The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

CORRESPONDENCE. 117c do not hold ourselves responsible for tho opinions of our correspondents. CELLFECHAN FARM. To the Editor. Dear Sir,— On perusing your report of the last meeting of the Barmouth Urban Dis- trict Council, I cannot but think that the Council have deliberately betrayed their trust over the Cellfechan deal, We were told over and over again that the intention of the Council in buying this farm was to give visitors greater liberty and freedom to roam over the bills. The Council so far has not ob- tained the sanction of the Local Govern- ment Board, and yet they are already assuming possession by in- terviewing the tenent, and preparing estimates ofcosts on the estate. Since this deal has cropped up they already have to compensate another farm for the privilege of trespass, besides fencing in private property, and no doubt fur- ther applications will come in for the same favours. Now we have the tenent of Cellfechan asking for e7 annually for the use of a few paths, and the Council arranging an expenditure of J68 17s. 6d. for fixing gates in order to prevent trespassing. For my own part, if the Council in- tends lessening trespassing and protec- ting the tenent, why argue about com- persation ? Surely the Council were not honest at the ratepayers meeting when one after the other declared that trespassing on this farm was absolutely necessary for the salvation of Barmouth. This report of the meeting will hard- ly strengthen their case before the Local Government Board Inspector where the views of ratepayers will be treated with respect. Yours, etc., G, A. PERNICIOUS LITERATURE. To the Editor. Dear S i i-, If the invention of the printing press has proved itself to be an incalculable boon and blessing to mankind, and one of the most potent factors in the ad- vance of civilization, it has also, like many other good things, become an equally powerful agent in the desali- nation of evil and the corruption of morals. The veidict is incontrovertible and nothing further need be said in the way of proof, but vigilance and action is ever incumbent upon every member of society in the duty of outspoken and fearless protest when glaiing examples of offending literature are unbiushingly offered for sale before our eyes. Unfor- tunately these publications are very profitable and it is notorious that a bad book will sell while a good one is often unmarketable. The tendency of the age is against religion and morality. Old ideas and maxims are giving way to new ones. Some may deny this—plausibly excuse, or even glorify the process of di.senteg- ration which see increasing day by day, as the natural effect, so we are told, of greater knowledge and superior educational advance. What folly The apparently broader outlook over the horizon of life, and newer conceptions of humanity often discount belief at the ) expense of revelation, so that denial is confounded with progress, and decay with growth. Some are not ashamed to declare that license of thought is freedom of thought, and that freedom from the commandments of God is necessary for the freedom of the indi- vidual. Let them do so, but the Divine Law prevails and will prevail, though Infidelity draped in the flimsy garments of modern, speculative thought, too transparent to conceal its hideous form, j may and does assert itself. We must ) be ever on guard, for many are falling around us, though it can never vanquish but will itself be vanquished by the Divine Revelation which it assails. But if the hundreds who fall to-day may be thousands to-morrow, we must find out what is the influence at work. We see the young contaminated before they can be taught the difference between light and wrong. They are led to forsake the old paths for modern ones payed with enticing allurements which correspond to not what is best but what is worst in our human nature. That this has come about by the cir- culation of pernicious literature is un- questionable, and it constitutes the the gravest danger of our day. Freedom of the individual is a popular elamour, and has become a veritable dogma. Boys and girls are allowed to read what- ever they fancy, and just at the very -time when character should be moulded, the moulds are broken by ideas which have been engendered by reckless writers of sensational fiction. But if the literature of this class contained nothing worse than distorted concep- tions of life, we might find an easier remedy, but unfortunately the deadliest poison runs through the pages of many a book and cheap pamphlet which fills us with dismay. The contamination is so swift that the harm is done before we realize it. Innocence is destroyed by one fell stroke. Are we responsible ? I say we ai,o-ti -,i less we protest with no uncertain voice. A seandalous and obscene publication is being offered for sale in this town. I protest against it on the score of public morality, and call the attention of every person to it. I will not advertise a book which is a disgrace to both author and publishers by giving publicity to the title. I can only name it as indescrib- ably filthy and abominable and vile, and a crying shame upon our so called civilization. That the contents are a tissue of lies of the blackest character goes without saying, but its effect upon the mind of any young man or woman depraved enough to read it nlust be disastrous in the extreme. I say de- praved enough to read it because the smallest sense of decency would campel any respectable member of society not only to lay such a publicstion down but destroy it at once That its object is to slander the Catholic Church by the foulest calum- nies and most transparent fictions, is bad enough, wicked enough, but it is also so great an offence against public morality that its publication is a scandal for which words strong enough cannot be found. Were I not a Catholic, my soul would be equally filled with shame that such books as this could possibly be offered for sale, but as a Catholic I. feel more sorrow than anger. The Catholic Church has no fear that her fair name can be sullied by such atrocious calum- nies. The Gates of Hell" have at- tempted it times out of number, but the words of her Divine Founder They 1 •' shall not prevail" have not only l'ung through the ages but will continue to do so until the crack of doom. But you, fellow townsmen, you, both men and women, with families of boys and of gids--wilI you countenance such pernicious literature, such an abomin- ation to be cast abroad and read by the young and innocent, by your sons and by your daughters'? We should value purity, we should hate calumny, and wcshould cry shame upon the publishers of such poison with one heart and one voice. Take care of the young people. Do not allow these meretricious publications to be seen in any shop in Barmouth and bring discredit upon its prestige and upon its people. Evil enough i-1 wrought by certain books which misrepresent truth and insiduously sow the seeds of doubt and infidelity. These are ram- pant to-day, and must be met with argument because they cannot be sup- pressed but there can be no question of argument, no toleration for publica- tions which outrage public decency and fill the mind of the young with all that is impure and infamous. Stamp out the is imptit,e and int' ?Ltnou-3. St(tiiij) oitt- t?lte Yours faithfully, 27th April¡ 1911. C. A. MENDHAM. 27th April, 1911.

QUIET WEDDING AT EALING. DA VIES-SINCLAIR. On Monday, the 20Lb inst., a pretty wedding was solemnized at St. Saviour's Church, Ealing, between Mr Evon Davies, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Davies, Old Belle Vue, Barmouth, and Miss Marjorie Sinclair, third daughter of Mr and Mrs Henry Valentine Sinclair, of "Graemsay," Madeley Road, Ealing. The Rev. W. Templeton King M.A., (Rural Dean), officiated, assisted by the Rev. F. A._ Judd, M.A. Mr H. Goss-Custard presided at the organ. The wedding, in accordance with the youthful bridp's well known love of sim- plicity was very quiet. Miss Sinclair, who was given away by her father, wore a charming travelling costume of white chiffon cloth, with a lace corsage. Her hat of white satin was trimmed with French roses—a pretty spray com- posed of white carnations, lilies of the valley, and orange blossom (the gift of her aunt, Miss Child), was worn on the corsage. Mrs Sinclair, mother of the bride, was very becomingly attired in soft black eatin, draped with cream lace, and had on a primrose-coloured hat. Among those who attended the nkil)- tial festivities, it was interesting to note Mrs G. W. Brodriff, (formerly Miss Dorothy Sinclair), in pale grey, with bat to niatell. Mr Griffith Davies, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man. Under showers of confetti, the newly married pair started for their honeymoon—a motor tour through North Wales— reaching Stratford-on-Avon on the first day. The car was a wedding gift to the bridegroom from his brothers and sister, the other gifts were handsome and use- ful, but too numerous to be mentioned. On Saturday the 18th a farewell reception wau given by the parents of the bride in honour of her 21st birthday, which occurred on the day of the wedd- ing. Mr Evan Davies is one of the most popular young men in Barmouth, being of a genial and kind disposition. He is a keen motorist and general athlete, but it is as a strong and swift swimmer that he is mostly noted. He holds the Royal Humane Society Medal for life- saving—a Royal Humane Society Vellum Certificate. He was the re- cipient of a certificate and gold watch from the Carnegie Hero Fund, while the | German Ambassador on behalf of the German Imperial Government;presented him and his brother with a certificate and a cheque for five pounds for sav- ing the life of a German subject. Of the many tokens of appreciations in the possession of the young bridegroom-- not least are those presented in public by his fellow townsmen. Mr and Mrs Davies are expected to return to Bar- mouth next week, when they will take up their residence at Briar We heartily welcome the young bride, whose wonderful prowess as a magni- ficient swimmer, is well known in Bar- mouth, to our midst, and trust that the young pair are destined to have a long life of happiness, prosperity and useful- ness. I

THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE FIRE BRIGADE. At the Urban Council meeting last Tuesday week a Committee of the whole Council was reported to have been held to consider the grievances of the fire- men who had resigned as members of the Fire Brigade. After the grievances had been discussed it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Robert LL Williams, that it be recorded that .there is no ground for the statement in the Barmouth Advertiser that Sergeant Evans had in any way exceeded instruct- ions by the Council, and that the Council should further express its confidence in Sergeant Evans.—In seconding the pro. position, the Chairman (Dr. J. Pugh Jones) said be wished it to be clearly understood that he never made any charge against Sergeant Evans.—Mr J. Pryce Jones did not vote. AM. [We fail to understand why the Coun- cil should pass a resolution referring to ihe Advertiser at all, as our paper never made any such charge against Sergeant Evans. As our readers are well aware,much controversy has lately took place in our columns between the Fire Brigade and the Jate Chair- man (Dr. J. Pugh Jones) over a re- mark made at a Council meeting by Dr. J. Pugh Jones as follows "Why should the Instructor go and look for a place without- the consent of the Fire Brigade Joint Committee." The above statement appeared in the Advertiser, and-we still adhere that it is a true and correct statement. Our report of the statement was corro- borated in substance in the "Cam- brian News" for the same week, and why should our paper be singled out ? Therefore we fail to see what the Advertiser has to do with the matter at all, and if we had been allowed to stay at this meeting mentioned above, we should have been in a position to defend ourselves, and we must say that the Council was under a mis- apprehension in passing the resolu- ,it)r t,eh erisioii inP?,issiLio-, t:lie i,esolu. Liu:3 tu u,,tt,