ST. PLEGMUNFS WELL. ST. PLE Gill tj-|1908-11-14|Cheshire Observer

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ST. PLEGMUNFS WELL. ST. PLE Gill tj 9 UNIQUE SERVICE. ARCHDEACON'S ELOQUENT ADDRESS. CHESHIRE HERMIT BECOMES ARCHBISHOP. On Tuesday a short memorial torvice cf a unique character was held at three o'clock at Plemoride<5tall Church, for tho dedication d St. Plegmund's Well, which u; now framed in appropriate nonc work. This historic t-pring is remarkable for the fact that the water drawn from it has been used for the rite of baptism at Plemondestall church for fully eleven centuries, in other words from the reign of Kill. Alfred the Great of the ninth century up to the present time. To Mr. Osborne Aidis, M.A., of Chester, is due the crcdit for rescuing from pviiiaps oblivion this more than interest- ing fjpot. Tho we-H waa known to many anti- quarians and others, but previously it was al- ways in danger of being damaged or suffering flora the ravage of the w-eath< etc. Now, by tlie generosity and foresight of Mr. Aldis, it has been enclos<xl by a plain but appropiiate protecting wa'l and brought prominently oc- fore the public eyo The well is situated on tho left-hand side. of the road leading from. the main highway to the church, just prior to reaching the- bridge which spans the Cowcy. The Spl ing is in a. hollow beneath the shelter- ing branches of a tree, and it is now reached from the roadway by two stono steps, which lead to a large s!-ab coviering tho ditch. The wall of th well contains the following Latin inscription: — l i ns the f,,Ilowing Latin Hie tons Plegmuridi ritu bap! ismatis usus: Regnanta Alfredo; tunc hodieque wId. On the right return of the stono aro the let- ters D D. (Dono Donavit), with the name of the A;l d dono", "Osborne Le, M.A. On the left return appears the year "A.D. 1908." T'ho:" historic and quaint church was well filled by a representative congregation for the servioc. It included Lord and Lady Forester, tho Hon Lady Giey-Egerton, Mrs. i Paik-Yaces, Mr. Osborne Aldis, M.A.. tho following members of tho Chester end North Wales Arehsoologica) Society: Mr. Henry Taylor, F.S.A., Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Brown, Messrs. F. Simpson and W. W. Tusker, and Mis. Cecil Smith; also Mrs. B. C. Roberts, Mis. J. White, Mr T. H. Hughes, and Mcssis. Ballard and Hutchinson k-hurohwaidens), Mr. T. M. Good, Ur. C Greenhouse, the Rev. G. O. lIoIt, Mrs. E Gardner, the Rev. J. Phillips tho Rev. C. Tansk-y, the Rev. II. J. 12 Williams, etc. The officiating clergy were the Archdeacon of Chester, the Rev. J. H. Too- good (reclor), the Rev. A. Svmonds (vicar of Over Tab'ev, Knutsford), and the Rev. F. O. Poo' (Ashtoii HYCf). Thc-rc WCIL> the usual prayers and lessons for the day, and the follow- ing hymns were sung: "Yc. servants of the Lord," "Palms of glory, raiment bl ight," "Tho Saints of God, their conflict past." A collection was taken in aid of the fund for tk' Restoration of this interesting edifice. The Aiehckacon of Chester, than whom no bettor •.uthority on the subject can be found, do- livered an e!oquent and interesting address. He said: We meet to-day in this interesting church on an interesting and unique occasion. It is one which, if it will not rescue from ob- livion, will at any rate secure for future gener- ,Inon, will at any rate secure for future gener. ations the memory of bii epoch in the parish, and of the connection with this place more than 1,000 years ago cf one who played no un- important part in the history of our country. That eminent historian, the late Bishop of Chester, Dr. Stubbs, once impressed upon the audience he was addressing the importance of preserving the oid names, even of the fields in cur parishes, as containing the elements of his- torical information. And on the 20th of Octo- ber, 1886, in addressing a meeting of the Archaeological Society in Chester, he 6aid: We have materials in Cheshire, in connection tI-ith the Angle-Saxon period, which have not Veen adequately worked." Then, after allud- tag to Runcorn, Tbe 1 wall, Choimorideley, and lither places, he added "In Plemondestall you have the stall or habitation of Plegmund, who has been identified with an Archbishop of Canterbury in the timo of King Aifred." We have, therefore, this high authority, added to that of others who preceded him, for accepting without hesitation the tradition which links S. Plegmund, Archbishop of Canterbury from 890 to 914, with this particular spot, and so with tho well, round which a protecting wail kfis just been erected by tho thoughtful generosity of Mr. Osborne Aldis, with the Banet-ion of the landowner, the Earl of Shrews- bury. Before passing on, I may remind you that the connection of our own S. Werburgh with Chit-shire is perpetuated in the name of a village and of an honoured county family, Wa-lbiirion. I do not propose to-day to speak of "IIoly wells, irncient and modern," as has been announced. Such a theme is far too wide to be treated of in a short space of time, even 1f I were competent to do it. Moreover, I am not quit3 certain whether we can class the well hro in the category of "Holy Wells," and -ciatc, with it any of those ceremonies and Practices which centre around such <>pots. It is not. for instance, like the Well of S. Chad, near Lichfield. Of this Lelancl (who visited Lich- field about 1538) in his Itinerary speaks thus In tho eatitc end of the town is S. Chad's Well—a spring of pure water, where is scene a IIt.rtnB at the bottom of it, on whiche, some sav, St. Chad was wont to stande in the water and praye. At this stone St. Chad had his oratory lr) the fvmo of Wulpnar, King of the Mercians (who we may add was the father of our S. I Werburgh)." It was natural, of course, for the early preachciv, of Christianity to select for their ceils and habitations places near to a stream a spring or a well, not merely for their OWn bodily refreshment, but because water was fieoevssary for the ceremony ef baptism. Imme- diately after, and often before the death of the holy man, miraculous power was ae-eribed to the waters of the spring or well and hence arose a number of so-called hojv weJls all over the country. They even gave the name to tho Place, and besides Holywell in Flintshire (where St. Winifred's Well is) there are other Places so designated, among them a part of the city of Oxford, which is called Holywell. About t-hese wells certain CUSTOMS GREW UP ^earacterised as well-dressing. Thu-s at St. I 'h a'-s \Vel[ on IIolv Thursday the well would decorated with wreaths and garlands of freshly gathered flowers, and after a service in church tho congregation would Vif:it the well, I hen the clergyman would read tho gospel for th day, and say certain prayers, and then ^yrp.Tis would be eurg. Writing early in the oentury a chronicler says "Even at this day It is customary for the clergyman and church- wardens and a great ooncouree of children to visit this well on Holy Thursday (Ascension Day), when it is a dorned with boughs and flowers, and the gospel for the day is read." I A later writer, some tn or twelve years ago, remarks: "This description, with slight alter- I ations, will fairly describe the ceremony at present performed." On Holy Thursday the choristers of the Cathedral "walk in procession to the well, carrying green boughs and sing the old hundredth Psalm, and the priest vicar reads the gospel for the day." In olden times the day would be observed as a general holiday, and would be marked by rustic sports, rejoic- ings, and other festivities. This would be a type of what was done in other parts when a "holy well" existed—and it is just possible that a similar practice may be originated, if we may not say revived, at the well which we shall shortly visit, now that it has had a. pro- tecting wall erected. Leaving this wide and fascinating subject, I turn rather to the story of St. Plegmund, and to the obvious kx-sons which it teaches us. It is a matter of regret that a paper which was read before our society by the late Judge Wynne Foulkcs in the year 11862 on The life and character of Archb:shop Plegmund and on his connection with this county was not printed in our journal. A short summary of it W2.i1 given, and t.h0 hope was ex- p^xvsod that it would appear in cxtenso in a subsequent number, a hope which was not realised. Plegmund was a Mercian by birth, and born in troublous times. The Danes had over-run the land, destroyed the monasteries, the only places of learning, and driven the monks from their books*. Some there were, however, who determined in spite of all difficulties to pursue their studies, and to pray in solitude for better t' ari(i of these Plegmund wa.s one. He established himself then on "an I ISLE OF CHESTER," which has been ldentiiied with tlrs particular I spot, for there can be no doubt that in those times this was an island amid the fens and marshes, thus by its situat ion affording a place of safety in days of disorder and. unrest. Here, then, he &et up his stall or habitation—pen-w.bly on the very site wliere this church now stand s— and lived the hermit's life. We must remember, however, as Dean Hook tells 110", that a hermit was not an anchorite. The latter never quoted his cell, but was an absolute recluse. The hermit was a more independent character. He moved about as occasion demanded. If he had a settled abode, he would go to places of public resort near at hand, and by his preaching seek to benefit the wayfarers who might be passing by. We can imagine St. Plegmund paying his fre- I quent visits to the neighbouring city, taking up his position at one or other of the gates (for it was encircled with its Roman Wails), and in- structing out of his store of laboriously acquired learning those who are willing to pause and listen to his discourse. The anxious enquirer might return with him to his island home, and after further preparation as a catechumen re- ceive the grace of Holy Baptism at the very well with which our cereminy of to-day is con- nected. What books, or rather manuecripts, he would have with him we cannot- fay. The Bible, of course, was his constant companion, and it has been suggested with confidence that Bocthius "Do Conrolationc Philosophise" would certainly be one of his treasures. This treatise was afterwards translated by King Alfred, a task in which Plegmulld may have helped him. There is in the library of Corpus Chrieti College, Cam- bridge, a copy, the oldest in existence, of the Saxon Chronicle, said to have been 1ril1, c iLcd by Plegmund, for which assertion there is no in tcrnal evidence of an indirect nature. Thi., however, was probably done after he had left thi. neighbourhood. We are certain of tins, that to be a student in those days and to become distinguished as a theologian (and both these were attributes of Plegmund) involved immense labour and patience, added to natural ability. Materials were scanty enough, and even these could be mastered only by steady apphcation-and perseverance. Yet this I CHESHIRE HERMIT I apparently acquired such a reputation lor learn- ing, that King Alfred (who was twelve years of age before his own e ducation touched upon letters) sent for him to his court. There ,with Grimbald, Wcrefrid, Assor and others, ho would be associated with the monarch who did so much for England, whom we know ao Alfred the Great, but who was then known as-"Eng- land's Da.-Aing." He wot, -d, take his part in the promotion of learning, and in furthering the best interests of the nation. Alfred came to the crown in 872 and died in 900. How eooii after his accession he summoned Plegmund to his side, to be his tutor in adult life. I cannot say, but that the relations between them weie very close and intimate and mutually advan- tageous we can have no doubt. Dean Hook has dra.wn a picture of the Court- of Alfred un- der these influences which is both interesting and suggestive. In tho year 890 the see of Canterbury was vacant, and was offered by the King to Plegmund, a step which met with universal approbation, for the entry in I li-e Saxon Chronicle runs thus: "This year, 890, Plegmund was chosen of God and of all the people Archbishop of Canterbury." Plegmund was consecrated by Pop j Foimosus at Rome, but as some doubt and discredit was thrown upon the actions of that Pontiff, he paid a second visit to Rome, and was rcccnsecrcttcd by Pope Stephen, thus submitting to a rit-o of moie than questionable piopriety. He cordi- ally sccond-d the King in his endeavours to le- form the Church cf England, to cncourage the clergy in their duties and to establish a learned priesthood. In conjuivetion they pub- lished "tho Past-oral Care" of Gregory the Great, a copy of which was sent to every Eng- lish Bishop, with a note worthy pic face fiom the King himself; in which the Sovereign ac- knowledged what; he had "learned of Pleg- mund, my Archbishop, and of Asser, niy Bishop, and of Gumbald, my presbyter, and of John, my presbyter." It is interesting to know tha-t tho copy addressed to Plegmund is still preserved, as well as those addrcssied1 to the, Bishops of Worcester and Sliei borne. With refeienee to the Episcopate of Plegmund, it will be sufficient, to say here that it was marked by much activity, and by heariy co-opeiation with Alfred and his successor, Edward the elder, in their efforts to piomote learning and tho social wlfalü of the people. A school for the education of the higher classes was estab- lished at Winchester, and over this Grimbald presided. In 904 Plegmund consecrated seven Bishops on tho same occasion, three of them to se, newly founded, and one of these in Corn- wall. Whether he ever visited llio scene of HIS EARLY LABOURS ? 1.. hero it is impossible to say; but the following fancied description of the laying of the founda- tion of St. John's, Chester, written by the late Mr. Thomas Hughes, is not without interest: "First there was Ethclred and Ethelfreda, the joint founders—near them might stand their Royal Ward, Athclstan, tho Ethel ing, heir to his father's thione. Prominent in the group wo may suppose would be Plegmund, the Aich- bishop of Canteibury, a native of Mercia, and but a few years before a modest lecluse at the hermitage in that island of Chester." Whether this was so or not we cannot say, but that the spot, whether revisited or not, had a grateful coincr in the heart of the Archbishop we can- not doubt. After an episcopate of 24 years, in which he consistently carried out. the plans of Alfred, and laboured diligently to secure for the Church a learned ministry, he was re- moved from this troublous world by death on July 23rd, 914, and was buried in the Cathe- dral of Canterbury. Short and imperfect though this sk-etch neces- sarily ig, it sTins to suggest to 113. a thousand years later, some practical reflections. First, tho advantage that may be derived from the contemplative life, or more genera'ly speaking, from meditation. Plegmund W:"$ all the bet- ter, physically and mentally, for that period of retirement and reflection which he passed here. We have no doubt that his chaiacocr was strengthened and he was mod- ktter ab!o to grapple with tho piob'ems of active life by the I qiiier, hours which he spent here, alone so to speak with God, and in which he learnt to know himeelf. He would be neived and braced for the BATTLE OF LIFE, and fitted for the arduous duties of the high position to which he was afterwards calleel. In these busy, hurrying days we may leaen herefrom that it will le well for us to make and to saejc opportunities for withdrawing fiom active duties, so that by quiet thought and meditation and prayer we may strengthen our characters, a.nd purify and purge them of that coldness and hardness which mi gist otherwise overcome them. This we can. if we will, do for ourselves, though we shall be materially helped if we can avail ourselves of "Retreaie" or "Quiet Days," when they come within our reach. Further, when we call to mind the* difficulties which Plegmund must have faced and overcome in the pursuit of his studies, we ought to be stirred up to imitate in seme way his example. With our wonderful advantages we ought not to content ourselves with cphc- meral or exciting literature, but ought to en- courago and pursue the acquisition of some higher and more elevating knowledge. Our enjoyment of the lighter side- of literature will be enhanced if some solid foundation is laid of something moie intellectual and more spiritual. Needless to say, that we ourselves wou!d be impioved in every respect, and be preserved from the danger of sinking down into meie frivolity. And while striving to bo in some sense students of good books, we ought all, like St. Plegmund, to be* students of the Book, the Book of Books. God's Holy Woid, tho Bible Then we learn that this quiet student life did not unfit Piegrnund for moro active duties. Sometimes peop'e speak disparagingly of men of lette:>s, a3 if they could not bo men of ac- tion. This need not be so. It was not so wi:h Plegmund. It was not so with statesmen like Lord Derby, Mr. Gladstone or Lord Beacons- field. It was not so with our late Bishop. Stu- dent though he undoubtedly was when called to the Episcopate, he. proved himself eminently a man of affaipe, readily grasping the position which was before him, having a quick and accurate perception of character, and thus able to deemijii^ without loss of time the couise which it was best to pursue. Here again there is encouragement to us to strive to follow, at ever so great a distance, the example of the fri?nd and tutor of King Alfred. With that Monaich the name of Plegmund will always be associated To-day I recall the fact that more than thirty-one years ago, on July 14th, 1877, I was pieeent when a noble statue of King Alfred was unveiled by our present King, wh?n Prince of Wales, in the Market Place of Wan- tage, tho little Berkshire town where- Alfred was born. To-day our objeet is Jess ambitious. But we are to dedicate the memorial stone- ,o:k placed around the Well of his friend, or as he oa'led him, "My Archbishop" Tiiat well boie the name of St. Plegmund's Well more than three hundred years ago, as documents prove, while in old churchwardens' ac- counts it is styled "ThQ Clnistening Weil, shewing that from it is drawn (and as wo bc- lieve has been drawn fiom earliest times) the water for the sacrament of Holy Baptism. The Latin couplet carved on the stone will draw attention to the ancient custom. I have from Mr. Henry Taylor, F.S.A., one of the vice-prcsidente of our society, the fol- lowing notes on holy wells in general, cf which I take the opportunity of availing myself: — Formerly living water was supposed to possess virtues of a supernatural kind. Water worship was common to ancient paganism. The Egpytians, Persians, Greeks and Romans had their deities of fountain and stream. h, there not now at Eaton Hall the Roman altar to the nymphs and fountains of tho Twentieth Legion, which was found at Bough ten in 1821? And I was not our river I DEE A SACRED STREAM, worsmpped in ancient days? It would seem that tho oarly British missionaries perceiving the people s attachment to ancient forms con- secrated or selected particular wells, already in high esteem, for the pusposec of holy baptism. Possibly, therefore, this well was in existence and venerated by the people before the com- ing of St. Plegmund. In many pit down to comparatively recent times the water for the font, and even for washing the church, was pro- cured from tho well dedicated to the patron saint of that church, rather than from some other well in closer proximity t-o the church. Formerly the ccst of keeping the parish holy well in order was an item in the annual ex. penses of the parish and doubtless entries will be found in the churchwardens' accounts of this parish towards keeping the well clean. In the neighbouring counties of Flint and Den- bigh there are a number of celebrated holy wells. Some were curative, such as St. Win fred's at Holywell, and St. Asaph's at Dyserth, some were prophetic and others wishing wills, wnile that dedicated to St. Elian at Llanelis^ (not far from Oolwyn Bay was a cursing weli If any one had a spite against another he pet his enemy "in the well" by writing- his name on a piece of poper, placing a pin through j, throwing it into the well and paying a, fee to the custodian. So late as 1818, at the Flint- I shire Great Sessions, a man was sent to r for twelve months for obtaining money lIJ: I fake pretences, having taken a fee to "pull out of tho well" a poor wretch who thought himself in the accursed waters. St. Plegmund's Well, however, from all evidence seems to have had a good reputation, and it is meet and right that this ancient monument should be preserved, if only to servo as a reminder that our fore fathers in ancient time.? were oonvertod from Paganism to the living realities and benc- ficence of Christianity. There is much more interesting history and folk lore relating to holy wells in the past, which would take up too much time to dilate upon on this occasion, and I therefore content myself with these few remarks. After the, address the robed elea-gy, followed by the olwrohw.a.rJ<n,s with their wands of office and the congregation, walked in pic- tur-eeque pioeession from the church along the roadway to tho well Here the Archdeacon read the dedicatory prayers, and so closed a m e m o: ab 1 e se r vice.

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MR. BARNSTON AT HELSBY. -…

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MR. BARNSTON AT HELSBY. t RADICAL LEGISLATIVE FARCES. LESSONS OF THE ELECTIONS. On Monday evening Air. Harry Baruston addressed a large and successful meeting in the Recreation Kali, Ilelsbv, under the auspices of the Eddisbury Conservative and Unionist Asso- ciation. Mr. James Taylor presided, and was supported on the platform by the Rev. F. Ci:fton Smith, Mr. J. Broiherton, Mr. H. Carey (secre- tary of the Cheshire County Unionist Club), and Mr. James White. Others present included Mr. and Miss Tomlin, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Howell, r av i or, M r. Mrs. J. Taylor, Mrs." Cropland Taylor, Mr. Edward Croswland Taylor, Mies Taylor, Air. H. Taylor. Air. and Airs. W. Lewis. W. Jeffs, W. B. Barlow, J. Dickson, Arthur Green- way, T. Davies, R. Pennington, C. F. Prichard (agent), etc. The Chairman Mid they had Jnc th?t night to wek'omc the future mc?h?i of tee Edd;.L)?ry divi?on. They had bLt'n defeated in -heir attempt to return Co'onei Cotton-Jodrcli, but they had lived to ifght anoth 'r d?y- aad on the next occasion victory wou'd be on the Unionist ado. (Cheers) Wha- had the country got from the present Government, v. i • h their big majority? They had attempted to carry a &a- Education Bill, and they had reached the final stages of a Licensing Bill which was pro- ductive of endle.-e harm throughout, the country, without being calculated to promote temper- ance. In spite of their professed solicitude for the working classes, there was a terrible amount of unemployment. In Hei-iby they had been fortunate in having a good thare of employment, but that fact ought to make them all the more sympathetic to those in the large towns who suffered from trade depra^ion. The Govern- ment declared that they could not help this state of things, and expressed their intention of re- lieving the unemployed by pushing forward certain works and by voting money to provide them with food. In his opinion, however, that was not the way to relieve the situation. What they wanted was confidence. (Hear, hear.) There wa. no doubt that at the present time buoiticc-a men had no confidence in the Govern- m-ent, and no money was being spent, in fresh enterprises. What was wanted was a Govern- ment. that would give confidence, and then we need not talk of unemployment. In conclusion the chairman read a telegram from Mr. Harmood Banner, M.P., regretting his inability to be present owing to the discussion of the final clauses of the Licensing Bill in Parliament. Mr. Barriston, who was received with hearty applause, first acknowledged the kindness and courteey which he received when he last ad dressed a meeting at Heleby nearly two year- ago. Proceeding-, he said: To-day we are in a much better position to judge the Radical party than we were t.hen. From a political point of view, the most interesting fact, which strikes us to-day is the extraordinary wave of opinion which is passing over the country and all over England. (Hear, heaT.) You see that. wave cf opinion in every bve-eloction which takes place: you saw that wave of opinion reflected only last week in the municipal elections, and whether our opponents like it or not. I venture to say that no Radical scat in England is safe to-day and that, any Conservative prospective candidate can enter a campaign with the highest hopes of success. Wc are not only finding the Radical party out; we are getting them out. (Cheers.) It is quite true that at pre-sent we are only getting them out one at a time. but we are looking forward to the time. which I hope will not be far distant, when we shall get them out in a bunch. (Laughter and applause.) What is the caue-e of it? I admit that all Governments to some extent become unpopular, but it is absurd to supjxxse that this extraordinary REACTION OF FEELING is in any way due to what is called a swing of the pendulum, or in any way due to ill-luck or chance. I think there arc two causes of th:s feeling which has demonstrated itself all over the country. There is a growing feeling among all intelligent men--I do not say to what political party they had previously allied them- Balves-that the time has come when we must have a revision in the fkeal policy of this country. (Cheers.) I believe that the ordinary intelligent man is seeing to-day that a fiscaJ policy which might have been to the advantage of t.he country thirty or forty years ago is not to the advantage of the country under the circum- sia.ncc? in which we now life. (Hear, hear.) But while we Unionists admire the very plucky fight which our great leader, Mr. iialfour, is making night by night in the House of Commons— (cheers)—while we admire that small band of men who are so loyally supporting him, and while a'so we appreciate the energy and enthu- siasm which men who belong to the rank and file of the Unionist party are shewing in every con- stituency, I think we must admit that the Radical party and the present Radical Govern- ment have done a great deal more for Unionists than we possibly could have done for ourselves. (Hear, hear.) The Radical party floated into power more or krather more than less—on what was termed the terminological inexactitude ticket. They caught votes by promises of work for ail. of social improvement for the working c I a.-ie s, and of cheap food. Have you ever seen the big loaves except upon the gate The only things which are going cheap to-day are Rad cal promises, and at a bve-eleetion they simply cannot be given away. (Laughter.) They told us two and a half years ago that. they were the Government of ail the talents. They aa.:d there never was such a Government as this Radical Government was going to be. I believe they were perfectly ri-glit-(L-t-agh-Ler and ap- plause) :—there never lias been such a Govern- ment, and I hope there never will be such a Government, agam. The other day, at. a bye- election at Newcastle, a gentleman asked his -,v i i;c l i to cover audience five questions, which seem to cover well the political horizon to-day. He a6kcd- are there fewer unemployed than there were three veart3 ago: are the Colonies to- day more in touch with the Mother Country than they were three years ago; is the condition of Ireland better, more pro,- perous, more law-abiding, more happy, than i* was t.hreo years ago; are our defensive forces in better condition, or are they even in as good a condition, as they were three years ago; is our trade more prosperous or less prof-perous than it was three year,, ago? Why. there is not a man in thi", room who oould honestly answer anything but "No" to any one of th ese ques- tions. Those are questions which not only affect the Colonies and Ireland and our defend- ing forces, but they apply to our trade and to the happiness, prosperity and safety of every workingman in England to-day. Procecding to I ciiticise the Licensing Bill, Mr. Barnston de- scribed that measure in thB words of a Ra.dica? I member as l A LUDICROUS FARCE. I [ The Government themselves apparently did I not understand the provisions of the Incensing Bill, and the humorous part of the prcoing was that, day after day tho abilities of mem- j bens on both sides of the House had been taxed to the utmost, not in praising or blaming the Bill, but in trying to find what its clauses rr e-a iit. Nothing, to his mind, could have been j more degrading to the House of Commons. In lee-s than three years we had had three Minis- ters cf Education and three Parliamentary Under Secretaries for Education. Those un- ?< i ucatio-). Those iin- fortunate gentlemen teemed to flit upon the political ?te,?e like well trained poodles in a circus. (Laughter.) There had been alro three Education Bills. The first was amended by the House of Lords and dropped by the Govern- ment with mo.;c awful threats against the Lords, but their threats had been dropped be- cause they found that to att.?ck tho House of Lords would not catch votes. The second Bill never reached a second reading, and was laid I to rest in the Parliamentary cemetery, unwept, unhonoured and unsung. (Laughter.) The fato of the third Bill was still unknown. Turn- ing to the subject of OJd-age Pensions, Mr. Barnston said that having seen the passing of the Old-age Pensions Bill, Mr. Lloyd-George proe&eded to Germany—Germany, of all places in the world, where we were told at the last e-lection the poor people lived on black bread and horses. He went there to find cut how oid-age pensions should be granted. (Laugh- ter.) CouJd they really imagine of sensible, practical people any procedure so absurd? (H&ar, hear.) It would disgrace the proceed- ings of any district council. To nuggest that I the Government had given dd-age pensions was ridiculous; they had only, so to speak, signed the cheque, but it would be left to their successors, the L'nionist party, to find the money. He hoped they would find it by means of Fiscal Reform—(cheers)—by making the foreigner pay some tribute for all the advant- ages ho got for being able to sell his goods in our market. It was estimated—and he be- lieved the estimate was true—that we were all paying from 10 to 12 per cent. of our incomcs for the upkeep of the country. At the same I time we allowed the foreigner to sell his goods. ir. our market, and lie did not pay a single I sixpence for the privilege. Would any man conduct his own private affairs on linc6 of that I sort? (Hear, hear.) Free Trade meant free exchange, the right to sell as well as to buy; and how could we pretend that we had got Free Trade when we could not send goods a broad without naving an ENORMOUS HOSTILE TARIFF I of twenty or po?'biy fifty per cent? (Cheers.) We have heard about free fcoo and bi? io&ves. but had they ever 'ight of the enormouR fums of nwncy which people in England were paying, and Hlœtly pm?,: peopi?, in the taxa- tion of food ? While we wanted to lower the hostile tariffs which inlEt inevitably injure our I trade, we also wanted to reduce the high tax- ation on articles of the breakfast table. (Hear, hear.) Concluding, iVlr. Barnston said The Conservative and Unionist party are living in very bright and happy times. I believe victory is coming. It may com-e next year or the year after, but victory is coming to us. If this is true <111 over the country, it is particularly true in the Eddisbury division, and if I am chosen as candidate I shall appeal with absolute con- fidence to the electors of that division, and with more than confidence to those in the Hekby portion; and w hen t hJ battle is over the victory will be on the side of the Conservative and LTnionist party. (Cheers.) Mr. II. Carey said that if the result of the recent municipal elections was auy index to the prospective Parliamentary fight which could not be much longer delayed it was extremely pro- bable that present political strap-hangers who constituted the present Government- would join the ranks of the permanently unemployed. There could be no question that the signs of th3 times and the eloquent figures in the bye- elections pointed with unerring certainty to the fatie that awaited that miscellaneous eo' lec- tion of freaks, faddists, fanatics and pledge- breakers that, comprised the disreputable host of R-adica'ifm and tho fate which would rele- gatc, them to the condition of political obscur- ity which nature intended them to ndorn. and from which they were only suffered to emerge by practising arts of unscrupulous political hypocrisy and mendacity. It was the custom in Oriental countries when a potentate wanted to get rid of an obnoxious person to send him a piece of lope as a. hint that the recipient was required with as much expedition as possible to perform the art of happy dispatch. It seemed to him that the Government had had a considerable quantity of rope, and if they had only a little more the. chance was fairly rea- sonable that they would perform tJx, act cf political suicido which they would be shortly I able to Cielebra'e. In the meontimo it would be their congenial duty to do anything in their power to accelerate that delightful consumma- tion. Turning to the Fiscal question, Mr. Oarey said it was not uoox«>a.ry to point out the effect, of hostile tariffs upon our industries, and the serious extent t-o which unemp'oyment had been aggravated by this one-sided system of free impo: r,which conferred Free Trade upon the foreigner and exp'oited the British work- the fotclgn,?,r axid cxp'ol,,Ie d the bli,l',Is h wor k-- 1\1 R ASQUITII'S ADMISSION. I Th:> Prime Minister, in a fpeeeh, had made an admission which absolutely conceded half the case in favour of Tariff Reform. Speaking in 1894 to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, he said "English trade in these days carried on its tariff under great and increasing diffi- culties. Tho wall of tariff which excluded us from foreign markets was becoming higher- and higher." If thli was true in 1394, surely it was truer in 3908. More recently, in the course of the proceedings of the Colonial Conference, Mr. Asquith made this striking and significant admission: "No Free Trader that I ever came across contended that the tariffs of Pioteetion- ist countries did not do our trade substantial in tirv." With that admission it was not necos- sary to touch upon the manner in which our trade; had been injured. lie (Air. Oatey) would only ask were they picpared, irrespective of party views, as men who had at heart the pros- perity of the country, to sanction the continu- ance of a system which, on the admission of the Prima Minister, had caused trade a sub- stantial injury and been a contributory cause of the mass of unemployment. Dealing with what he styled as the last argument of Free T¡dŒe, namely, that the conditions in Pro- tectionist countries were woise than the con- i ditins at home, Mr. Carey plac-ed bc-foie his audience convincing evidence that both in good and bad rimes the conditions in Protectionist countries wore immeasurably superior to the conditions in this country. Taking ihe test of emigiation, America, as a kir<.country, was able- more easi y to absorb emigrants than any other ci\'ili'd country in the ()rd, but it \as ex- traordinary that if Amoica was suffering in good and bad times from unemployment in a greater degree than this country, it should have been able to absorb a million emigrants last. I)o-m a b le to t. b !zoi- b floii igr last year, including 150,000 mn who had to -o k work in a Protectionist country because they oould not find it in Free Tiade England. The general consensus of tlie opinion of the Mose- ley Commission wa6 th-at the -work- ingmaii was infinitely better off in wages and in other lespects than his colleagues at home. To take another test, America had recently been suffering fiom trid depression that had affected all countries, and which in the case of America was caused largely by over-specula- tion and a general feeling of unrest owing to the legislation of the various States. It was ie- markable that since Mr. Taft was cioctcd Pre?i- dent the waic of (hp: ess ion seemed to have vanished, and a tremendous wav-,? of trado l- vival and employment sct in all over the country. Just aa soon as the Americans reeog- nised that they would c-njoy the benefit of a tound, stable and ho nose form of Government, the general feeling of unreet and unseeurity was remeved" t ho capita! locked up was circu- lated, industries which bad been stopped were recommenced, and he firmly believed that America was commiaicina ANOTHER GIGANTIC TRADE BOOM. Wo in England were only ju t en- tering into bad times. The trade returns we:o gc t t I i blacker and Macker. llQ p:aguo of umemploymefnt W,I.'5 still with us, and we still had I in good and bad times an army of 12,000.000 living on the verge of destitution. We were looking for waul hopelessly until the dawn of a new Government, which we fhould see, owing I to the security it would give to prosperity and j the extinction of ['ÜÓstic legislation. Ask?d lecen'dy in the House of Commons whether there was more unemployment in Germany or the United Kingdom, Mr. Winston Churchill was compelled to make this admission: "Ac- cording to my information theie is more un- employment in England than there is in Ger- many." That. fact was corroborated by trade union returns and by the consular reports. The I conditions in Germany and America weie superior in both bad an d good tiraclq. Mr. Carey proceeded to quote figures shewing that the amount of emigration from this country last year was enormously in extess of that from Germany, with a population half as laige again as that of the United Kingdom A comparison of British and foreign uYiemp 'oyme-nt letums presented irrefutable evidence, which naist satisfy every unprejudiced man that the condi- t.ions in Germany and the United States were I much superior than they weie in tJlis country. Speaking in the spring of bust year, Mr. Llovd- Georgo said the result of a mission he had sent to Germany shewed that there was no un- t emp'oyment in that countty. The British Con- sul-Gcncrai said iha-t though the number of unemploj-td rose napidly during the last de- pression, the calamity hardly assumed the pro- poit I on it did in the LTnited Kingdom, and it disappeared much quicker. Our Consul-Gen- cral at Frankfort, reported that "the returns re- garding unc-mp'oycd are- certainty more favour- able in Germany than in the United King- dom." The primary cause of unemployment in this country was the SOCIALISTIC LEGISLATION I of tlie pie-sent Government, which had un- doubtedly had the <ffnt of diverting capital ab:oad. There was a general feeling of unrest and suspicion that the Government was medi- tating some further act of spoliation. The victims of that insecurity were undoubtedly the worken: The fiscal system was another groat contributory cause 0: unemployment. Did it not seem illogica.l that our exports to foreign countries should take the form principally of raw material and coal. and that. in exchang" we should receive partly or fully manufacture d goods wh?ch our own workmen could and j shm¡]d be mahing ihem.-vlv?s? (Hear, hear.) I He was not thd'? to make any faJ?e daim6 on behalf of Tariff Reform. He did not believe that Tariff Reform was a kind o' political magician's wand which would dissipate unem- ployment. But when the Socialists said that the resources cf social reform were exhausted, he declared they were not. The Unionist party, who had been responsible for placing on thte Statute Book every eane, constitutional measure of social reform, had a similar policy to placo before the conn try when it was returned to power. Was it not the first policy of a patriotic party to oocure the more rigid appli- cation of the Aliens Act? He believed that a scientific system of labour exchanges pro- moted and subsidised by the State would be one of the means of distributing labour, end of ensuring that no man who needed work should be without it if it existed. In conclu- sion, Mr. Carey denounced the callousness of the Government in neglecting to deal with the evil of sweated industricc. One of the policies of the Unionist party would be to eupport a system cf wage boards and the reduction of casual and boy labour, the revival of appren- ticeship, and a system of national service to promote the discipline and restraint, of the youth of the nation. All th oee remedies, in conjunction with the great policy of Tariff Reform, would be sound constitutional measures t-hat would tend to improve the lot of the working ciassee. Above ail he placed the policy cf fair trade, by which alone could we secure the right to bargain and negotiate, the right to retaliate if attacked, and the power to build up o'oser commercial union with our Co'onies. (Cheers.) On the proposition of Mr T. Davies, seconded by Mr. Greenway (Alvanley), a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the speakers, and the Chairman was also thanked.

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THE WESTERN COMMAND. Major- h e 11, 1 General E. T. Dickson, commanding the W esfc Lancashire Territorial Division, on Monday took up command of the We?tern Command during the absence till the 28th inst. of Lieutenant- General Sir C. J. Burnett. EARL OF CHESTER'S BATTALION.— Friday night's London Gazette" contained tite following:-2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer Battalion the Cheshire Regiment: The under- mentioned officers resign their couimissions4 with permission to retain their rank. and to wear the prescribed uniforp'. Dated March 31st, 1908: Captain and Honorary-Major Edward L. Clarke, Seoond-Lieuten&nt Charles E. Linakre, Second- Lieutenant Tom H. Hardman. and Surgeon. Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Hamilton. rI. ,F P BEi IC ) ga? Ss! j9 1 IPB > IiSSl Great Achievement by the Famous Balm. i iaos t i y AM-BUK made history in the district of St. Philips. BristoL j lá(¡. the pahi, aud tho younsrer ones ivere almost 80, and recently, when that place was visited by a perfect plague of continually crying because tliey suffered so, and if f!' Mhff-/mh eczema. Dozens of children were scnt home from school daily, and cou1d get no s her. jl Mrs. Tliotms ?SB?'?)*j?,?i?%? Bcar<'c!y a faiaiiy in the district could claim to have had complete "All the ointments I tried were powerless even I 0"'freedom from the disease. During the epidemic Zam-Bnk proved of to check ?he spread of the pp?domic, and I bcheve iuealcu?bic value. awl the case or Mrs. Thomas, whoso ten child ten tbatUtechiid!'enY,*u!d stm have been ?uftnin? uer cMUhrn n&t been a lucky circumstance lb:t led | :i who lotreeured ($$$&* were cured, is selected as a striking example of Zara-Buk's sterling if ifc had net been a lucky circumstance that led ot ?;&i/ The names of the children are William (a?ed20).M?y(18), us fo try Zam-Huk. |1 °fJCZf,Pu merit. (17), Alice (.8), and Gladys (6). 'J*m ^1 Albert Allied (1G), Larinia (15), George (13>, Ernest (11). "Glady's met- with a very fcrious nccid^nt bv burning 8 ????.???'?L?????? ?'???????????M?'? mfit. (17), Alice (8), and Ciadys (6). N-cr?, Fol tilis I a b?-?x of e.7 .1111- 1 1L. ) c, ??????8i??S Arthur (10). herw-lf very badly. For this 1 boiifiLt a box of Zam-JSuk, To ft local reporter, who was making ?. ?<?ent .ndthorou?. mvest. ??'?'???.'???? for 111(' evwzTn ? the (I 9 SMI gation into the facts, Mrs. 1IlOma who lives at 1, Alban'y Place, St. P:))hps. ch:)drer, for I now ren?iercd l::?mg read of its H ??????????????'7'?????? Bristol, s?nd :Alfred was the first to be attacked. yAe<?'??:?s/<);«?n the success us a care for this dipeasc. The rc-'u}twM just M for In of a 'l:el'1! tÍiú.:k 1'ash.aJl oyer his face aDd hcad Th e "ores wer>! con- reiiiarkable. 0^y Qn the Ji1i(l.uT;;I(,! CI1I,d paitl}uJ Wl'f'S <re f°rm °f a ver-/ thick rash a)] over his face and head. The sores wera con- wfikajc/ -"77 I ?????.-V??????????<?_? 1 exercised the greatest care to prevent the d?sease spre?ading?, Y,Buk ctrcs WHI! £ -V.. .X. 'fe^iSif x "1 r CAeici• bca i the greal, care to prevent the disease fpreadwg. but one I quickly "prrad ab ut, Md I k?.w from many other 3 ?F?? child after another was at?cked by the awful itching dia.se, until my ?,Msc fj^Buk did \nuc^ h™toI vi. tcas a writable hospital arid a home of cries and misery. The yennger children I "siii-Buk did DILIch i-o _f z ?'o??t'<'r//n ble. li < cw ?! h OM?c/'<'r!MOM<? m T e y r? r cb re.-ista!lll) out the JocfU ??tT ?.T?? S?T ??????????S??????????? were ccmpcUed to stay away frcm school. George, aged 13, used to faint axrsxu I ií:) OUT A ii (I se,- d it i cl. F i,-i nip 7.arn-Buk tr:Yllo, 1-1n;¡WOT71I, (to 'pc str.¡:;e) t:JIlti91/S, and 1W,"C5. and is also rercin- to.111C Z. k Co., ¡ I' ¡ f.. ".110 (pre mel1"e.. ,or .oo,r.s" aU¡ !IS, (''II ¿:, .rWVB. '0U fl fne Hlm),ili; èc:x. I honds. fdle8. "lcrr8, (wd legs. Of all at 1;1: 29, ,¡;i;li 1 he 4/6 size nearly twiee the ,¡í¡ 1'1 2/9 &ize ¡ '\J.t' :j, j)jJ;' ( jjj)¡,f:h# '3' ( j /.1 g¡¡£u/ )

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