sand -all running off at the con- clusion "to escape from the bl.ack sliort- ta2,ed sow;" then supping upon parsnips, nuts, and apples; catching at &il apple suspended by a string with the mouth alone, and the sam, by an apple in a tub of water; each throwing a nut into the fire, those that burnt bright betokening prosperity to the owEJsrs throughout the following year, but, those that burnt black and crackled denoting misfortune. On the following morning the stones were searched for in the fire, and if any were missing they had a. notion that the person who threw it in the fire would die before another Hallowe'en.

— • —<$»— Canada and Free Trado. Sir Alfuro Mend's Free Trade to Canada (says the "Chester Couramt") forms the subject of some scathing notes in the November number of the "National Review," which devotes fully five pages to an ex- posure of this personally Proteetionnst but politically Cobdenite individual. Although Sir Alfred has been derided by practically the wiiioCe Press of Canada, ct is significant of the results of his trip that he has at- tempted no reiply to the damaging criticisms, nor has any Canadian newspaper had the courage to espouse his cause. So much for Canada and Free Txad-el

PERSONAL. Sir Watkin and Miss Williams Wynn returned frcm Gisinll^ii 00 Wynnistay on Tuesday for the huatzriigr seoaaon, which opened yesterday. t-

The Hon. Mira Bttifeeley-Chvem has gone to London for a few dlays, on her way to Italy, where she proposed to winter.

■' ■ Lord Haxlech, Lord Kenyon, Sir Walter Cor- bet, Bar, Mr Percy Chubb, Mr William Jame- son. Captain inoo. l Money, and the Hon. W. Ormctby-Gore, M.P., shot over the Rualbcn Hills on Tuesday,

———————<,——————— Lord Kenyon presided over and Sir W-atkm WiiiiajTi3 Wynn and Sir Savage Moetyn attended a meeting at Wrexham on Thursday, when it was decided to form a branch of the Land Union. Lord Kenyon was ejected1 president, Mr 0. Ormrod hon. treasurcrj and Mr J. H. Swain- son hon. secretary,

ILLNESS OF PRINCESS PLESS. A FAVOURABLE TURN. It is understood (says the "Daily Telegraph" Berlin correspondent) that eoone anxiety is felt a3 to the heailth of Princess Henry of Pless, who has been seriously ilii sinca the birth of her third eon, a few weeks ago. Her recovery was complicated by an attack of pleurisy, and on this heart weakness baa supervened. Tho report thaJfc she has been operated inpon however, denied. The Princess is lying ut her villa at Gross LfchterfeLde, oiittside Berlin. Oolonel W. Cornw&ilia West informed us yes- terday that his dangliter is progressing favour- ably. He baa in co»eequeiK>e cancelled his pro- posed journey to Berlin.

THE HON. T. H. COCHRANE. The Hon. Thomas Horatio Cochrane, of Craw- ford Priory, Fifeshire, bmfcbea- of the Earl of Dundoxpald, has been presented, on retirement frotm P ari i ajneotary life, with his portrait in oils, in reoognetion of hi eervooa to the U non oauao in Ncpth Ayrshire, esipeoisbUy daring the seventeen yeara (1892-1909) that ho represented the constituency in the Ilowse of Commons. The presentation was made, on behalf of the eub- sjcribera, by <the Bad of Eglingtora and Win-ton, a handsome hair ornament being at the same time given to Lady Gertrude Cochrane, in acknow- ledgment of the enthusiasm with which she had always supported her husban-d in his work. Lady Gertrude is a daughter of the sixth Eaari of GtasgoWj and waa married to Mr Cochrane in 1880.

A partial ec&pee of tihe entn, invisible aA Gr*jeawich, took piaoe ^be(tw<een. 11.51 em Tues- day night and 4.26 oa Wedneeday mom- mg.

FREEMASONRY IN NORTH WALES. PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE'S 25th ANNIVERSARY. INTERESTING CELEBRATION. At the Masonic HaD, Llandudno, on Monday afternoon, an "Emergency" Provincial Graaad Lodge of Fellow-craft; Freemafons of North Waiea was held under the presidency of the Rtt War. Provincial Grand Master Bro. Col. Platt, O.B., There was a large attendance of brethren and the handsome Lodge Room at the Masonic Hall presented a very impressive and beautiful spec- tacle. The Rt. Wor. Grand! Master read the follow- ing telegram from Sir Off ley Wakeman, the Rt. Wor. Pro. Grand Master of the Province of Shropshire: -"Kindly convey my fraternal greetings to the Province (applause.). The Deputy Prov. Grand Master (Wor. Bro. Ed. Roberts) who reported havkng received a number of letters of apology for absence, among them being one from Wor. Bro. Danilly, who said that only his age (90years) prevented him from hoimg present. The Rt. Wor. Prov. Grand Master suggested that a letter of good' wishes be sent to Wor. Bro. Daaiilly, and on the motion of the Wor. Deputy Prov. Grand Master, seoraodied by Wor. Bio. Tuxford, Prov. Grand Treasurer this was adopted! and subsequently the following telegram was despatched) to tihe a-ged mason:—"Hearty good wishes from members of Provincial Grand Lodgto, sitting at ilamdudbo.-Platt, Prov. Grand Master." Wor. Bro. James Porter formally resigned the poat of Prov. Gra.nd Secretary temporarily Uill- dertaken by him in succession to Wor. Bro. U. E. Breese. The lit. Wor. Prov. Grand Master then appoin- ted Bro. II. C. Vincent to the post of Prov. Gr. Secretary, and invested him with the insigni.a. of office. The Rt. ^Wor. Prov. Grand Master then, on behaif of the Provincial Grand Lodge, ordered the dispatch to Wor. Bro. C. E. Breese of the following te,J.e;gra.m :-Proy.ioowl Grand Lodge mourns your absence, and sendsi you sincere sympathy. The Rt. Wor. Prov. Grand Master then inves- ted Bios. W. A. Tuxford, Dr. John Jani-es Hughes, l E. T. Williams, as Prov. Grand stewards, and Bro. Thos. Ilarton as Prov. Grand Sword Bearer. HISTORY AND WORK OF PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE. The ilt. Wor. Prov. Grand Master, in his address, said that Wü8 a great day in the history of the Province. It formerly formed part of the Shropshire Province, but m 1885 a separa- t-ion took place and the Province of North Wales began its career under ita own banner. He could octtgratulabe the Province on; the har- mony with which its work had since been done; and on the fact that owing to the truly xnasonio spirit of the brethren there had been very little trouble. The first Prov. Grand Master was Sir Watkin, Williams Wynn, and after him, Lord Harlech., who reigned 18 years. Following Lord Harlech, Sir Grenville Williams held the office for a short time, after which the honour had becani conferred on him (Col. Piatt). The work of the Province—of the Lodges in the Province— had been very much improved since those early days. The Right Wor. Prov. Grand Master then called upon Bro. Garth-Jonjs, in the absence of Wor. Bro. C. E. Breese, to read a review by Wor. Bro. C. E. Breese of tho conduct of business in individual lodges of tho Province during the quarter of a century of its existence. It was said that at the inauguration of the Province in 1385 there was a manifest lack of system and method in lodge proceedings, though there appeared to be abun- dant enthusiasm and energy amongst individual brethren. The advent to office in 1890 of the pre- sent Wor. Deputy Prov. Grand Master as Prov. Grand Secretary was the signal for the gradual abandonment of the former loose methods, and the adoption of an orderly and well directed course of business procedure. As a result, out of chaos came order, and a deeper and more enduring sense of reverenco in the rites and pride in well doing, and after thirteen years of arduous labour a high standard of merit was attained throughout the Province. He (Wor. Bro. Breese) had observed no sign of decadence during the last seven years, but rather an ad- vance in several important respccts. In conclu- sion, Wor. Bro. Breese expressed his conviction that the general well being and harmony charac- teristic of lodge afTairs in the Province was largely due to the wise, kindly, and enlightened rule of the present Right Wor. Prov. Grand Master and his predecessors (applause). Wor. Bro. Tuxford followed. He said the first Prov. Grand Treasurer was Bro. Simon, and he was re-elected for ten successive years. The brethren then elected him' (Bro. Tuxford) to the office. It was an honour of which he was proud. In looking over the old records, ho found that in 1887-23 years ago-there was a balance to the credit of Grand Lodge of jE4 19s. The highest balance he (Bro. Tuxford) had been able to show was in 1902 when P, sum of E251 19s lOd was car- ried forward (applause). That balance from var- ious causes had diminished, and last year he car- ried forward only £90 9s 2d. Wor. Bro. Tux- ford explained in detail the interesting causes which led to that decrease, and proceeding said the Province had done its duty to charities. It had subscribed 50 guineas for nine successive years to one or other of the three Masonic chari- ties, which, considering the size of the Province, was very creditable. In 1907, owing to the causes he had mentioned, the subscription fell to 10 guineas, but last year it rose to 21 guineas. Grants had also been made to brethren in dis- tress. He mentioned in gratification the great and steady increase in the size and numbers printed of the Calendar (applause). Wot. Bro. James Porter, chairman of the North Wales Masonic Charitable Association, fol- lowed with an interesting resume of the work of that association. He said the subscription to the three institutions in London when he first took up the work was only B96 1ÓS. Last year it was S670 19s (applause). In his first year the subscriptions to the "B" fund were only JE38 5s 6d, last year they amounted to B179 7s 6d (applause). During the quarter of a century just ended the Province had received from the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institutions, in annuities for old people, no less than £2376. They had edu- cated 12 girls in and one out of the school, as well as 17 boys. They had received very gene- rous contributions from the Board of Benevol- ence, and as an example he might mention the very last from this source, viz., the sum of EIOO for the widow of a recently deceased brother (applause). As showing the increase in the work of his department he exhibited the report for the first year, which consisted of 20 pages, and that of last year, which numbered 46 pages (ap- plause). Wor. Bro. Tuxford craved permission to make one other interesting statement, viz., that of the brethren who held colours in the old Province of North Wales and Shropshire, there were now only six living, and of those officers appointed in 1885 only five were still among them. Wor. Bro. Woodley, as its oldest P.M., on be- half of the St. Tudno Lodge, heartily welcomed Prov. Grand Lodge to Llandudno. He said that was the fourth time Grand Lodge had met in that room (applause). He remembered very well the installation of the late Prov. Grand Master Wor. Bro. Lord Harlech at Wrexham, and before that he (the speaker) had held office for four years under Sir Watkin (applause). PRESENTATIONS. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master asbed per mission to epeak, before the business of the Lodge was proceeded with, end then de- livered a lengtihy amd highly encomiastic ad- dress upon the services to the Pro of the former Provincial Grand Secretary (Worship- ful Brother C. E. Breese), on whose retiitrie- menit, after seven -yews splendid ee:rviae, it occurred to some of the brethren that those omvines, voluntarily rendered, without hope or wish of rewaid, should be in soma way acknowledged, amd some 300 responses wtere iOOOeIivoo. from all the Lodges in the Province, crii tihe brethren being aarxious to participate in providing a testimonial expressive of their gratbibudte to Worshipful Brother Breese for his exoelAefmt work amongst them (ap- plause). The fund had been expended in the purchase of a. superb silver salver, which he now asked the Right Worshipful Grand Mas- ter to present (applause). Worahipful Brother Breese woe prevented by family affliction from being present with them that day, but he had written to him (the speaker) express- ing his regret at being unable to be present, and in that tetter was a request characteris- tic of their abkmt Brother, to the effect that no mention of his trouble should be made to aloud the joy and harmony of their meet- "Ik. Rjgiht Warefeipftd Provincial Gxa&d | i Master handed the salver to Worshipful I Brother Gairth Jones, representing Worship- ful Brother C. E. Breese, who, on bah-ajf of Worshipful Brother Breese, briefly acknow- ledged the preeentajtion. Salver salvers of great value and beauty vme also presented to Worshipful Brothers Tuxford (iVovincial Grand Treasurer), after 15 yœ.æ' service, end James Porter (Gh-air- maID. of the North Wales Masonic Charitable Association.), both of whom feelingly acknow- ledged the gifts. Past Secretaries' Jewels were -afterwards presented to Worshipful Brothers Aubrey T. JfcrJbcrw, of Cede wain Lodge, amd R. M. Da- vies, of St. Id-loes Lodge, upon the compJl<e- tien. of five years' service as secretaries of their respective Lodges. The Grcmd Lodge of Emergency was closed in due form, with solemn prayer.

FORTHCOMING INSTALLATIONS. To-morrow (Friday), Brother Owen Row- land, Conv/ay, will be installed Worshipful Matrter of the St. Trillo Lodge, Goiwyn Bay, l^iursday next, Brother Savory RusaeSJ will be instaZied Worshipful Master of the Corbet Lodge, Towyn. Oia Tuesday next, Brother James Toole will be iastaffled. Worshipf .il Master of the St. Idloes LLd V, LLanidJoes.

4- — MARK MASONRY. PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE AT BANGOR. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of North Wales was held at the Masonic Ha-li, Bangor, on Wednesday, when a large number of brethren assembled under the presi- dency of the Right Worshipful Grand Master Bro. Sir Wan. BuUceley H. Hughes-Hunter, Bart. The Prov. Grand Master appointed and in- vested his officers for the ensuing year as fol- lows:— JProv. U.S.W., W.-Bro. the ltev. W. Ll. Nicholas, P.M.; Prov. G. J. W., W.Bro. Samuel Evans, P.M. Prov. GM.O., W.Bro. G. F. Airger Wiiliajna, P.M.; P.G.M.S.O., W.Bro. Hugh Pritchard, P.M.; Prov. G.J.O., W.Bro. NVMI. Lovatt, P.M.; Prov. G. Chaplains, Bres. the Ven. Archdeacon Morgan and the Rev. Evan Jones; Pros. G. Treas., W.Bro. C. M. Lees, P.M.; P.rov. G. Secretary, Wor. Bro. W. Price Smith, P.M. Prov. (0. Registrar, W.Bro. James Anton Lang, \V"M.; Prov. G.S.D., Bro. T. O. Morgan; Prov. G.J.D., Bro. T. H. Morgan; Prov. G. I. of W., Bro. Sam Qhantrey; Prov. G.D. of C., Bro. W. A. Jones; Prov. G.A.D. of C., Bro. J. Walter Hughes; Prov. G.Sd.Br., Bro. O. Jones; Prov. G.Std.Br. Bro. Bryan Warburst; Prov. G.I.G., Bro. H. Milliard; Prov. G. Stew- ards, Bras. O. Trevor WiRiams, Charles Felix, E. D. Williams, and E. S. Morgan; Prov. G. Tyler, Y) ID rJ1 "Pr..hn. i>ro. if. x j.wi/ti 1.'O'. The banquet was heM at the British Hotel, and the catering waa excellently carried out by W.Bro. J. A. Lan.

NEW CONSERVATIVE ORGANISER FOR NORTH WALES. A POPULAR APPOINTMENT. Mr William Lloyd Griffith, of Cae Cristo, Carnarvon, was <m Salturday appointed to staooeod Colonel Radcliffe as crgatnasing secre- tary to the North Wales Division of tihe National Union of Ooaifitervative Assocdatioms. The appc-imtmeaiit cannot fail to be a popular in every respect. Mr Lloyd Griffith oorn-es of a good Coneervotive stock, and has ever been closely and actively a&socria,ted with tho, ne who have been working consistently gnd co'iL'tienuorasily in promotion, ctf the best' in- terests otf the party in tli>3 co-unity as well as :in the boroughs ef Caravurvon. No contested Parliamentary or municipal ejection has taikcei placo in the towtn or coruntty in recent years in which ha has not 'taken a leading old romirpnt part in support ctf Unioakt 0 Mr Lloyd Griffith is a past chairman of filie Catrmarvoa Conservative Working-men's Club, and during his term of offico was abJo with the procecdis of a successfully organised bazaar to extricate tihe club from n. position of financial difficulty, to plaeo the premises in a. state of thorough repair, and, in addi- tion, to aiand over to his successor a hand- some working balance. His well-known, skill as an ii invariably requisitioned whenever movcmenlts on an extensive scale ana under contemplation- at Carnarvon, etuch Oi those inaugurated in support of the Nar tiotnal Eisteddfod, the national services, it I and pHiilaai'thropic institutions. Durin- the last fiiflteen years he has been eonciected -with | no fewer thajt 28 micli movements, all of which proved successful and fiatiafaeto-y to tho promoters. He possesses undoubtedly in an exceptional degree rare powers otf organLsiation, 0. pleasing presence and address, a good record, and a practical knowledge of b Welsh. This is a combination off queinfica^ tiiojis which, mo doubt, commended the careful Consideration of the Selection Committee. He is also acquainted with, all parts of tho diie'brict over which tihe work of organisation will extend. Among Carnarvon people, irrespective of creed ox party, Mr Lloyd Griffith is held in tihe highest esteem. He is a member of the Town Council and the Har- bour Trust in his native town, and for several years he held a commission in the 3rd V.B. R.W. Fusiliers, from which be retired after receiving Jlis captaincy. For the pre- eernit Mr Griffith will conltinuie to reside at Carnarvon.

ART EXHIBITION AT CBESTEK. PROPOSED ANNUAL EXHIBITION. By the invitation of Mrs Wilbraham, of Dola- meir-e House, Cuddington, and Miss Leche, of Garden, who gave an "At Home" for the occa- sion, a number of their friends in the county visited a amall exhibition of the work cf local artists on Monday at Bishop Lloyd"s Paiaco, Chester. The object of the exhibition was to int-eirest the people of Cheshire, Shrop&liire and North Waiea in a project on the '!)3f1t of those ladies to promote an annual spring public exhibition of a.rts and crafts in Chester. Some pretty groups of wator-colours were shown by Miss Wi a;li,ai-n, of Delamere House; Mrs Nei'ibn, Plover's Moss, Sands way; Mi'3 Von Schroder, Namtwioh; M<r T. Waimaley Price, Chaster; Mr G. E. Browne; Misa Cholmonde'ey, Abbot's Moss; and Mr Ernest Pilkington. Miss Cobbe, of London, eoo showed a charminig collection of miniature, and there was a bca-tbt.iJu'l display of silk fabrics spun by the peaaant girls at a spinmery at W in- donmere, which was started by Misi Garnett. a Cheshire lady. An enjoyable musical programme was given during tiie afternoon by Miss Bronwen Charl- ton, Miss Vanda Charlton, the Hon. M1"3 Laur- ence Brodrick, Miss Blu-mberg, a Hungarian pianist; Mr Richard Jack, Nir E. S. Giles, and Mr Felix Rowe.

THE CHURCHES. The collation of Archdeacon Wynne Jones as Dean of St. Asaph, of Canon Fletcher as Arch- deaeon of Wrexham, and of the Rev. D. Da- vies, vicar of Wrexham, as c-anoni will take place on Saturday next. Their installation will not take place before November 20th.

-1 WELSH ITEMS. Mr Joel Hughes, eldest son of the Rev. John Hughes, B.A., Vicar of Penrhyndetudraeth, has won a three year scholarship of £ 20 to the St. David's College, Lampeter. The Rev. R. E. Roberts, M.A., Precentor of Peterborough Catb&lral, has aocepted the living of St. Mark's^ Peterborough. He is well- known and esteeaned1 in Mold, Coiwyn Bay. Llangollen, and other centres in North Wales.

The Dutch Government, after a oompetridon between European submarine boat builders, has given the order for a submarine to Messrs Whitehead and Co., im Fiume. This boat is in- tended for the defence of the Dutah Indies ooJoaaseB. She will be fitted with a Nuremberg revewable oil engine, using a. cheap heavy oil with a. high flashpoint. "Are you sure that these sheets are clean askad the oamimeroiaJl traveller. "Quite clean, air," the chambermaid answered confidently. "They were only washed this morning. Feel them, sir—they; are act dry yet 1",

I THE CONSERVATIVE VAN IN NORTH WALES. SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS ALONG THE COAST. MR FRED. HOWARD ON TARIFF REFORM. The tour of the Conservative Van along the North Wales Coast is exciting much interest, and the forceful speeches of Mr Fred Howard, of the National Union, are attracting excellent audiences.

PSNRMYNSIDE. SPEECH BY MR FRED. HOWARD. Mir Fred. Howard, who is touring North Wales with the Con^servaifeive van, arrived "n PewhyKSiidc, on Thursday night, end deli- vered an elective speech to a-a attentive audience an "Tariff Reform." Mr Howard said he regrneittied very much that this qnncs- ticwi of revising our present fiscal system had boeai allowed to become a party question. Ho saw no reason why Liberals and Labour mem mliou-id mot join with Unionists in de- manding a ohacDge of our ivorn-out, ono-sided eyetean, vdhricl1 gave a to every foreigner at 'the expense of the British work- ing lIDMt. It was iaJl vetry wellto talk about Frog Trade eixty years ago. At that time Eagfend held the unique position of being the worksihop of the wo:d. The United States had not then comtnmood to develop fce'r own natural eouroeis; tj-ermany was a oolicietion of petty states, but now she is a united empire, aIDd with her extensive re- couroes is able to flood cthe markets of Great Britain, in addition -to- snip plying her own meeds. So ooramamd&Gg was England's rood- tkm 60 years ago thatt CobcLem actually pro- phecied that within five years of our adopting Frea Trade evcrry otiher nation would have fallowed our example, iamd that evwry tariff in Europe wicsuild be changed. Unioirtensately, wo fisi/d, to our cost, that preeiaely the oppo- site haa happened. We now find, ourselves enclosed "ftiitihin hostile tariffs, wiich are in- creased yearly in severity, and against whioh we are powerless to offer any effective resiat- arroe. The great nations which were formerly our beet custocneirs are now our kaeroest rivals our trade in every oora^rr of the world, and im each succeeding year gain- ing a stronger hold upon, our own markets at home. This is the position we have to face to-day, and it is absolutely necessary th&t itlue working men of Britain should realise our real position. Mr Howard earnestly appealed to all work- ers, irrespective of party politics, tooon this qiDestiion. It is a working man's ques- tion. He also asked his heareirs to remembex that capital can readily be moved from place to place by -a simple stroke of the pen; but not so the worker, for if there is niot enough work to go round at home, working men hav-e to tface the grim alternatives of starvation, pauperism, or emigration. The policy of Tariff Reformers is to take a part off the du- ties of those ooenmodities we cannot iiroduoo ourselves, sucl1..as tea, cngar, coooa, etc., and put a duty upon thoeo things we are able to produce m our own country, such as boots, nho-.e, dotiuiig, and a great nuaniber of other Manufactured artieSles, which at present are imported from foreign countries, aaxd unfairly oompelbe tWtith the home producer, and cansing uruerniployneemt. Tariff Reform, in a nut- ehieill, means the end of unfair amd unres- tricted competition., and the protec-tion of Britidh labour. If it is not right for foreign conn tries to admit into their own country Britiiah goods, fœfé of duty, it is not other- wise Tight fo.- Britain to receive foreign goods into our under eiimlar condi- tions, goods which the British workicr can make a.t 'home. But, the Free Trader will e-ay that he does not object to that, and woll add: "But you are goiiiig to tax com, you axe going to tax breiad." There was never a bigger falsehood, said Mir How-nrd, than to suggest (and that is the inference) that Tariff Reformers propoise to tax tihe food of the people. They propose to do nothing of tihe sort. Internal oo-npetition always regu- ilat-es the pric? of imported oommodity. Home-gix>wn com will be free of duty; so mn Co'orial oo-rn; and that is the preference tihe Colonies aire now asking for. Thus, the fbreigmeT, to get his corn into our market, will have to pay a duty of 2s per quarter before he can compete in British and Colon- ial markets, end the material result will be that the foreigner will cihocr have to, pay th-2 whole of the duty or will be compelled to lower his price to thea-mounlt of the duty. But, even granting that we will have to pay the duty, a.nd not the foreigner, there is not a coin illl the realm which will nioct the duty —namely, one-eighth Of -.L penny o,-i a four pound leaf. We are paying food taxes to- day under Free Trade to tihie extent of tetn million pc'imds a year. "Let us alter this one-sided system," declared the epeaker, "and do what every other civilised country is doing -—tax those who tax them." Free Trade means free imports, ared taxed exports. What we want to-day is to stop the tide of healthy English men iarud women who continually leave these sihores becaaise there ia no work for the- here; and the only way to do that is to protect our own industries from unfair foreign competition. That is the only way of avoiding poverty, and of giving Britidh work'to British workers (applause). Mr Howard will speak again to-morrow night (Friday) in Pemrhyneide, and a cordial welcome is extended to all. The following night (Friday) another successful meeting was held at the far end of the village, where Mr Howard exhibited a scries of lantern pictures. The speaker dealt chiefly with the Budget, and was accorded an attentive hearing. Over 20 written questions were handed up to the speaker, who answered each one in a courteous and effective manner. The visit of the Conser- vative Van has undoubtedly been an unqualified success.

DEGANWY. The Conservative Van arrived here on Satur- day last., when an address was delivered by Mr Howard, of the National Union, to an interested audience, on "Why Wales should adopt Tariff Reform." The speaker dealt principally with Welsh industries, and delivered an effective reply to a speech made by the Chancellor at the City Temple. He was listened to with rapt attention. Questions were invited and answered by Mr Howard.

PEWMAEMMAW??. SUCCESSFUL MEETING. The Conservative Van, which is touring North Wales, in charge of Mr Fred. Howard, arrived in Pcnmaenmawr on Monday last. A meeting was held on an open space near the Railway Station, when an excellent speech was delivered by Mr Howard. There was a good attedance, and the speaker received a favourable hearing. Mr Howard, in the course of his address, said lie was not there to attack the Chancellor or any- body else. No useful purpose was served by bandying personalities about on a Unionist plat- form. What lie was most anxious to do, if pos- sible, was to try and make perfectly clear what was the real object of Tariff Reform? Tariff Reform aimed at the protection of British natural resources against all forms of foreign un- restricted competition. It meant the economic extension of the principle of protecting a man's trade as well as his wages, and for the first time in the history of the Empire Tariff Reform meant the binding together by commercial bonds the Mother County with her daughters across the sea. Mr Howard also dealt with the food taxes, and pointed out that the Radical cry of dear food under Tariff Reform was a contemptible lie. We had dear food now. Every workman's wife has to pay more for her food to-day than she did three years ago. Then what became of the boast of cheap food under Free Trade "You never had free food," declared Mr Howard. "On the contrary, you are paying over ten millions every year taxes on food under Free Trade. We want to take part of the taxes off food and put them upon foreign manufactured goods coming into our market, which displace British labour (cheers) Let us drop our selfishness. Let every man of us, whether Welsh or English, realise that the time has now arrived when each and all should make up their mind to put an end to a system which throws thousands every year out of em- ployment, and secure British work for British workers" (applause). Several questions were asked and ably answered by. the speaker,

MUSICAL NOTES, I By Peter Edwards, Mm. Bac. (Pedy A liw). I THE MUSICAL ART. I This week I give the views of the well-known musician, M. Debussy, upon music as an arl. It I is interesting reading, and is the result of an interview a representative of the Press had with him at his delightful home in Paris. First of all, the reader will understand what sort of man M. Debussy is when ho says that although he went to the Conservatoire, from tho beginning lie was dissatisfied. He was that this chord must be like this and another like that; that one was a case of perfect har- mony, that another was not. Ail tho tims h. believed there was no such thing as a perfect chord, and he still believes it; but he hid t,.) pretend to believe what was taught at the Con- servatoire in order to "get through." Thus it will be understood he really did not care about the teaching of the great music school of Paris, and that he would just go his own. way as soou as he should be free to do so. L » MODE OF WORKING. He is now writing two operas, tho plots being taken from Edgar Alan Poe's "Fall of the Housn of Usher" and "The Pit and the Pendulum." He has been working on them for a long time. and cannot give any definite information as to the probable date of their oomp!etion. He ca not force himself; he must wait for tho spirit move him. Sometimes he cannot write anything, for days, weeks—even months. When he finds 5 suitable subject he concentrates his mind upon it. Then gradually "after theso thoughts havo simmered for a certain length of time, music be- gins to centre around them, and I feel I must give expression to the harmonies which haunt me." To try to force himself to write is, to his mind, like producing vegetables, or anything else. If you put a lot of chemicals in the earth, you may be able to raise salad in winter, but it is not the real, true calad, and doesn't taste like it. And in the same way, music, born under such conditions, is not true music—it is a hot-houso product. HIS OWN MUSIC. M. Debussy never goes to hear his own work performed. He cannot. It is too terrible for him—the interpretation always being so different from what he meant it to be. An opera is not like a drama. In a drama the words go directly to the spectator's brain, or to his heart, as the case may be. At any rate, ho understands them. But in music it is so different. He asks how many persons really understands music? Most people are fond of it, but how many "think" in music? How many associate music with ideas? A dramatist makes-his words felt directly. Ho does not, says M. Debussy, have a third person to interpret them. A composer's works have to pass through a conductor. If the conductor is at all good, even though he may try to render the composer's idea, lie will put in his own soul, and the moment he does that the composer is placed in the background. Now this shows what extraordinary views this man has! The better the oonducto-thc moro he puts his own soul into M. Debussy's music- the more painful it becomes to tho composer. Every composer knows ho cannot always inter- pret his own music to the world. lie has to rely upon the intelligence and taste of interpreters; and anlessthe music to be performed has about it an "atmosphere" which is out of the reach of all mortals sava the composer, it will probably be reached. Surely it is possible for a conductor to put as much as possible of "soul" into a ren- dering without spoiling the piece. Surely also it is the privilege of a conductor to get at tho inner meaning of tho music through his own person- ality Music is so much a part of M. Debussy that ho docs not recognise it when handled by others. One evening some friends spent some time at hia house, and one of the ladies favoured them with a song. "One of your own compositions," she said to him. He afterwards stated that it was well the lady had mentioned whose composition it was, otherwise he should not have known iti His compositions arc a part of himself—almost like his own children. He hates to see them grow up, for then they have to leave him. When they do leave him, he says, he never knows what their fate will be, and that always causes suffer- ing O' PUBLIC TASTE. It pazzles M. Debussy to know how this is to be elevat/J. He asks by what means one would do it. Just think for a moment, he says, what the public is composed of. How many persons in an audience understand music? How many de- vote themselves to it during the day? An infini- tesimal number. The rest, where do they come from? From offices, stores, busines3 houses of some kind. Or they come from insipid afternoon teas and gossip. And then they go to hear an opera. Most of them are tired after the day's work or idleness. And you expect such peoplo to take an interest in anything new or serious! You demand tho impossible! No; the only thing a composer can do for the public, and, for' a limited part of the public at that, is to lift it, for one moment, out of its daily houghts. iflusic may, for one short moment, make an auditor forget his financial operations or his social re- buffs AN EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT. M. Debussy holds the view that Art, although beautiful, divine, is not true. He asks what is truth, and replies that it is the exact rendering of things as they are. "That," he says, you do not find in art. "You may sometimes find whr.t one man says he considers the truth, but even then does he really believe so, at the bottom of his heart? Does any man really paint the truth as he sees it? He often pretends ho does. But does he? No, tl/ere will always be an enormous breach between the soul of the man as he is and the soul he puts into his work. A man portrays himself in his work, it is true; but only part of himself. In real life I cannot live up to tho ideals I have in music. I feel the differcnea thero is in me, between Debussy the composer and Debussy the man. And so, you see, from its very foundations, art is untrue. Everything about it is an illusion, transposition of facts. It neither repre3ents the man who produced it, nor life as it is. Art is a most wonderfully beautiful lie. Let us consider thi3 view. The general definition of "Art" is the employment of means to the accomplishment of some end, directed by knowledge and skill. A man paints the features of a beautiful lady and succeeds in his attempt to produce a faithful picture. Is it a lie? How can it be? Is it not a copy of Nature's beauty- "a work directed by knowledge and skill"? Of course it ia Does it lack life—soul? Perhaps so; but the painter has put into it every possible suggestion of life and of soul that knowledge and skill has enabled him to' do. After all, is not every picture a representation? You accept the picture of a person as the next best thing to tho person himseM or herself. Is it a faithful representation? Yes, how then can it be a lie? A composer writes a piece of music. Ho puts some of his real self into it, but not all. How can he? His real self is a mystery, an unknown quantity, even to himself! But if his music ex- hibits knowledge and skill in its construction; and if its aim is to deepen the listeners' foelngs, and it succeeds in doing so, where is the lie? Someone may say a vain, conceited man may write noble music, whereas there is no nobility in his soul, therefore his music is a lie! But may it not be a proof that there is nobility deep down in the soul, and that he is giving to the world of his better self? If you hear beautiful music, you need not bother about the composer, what fadJI he had, or what mean things he did. Jusi ad* mire the beautiful music. If, on the othp-r hiroo, you are asked to admire ugly music, say j'on cannot; that it repels you, because it is a lie! It is just the same with a picture. It is not enough to exhibit "knowledge and skill" alone: it must in itself be beautiful, else tho knowledge and skill have not been rightly used in the mak* ing of it. No painter ever succeeded, or ever will succeed, in painting the ideal, although h» may, and always should, strive to do so; but if his effort is such that the world in its good taste will admire it because ita beauty appealf to it, then it cannot be a lie. a PATRIOTIC MUSIO. I am pleased to learn that in connection witli the Cymrodorion Society, Prestatyn, a perform- ance will be given in that town of Owain A law's "Prince of Wales Cantata." next March. It will r.,n also be rendered at Carnarvon. It is a good thing to remember old Welsh musical wotIc^ such as the above. Perhaps if we heard mora lectures and read more books about the splendid struggles oi tho Welsh Princes and other Welsh heroes, we should have more frequent performs ances of Welsh cantatas, etc. Will not some of our societies take up Eo* Bradwen's "Owen Glyndwr," also Pencerdd Gwalia's "Llewelyn," or Alaw Ddu's ein LIYW Olaf,?