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ISILVER WEDDING OF MR.

BARRY DISTRICT SCHOOL '4BOARD.

THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A SHIP'S…

ST. DAVID'S DAY AT BARRY.

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ST. DAVID'S DAY AT BARRY. PATRIOTIC WELSHMEN DINE TOGETHER. ANNUAL GATHERING AT HARRY'S RESTAURANT. Mae dyddiau clir gogoniant 'o A llwvddiant yn aesau Cymylau'r nos ddarfyddant- Mae'r wawr-ddydd yn cryfhau; Mae blodeu rhagoroldeb, Ac urddas Cymru Sydd, Yn gwywo yn nisgleirdeb Goleuni Cymru Fydd. The annual St. David's Day dinner under the auspices of the Barry and Cadoxton "Young Wales" Society was held on Thursday evening last at Harry's Restaurant, Barry Dock, when Dr W. Lloyd Edwards, the president of the society named, occupied the chair and was supported by the Revs J. W. Matthews (ex-president), W. Williams, Morris Isaac, and T. P. John, Dr P. J. O'Donnell (chairman of the Local Board), Captain R. tDavies (member of the School Board), Mr B. Lewis (member of the Local and School Boards), and Mr Jenkin Meredith. The general company included Messrs J. E. Rees, J. Petty and Mrs Petty, Daniel Evans, J. D. Davies (secretary). Mrs T. M. Williams, Miss S. B. Thomas (who was the accompanist on the occasion), J. A. Manaton, J. Williams and Mrs Williams (Oban-street), E. J. Thomas, S. Griffiths, T. J. Thomas, H. J. Owen, James Jones, D. Howe, D. M. John, R. W. Evans, Edward Rees, Captain E. O. Evans, Misses Meredith (2), etc. A very creditable repast was supplied by the Misses Harry, to which due justice was done, and the cloth having been removed the Royal Family was loyally toasted, and Mr D. M. John followed with a recitation. The toast of The Ministers of Religion was proposed by Mr Jenkin Meredith, and responded to by the Revs. T. P. John and W. Williams, each speaker dwelling upon the good service rendered by ministers of the Gospel in furthering the general well-being of the Principality, more especially from spiritual and educational points of view. At this stage, the Chairman read a communication from the Rev. Father D'Hulst, the new pastor of the Roman Catholic Church. Barry Dock, expressing regret at his inability to be present.—Song, Llwybr yr Wyddfa," Rev. M. Isaac.—Mr B. Lewis was deputed to submit the toast of The Town and Trade," to which Captain E. O. Evans responded. -Recitation, Dr. A. F. Richards.-In proposing to the revered memory of Our Patron Saint." the Rev. J. W. Matthews delivered an interest- ing address, in the course of which, he said— Although thirteen and a half centuries have elapsed since the death of St. David, his revered name possesses a wonderful charm for Welsh people to-day. St. David was the son of Sawdde ab Cedig ab Ceredig ab Cunedda Wledig. This Cunedda was the first Ruler Wale" ever had, and that was the reason why he wac called Cunedda Wledig, which means Ruler or Piince. St. David was the great grandson of that renowned individual. His father's name was Sawdde. and his mother's name Nonn. She was the daughter of Gynnyr and Gaergawch from Pembrokeshire. According to Giraldus Cambrensis our patron saint was born in a place which was afterwards called St. David's, Pembrokeshire. He was baptised in the Bay of Clais, by Albens, Bishop of Munster, and was educated at Llantwit Major, in the College of St. Illtyd, which was then a flourishing institution containing about two thousand students. After studying hard for some time at Llantwit Major, he removed to the White House, to a school kept by Paulinus, where he spent about ten years studying the scriptures and the sciences. One of his co-students was St. Teilo. who became the second Bishop of Llandaff. After completing his educational course, he went about establishing churches for the spiritual good of his countrymen, and for the glory of God. It is said that he was the honoured means of erecting no less than fifty-three churches in South Wales alone. He spent a good deal of his time also in the monastery which he founded in the Vale of Rosina, called afterward Monmouth. The religiousness of his character, the catholicity of his spirit, and the extent of his long-suffering and patience were proverbial. He died on the first day of March A.D. 544, having attained the ripe age of 82 years, and was buried in his own monastery, in the Vale of Monmouth, by order of Maelwyn Gwynedd. He was sainted by Pope Calixtus in the year 1120. His shrine became so renowned that it was visited by pilgrims from all parts, including three kings, William the Conqueror, Henry II., and Edward I., together with his wife. Two Pilgrimages to the shrine of St. David were reckoned equal to one to Rome. Now, what lessons are there to be derived from it L" What advantage is there in keeping up an annual feast in memory of St. David unless we are stimulated in some degree to emulate some traits in that saintly character ? St. David was ruled by a strong desire for improving the condition of his countrymen. He gladly and willingly placed his noble gifts and attainments upon the altar of devotedness to the highest interests of his nation. It is most important that we should also labour to make our names an inspiritation to those who follow us. The elevation of Wales, both morally and politically, should be our lofty ideal, an ideal which is ennobling in its pursuit, and worthy in its attainment, we should work energetically on behalf of those movements which tend to the improvement of the Welsh nation. (Applause.) It is a matter of great importance to the rising generation, that the mothers of Wales, like the mother of St. David, should leave a healthy moral impression on the minds and hearts of their children. I am glad to note the eager thirst for knowledge displayed by the young men of Wales in the present day, and that our Government has become fully alive to the importance of establish- ing intermediate schools and colleges, and a Welsh University for granting degrees in our midst. It is evident that the dawn of better things is gradually breaking upon the long neglected sons and daughters of Wales. But undoubtedly, the best trait in our patron saints' noble character was the religious beauty which pertained to his life. This was the sole reason why he was "sainted" by Pope Calixtus, and placed pre- eminently over the Saints of the British Isles, and this was the reason why kings and queens became pilgrims to his shrine. If we wish to live in hearts we leave behind if we would have our names handed down to posterity, to be honoured and admired by Young Wales" of future years we must seek to emulate the noble and saintly career of St. David. (Cheers.)- Song, "Cymru Fydd," Mr J. Williams.-The Chairman, Dr Lloyd Edwards, then submitted the toast of Young Wales," and said Welsh people regarded St. David as one whom all should endeavpur to emulate. About twenty years ago an idea pervaded Welsh people that they should sink their national characteristics, and that they should imitate their English friends in everything, but they soon found that the giving up of their national institutions and their national character- istics would be suicidal to their best interests. There was, he said, a great deal in the feeling of nationalism, and was portion of a great movement which manifested itself in various parts of the civilised world. The speaker also alluded to the degree of progress made in educational matters in the Principality during late years, and said much had already been accomplished by means of the Welsh national colleges. (Cheers.)-The Rev M. Isaac, in response, said it was the duty of Welsh people at all times to join hand in hand in the endeavour to raise the standard of Wales. It was, he said, all very well to meet together once a year on an occasion like this. but many of his fellow- countrymen seemed to forget that the Welsh movement required faithful and persistent partici- pation in at all times. (Hear, hear.) Having deplored the want of unity on the part of the Welshmen of the district in the agitation for the appointment of a Welsh magistrate, Mr Isaac said he did not think the School Board had done its duty in the matter of teaching the Welsh language to the young, and it was, therefore, incumbent upon Welsh residents to express determination 1 that their natural rights and privileges should be considered. (Cheers.)-Song,'¡ 0. rnor hardd," Mr Sam Griffiths. The Three Sister Nations" was next proposed by Mr E. J. Thomas, whe, during a spirited and original treatment of the subject, said— I have baen asked to offer for your acceptance the toast of The Three Nations," and I need hardly add that by this term is meant those aggregations of individuals whom we usually designate the English, Scotch, and Irish nations. I have not a very clear notion myself of what constitutes a nation. The word to me appears to be one of that numerous class of indefinite words of which one can make almost any use he likes, and no proper or exact use at all, words which, by their smooth sound and frequent employment, are credited with some tangible idea, but which, upon closer examination, very often mean nothing. One may regard the people of the whole world as he regards the briny deep. Divisions of people are necessary for government as different parts of the sea are necessary for teaching geography and the guidance of the navigator, but there is essentially no difference between the Bay of Biscay and the sea that plays over Cantre's Gwaelod. (Laughter.) One thing is quite clear that all nations consist of human beings, but what besides constitutes the essentials of a nation is not quite so clear. I can think of only four conditions that could possibly be taken as constituting these essentials, and they are-government, locality, language, and descent. We will just glance at each of these. Grant Allen in his '■ Anglo-Saxon Britain," says—and Professor Huxley rather endorses it— Thus, to sum up in a single sentence, the Anglo-Saxons have contri- buted about one-half the blood of Britain or less. We are now a mixed race, almost equally Celtic and Teutonic by descent." This is an observation, coming from the quarter it does, I wish to impress upon the Welsh folk present, as I am conscious that Welshmen until very recently regarded an Englishman, and some may even do so still, with the feeling which one is apt to regard a foreigner and an intruder. This feeling of aversion is happily dying out. but could we but realise that they have our blood in their veins it would die out the sooner, and the better it would be for both sides. May this knowledge foster among us a sense of our common brotherhood, and let us hope that our common off-spring will take what is best from each of the funr nations, and that along with that will appropriate their initials, from the Welsh their W. from the Irish their I, from the Scotch their S. and from the English their E, and in their common langu- age of the future they will undoubtedly prove a wise generation. (Applause.)- Dr O'Donnell responded to the toast by saying that he entirely disagreed with the previous speaker upon certain points in his address. Irishmen, he claimed, possessed characteristics which were peculiarly their own, and he was of opinion that there were characteristics in different nationalities which tended to draw the line of demarcation between themselves and their neighbours. He was glad to hear it said that evening that Wales was entering upon a new period, and he trusted that new period would impress a feeling of tolera- tion towards members of other nationalities whom they found amongst them, so that religion should not be a bar against the holding of any posi- tion. (Cheers).-The next toast was that of Welsh Education," submitted by Captain Davies, who said it was easy to predict the great benefits which would accrue to the Principality by the establishment of an University. Nearly fifty years had elapsed since the great educational movement had been started in Wales by the late Sir Hugh Owen, and the only member of the original promoters who had survived to see the university charter granted to Wales was that good old Cardiganshire man, Sir George Osborne Morgan. (Cheers.) He trusted the W -leh people would make due use of the improved educational facilities now placed within their -each. Re- ferring to the teaching of Welsh to the children, Captain Davies said it was pri- marily the duty of parents to teach the native tongue in the household. (Hear, hear.) —Mr J.E.Rees. speaking in acknowledgment of the last toast, also referred to the great advance- ment made by the Welsh people in educational matters during the past twenty years, and speak- ing of the last code, Mr Rees said it was essentially Welsh, in fact. some of the teachers' association in the Principality had declared it was too grest a step in a progressive direction. -4e. st^igly advocated the desirability of tear'hi. Welsh to the young, and paid a high tribute DO the noble pioneer work done by the University College of Wales, Aberystwith. He dissented from the views expressed by Mr Thomas that evening, and said it was the duty of Welshmen DO do all in their power to preserve their nationality. (Applause.) —Mr Daniel Evans, in a neat Welsh speech pro- posed The Press," which was responded to by Mr J. R. Llewellyn, editor of the Bamj Dock News and the toast of "The Hostess," g i ve ) v.y Mr H. J. Owen, having been duly received, Mr R. W. Evans, recited The Old Hundredth." and the proceedings concluded with the singing of •• !!■ n Wiad fy Nhadau."

BARRY DISTRICT TRADES' AND…

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