Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

WELSH CONGREGATIONAL UNION. ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meeting of the Welsh Congregational ünion were lielti at W.exh&m, on Monday, Tuesday, j \v eineadav. nn,i Thursday in this wd.k. Several siib-com'iiitteea met on Zvl >nday afternoon, among them the lemperance, Educaru.nal, MUsion, and Arrangemert Committees. The first puhlL- meeting was it Q-ieeii-street, at seven p,iii., on f Illlby. the subject being TEMPERANCB, and the chairman Mr h. Phillips, Ex-Mavor of &,ker- afon, The chapel was full and the PI iucipai feature was that the Good TemtJlar ap- peared in the insignia of their order, and ou-upied the spaces in the body of the chapel. The phtLrm was j occupied by a !&r^e Mimber of the leading lai'y and ministers heiongmg to the connexion,, among whom were the Revs J. Thomas. D.D., Liverpool D. Roberta, D. D., Wrexham j\V. Williams, Maa.-iwroa I'uomaa Tnoinaa, Ltan: gadj og Machreth lie- Ponyuroes D. Oliver, Huiywdl; Thomas William?, (iuaeiud y Gaitli (chairman of .1\" pf0fe,s-»r J. K. Aberystwyth B. (i. &c.( &<- '1'1 l'l 'j p¡" I lhe C hairman Mr Phii;;p;;—touk the ch,.lr_f<xa.ctly at seven, and called upon I he liev. O. H. Hughe?, i iyier>t)vvn, to opei.i-n^ and devotional exercises. In his addre-s, the chairman said he felt proud that he hallleceived the of k: s-lect^d the chairman of the temperance intelin^ held in eon- n- c i >i» witn the annual session of the Union, lie rt-joiced, t-o. that temprrisicj placod in so prominent a position at m i, sS. al d .f the great stri le the C.\U-JO had in :t v-ar. Forty years the argument- ..f > heir KU.ti;* we-e directed chiefly to demonstiatintf th.u inbor he done as .-iently and with Its* .-x!ta;i tion without as with int >E!ca;in £ I'Quor?. But d iv«* were gone by. The fact had been proved aiininl.in^ly, and OVL-T itiid over Ujjijii'. L had been jirov-.d tquaily in extreme heat and fxtreme cold, rai l m der all c.indiuons all cou u be belttr peifonntd without than with intoxicating dsink^. l'lieir n guinents were now directed to the moral and religious c-msewnee of the people, and they wr-rs creating in their churches atnoug all deni)niin«A'.ii)ns a healthier tone in respect to (he .->i!>j-ct. l>ped ere long to c nvince net only Parliament, but the mini-try of the tighteou;ne83 of the movement, but as it was they could not but regret that a horse race meeting was considered by the ministry a sufficient excuse for shelving a m. tion dealing with the drink question ia Wales. (Shame.) However, such hid been tLe fac\ and they could not but regret it. In the district of ondda Valley their M. P. (Mr Abraham) had collected some statistic-, from which it appeared that from 80 to 93 per cant, ot the people were in favor of giving to the people some control over the licences, and from 60 t. 79 per cent. in favor of prohibiting the traffic alto-ether. He re- ferred to the Sunday Closing Bill, and said that the bona fide travelier clause in it had been the occasion of giving existence to habits which would take a genera- tion to correct, for men had made a habit of disre- garding the sacredness (f the Lord's Day, and accustomed themselves to going about in brakes and traps and on font for no other purp than to indulge in strong diinks, so that he hoped that ht an early date the clause be done away with altogether. (Cheers.) Having appealed to those present to support the movement, it only from motives of self- sacrifice, he cailed upon The Hev. Thomas Thomas, Llangadog, to read his paper on "Total abstinence from intoxicating drink I as an element in the formation of character." In a quaintly concei ved and very interesting paper, the reverend gentleman defined what it was that con. stituted character and how it wan grown, what it received from what was innate, and from the environ. ment of each man, that it was important that it should consist of well balanced ingredients, and that no Bingle virtue should be allowed to grow so as to encroach on others, a reproach that was generally brought against total abstainers. No doubt there was some truth or shadow of a truth in the charge, but in forming judgment they should have regard to the evil which total ab.-tinence was Hghtine against. They were contending with an evil which, in thi. country at lea-t, overshadowed all others, and as moral and social reformers they were bound to set their faces against it before and above all other evils. Because of this prominence of the evil total abstinnce was an element in the formation of a good character, because (1\) it cultivated in the man a sense of duty by which lie bliuuld always he actuated, (b) because it taught the duty of self-sacrifice, the noblest trait ot any, (c) because it taught the individual how to be victorious over the greatest evil and in its most tempting form, (d) inasmuch as it taught a man to bring the ciicuiintancea which surrounded him under subjection to him, (t-) s-eing ic taught him the habit of stability both < f thought and habit, and (f) because it brought the man to live in an atmosphere con- ducive to growth and development. Mr Thomas concluded his interesting address amid considerable applause. The Rev. D. G. Williams, Ferndale, then read a paper on Intoxicating drink as the fountain of extravagance, and the duly of the Government in view of the fact." That man. said lie, who invested his capital in what would never produce a return would be considered very unwise. Sometimes men did invest where the hopd of return was remote, but where they believed there would he ultimately a certain return, and many an one had earned a fabulous wealth hy his faith and his foresight in such things. But in strong diink there wag a sou res of investment where there wa-s a certainty tha; not a single penny would ever be returned except to those who made and supplied it. It was said that one hundred and thirty millions were annually invested in this country in Btrong drink. It wa easy to state the amount, but the ablest of them could have no concption of what it meant. The sum was so vat that they had not the faintest conception of it, But vaet as it was, it was only a beginning. Besides tho capital that waa vet-ted, there was the time that was wasted. What did that represent ? For time was money, and especially valuable to those most given to the indulgence in drink. Then titers was the food now consumed in the manufacture of drink, and which \V8B said to be about half of what was necessnry for the sustenance of all the United Kingdom. Then, besides money, time, and food, there was health also wasted, it being the consensus of medical opinion that seven-t ntiis of nil t'le ills that flesh was heir to in this try were distinctly traceable to drink and besides all t iese, there was the loss of moral power that wart caused i y the habit, the amount of which they had no data ( f estimating. But supposing they narrowed the field of their observation, concentrating it tJ one district and to the one wi.h which he was beat acquainted—R:i >ndda Valley. In that valley alone what sum did they think was wasted on strong drink ? It was said the men were poor, too p"or to t-u^sci-ibe as tney wished in aid of religious work. Wm it 80? Supposing they summed up all the debt (,n Congregational Chapels in the whole of the Principality, how long th;Jušt they would the men of Rhondda be in paying it off, supposing it were app'ied to that purpose instead of s'rong drir.k ? Would it be ten years ? Would it. b- five ? Would it i:e one ? Won d it be six months ? it would not, (ut every penny would be w:p?d oS in three month*. (Sensation.) Ye?, the debt of all the Nonconforming chapeis of Wutos ofati denominations wou d be wiped off in has than twelve months. (Applause.) Be. t ie-, the mpn would be of greater independence, would be independent of the masters, and would be imbued with more respect for them- sel ves. Mr Williams then treated of the difference between poverty and extravagance, saying that the former could be co-existent with happiness, while the latter could never be, and illustrated the comparison of the houses of the poor with the houses of the drunkards. Seeing then these things were 80, he insisted that it waa the duty of the Government t3 interfere so as to put some limits on the evil com- plained. He concluded his address amid loud ap- plause. The Rev. W William?, Maentwrog, read a paper on Temperance in the light of the life and principles of our Lord Jesus Christ," in which he went over some of the ground taken by his predecessors. He laid that the guiding principle and object of our Lord was to seek and to save that which was lost, and that should be also the gnidtng principle of the lives of all Christians. He trongly condemned the action of tha churches in accepting the gifts of those who had amassed their wealth in trafficing in the misery and poverty of the people, and added that the placea which had been buiit from such sources could be aptly termed "Aceldama," which being interpreted means field of blood." (Applause.) At the cloae the Jttev. John Thomas, D.D., pro- posed a resolution to the effect that the Welsh Con- gregational Union rejoiced at the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Sharpe v. Wakefield, also that it rejoiced at the general awakening which had taken placo on the licensing question, and that it respectfully appealed to the justices to refuse all new licences, for the sake of temporal, social, and moral consideration. Mr Alderman Thomas WiiliamB, J.P., Merthyr, seconded the proposal, sayuag that in G amorganBhire the Joint or Police Committee had agreed in recom- mending to the justices that in cases where the Sunday Closing Act was contrevened, the parties sliou d only have the option of having six days' licences in future, which, if they declined, would be withdrawn and the houses closed. He was klad to see how public opinion had influenced the justices of late years, and expressed a strong opinion that what was called the laxity of the police had been owing to the want of encouragement, and in fact discourage- ment they had received from the bench. In Glamorganshire the Chief Constable had also been empowered to use twenty-five of the best and most experienced policemen in the detection of Sunday traffic, which he hoped would have a great effect for good. The resolution was then passed without a dissentient voice, and the meeting, which was a most successful one, closed. I CONFERENCE OF THE UNION. The first conference of the Union took place at Chester-street Congregational Chapel, at two o'clock, on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Thomas Williams, J.P., Merthyr, chairman of the Union, presiding. The secretaries were Mr B. G. Evans, Cardiff Rev. J. Machreth Rees, Penygroes; and Rev. T. J. Hughes, Mae^ycymmer, for whom, owing to failing health, the Rev. T. Roberts, Mold, acted. Among others present were the Rev. D. A. Griffith, Troedrhiwdalar, financial secretary, Rev. D. A. Griffith, Dolgelley, er-president, and over 200 other gentlemen from all over the Principality. The Rev. Joaiah Jones, Machynlleth, having opened the conference with prayer, The senior Secretary, Mr B. G. Evans, read so much of the miuutes of the conference of last year, held at Cendl, as had not been published and circu- lated. This having been done, the whole minutes were confirmed. I THE REVS. OWEN THOMAS, D.D., AND C. H. SfUBGEON. itie nev. U. Koberta, D.D., Wrexham, said that he felt be stood on consecrated ground, and it behoved that his words should be few, for their purpose was to send a message to the chamber of death. He was speaking of a man who bad attained a great age, but whom he remembered ascending the pulpit for the first time, and who had been honor ea of God, and I kept in a manner worthy of the Gospel ever since, to do a work for Christ, and for the chuich such as is given to few men to petforfit-tlie It-v. Owen I Thomas, D.D., of Liverpool. He knew of no Welsh preacher who has labored as he had done, nor of one whose ministry had been more welcome to the Ii churches, nor more blessed of God. They felt that bis loss would be a national one, and all they could I do was to send him their sympathy in his illness, The Rev. Owen Evans, D.D., London, said it was with mixed feelings of grief and melancholy, and yet pleasure, that he rose to second the resolution. He had had the privilege of being a fellow servant with Dr. Owen Thomas on the same lieid, in London, thirty years ago, and at that time he had been much in his com- j pany, which had been always a pleasure to him, and tie had never left Dr. Thomas without feeling he had benefited by his society. He regarded him as one of the greatest men their nation possessed, and according to his notion of what a preacher should be, he had never heard a man, either Welsh or English, come up in all respects to Dr. Thoma*, not one in whom so many excellences met. Besides that, he was one of the most liberal minded men he had ever seen. There was nothing narrow in him, and moreover his was one of t;ie most lovab'e and simple natures he had ever come ac!0»s. He thought no evil, and appreciated thegood points, f his brethren among ail denominations i more than any man he had ever known. His nature was truly catholic. Therefore, they locked upon him not being cf a denomination, but the property of the nation. His course had been a long and a blight one, and now at its ulo^e they rejoiced that his sun was setting so masn-'ticsi t'y. They nj iced, and tiity j r ij cd that a double portion of his spirit would he bestow- d by tiitir Lord on the young men whom he rais; tl t I bit's. their country withal. The Cnaiunan said that no formal vote wou'd be taken, but he would a?k all to bend their htads in prayer as a token cf assent to the proposal. This having been done by everyone presen1', TheRv. E H. Eva: s. D D., said that it appeared as if the great preacher of Wales and the great preacher of England were hastening to the grave, though he could not bring his heart to believe that the latter was going to die yet. The previous Thurs- day evening he had called at his house and had been admitted, but did not see him, as at the time he was in one of his rambling fits, but one of the household told him that there was only One who was able to save him from death, and if he was saved it would be a miraculous saving. He would like to have him a¡;;ain, and if he came again more weight than ever would be attached to his word. It was his illness which had proved how near and how dear he had become to all that was best in the heart of the nation, and one of the most affecting sights which he had seen was to see the workmen in the neighbourhood of the Tabernacle purchasing the evening papers by hundreds to kn,)w the latest word about the progress of his malady. They ought to be grateful to the Most High for raising such a preacher in their day, and for keeping him so long without a stain or a flaw in his character. He moved that a message of sympathy with Mr Spurgeon be sent from the con- ference of the Union. The Rev. J. Thomas, D.D., seconded the proposal,, saying he was glad of the honor given him by being appointed to do the work. He hoped they would be given the joy of his restoration to health, for Mr Spurgeon was yet in the prime of days, and fifteen years more of life could be given him though he had labored strenoualy and performed a work such as had been done but by few men in history. He was obliged to them. also for the very kind things which they had said of his brother, the Rev. O. Thomas, whom he had seen for a short time on Sunday afternoon, when he found him able to speak only in a low voice and indla- tinctly. He asked hirr how that was, for he usod to be that, if he knew how to do anything, it was how to speak. He smiled wistfully at the pleasantry and was silent. Then he told him that he was coming to the Conference for a day or two, when he said— Remember me to them, and tell them that I know of no distinction between Jew and Gentile," and those were his last words to him. The vote was then passed in the same manner as the former one. I REFEBENCE COMMITTEE. The Chairman said that the Carnmittge recom- mended the formation of a reference committee, to whom all questions of urgency arising after the sittings of the committee had ended, should be sub. mitted, and that the committee should consist of Mr B. G. Evans, the Rev. Dr. J. Thomas, Rev. — Thomas, Glandwr Mr C. R. Jones, Llanfyllin, and another gentleman, and this was agreed to. KEPOBTS OF COMMITTEES. The itev. J. Machreth Kees read the report of the sub-committeea which were somewhat lengthy, but which were to the effect that the finances of the Union were in a healthy condition all round, that several deaths had occurred in the ministry of the Connexion during the year, too numerous to mention, save one who had occupied for a time the position of secretary to the Union-the Rev. Hugh Jones, of Hirkenhead. The Statistical Committee reported that a material increase had taken place in the num- ber of communicants belonging to the Connexion during the eight and half years since the statistics had been published before, an increase would com- pare favorably with that made by any other religious denomination in Wales. The Temperance Committee reported an increased interest taken by the churches in Temperance work throughout the Connexion, and the committee recommended that a branch temper- ance society be formed in connection with all the local unions in the Principality. With respect to the Sunday School the Committee repoitad that examinations had been held last year when it was made manifest that considerable work had been done, and it was proposed to hold ex- aminations again on the 30th of next November, the names of those proposing to undergo the examination, to be sent to the Rev. J. Machreth Reee, by the 18th of November, The adoption of the minutes was moved by the Rev. W. Charles, Oswestry, seconded by Mr J. Phillips, Eglwye Newydd, and agreed to. fLACS OR THS NEXT COSRBBENCA. The Secretary, Mr B. G. Evans. announced that only one church asking for the Conference of next year had confornnd to the new rules, which make it necessary that the application should be in writing, That Church was Ferndale, in Little Rhondda, where, if they went, they would be assured of an enthusiastic welcome. Dr. John Thomas then proposed that the Confer- ence for next year be held there, which was seconded by the Rev. Mr John and agreed to. Mr Jenkins of Ferndale, formally thanked the Conference for its decision, and promised it the heartiest of welcomes. The Rev. R. P. Williams, of Holyhead, gave notice that the Church there would make a formal applica- tion for the Conference of 1893. (Laughter.) The Chairman assured the Conference that if it went to Ferndale, there would be a plentiful supply of good clean water for all of them-(loud lauchtsrj—it being known that the chairman was alio chairman of the Water Co. there. THE GENERAL COMMITTEE. it was reported that the several districts had nominated persons to be on the Committee for next year, but seme of the nominations (enwebau !) were either informal or incomplete. The word enwebu, enwebiad, and enwebau, was it appears coined by the Secretary—Mr B. G. Evans, and was received with loud laughter. The Conference having enjoyed the joke, completed the nominations, which were those of the Rev. Job Miles, Aberystwyth, for Car- diganshire, the Rev. D. R. Owen, Glandwr, for Pem- broksliire, the Rev. D. Thomas, Cymer, for East Glamorgan, the Rev. W. Schofield, Whitland, for West Carmarthen, and the Rev. H. Jones, Chester, for tbe English towns. I INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION. The Kev. D. Adame, B.A,, Bethesds, moved a resolution to the effect That the Union of the Welsh Congregationalism, respectfully asked the Charity Commissioners, end members of the Counties Joint Education Committees to insert in their schemes of Intermediate Education for Wales and Monmouth- shire, provisions insuring perfect religious freedom to the scholars who would be located in the Boarding Houses kept by the masters of those schools, which formed part of the endowment of the schools, or those which would be kept by the assistant masters, and that any religious education given should be wholly iinsectarian. Mr Adams held that it was not right that a particular denomination should be advantaged by the endowments and enabled to teach religious tenets, independent of the opinicn and wishes of the parents. They felt that as a rule the masters of their schools had not sufficient sympathy with re- ligion to be entrusted with the religious teaching of the young. The resolution was seconded by the Rev. Professor Rowlands, Brecon, who said that experience led them to believe that all endowments were made subservient to the teaching of the tenets of the Established Church, and for his own part, he would have preferred to go the whole hosr, and taken their stand against religious teaching of any kind, for he could net con- ceive any religious teaching to be effective which was not denominational. The Rev. D. Oliver, Holywell, said that if the power lay with the head.master to teach or impart any religious instruction irrespective of the wishes both of the parents and of the governing body of these schools, it was a power which they should pro- test against. After some remarks by the Rev. E. James, Nevyn, who was very warmly received, it was propo-ed that the resolution should be referred back to the General Committee with the view of making it more stringent in the sense indicated by Professor Rowlands. This was seconded by the Rev, J. Morgan Jones, Caer- gwrle, and agreed to. I DISESTABLI3HMEST. The ltev, Lewis Probert, D.D., Pentre, Ponty- pridd, moved a resolution declaring the conviction of the Union that the time had arrived to give full effect to the principle of religious equality in the Princi- pality, and urging the several constituencies therein to give effect to the resolution in a practical manner at the next election. The rev. gentleman, who was very warmly received, said they wanted no toleration, the day was past for that, and they were resolved to do all that was in them to secure for themselves and their children the most perfect religious equality for the future. The resolution having been seconded in a few words by Mr W. T. Williams, Carnarvon, and agreed to unanimously. I THE ELECTION. The Committee elected to look over and count the ballot papers for the election of chairman, treasurer, financial secretary, secretary and committee secre- taries. for next year, then read their report. The Rev. John Thomas said that the treasurer, financial and committiee secretaries, had all been neglected. For the election of chairman for the ensuing year no les3 than 238 votes had been cast, of which 38 had been divided between fourteen per. soos-(langhter)-and 15 out of the 38 had been given to one, which seemed to be an indication as to whom their choice would fall upon next year 200 votes had been given to one gentleman, a prac- tically unanimous vote, and he was the Rev. Josiah Jones, Machynlleth. (Great applause.) For the poet of junior secretary and secretary for three year?, no less than fifty-one had been nominated, but no one had secured a majority of votes. The three, however, who had secured the largest number were the Rev. Silin Evans, the Rev. Towyn Jones, and Mr B. G. Evans, ao that a aecond ballot would be neceasary in thir case. The Chairman then warmlv shook hands with the Chairman-elect, and congratulated him ou his election. The Hev. Josiah Jones thanked the Conference for the honor they had dcue him. It was not altogether unexpected, for urophecy had gone before, and since he had been in Wrexham it had been intimated to him from many quarters that he would be elected. He had told them not to prophecy unless they knew, but it seemed they did know, and he wished to thank I them with all humility and decency for the honor they had conferred upon him;. It brought upon him I additional responsibility, the weight of which he began already to feel, and he hoped he would ba enabled to hear the honor worthily, and to the advantage of those who had conferred it upon him. (Hear. hear ) Of the nineteen who had preoeeded him in the posi- tion no less than ten had bid them farewell, a con- sideration which tended to cast a melancholy feeling over those who were elected to follow, btt he hoped their prayer would be with him, and that he tool, wouid be enabled to do his duty till the same voice called him, Ptid he would be bound to obey. (Ap- plause.) ELECTION Of SECRETARY. Mr B. G. Evans having withdrawn his name from competition, the election lay between Mr Evans and Mr Jones, and the counters having performed their duty, Dr. John Thomas announced that the selection had fallen upon the Rev. Silin Evans, Aberdare, and on the motion of Mr B. G. Evanp, seconded by the Rev. Towyn Jones, the election was made unani- mous. OUT Oir ORDER. Iheltev. J. Morgan Jones, Caergwrle, moved a resolution the tetior of which we did not understand, but which seemed to congratulate Mr B. G. Evans on having successfully bearded the Registrar-General on the censui; question. He was proceeding to speak in its support, when he was called to order by the chairman, and his resolution was allowed to be sub- mitted to the Reference Committee. sasa EDUCATION. I Air W. Watkin Wynne moved a resolution which, while rejoicing in the fact that elementary education would b" free, protested against the apportionment of public money to denominational schools without the safeguard of public or loc.Al control. Mr Wynne called it a free education for which they had to pay, I and if they paid, he contended they should have something to say to the management.—The resolution was seconded by Mr U. R. Jones. Llanfylin, and- agreed to. -11 &, XETV HYMNAL AND TUNE BOOK. I mi x* -» v « iiiexvev. I nomas moved that a committee, consisting of a representative of each of their distrist unions, to he selected by the Union, of the saaior secretary,. and of two members to be selected by the General Union should be selected to consider the feasibility of bringing out a new hymn an4 tune book. He paid high compliments to the books-already brought out by the late Rev. Samuel Robepts, of Llanbcynmair, the Rev. W. Giiffitha, Swansea, and Messrs Stephen, Tanymarian, and Jones* Ruthin, but added that there was a growing feeling in favor of having a new one which should be the property of the Connexion.—This was seconded by Mr Pritchard, Oorwen, and agreed to, the selectica of the two representatives of the Union to be left to the Reference Committee, subject to the approval of the Union at its session on Wendeaday. The afternoon session was then broagh to a close by prayer, by the Hav. Dr. E. Herber SLvans, Carnarvon. WEDNESDAY. SECOND SESSION OF THE UNION. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. THE BISHOPS OF LLANDAFIP, AND ST. ASAPH AND NONCONFORMISr MINISTERS. The second session of the Conference of the Union was held on Wednesday morning in Queen-street Chapel, when the body of the chapel was filled by members and rppresentativea of the Union, and the gallery was largely occupied by those interested in the proceeding. The devotional exercises were conducted by Cynonfardd, and during the President's address the chair was occupied by hia predecessor, the Rev, Griffith, Dolgelley. TRIZ REV. DR. DALE. Mr John Thomas said that it was a saddening re- flection that they had to begin all their sessions with a similar business. sympathy with the sick and the ailing. Those of them who had seen the morning's paper would have noticed that it contained a para- graph announcing the' illness of Dr. Dale, of Bir- mingham, who was lying ill at Basingstoke. It was clear that at the Congregational Council held last week he labored under great weakness, but it was hoped that the excitement of the address having been got over, he would have recruited strength. Instead of that he completely broke down. He was regarded as one of the principal men among Congregationalists in England, and he moved that the Union send him their sympathy, and their fervent prayer for his full and thorough restoration. (Applause.) Dr. E. Herber Evans seconded the resolution, say. ing it was the intention of Dr. Dale to hasten to Lampeter, where, hy the kindness of Mr Samuel Pope, he had a house, and where he always benefitted in health, but he had broken down on the way. His was the strongest intellect among the Cjngrega- tionalists at the present time, and if not the most brilliant, certainly the ablest among them. The reso- lution was then agreed to in tiie usual manner, and jut before the rising of the morning session a reply telegram was read from him saying—"Sincere thanks, distinct improvement to-day." Dale. THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The Chairman men acenuel1 tne puipir, wherein on rising, he was received with loud applause. He said they had laid a great honor upon him in selecting him for the position of chairman, but it was a position which he had never coveted, and he was not one of those who did covet the principal places in the synagogue. At the same time he had tilled many offices in connection with it. and with the Union, and especially with the Connexion which he loved so well, and the experience he had gained in thoae circles would be of some assistance to him in the position which, by their kindness, he had been called upon to assume. He deeply felt the responsibility of the position, and that none the less when he remembered that during the last twenty years it had been filled by some of the moat eminent men in the Connexion, who, from that chair had delivered presidential addresses worthy to be compared with the addresses delivered from the presidential chairs of any denomination in the kingdom. (Applause.) That consideration tended to make him even more sensible of his responsibility, and inasmuch as he was the first layman who had been so honored, that he should not fall so low as to shut the door to every layman in the future. (Laughter.) The subject to which he had intended devoting his few remarks waa the demand made by religion and religious principles upon them, or in other words The Rights of religion." In thee days there was a tendency in everybody to stand upon their rights, and to push their rights to extreme?. There were the rights of labor, of capital, of associa- tion, of liberty, and of whatnot, but there was one right which was not sufficiently insisted on, and that was the right of religion, and its demands upon the individual man in whatever position of life he had been placed. These demands existed, and they must be rendered by personal service. They could not be disposed of vicariously by simply paying somebody else to perform them. No. They must be performed personally, and that was a poor religion which allowed its duties to be disposed of vicarously. There were duties which only those appointed to perform could do, and it was a Divine command that those who preached the Gospel should live by the Gospel, but it was not to those he referred, but to those duties which fell to their lot as Christian men and women individually. He wished in these things they could copy the example of those UDon whom some of them looked with considerable contempt—members of the Salvation Army. They saw men immediately after conversion prepared to do anything, to stand and pray at the streetends, where- as it was impossible to persuade many of their young men to undertake any public spiritual duties. They thought that if they came to chapel on the Sunday and contributed liberally to the needs of the church they had performed the round of religious duties, whereas the same men when elected on County Councils, School Boards, Town Councils, and Boards of Guardians spoke and rightly spoke without hesita- tion or fear. Why not use the same gifts with re- ligion, and in the performance t-f their religious duties ? Instead of that many had come to the opinion that they had the right to absent themselves from church meetings and prayer meetings by their liberality. They said they had no time, but he wan convinced from the expeiience of a long life that if they proceeded on only tha same principle as those of everyday life, time would be found for these duties as easily as they found the time for the performance of their public duties, and depend upon it their liod would not let their circumstances suffer, no more than did those of Israel of old by their attention to re- ligious duties. Religion too had its claims on their wealth, and though a great improvement had taken place in this respect during the 44 years he had been honored with the office of deacon, it was not yet what it should be. The amount of money given for re- ligious purposes bore but an infinitesimal proportion to that spent on clothing, on luxuries ot food, on furniture, and on excursions, which last was becom- ing a Berious item of extravagance. The principal objects of their religious liberality were the chapel building funds, the ministry and general causes, such as missionary, &c. He found by the last Volume of the History of Congregationalism published by Dr. Thomas, that the total freehold value of their chapels was estimated at iCl.210,962, which was entirely the property of the Connexion, while the debt remaining upon them was £ 223,012, or about oue- aixth of their value, not a very serious item to a Con- nexion so strong in number. The acknowledgment of the ministry was not so satisfactory as he wished it were. Certainly they paid their ministers better than they did half a century ago, but it was not yet what it should be, and he urged the deacons in all the churches to give their serious attention to the matter. He found that the number of communicants belong- ing to the Union was 130,112. and the amount con- tributed annually was £ 125,825, an amount that should be larger. If they increased it they would hear less of the departure of so many of the brightest of their young ministers to serve English churches, who contributed on a scale more worthy the religion which they professed. (Applause.) The Chairman went on to give a qualified approval of the system of endowment, especially with respect to missionary and educational funds, and ended an eminently practTcal and Btirrinc address amid loud applause. 1- -0 THE HYMNAL COMMITTEE. 11 • 11 ll. il. The secretary, Mr 15. tr. xjvane, aaia inau tne Reference Committee recommended that the names of Dr. John Thomas and Dr. Emlyn Jones be added to the Hymnal Committee aB representing the Union, which beiniz seconded was agreed to. OBITUARY DUTIES. The Rev. Dr. Davies. Llanelly, proposed, and tne Rev. R. W. Griffiths, Bethel, seconded, a resolution expressiniz regret at the loss of so many ministers, membera of the Union, during the year, and of sym- pathy with their families and relatives, which was agreed to in the usual way. DEPUTATION. 11 'T A deputation, consisting ot the tieVP, su. jerman, J. S. Haworth, Griffith Uwen. T. Hughes, and S. Mort, representing the Nonconformists of the town, attended the Conference, to which they were intro- duced by the Chairman, who said they were glad to see and to receive them, for their message was one (,f peace and goodwill, and he was gldti ,p know that there existed between the eeveral Nonconforming churches at the present time more co-op .ration and sympathy than ever he remembered heret fore. The deputation, on presenting themselves, wtre then re- ) ceived with great applause. The Rev..E, Jerman said the deputation was there I on behalf of the Nonconforming churches of Wrex- I ham, to welcome the Union to their grand old town. The Nonconformists of the town were united both in spirit and in work, and were influenced by no spirit of jealousy, but by sympathy and a desire to do good work for their Lord and Master. They were met in an appropriata building commemorative of tyear 1862, the church assembling there having been founded by Ambrose Mostyr. He was glad to tzll them that the Nonconformists of Wrexham wersetrong in the principles of Nonconformity—(applause)—a.nd no portion of the Chiietian Church was mure progressive than they were, and they felt it au honor that they and their town was visited by tita Parlia- ment of Puritanism—(applause)—and in Wrexham they were prepared, ua even their fathers had been, to make their stand on the principles of personal, of religious and ot civil liberty. In the name of the Nonconformists he again welcomed their visit, and wished tham all success. The Itev. J. S. Haworth cordially endorsed what had beeti said by Mr Jotziian, and said the Sims was one of Christian unity, not uniformity, and believed that the Nonconformists enabled them to give more activity ?n their ?r?at work for God. He rejoiced t) hear ot the services the previous night, !md "t tl, I sermon, ?n the presence of God in His church, which was so blessed with the unction from t.?mt. Such unction, made them think less of their differences, aud more of their common work for Christ. Tha Rev. G.iffi'h Owen also welcomed the Union to Wrexham, and said the present epo.ih was one of activity. They had had the period of feeling and convection, and since that, the one of intellect and argmaent, but they had now, he hoped, arrived at the one of work, which brought them to think less of their diff ereticep-, but more of their common objects. The Chairman then expressed the gladness felt by the Union at seeing the deputation, and invited them I to remain and witness the proceedings. NONCONFORMITY. lhe Rev. D. Thomas, Cymmer, then read an able paper on "Nonconformity in its relation to the teach. ing of the New Testament," ia which he argued that religion should not be subject to the State, but apart from it, aiid in every sense tree. A resolution atlirluatb of the principle of religious eq-iality, and protesting against the proselytising agencies ernl)!Gy;?d by the adherents of the Established Church was moved by the Rev. W. Davies, Moeltyfan, and seconded hy the Rev. D. Oliver, Holywell. As the chairman was about to put the resolution the Rev. D. fimlyn Evans stepped tor- ward to support it, and protested agaimt the same agencies saying that if the battle had to be fought* let it be a battle of principles and not of blankets,, of argument, and noi the simple assertion of ¡ sacerdotal superiority. (Loud applause.) The re5- lution was then put and catried unanimously. THE WELSH BISKO-yS AND THEIR CHAIAGES. I The Rev. Dr. Roberts, Wrexham, moved a resou-I tmn protesting against charges made but ntt sub- stantiated by the Bishop of Llandaff and St. Asaph. 'l hese dignitaries had said that no leils than 16. Non- conforming ministers of nets had been knocking at the door of the Established Church asking for ad- mission, but when asked to substantiate these things they declined, and the only inference to be deducted was that in making t'lese charges their Lordships I were spying what t'ley knew was not true, and with the only object of creating suspicion in the minds of the churches against their ministers. He objected to the word established employed in the resolution as applied to the State Church, for there were no great marks of stability about it, but great ones of in- stability, together with every prospect of an early dis- establishment. (Loud applause.) Tha resolution also asked the ministers of the district unions to sign a denial of the Bishop's statement, and also requested other Nonconforming bodies in Wales to adopt similar coursas. Mr G. S. Davies, Carmarthen, who was received with continuous applause, seconded the resolution, though strongly of opinion that the game was not worth the candle. He knew the Bishop of Bangor well, for he had been four years his neighbour, and before two of them had expired he found that if his Lordship had been there 14 years he was no more to be feared. Why the man was exhausted-Cloud laughter)—and knew no more than he (the speaker) did. (Loud laughter and applause.) Mora than he knew Why he knew a gteat deal more than the Bishop—(roars of Ian-(rliter)-for his Lordship was one of the most ignorant b" had ever met. (Iloi a laughter.) It was only his office which gave import. ance to what he said, and the pity was that such a man should be promoted to such an office. (Hear, hear.) Let them not fear him. He had already done his worst, and that was not much. All his hubbub reminded him of the story of the old woman and her chickens. She cried Oh John, come here, the kite is taking all the chickens. There were ten of them, just now, and there are only nine left." (More laughter and applause.) The liev. Dr. John Thomas seconded the resolu- tion. saying that unfortunately it was the promotion which cave importance to the man. He had challenged him in public and by letter to give the names of those who had so applied, and was only met by a blank refusal, and he was strongly of opinion that the charges were made solely with a view of creating suspicion and ill-feeling. So far from the statement being true that Nonconformist ministers applied for an entrance to the church, it was the church which applied to Nonconforming ministers asking them to enter it. He held in his hand a letter which was addressed this year to one of their leading miniiiters praising a recent work of hie, and saying he knew oi no Welsh clergyman who could place the truth so clearly and in such pure language before the public, and ending by assuring him that if he only went over to the church he could assure him of early prefer- ment. That letter he held in his hand, and with it he challenced the Bishop of St. Aaaph. If the Bishop would disclose the names of those who applied for entrance into the church, he would give the name of the rector who had written that letter. (Loud applause.) The Rev. Mr John proposed that the request tu the district unions to sign the denial should be left out, and this was seconded, but on a division the resolu- tion in its original form was passed by a large I majority. I INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION. Mr B. G. Evans proposed an amended resolution in the sense indicated by the discussion of the previous day, which was agreed to unanimously. I WELSH AND ONLY WELSH. The Rev. J. Morgan Jones moved a resolution pro- testing against the action of the Postmaster-General in permitting the employment of officials in Welsh post oiffces who did not understand Welsh, and pro- posing that the protest should be sent in Welsh. This was seconded by Mr Hughes, Festiniog, who condemned all extreme language in dealing with the question. The Itev. W. T. Thomas proposed that the pretest should be made in English if they wished to have the grievance rectified, and not to insult Mr Raikes. This was immediately seconded, and after a 'ong but profitless discussion, the Rev. Dr. Davies, Llanelly, proposed the previous question, which was seconded by Mr Morgan, Merthyr, and on a division carried by a considerable majority. The Rev. Owen Evanp, London, then closed the session with prayer. SECTIONAL MEETINGS. MISSIONS. On Wednesday afternocn at Queen-street Chapel a sectiunal meeting was held on the subject of missions. The chair was taken by the Rev. Thomas Jones, Tabor, and there was a fairly good attendance. After a thort introductory ad- dress by the Chairman, the Rev. W. C. Jenkins, Cydweli, read a paper on the subject, in which lie compared unfavorably the interest now taken in missions with that of the former generation, and a resolution urging the churches to renewed interest and effort was proposed by the Rev. J. C. Evanp, Giifacngoch, and after an interesting dissuasion agreed to. EDUCATION I At the Chester-t-treet Chanel Schoolroom on Wed- nesday evening at two o'clock, n discussion took place on the proeptcts of education In Wales. The chair waa taken by Councillor T. Ikfti titt, Swansea, and a paper was read by the Rev. E. Cynffig Davies, Menai Bridge, and a resolution calling upon the churches of the Connexion t j awake to a sense of their duty in the matter was moved by the Rev. W. Charles, B.A., Rumney, seconded by Professor D. M. Lewis, M.A., of the University College, Bangor, and after a short discussion agreed to. THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS. I At Chepter-street Uhapel on Wednesday afternoon, the Rev. O. Thomas, M.A., Poole, in the chair, the annual meeting of the Sunday School was held. there being a large attendance. A paper was read by the Rev. Grawya Jones, Aberdare, on Sunday School Unions, and toe services which they ought to render to the Sunday school. Subsequently a free discussion took place, and a resolution wati arrivt d at, urging the churches, and especially the ministerp, to greater and more su-itaitied efforts with the work, also recommend. ing that a closer connection should exist between the Union and the schools, and, as far as practicable, more uniformity in the nature and direction of the lessons imparted. I PUBLIC MEETING. I On Wednesday evening a public meeting was held ac the Public Hall, Mr Thomas freeman, ex-Mayor of Swansea, in the chair. There was an excellent attendance, and after au address by the chairman, addresses were delivered ty the following ;—The Rev. E. Richards, Tonypandy, on the '• Obligation of the sons of labor to Christianity by the Rev. Thomas Evans, Amlwch, on the Home in its relation to the formation of national character by the Rev. W. James, Swansea, on The present dasgera of Non- conformity in Wales and by the Rev. Ivor Jones, Portmadoc, on Walter Caradoc and his work." The meeting was a deeply interesting one from beginning to end, and tneted with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman. u THE PUBLIC SERVICES. The public services were in the tollowing order :— Tuesday evening, in Zion Chapel, at seven o'clock, before a crowded congregation, the union sermons were preached by the Revs. O. R. Owen, Glandwr, and Ll. B. Roberts, Carnarvon. On Thursday the preachers were as follows :— Zion Chapel, ten o'clock, Rev. Dr. Probert, Pentre, Pontyprydd, and Rev. J. Miles, Aberystwyth two o'clock. Rev. Towyn Jones, Garnant, and Rev. T. Johns. Llanelly six o'clock, Rev. T. Selby Jones, and Rev. D. Lloyd Morgan, Skewen, Neath. At Queen-street Chapel, two o'clock, Rev. J. Tawelfryn Thomas, Groeswen, Pontyprydd, and Rev. G. Grif- fiths, Pentre, Swansea six o'clock, Rev. J. Howen Jones, B.A., Brecon, and Rev. Dr. Owen Evans, London. There were crowded congregations. On the same day Dr. T. C. Edwards (Cynonfardd) delivered a lecture upon Elocution in the Cheater. street Schoolroom to a large audience. During the week the delegates have taken dinner and tea in the Public Hall, and Messrs C. K Benson and Co. were the contractors. This wtll-known firm I won high praise for their excellent catering.

I GENERAL AND DISTRICT NEWS. — Mr R. Pritchard, Penrhyndcudraeth, has been unanimously appointed by Festiaiog Local Board survcyer and ?amtary inspector at a salary of .£ 1_0 per annum. lhe returns of the cell sua in France gave the total population as 38,005,150 souls, being an in- ctease of 20S.5S4. This increase is entirely due to the growth of the town populations. — Meetings have been held at Llangefni, Anglesey, to celebrate the jubilee of the Touie Sol-fa notatiou of music. About 2,000 sinycra assembled under the leadership of Mr D. Jenkins. Mas. Bao. An important departure in colliery enterprise in South ales has been inaugurated at Abercanaid, Merthyr iydfil, by the introduction of electrical haulage at the Abercanaid Colliery to supersede horses. The trial proved very successful. — 1 he continuous month's stoppage of the tinplate workers in booth Wales and Monmouthshire ter- minated on Saturday. A number of employers in the Swanca and Llanelly district notice of their intention of restarting work, on Monday morn- ing. —The seutence of twenty yeara' penal servitude passed last week by Mr Justica Dn.y at the Durham Assizes upon the young woman Harriet Harledge. for manslaughter, lus baeu re hs^edto fifteen years' penal servitude, and it is believed that it will bj further reduced. —A 100 miles run in connection with Crewe Cycling Club took place on Saturday, the distance being between Crewe and Altriucham and Crewe and Chester. There was a number of com- petitors. J. Jacob was declared the winner of the gold inedal, he accomplishing the distance in Si hours the second man, Rigby, being fifteen miuutes behind. —A shocking fatality occurred at Manchester on Friday morning in connection with a sewer ex- tension. A workman was preparing some blasting operations when a terriffic explosion occurred, followed by the emission of dense clouds of smoke from the shaft. Ou a search being made the man's nmaius were found scattered about the floor, he having been blown to pieces. AH important International Labor Congress ia about to be held at Brussels next month. Delegates from Germany, Eug'ajid, Austria, Denmark. JSpain, France, Italy, Holland, aud Switzerland are expected, and the American Trade Unions and Socialists will be represented. The Cougress will especially devote itself to questions of strikes and proper means of assuring the international co- opeiation of working men. —Btfore the Lord Chief Justice, at the Notting- ham Assizes, Matilda Wiilcox, 22, domestic servant, was found guilty of the murder of her illigitimate infant, and it being proved that at the time her mind was. unhinged through fear of dis- grace at the exposure of her immorality, she WM ordered to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure. Prisoaer waa aeen with the child in her arms, and a few minutes later the infant waa found strangled, a cord being tied tightly round the neck. —The African Native Choir appeared, by oom- mand of the Queen, at Osborne on Friday afternoon, and sang before her Majesty. At the close of the concert the Queen expressed herself aa follows :— I am very pleased to see you here this afternoon, and adnure your singing very much." Her Majesty requested the presentation of a member of the c hoir who fought" against the British in th. Basuto War, this ceremony being followed by the presentatiou of the two little Kaffir boys who are members of the choir. —A daring robbery was successfully carried out at the Continental Money Changers' Btureau, South- ampton, on Friday. During the temporary absence of the proprietor some one walked in and took a pile of French bank notes, 3,700 in number, and made off with them. Though the robbery waa immediately discovered, the thief did not leave the least trace. The notes were changed by a gentle* man from Paris who previous to tho robbery had left by the mail steamer Orinooo. —A meeting was held at Crewe, on Saturday after- noon, on the invitation of the London and North- Western Railway Company, to consider the course to be adopted regarding the new Education Act. After some discussion it was resolved to form a committee consisting of two respresentativea from each of the managing authorities of the schools, to frame a scheme dealing with the question, which will be submitted for approval to the Loudon and North-Western Railway Company. —Under the management of Mons. Riviere, con- ductor of the Llandudno Pier Pavilion orchestra. an attractive summer fete camcoffon Saturday after- uoon on the cricket grounds off Gloddaeth-street, which were gaily dictated. Amongst the attrac- tions were a battle of flowers for juveniles, proces- sion of mail carts, chaises, perambulators, ponies. donkeys, children's dances undera Maypole, tuga of war, sack and donkey raejs, equestrian tourna- ments, balloon flights, &c. —News is to hand of an alieged windfall to Mr John Summer, of Macclesfield, late sergeant in the 4th Battalion Cheshire Rsgiment (Militia), whose wife ia employed aa a silk piecer in Mr Thos. Johnson's mill, Macclefield, The money and property, which includes two gold mines, is said to be bequeathed by Mr Ednin Maguire, who thirty years ago was best man at Mr Sumner's wedding, and has not heen heard of since until the last few weeks. Mr Maguire emigrated to Australia, and there married a woman of wealth and engaged in the gold diggings. —On Saturday afternoon, a stack of dried grass in the Birkenhead Park, near the football enclosnre, took fire, and a considerable quantity of the grass was consumed before the fire was extinguished. It is supposed that the stack was set on tire accident- ally by a lighted match dropped by someone going to witness the performances of the lady cricketers. P.C. Ely had one of his hands severely lacerated whilst crossing a fence guarded by barbed wire, in order to get to a hydrant to attach a hoee for the purpose of playing on the fire with the water, and had to have his hand dressed at the hospital. —A meeting of the Council of the University College of Wales (Aberystwyth) was held at London on Friday for the purpose of selecting gentleman for the post of principal of the Aber- ystwyth College in the place of the Rev. T. C. Edwards, D.D., who recently resigned. Among those present were Lord Aberdare (chairman), Mr Stuart Reudel, M.P., Mr Odborne Morgan. M.P., Mr Humphreys-Owen, Mr Morgan Lloyd. Q.C., Professor Rees (Jesns College), Rev. Prebendary Williams, Rev. W. Hawker Hughes, Alderman Roberts (Manchester), and Mr Lewia Morris. The names of five gentlemen selected at the meeting last week were placed before the Council with the result that Professor T. F. Roberts, M.A., of the University College of South Wales, was elected by a large majority. —On Friday, while John Campion, of Parkgate, waa returning from fishing, and when opposite Heswell, he let go his anchor to wait for more of the flood tide. Unfortunately the trawl rope attached to his anchor fouled his leg and pulled him ovurboard, hurting his leg and dragging him under as he vainly endeavoured to keep his head up. His little boy was on the boat, but was too frightened to render any assistance, and would also have been dragged into the water by the net ia which he was sitting as the boat was drifting away and many fathoms of rope had run out. At this juncture another fisherman named Robert Bushell, though some distance off, hearing the cries, jumped out of his boat and waded breathless through the water up to the waist, and just reached his comrade in time to save his life and prevent the boy from being carried into the water. —A bridal party at Carnarvon were on Tuesday morning doomed to a most singular disappointment. At the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel a young lady daughter of a well-known resident, waa to have been united in wedlock with a L ndon gentleman. The bride, her maids, and relatives, were in attend- ance, as were also the bridegroom and the officiating minister. Everything was about to proceed under favorable circumstances when to the astonishment of all the registrar declared that the ceremony would have to be postponed as the notice of marriage issued by the bridegroom waa found to be incorrect. As the error could not be rectified it was stated that another notice would have to bo given. With downcast countenances the wedding party hurriedly betook themselvea to the residence of the bride's parents. Some days must elapss before the young people can enjoy the dejeuner pre- pared for them as a newly-wedded couple. —The WelshDisestablishmentCampaign Committee met on Friday at Llandrindod, under the presidency of the Rev. Aaron Davies, when the policy agreed upon by the Committee of Representative. and the Parliamentary Sub-Committee at the recent London Conference was ratified. Perfectly harmonioas action had been arranged between both bodies and this fusion of effort would, it was anticipated materially further campaign work in England. Much satisfaction was expressed at the statement made by Mr Schnadhorst that as far as he knew all the Liberal candidates for English constituencies were heartily in accord with the Welsh Dis- establishment cause. It was resolved ..h. L.- "fIII lIua Campaign Finance Committee should consist of six members. The Parliamentary Committee had elected as their representatives Messrs Stuart Rendel, Thomas Ellis, and D. A. Thomas. The present committee now elected the Chairman, Mr Abraham Thomas, Llausamlet, and Mr HumDhreva Owen for the purpose of further perfecting the campaign work. A cordial invitation was ordered- to be sent Mr Carvell William., secretary of the Liberation Society, to confer with the Committee at the next meeting to be held at ShrewXv in the early part of August. Mr R. N. H? cSdi? was, on the motion of the Chairman, unanimou£ elected financial secretary for S?th ?°??''? Monmouthshire. It wa/ Ld?ood ??wXh Disestablishment would find a promm.ni- the comin Newcastle meetings of the National LibeTal Federation. A vote of condolence WM passed with Mr and Mra Gladstone in their reoeQ C!;K.X?""???!S'-X