Weekly Mail

^SlDENTIAL ADDRESS BY DR. GOODRICH. fy, —— assembly of the Congregational tK*Vb»°/ sland and Wales opened at the » Cardiff, on Tuesday morning a^as a large attendance of minis- fd lay delegates. The great oratorical » sl(lp0^ the assembly in the form of the h^bje ^tiai address was in prospect. The Ik^W the address was known to a large P of delegates, and no surprise was, ??V, ?|"e. occasioned when the president, the rv tK rt Goodrich, D.D., announced as ^N>ueit,,e> "The Larger Mission of the hia hearers as "'My dear Dr. Goodrich said their problem p? .to secure a Christian State. The l^istian Protector, more than King, 0* J,- sought to make England a king- ha,, pd. He did not by the State estab- ta..bli lglOn, but he did for the whole land s godly preachers and pastors. The b.tee Of religion in the early part of the V century, followed by the Evangeli- „I»W-Val prominence to individual oflja' lowered the Church's conscious- K to Christianise the general life Vt^ltie but even then the Evangelical tt"Y e er,rt. gave birth to the spirit of huma- jolted in such as Howard and Wilber- ■Q rUtJe the better understanding of J* q teaching concerning the kingdom of iAti; the absorption of the doctrines of Q: heredity, and environment had, later days, quickened in all the { s. the consciousness that their mis- only the saving of individual f> *t also the producing of conditions, and social, which were juet and "t¡¡1¡1i!e to godly and righteous life, the ]pe of the kingdom of God wherein f'o tw-ica-l righteousness, social peace, tvM^jj^oas joy. Rejecting, ae they did, the n ^^al positions of organised Socialism, ed with satisfaction that it was a ?**es Protest against the economic q,11111 of the present order, that it was Hi r £ ?01'tal wounds to asceticism aking covetousneea more odious, t>v^Su, regulating the truth of indivi- 0 by the trjpth of collectivism, and the nt-the liberty of the subject by the tiie fraternity of man. But r1' with its gospel of eoonomic reform, regenerate society. And in the UX t,L0f the social state, holy, jnst, and W^nt6^ was a. place for the power of Par- ^OQ -6 State was not a mighty goddess tiv^ ^j/^dless resources of her own, distinct People, which sffe could inexhaus- ^<it ns,e their enrichment. The State V;?, 6ovtlle nation organised; its resources t¡¡tltoQt era wero only those of the people. wil1 of the P60^6 Acts of Parlia- ill 6 dead letter, as Wales was ehow- e matter of the Education Act. The Ug °Uai Church, with its millions of •^Hdt>r°P€rty' its great Prestige and Upon the sources of social and Promotion—what during the four e nS ad it done for the Christianising I} %.0 a.t.lOn? They were not unmindful of tfV e, Tout trnly great, Christian clergy, and of its valuable to* tbecwtogica.1 learning i but it. ""0", remembering the testimonies of historians •like Hallam, Macaulay, and Lecky; remem- bering that the great Parliamentary and municipal reforms, the repeal of Oppressive Acts, the Acts for the bettering of the condi- tion of the workers, and the great social and religious societies were not originated, were not supported, but positively opposed by the Established Church, and remembering that had it not been for the self-sacrificing efforts of the Free Churches, poor and unpatronised, England with her National Church would not have to-day one-fourth of the accommo- dation needed for possible worshippers- remembering these things, they said that the experiment of a National Church as the means of Christianising the nation was far from a success. Their hope could not be in it. To take a crucial instance now before them. The Established Church could have thrown out the iniquitous Licensing Bill. .Why did she not? Th-o union with the State did to her what the State's fire and sword could not do to other Churches—it silenced THE REV. ALBERT GOODRICH, M.A., Chairman oI the Congregational Union. her tongue and tied her hands. They could not look for national salvation from a State Church. A Church was neither a capitalist institution nor a labour society. The Churches of Christ were spiritual societies, seeking pri- marily the regeneration of individual souls, and through them the regeneration of society. A Church, therefore, could not, in its corpora.te capacity, pronounce with autho- rity upon social and political questions. When Churches as Churches passed political resolutions they turned aside from their vocation. THE LARGER MISSION. For their larger mission, went on the speaker, the hour, notwithstanding much that awakened fe^r, he ventured in conclud- ing to say, bade them hope. There were signs that a Government which was strangely indif- ferent to the conscience of its citizens and the sobriety of its people would speedily be dismissed. Among the nations there was a rising spirit in favour of national arbitra- tion. Throughout society there was a growing DIR. HORTON, Ex-President of the Congregational Union. sense of responsibility to provide for the public health and the social welfare. Educa- tion was slowly raising the people. Science, in the utterances of Lord Kelvin and Sir Oliver Lodge, was at once more scientific and favourable towards religion than it was a generation ago in the utterances of Tyndal and Huxley. Philosophy no longer passed by. but sympathetically recognised, the facts and the varieties of religious experience. Histori- cal works were increasingly revealing the potent* place religion had filled in human welofare and progress. Literature trembled with a passion for truth, and, irresistibly attracted, swept about and hovered over religion, ever and anon alighting and singing its praises. If Art now painted Hope, she would still seat her on the circle of this world, but she would give more than one THE ItEV. JAMES A. MITCHELL. B.A., Secretary of the Congregational Union. string to her lyre and more than one star in her sky. The Churches, freed from the impedimenta, of a cumbrous dogma and illu- minated with a better understanding of their Scriptures and their Christ, were more than ever equipped unto every good work. And the people. Alas! some were bitten with a blatant infidelity, some were impene- trably indifferent, but some—might he not say most?—were in a manner saying to them, "We don't want your learning or your rhetoric or your eloquence; we want a face- to-face, plain, sincere utterance concerning Divine things; we want a. worship of God which is not distant and oppressively serious, but which, while reverent, is simple and brotherly." Truly, a great dawn was rising; a fulnees of time was at hand. There was a sound upon the top of the mulberry trees." A prophet's voice 'was on the mountains, Arise, shine, for thy light is come." A cry was in their streets, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." The following delegates were then intro- duced :-The Rev. Robert Auchterlonie (Edin- burgh), chairman of the Congregational Union of Scotland; the Rev. J. C. Harris (late of Johannesburg); the Rev. Walter Friend (Port Elizabeth), Congregational Union of South Africa; and Mr. John P. Hooton (Auck- land), Congregational Union of New Zealand. A statement showing the financial posi- Mr. J. CROSFIELD, Treasurer. j tion of the Congregational Church Aid Society was made by the Rev. Principal D. L. Ritchie (Nottingham). SCOTTISH FREE CHURCH CRISIS. The President-elect of the Union <the ReT, Principal P. T. Forsyth, M.A., D.D., London), moved the following resolution on the United Free Church of Scotland crisis:- The assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales regards with pro- found concern the grave crisis produced in Scotland by the recent legal decision as to the property of the United Free Church. It doea not call in question the motives of the successful. litigants, and it earnestly .¥ prays that they may receive the Divine guidance in the overwhelming responsibili- ties cast upon them. It would convey to the United Free Church its heartfelt sympathy in the grievous posi- tion in which that great community is now placed, a position faced with heroic courage a.nd self-sacrifice. It re-calls with satisfac- tion its own messages of affection in Octo- ber, 1900, on the consummation of the Union, and would repeat them and express anew its admiration for the illustrious services rendered by these Churches to Christendom. The assembly earnestly hopes that every endeavour will be made by the parties to arrive at a friendly agreement, and that on the basis of such agreement any legisla- tion necessary may soon be effected to relieve a situation which is unendurable and fraught with the gravest danger to the cause of Christ's Gospel. It promises warm support to any wise attempt towards such lawful relief. Further, the assembly, in view of the decision of the highest court of the realm as to the meaning and effect of the existing law governing property held in trust for religions purposes, places on record its fear that the law as so laid down unduly fetters the right and the duty <4L all Christian Churches in regard to self-Yernment and spiritual growth, and assails the principle of religious toleration. A Christian Church requires unpenalised freedom to discharge her duties to her Living Head under the guidance of the Spirit Who is ever unfold- ing yet fuller truth, and this freedom is imperilled when the terms on which she is adjudged to hold her property hamper her I in the exercise of the powers of growth which Christ is ever bestowing. Finally, the assembly trusts that all Chris- tian Churches will avoid this danger in future settlements of property, and also unite in promoting such alteration of the law as may be found to be needful in regard to the past. It was the opinion of the mover that there had been a miscarriage of justice in this has been a miscarriage of justice in this case. The judgment of the House of Lords was con- trary to public opinion and to the moral sense of the community, and it would have to be speedily undone by an appeal to Par- liament. This was in the interest of the State, as well as the Church. A law that produced injustice was a law hostile to the State, and it was to the interest, of the State that that injustice should be amended and the law altered. It seemed to him that on this side of the border they were taking the matter very calmly, but if they knew what it meant for them they would take it seriously. Mr. J. Compton Rickett, M.P., seconded, and, without any amendment being pro- posed or any discussion arising, the resolu- 1 tion was carried unanimously. THE EDUCATION ACTS. In the absence of the Rev. J. Brierley, B.A., who was reported to be indisposed, the Rev. Dr. John Brown proposed the following resolu- tion on the education question — That this assembly re-affirms its convic- tion that the Education Acts of 1902 and 1903 are inherently unjust, and pledges itself to maintain an earnest and unceasing endea- vour to secure full educational and adminis- trative efficiency with complete- civil and religious liberty, and especially (1) Complete control by the people over the schools which they maintain; (2) The exclusion of sectarianism from the official curriculum and the atmosphere of State-supported schools and State- aided colleges; and (3) The exemption of State-paid teachers from sectarian tests. Further, this assembly, in view of the honourable and long-sustained efforts of the Welsh people in behalf of religion, liberty, and education, considers the Education (Defaulting Authorities) Act, 1904, to be, under the circumstances of the case, not a legitimate endeavour by the central authority to promote efficiency, but an attempt to shield a sectarian minority in the persistent neglect of its obligations. Finally, this assembly assures the Welsh people of its complete and cordial sympathy. If they were to go back in the way of reaction, said the venerable doctor, they would make their protests in the name of the great pro- gressive movements of the future. This question had been kept before the country by the passive resistance movement. It was a degradation that they should be made to appear that they were resisting the law of the country, bat, like John Bunyan, they would rather do that than make a slaughter- house of their conscience. The Education Defaulters Act was not passed to promote education, but to shield the incompetent and inefficient. Parliament had adjourned, but the real Parliament would be that held in Cardiff next week. When the councils of the different counties met that would be the turning point of the whole question. They might have noticed in the "Times" a very remarkable letter from a Welsh correspon- dent. who pointed out that Merioneth, which was supposed to be .standing aloof, wished only that the other counties would go far- ther than they did. The "Times" had also a very serious leading article, in which it im- plored Mr. Lloyd-George to be moderate. The nation pv.ed a deep debt pf gratitude ,V? 5&r. Lloyd-George. (Applause.) He had be>8n always at his post through$11 the laborious and painful work of Committee iu the HousoI3 of Commons, always on the alert, and repre- senting the Free Churches of this country as no one else had ever represented them before in the House. The "Times" appealed to him to be very moderate, as he might attain by- and-bye to Cabinet rank. If he turned tail on his people he probably would, but he would be doing the best for himself and his country by standing by his people in this great and memorable struggle. (Applause.) Behind all these great political movements was the question, "Were they to submit to the priest and the superstitions of priest- craft?" Let them fight this battle to the end and prove that they meant serious busi- ness. (Applause.) Mr. Albert Spicer. the former member for the Monmouth Boroughs, seconded. He read into the resolution the words. "Be strong and of good courage." Mr. Spicer classed hirnseJt with the passive resisters, and remarked that they did not go into the courts with any idea of cheap martyrdom. He had made it his busi- ness to visit many of what were described as the non-provided schools, and his conclu- sion was tha,t if the new Education Act were administered fairly a large number of these schools would- not be taken over by the new authorities. He was delighted with the spirit shown by the Welsh people in this educational controversy. They had ha.rdly realised what had been done by that brilliant leader, Mr. Lloyd-George, in fighting his battles. Wales to-day was prepared to back her leaders, and to carry this fight through to a successful issue. (Applause.) REV. SYLVESTER HORNE ON 'CHANGE. At the termination of the morning confer- ence the Rev. Sylvester Horne, accompanied by a party of ministers, made his appearance on the Cardiff Exchange and delivered a brief address. His audience was a representative one of business men, clerks, and other subordinates, working men, and a few ladies. Taking as his text references to money in Ecclesiastes and in Timothy, the speaker dwelt upon the power of money. He gave instances of what it had achieved munici- pally and nationally, but he also pointed out that there were things beyond the power of money—things that could not be bought. Money was not to be the aim of man, but in its use he was assuming a stewardship. It was not with money that Christ quarrelled, but with the man who hid his talent in the earth. Money was a defence against poverty, cold, and hunger. With it man could achieve much wisely and well; but he dwelt upon the fact that unless a Christian man recognised that character was greater than money he was in the way to turn money to his disad- vantage. Money was also a peril, and he quoted references to the great American trusts, which pointed out that capital might become a menace to national prosperity and national peace. As Mr. Gladstone had said, the greatest evil of every nation was the worship of Mammon. It was necessary from time to time to awaken the Christian mind to the peril. Great artists, great statesmen, and great preachers had been ruined by money. It was love of money that brought Judas to the gallows, and, indirectly, Jesus to the cross. He urged that it was necessary not to allow money to become fetters. It was the Christian duty to guard well the treasure with which they were entrusted, so that it should not hurt the inward man. They should see that what they had should not injure what they were. He did not call money filthy lucre, but to use it wisely was the great task. The proceedings closed with a short prayer. THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE. In the afternoon a theological conference was held in Charles street Congrega- tional Church, the Rev. Principal Rowlands, B.A. (Brecon), presiding. The Rev. W. L. Walker (Glasgow) delivered a masterly address on The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit." After some remarks by the Chairman, the Rev. Dr. Horton (Hampstead), the Rev. Martin Anstey (Dewshury), and the Rev. Dr. Forsyth addressed the meeting. A tone of subdued thankfulness pervaded tiie meeting, and great satisfaction was generally felt with the wise treatment of the subject. MAYORAL RECEPTION. There was a crowded attendance at the reception given by the mayor (Alderman John Jenkins) and the mayoress at the Park- hall between 4.30 and 6.30. While the guests partook of refreshments several solos were well rendered by local artistes. Dr. Goodrich (the president of the Union) proposed a vote of thanks to the mayor and mayoress for their cordial welcome to the Union and for, their generous hospitality. It had been the privilege of many present, he remarked, to have appeared before the chief magistrates of various towns other than as guests, but even then they had been treated with respect. They as Congregation aliets were law-abiding peojkle, and recognised the wxpremacy of the law as the first condition of material prosperity and social well-being. They were not strangers to magistrates in the endeavour to secure with them the prevalence cf law and order. Twenty-five years ago, when the Union last visited Cardiff, the mayor then (Alderman Daniel Ijewis) was a C-o n g r eg at io n alist-, and they felt it an honour that the Mayor of Cardiff this year was also one of theirs. (Applause.) Mr. W. Gross field (treasurer of the Union) seconded the vote, which was carried with acclamation. The Mayor, in acknowledgment, said that he and the mayoress and the members of the corporation extended to the representa-1 tives of a great Union the most cordial j welcome to Cardiff. The town was always glad to recognise great institutions and to extend to them the most cordial hospitality. (Applause.) During the afternoon there were also meet- ings held in connection with the Congrega- REV. J. D. JOXES. M.A., B.D., Bournemouth. tional Churches Settlements and the Notting- ham Old Students' Association. EVENING MEETING. In the evenmg a crowded meeting was held at Wood-street Chapel. The subject dis- coursed upon was "The Exposition and Enforcement of Congregational Principles a.nd Obligations." Alderman J. Elms Beale, J.P. (mayor of Bournemouth), presided, and the speakers were the Revs. J. ReIlS,haw Bailey (Eccles), W. Hardy Harwood (Isling- ton), and H. J. Perkins (Tollin-gton Park).

RE-CONSTITUTION SCHEME DISCUSSED English and Welsh Congregationalists assembled for the third time in the Park-hall on Wednesday. Dr. Goodrich presided. Prior to the subject of re-constitution being taken in hand a service was held in Charles- street Congregational Church, the sermon PRINCIPAL P. T. FORSYTH, M.A., D.D., London. being preached by the Rev. Eric A. Lawrence I (Halifax). THE RE-CONSTITUTION SCHEME. An exhaustive report had been prepared on the re-constitution scheme which has been I under consideration since 19Q2. Dr. Barrett, who had interested himself closely in the matter, was unable to be present, through illness, to move the adoption of the report. In his absence the Secretary (the Rev. James A. Mitchell) submitted the report. The com- mittee had been instructed to prepare a scheme to unite Congregational Churches more closely for common purposes. These purposes comprise 'thofie included in the exist- ing ConstfttifiojT of fhb UniWn, 'and' 'in addi- tion the following:—Co-ordination of county I Unions with the Union, Church aid, Church extension, evangelisation, lay preaching, the securing of a common standard of admission to denominational privileges, and the safe- guarding of Congregational trust property. The Old Congregational Church, Womanby-street, Cardiff. The scheme takes the form of a re-organisa- tion of the Union. The Union will be a federation of those Congregational Churches only which are asso- ciated with a county Union. It will consist of an assembly, a. council, and a chairman. The assembly will include all ministers and representatives of all qualified ChurAes, with all the members of the council, and the authority and functions of the assembly will be substantially those of that now existing. The council will be a body of 300 members. elected by the county Unions on a propor- tional basis so arranged that each county is separately represented. The work of the council will include all the work now done by the committee of the Union, together with BEV. C. 6TX.VE-STER HORNE. similar and additional work involved in the enlargement of the purposes of the Uni-on, and for administrative purposes the council will constitute committees created for depart- ments of administration. chairman will bo elected annually, and his position and powers will be those of the existing chair- man. The Secretary stated that notices had been received of twenty amendments to the scheme. The special committee desired that the decision of the assembly should be con- elusive, and that steps should be taken to carry the assembly's decision into effect. The various amendments proposed by the Churches and county Unions were carefully I considered when the scheme, as now sub- mitted, was drafted. The Rev. Dr. Rowland seconded, and the report was adopted. The Chairman then addressed the assembly, and remarked that they had met at a grave moment in the history of i their Churches and the denomination. He hoped that none of them would say a word or manifest a spirit which might pervert or darken the light. The Secretary, in moving the adoption of the first four clauses of the scheme, dealing with the name, the constitution, the objects, and the management of the Union, said that the whole scheme would be mieunderstood if it were merely regarded as an attempt to improve machinery. They must begin somewhat earlier than the question of machinery. The Union was solemnly pledged to do larger and more comprehen- work. Unless the assembly pledged itself to put it^ hand to the important task of Church-aid and the support of the ministry, the question of improved machinery hardly arose. It was because the assembly had already determined to undertake very important functions which hitherto had been discharged by auxiliary and subsidiary bodies that they needed a re-organisation of the Union, and that point should be borne in mind from beginning to end. It was vital to the scheme to understand that it was the product of an -attempt to meet the responsibility which they had already acknowledged. The assembly then proceeded to discuss the scheme in detail, and a minor amendment was made to the clause affecting the objects of the Union so as to read, "to promote New Testament principles of Church fellow- ship and organisation." The word "prin- ciples" was substituted for "views." There was no objection to the amendment. THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. The question of management was discussed at great length. The motion placed before the assembly was that "the business of the Union shall be under the direction of a general council, hereinafter called the council, in connection with a general assem- bly, hereinafter called the assembly." The Rev. W. S. Houghton moved an amend- ment that "the business of the Union shall be administered by a general assembly, here- inafter called the assembly, with the advice of a council, hereinafter called the council.' Mr. Usher (Birmingham) seconded. Mr. R. T. Atkins (Northampton) supported the motion, and said that the council must do the business, and this must have the absolute endorsement of the great meetings of the assembly. Was it not wiser and more in accord with the spirit of Congregation- alism to allow this scheme to go on as they had proposed it, and that the assembly and council should go hand in hand? Mr. Gascoyne reminded the assembly that they were framing a constitution not only for themselves, but for those who were to follow. He would vote for the amendment. The Rev. J. Hirst Hollowell was in favour of the direction of the council, but It I must be subject to the endorsement of the assembly. The Rev. Fleming Williams (London) pointed to the daner of taking away the power of the assembly. But, on the other hand, thte adoption of the amendment would mean the shelving of the whole scheme. Ultimately the clause was carried in this form:-—"The business of the Union shall be under the direction of a general council, which shall present a departmental report annually to the assembly." SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION. The constitution of the council was the llfxt clausc, the first portion of which read: — "The council shall consist of 300 representa- tives. who shall be members of Congrega- tional Churches, and shall be elected annually by the county Ull¥>llS with which they are connected, together with the chair- man, ex-chairmen, treasurer, and secretary (or secretaries) of the Union, who shall be ex- officio members, and three persons represen- tative of and chosen by the Union of Welsh Independents. The council thus constituted shall annually co-opt fifteen persons." After a lively debate, it was agreed that one representative of the London Missionary Society and one of the Colonial Missionary Society should be co-opted. The Rev. T. Eynon Davies asserted the right of the Total Abstinence Society of the denomination to be represented on the coun- cil He bad to contend with strong opposi- tion, but to this he would not yield, and, in the end, he gained his point. An amendment that the basis of represen- tation should be the number of church members and not churches was defeated. Another knotty point was the relative representation of ministers and laymen, the recommendation of the committee being that two-thirds of the representatives should be laymen. An amendment was moved by the Rev. J- E. Flower that the representation should be one-half, and this was supported by the Rev. Fleming Williams, who made a forcible protest against the existence of bias between ministers and laymen. The amend- ment was defeated, but another amendment was promptly proposed by Dr. Forsyth that the clause should be eliminated altogether, j This was seconded by the Rev. J. D. Jones, who protested against the introduction of business methods into spiritual affairs. This. again, was defeated. Finally, it was agreed! to add'the words "Where possible two- thirds. or at least one-half, of the representa- t-ives shall be laymen, with the exception that the words 'those other than ministers' be submitted for the word 'laymen.' Consideration of the other clauses in the scheme was deferred till Thursday. EDUCATION CONFERENCE. There was a crowded attendance of dele- gates and others at the Young Men's Chris- tian Association's lecture-hall in tffe after- noon, the meeting being officially styled "A Conference on the Administration of the Edu- cation Acts." The Rev. J. Hirst Hollowell, of Rochdale, presided, and was supported on the platform by some of the leading men in the denomination, together with a nnmbe!" of ladies. The Chairman said that they had met together as the Congregational Union of England and Wales—especially Wales—to speak of the working of the Education Acts of 1902 and 1903. There was no question that the Acts were working. They were working in such a way that indifference was killed, and a lively and widespread interest had been awakened throughout the length and breadth of the land. The Acts were working in the sense of a fermentation. The starch and gluten of public apathy, under the influence of fresh air and warmth, were being decomposed, with the natural result that there was a great evolution of heat and gas, and there would be more heat and gas before long. (Applause.) The Act was working in a prodigious re-endowment of the sectarian schools of this country. Last year a Bum of over eleven millions sterling was spent by the Board of Education upon education in England and Wales. That money came out of taxation, but if they would add to the eleven millions taken from the Exchequer the vast sum taken from local and county rates they would have an enormous total, and out of that total over seven millions sterling of tha people's money was spent upon sectarian schools. They (Non- conformists) were not staggered by the money, but they were staggered by what the money paid for. It was not the money that frightened them, but the abuse of the money. i For that vast amount of public money they had poor education, sectarian management, teachers paid by the State and appointed by the Church, and the childhood of the nation, and necessarily afterwards the manhood of the nation, bitterly divided in this realm. They did not object to paying a high price, but they objected to paying it for an adul- terated article. (Applause.) The Act was working for the raising of salaries without an adequate increase of efficicncy. In one county of England during this year the increase of salaries was £79,000, and nearly the whole of it went to sectarian schools. In that. county I a rate was now being levied for education of lOid. in the and nearly the whole was levied for sectarian education. He was glad to say that in Lancashire there were many ¡ Nonconformist citizens who would not pay a sectarian rate, and among them he would like to mention with special honour Mr. Edwin Holton, the Manchester Congrega- tionalism who was at that moment where a good many politicians—the authors of this Act—ought to be, namely, in prison. The speaker then mentioned the case of a young lady teacher named Miss Farringham, who was connected with the Primitive Methodist Church. She applied for a position as assis- tant-teacher in Lancashire the other day. and she received u letter from the vicar of Standish, and in that letter these words occurred:—"You don't belong to the deno- mination of the school, and, therefore, you do not fulfil the requirements of the Act." The letter was illegal. The application was refused by him without being submitted to the managers, and he (the speaker) had laid the whole case before the Lancashire Educational Authority. (Applause.) Wales had required two Acts of Parlia- ment, one to say "You shall pay the sectarian rate," and another and a later Act to say "We will make you pay it." But two Acts would not be sufficient for that purpose. The Government would have to pass more Acts of Parliament before it forced the Principality of Wales to pay rates for ritualism. What was known as the Coercion Act of this year was an insult to the Principality. Already there was a pro- cedure laid down in the Act of 1902 for deal- ] ing with authorities in default, and that proceduce had never been tried against a ] single authority. The Government dared not faco the-daylight. The Coercion Act of 1904 i was only what the Bishop of Hereford described as a game of grab: Then, the Act I was working in taking scholars to church instead of to school. There was a great con- troversy raging as to the rights of managers 1 to take children into the Parish Church instead of giving them instruction in the day 1 school. In schools financed by the 1 public the managers ought never to be inde- 1 pendent of the public. Such schools ought to be national. They ought to be under If complete public control, and that meant 1 that they ought to be unsectarian. Non-con- 1 formityviK»d-&eett made a <Ka<iualilfcation for ] 18,000 head-teachers. The time had now come for resolution. (Applause.) Alderman R. B. Wallis (Kettering) followed in a similar strain, and described the new Education Act as a new Church Endowment Act. Miss Kate Riley, who was announced to speak, wrote stating her inability to attend and enclosing a written copy of her address, with the request that It should be read by the chairman.—The Rev. Hirst Hollowell remarked that he would not think of reading a lady's paper when he had a competent lady on the platform to perform that duty. He then called upon Mrs. Lester Jones, a member of the Cardiff Education Authority. who read the paper, which had been written under the heading of "Ritualism in Relation to the Administration of the Education Act." Miss E. Price Hughes struck a different note. and a discordant one to boot. She said that she was in Japan when she first read a copy of the Education Act, and was not, Bev. ALFRED BOVTLiAJTD. therefore, subject to the influences of the controversy racing at home. Very few news- papers reached her. She would be honest, and would say that her conclusions then w-sre that some things in the Act were very bad and some things very good educationally. One of its good points was that it aimed at the improvement of the evening continuation schools, and at making them secondary and not primary in character. She would not attack Mr. Balfour, for a fortnight at least, after Mr. Sylvester Home's somewhat intem- perate attack upon him at a temperance meeting the other evening. (Laughter.) Re- verting to her subject. Miss Hughes said that the most important age of a child was between twelyc or thirteen and seventeen years of age. One of the tragedies of English education was that just when the rich man's son was leaving the preparatory school to go to Rugby or Eton the working man's son was leaving the school for ever. His only hope lay in the evening continuation classes, and instruction at these classes ought to be made as bright and attractive as possible. (Applause.) The Iwv. F. Moore (Aston) also confessed The Rev. J. E. FLOWER, London, One of the most prominent delegates attending the meetings. ¡ that he had found some good in the Act, while Mr. J. W. Blake (Gosport) thought the Act a mixture of some good and much evil. Speaking of passive resistance, the rev. gentleman said that if they resisted the devil he fled, and he left his audience to draw their own conclusions whether the same would happen to Air. Balfour. The Re- James Phillips (Pembrokeshire) having spoken, the Rev. Sylvester Horne came forward, and having made a playful reference to Miss Hughes and Mr. Balfour proceeded to point out the defects of the Education Act. He contended that the key to the efficiency of a school was the teacher. They were asked to keep a school efficient which they could not control. They could not maintain the efficiency ofschla which they could not control, and it was this that passed the wit of Wales. As a practical deliberative body they ehould make up their minds, in dealing with the forthcoming Liberal Government, to demand in the interests of education and Miss Hughes' schools, and of all the higher educa- 1 Dr. LEX G. BEOTTGHTON, Whn Preiched the MiFJv:cmary Sermon on Thiirsday afternoon. tion of the country, that popularly-elected educational authorities should be restored. :Applause.) Aifter a short address from Mr. J. C. John- ston (Torquay) the conference ended. YOUNG PEOPLE'S UNION. Addresses were delivered to young people at Wood-street Chapel in the evening, and the large building was crowded. The Rev. Pro- fessor G. Currie Martin, M.A., B.D„ of Brad- ford, presided. Interesting statistics in regard to the work of the Union and details of the literature published under its auspices were given by the honorary organising secre- taries—the Rev. F. J. Layton (Stafford) and the Rev. S. A. Parsons, M.A. (Holloway). The Chairman in his address urged the young people to be loyal to Congregationalism. He mentioned the fact that his predecessor as president of the Union, Mr. Edwin Holt, was at that moment in prison, suffering with- out being ashamed for the conviction of his PRINCIPAL BOWIANDS. I conscience. (Applause.) He suggested that a message of sympathy and congratulation should be sent to Mr. Holt from that meet- ing. This suggestion was enthusiastically adopted, the meeting showing ite approval by upstanding. A stirring address was also delivered by Mr. J. A. Yonge, M.A., master of Silcoafces Hall School, whose home and school buildings were recently destroyed by fire: An excellent variation was forthcoming in Lhe form of two very fine renderings by the 3ardiff Male Voice Choir, under the direc- tion of Mr. Roderick Williams. The Rev. Campbell Morgan, the principal speaker of the evening, followed, a-nd spoke with wonted force and eloquence. His theme was the culture of the Christian life. In the rush and turmoil of this age they must make time to acquaint themselves with the Master. The conflict ahead was infinitely better thaa the stagnation of too past. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY MEETING. In connection with the London Missionary Society a meeting both of welcome and of valediction was held on Wednesday night at the Park-hall, which was crowded to i't8 utmost limit.s. The chairman was the Rev. W. S. Houghton (Edgbaston), chairman of the board of directors, who epoke at length of the missionary efforts in China of the Rev. W. Bolton, M.A. (Acton), and the Rev. G. Cousins (joint foreign secretary), both of whom had just returned from the Orient. The 11.e,. G. Cousins' description of the Chinese differed largely from the popularly accepted pessimistic pourtrayals of the teem- ing millions of that interesting country. The conservative solidarity of the Chinese was, he represented, breaking down before the combined influences of Western civilisation and Gospel teaching. The Chinese were an interesting and a- fascinating people, and a new China was rapidly coming into exist- ence. Old China was not yielding readily to the new, but a new attitude had deve- loped. Tina failure of Boxerism and other influences had led the Chinese of all ranks to try to understand what it was that gave the Wet such a great advantage over the East. The Churches must face the situation, in China, and make an effort to cope with it. Incidentally, he begged all present to help that veteran Welsh missionary, the Rev. Griffith John, in his self-sacrificing work for the Chinese. The Rev. W. Bolton, M.A., confirmed the former speaker a to the changed attitude of the Chinese, which was one of readiness and receptivity in relation to Western ideas and! methods of teaching, both secular and spi ritual. The missionaries who were intro- duced and will return to the mission field aro Dr. R. J. Ashton, Miss Duthie, the Rev. H. J. and Mrs. Gofiin, Miss Hare, the Rev. D. and Mrs. Hutton, and the Rev. G. Cullen H. Reed. Newly appointed: Miss A. L. Bell, Miss L. H. Bragg, M.A., Miss E. A. Brash, the Rev. B. T. Butcher, Miss E. de V. Gookey, Miss Ell* Mactavish, Dr. I. E. Mitchell, Dr. C. W. Somer- ville, and the Rev. A. Warren, M.A. MEETING OF LAY PEEACEERS. A meeting of lay preachers was held at Richmond-road Chapel in the afternoon. Mr. John Carter, Hampstead, Rev. Joseph Ogle, Charmouth. read a paper, in which he suggested an order of lay preachera under certain conditions. The rev. gentle- man deplored the loosening of the hold by the churches upon the educated classes. The pro- fessional man, the farmer, and the prosperous tradesman found the social attractions of the Church and the Primrose League too great for the wives and daughters to resist, and the support of these adherents had become a vanishing quantity. Churches were Conservative rather than Radical; and people preferred individual liberty. The churches were what the ministers made them, and the speaker put in a few pointed home- thrusts showing that the shabby preacher. with trousers baggy at the knees, was a man, all things equal, rather to be encouraged than despised. What was wanted was con- centrated enthusiasm, and more men to give time and ability to evangelising work.—Other speeches followed.

THE REV. EYNON DAVIES SHOUTED DOWN. At Thursday's assembly of the Congress tional Union of England and Wales at the Park-hall, the re-constitution scheme of the Union was discussed in detail. The Rev. Eynon Davies, one of the most eloquent and respected ministers in the denomination, who is especially well Jsnown in Wales, ascended the platform to protest against the ambiguity of the clause relating to the holding of the annual meetings of the Union. While he wa< addressing the assembly he was frequently; interrupted by calls of Time," and even- tually had to stand aside. Dr. Leach, who was sitting on the platform near the chairman (Dr. Goodrich), made a protest against these interruptions, and expressed his surprise that they should have come from members of the re-constitution scheme committee. This protest was received with enthusiastic applause, and the Rev. E-non Davies, on coming forward again to resume his remarks, was greeted with a tre- mendous ovation. He said that he had ren- dered a quarter of a century's service to the denomination, which would bear fair com- parison with that of many in that assembly. Again there was a big outburst of applause. and then Mr. Davies moved an amendment that the May meeting of the Union be held in London every year and the autumnal meeting in some city or town in England or Wales. This was promptly seconded and carried with acclamation. Those who had inter- rupted were made to look small, and the most exciting incident of the week's meetings ended. BUSINESS MEN EXHORTED. Shortly after one o'clock on Thursday the Rev. W. n. Selbie, M.A., of Cambridge, gave an address on the Cardiff Exchange. Choos- ing as his text the exhortation "Lay not up for yourself treasures on earth, &c. the reverend gentleman referred to the folly of trusting wholly in earthly things. Men were to realise that they had a soul above those things. Money was given to them in trust to be made good use of, and a man waa to be judged not by his wealth, but by the use he made of it. He must use the things of the world as they were meant to be used. He should not make a treasure of them. Men should by their characters lay up trea- sure of a kind which thieves could not steal, or moth and rust corrupt. It was an awful thing for a soul to be tied to money bags The aim of man should be to be good. This did not mean that they were to neglect their busi- ness. The man who was most attentive to his own business was very often found to be the best man in other directions.

HIGHER EDUCATION IMPORTANT LETTER FROM LORD LONDONDERRY. Lord Londonderry (President of the Board of Education), replying to a resolution paeeed by the London Chamber of Commerce, states that the Board are in full sympathy with the desire that facilities for higher technical edu- cation should be fully available for all who are qualified to profit thereby. The Board have recently instituted a special branch of their administration in this regard, and have made it the special business of that branch to see that every possible encouragement ia given to this province of education. The Edu- cation Act of 1902 widened the powers of local education authorities in respect of various kinds of education, and, in view of the removal of the limitations previously resting upon local authorities, it was hoped that the authorities would anord a more adequate pro- vision of sound courses of higher education in science and technology. The Board had extended special encouragement to institu- tions organised and equipped for higher technical education.

A PIPE INSTEAD OF DINNER. I oa-n't stop to eat now. 1'11 haNe a pipe instead." That is how men ruin their digestions. Hurried meals, with too many pipes or the deadly cigarette, are the Bane of the Busy. Continual smoking and irregula.r eating did me more harm than anything else," eaid the pier-master at Weston. "I was exposed to all weathers and took my meals when I oould get them. Often I went without food many hours, and returned home wet through. My constitution weakened and my digestion failed. A friend advised Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people, and before I had taken three boxes I felt much better. I continued them, and soon was quite well again. Being a heavy smoker, I thought my pipe caused the mischief. But that wao not all. Recently, when I bad a bad attaok of sciatica, Dr. Williams' pink pills gave me immediate relief." The pier-master, Mr. John Carlson, lives at Quarrybank-terrace, Weston, near Runcorn. His wife had also an experience to relate of the same medicine. Some years ago," she said, I met with a cycling accident. My right arm was much hurt. For ever so long after it remained troublesome, a.nd a touch of rheumatism made it very painful. Eventually I tried Dr. Williams' pink pil-ls, and I benefited very, much." Mrs. Carlsen added that two young ladies in the district who suffered from anæmia took a few boxes of DT. Williams' pink pills upon her advice, and before long were cured. "We also know," said Mrs. Carl- sen, "a man who was inclined to be consump- tive, and after a fair trial of Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people he speaks in the highest praise of them." These are some of the many ueeg of the pills. They cure by making blood. An semi a, which is simply bloodleesness; consumption, which often follows neglected anaamia; and mere weakness and lack of energy, which result from lack of sufficient blood, are cured by Dr. Williams' pink pills as the natural result of the new blood the pills give. Ail- ments arising from impure blood, the commonest of which a.re rheumatism, ecæma. and skin diseases, scrofula, chronic ery- sipelas and the like, are cured because Dr. Williams' pink pills purify and feed the blood; and disorders like fits, paralysis, loco- motor ataxy, sciatica, nervous headache and neuralgia, are cured by them because they feed the nerves through the blood. rhey not only care indigestion, but enable the stomach to get good out of the food ooten. They go poet free for two and ninepence a box from Dr. Williams' medicine oo., Holborn-viadnct, London; but can be had at all medicine shops if the purchaser win resolutely refuse ønb stStatee. MP <