Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

I HUNTING APPOINTMENTS II ( [WEATHER PERMITTING J is I SIR W. W. WY.N'N'S HOODS MEET U'h IM Saturday, February (,?y?- [fl Monday, February 8 rhorito"  M T sd h jtOIP" Tuesday, Februa-y g'C orh .tà:i0!1 Tnursday, February 11 Baschurc' )M Sa ary. Dr' Saturday, February 13 .Greell t? Each day at M.?- !EH■ q„ ^'s II THE FLINTSHIRE HARRIERS WILL  m Monday, February flopev  e M S e ruary 11 pe r¡¡Jag Saturday, February 13. ? t? Each day at 11 a.m. H|H  ,?- ??M Printed at the Advertiser and Ge1uyal p"in;jt M ????/ "Advertiser" OSce (?late? ■ -Square. Wrexh?m, in the C?ty?D???v; e ?0? ? ?? lished on Fridays and Saturdays at dbyye 0  and also at the Est?bhshment f Messrs Pring rveeo High Street, Mold, in the County of F". n t. iLt ??op of Mr Erasmus Edw??,Corwen.? t CCUD1-oi Merioneth; at MrC.G. Bay'S'Jh^r03S) ■ in the County of Salop; and at th eFStsbll ..?oeol of Mr F. P. Evans, Foresate?tM?t? Ch?.?'?<. H KiDg  County of Chester by SRLL-"A BAYLIC ,81,iz'9  Wre?ham aforesaid; CHABI.* GKOKOg ■ CroB8. OBwestry, aforeiaid and v.oB30 W H 'Iron llacks WreziuLM aiawa(L-jaa*iiii.

APPOINTMENT OF VICAR OF I WREXHAM. <5EETCH OF THE NEW VICAR'S PRE. I VIOUS WORK. HIS ANTECEDENTS. I We are this week in a position definitively to aacooBce the appointment of the new vicar in the place of the Rev. Geo. Cunliffe, who recently resigned his charge. The gentleman who has Leen selected by the Bishop of St. Asaph is the Rey. David Howell, vicar of St. John's, Cardiff; and we heartily congratulate the inhabitants of this town on having secared the services of a clergyman, of whose abilities, earnestness, zeal, and personal qualities we have heard nothing but what is in the highest sense the most gratifying. With a clergyman of Mr'Howell's character, the appointment cannot fail to result in increased fervour amongst oar church friends, who will now Lave at their nead a man to whom they may look as a spiritual guide, worthy of the most implicit confidence, and entitled to the greatest respect. Tae rev. gmtleman has had the superintendence of a parish ia which the work has been extremely arduous. In consequence, his health recently gave WIiY, and it is hoped that in his new sphere he will recover that degree of bodily vigour that will enable him to perform his duties in a manner tiist will accord with his own ideal of a real pas- tor. We have abundance of information at our com- aiand respecting the new vicar, and nowhere can we find an absence of a warm appreciation of the many good attributes that ptrtain to him, and for which he has in all his labours been distin- guished. We will first quote from an article which appeared on Tuesday in a Cardiff news- paper, the writer of which appears to be well ac- quainted with the Rev. David Howell:— "We are authorised to state that the Rev. David Howell, the much esteemed vicar of St. Jclin's, Cardiff, has been offered the important Vicarage of Wrexham, and that he has accepted the offer. We simply record the fact. If we were to say that we had much pleasure in making this announcement, we should not be true to our own feelings, and we know we should grievously outrage the seutiinents of many thousands in Car- diff to whom, without distinction of sect or party, the vicar has endeared himself, and who will hear of his anticipated removal with surprise ani con- cere. They, we are persuaded, will share with us the unmixed regret with which we contemplate his secession from us. On the other baud, it cannot be doubted that Mr Howell has acted wisdy in relinquishing the heavy duties of his present sphere of usefulness for the lighter tvork which the living of Wrexham will impose upon liim. It is well known that the labours which the vicar has undergone for many years, and which have been ceaselessly on the increase, have over-taxed his strength and energies, and that the time has at length ariived when no alterna- tive remained but to make the unwilling acknow- ledgement that they were in excess of his powers cf endurance. It is within our knowledge that Irlf Howell has had more than one offer of pre- ferment, more lucrative in its emoluments, and less onerous in its labour than that which he now holds, and that he has lc.,clined these simply be- cause he has coljsidert-d tiiat duty bound him to Cardiff so long as he was able to discharge it. Hiq recent illness has, however, we regret to say, affected him severely, though, we trust, not seriously, and his medical advisers have pre- scribed for him a season of rest, and less energetic pursuit of his holy calling than that in which he lias for so long been engaged. The Bishop of St. Asaph, from the honourable and conscientious desire to fill the vacant church at Wrexham efficiently, has, in terms the kindness of which will accord with the excellence of his lordship's motives, offered this valuable living to Mr Howell and we cannot doubt that it will greatly delight the parishioners of that historical town to kaow that so deserving and good a man has ac- cepted it. That which Cardiff cannot but regard as a loss they will hail as a gain. Let us hope that the connection so shortly to be formed will long continue, and that it may be accompanied I:y the happy and enduring results which have marked Mr Howell's ministry at Cardiff. We part with him indeed with regret-but our regret is mitigated by our recollection of his eminent services and the success that attended them-by the impress which his high and spotless character has left on the Church and upon the town-by his wide-spread philanthropy his unfailing charity-his ceaseless labours—his self-denial— Lis unaffected humility—his devotion, which ever found expression in the words of the Apostle, Ye are in our hearts to die and live with you,' —and the immunity from jealousy which he has never ceased to eviuce to tuose from whom he differed in church doctrine and discipline, and some of whom, it is to be feared, 'preached Christ even of envy and strife. We are painfully aware that no words of ours can add aught to the merit of a life so hcuoaiably and beneficially exercised, but we would not willingly permit the occasion to pass without paying to a meritorious and a good man, at one of the prominent incidents in his career, Cue tribute, not only of our honest esteem, but of our affectionate regard. We trust that his Lealth will be speedily re-established, and that in his new sphere of usefulness, or in any other, and possibly more exalted, position in which Providence may place him, he may long be spared to the Church and the world, to enforce Ly his teaching, and to illustrate by his example, the precepts of the great Master of whose com- mission of mercy he is the befitting bearer, aud who, when in human form, became the servant of all.' Of Mr Howell's early life we know but little. lie was boru in the parish of Langan, near 13tidgend, in the year 1831. The subject of our writing received his early education at a school in Cowbridge kept by Mr William Lewis. Read- ing what books and periodicals fell in his wav, and making the best use of limited opportunities, his mind expanded, and he found play for his originality and aspirations by contributing ar- ticifs from time to time to the Monmouthshire IV"'ilst ',hus engaged in an uncongenial pursuit desultory reading and occasional writing -be attracted the notice of the present Rector of Neath. the Rev. John Griffith, then the incum- benÎ. of Saint Mary Hill. Mr Griffith is a noble ge.tieman, free, geuerou., bold, out-spoken, and fah of sympathy. He was just the person to ^homayouugman placed as Mr Ho^ell ou.ld be likely to be attracted, and it is not to Ua wondered at that an attachment sprung up between them, which has lasted ever since, and lias been by no means barren of good results. kneer Mr Gnffi h's kindly and fostering care] Lis young pup?'. mehtal faculties enlarged, an'i ?6 desire for kuowi?e quickened. With know- ledge came thought and ruction, and t?e youthful student whose sympathies with his kind friend had been stimulated by their inter course, aspired to become like him-a clergyman of the Church. Accordingly he went to the Diocesan TheologICal Institute at Aberaavenny, where he remained three years under the care of the principal, the Rev. Canon Williams, clarum c venerabilc novum. During his residence at the college, he made the best of his opportuni ties, and studied with zeal and diligence. In 1855, he received ordination at the hands of the present Bishop of Llandaff, and his first curacy was at Neath under his old and attached friend, Mr Gjiffith. There he remained about eighteen months, working energetically and successfully amongst the parishioners, and making a great impression by the zeal and eloquence of his -1. Ct- I 11 ow preuciuug. oo poweriui ana effective were his oratorical qualifications, that he received the ap- pointment of secretary for the Principality to the Church Pastoral Aid Society. His merits as a speaker were even then far beyond the average and he had the power-perhaps we should call it the secret-of so commending himself to the audience he addressed as to awaken and sustain that sympathy between them and himself which S-tfter fails to make a speaker effective. The wear and tear of datiela such as those connected with an itinerant service of this kind, made him glad to exchange his appointment for the quiet of a ccnntry vicarage, and accordingly we fiud him at the end of three years presented by the Bishop of Bangor to the living of Pwllheli, in Carnar- vonshire, where he remained for a similar term. W llat was the nature of his duties here we are not informed, but it is probable that he found icie for study, not quickly to be accorded to him again, and of which he did not lose the oppor- tunity of availing himself. But a time was now approaching for him to hackle on his armour, and to take a far more responsible and more pro- minent part in the business of life than had hitherto fallen to his lot. In February, 1864, the important living of St. John's, Cardiff, which had been held, we believe, for thirty years and upwards by a non-resident, was resigned to the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. The Dean, ta whom Cardiff owes not a small debt of gratitude, was, we know, most deeply impressed Tnth the necessity of making the best appjial- ment he could make. Numerous applications for the vacant living were made. Some of these were backed up by persons high in position, and con- siderable influence was brought to bear on the Dean. A petition, numerously signed by mem- bers of the St. John's congregation, on behalf of a most unsuitable person, was presented. All was of no avail. The Dean resolved to be in- fluenced alone by considerations of the public in- terest. His choice fell upon Mr Howell, and how far the choice was justified is not now a matter for speculation or doubt. When Mr Howell commenced his labours here, the congregation was select and respect- able. Its gentilities had not been disturbed by rude or harsh utterances from the pulpit. No innovations had taken place. Order and decorum prevailed. The doctrine was moderate, and such as could not offend sensitive ears. Those points which excite rancour amongst the parties who divide the Church into its present well-de- fined sections were not insisted on. But such as the congregation was so it had been for thirty years and more. The town increased in popula- tion and wealth, chapels and congregations in- creased, but the church stood stitl. It is true that after years of begging, and appeals to un- willing charity, the church of St. Andrew's had been finished—not indeed according to the elegance of its original design, but still finished, and epen for the celebration of divine service. The services in the parish had doubled in num- ber; for, in addition to two at St. John's, there were two at St. Andrew's. And to the credit of the times be it stated that there were two Church schools and a little more than 200 scholars. This tameness and apathy were not congenial to Mr Howell. Had such a state of things existed even in his little parish of Pwllheli, his three years' residence there would have been intoler- able. He determined to initiate a new regime. In spite of luke-warmness and opposition, he re- solved to be true to his Master and his mission. His powerful preaching awakened the profoandest attention of his hearers. They were reminded of their shortcomings in a way to which they had been unaccustomed. The solemn verities of our most holy religion were clearly unfolded. The punishment which awaits sin was faithfully pointed out. Bat while the preacher did not scruple to unmask the terrors of the law,' his more congenial duty was to dwell on the doc- trine of the Atonement, and to commend that grace which the New Testament so freely offers. Here was an anxious, earnest, man, deeply im- pressed with a sense of his own responsibility, and affectionately solicitous of the interests of those he addressed. His pleadings were as though he pleaded for life—' with tears, with pathetic gestures, and burning words.' His matter, and his manner, too, never failed to re- mind us of Cooper's description- Would I describe a preacher, such as Paul. Were he on earth, would hear, approve and own, Paul should himself direct me. I would trace His master stroke, and draw from his design. I would express him simple, grave, sincere; In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain, And plain in manner decent, solemn, chaste, And natural in gesture much impressed Himself, as conscious of his awful charge. And mainly anxious that the flock he feeds May feel it too: affectionate in look, And tender in address, as weil becomes A Messenger of Grace to guilty man. "The powerful and intensely earnest preach- ing of such a man as the new vicar could not i long fail to produce effect. The churches both became crowded, and new life was apparent everywhere. Possessed of new energy and power, the Church became more effective in her ministrations, and the results were clearly per- ceptible without. Fresh charities were awakened, and dormant faculties were quickened into life. Neither was the effort spasmodic, nor were its results temporary. Time would fail us to des- cribe the new agencies which the restless energy of the vicar called into existence. Suffice it to state that in lieu of apathetic and thin congrega- tions, enthusiastic and crowded assemblies meet together to pray and praise. Instead of two or four weekly services, there are thirteen; in the place of two schools, there are six the children attending these number 1,755, as against 200 there are 1,821 children attending the Sunday schools; and there are five curates and one scripture reader actively engaged in the work of the parish. This, we think, is enough to show that Mr Howell has proved himself a thorough working and a successful parish priest. In our series of sketches of Welsh preachers we recently attempted to describe Mr Howell in this character, and we shall not now enlarge on his pulpit qualifications. He has been eminently useful, and we trust that his labours may endure in their effects long after his presence has been withdrawn from amongst us. But whilst we have called attention to his works and services, we think we should do him injustice if we were to omit mention of the broad catholicity by which his views are distinguished. He has never been one of those who could see no good in forms of worship other than those of the Church of Eng- lanp. Whilst warmly attached to her communion, he has not hesitated to declare that Noncon- formity has been a great blessing to the Prin- cipality, and that its ministers are doing a great work for good, which the clergy are unable to undertake. Without sacrificing any principle, he has ever been ready to recognise as fellow- workers in the cause of Christianity all those who are true to their mission, and who do not make it a veil-a cloak it cannot be called-for undis- guised political propagandism. Hence it is that his labours here have excited no ill-will amongst those of other communions. All have been willing to appreciate his efforts, and no grudging approval has been accorded to his acknowledged merits and unsullied reputation. Indeed, so highly is he esteemed that, to their credit be it said, some generous Dissenters have from time to time anonymously entrusted him with money, to be expended as he might deem advisable, for charitable purposes. We must, however, draw our remarks to a close. On looking over what we have written we see nothing but what is eulogistic. It could not be otherwise, if we were true to our own convic- tion. A late eminent writer has observed that unqualified eulogy is the sure sign of a weak mind. Be it so. We would rather confess our weakness than gain a spurious credit at the cost of truth." MR HOWLL. AS A PREACHER. I A correspondent at Cardin has forwarded to us the subjoined special information The Rev. David Howell is one of the most eloquent preachers in the Principality, but this chief at- traction is the earnestness of his delivery. Kis sermons are usually long ones, but his whole soul is so thoroughly thrown into his address that he never seems to weary his hearers, and his church, on Sunday evenings especially, is in- variably crowded. His sermons are usually ex- tempore ones, or at most a few notes to serve as hints. The whole aim of his preaching is to bring members to the fold of his church. His addresses are rarely historical or explanatory of the Old or New Testament records, the meaning of obscure passages of scripture, the life of Hebrew writers as compared with Christian autbers, the differences of social life in the in- fancy of man to the society of to-day, to make clearer the historical portions of the scriptures but the whole drift of his teaching is comprised in man's duty to God, and the obligations which religion imposes on the Christian as a member of society. He seeks to make men moral and re- ligious. VIEWS ON EDUCATION AND POLITICS. I He is a man of broad and liberal views. He admits the great good which the Nonconform- ists have done and are doing, and with the Dis- senters of the town he is very popular. Few men have done so much for the spread of education. His schools are the largest and best, and the most numerously attended of any in the district, and many hundreds of the children of Dissenters attend them. While a strong advocate of the 25th Clause he is careful not to hurt the feelings of Nonconformist parents, and the Church catechism is only taught to those who attend his Sunday School, and when the other scholars are absent. As a philanthropist he takes a prominent position in the town, and there are few eharitable movements in which he is not an active partizan. As a clergyman he dis- ributes more money to the poor than any other in the town. His appeals for aid are frequent, 00_1 _1_&. every atmday collections at the churches for some purpose are made after the  He has raised by subscriptions over £ S500T0 for school buildings, and he was about to erect a model infant school. As a visitor to the sick he is most indefatigable, and to the members of his congregation he devotes a large share of his spare time. He rarely interferes with poli- tical matters, but in the general election of 1868, when the Established Church was menaced, he took an active part and addressed several political meetings in favour of the Conservative candidate. "Mr Howell has just passed the meridian of life, and his unceasing efforts for the improve- ment of St. John's pariah has had ita influence upon a constitution somewhat impaired by hard study when at the Abergavenny College, and there is no doubt that he now requires a little reat from his incessant toil. However much his diocesan might, at the time of his appointment, have wished that another had been selected, no one will more deeply regret his departure from his diocese. He has seen the work which Mr Howell has done, and he has spoken of Mr Howell in the highest terms of praise, and offered him honours, which Mr Howell declined. While in St. Mary's parish Nonconformist chapels have been erected and opened almost eveiy two years to meet the wants of the rapidly iocreasing population only one has been built in Sr. John's parish since his appointment to the vicarage. A committee is now being formed to present Mr Howell with a testimonial from the whole of the town for the great work he has carried on while he has been labouring here, and te that testimonial rich and poor Churchmen and Non- conformists will contribute liberally. That he is about to leave the town is a matter of sincere re- gret to all." PULPIT SKETCH. I The Western Mail, of November 9th, 1874, contained the subjoined sketch of our new vicar, it forming the eighth of a series on Welsh preachcrs The Vicar of St. John's is a model parochial pastor. He preaches earnestly, and well: but he is not a pulpit-talker, nor a Preacher proper, as those love to style themselves who, in the ministry, can do little or nothing else but preach. I do not underrate the power of pulpit oratory as a teaching vehicle for good, but I think the value of mere preaching in this respect is apt to be over-estimated. If preaching stood alone, re- ligion would go to the dogs, did not religion, which happily it does, possess inherent life and force that keep it safe without such aids. The Vicar of St. John's, as a pastor who knows his duty and does it, possesses a power to which that of the mere preacher is subsidiary. It is the self-imposed mission of the preacher to frighten sinners inte repentance: that of the pastor to so influence their rule of daily life that men will scarcely need fiery and drastic denun- ciations. The preacher would tame the grown- up wicked before teaching them, as the tamer of wild animals brings them into subjection by the flash and the thunder of firearms and the crack of the stinging whip: the pastor would teach them so that they would require BO hming, by beginning early in life, and blunting their claws before they knew how to use them. The mere preacher tells the sinner from the rostrum what to do the pastor goes to the sinner's home and shows him how to do it. The preacher talks the pastor acts-one has the eloquence of words; the other the eloquence of deeds. Both are im- portant human forces; but the pastor, I think, has the pre-eminence. The Vicar of St. John's, then, is a parochial pastor, and he acts up to his responsibilities. This is saying a good deal; but he does it. He halts not at the pulpit homily nor, the sermon over, does he pastorate by proxy. Nor does he lounge lazily through the claims of his clerical office, influenced, as many are, less by practical Christianity than by priestly assumption. He appears, indeed, to sink his sacerdotal character, as such, in the sympathetic emotions of the man. I do not say that the two influences are incom- patible in combination, but I have known those who demonstrate in themselves that they are so. The Vicar of St. John's is not of these. He sinks, as I have said, his priestly character, as a mere exponent of the law, in that of the sym- pathetic man, and religion, I think, is all the better for it. I have heard it said he is the holiest man in the Church. He is certainly one of the most unselfish. His greatness consists in his intense love of parochial labour. With him the work of his parish is a necessity which knows no law but that of attention, and attention he devotes even to a miracle of unwearied applica- tion that is a surprise to everybody bat himself. He is wrapped up in his parish, as his parish is wrapped up in him and to say his work is a labour of love is to bestow faint praise. In the pulpit, the Vicar loves to contemplate the tranquil beauty of a Christian life. His sentiments are as the beneficent river, which irrigates by day, and sends forth refreshing dews at night, reflecting all the while on the placid breast the wondrous wealth of the heavens above, in star, and sun, and moon, when the sky is bright. But his heart is sensitive to the driving shadows of unreciprocated effort, as the river saddens when the clouds pass over it. As the wanton wind wakes the stream into trembling life, so does the spiritual waywardness of human thought, wherever it arises in his parochial do- main, disturb his heart into tremulous nnlimtnrln -nn -1' It is,' he says, 'to me a matter of surprise and of deep sorrow that while millions of money are so easily obtained for purposes of worldly speculation or national grandeur-for the con- struction of railways, harbours, and fortresses- for the building of ships, towns, and palaces-it should be so painfully difficult to obtain adequate support to those benevolent and Christian agencies which are the very salt of society. How long this is to continue it is not for me to say. To me it is, beyond expression, discouraging and depressing.' His heart thus aches over an anomaly which has been the plain for ages, but which is easily explained to the contemplation of those who read human nature aright. His dis- courses seem peopled with images of sweetness, and gentleness, and benevolence-the spiritual graces of a Christian life. With him religion is a loving principle that leads with the silken cords of tender tolerance, nor seeks to drive with the thong of harsh polemical disputation. It is a genuine spirit of devotional beauty, that wor- ships at the shrine of loving-kindness, drawing therefrom the holy incentive to action. Where, in others, the charm is sometimes borrowed, with him a vivid impression of reality is conveyed, which wins him hearts, and clenches affection to himself, that thousands angle for with clever unreality in vain. He is liberal to a degree. He draws a distinction between the spiritual revela- tion of saving truth, and the intelletual revela- tion of theological truth—warns those of over- zealous piety that zeal should at all times be tempered with love and influenced by wisdom, and urges the argument in his own tolerant wards: We must endeavour, by gentleness and zeal, tempered with discretion, to bring those who differ from us on religious topics to a sense of their errors as we believe them.' The Vicar's sermons are characterised by pre- cision and closeness of ethical reasoning, enriched at times with anecdotal illustration, alid en- livened by moral narrative that takes a pictorial shape. The great force of his discourses, how- ever, lies in their truthful simplicity, and this is their most telling charm. They appeal to the heart rather than to the intellect—to the emotions rather than to the understanding. Pare in their ethical utterances, earnestly pathetic in their spirit of appeal, correct in their recognition of truth as we believe it, they leave an impression more pleasing than lasting, which impression, in the nature of a photograph, retires by degrees from the mind of the hearer, and leaves the ideality of the pleading preacher in place of the sentiments enunciated. We see his character at once through the words he utters, and transform our admiration of his preaching into affection for the man. He is, in short, a living embodiment of the true Christian precepts he promulgates, and in the natural operation of human influences the preacher will be remembered with an affectionate earnestness and a loving recollection long after his preaching and its effects are forgotten. He is loved by those who are too simple to understand him, and has a place in the affections of the poor, of the extent of which, perhaps, he is not himself aware. This is a touching tribute to his own simplicity of heart, which appeals to the hearts of others by the inviiacible force of honest humility. His style is natural and unaffected- charming because simple; but the simplicity never becomes commonplace, for the model is at all times true, and just, and noble. Some men in their preaching affect a simplicity, as seme wo- men affect a modesty, which they do Dot possess, and make up with the rouge-blush of art what they lack of the colouring of nature. The quality of Mr Hawell's teaching is the most unstudied parity that knows no art-the clear-thoughted How that, like a draught of limpid water, allays the mental thirst without exciting the intellectual passions, and leaves the inward life satisfied and refreshed. The treatment of his themes is uni- form, and the themes themselves have a uni- formity of character which, while they convey to the imagination an abundance of thoughtful feeling, do not, nor do they attempt to, in the way of pulpit surprises, open up to the mind eccentric revelations of the Eternal and the in- vincible dramatic results often aimed at by the more ambitious, but often to end in failure. It is the fashion in these days of theological philosophising, for the pulpiteer to patter with sacred things, like the pendant who I is great at little learning, or the fop who is ex- tensive in a very limited circle of aristocratic acquaintance. Pastors and preachers such as these affect a familiarity with divine influences which, to the well-balanced and truly philosophic mind, is at once insolent and offensive. They seem indeed to be on visiting terms with the Almighty, whose gates are said to be ever open to them, and special permission given them to introduce strangers as a favour, and to show up the Great Mysterious Omnipotent after the man- ner of a modern peep-show. Mr Howell is not of these. He preaches humble, prayerful faith in things beyond, with good works as the simple rule of life; nor does he seek, as some of our pulpit philosophers do, to rend the awful veil with a flippant affectation of knewledge as to other royal roads to salvation than that of a simple and earnest belief in the sanctifying doctrine of re- demption as preached by the Redeemer himself. He has no belief in back-stairs influences as an introduction to Heaven, nor of patronage as a passport to Paradise. Every man, to him, is the arbiter of his own spiritual fate, and the doctrine of the Atonement is the saving power. The Gospel, he says—and the allegorical imagery is as beautiful as it is correct-is a glorious bridge, which connects this world with the abodes of the blessed; its arches rest upon Calvary, and its termination is at the throne of God every true doctrine is a stone in the parapet which protects us, firmly fixed in its place, and conducing to the solidity of the whole structure; every erroneous doctrine is a broken or a loose stone, not only adding nothing to the efficiency of the building, but absolutely detracting from its safety. The Christian, as he passes over the majestic edifice, and beholds the waters of des- truction rolling and foaming beneath him, thanks God for every additional safeguard, and reverently accepts every revealed truth as one more means of security. Now, he says, it is undoubtedly possible to pass this gulf, as it were, on one single plank, provided that plank be the doctrine of Christ's Atonement; but he who rejects other revealed truths, or who misapprehends them is necessarily in no inconsiderable danger of losing this also. This, he adds, is the kind of distinc- tion which the Apostle draws between truths essential and truths important. "As will have been already observed, the Vicar of St. John's is of the Evangelical school of theological thought, and while, with true Christian liberality, lie is tolerant in his contem- plation of others, he is always found true to his principles—to the great spiritual landmarks of the Church to which he belongs. In this there is no wavering, nor is there any irresolute perplexity. All is definite and decisive. His is not that re-j ligious conservatism which is afraid of its own shadow. One man, he says, looks to the high philosophy of God's Word, and his soul is wrapt in awe at its grandeur, its universality, its con- sistency another realises Christ within, and sees only this one phase of the Deity. These are types of two different classes, and he cites them, as he says, to show how possible it is for men to be full of true Christianity, and yet to have many, points on which there will be comparatively little sympathy between them. There is enough of common ground for them to hold closely together; enough variety of mind to afford plentiful subjects for controversy. For myself, I believe with Victor Cousin Christianity is the root of modern philosophy; it is the last religion which has ap- peared on the earth it is the end of tht. religious movements of the world, and with it all religions consummated. Everywhere you see, and have ever seen religion endeavouring to prolong the infancy of philosophy—see it daily in some of the incipient pulpit utterances of the time; and every- where, too, you see, and have long seen, philo- sophy revolting against religion, and rending the bosom which nourished it. In the soul of a true Christian, religion and philosophy are united without being confounded, and are distin- guished without excluding each other. They should be true to themselves, and go band-in- hand. The bigotry of scepticism should never be mistaken for philosophy, nor the bigotry of dogma for religion. That they are so, we have too many pitiable illustrations in the pulpit, and too many profane demonstrations on the plat- form. The result is, both religion and philosophy suffer, as all things excellent must ever suffer, from the misconception which confounds use with abuse, and fails to discover the happy mean be- tween the two. The school of thought, of which the Vicar of St. John's is a notable representa- tive, and to which I am glad to believe many more of our Church's pastors besides himself be- long, has hit upon this happy mean, and poor humanity reaps abundantly of its manifold advan- tages in all the spheres of parochial effort in which their benign and beneficent influences are permitted to operate. The Vicar's truthful teach- ing and his humility of thought stand out from the jarring elements of theological disputation, making his character more striking by contrast, perhaps, than distinguished by its own individu- ality. His parochial influence is felt rather than seen: is knewn by practical experience rather than acquired by shadowy repute and rests not alone on the external halo of a reflected light as an ambassador of a kingly Master, but on his own innate goodness and sterling Christian quali- ties. He does not shine as a great preacher, but as a good man. The Vicar of St. John's, then, in all these respects, may be accepted, to my thinking, as a perfect model of a parish pastor. He preaches by his conduct with an eloquence which words alone can never reach, and that conduct is the more eloquent from the absence of any attempt to make it so. His eloqueace will be fresh and green when that of the pulpit-orator is forgotten. I have often thought that irreligion owes much of its success in these days to the frantic and foolish attempts that are made to talk it down-as a shrub gathers in sturdy strength by loppina, as the greensward becomes more inflexibly stubborn by mowing. 4 If Christianity be a fable,' says Sydney Smith, I the sooner the fable be exploded the better. If it be true it will surely hold its own.' I think so, too. And yet, with an in- cipient kind of St. George and the dragon chi- valry, there is an incessant battling with some im- aginary monster at the pulpit's base by theo- logical champions whose greatest fault seems to be their utter inability to comprehend the con- ditions of their situation, as though, forsooth, Christianity, with its sublime system of religion, were a poor theological starveling incapable of taking care of itself The Vicar of St. John's, and such as tie, do more for religion daily than such doughty champions will do in a lifetime. to i«r uoweu has contributed less, perhaps, to pul- pit literature than some of his more philosophic compeers have done; but he has contributed much more to parochial happiness than many and while others have been content to let the cold light otheir intelligence glimmer from the read- ing desk for the benefit of those alone who could go thither, and were able to understand it, the Vicar of St. John's has taken the light in his hand, and, hastening away, has borne it through the dark places and the dismal passages of paro- chial life; throwing light and warmth where warmth and light were not, and, pouring out the indwelling emotions of his own loving and un- selfish nature, has awakened the tearful gratitude of the poor, and drawn to himself the perfect af- fection of all. Beloved by those who can distin- guish the graces of a truly tolerant mind through the hazy glamour of an intolerant atmosphere, the Vicar of St. John's—a unit only in the crowd struggling for clerical life-possesses intrinsic merits which have made less deserving men more prominent in the annals of their country's Church, and placed them higher up in the list of awards for earnestness and zeal in the discharge of cleri- cal duties." A LOCAL CLERGYMAN'S TESTIMONY. in a communication from a clergyman of this dintriet, who is well acquainted with the new vicar, the writer says: All who know Mr Bowell are aware that it has ever been his wish to present the Church to his people in her prac- tical rather than her theological, or as I ought perhaps to say, controversial aspects. He has under circumstances of no slight difficulty main- tained the position of a decided tboagh essentially moderate churchman, and has always endeavoured to bring his flock to dwell more upon points in which they agree than on those in which they differ. He has at all times been anxious to pro- mote co-operation and mutualforbearance amongst his people. Being a man of warm sympathies and of a most conciliating disposition, he naturally shrinks from things likelv to cause irritate*. --4.UU u.- division amongst them. As a preacher he is most effective both in English and Welsh in fact his reputation in this respect is inferior to that of no clergyman in WalSs. But for my own part, I look upon his success as a preacher as by no means the most striking feature in his charac- ter as a clergyman. It is rather as a parish priest, in the good old sense of the words, that he excels. I honestly believe that n8 man was ever more sought after by the sick and dying, and am certain that no man was ever more ready both in anj oat of season, to take his arduous but important post at the bedside of the afflicted. He is most skilful in ordering and managing all schemes which have for their object the benefit of the poorer classes, and he has proved himself a tower of strength to the poor in times of priva- tion and trial." THE NEW VICAR'S WORK AT CARDIFF. The work the rev. gentleman had on nand at Cardiff was something surprising, and one won- ders how the labour was ever accomplished. We have before us "an abstract of the accounts of the religious, educational, and charitable institu- tions of the parish of St. John, Cardiff, for the year 1873." Amonst these institutions we may enumerate.—St. John's church Sundays, morn- ing service and sermon at 11 a.n. evening ditto at 6.30, holy communion first, third, and fourth Sundays, public catechising of Sunday schools in the afternoon of the first Sanday in each month week days morning service daily at 8 a.m., evening ditto with sermon on Wednes- day bible-classes, male and femede,6 at the parish church on Sunday afternoon. St. Andrew's church: Sunday, services at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., week days, morning service on Wednesday and Friday, evening service on Friday. Welsh school church, Crockherbtown: Sunday, service morning and evening; service on Thursday even- ing. Cathays school church: Sunday, morning and evening service, prayer meeting, 9 a.m., pub- lic catechising of Sunday schools last Sauday in every month, service and sermon on Thursday. Tredergarville school church: Sunday, morning and evening service, Sunday school in afternoon, public catechising of Sunday schools first Sunday in every month. Mission services at parochial school, Crockherbtown: Sunday, morning and evening service week days, service every Fri- day, and cottage service every Tuesday and Wednesday. The rev. gentleman had also su- pervision of parochial schools, infant school, national schools, Sunday schools, Maternal Charity fund, clothing club, mother's meetings, invalid's dinner table, and the local auxiliaries to general societies. Of course, Mr Howell had several curates still the constant vigilance and anxiety:whioh the above movements entailed, in addition to other pastoral work, can only be known to those who are well acquainted with the parish. That his efforts were not in vain has been shown elsewhere. I THE REV. D. HOWELL & THE CARDIFF I SCHOOL BOARD. At the recent election of a School Board at Cardiff, there were thirteen candidates for eleven seats, and the result was the return of six ansectarians, two Roman Catholics, and three members of the Church of England, and the Rev David Howell was one of the latter. The South Wales Daily News (a paper which is probably opposed to the rev. gentleman as respects deno- minational education), in an article en the vacancy, has the following paragraph in refer- ence to the rev. gentleman's removal:—" Still more deeply and sincerely do we regret the cause which renders this election necessary. There are not so many devoted, energetic, and success- ful Christian workers in Cardiff that we can afford to lose any of them, and still more a man of Mr Howell's character, and influence, and zeal. He has, by the earnestness of his pulpit ministrations, by his self-denying pastoral labours, as well as by the success which has attended his ministry, won for himself the re- spect and good-will of men of every creed and of no creed, who have witnessed his undying energy and his abounding efforts. Upon whom shall his mantle fall ? Is there an Elisha in Cardiff to take up the unfinished work of this departing Elijah ? The inhabitants of Cardiff as a whole I will with ourselves deeply regret Mr Howell's departure, and will desire him, in the sphere of his new labours, the same success and the same respect and esteem for his Christian character and efforts as attended his work here. We wish him every happiness and success, and believe that he will carry with him when he goes from I amongst us the good wishes of all."

MOLD. I DEATH OF Mas HApms.-It is with great re- gret that we record the death of Mrs Harris, wife of Mr James Harris, Wesleyan Minister, of this town. Mr Harris is mach sympathised with in his bereavement. THE BURIAL Bo-AmD.-We are reqaested to state that Dr. Holland has postponed his visit of inspection. According to the first arrangement, he was to have inspected the proposed ground yesterday (Friday), but ne was unable to come, and has fixed Friday next at the same hour in- stead. If any persons have any objection to the proposed ground he would be glad of their presence, so that the question can be discussed on the spot. BATCH or RUFFIANS.—At the magistrates office on Thursday, before Capt. Philips, Morris Davies, one of the trio who set upon P.C. Williams at Efel Parcy, on December 5th; John Williams, who assaulted Ed. Jones, Jno. Taylor, and Sarah Anne Jones, at Tryddyn on Monday and Joseph Williams, accused of threatening the life of his father-in-law, at Pentremoch, about a fortnight ago, were each and all of them brought up under warrant and remanded till ta.-day, being sent to spend the interval at Bryncoch. LOCAL BOARD, THURSDAY.—Present: Messrs E. P. Jones (chairman), E. P. Edwartis, George Bellls, W. Jones, H. Lloyd Jones, Henry* Roberts, J. Cerbett, A. J. Brereton, G. Jones, A. Vaughan (clerk), and I. Jones (surveyor). The Banks.-Tiae Chairman said the managers of the local banks did not think their customers inconvenieneed by the present system of cloaing at one o'clock on a market day. The Saturday Trains.-The Clerk said that the memorials on this subject had been sent to Lord Richard Grosvenor, who had sent the following reply:- 76, Brook-street, W., January 22,1875. SIR,-L beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, and also of two memorials to the Board of the London and North Western Rail- way Company, which I shall have great pleasure in bringing before the Board. At the same time, I beg to add that I shall most certainly bear testimony to the facts of the case as urged in the memorials, and say all I can in favour, as I believe a later train would be of much benefit to the town of Mold and also to the company.—I have the honor to be, &c., RICHARD GROSVENOR. Surveyor's Report.—The Sarveyor reported that the men had as much as they could do on the roads, owing to the thaw and continued rains. The public lamps had been much neglected during the winter, and great complaints had reached him. In one locality four lamps next to each other had not been lit for several nights, and he thought that the company or their servants were mach to blame. The sets had been planted on the Bailey Hill, and he asked the Board to order the fencing of the new croquet groand, as the materials were ready.—The Chairman said he never remembered so many complaints about the public lamps, and he had been told one lamp had not been lit for nine weeks. The lamps at the Cross were in a bad state, giving scarcely any light, he supposed, be- cause the burners were dirty.—Mr Win. Roberts, painter, wag then called in, and said that in some cases the frames were rather rotten, so nothing could be done, while in others the glass was broken. This was owing to a great degree to the fancy young lads had for using catapults, the glass being continually broken from this cause.- The Chairman instructed the surveyor to accompany Mr Roberts t.o all the public lamps, and see what was to be done. With regard to the catapults it was agreed to request the police to take preventive steps in the matter, and to offer rewards for the discovery of any person causing damage by their use.—With regard to the Bailey Hill it was agreed to adjourn there at the rising of the Board and agree as to the necessary work.—Mr Roberts then asked for permission to join water-closets in one or two places with the main drains, and asked whether he should be permitted to connect them himself or whether it should be done by the Board ? —It was agreed to refer the question to a special meeting of the Board to be held on Monday. With reference to the lamps, Mr Corbett said he knew that particular instructions were issued by the manager of the Gas Company that every lamp should be lit, so he thought a great many of the public lamps were out of repair.—Mr Bellis said he would be very glad to do what he could to meet the wishes of the public in that respect, and hopd things would be settled to their mutual satisfac- tion. Sttnitary.-The Surveyor said that the medical officer had reported the breaking out of two cases of fever at Pentre. Disinfectants had been used, and the owner, Mr Adams, of the Beehive, had ordered the necessary repairs to be done, which the Surveyor thought would be satisfactory.—The Surveyor complained of one or two other nuisances, and proceedings were ordered to be taken. Training Ship on the Dee. The Chairman said he had received a circular on the above sub- ject, and a note from Mr Bradley Jones, inform- ing him he had been chosen one of the Executive Committee for carrying out the project. He fully concurred in the aims of the promoters, and be- lieved much good would be effected by the training of young lads to be efficient sailors. Mold -Fairs.Ldr Bellis wished to call tin at- tention of the Board, before it separated, to the speech of Mr Bankes to the grand jury at the late Quarter Sessions. He had called attention to the matter several times before, but hitherto had been unable to get the Board to take any steps in the matter. There was no doubt that it was fuil time something should be done, for several trades- men were sufferers by the present system. It was a tax on him of no less than sixpence in the pound, for he was obliged to keep a man on the path every fair day, so that he and others would be able to get in, and he had afterwards to pay for washing it. The reason adduced against re- moving it from the street was that the tradesmen were against it, but he believed that to be a fallacy, and that if the tradesmen in High-street, from the King's Head upwards, were canvassed, a majority would be found against holding the fairs as at present. He thought the cattle fairs would be much better held-in Love-line, and' the road leading to the Lead Mills.—Mr Henry Roberts thought that before they removed the fairs they ought to provide a proper place for holding them, and he doabted whether they were in a position to do that.—The Chairman said the suggestion of Mr Bellis had already been tried and turned out a failure.—Mr Bellis said it had, and the time was during the cattle plague, so the scheme had not a fair trial. He was not present when Mr Bankes addressed the grand jury, but if he had, he would have joined heartily in the applause with which they greeted his remarks.—Mr Henry Roberts did not see why they should be in any particular hurry to conform with the wishes of Mr Bankes, or of any of his fellow magistrates, for they studiously slighted both the town and its trad, The Chairman was precisely of the same opinion. The Chairman of the Quarter Sessions ignored the town, and he did not see why the town should pay any great deference to him.—Mr BelJia said that was not the question. He believed the towu stood in its own light, and that it would bj for the benefit of the town to provide proper accom- modation for those who attended their fairs.—Mr E. P. Edwards thought they should be governed by some consideration of humanity. It would-be cruel to compel people to stand en the road by the bridge, and in Love Lane for hours.—Mr Bellis said the places named were no worse than Hign- street, but the great objection was that they were too far from the public-houses. The public house interest had far too great a weight in their de- liberations, but the time was not far distant when its power would be curtailed not only in their local but in their Imperial Parliament. A Remonstrance.-A placard, of which the following is a copy, had been stuck up on the lamp post near the King-street railway bridge, and was brought into the board-room, causing considerable amusement.— Mr E. P. Edwards said it bad been fastened with horse-shoe nails so a fair guess could be made as to its origin. This monument was erected by the Mold Local Board, in their great wisdom, as shewing their keen sense of respect for the inhabitants of the Lead Mills, who have so long and patiently con- tributed to the rates without receiving any just consideration in return." SCHOOL BOARD, THURSDAY.—Present: The Rev. R. Edwards (chairman), Messrs. E. W. Philips, W. Catherall, G. Bellis, T. T. Kelly, W. Hopwood, and O. Jones. The Chairman congratulated the members on their attendance, and said there was no business of importance to be transacted, and that it might be considered as a preliminary meeting in which they could consider their position. It was neces- sary that a treasurer should be appointed, and they might make the appointment that day. He read a copy of a resolution passed at a committee of the managers af the British Schools the previous evening, intimating their attention of transferring the school to the School Board.— After some unimportant conversation, Captain Philips proposed, and Mr Bellis seconded, the appointment of Mr Musgrave to the post at a salary to be hereafter determined, provided he found securities for a sum to be fixed by the Board.-This was agreed to. The British Schooli.-With regard to the transfer of the British Schools Mr Bellis said that it would be necessary to convene a meeting of the subscribers, and the resolution transferin(7 the school to be agreed to by two-thirds of those present.—The Chairman added that the Educa- tion Department weuld have to give its sanotion before the transfer was completed. The School Accommodation.-The return of the Education Department was read, by which it appeared that the deficiencies were-Bistree and Argoed, 450; Mold, 150; Leeswood, 75 and .&. _1;1_r. T"P. a'u^uwem, tv. unless the Gwernymynydd school was put under a certificated teacher, Mr Bellis said that so far as Mold was concerned, the better plan would be the extension of the British Schools. It would be better than build- ing new schools.— The conversation then turned on Bistree, and the mode of making up the accom- modation there.—Mr Kelly could not persuade himself to believe that the deficiency could be so much as 715, and suggested that a census of all the children should be taken. He believed that the Education Department was open to con- viction, and that it could be shown that they had over estimated the accommodation required.— The question of taking the census was then dis- cussed, and the clerk was instructed to write to the Department asking what items of expenditure could be undertaken by the board without the sanction of the Department.—The clerk was also directed to send a circular to the managers of elementary schools in the district, inquiring whether they intended or not to transfer them to the board. He was also requested to get copies of bye-laws adopted by other boards, so as to prepare the future bye-laws of their own. I BRYMBO. I SPECIAL CRATER XZBTINGS, &C. Daring this week, a series of special prayer meetings have been held at the Wesleyan Chapel, Brymbo, with a view of effecting a revival. The prayer meet. ings will next week be supplemented by a series of sermons, delivered every alternate evening by the Revs. William Evans and John Jones, ministers of the circuit. THE BBOUGHTON COLLIERY.—A few days ago it was determined to open that part of the pit which had been on ifre, and which had been blocked ap to prevent any air getting to the flames. However, it was found that it was not extinguished, and that portion of the workings had again to be closed. Another dam was like. wise made, so that the water may rise still higher in the hope that it will overcome the fire. THE LATE SHIPTON AcCrDENT.-As intimated in our issue last week, Miss Barker, who received severe miunes at the late Shipton accident, was pronounced o be recovered sufficiently to allow her removal home to Brymbo from the hospital at Oxford, where she was taken at the time of the accident. Since th3 interment of Miss Agnes Barker, Blin B rker has teell attended to nerson- ally by her mother, and p-ogressed most favour- ably the whole time. On Monday last, arrange- menta were made to remove Miss Barker heme, when Mr Barker alao went to Oxford to perQa. ''??''?'  ally Mperinteadthe?,??.° ""tdid was provldc, which is m?al'd carl'1. travel, and 'a S?hed ? ? ?? ?i car« travel, and i8 famished with an eaZ sy ?.? bed, from which Mi.. R„ > r»d after leam the »«! reached her j how aboa? .i-bt „ «>,ti V ?'tho.i? reached CODsequeBt on the jlJUrney b 01lb the fatigue a consequeat on th« • Altho,,V1^ cause d a slight reaction to ^hom?3 £ u Mra Barker and t?he. 0d?? ?" ?t ?, '? proved during the last few received several slight wnnnj ?'? f? receded ae?rai slight woan?° °sr 'Llk,r at SMt: were uon?eticpi<! ?. ??b??.? fractures of her arm b?ne. H(,-r h ''?oi i ec? t'*  the incidents of the acc'dor,* 0 terrible crash, ahe w?'  recoll«^ :tion «f (which appears to be that CaBal .?.?f some very small distance fr0m ffl? CUt1^ -i,i acme very smalt dist?? nca ?f. ?e ..ua ?  and when in that po.. gaw  ^uRe rolling over towards her but ? ?Mc? of a hollow, escaped with reJ 71"- !njurie, tp some broken parts that ell ? ? ? hat now out of danger, ad Ui d pJ^ hope to find her SvOQ tborou",hl_v OSWESTRY ———- FEBRUARY TRAI?.-A)1 .h c,lay -rain, on the O?WHttry br?.ch of ? p VVV„" Railway have been d.c.nt?   FOOTBALL.-ST. OSWALD ?' PR very hardly contested ?meof footf: i )L\DOC_<\ between these clubs 012 S.t.??'??'?oc?.  ? ,? the former ?indly lent by ?.. ? ?? ?-o?.,  and ended in a victory J for PI* AV'"S. BUT, to none. c by Ulle g01 CHRIST CHURCH SuND? Q ??L -? annual meeting of the Sund?\. with Christ Church was he d ? ?' con.e? Tuesday eveaiag, and ther was a fi "ooJroou¡ Q at the tea and meeting. ?1,. .hoJ}p l' atrendatc: cupied the chair, and after Mrt' Y ?'? ? cupied the chair, an d after Mr V'J 80n t, 'o r, secretary, had read an abatr?t ?; r'?' ?' t. ?1 which it appeared that the ?ho<,i ?f:pon. 1 as 1 a ddresses were d,.|.„ b? tl* K on „ Ch. Croft, late of Ca.tiejat*, 'rHWsi),Jr', t!,  T. G?qaoi.e, M  Rev. T. Gasquoiae, Mr Thoma!. \i th .eadent, Mr Ed„d. H?phr.y: JI,a  tendent, Mr Edwd. H,Luphr(,,y4? 51 ..ewllrr an d tbe Rev. Mr S.th.rd. D?.  '? <'f?.? several hymns were sung by t:¡, ch,i, 8 ?? u.Q\:  en tk* usual comphmenEs to the ch:urm?n??dedthe tfie ceedings. LOCAL BOARD. Mo?DAv T>re3en*: The Mayor (Mr T. P. P?-ry), Aire3en? T,? e Hill, and Owen, Co?aciilor? r ,;Jor '¡,IJll:ul' C G law C. G. Bayley, J. Tho.n.?, Job J. Cot?m.B. Lioyd, T. Jo< rho[u^, W. H. Lacon, G. M. BicbertonV s1 'r. Olll. Saun d ers. W. H. S?j; ,1' < J Saunders. W.. pauil; :¡}\Vn 'J' Henry Dav?a), and borouh <?n?/ ? 'Mr E. B. Smith). The Castle Fields.-The Town iut-c ?" » copy of a statement of the e? with?, ??  Castle Fields, which he hai .ub?'  LoJ Government Board, to which ? r«.ilL v t, u r001,1 ceived that the matter was on? ? ) be re> by the S.ni?ary Authority. Some discuSlin ;Ion place on the qaestion, which it was decidwU ?? be submitti-d to counsel. Mr H????s' Loa,t.—The Town Clerk he had received no reply to the letter he h.t <pot to the Local Government Board, as to ?'h they could not borrow money from th P?' Works Loan Commissioners, at 3?pM .? repay Mr Humphreys s money, tor wbn;h th,yw!! p&ying five per cent.—Mr AfJermM JT-„- 1 pointed out the importanee of the 5ubl.t 'C' further consideration of which was ho?.r ferred until the reply bad been reeeitc? The Reservoir.—The report of the Works f' \>m mittee on this subject, as published last week,qm read and adopted- The Profits from the Aarkets.-)Ir J. Tbom33 stated that the sum to their credit on ti, aCCono would amount in the gross to £ 1.207 Lat nd tJ„ credit for X20 less interest than last ye I current expenditure would be 2589, leavIDg 6B to their credit on the first September utit A great part of the expenditure of the Jast year bl been for new pens, thev would hI> -11, la. taking it, and in reckoning on £ 618 surplus at the end of the current year. He should, thp propose that notice should be giren to Mis, Pm that two debentures, amounting to 1:773, would be paid off in six months. Tais would come to a little more than the surplus but to meet th ■ ex'.a amount they would onlyjrequire to borrow .t;lUI) ior a very short time.—Alderman Hill wa. very glad to bear such a pcopoal aud it was agred to unanimously. There was no other important business. PTUABOX I -cjiN i jisji r.—Ui £ nday week, fehesecond entertainment of the "cssou was "iven in th National School. The Rev J. M:cha- ia th* un- avoidable absence of Capuin Couran, occupied the chair very efficiently. The programme was as followsDuet, 3u:e and piano, Messrs Sparrow and Parsons song, Life is a river," Mr Homi; recitation, Master Keiiy sang,, "My Robin ill shy," Miss Evans; comic-ong, "The Belle of tho Ball," Mr Parsons; piano solo, Miss Douglas song, She wore a wreath of roses," E M Mnelor; song, Miss Evaus; duet, flute and piaui, ile<3r3 Sparrow and Parsons comic st)n, Get .1I011?, Joseph," Mr J. E. Davies; reading, Mv llmiile- ton duet, Miss Jones and Mr Puivou. 30n, "The Reefer," Mr Bond (encored), and sanz" II Troubadour; song, I'll ax my mother," Mr J. E. Davies; finale, God save the Qu-en." Mr James Edwards, Chirk, was on the programme for three songs, but could not attend; he M, how- ever, ably replaced by Mr Bond. The instrumental music was excellent, and pleased te aulienca well. Eos Maelor was the star of the evening; his song was vociferously encored, and he very kindly replied by singing "The White sqnuli" in splendid style. Messrs Parsons and DavLes'3 comic singing was very good, and gave ,'rcat satis- faction. The latter gentleman's "get lip" of the character was certainly a success, and ins appear- ance caused roars of laughter, TheJiut by }b 1 Jones and Mr Parsons was sung very sweetly, but was not very audible. The character of tie weather did not at all interfere with the attend- ance, as each class of sittings was weil tilled. The usual vote of thanks brought the pleasant meeting to a close. 0 PETTY SESSIONS, YESTERDAY (Friolay).- Before H. W. Meredith, Esq., Captain Conran, and E. Evans, Esq. Dispute about Land. Benj,,imin Batterton, Rhosymedre, summoned Mary Jones, wife of 1 man living in Well-street, Cefn Mawr, for aa assault, on the 5th of January. Mr Alliu?'^ Hughes appeared for the complainant. T affair arose in consequence of litigation which had arisen through a dispute as to the proprietor^? of some land. The matter had been brought before the County Court Judge, who had deci <« in favour of Butterton, and the costs to be pJd by the defendant amounted to £ 26. Howe«r, when he proceeded to fence the groaud; [Le ? fendant (who contended that the land beto? her son) committed the alleged assaul'. Wynne Jones corroborated the eviJenc3 of '-? complainant, and stated the defendant p'c? a? a tin can to strike the complainant, and Jfter' wards pushed him off the groaQ?.—Twoot? witnesses were likewise examined on behalf 01 complainant.—Fined Is and lis 6.1 costs. A Row in a Public-house. — Assault bt; PM?Hcan.—John Rogers, Ian diorn ot 11  nd Inn, Cefn Mawr, was charged by P.C. Jones with assaulting him at eleveu O'ei')c? F M the 8iht of the 13h of January, w!'i!? jo execution of his duty. The oilier v? 5eUJ to go to the defendant's house, it beiu,? 3ej ■■ that the defendant was creating a dis;^ with his own family. Ou arriving at the ? ?. the defendant a?ed the a&cer what right a MIJ there, and struck him twice. Wttne? p,lIe fl him off, upon whioh defendant said, By u; there is nobody looking, and now he shl'All hall it." He then struck him ag(UQ, and lbrestesed fl to break his arm with the poker. T^10 1f¡9 left the house, and the defoodan?s '? ?; ?. turned out and remained from home all '?,? Defendant said he had ordered the oticer to leave Defendant said he had ordered the offic8r D'gaf8 JH the house, and as he refused he put bto' 1 Fined JE2 and 139. costs. í"hat;j Breach of the Peace.-Joseph Jones an Morris, colliers, of Cefn, were chargea 6y ? C' Morris, colliers, of Cefo, were charged p c. a Wynne Jones with fightin early °° "3y ¡ morning, the 17th January.—Bonni over' a?M M keep the peace for six months, and eac ? ? H pay 8s costs. outb, ot DfHM&e?nMM.—Char!ea Edwards, 3 y ?b, ? ■ ?;? ■ Groes, was summoned by P.C. Price for bei' M drunk and disorderly on the 23rd ^of Jar;¡ [■ Street Issa.—Fined 2s 6d and 8? costs. ■■