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CARMARTHENSHIRE CONOR E BATIONA…

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CARMARTHENSHIRE CONOR E BATIONA LISTS. I ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION. The annual conference of the Carmarthenshire Congregationalists' Association was held on Wed- nesday afternoon at Bethlehem, Pwlltrap, near St. Clears. It was under the presidency of the Rev. W .Davies, Llandilo. There were present a very large number of ministers and laymen, and amongst the former were the following:—Revs. D. Thomas, Llanybri; J. P. Evans, Penygraig; P. E. Price, Glandwr (Pem.); D. G. Williams, Bethlehem; J. Evans, B.A., St. Clears; E. Jones, Cana; Gwylfa Rdberts, Llanelly; L. Price, Laugharne; S. Thomas, Elim; W. C. Jenkins, Kidwelly; H. T. Jacob, Peniel; D. R. Davies, Rhydyceisaid; D. C. Davies, Siloam; T. Jones, Pwll; B. Morris, Pontyberem; J. T. Griffiths, Llanybri; B Davies, Pantteg D. C. Davies, Capel Mair W. Thomas, Llanboidy Elias Davies, Llan- elly; T. Thomas, Llangadock; D. Richards, Crug- ybar J. Evans, Bryn E B Lloyd, Bwlchnewydd W. Gibbon, Swansea; J. H. Rees, Burry Port; W. Thomas, Aberhoosan. The proceedings opened with the singing of a hymn, after which the Rev. B. Davies, Pantteg, led in prayer. The Chairman made a few remarks, in which he expressed his delight at having the privilege of meeting his fellow ministers of the Gospel at Bethlehem. When coming there they were aware that they were coming to a place with a great history. They were living in a unique age; these were stirring times, and the Lord expected them to be alive to the signs of the times. Therefore he hoped that some of the chief questions of the day would not be allowed to pass unnoticed by them. The Chairman then referred to the tragic and sudden death at a Revival meeting a few months ago of Mrs. Morgan, the wife of the Rev. T. W. Morgan, Philadelphia. He knew that the con- ference would be ready to show its sympathy with Mr. Morgan in this very sad occurrence. On the motion of the Rev. B. Morris, Ponty- berem, seconded by the Rev. J. P. Evans, Peny- graig, a vote of condolence was unanimously passed, the whole congregation standing in sil- ence. QUESTIONS FOR PARLIAMENTARY CAN- I DIDATES. The Rev. J. Evans, Bryn, Llanelly, moved a resolution embodying the following questions which would have to be answered, m the affirma- tive by Parliamentary candidates in the electoral divisions of the county before they could be sup- ported by the Association Are you in favour of (1) the reversal of the Licensing Act of 1904? (2) Placing the liquor traffic in the hands of the people by direct vote? (3) The amendment of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act on the lines of Mr. Herbert Roberts' Bill?; (4) The extension of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act to Monmouthshire?; (5) Sunday closing for England? (6) Placing clubs under stringent police supervision ? (7) The re- introduction of the Welsh Local Veto Bill ? The Rev. W .C. Jenkins seconded the motion, which, when put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. THE EDUCATION FIGHT IN MERIONETH-I SHIRE. The Rev. D .Williams, Hen llan, read the fol- lowing letter from Mr. T. E. Thomas, Coedpoeth, Wrexham: As it is kiiown to you, a conference was held in connection with the education ques- tion in Wales at Shrewsbury on Thursday, the 18th inst. It was agreed to make a strong appeal to all the Free Churches of the Principality for a collection. The Chairman of the Merionethshire Education Committee said that it would be ar- ) ranged to withdraw all Nonconformist children from Church schools in a months' time. Build- ings will be provided and teachers engaged. The approximate expense in Merionethshire will be £ 4,000. It is likely that Montgomeryshire will shortly take the same course, and the expense will be heavier there. It was the feeling of the com- mittee that the Churches of Wales should collect towards the campaign at once, but as the fight will proceed, the wealthy Churches of England will readily support, but we wish the Churches of Wales to begin to carry on the work for a few weeks. I see that the annual meeting of the Car- marthenshire Congregational Association will he held on Wednesday at Bethlehem, St. Clears.  Will you kindly arrange to bring the question to the notice of the Conference ? It would be desir- able for the Carmarthenshire Congregationalists to give the key-note on this question to the other important associations which will be held during the following weeks. It is necessary to liave the w hole of Wales move together. Local confer- ences will be held in every county when the whole question will be explained and arrangements be made. We earnestly desire your sympathy and support to give effect to the Welsh Policy." Mr. Williams after speaking a. few words moved a re- solution in Welsh, which stated amongst other tilings: We desire to express our sympathy with the Local Authority, the Education Committee, and the supporters of unsectarian teaching in Merionethshire in their determination to fight for the rights of conscience and free education to children. We pledge ourselves to assist in the campaign by every legitimate and constitutional means. We also advocate the formation of a county fund to carry on the campaign, in order to secure our rightful freedom as subjects and rate- payers. We would most earnestly appeal to the Churches of our denomination, as well as to all supporters of unsectarian and effectual teaching in the county to assist in the fight. The attack has been made, and our lives as Nonconformists, our position in the age we live, and our dignity as a nation, depend upon the stand we make in re- gard to this question." The Rev. D. C. R. Davies, Rhydyceisaid, secon- ded, and The Rev. W Thomas, Llanboidy, briefly said that they were not against giving religious edu- cation to the children, what they wese against was sectarian teaching. The Chairman remarked that their position as Nonconformists had been stated by Lord Rosebery in a nutshell: If the Nonconformists of the country do not kill the Act, the Act will kill them." The Chairman continuing said that the Education Act was meant to kill them, but Non- conformity was determined to kill the enemy in- stead. The Rev. L. Price, Laugharne, advocated more local energy in respect to opposition to the Act, and commenced making complaints as to the atti- tude of the County Education Committee on the question. The Chairman asked speakers to keep to the point: That of supporting in a general way the whole Welsh Policy. It was not now the time to go to the by-roads, but they must present a bold front and march united against the enemy. Mr. Price again essayed to speak, but he was ruled out of order by the Chairman. Eventually the resolution was carried unani- mously. FUTURE CONFERENCES. I The Rev. Thomas Thomas, Llangadock, pro- posed a resolution that future conferences be held in the last week in May, an,d that an appeal be made to the various Churches in the county to fix local events so as not to clash with the confer- ence. The Rev Cadfwlch Davies seconded. The Rev. Gwylfa Roberts, Llanelly, suggested that when the Three Counties Association hap- pened to meet in Carmarthenshire, that the county conference be abandoned for that year. The Rev. E. B. Lloyd spoke in favour of such an arrangement also, but several spoke against it and the original motion was carried. CONGRATULATIONS. I The Association decided to offer their congratu- lations to Dr. Griffith John on his attaining his jubilee as missionary in the cause of Christianity in China, and the hope was also expressed that the Churches would make a special effort in raising the sum of X12,000 now immediately required for missionary work amongst the Chinese. The Rev. D. Williams, Bethlehem, read a letter from the Rev. D. M. Rees, of Madagasgar, who had only recently undergone an operation in Guy's Hospital, London. The Conference passed its congratulations and its best wishes to the famous missionary. The Chairman welcomed to the conference amongst other outside ministers, the Rev. W. Gibbon, of Swansea, who was that evening an- nounced to preach at Llanboidy. THE CHURCH AND THE REVIVAL. I The Chairman called upon the Rev. R. Gwylfa Roberts, Llanelly, to read a paper on the "Church and the Revival." He said that the revival had not been a period of triumph for the Church only, but a test as well. The Church had been on its trial, and had been found wanting in many things The revival had protested against the sectarian spirit in the Church, and called for more union. The revival had given its verdict against the ten- dency found in the Church to compromise with the athletic spirit-the readiness of the Church to countenance all sorts of games-in short, the sporting spirit of the age. It had given its ver- dict against allowing people who drink and sell drink a membership, in the Church. It had given its verdict against the formality of their services, againwt too much reliance upon Church organisation, and against the over-anxiety of the Church with regard to the attacks of agnostics, and too much readiness of the Church to make concessions to scientific critics. The paper was enthusiastically received, and Mr. Roberts was heartily thanked for it. The meeting was unanimous in favour of printing 27,000 copies of it, and distributing the work amongst the various Congregational Churches in the county., The cost of printing, etc., is to be borne by the Association. Next week we hope to give a fuller report of the paper.

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