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MODERN WELSH DISSENT DESCENDS…

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MODERN WELSH DISSENT DESCENDS INTO THE GUTTER. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "WELSHMAN." SIR,-The critical elections of 1868 are now over, and Wales has declared in favour of those who are for over- throwing the Church of England, and for taking away the endowments of more than 300 years. This noble result is due to the religious screw" put on so tight by those who pretend to teach the Welsh Religion How changed is Welsh Nonconformity from the days of the Wesleys, and Charles of Bala, and the other noble con- fessors of past time. The fine gold has indeed become tarnished. In past days Welsh Dissent was the pride and glory of the land then the Church, we must con- fess with shame, neglected, shamefully neglected, her high mission, and yet these men, good and true, had no objection to the Establishment, and herein agreed with such earlier lights as Baxter, Howe and Owen, in England. What have the great majority of the Welsh Dissenting Preachers shewn themselves lately ? As men who have utterly neglected the preaching and practice of religion, in order to join with Papists, Socinians, and Infidels like Mr. C Bradlaugh, in dis- establishing and dis-endowing (i.e. robbing) the Irish Church at a step towards doing the same to the English Church. They have turned their meeting houses into election committee-rooms, and prostituted their places of worship to arenas of political faction. While pre- tending to forward the worship of the Almighty, they have been doing the devil's own work, and for the present they are successful. They know that the Church in Wales was never so active as it is now they know that the Church is slowly but steadily and surely overtaking the schism of Dissent; they know that men's eyes will one day be opened to the bullying vulgarity, and impudent self-righteousness of modern Dissent, as con- trasted with the unselfish spirituality of former days. The sins of the fathers are now being visited on the children, our Church has now to reap the consequences and make up the arrears of former neglect; but the tide is turning, churches are restored, the services are heard in the old Welsh tongue where, but a few years back, there were only a very few worshippers, the parish church in many places is now crowded. The tables are now being turned, and none know this better than the ignorant rovers who go about the country pretending to teach the gospel, but in reality stirring up strife. Sixty years ago and more, Dissent was a real blessing to Wales; I boldly assert that now it is its greatest curse. It may be said that the parsons have been very active on the Tory side. Yes, but they did not begin the strife and when an assault is made for political pur- poses upon an old and useful institution of religion, those who value it are called upon to defend it. Men like Baxter and Owen highly prized the Church Esta- blishment, and they were burning and shining lights, compared to whom the factious meddlers of modern Dissent are less than farthing rushlights. And let us remember that in their days, the Church presented but a poor spectacle, when compared with the zeal and activity and usefulness she shows now. The days of Dissent in Wales, as the religion of the majority, are numbered. The system which 80 or 90 years ago was associated with so much that was good in religion, and has been for the last ten years confederate with so much that is foul and debasing, meddlesome and factious in politics-that system is doomed. Wales just now is more preacAer ridden than Ireland is priest ridden but the day of the Church is dawning; the Gospel, long smothered in the pulpits of the conventicles, is heard in those of the parish churches. Wales, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau," "shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." This letter may provoke criticisms and answers. If it do, I care not for the one and shall not reply to the other. Every dog has his bark; the Church dog has had his the curs of modern Dissent may have theirs. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, G. VAUX-COLLISON. One word more. I would light as strenuously for any state endowment given to Dissenters, e.g. the Regium Donum, as I would for Church endowments, because taking away either is an act of shameful robbery.

THE DISSENTERS AND THE IRISH…

TENBY.—VANDALISM.

AGRICULTURE.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.…

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