Barry Dock News

BARRY FREE CHURCH CO UNCUT THE ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING. POWERFUL ADDRESS BY THE REV. D. J. HILEY, BRISTOL. NO COMPROMISE ON THE EDUCATION QUESTION. BUT FIGHT TO A FINISH. FOR THE CHURCH MUST BE DISESTABLISHED. THE CANDIDATURE OF MR. W. BRACE FOR SOUTH GLAMORGAN. There was an exceptionally large attendance at the annual meeting of the Barry District Free Church Council held on Wednesday evening, the 18th instant, at Holton-road English Baptist Chapel, Barry Docks, the largest place of worship in the town, which was crowded. The chair was occupied by the Rev Aaron Davies, D.D., the president of the Council, and he was supported by ministers and prominent laymen of the different denominations, amongst those present being the Revs D. J. Hiley (Bristol), Owen Jones, W. Ingli James, Christmas J. Lewis, O. Rees, J. Sutton, Howell Davies, B.Se.. T. Pandy John, W. Williams, Douglas Jackson, B.A., D. H. Williams, M.A., C. L. Stephens, J. Mydyr Evans (the energetic secretary of the Council), Councillor J. A. Manaton. J.P. (chairman of the District Council), Mr W. J. Flower, Mr James Cruise, Mr J. O. Davies, and the members of the Western Division of Kensit's Wickliffe preachers, who were at the time conducting an anti-ritualistic campaign in the town. The meeting having opened with the singing of a hymn, prayer was offered by the Rev J. Sutton. Hev J. Mydyr Evans announced that the Rev Ben Evans, secretary of the Welsh section of the Council, was not able to attend owing to indis- position the Rev C. J. Clarke, editor of the English portion of the Free Churchman," and the Rev R. Ashby Howe, pastor of Buttrills-road Methodist Free Church, were also unavoidably absent. The Chairman made a brief but appropriate introductory speech. They had met, he said, in very serious times as Free Churchmen. Great events were taking place continue ly, especially during the past year, which in ma.iy ways inter- fered with that freedom of conscience which was so near and dear to every Christian. Already they realised the effect of an unrighteous law from which thousands of their fellow Free Church- men had been suffering in many ways. They had sustained loss of property, and some had even suffered imprisonment. (Cheers.) They did not know what the end would be. It was time they all united to fight the battle of liberty. What a fine thing liberty of conscience was. What had their fathers suffered in times gone by ? They were sorry to find that some of those in authority wanted to go back to the old times. He did not wish to go back, but hoped rather to go forward. (Cheers.) He hoped all present would be inspired and moved to be stronger and more determined to uphold the principles of liberty. There were several resolutions to be submitted to the meeting. The first would deal with the Drink question, a very weighty and serious question just now they were, in fact, at present in a great crisis. The other resolution would bear upon the Education question and Free Churchmen throughout the length and breadth of the land would agree that this was an unrighteous law which had been thrust upon them. (Cheers.) Rev T. Pandy John moved the following resolution, which he was sure would commend itself to all present:— That this meeting welcomes every well-directed effort to lesson the evils resulting from the liquor traffic, whether by legislation or magisterial adminis- tration and protests against any attempt, whether by means of a compensation scheme or by a Suspen- sory Bill, such as that by Sir William Hart-Dyke, to prevent the magistrates from continuing to exercise their legal powers freely for the advantage of the fmblic and in the interest of sobriety; this meeting is urther of opinion that no alteration of the Licensing Laws will meet the necessity of the case which does not grant the ratepayers the power to control a traffic which so vitally affects their interests. Mr James Cruise, president of the Barry Band of Hope Union, and Temperance secretary of the Free Church Council, seconded. In doing so he said it afforded him great pleasure. He believed if this resolution was considered as it should be it would be pronounced as one of the most serious questions before the country at the present time. (Cheers). The resolution, on being put to the meeting, was carried with a unanimous and enthusiastic vote. A summary of the annual report of the work of the Free Church Council during the past year was afterwards read by the energetic secretary, Rev J. Mydyr Evans. The report showed that there were 23 churches affiliated with the Council, and another church had been proposed for admission. There were 20 ministers connected with the Council, and two were about to be received. During the past year five ministers removed from the district, but seven new ministers had come to the district, so that the Council was stronger numerically from a ministerial point of view than it had ever been. (Cheers). An old proverb said In the multitude of counsellors lhere is wisdom;" they could, therefore, look forward to prosperous times. The monthly meetings of the executive committee had been held regularly, and were better attended than during any previous year. Four meetings of the Council had been held, when able and instructive papers were read. A general exchange of pulpits had taken place, and united prayer meetings had been held by both the English and Welsh sections of the Council. The open-air meetings on Sunday evenings had proved successful, although they terminated earlier than usual. Owing to the Education Act, which had been thrust upon a large section of an unwilling community, a Committee had been formed to con- sider the local District Council Election, and at the invitation of the Free Church Council a Citizens' League had been formed. Mr Evans also intimated that a meeting of the executive would be held on the 1st of December, and the annual business meeting of the Council, for the election of officers and to receive the report of the Council, would take place on Tuesday, December 8th. He was glad to see the Wickliffe preachers in their midst—(cheers)—and he was proud to find they had amongst them such heoric men, men who had Buffered so much for the cause of Protestantism. (Cheers). The Barry Temperance Choir, numbering about 150 voices, ably conducted by Mr W. H. Shinn, then splendidly rendered the chorus Happy and Blest," which called forth the warmest applause. Rev D. H. Williams, M.A., moved the next resolution, as follows That we, the Free Churchmen of Barry, at our annual meeting assembled, protest against the Educa- tion Act of 1902 now in force, and pledge ourselves to do all we can to have it altered,—(1) Because it does not give direct and entire public control of public money used for education; (2) Because it iavours schools teaching dogmas, contrary to our views, violating our interpretation of God's will and our conscience; (3) Because, by imposing religious tests, it closes the doors of most of our training colleges and thousands of schools against Free Churchmen and their children, unless they renounced the faith of their fathers. We express our pleasure at the action of the majority on the Barry Education Committee; and we sympathise with our Passive Resistance friends who suffer persecution, the despoiling of their goods, and even imprisonment, for conscience sake, because of this unjust Act of Parliament. Mr W. J. Flower, ex-president of the Barry Free Church Council, in seconding the resolution, said he sympathised and heartily agreed with the resolu- tion. He was glad to see the spirit and tact of the Archbishop of Canterbury, as well as the oliye branch held out by Dr Horton, and they all admired the soul of Dr Clifford. (Cheers), But uwiuiiex—orr fo settle £ hls education question, uriTess <ioverament dis- solved and they would be able to appeal to the voice of the country on the matter. (Cheers). This resolution was also carried with great enthusiasm. The Rev D. J. Hiley, of Bristol, in rising to address the meeting, was accorded a most hearty reception. He was, he said., pleased to come to South Wales, the land of his fathers, because the people were so loyal to the spirit and traditions of their forefathers, and because he felt that in the matter of Education their redemption was to come from the Principality. (Cheers.) If the County Councils only remained loyal their redemption would surely come from Wales. The drink question was also a vital question. The Government was pledged before they went out of power to fulfil their promise to the publicans. The greatest enemies of mankind were the publican and the priest. (Cheers.) If the promise of the Government to the Trade "—as if it was the only trade in the nation—was fulfilled, then the drink traffic was forced upon them for generations to come. But he hoped in this matter the churches of Great Britain would play their part, and if they did so it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for that promise to be fulfilled. He hoped the Church of England Temperance Society would also play its part on this very important question, but he was afraid they were reluctant to act with that unanimity that they should because they wanted the support of the publicans in other matters. He congratulated the Free Churches upon the unity which existed in their midst. When the history of the twentieth century came to be written, it would be seen that the Free Church Councils came into prominence through the energy of such saintly men as his friend the late Hugh Price Hughes, the first anniversary of whose death was on the previous day. Formerly they stood in isolation, yet all rested upon the one strata, and they could now say, We are not divided, all one body we." They were not divided but there was a rent in the heart of the Anglican Church, repre- sented on the one hand by the Wickliffe preachers, and on the other by the High Church Party, and God was witness they were high enough. Referring to the Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion as to a compromise, Mr Hiley said if this invitation had been sent two years ago, one of the greatest calamities of Christendom might have been avoided. It was not within the province of Dr Davidson or any cleric to settle this huge controversy. It could only be settled by the people of the country. His position was that of a citizen of the British Empire. This was the people's matter, and they alone must settle it. (Cheers.) He looked to no bishop or archbishop for his rights as a British citizen. Dr Davidson had nothing to give him. They were not going cap in hand or cap out of hand to the Church of England to do the right in this matter, but their appeal would be to the British democracy, who in the long run would see that fairplay was given between the citizens and the clerics. He appealed to Free Churchmen to take their stand and maintain it. It was an easy thing to take up a position, but it was not so easy to maintain it. He asked them, therefore, to take their stand, and in God's name to maintain it till the fight was completed. The fight had been sprung upon them, but this time there was to be no compromise, but the fight was to be one to a finish. (Cheers.) In the Act of 1870 the com- promise was all on our side. Mr Gladstone had to ask for terms from the Church Party, and what they would give to Free Churchmen would not be much. Though the compromise was made against them and in favour of the Anglican Church, we kept it; and though we did not consent to it, we loyally abided by it. But the Anglicans had broken their promise, and the Khaki vote of the Govern- ment had been used for purposes for which it was not intended, and for the purpose of kicking them out of existence. Now it was broken they were no longer bound by it. The speaker made a strong appeal to his audience, as Free Churchmen, in the name of God and the British democracy, to say to the bishops and archbishops—" No compromise, but a fight to the finish." In the matter of education, the State should be impartial and just to all. In this matter they were united. God sometimes made the wrath of man to praise Him. Every one could not view the education question from the same standpoint. All were not passive resisters. He (Mr Hiley) had always been and would always remain so. (Cheers.) Some looked at the law from a constitutional standpoint. The place where the question was to be fought out was at the municipal and parliamentary elections. If they did not see the same way as he did, they must not call him a crank or a maniac, but agree to differ. and fight the Bill at the elections. If it was a matter of politics with them, they had votes, let them use them. He had read that Oliver Cromwell, when fighting for a seat in Parliament, was returned by one vote, and he had often thanked God for that one vote, which had played so important a part in up-raising modern England in which they all lived. (Cheers.) They should not let their votes be sold for a pot of beer. Every public house in the Kingdom was used for elec- tioneering purposes, and if each public house only accounted for one vote it would mean 50 seats in the British Parliament. When School Boards were in existence, those who had the franchise did not make proper use of it. If their objection to the Act, therefore, was only a political one they should make proper use of their votes on all occasions. In the Parliamentary division of South Glamorgan they had had their differences of opinion as to who was the most suitable candidate to contest the seat against the present member. But now that the question had been settled, they should not sulk because they did not have their man chosen, but, in the, interests of the nation, they should play their part nobly and well, He had known Mr William Brace all his life; they had lived in the same village, and had been brought up in the same church, and he was convinced that neither Liberalism nor Free Church principles would suffer in any degree by his representation. This Bill violated his very conscience. What did they as Free Churchmen stand for ? Not long ago he read that the cry of the Presbyterians was Order, Order;" the Independent cried "Liberty, Liberty the Methodists, Fire, Fire and the Baptists (Laughter and cheers.) He (Mr Hiley) did not stand for water, little or much, but for the fundamental thing, the crown rights of their Saviour. Jesus Christ was the one and only head of the Church. Christ had expressed Him- self in mind in the Gospels. The Bible, and the Bible alone, was the basis of true religion for all Protestants. (Cheers.) God had given to every one of them a mind, large or small it did not matter, and they had the promise of the Gospel to illuminate that mind so that they could apprehend the truth, and no Government had the right to ask them to violate any one of the teachings of the Saviour. They should say to the Bishops and to Mr Balfour that what they had unjustly and unfairly done violated the crown laws of Jesus Christ, and they would not submit. Mr J. Sidney Boucher, of Carnarvon, was for twenty years the principal of a training college in Carnarvon for the training of teachers and clerics. Before the passing of the Education Act the upkeep of the college amounted to £3,000, towards which the nation paid k2,750, and the remainder was made up of voluntary contributions. Now they paid the whole lot, and they had practically no power or control over its management. Mr Boucher had written a book in which he said that Noncon- formist ministers were men who had received no definite blessings from God, and in their hands the administration of the sacraments could only be an outward show. They were not reverend," and were in fact only imitation clergy, (Laughter.) Christ's promise was not only to minsters to administer the sacraments, but to every true son and daughter. When he was a young man com- mencing to preach he was not allowed to administer the sacraments they always waited for an ordained minister, that was oaly a pure rag of popery. The Wesleyans also prohibited any one except an ordained person to administer the sacrament. That again was a mire rag of popery. Why could not every holy m;n administer the sacraments ? And why could they not also have water at this sacred rite. It was far better than the rubbish they now had, whether fermented or unfemaented. (Cheers).. Every martyr who had dit4 liad broken the lavtj. Roman Catholics called them criminals. Wowo they going to dance upon the graves of tù martyred dead, and say they were criminala because they had broken the law of their couc^py, qrl4 not. M;e of G-QQ? No. He r«tv guixrg LU'uet":Ue to the cr* Jeans Christ. What they as Free Churcnman wanted was liberty to worship God according to the dictates 0" their own conscience, and no citizen should have imposed upon his disabilities in municipal or civic life on account of bis religion. Nonconformists in villages could not have their children trained as pupil teachers without the consent of the parson and his co-managers, and unless they forswore the religion of their fore- fathers it would be difficult for them to get into a Training College. They only had two training colleges thus open, and in there half the places were taken up by Anglicans, and the Anglicans had also thirty-two other colleges. He knew of a considerable number of Primitive Methodists who had been approached to give up their religion, and embrace that of the Anglican Church, so that they might be able to go to college. They were going out with the help of God, and they would fight to a finish. (Cheers). All they asked was for a fair field and no favour; the only true remedy being the Disestablishment of the Church. (Loud and prolonged cheers). The Chairman hoped the excellent address to which they had just listened would be taken to heart by all. The truths had been put clearly before them and he trusted as Free Churchmen they would be firm in their principles in these matters. (Cheers.) Several elections were approaching, and they should see that their votes went in the right direction. both in Parliamentary and Municipal contests. It was very important that they should be firm. They must return men whose views coincided with theirs for truth and for liberty. (Cheers.) Miss L. Pugh then sang very sweetly and effectively the solo Hear, ye Israel" and the Temperance Choir rendered with equal excellence the chorus.—Rev Douglas Jackson, B.A., pro- posed a very hearty and sincere vote of thanks to the Rev D. H. Hiley for his admirable and inspiring address to the officers of the church for their kindness in granting the use of the building and to the Temperance Choir and conductor who had so nobly helped them. (Cheers.) The Rev Howell Davies, B.Se., seconded the resolution with more than ordinary pleasure. The first to be thanked was Mr Hiley, and he was sure they all '• highly appreciated—(laughter)—his splendid address that evening, and felt it would be revealed in their opposition to the Education Act. (Cheers.) Then there was the Temperance Choir. They could say in strict moderation that the choir had contributed very much to the success of the meeting. (Cheers.) Next came the members of the Baptist Church. They were as bountiful and generous in theiracts of kindness as they were in other things mentioned there that evening. (Laughter and cheers.) A hymn was heartily sung, and the Rev W. Ingli James closed the meeting by pronouncing the benediction. ■sBgHHRBsamnoMnnHBa

r-J- ? OPERETTA- PERFORMANCE AT BARRY. The RomiWY Hall, Barry, was crowded to excess on Wednesday evening last, on the occasion of a grand performance, by the Barry Juvenile Choir, of 100 voices, of the Japanese operetta, by Clementine Ward, entitled "Princess Ju Ju." From the commencement to the finish the per- formance delighted the audience, loud bursts of applause greeting the efforts of the performers. full details of the story of the operetta were published in our last issue. The principal characters were taken by Miss May Maddren (Princess Ju Ju); Mr Tom Morris (Emperor Hokipokitippitoptop); Mr D. Price (Ching fching); Mr Tom J. Davies (Prince Shee Ma Grim); Mr James Davies (Abud Hiram) Mr John Edwards (Lord High Executioner) and Miss Tilly Chinn (Lunar). The other characters comprised atten- dants, messengers, minstrels, dragon flies, spirits of the night, guards, populace, &c. The singing was conducted by Mr Sam Griffiths, to whom great credit is due for the high degree of efficiency to which the choir was trained. Miss J. E. Thomas presided at the piano Mr G. L. Bastian was at the organ, and the orchestra was under the direction of Mr Arthur Roberts. The performance in every respect proved an unqualified success, and was undoubtedly the best operetta ever rendered in the Barry district. The singing, solos and choruses alike, was excellent, and the individual parts were splendidly given. The accompaniments were also well executed. Owing to the great success of the performance, the operetta will be repeated on Saturday evening next, at 7.30, at the same place. "Reserved seats 2. second seats Is, admission 6d. We hope there will be another crowded attendance on Satarday evening. <

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S VISIT. PARTY OF DISTINGUISHED VISITORS AT BARRY. In connection with the visit of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, the ex Colonial Secretary, to Cardiff last week, the right hon. gentleman was the guest of Lord and Lady Windsor at St. Fagan's Castle. On Sunday it was anticipated that Mr Chamberlain would pay a visit to Burry Docks, more particularly as he is understood to have expressed a desire to see the Deep Water Entrance at Barry. Unfortunately, however, the right hon. gentleman did not leave the Castle on Sunday, but during the afternoon a portion of the castle party had a run over the Barry Company's railway system, visiting Walnut Tree, Barry Docks, Porthkerry, and Rhoose. The party, who were conveyed in the Barry Company's private saloon, in charge of Mr Richard Evans, general manager, and Inspector Butler, comprised Lord and Lady Windsor, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, Mrs Chamberlain, Lady Eva Wyndham Quin, Sir Vincent Caillard, with Mr Robert Forrest. The party did not alight en-route, but the saloon pulled up at several points along the tour, and the beautiful scenery at St. Fagan's and Porthkerry, as well as the fine docks at Barry, and the sea coast from Barry to Rhoose, were greatly admired. The saloon, which started from St. Fagan's about half-past two, returned home about half-past five, the tour, which was a pleasant and interesting one, occupying about three hours.

MR WALTER LONG, M.P., AT CADOXTON-BARRY. GREAT UNIONIST MEETING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. A great political meeting was held at the Theatre Royal, Cadoxton-Barry, on Wednesday evening last, when speeches were delivered by the Right Hon. Mr Walter Long, M.P., the President I of the Local Government Board Colonel W. H. Wyndham:Quin, C.B., D.S.O., M.P. for South Glamorgan, and other gentlemen. Owing to heavy pressure upon our available apace, the publication of a full report of the proceedings is unavoidably held over till next week.

FAREWELL PRESENTATION TO THE REV. N. REES AT BARRY. In connection with the departure of the Rev N. Rees, late curate of Barry and Porthkerry, for the curacy of Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd, a con- versazione and presentation meeting took place at the Church Hall, Barry, on Wednesday evening, the 18th, instant. The chair was taken by the Rev H. H. Stewart, M.A., rector. The hall was crowded, Lady Beatrice Stewart and the Misses Stewart," Mr A. D. Lough and Mrs Lough, Mrs Downing, Mrs Darling, Mr Jabez T. John, Mr and Mrs Allen, Mr C. Christian, Mr and Mrs T. Bryant, Mr F. P. Jones-Lloyd, Mr Barwell, Mr Bentley, Miss Pethybridge, Miss M. Morgan, Mrs Mainwaring, Mr Kilby, Mr J. G. Walliker, Messrs A. W. and H. G. Went, Mrs Davies, Misses Duchemin, Mr Packer, Mr and Mrs E, T. Davies, Mr Lester, &c., being amongst those present. During the evening, refreshments were handed round, and after indulging in different games, which were thoroughly enjoyed, songs were rendered at intervals by Miss Fielding, Miss M. A. Havard, Mr Walliker, Mr Colyer, and Mr A. J. Went, the singing of Miss Havard deserving special mention.—Mr C. Christian made the presentation of a handsome illuminated address to Mr Rees, the address ooncluding with the signatures of 233 parishioners. Mr Christian referred to the advent of Mr Rees nine years ago as missioner, and spoke of his successful efforts in establishing a strong Church with Sunday school, and said his consistent devotion had endeared him 1'to all the parishioners, who wished him every success in his new sphere of labour. The address was worded as follows :—" Parishes of Porthkerry and Barry, Diocese of Llandaff. To the Rev Nathaniel Rees. We, the undersigned, beg your acceptance of this address, and the accompanying gift, as we are desirous that you should take with you a visible token of our esteem and goodwill. During the nine years you have laboured in the parishes, you have, by your consistent devotion to duty and by unfailing kindness and courtesy, earned the respect and affection of those to whom .you were appointed to minister, and, whilst care- ful to promote their spiritual welfare, your practical sympathy will be gratefully remembered by the parishioners. We assure you that you enter upon your new sphere of labour with the hearty good wishes and earnest prayers of the many friends you leave behind."—Mr Bentley, on behalf of the Sunday scholars and Band of Hope, presented Mr Rees with a walking stick.—In presenting a purse of gold, Mr Bryant said in losing Mr Rees they were losing a true and faith- ful friend, who had been amongst them both in and out of season, in sunshine and storm, in prosperity and adversity, to advise and instruct one and all. The name of Mr Rees would never be forgotten, and his labours amongst the children would bear fruit in years to come.—The Rev N. Rees made feeling and appropriate response to the presentations and other manifestations of regard and good wishes on the part of the parishioners towards him. The proceedings throughout were most hearty and enthusiastic, and genuine regret was evinced on all hands at the departure of Mr Rees.—The accompanist during the evening was Mr Alf. Rees.

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[COPY.] To the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Llandaff. Merthyr Dyfan Rectory, Barry, Glam., November 19th, 1903. My Lord Bishop,—During the last three years there have been many letters about me on every imaginable subject, in the public Press, and written in various tones, from a letter asking to whom I go to confession, down to a letter describ- ing me as a wolf dressed up as a sheep. Not one of them have I ever answered, but now I feel that 1 must break my rule and send a letter to the Press. My reason for doing so is that your Lord- ship's letter to Mr Edwards, churchwarden of Merthyr Dyfan, appeared not only in the Echo of November 12th, but also in other local and London papers. On Ascension Day last I lighted two candles on the altar of Merthyr Dyfan Church at Holy Com- munion. They were lighted again on Whitsun Day, in June, in July, and in August, and not a single word was said about them. On Sunday, Septem- ber 27th, Mr Edwards, accompanied by one other parishioner who attends St. Paul's Church, Barry, by a Nonconformist, and by a person from another parish, attended Holy Communion at Merthyr Dyfan. Mr Edwards asked me in the vestry if I had a faculty for lighting the candles," and I told him he had better write to your Lordship. He then put out the two candles, which I re-lighted. On September 29th I received a letter from your Lordship enclosing one from Mr Edwards, and on October 2nd I replied at length giving your Lord- ship a full account of the situation. To that letter I received no reply, and I, therefore, assumed that my explanations were satisfactory. On October 10th Mr Edwards again attended, accom- panied by the one parishioner, and this time he took the two candlesticks off the altar and put them in his seat. Upon neither this nor the former occa- sion did he or his companion make his communion. I must again repeat to your Lordship what I said in my letter of 2nd October. Mr Edwards and his friend are not communi- cants at Merthyr Dyfan. They attend St. Paul's Church, Barry, where our ornaments consist of flower vases, and where there is no altar cross, no candlesticks, and no candles. They have not, since I came in August, 1900, communicated in St. Paul's but it cannot be candles" that keep them away. Though Mr Edwards was elected churchwarden of Merthyr Dyfan by certain parishioners who, with one exception, do not attend Church, yet he does not attend there. On the contrary, after last Easter he conceived the idea that although he was warden of that Church, yet he had a kind of superior authority over St. Paul's, Barry, and its church- wardens, and for two months or so he posted himself at St. Paul's and tried to be bead churchwarden. We tolerated this, as in charity and good sense, we have tolerated innumerable other petty annoy- ances and interferences from other sources, and at last your Lordship's Chancellor has settled the matter by stating that Mr Edwards bus no authority in St. Paul's. It is a significant fact that to get a third churchman to join in their protest they have to find a non-parishioner. As your Lordship knows, out of our population of 5,000, only some 40 live at Merthyr Dyfan. The rest live li miles away at Barry, around St. Paul's Church. There we had last year 2,190 communions made as against 890 the year before I came. There, last year, A179 was given in Church collections as against 975 the year before I came. The Church is well filled on Sunday evenings. On the Ascension Day before I came there were eight people in Church in the morning last Ascension Day there were at 5 a.m., 10 at 6 a.m., 28 and at 7 a.m., 58 a total of 96. But according to the statement in the Press we are driving God's people elsewhere." In your Lordship's letter to Mr Edwards you state that in your letter to me you had quoted from the Lincoln judgment The law is not broken by the mere fact of two lighted candles, when not required for the purpose of giving light, standing on the holy table continuously through the service but your Lordship adds I added the following taken from the judgment:- It is not likely that such a practice as this- not absolutely illegal-will cease to be distasteful to many minds, and where that is the case, even in a small degree, charity and good sense ought not to be violated." Then your Lordship says I had hoped that the above words might have induced the Rector to abstain from the practice in such a case as that of the Parish Church of Merthyr Dyfan, but it appears they have not produced that effect." I have the greatest deference to your Lordship's view, but I would very respectfully point out that they are not "distasteful to many minds," but only to the minds of two non-communicants, who are not worshippers at Merthyr Dyfan. The wor- shippers at Merthyr Dyfan do not object to them. A protest from these two men is no new thing. I did not come here until August 25th, 1900, but according to the Western Mail of May 30th, 1900- three months before I came here-at a meeting in Barry my profession of faith was read out Mr Weatherall (sie) believed in wafer bread, purga- tory, transubstantiation, and the confessional, and was not satisfied with the two Sacraments ordered by Christ Himself, but raised the other five to the same elevation." This was startling both to myself and my good Vicar in Roatb. Mr Edwards seconded the following resolution, proposed by the local secretary of the Protestant League That this meeting of the congregation of St. Paul's Church, Barry, understanding that the Rector of the Parish has offered the curacy of this Church to a gentleman who belongs to the E.C.U. and C.B.S., which are pledged to break the laws, we beg to protest against this action, and trust that the Rector will re-consider his decision, and appoint a minister faithful to his ordination vows, and continue to conduct the services of the Church as heretofore." My Lord, this is British fairplay as we have it in Barry. I was ordained by your Lordship, and worked for 7! years in my first curacy at St. German's, Roath, under your Lordship's license, during which time neither your Lordship, nor my Vicar, ever questioned my loyalty to the Church of England. But three months before I came to the parish, Mr Edwards, whom to my knowledge I had never heard of or seen, stigmatizes me as unfaith- ful to my ordination vow. In October of last year the Patron nominated me to your Lordship to be rector of this parish. On 13th November, 1902, a Commission was held to enquire whether the new rector ought not to be Welsh-speaking. Mr Edwards' friend, the other protester, attended, and stated that a Welshman ought to be appointed; and a Nonconformist stated that though he did not know the population of the parish, yet 2,000 people of the parish used Welsh as their every-day language. These were the only two persons who thought a Welsh- speaking priest necessary, and both had to admit that they could not speak it themselves. My good colleague, proficient in the Welsh language, lamented to me this morning that not once since he came in December last has he been required to use one word of' Welsh. That time, my Lord, it was because I could not speak Welsh that I was driving God's people elsewhere." When I attended at The Palace, Llandaff, to be instituted on 24th January last, your Lordship read me letters from Mr Edwards' friend and co- protester, protesting against my institution because I, in an instruction in Church, after service gave my reasons for bowing to the altar, and because I taught fasting oommunion. That time those were the reaso,ag why God's pipits were driven elsewhere. » —— j— I There exists in this parish a little clique, con- sisting of these two persons who attend Church and a few Nonconformists, who form a kind of ( Curia." They see all my actions and know my inmost thoughts, and can tell you what I am likely to do in years to come, being gifted with marvellous imaginative powers. There has been scarcely a month that some scurrilous statement has not been made about me, hung up in a shop window. Here is one The filthy confessional is taught in this parish. Protestants arise, and turn the dirty priest out of the place." A few months ago I was the cowardly priest at St. Paul's," and so on. There would seem to be nothing too outrageous for these people to attribute to the Clergy or Church worshippers in this parish. This little clique is behind these protests. Two men-non-Communicants attend Holy Communion Service at Merthyr Dyfan Church, not to make their communion, but expressly to act illegally, to brawl and disturb the worshippers. In charity and good sense I cannot allow these people to say what is right or wrong for the Church they do not attend nor support. Writing such a letter as this is to me very distasteful, but seeing that your Lordship's letter to Mr Edwards has had such widespread publica- tion, a sense of duty to the church and the parish seems to demand that I should lay these facts before your Lordship, and give them the same publicity.—I have the honour to be, Mr Lord Bishop, Your obedient Servant, DAVID WEATHERILL, Rector of Merthyr Dyfan. [COPY. ] The Palace, Llandaff, November 20th, 1903. Dear Weatherill,-I have read your letter just received carefully, and regret very much that you have been subjected to so much annoyance, but I desire to point out to you that the only question brought before me by Mr Edwards, the Church- warden, was the legality of your placing two lighted candles on the Holy Table, when they were not required for the purpose of giving light, and that in my reply I quoted, first, the words of the Lincoln Judgment, which declared your action to be not illegal; and next certain words of counsel pronounced by the Court, which it seemed to me to be suitable to add as in my belief, which may have been erroneous, the ordin- ary congregation who attend Merthyr Dyfan Parish Church would probably be of just the class to whom the introduction of Altar Lights, under the circumstances mentioned in Mr Edwards' letter, might give offence. I may also remind you that at our interview at the Registry, when you informed me you had been offered the living of Merthyr Dyfan, you volunteered the following statement, that out of consideration for the feelings of the country people who lived in the neighbourhood of the Parish Church you did not intend, beyond taking the Eastward position, to make any change in the existing ritual, not even to the extent of wearing coloured stoles.—Sincerely yours, R. LLANDAFF. P.S.—I hope that if you publish your letter you will also publish this, my reply to it.—R.LI, [ OOPY.l Merthyr Dyfan Rectory, Barry, Glam., November 22nd, 1903. My Lord Bishop,—I thank you for your letter of the 20th instant. Your Lordship is under a misapprehension in thinking that the words spoken at the interview related to Merthyr Dyfan Parish Church they related to St. Paul's, Barry. The interview at the Registry took place at 2 p.m. on May 23rd, 1900, whilst 1 was still Curate at St. German's, Roath, and related to my coming to take charge of St. Paul's, Barry. I then, as your Lordship states, said that at the existing services at St. Paul's, viz., Matins and Evensong on Sundays, I intended to make no great Ritual changes, and did not intend to wear colour- ed stoles, and to this day we wear black. I had nothing whatever to do with Merthyr Dfvan Church until January last, and I have had no interview with your Lordship at the Registry since May 23rd, 1900. In corroboration of what I said in my letter, the following appears in a local paper last week :— At a meeting held in Bethesda Chapel by the Wycliffe preachers, Mr J. H. Edwards (a Baptist), secretary to the local Protestant 500, then con- gratulated Mr Edmund Edwards, the church- warden for the Parish of Merthyr Dyfan, upon the firm stand that he had made in putting out the candles at Merthyr Dyfan Church. Two Societies had taken the thing in hand, and were prepared to back him up, and pay all his legal expenses, should any be necessary. (Cheers.) I have the honour to be, my Lord Bishop, Your obedient servant, DAVID WEATHERILL.

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DEATH OF THE REV. I. HUMPHREYS, BARRY DOCKS. It is with deep regret that we chronicle this week the death of the Rev Isaac Humphreys, of 58, Pyke-street, Barry Docks, the senior curate of Cadoxton-Barry, who passed away on Thursday last, the 19th instant, at Guy's Hospital, London, after a brief illness. The deceased gentleman, who was highly respected by the townspeople of Barry, and beloved by the parishioners of Cadoxton, was only in his 39th year. He was ordained by the Bishop of Llandaff about five years ago, being licensed to the curacy of Cadoxton, and until the death of the late Rector he had charge of St. John's Welsh Church, Barry Docks. On the preferment of the present Rector (the Rev J. S. Longdon) to the living, Mr Humphreys was appointed senior curate, and he thus became more closely identified with the four churches in the parish, and amongst the parishioners generally he was held in the highest esteem, so much that when his health suddenly broke down two or three months ago, the Churchpeople of Cadoxton, and friends from neighbouring parishes, at once responded in a practical manner to an appeal made for a testimonial on his behalf. The deceased gentleman was removed to Guy's Hospital about a month ago, but he gradually got worse, and died last. Thursday. Mr Humphreys was a native of Anglesea, North Wales. He was an ardent Churchman, a hard-working clergyman, an esteemable neighbour, and a warm-hearted and genial friend, and his early and sudden death is a source of deep and unfeigned sorrow to the Churchpeople and his many friends in the Barry district. Deceased leaves a widow and two young children to mourn his death, with whom we desire to express our very sincere sympathy in their sore bereavement. FUNERAL XND MEMORIAL SERVICES. On Sunday, both morning and evening, memorial services were held at St. John's Welsh Church, and being the Church with which Mr Humphreys h id been most actively and intimately associated du iag his ministry in the parish, and where he was consequently best known and most respected, both services were exceedingly affecting. The Church was draped in black out of respect to the memorj of the deceased the hymns were strikingly appropriate to the occasion, and in the evening the Rev Morgan H. Jones, B.A., curate of Merthyr Dovan and St. Paul's, Barry, preached an able and touching discourse,. making suitable and feeling references to the good work done by Mr Humphreys and the great respect in which he was held in the church and parish. At the close of the service, the Dead March in Saul was played on the organ by Miss M. John, the congregation remaining kneeling till the close. The funeral took place in the Tower Hamlets Cemetery, London, on Tuesday afternon. Owing to indisposition, Mrs Humphreys, the widow, was unable to be present. On the coffin were several beautiful wreaths from members of the family, St. John's Welsh Church (Barry Docks), Rev J. S. Longdon and Mrs Longdon, Mrs Bray, Mrs Pentland, and others. The mourners were Mr W. Humphreys (brother), Rev J. Pugh, rector of Ysceifiog, North Wales (uncle), Mr Jones (relative), Rev J. S. Longdon and Mrs Longdon. The Rev J. S. Longdon, rector of Cadoxton, officiated both at the cemetery chapel and grave. In the morning, at eight o'clock, celebrations of the holy communion took place at Cadoxton Parish Church, and St. Mary's, Barry Docks. In the afternoon, at the same time as the funeral, a special memorial service was held at St. Cadoc's Church, the sacred edifice being too small to accommodate those of the parishioners who attended. The service, which was a very im- pressive one, was conducted by the Revs Lemuel J. James, M.A., and J. O. Roberts, curates. Rev D. Weatherill, rector of Merthyr Dovan, was 110140 present. The Rev Lemuel James made feeling reference to the late Mr Humphreys. He said, in. him they had a man of charity, humility, and patience. Through his death the people had lost a true and pious priest, the Rector a loyal helper, and the curates a faithful colleague. Mrs Sleyd played the "Dead March" from "Saul" a..t,- the conclusion of the service. A memorial service was also held at St. Mary's Church, Holton-road, in the evening, these being again a large congregation, and at the close the organist, Mr W. T. Llewellyn, played è" Dead March. Mrs Humphreys desires to express her great thanks for the many expressions of sympathy she has received from the friends of her late husband, the Rev Isaac Humphreys, and hopes they will kindly accept this as an acknowledgment under the present circumstances.

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