The Aberdare Leader

The Dewdrop. Dewdrop glist'nig brightly— Pearl from lieav'n above, That descends so lightly-- Night's own tear of love, Many a drooping flower, Destitute of blss, Waits within its bower, per thy heavenly kiss. This is thy true Simple life is best— I see through thy lesson Tli' evil in my breast. Teach me thy heart's wisdom While life's path I pace, That the pure of bosom ilatli hi lieav'n a place. jliyorghy, P; Ht IUYHSS,

-—, Free Church Federation. By d. M. Jones, B.A., Aberdare. The Free Church Council is rapidly becoming a phrase to conjure with in the religious and social life of England and Wales. The consolidation of Nonconformity by means of it, is one of the palpable signs of the times—a growing fact that must be faced by the Anglican Church 011 the one hand, and' by politicians and social workers of all kinds on the other. It is making the attempt to ignore Nonconformity as a force in the national life of our country absurd and impossible. It is a movement of far- reaching importance in our history. There is a vast wealth of possibility within it-- possibilities of good—and of evil if it is not kept on proper lines, true to the spirit of our Protestant ancestry. In modern days the Federation of the Free Churches is the first articulate and corporate expression of the genius of Non- conformity. It is true there has been for many years much vague talk of the Non- conformist Conscience "—generally with a smile and a sneer, but it was never a very effective force in our national life. It was rather arbitrary sometimes in its waking hours, rather whimsical sometimes in its demands, its sleep was always uncertain, and it was the most trivial incident often that would wake it up effectually. It seldom aimed at anything higher than the refusal to countenance Sunday newspapers or the discipline of Lord Rosebery for winning the Derby. Sterner days have dawned since then with sterner needs to meet. The time of open order and individual brilliant skir- mishing by Mr. Samuel Smith and Mr. Carvell Williams is over. With the spread and concentration of the Free Church Coun- cils, the Nonconformist Conscience has entered upon a new phase of its activity. It has taken to itself a palpable body with a mighty arm and an eloquent tongue. As was the case with the Prophet Jeremiah of old when lie tried to forbear from preaching, for some time there has been in the heart of Nonconformity, as it were a burning fire in its bones it is weary with forbearing, and it cannot contain itself. In these days it is finding its tongue, and what we must see to, is that when Nonconformity becomes for the first time fully articulate in its councils—these should really and truly re- present the history and spirit and ideals of our Nonconformist and Protestant prin- ciples. The Free Church Councils must express not our whims and fads, but the real principles and ideals we as Noncon- formists stand for, and will fight for in the national life. Our education and training and growth are all sweeping us back into the full stream of our national life and thought, from which Matthew Arnold truly said we had become estranged for many years. We want now to colour that stream with our principles and ideals. It is true that our lay medieval ecclesiastic, Lord Hugh Cecil, the other day called Non- conformity a foreign element in the national life of England. Such an outburst only shows how effective a force Nonconformity is becom- ing. The Lord Hugh has tardily been com- pelled to face it, and lie does not yet under- stand its nature. "A foreign element is the name generally given by the man of science to an unknown force which has entered into his experiment, which he has not pro- vided for in the preparation of his materials, and which therefore upsets all his careful calculations. Probably it was a similar experience that led the Lord Hugh to apply the name to Nonconformity. He will soon learn that lie cannot make his political and religious calculations without the foreigu element." As Nonconformists we lllight; easily prove thatwe are as much an essen- tial and native element' ill the historical life of England at least as the Angio-Catho- lie section, of which Lord Hugh Cecil is such a costly ornament, but that would be comparatively useless for our purpose. What we must and can prove is that Eng- lish life has need of the Nonconformist element, whether it be foreign or not. We intend our Free Church Councils to supply that need better than ever before, and in a more efficient and thorough manner. Through them we desire to impregnate our municipal and national life—our political and social work with higher and purer ideals—with saner and sounder methods. We want once more to vindicate our right to exist apart from and outside the Estab- lished Church by showing that we have a serious part to play in the evolution of British life and history. We are not afraid of the cry of schism nor of the name of separatists, for we know that the Univer- sal Catholic Church "—one in creed and constitution, through all the ages without a break, and all the world over without a sect—is only a beautiful impossible dream, essentially opposed to the genius of the 0 Christian Gospel. The lioman Catholic Chjjrch dreamt that dream very steadily for some centuries, and seemed at one time not far from its fulfilment, but we know that the Roman Catholic Church in its best days was honeycombed with sects, bound together only by very loose and external bonds of unity. The High Church Party has become a sect by the very attempt to make itself the Universal Church. As Protestants we arc therefore not afraid of the cry of schism, Variety of church constitution and creed is an essential part of our Protestantism. We read our Christ- ianity from the side of its liberty, and we believe that the fulness of Christian expe- rience comes through and from the variety of Christian experience. W 0 strongly object to having our individual heads cut off to suit the Lord Hugh's measuring rod. More- over, we do not" intend our Free Church Federation to destroy our individual parts —our variety of church constitution and creed and forms. TlirougU them rather we desire to emphasise our coililxioii Noncon- formist" principles and ideals, and to pro- niQte the fulness of Christian experience and power. Qnr poyneils must stand for absolute freedom in religion. According to their light and in their measure our fathers have fought and died for its sake. That is the first mission of our councils. We want it to be absolute freedom over the widest area—freedom of enquiry of thought, of creed and of ritnal. We desire to teach even ourselves as Nonconformists to observe it in our own ranks. Nonconformity must be told that it is unfaithful to itself and its own principles when it refuses a place in its toleration and councils to our friends, the Unitarians. Why do we in practice call them a foreign element in Noncon- formity, and smart when the same term is applied to us ? We are not the true church any more than the High Anglican Church, must learn that there is no such a monster ak the true charch," while all religious institutions, sincerely trying to do the work of Christ are all true churches. We would grant the same freedom also to all outside our ranks. We arc eager to work for the freedom even of the High Church Party to go its own way Rotuewaix] or ole. where by means of the Disestablishment of the Church of England. For years they have been straining the bonds of State Control with all their strength. We as Nonconformists arc only too anxious that the State should let go the reins. The Federation of the Free Churches can- not ignore the claims of that campaign upon its energy, and cannot forget that the cause of religious freedom is bound up with it. May the work teach us to love freedom so well, that we may be able to grant it to all without exception, and always observe its commands. The fight for religious freedom is our heritage from the fathers. It is the claim of our past history upon us, and as such it is the first part of the mission of modern Nonconformity. The future has also its call and claim upon us. It is becoming more and more evident that modern Nonconformity is called to be the advance guard of a changing and developing Protestantism. The inter- nal struggles of the Church of England have shown us that the Protestant Reforma- tion of the sixteenth century was in some respects incomplete. The hope and power for its completion lies in Nonconformity alone. The reaction towards Rome in the Anglican Church was made possible by tin fact that the Protestant Reformation left the churches with some Romish survivals still within it. In practice oftentimes new presbyter was but old priest writ large." The spirit of Luther will be satisfied only when we can sweep the priest clean out of our religion. The division between priest and layman is essentially anti-protestant. Call them by whatever names you may— sacred and secular, a different morality or a different uniform for clergy or minister and people-they are the same old priestly ideas come back again to haunt us. There is no layman in Christianity—all are called to be priests nay rather prophets. There is no secular-all is sacred, even down to political life. To me, it seems as if the future of Nonconformity will to a large ex- tent depend upon how sternly faithful it can become to the prophetic anti-priestly religion of a thorough Protestantism. From that standpoint we want to take our part frankly and fully in the social and political world around us. The old Protes- tantism was incomplete in its application of' the Gospel and the religious spirit to social affairs, because it still retained the Romish idea that to look after the social condition of the world was secular work. Will our Free Church Councils help to show us that municipal government and imperial interests are sacred and religious affairs, and can we not through our councils make an attempt at least to apply our Christianity to our Politics ? Is it not the work of the church to hold up even higher ideals for municipal activity-to keep our councillors reminded of the fact that the manufacture of men is the aim and end of all institutions; and that men of strong fibre can only be bred in clean, well-lighted streets and healthy homes, and sound moral and social condi- tions. It is political and moral cowardice to carry on the government of a town or of a country in continual fear of rates and taxes. The question of Socialism, Municipaliza- tion and Individualism is only a minor question of method—of Avays and means— to be discussed simply and solely in the public interest. As Free Churches what we need to emphasise is that the Town Government is to a large extent responsible for the kind of men bred in the town. Every city must aim at becoming a city of God, and we nJUst all share in the work at any cost Questions of District Councils, Education, Parks, Baths, Water, Drainage. Public Libraries, &c., &c., have all their place and their value, and every citizen has his re- sponsibility with regard to them. That is the kind of social Gospel that as Free Churches we have need to preach, and not only to preach but to obey. In Wales at any rate, the strength of our national and municipal life depends upon the earnestness and thoughtfulness of our Nonconformity. Of all things a thoughtless Nonconformity is a useless Nonconformity. A11 ignorant Nonconformity is very litttle better. As we become more familiar with our history, shall we become more intensely devoted to our principles and work and mission as Nonconformist Churches. In this direction alone there is plenty of work for our Free Church Councils. But amidst all our activities we must ever and always remember that we are Churches of Christ in the first place, and that in whatever direction we may carry on our work, it must be in the interests of the Religion of Jesus. All our ends and all our methods must be touched by the spirit of our Master. It is by rousing and awaken- ing the hearts and soqls of "men that we must do our work, and it is to make men nobler and purer that we exist. All else we do must be subordinate to that mission.

THE BEEHIVE, ABERDARE. PRICHARD AND POWELL'S ANNUAL I SUMMER SALE OF GENERAL AND FANCY DRAPERY NOW PROCEEDING. _=- 1 White and Coloured Dress Rjuslins from 7d. to 1/111. 4 2 _-o- Special Bargains iq every Department., UNRESERVED SALE. To Cycle Makers, Dealers, Private Buyers, and others. COURT ROOM, ABERDARE. AUCTION SALE OF 70 Secoqd-Hand Safety Bicycles, Various Makers, and all Pneumatic Tyres. f" Mr. W. T. MORGAN has received instructions to Sell by Public Auction at the above place on SATURDAY. AUG. 2nd, 1902. at 5 p.m. May be viewed morning of Sale. Auctioneer's Office, 80, Weatheral Street. Aberdare. VISIT THE CCETUY' FURBISHING STORES, And see one of the Largest Stocks in Aberdare of Bedroom, Dir\ir\g, Drawing, Breakfast Room, and Kitchen Furniture, IX THE VERY LATEST STYLES. CALL AND INSPECT OUR COODS. NO PERSONS ARE PRESSED TO BUY. 60, Cardiff Street, ABERDARE. J. HARRY REED, PROPRIETOR. Commerce House, Aberdare THE WELL-KNOWN HOUSE FOR ALL KINDS OF GENERAL DRAPERY. All the Newest Shades in Dress Materials.1 The most Up-to-date Styles in Millinery and Mantles. + —— Hosiery of every Description. J. DAVIES & Co. P. HALEWOOD, Wholesale Boot Manufacturer, 4 k Pt E CANON STREET, ABEKDARE. RETAIL BRANCHES: ABERDARE 31 & 32, Canon Street, MERTRYR: High Street. PONTYPRIDD 59, Taff Street. MOUNTAIN ASH: Market Square. YST HAD Station Row. AND MARDY. ."GEXT FOR THE KV: THE PROGREKSIYE." THE (iLOBE," OTHER FIRST CLASS MAKES OF BOOTS. Home-made Men's Working Boots 6s. 11d., are noted. A lot of Clearing lines at very low prices. LLOYD & CO. EMPORIUM, TREORKY. Foil% GENERAL OUTFITTING, DRAPERY, LADIES' COSTUMES. AND MILLINERY. Cheapest House in South Wales & 'West of England, Try our Noted Men's Summer Suits, all sizes, 12s. fid. -:u_ o- BUY THE Musical Programme CONSISTING OF 20 TUNES IN SOLFA AND 29 SONGS, ENGLISH AND WELSH. t MARSEILLAISE, EWING, AND COMMONWEALTH, IN MUSIC WITH ENGLISH AND WELSH WORDS. MAY BE HAD OF ALL NEWSAGENTS FROM HIRWAIN TO ABERCYNON At aid. each. Original Price* 2d. OR AT THE Leader" Office, Aberdare. (WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.) J. THOMAS, Fish and Fruit WJerchant, CWMAMAN. Fresh Fish Daily, DIRECT FROM THE COAST. Stationery, Dailies, and Periodicals supplied. WITE STAR lll", ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AFRICA, Calling at CAPE TOWN. For particulars apply to- W. T. MORGAN, Auctioneer, 30, Weatheral Street, Aberdare. The ABERDARE LEADER may be had in Hirwain of Mr, R. H. Morris, High Street, and Mrs. Nicholas (by Station) after the arrival of the 7.40 train, every Thursday evening. Down the Valley it may be had of all Newsagents after the arrival of the 7.20 T.V.R. train from Aberdare OIl Thurs- day evenings.

Primitive Methcdist Anniversary at Aberdare. On Sunday and Monday anniversary ser- vices were held at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Aberdare. On Sunday the Rev. G. Hunter, who was formerly pastor of the cliuuch, preached in the morning, afternoon and evening. The sermons were most im- pressive and the congregations were largo and attentive at each meeting. The Rev. T. Graham, the highly respected pastor of the church, was also present and assisted in the conducting of the services, On Monday an excellent tea was provided qver which the following ladies presided Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Frame, Mrs. Offer, Mrs. Simmons, and Mi's. Tinncy, assisted by Mrs. Yelland and Mrs. Bugler. All wpre pleased with the delicacies supplied, especially the younger section of the guests, In the evening there was another treat in the form of a very amusing and interesting lecture by Mr. Hunter on The Lights and Shadows of a Methodist Preacher's Life." The lecture contained many incidents of note in his own personal career. The chair was ably occupied by Mr. C. Frame. At the close Mr. Graham proposed a vote of thanks to all who had contributed to the success of the meeting, especially the Choir aud Mr. Hunter. Mr. Cunmer. in a few well-chosen words, seconded, while the Rev. T. Jones (Carmel) in a very enthusias- tic speech supported the motion and referred to his relationship with fr. Hujiter in by. goiie days. A few words by Mr Frame and the .singing of the' Dox'ology brought the meeting to a close. The Choir, conducted Mr. F. F. Escott, rendered valuable service. while Miss Bugler ably discharged her duties as organist. The proceeds were 114 1,1 of too Trust Fuml,