The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

The Relation of Religion to Political Life and Citizenship. BY MR. JOHN HARRIES (IRLWYX), Bettws, Ammanford. We finished up last week by saying that the greatest school of education is the world itself, and in this week's issue we proceed upon those lines. Education means training men to make the best use of those faculties with which nature has endowed them. It is foolishness indeed for a man to say and to grumble about paying edu- cational rates because if we had no educational system we should have to pay more in the long run. We should be governed by ignorance and ultimately this would cost us more than all educational system would and we should suffer many ill- conveniences. Education in all things should be controlled by the State. The State with us pays very little heed to educa- tion and the Carmarthenshire Education Committee still less than the State, and where neglect is found it is a very easy matter for the State to say what it is, or where it is. In our complexity of ideas it may seem best to allow society to develop by different forms adapted to new, differ- ent conditions. A Government may lay down minute details, but they might not work out everywhere the same, while the old idea is attractive we make no allowance for a man's in- dividuality which ought to be pre- served and held as sacred. We can- not, however we may try, make every man alike in society. To us, education is only developing the different faculties in a man. How is it that Aristotle insists so much on moral training, and we in- sist so little? At the end of the Middle Ages we rushed into a system of book education, but we shall have to pay far more attention to character in the future. You will find always that a good mother does not train her children gluttons. To Aristotle there was only one truth. To us we have the same definite principal system which represents the truth. In Aristotle s time there was very little diversity of opinion in religion, but with us, among the sects, each con- ceives his religion to be right, and for a long time we tried to persuade each other of the truth, and the truth is free, but we cannot compel people to have one's opinion. In education we have to allow toleration, we have to acquire in the long run, but in the acquisition we have found that those are common elements of morality and religious sentiments and prin- ciples which come together in educa- tion. There is no doubt that at the present time the classing of all sys- tems under one would be a complete failure. In order to arrive at the truth we have to allow various ideas to come into contact with each other so that the truth itself will prevail. The fundamental conception of poli- tics is equality of human nature, and the fact that a Government can only be lasting which rests on the assump- tion of true labour for all. As Aristotle says, "A good Government for the benefit of all." We must re- cognise that while the fundamental principle always remains the same, it may not at all times be applicable.

CUT OFF BY FIRE AT SWANSEA. EXCITING ESCAPE OF WOMEN A-XD CHILDREN. Two fires, with narrow escapes of the families residing on the premises, were dis- covered on Saturday at Swansea. In one case, Mrs. Colwill, living with her daughter at No. 3, Cross-street, was awakened by finding the bedroom full of smoke, and the escape of both her and her daughter cut by a burning staircase. An alarm was raised, and a neighbour named Northy burst open the front door, rushed up the staircase at great risk, and succeeded in bringing out the alarmed inmates, who revived in the open air. In the other case, Mrs. Brailley, the land- lady, and thre children and a servant escaped in their night attire from the West Cross Hotel. Mrs Brailley awoke with a suffocat- ng feeling, and looking out of the window discovered that the front of the hotel was ablaze. The fires in each case were ex- tinguished, though considerable damage was done to the West Cross Hotel.

LLANDILO RAILWAYMEN'S NEW I BRANCH. A sub-branch of the National Union of Railwaymen has ben established at Llandilo, I as an offshoot of the Ammanford branch.

Amman Valley Schools. I IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL RECOMMENDED. The monthly meeting of the Amman "Valley School Managers was held at the Parcyrhun School on Thursday afternoon, Mr. David Da vies, Cilrhedyn, presiding. Those pre- sent were Revs. J. Edryd Jones, G. Davies, W. D. Thomas, and D. J. Moses, Messrs. B. R. Evans, Evan Evans, T. V. Jones, Thomas Morris, L. Rees, J. Harries, J. Hughes, R. D. Powell, D. J. Jones, Gwilym Rees, David Evans, D. Glyn Jenkins, and Alderman W. J. Wiliams, also the Clerk (Mr. D. J. Morris). FIVE YEARS' DELIBERA TIOX. I Arising out of the monthly letter from the Education Committee, Mr. B. R. Evans ob- served that he provision of blinds for the schools had now been under their considera- tion for the last five years-and still it was under their consideration He proposed that the Clerk be instructed to write, a £ xj*g the committee when would they ever arrive at a decision. Alderman W. J. Williams I thought the question of the blinds was settled? Mr. B. n. Evans No, under considera- tion still. The proposal was carried. "UDER FIVES" FOOLISHLY EXCLUDED AT I GLANAMMAN. The Rev. Edryd Jones drew attention to the action of the Committee in excluding children under five years of age from the Glanamman School in order to relieve the overcrowding. In his opinion they had done a foolish thing. At present there was ac- commodaton for 129 at the Glanamman Infants' School, whereas the number on the books was 125. Sixty-one had been trans- ferred to the mixed school and 21 excluded. Without waiting to see how many would be transferred, the committee foolishly pro- ceeded with their first decision. He should thnk that now they would be able to take the 21 excluded back. At the Bethel vestry the accommodation was for 120 with about 90 on the books, due to the fact that 40 had been excluded, so that, in his opinion, the Com- mittee would be wise to do away with their former decision. He moved that they be asked to reconsider their decsion and to allow the "under five" to attend the schoolJ at Glanamman. He added that some of those excluded would be five years of age in a fortnight's time. Alderman \V. J. Williams But they can attend school now. The Rev. Edryd Jones Yes, but that does not do away with the folly of the Education Committee. Mr. Thomas Morris seconded, as there was accommodation enough in the infants' department to meet the requirements pf those who had been excluded He thought it would be wise to leave them to come back to school and not play on the roads and perhaps get killed by the motor ti-afifc.-Carried. BRYNAMMAN SCHOOL. The Headmaster of the Brynamman School reported that there were 455 children on the hooks with accommodation for 329. There was also a lack of seating accommoda- ton, the number wthout seats in the aggre- gate being 69, and an officer of the education committee had visited the school in connec- tion with the matter A drain in the school yard needed attention. Alderman W. J. Williams moved that the letter be sent forthwith to the authority at Carmarthen to have the drain dealt with. The water overflowed the playground, and it was in a very insanitary iitate altogether. The sanitary inspector, he understood, had condemned the whole of the arrangements. A committee had been appointed to decide whether the school was to be altered and added to, or a new school to be built. The Rev. W. D. Thomas seconded, and it was carried. The County Architect's report, detailing how improvements to the building could be effected, was read. The lighting, ventila- tion and heating of the three classrooms could be improved by substituting flat roofs over the cloakrooms abutting the exterior walls at a cost of £ 100, but it was a matter of opinion as to whether that expenditure was justified n view of the fact that in the near future the building must give place to a more modern structure. The present buildings were overcrowded, and he had prepared alter- native plans, showing how additional class- rooms could be built, at the same time em- bodying all the improvements in connection with the old classrooms. The cost of the work would probably amount to £ 4,000. "NOT THE PENTECOSTAL DANCERS. I An interesting discussion arose over an application by the Rev. D. P. Wiliams, Cross Hands, on behalf of a Penygrocs fraternity who had seceded from the mission hall, for the use of the Penygroes Council School for religious service, There were GO members and about 40 children. Mr. Gwilym Rees We are getting noted in Penygroes for things like these. (Laugliter. 1 Mr. B. R. Evans proposed that the appli- cation be granted at an annual charge of zt3, and Mr. J. Harries seconded. Mr. Gwilym Rees said similar applications had previously been granted ,and he did not see why they should single these out different to others. They termed themselves a re- ligious body. Mr. Thomas Morris Are these the Pente- costal dancers'? (Laughter.) Mr. Gwilym Rees I don't know. To give a descripttion I could not. (More laughter.) The Rev. W. D. Thomas believed they should know something about those good people before granting use of the school. The Chairman There are plenty of chapels and vestries about there. Mr. T. V. Jones proposed that the managers attend their services for the next month and report to the next meeting. (Laughter.) Mr. B. R. Evans Let us take their word. They say they are a Christian body. We have taken the other on the same score, and why make a difference here ? The Rev. W. D. Thomas But we knew who the others were. In the instance of Mr. Bowen's new church, he made a per- sonal application. We ought to know some- thing about them. That does not mean that we are going to be narrow-minded, or that we shall be prejudiced. I notice they have seceded from somewhere. Mr. B. R Evans said it did not matter from where they had seceded. The import- ant fact was that they were a Christian body. Mr. J. Harries agreed, and pointed out that if the application was not granted, it would be said that they were governed by prejudice. Alderman W. J. Willams did not think there could be but one objection-if they were Pentecostal dancers they might ruin the school. (Laughter) The wear and tear of the building would not be covered by the £3 that had been proposed. It would not be amiss if the managers had a report of some kind, and he thought the application had better be adjourned to the next meeting. Mr. D. J. Jonues I also think we ought to know more than we do about them. Alderman W. J. Williams proposed, and the Rev. W. D. Thomas seconded that the matter be adjourned for a month. Mr. J. Harries pointed out that if any damage was done to the school then it was part of the conditions under which the use of the school would be granted that that be made good. If they were Pentecostal dancers and their mode of worship led to any damage they would have to be responsible. Alderman W. J. Williams asked what about the nuisance which would be created. The school has not ben built for religious ser- vice and it was not right to grant them at all. (Hear, hear.) Of course, when re- pairs were going on to any chapel it was different. Mr. B. R. Evans I agree that the schools were not built for that purpose but let us treat everyone alike. A vote taken resulted in an overwhelming majority being found for deferring the matter, but at a later stage the Rev. D. P. Williams made his appearance and it was decided to hear his explanation. He said their application was for the use of the school for a period of about three months. They had been worshipping in the Mission Hall, and probably most of them knew the history of the secession. Now they had no place to worship in. Mr. D. J. Jones To what denomination do you beling? Roman Catholics, Church of England, Nonconformists, or is it some- thing new? Mr. Williams I will take you on your last words. You said "Something new." It is new and yet old. We are the children of the revival and call ourselves the "Apostolic Faith Church." Alderman W. J. Williams Something was said about Pentecostal dancers. You are not one of those? Mr. Williams No. Mr. D. J. Jones said the managers did not mean to be disrespectful by asking that. He believed that people could express their feelings by dancing as well as by singing and speaking. Alderman W. J. Williams Only that the floor would be damaged (Laughter.) The Rev. D .P. Williams having retired, it was proposed by Alderman W. J. Wil- liams and seconded by Mr J. Harries that the use of the school be granted This was carried with two dissentients—the Chairman and Mr. Thomas Morris. On the motion of Mr. B. R. Evans it was resolved that the annual charge be £ 3 FELICITATIONS TO HEADMASTERS. H.M. Inspector's report upon the Amman- ford mixed department was read, as follows The discipiine and organisation of this im- portant school are thoroughly well main- ta ined. The teaching is thorough and in- telligent. The lessons are well prepared, and all the members of the staff render whole-hearted service. All the subjects of instruction receive careful attention and the work throughout is of a uniformly high standard. The progress made in Welsh dur- ing the last few years is highly gratifying. Lavatory arrangements are urgently needed and the offices should be kept cleaner. The Board of Education, in forwarding the report asked to be informed what steps would be taken regarding the lavatory ar- rangements. The local managers recommended that tile architect be asked to meet the managers and report upon a site to build it on, together with a classroom suggested instead of the school house. The recommendation was adopted, and Mr. Evan Evans proposed that the head- master be congratulated upon the excellent support. Alderman W. J. William seconded. Mr. D. J. Jones believed they should take notice of a good report like the present one from whatever school it may come, in order to show that they appreciated the good work done on behalf of education in the Valley. The proposal was carried. It was reported that 24 candidates were presented from Glanamman for the County School scholarships examination, and that "all of them passed, two heading the list for the whole county and four for the Amman Valley. Alderman W. J. Williams moved that the headmaster be congratulated, and said the children of the Valley should have the very best attention from the masters and the staff in course of preparation for the scholarships awarded from year to year.—Mr. T. V. Jones seconded, and the proposal was carried. SCHOOL CLEANERS AND FIREWOOD. I Arising out of the report for the Blaenau School, a protest was made against the action of the committee in making it incumbent up- on school cleaners to provide firewood out of their own sa laries. Mr. J. Harries said he knew a case where the school cleaner was paid the rate of ljd. per hour, and he considered it was a ease of adding insult to injury in asking the cleaners to purchase firewood from their slender salaries. It was nothing but sweated labour. Rev. W. D. Thomas said the complaint was a general one throughout the whole va l ley. On the motion of the Rev. J. Edryd Jones it was agreed to recommend the Committee to supply school cleaners with firewood in future. INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. The Clerk informed members that a sub- committee of the Education Committee would meet at Ammanford on Friday in connection with the proposed Amman Valley County School. Mr. B. R. Evans said he was told that the commitre would take into consideration the advisability of starting the school in temporary premises. Whether that was the real object of the visit he did not know, but it behoved them, as representatives of the Amman Valley educational area, to pass a resolution of some kind. The managres knew the district pretty well, and he ventured to say that there was a widespread feeling in the district for commencing the school immediately. Hear. hear.) Eleven out of every twelve were in favour. Mr. Evans went on to point out that most admirable temporary buildings would be found in the Ebenezer and Wesleyan vestries. The for- mer was 41 feet long and 25 feet wide, and the yatter 30ft. by 20ft. with another room 24ft. by 15ft. The accommodation, he con- tended, would be ample, and in proof said the two vestries had been utilised for impart- ing instruction to elementary school children prior to the erection of Parcyrhun School. They would be admirable temporary build- ings, and the Commite would have no reason to regret having commenced there, and if they did start there he hoped it would be be- tween this and the beginning of the year. Since the district had been made into an independent district and the Order sanctioned by His Majesty in Council in August last, the parents of the area were clamoring for an immediate commencement. It had been re- ported that the school was not going to start for another three years, and he would ask them were the boys and girls of working class parents going to be debarred from secondary education those years again. Let the managers pass a resolution urging im- mediate commencement in temporary pre- mises, and he moved that they recommend the committee that the school be started in temporary buildings as soon as possible. He added that the vestries he had mentioned were within 30 yards of each other. Mr. J. Harries seconded. The Rev. W. D. Thomas suggested that a deputation from the managers should wait upon the sub-committee at Ammanford, as lie thought this step was a very important one. for the best part of five or six years they had to fight for an intermediate school for the Valley, and there were two inquiries, the first well over two years ago, and another a year ago. They were not a step further on to-day than two years ago, and the idea of waiting another three years before getting the school opened was very unjust to the children of the Valley. They ought to press for an immediate commencement, if need be, but he thought from what they had seen hitherto that the Education Committee were prepared to move, were anxious to move, and, in his opinion, the hindrances which had been put in their way during the last two years were due to outside influences, as far as he could see. He believed the Educa- tion Commitee to be in favour of moving on as soon as possible, and a strong resolution from the managers would strengthen their arms in the business. Mr. B. R. Evans agreed to accept the sug- gestion of having a deputation to wait upon the sub-committee as part of his motion. Mr. Thomas Morris It is useless for us to hide the fact that there are people who are throwing all the impediments they can to hinder the progress of this school. The motion was carried, the following be- ing appointed to form the deputation The Chairman, Revs. W. D. Thomas, J. Edryd Jones, D. J. Moses, Messrs. B. R. Evans, D. J. Jones, T V. Jones, David Evans, and Gwilyrn Rees. BAD LIGHTING OF SCHOOLS. Mr. J. Harries proposed a motion of which lie had given notice, to the effect that the Education Committee be recommended to supersede their present lighting installation of either gas or electricity where convenient, and said th bad light, which was now used, was bound to affect the eyesight of the students who were mostly miners It was a hardship to expect them to work under such conditions, and he felt the occasion had arrived when pressure should be brought to bear on the committee to effect an improve- ment in the lighting of the schools, so that the classes be made attractive. Alderman W. J. Williams seconded. He knew quite well that the light now supplied was poor indeed, and should there be any difficulty with the Education Committee he would suggest that they be invited to do the work under the conditions the young people had to in the evening classes. The motion was carried. OTHER MATTERS. Mr. W. Pritchard, College-street, Am- manford, applied that his daughter, Miss Margaret Jane Pritchard, he appointed to fill a vacancy at the Parcyrhun School as supple- mentary teacher. It was decided that an application he forwarded to the Committee. The Clerk reported that school cleaners in receipt of salaries under £ 7. l(>s. would be exempted from payment of insurance money, the Committee contributing for them. Only- one cleaner in the Amman Valley would be affected. It was stated that the contract for erection of additional classrooms at Bettws had been given to Mr. J. S. Thomas, Pantyffynr.on, whose tender came to £ 091.

BOYS CHARGED WITH STEALING A I GOAT. On Friday at Neath, three small lIoys- Thomas Milward, Leonard Milward, and Owen Davies, were charged with stealing a goat, the property of J. W. James, Shelone- road, Briton Ferry, on the 19th inst. The goat was recovered at Baglan some davs later. The parents were each fined 10s. and costs.

How Success ii aeliieve(I.- Success travels in the direction you arc going. It can't be met; it must be over- taken.-Estelle Klauder.

Tit-Bits and Rare-Bits of To-day and Yesterday. Some Wise Some Otherwise. ♦ (ullillfJ Them "Nalllcs. "Why not call motor-care by names?" is a question asked in one of the daily papers. It is often done-by non-motoritits. The better half is so called because she always gets the better of the other half. We learned this from our wl-fe.-("iii)iaiiiiiisoit Scimitar. It ISH"t His Fault.- Howell "Edison says that we sleep too much." Powell: "Well, it isn't his fault; lie has invented enough things to keep us awa ke"— London Opinion. In Ka lamazoo no person under 18 years of age is allowed to drive an automobile, but they will have to raise the age limit abou 20 years more to catch all the fools.-Gra)id Rapids Press. Darwin Oil Annihilation.— "It is an intolerable thought that we and all sentient beings are doomed to complete Annihilation after such long-continued slow progress. If I could go on now, with my head sixty years old and my body twenty-five, I could do something." Claim for Damages.- "Bill's going to sue the company for damages." "Why. what did they do to him?" "They blew the dinner hooter when lie was carrying a 'eavy piece of iron, and lie dropt it on 'is foot." Some Things a Mari can Never Learn.- "There are some things a man can never learn. One is that a woman, however happily situated in a man's house, must have another woman easy of access to talk with, to sew with, to whisper to. "—Mrs. Day's Daughters, by Mary E. Mann. The Archbishop's Ready Wit,- Of ready wit the Archbishop of Canterbury is a great example. He was going in with a number of other clergymen to luncheon after some great ecclesiastical function, when an unctuous dignitary observed, "N ow to put a bridle on our appetites Quick as light- ning the Archbishop retorted "Say rather, now to put a bit between our teeth." Light Your Pipe and Let Things do.— All the world is full of blither Of philosophies and creeds: Full of rushing here and tnither Under stress of varied greed; Wasting time and nowhere going. Whether rich or stony broke-- Light the weed and keep it glowing; All is vanity and smoke. Hoic much for a Season Ticket ?— At a certain college in the north of Eng- land the male studens were not permitted to visit the resident lady boarders. One day a male student was caught in the act of doing so and was court-martinlied. The head- master, addressing him, said "Well, Mr. Blank, the penalty for the first offence is 4s., for the second 10s., for the third t5. alld so on up to ,MO." In solemn tones the tres- passer said "How much would a season ticket cost?" The Funny English Language.— A sleeper is one who s leep*. A sleeper is that in which a sleeper sleeps. A is that on which the sleeper runs while the sleeper sleeps. Therefore, while the sleeper sleeps in the sleeper the sleeper carries the sleeper over the s leeper under the sleeper until the sleeper, in-lilch tiic, sleeper, jumps the sleeper and wnkes the sleeper in the sleeper by striking the sleeper under the sleeper on the sleeper, and there is no longed anv sleep for the sleeper sleeping in the sleeper on the sleeper. Tokens of Immortality.— "I feel immortality in myself. Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is intny heart. The nearer I approach the end the more plainly I hear around me the immorta l symphonies of the world to come. For half a century I have been writing my thoughts in prose and verse but I feel that I have not said a thousandth part of what is in me. When I go down to the grave I slizill not have ended my day's speech, but another day will begin next morning. Life closes in the hyilight: it opens with the dawn. "— VICTOR HUGO. (Quoted In the Rev. J. Griffiths, B.A., -P,. I ).. 111 a sermon at Ebenezer, Ammanford, i 1J e OllfJltt to have Stuck to "Samson. "— Charles Frohman was talkmg about his plans for the winter. "I hoped that George Alexander would go to the States." he said. "Alexander id. of his type. the best- actor alive to-day." "Alexander isn't his right name is it?" rise journalist asked. "Xo." said Mr. Frohman. "his right name is Sam- son. It was a pity to change the name of Samson for that of Alexander." "But Alexander conquered the world, you know," smiled the other. "Samson, however, is the more appropriate theatrical name," Mr. Frohman insisted. "Have you forgotten that Samson was the first who brought down the house?" Any Questions to be Asked.— .l)))/<.))'f.h.Hf.</?< )?.).<;J.— of Miss Inez Milholland reminds a suffragist of an anecdote about the fair young pro- pagandist "Miss Milholland was speaking." she said, "on female suffrage, and she looked as usual, very charming in one of those loose and careless, yet clinging—loosely clinging— gowns of the new fashion. "At the end she said 'And now arc there any questions? Anyone who has any questions to I"k.? I shall be very much pleased to answer any questions to the best of mv A WOlllan rose in the back of the hall. 'Well?' smiled Miss Milholland. 'Would you please tell me, miss' said the woman eagerly, 'where you get your corsets?"