The Aberdare Leader

BE COF Am y diweddar wr parchus, Mr. William Griffiths, Beckett-street, Mountain Ash. Bu farw Mehefin llfed, 1906. IYn ei fedd rhoer tern a fu—yn heuhven Ddihalog yn Nghymru; Ni rowd yn y beddrod du Li well yn ol ei allu. Gwyrosydd. YR OCHR DRAW. Bydd canu yn y nefoedd Pan welir dynolryw Yr ochr draw i'r moroedd Yn iach ar fynwes Duw; A'u dagrau wedi'u sychu 'R ol g-adael daear lawr Am gwmni'r addfwyn Iesu Am dragwyddoldeb mawr. Bydd yno bererinion Yn iach ar ben eu taith, A'u gwisgoedd oil yn wynion. Am dragwyddoldeb maith. Yn seinio'r anthem newydd AJII iachawdwriaeth gref, iFuJn codi o'r ystormydd Drueiniaid fry i'r nef. O Iesu cyfod finau I fynu gyd hwy, Uwchlaw y byd a'i bethan Trwy rin dy farwol glwy'; Bydd Di i mi'n arwei,-nvdd Tra ar y ddaear hon. A gad, i'm mown ystormydd Gael pwyso ar dy fron. Abercynon. Ehedydd Bach. HIRAETHGAN !Am y diweddar Mrs. A. John. Cliff Cottage, Mountain Ash. En farw Ebrill 18, '06, yn GOain oed. "Wedi marw," dyma'r frawddeg Glywir am bob rhyw ac oed, Mairw wue. yr adyn gwaethaf A'r duwiolaf fu erioed; Nis gall cyfoeth serch na dagrau Droi yn ol angeuol don, Omide ni chawsai beddrod Guddio gwyneb Mrs. John. Gwraig rinweddol a synwyrol, Parchus gyda phawb oedd hi, P-ardeb,a glanweithdra. welid Yn brydferthwch drwy ei thy;' Nid oedd wermod ar ei thafod, Ao am frad ni wyddai ddim, I ragrithwyr 'roedd ei llygad Megys bra,thiad eleddyf llym. jGlan a gloew oedd ei chartref, A chysurus—ail i'r ne', Gwnelai bobpeth yn ei amser A phob-peth geid yn ei le; Hi oedd heulwen glaer yr aelwyd, Llond pob cornel yn y ty, Nidi oes ond y nef a'r teulu Wyr mor wag yw hebddi hi. Gyda chrefydd 'roedd o'i mebyd, Magwyd hi yn ofni Duw, Ei rhinweddau fel rhosynau Ynt o'i hoi o hyd yn fyw; Er ymdroi mewn llawnder digon O fendithioni goreu'r byd, Ynddynt nid oedd serch ei chalon, Uwoh y ser yr oedd ei bryd. A phan giliodd hoen ac iechvd, Pan yn gwelwi 'roedd ei gwedd, Pan yn gwel'd ei hun yn -uesu- Nesu'n gyflym at y bedd; Ac er duwch ambell gwmwl Geid yn crogi uwch ei phen, Gwelodd ddisglaer Seren Bethl'em Arni'n gwenu yn y nen. Diane wnaeth i wlad yr engyl I'w chartrefle—Salem lan, Yn mhlith teulu'r gynau gwynion Heddyw mae yn ber ei chan; Duw fo'n dyner nawdd i'w phriod Ac i'r plant yn eu tristhad, Lie mae'u mam y byddont hwythau— Yn y baradwysaidd wlad. Mountain Ash. g.

Nodion Cyffredinol. Yn Hengoed, Mynwy, y cynhelir Cynanfa Bedyddwyr Dwyrain Morganwg eleni. Llywydd yr Undeb eleni ydyw Twrfab, a diau y bydd ei anerchiad o'r gadair yn dra dyddorol. Yn Llannon y mae dyn, yr hwn oedd yn ddiweddar mewn dygn dlodi, wedi 'dyfod i gyfoeth sydyni. Gyn gynted ag y cafodd yr arian anfonodd < £ 177 i Fwrdd Gwarcheidwaid Llanelli. Dyna y swm yr oedd efe wedi dderbyn oddiwrth y Bwrdd pan yr oedd yn derbyn tal plwyf. Nid pob dyn eydd mor onest pan y mae arian y tretBdalwyr yn y drafodaeth. Er gwaethaf caniatad- a sel Cynghor Sirol Aberdar nid yw yr enw "Abercwm- boi" yn glymu yn gystal ag y dymunid Tieu y disgwylid iddo. Y mae yr hen enw ^'Capcodh"—tfwsgl fel ag ydyw—yn glynu fel y gele wrth dafod y werin. Nid gwaith rhwydid ydjw newid hen enw, tvaeth beth fyddo y rhesymau. a ddug gweddeidd-dra a phriodoldeb geiryddol dros fabwysiadu enw newydd. Wrth wrs, glynodd yr enw newydd "Aber- CynOU" yn rhwydd ac yn hwyhis ddigon wrth y fangre lie yr ymarllwys y ( ynon i'r Taf. Ond dylid cofio nad oedd yr un o tnwau blaenorol Abercynon yn hen, yn bersain nac yn briodol. Hefyd, y mae C'apcoch yn glynu yn we! I nm ei fod yn enw byr, ac Abercwmboi o'r cchr arall yn enw hir, heblaw y cysylltiad snachaidd sydd rhvlIlg' yr enw newydd a thywyscg y tywyllwch. Efallai mewn oraser y dileir Capcoch oddiar ddalenau Uenyddiaeth newydd ac oddiar weithred- oedd a theitlau cyfreithiol, and oddiar v-efus y werin-byth. Y mae y cap yn ffitio dosbarth neillducl o bobl, ac y 111aent yn benderfyrol oÏ. w isgo tra raedd- {jnt benau i'w ddal. Gobaith gwan y sydd y (hw Treaman i feddianu hyd'y nod safle "Abercwmboi," ueu "Abercwmybwci." Drwg genym dros y tafodau meinion ydynt mor faini ag i fethu cynanu y gair HGodreaman." Yn sicr dylai yr estroniaid na, fedrant swnio gair mor rwydd gael eu halltudio i Ynys Enlli i fyw ar grancod carfaglog y mor, a chadw y cregyn yn eu genau-fel Demos- thenes gynt-nes y deuant i barablu geir- iau Cymraeg. Bron na ddywedem na fyddai cosb yr Ephraimiaid na fedrent swnio "Shibboleth" gwyr Gilead yn ormod iddynt. Ond cymerwn galoni! Cyn hir bydd athrawon ein hysgolion dyddiol yn medru dysgti y plant i ddarllen Cymraeg. Ac efalla-i y daw rhai o'r athrawon drwy ddygn arferiad a grym dyfalbarhad yn alluog i gynanu geiriau Cymraeg eu hun- ain. Gwelwn fod Pwyllgor Addysg Aber- dar wedi penderfyn^ talu traul tren yr athrawon i'r "Rhyl ar lan yr heli," modd y gallont ddysgu Cymraeg eu hunain, ac yna gyfraniu y cyfryw addysg i'w dis- gyblion. A! bydd y genhedlaeth nesaf o feibion Aman yn gallu swnio HGodre- aman." Byw fyddo iaith Gomer Tra ib<ir afr yn taw el bori, Godre Berwyn, gwyn eu byd. Y mae y Parch. John Thomas, Soar, Merthyr, w6di gwenidogaethu yn Soar am chwarter canrif c-ymhwys. Pwy ddywedodd nad oedd iaith Adda Jones yn iaith gwyddoniaeth P Y mae Dr. Jenkyn Lewis, swyddog meddygol Cynghoir Plwyfol Aberaeron, newydd gy- hoeddi ei adroddiad biynyddol yn yr iaith Gymraeg. Y mae gobaith am hoedl yr hen iaith yn awr wedi i'r meddygon ei chymeryd mewn llaw. Sylwa un newyddiadur fod adfywiad wedi cymeryd lie yn y byd Eisteddfodol yn ddiweddar, fod amlder Eisteddfodau a chyrddau llenyddol yn nhymhor y Sul- gwyn yn profi hyru. Dywed yn mhellach fod yr adfywiad crefyddol diweddar wedi bod yn ddirywiad i'r Eisteddfod, ac fod dirywiad yr adfywiad wedi bod yn ad- fywiad i'r Eisteddfod. Gwarchod ni' Y mae datguddiedie"- aethau y "potted horrors" yn ddigon i wneyd gwallt dyn i sefyll yn syih ar ei goryn. Xicl yw Brad y Cyllill Hiiion ddim byd wrth Frad y Blychau Alcan. Y canlyniad yw fod yr hwn sydd ganddio ofal am ei fwyd an am ei fywyd yn ym- dynghedu na bydd iddo byth mwyach brofi. cynwys blwch tin. Ond nid yw hyn ond dechreuad gofid- ian. Wedi i benteulu roddi gorchymyn nad oes un o flychau gwenwynig Chicago i groesi ei riniog, cistedda wrth ei ford wedi ei harlwyo a chig "ifres" anifeiliaid wedi eu lladd yn v wlad hon. Ond wele feddyg pcrofiadol yn: dod ato, ac yn ei sicr- Ihau fod cig gwenwynig i'w gael y tuaSlan i flychau tin Chicago. Tystia y gwr hwn fod gwartheg yn cael eu danfon i'r lladdfa yn "stage" ddiweddaf "tuberculosis." Wedi gwenwyno y bobl a'u llaeth yn eu bywyd mae y creaduriaid hyn yn eu gwenwyno drachefn a'n cig yn eu marwol- aeth. Yn sicr y mae hyn oil yn ddigon a gyru un i ddweyd yn ngeiriau yr Apostol mewn cysylltiad arall, "Ni fwytaf fi gig byth." Yn awr y mae y "vegetarians" yn trin gwair tra y mae yr haul yn tywynu, a'I' cynhauaf sydd fawr. Y mae un gwr o Arfoai wedi bod yn dweyd nad oes rheg-eiriau yn yr iaith Gymraeg o gwbl. Trueni na dd-elai y gwr da hwn am dro i un o byllau glo y Rhon- dda i glywed rhai o'n cefndryd o'r tu twnfc i'r Clawdd a/r tu hunt i For y Werddon yn gwneyd eu rhegi i gyd yn Gymraeg a'r gweddill o'u hymddiddan yn Saesneg. Y mae carchardy Glyndwr wedi ei werthu. Nï chyihaeddodd y carchar ac wyth o dai gweithwyr ond < £ 200 o bris gyda'u gilydd. Yn Aberdar costiai un ty gweithiwr gymaint a hyna heb un car- char yn y favgen. Y prynwyr ydoedd ymddiriedolwyr Capel Bedyddwyr Carrog. Dyma le rhagorol yn awr i'r frawdol- iaeth roddi cythraul y canu ac ysbrydion ereill yn ngharchar, os bydd angen. Hysljysir marwol aeth Idriswyn, yr hwn ydoedd yn enedigol o odreu Cadair Idris ond a dreuliodd y rhan fwyaf o'i oes yn Nghaerdydd. Cysodydd ydoedd wrth ei alwedigaeth. Yr oedd yn ysgrifenydd Cymraeg cryf a ahroyw, ac yn ami iawn gwelid erthyglau o'i eiddo yn newydd. iaduron Moirganwg. Paham y mae y C'ymry gwladgar hyny sydd mor eiddigeddus parthed oadwraeth enwau Cymraeg mor ddifater pan y mae y Saeson yn camdrin yn druenus eaiwau Cymraeg o dan eu trwynau megys? Yr ydym lawetr tro wedi cyfeirio at y cam dybryd a wneir a'r Dyffryn drwy ei sillebu yn ffDuffryn." Yn awr y mae hil Hen gist yn galw "Dynas Powis" ar Ddinas Powys, ac y mae hen Gymry y Fro a Chymry Cymreig Caerdydd yn goddef y cwbl yn dawel! Y mae y Parch. John Davies, Cadie, wedi cael ei etihol yn Gadeirydd Undeb Annibynwyr Morganwg. Dyma y gwr j'archedig yr hwn yn Nghodreaman yr wythnos ddiweddaf a anfonodd i'r lie sydd wedi ei balmanitu a bwriadau da Chamberlain, Balfour, a Sultan Twrci. Dywedir fod Dante wedi creu ei 'Inferno' i'r dyben o anfooi i uffeirn ddychymygol rj-w bobl neillduol nas medrai ei damnio yn weithredol. Y mae Mr. Davies yntau yn lied barod i anfon ei wrthwynebwyr politicai(]d i'r lie poenus hwnw.

BIRDS CUSTARD with FRUIT NA TURE provides the Fruit: "BIRD "supplies the Custard: J Edr- TRY THEM TOGETHER. BIRD'8 CUSTARD is the one thirty needed with all Stewed, Tinned or Bottled Fruits. It enhances their flavour, and imparts to them grteful mrllownr-s,

PRINTING of every descriptjon neatly and promptly executed at the "leader" Office, Market-street, Aberdare, at most moderate prices.

Drink I Horniman's Pure Tea. In Packets only. 14tol;4p_10 Sold by- Aberdare, T.Lloyd, Grocer, Commercial st Aberaman, T. Roberts, Grocer, Lewis st. (Wholesale and Retail) T. Maddy, Grocer, Cardiff road Hiley's, Cash Stores, Canon street Co-operative Society Tom Evans, Grocer, Whitcombe street J. W. Evans, Grocer, Cardiff road Phillips, Grocer, Victoria square Cwmbach, Co-operative Society E. E. Evans, Chemist, do. Cwmaman, Co-operative Society W.H.Jones, Pen rhiwceibei* Morris & Son, The Stores D. Phillips, Grocer, Canon street M. Isaac, Family Grocer D. Watkins, Cross street Mountain Ash, C wmbach C o- operative Sy Rees Jones, Ynyslwyd street J. Long, Grocer D. Evans, Royal Stores, Gadlys road D. Smith Oxford street D. E. Davies, Grocer, N. Thomas Abercwmboi, Co-operative Society. T. Bowen, Jeffrey street Perrott Bros., Grocers. Duffryn Co-operative Society Cwmdap-,g D. Edwards, Grocer Eynon, Grocer, and at Miskin (Special Trecynon, J. R. & J. Smith, Drug Stores Wholesale Agent).

Watcyn Wyn. Ni roddwyd enw mwy priodol erioed ar un bardd na gwrthddrych ein tebtyn. Yr oedd y givyit yn llon'd ei fywyd, a cheisiai wynu y byd i bawb o'i gwmpas. Drwy hyn yr oedd yn byw i amcan uwchaf dyn yn y byd. Cafodd athrawiaeth rhwystrau le mawr yn nysgeidiaeth y mwyaf o ddysg- awdwyr. Ond ni byddai yn son am T du ,heb cldweud, "Gwyn eich byd." Ni ddy- wedai "Yn y byd gorthrymier a gewch" heb ddweud "Cymerwch gysur, mi a orch- fygais y byd." Dysgai hefyd wrth son am v farn, mai y dynion liyny fu yn ceisio gwynru bywyd eu cyd-ddyiiion drwy gymwynasau fydd yn cael etifeddu bywyd tragwyddol. Des- grifia y Parch. Ben Da-vies Wat yn dod o'r gwaith glo pan yn hogyn ieuangc. A gofyna, "Pwy fnasai ynt meddwl y daethai hWll byth yn fWatcyn Wyn ?" "'Uoedd glo y gwter fawl" mor ddii.11 Gwyddai nas gallasai- gael gwell enw arno ei hun na Wateyn Wyn. Hynod o darawiadol ydyw ei eiriau ffreeth pan y soniwyd am iddo dderbyn y D.Do "Lliwiau rhy anghydmarus. Pa reswm fuasai (lwcud Watcyn Wyn, D.D.? Buasai itior afresnnol ac Isaac Fiddle, D.D." Bu am ychydig amser yn myn'd wrth yr enw 'Glaslane.' Ond newidiodd ef yn fuan er gwell, ac ni farnodd ef ei hun fod eisiau ei iiewid byth ar ol hyny.

Clywedion o Mountain Ash. Fod yr Eglwyswyr yn falch iawn o'r cyfarfodf niawr hwnw yn, y Pavilion. Fod yno drefn yn mhob peth. Fod Esgob Ty Ddewi ar ei uchel fanau. Fod yno fan-llefau o gymeradwyaeth pan ddeuid i lawr ar Lloyd Georg'e. Fod rhai Ymnieillduwyr wedi cael en siomi am na chawgant fyned i fewn. Fod un wedi llwyddo, ond gorfod iddo fyn'd allan ar unwaith. Fod yr Ymneillduwyr am gael eyfarfod o'r faJh. Fod gobaith am Gymanfa Ganu Ddir- westol ragorol y Llun nesaf yn y Rhos. Fod yr arweinydd y tro hwn eto yn un c'r bechgyn sydd yn myn'd i lawr i goluddion y ddaear. Da iawn! | Fod pawb yn teimlo yni flin dros y cor a'r arweinydd am na chawsant, y wobr yn R-hymni. Fod eglwys Bethania wedi cael colled ar ol y diacon parchus Mr Wm. Griffiths. | Fod pregeth a.ngladdol i chwaer rin- weddol wedi ei thraddodi yn y Ffrwd y nos SuI o'r blaen. Fod y gweinidog yn dweyd yn dda am ei rhinweddiau. Fod gan y chwaer, meddai, ofal mawr am yr achos yn ariamol. Ei fod wedi dweyd mai nid "cheap re- ligion" oedd ganddi, ae nad oedd wedi byw ar frasder y wlad, iheb dalu ei threthi. Ei fod wedi dweyd mai "Gypsies cref- yddol" oedd y fath bobl. Fod rhai o'r aelodau wedi gwelwi yn y seddau. Fod amryw yn dweyd na allant roi pan wad oes dim ganddynt. Fod rhai o'r swyddogion yn gwneyd ys- tumiau ofnadwy. Fod effaith y Diwygiad i'w ganfod yn nghyfarfodydd y gwyr nos. Fod mwy o'r tan yno nag sydd yn un eglwys yn y 11e. Fod gwragedd parchus rhai gweinidog- ion yn ffyddlon yno yn mysg ereill. Fod tyrfa fawr yn gwrando ar y Parch. Meredith Morris yn Eglwys "St. David's" y Sul o'r blaen. Fed rhai yn disgwyl clywed rhywbeth am y gweledigaethau a gafodd yn ddi- weddar. „ CLTJ STFETNWR.

Aberdare Boy Rescued at the Baths. At the Aberdare Baths on Thursday afternoon a lad named Carr accidentally fell into the water, which at the spot was 5 feet 6 inches deep. He was unable to swim, but the caretaker of the baths, Mr Evans, with all his clothes on, jumped in and effected a rescue.

In Memoriam. j John Morglan Durbin, the beloved and only child of Mr. and Mrs. Durbin, King's Head Hotel, Aberamain. Born July 9, 1904; Died May 20th, 1906. Tongue-tied with grief are we today, Our only darling gone away; Our hope and comfort, love and joy j Were centred in our darling boy. We thought of him in manhood's role, With active brain and brave, pure soul. In hope's bright mirage loving eyes j Beheld him healthy, strong, and wise; How sad that hope thus early ends! i God does not give, He only lends; j The lovely babes from Heaven above j He sends as angels of time love, j If God so wills they stay not long, God's plans are strange, but never wrong, j We've lost our child, for whom we grieve, j Yet in re-uuioii we believe j God gives a spring to this old earth, j And to the dead gives a new birth; J To all His children, God is love, And we shall meet and live above. June, 1906. Faith.

Teachers' Outing to 'I Llantwit Major. I On this occasion the Certificated Class 'j Teachers' Association and the Ramblers joined hands, and agreed to have a com- bined outing to Llantwit Major. The amalgamation did not prove so success- ful in point of numbers as was antici- pated, but evidently the early hour of starting and the threatening state of the j skv at the time disheartened many. The weather, however, interfered but little with the Ramblers' pleasures that day, for the downpour of rain was limited ai- most entirely to the time when they were j I safely sheltered in the coaches of the Barry Railway, on the forward and turn j ourneys. The following were nresent: Miss Walton, Hir wain School. Miss H. Berry, Mrs. Jenkins, Messrs. E. Davies, W. Williams, and D. B. Jones, Park School. Miss Bessie Richards, Cwmdare School. Miss EL E. Griffiths, Robertstown School. Misses S. George, Emily Morris, Mes~j-s. W. J. Harris, and W. Coslett Morris, Higher Grade. Miss A. G. George, Miss A. Walters, Mr. D. David, Town School. Miss Rose Rees, Mr. W- B. Stephens, Ynyslwyd School. Miss Maud Mason, Cwmbach School. Miss May Rees, Mr. J. Thomas, Blaen- gwawr School. Miss Davies, Miss Jenkins, Miss F. Prance, Mr. D. Williams, Aberaman School. c.. Miss Mortudd Davies, cwmamaai bciiooi Mr. E. D. Humphreys, Aman School. Mr. D. O. Davies, Abercynon. Mr. Evnonj Davies, B.Sc., and Mr. Cor- lett, Porth County School. Mr. W. James, Cardiff College, and Rev. and Mrs. Jenkins, Llantwit Major. The faithful guide of the Ramblers, and recorder of the Ramhle's, Mr. J. Griffiths, Park Schools, was unable to be present on this occasion, and his absence was greatly deplored by all. However, the Rev. T. H. Jenldns, who is a native of Rirwain, and who is in charge of the Con- gregational Churches cf Llantwit Major and Bethesda'r Fro, placed his valuable services as guide at tie disposal of the Ramblers. After a delicious cup of tea at the "little wooden hut" by the beach- where previously they had done justice to a well-catered lunch—Mrs. Jenkins proposed, and Miss Moriuckl Davies seconded a vote of thanks to Mrs. Price, the caterer, and to the Rev. T. H. Jenkins and Mrs. Jenkins, who, by the way, is a native of Gadlys. The proposition was carried nem. con. and with enthusiasm. llantwit Major abounds with antiquary ran relics and places of histoTic interest. In the village churchyard there is a cross denoting the place where St. Paul picae,be(li after lie had lauded in the bay close by. This is a statement that the na,tive is prepared to vouch for its accuracy, and woe unto you if you dare to whisper "Myth The Church is dedi- cded to St. Illtyd, and the place was called LlarudilLtyd" Fawr to distinguish it from Lhiiilltyd Faerdre. But by what process of mutilation' was the name Llan- illtyd bungled into that meaningless cog- nomen Llantwit? Slwde of lolo Morgaiit- wg! Surely the pear-ants of Y Fro "are more careful regarding the preservation of Roman traditions than of Welsh place- names. In the villas? may be seen Ebrn. ezer, the new chapel where the Rev. M. Jenkins breaks the Wead of life to his congregation. Anotler church in his charge is Bethesda'r Fro, the oldest Con- gregational Chapel in Wales. Not far a way is Flemingstome, where old loto Mor- ganwg lived. However, owing to the ab- sence of the chief antiquarians from the party the Ramblers paid less heed to an- tiquities than they have done on previous rambles. They spent most of their time by the Bad sea waves. The beach is very pebbly, and therefore an untrodden path over which the seagull wings an undis- turbed flight. Seeing in the distance the broken crest of St. Donat's Castle voit arc tempted to proceed thither along the pleasant path on the brow of the cliff. You go a little way, and you come to a snug niche in the cliff which is known as the Tresilian Bay. You continue your journey along the cliff path, and "you suddenly find yourself jammed in between the Seylla and Charybdis of land grab and ocean ravage. You find that the forces of King Neptune have taken away a chunk of the cliff whereon your path lies, and in avoiding the abyss you come in contact with a feaice erected by tli,, landowner. The legend, "Hitherto and no further," dances before your eys, a.nd you return disgusted,, reflecting on the fact that ocean dykes and Socialistic agi- tations, which are misspent quantities in some quarters, are unknown 'quantities on the coast of Bro Morganwg. On. their return journey the Ramblers broke their travel at Cardiff, and visited severaj places of interest there. The seeret-ariail arrangements were well carried out by Miss A. Wailters and Mr. E. D. Humphreys, the joint secretaries for the Recr eative Society of the Teachers,

Obstructing the Highway. MOUNTAIN ASH MINISTER FINED. At Abercarn Police Court on Thursday the Rev. George Neighbour, Baptist min- ister, Mountain Ash, was summoned for wilfully obstructing the highway at New- bridge, on May 18th, and for refusing to move away when requested to do so. Defendant pleaded not guilty, but Police-constable Williams, who saw him addressing a large crowd of people on Socialism and independent labour, said that a number of conveyances and cyclists had to slow up and go along very care- fully until they had passed through the crowd. He asked1 defendant to move, but he said he was not causing en obstruction. and that a. number of his friends were keeping a clear passage for traffic. De- fendant continued to address the crowd for about twenty minutes. Defendant said that a gangway was kept through the crowd by some of his friends. and as he had been given to understand that meeting's had previously been held at the spot where he was he thought no harm would be done. The Bench were satisfied that an ob- structiori had been caused, and imposed a fine of 20s., with the option of fourteen days in default of distress. ALLEGED PERSECUTION. A well-attended open-air meeting was held at Newbridge on Saturday evening in con De(,floii,,wi,tli the loca',l branch of the Labour Party for the pur- pose of protesting against the action of the police in their endeavours to stop the Socialists' propaganda. The Rev. George Neighbour, Baptist minister, Mountain) Ash, referred to his being fined at Abercarn Police-court last week for causing an obstruction, and said the^ wei'e 3'«iHy fined for holding a, meet- ing on the highway. It was a question of persecution; p*re and simple, and it was evident that the Independent Labour Party (had strong prejudice to face. For Party (had strong prejudice to face. For a firsit offence fch.ey put upon him the vin- dictive ,sentenco of 20s. or fourteen days in default. Where was the justice P They could well call it a police-court. AH that was needed was a policeman on the bench, and it would be absolutely a police-court. He longed! for the time when police-courts I could be described as courts of justice— (Bear, hear)—but it was far from justice on that occasion.

Open Air Meetings. ABERAMAN POLICE AND THE I.L.P. Whilst a meeting under the auspices of the I.L.P. was being held on the Square a.t Aberaman on Thursday evening, the police interfered o.n the ground that the proceedings created an obstruction. P.S. Angus took the names of the chairman (Mr. W. W. Police.), Mr. W. Trainer, nr- ganising agent foi South Wales, who'was the speaker at the time, and Mr. Tom Bowen. a prominent member of the local branch. Someone moved a resolution, condemn- ing the action of the police in interfering with their meetings. This was seconded hy another, and put to the meeting by the chairman, and was carried unanimously. Mr. Trainer subsequently complained of the action of the police in several places in South Wales, and added that in large towns where meetings were held in the streets, the police never interfered'.

The Maesteg Seer Curate. VISIT TO MOUNTAIN ASH. I have been told that the Rev. Meredith Morris, curate of Maesteg, who recently came into much prominence as a vision- ary, is an old Nonconformist preacher. I can readily believe this, for the rev. gen- tleman's demeanour in the pulpit is more A in accordance with the style of Dissenting preachers than the orthodox attitude of the Church of England clergyman. I have noticed that in the majority of cases in which a Dissenting preacher shakes off the dust of Dissent from his feet, and dons the clerical surplice, he pre- serves his tone and gestures, and re- tains a great deal of the pulpit etiquette which he has acquired under the old dis- pensation. Having heard that the Llangynwyd visionary was to preach at St. David's Welsh Church, Mountain Ash, oil Sunday morning last, I hied myself thither. The dark-haired, spectacled, grave-looking clergyman, who reads the lessons in such (I, clear voice and with such careful ob- servation of the rules of emphasis and syntax, 'has certainly the appearance of a .Bunvan. But, however, lie is a, very practical dreamer, and a. visionary who does not gaze upon the heavens and for- gets the earth at his feet. I do not think that any one will dream or sleep under his ministry, for he is a most wide-awako preacher. He has a powerful voice, and in slow measured accents he addresses his congregation iu such a way as to com- mand the attention of the most apath- etic. Whatever may be said of his vision- ary propcns:iics, he is evidently the em- bodiment of sincerity. At times he ap- pears as one whose soul is crushed with the iniquities of his people, and gives vent to doleful jeremiads. At other times I he reaches a degree of exultation. On these occasions he resembles the mission- er, Mr. Evan Roberts. But while he lacks the ecstatic enthusiasm of the Loughor revivalist, he possesses a speech which is less colloquial and a style of ora- tory which is more cultured. Mr. Morris enters the pulpit of St. David's and addresses a comparatively smalt congregation on. the words, "Ana that repentance and i emission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." It is somewhat surprising, he observed, to learn that Jesus gave utterance to these words. He (the preacher) could imagine the hasty and fiery Peter intervening and saying, "What, in Jerusalem, the bar- baric city, of all .places! We would sooner go and preach to the Samaritans than go back to Jerusalem to establish the new gospel." But the Lord Jesus was determined that His Apostles should open their campaign at Jerusalem. Why? First, because Jesus wanted to put into actual practice one of the fundamental doctrines of His Kingdom and religion, namely, forgiveness. They, as congrega- tion, had, remarked the preacher, re- peated the Lord's Prayer that morning. They had said it often—so often that he l'eai ed that frequent repetition had dulled its edge for them. Had they really prayed the Lord's Prayer that morning P He feared that many were repeating it parrot-like twice at every service, but oftentimes the soul of the supplication was driven out through the body. For- giveness! How pregnant of meaning that word was. Did they realise what it meant? The supplicant had been on his knees that morning before coming to church. He had prayed "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Had he thought what that conditional "as" involved r Had the man who sought fcrgivenesis pardoned the man w'ho had endeavoured to take away his bread and cheese, to deprive him of his living and also his character ? Had he forgiven his fellow main before invoking God's forgive- ness for his own transgressions ? If not, then his prayer was a. Iioliow farce. He had gone to the presence of God with a lie on his lips. "I htive before now," says the preacher, and at this stage he speaks in a. trfemolo tone, "entered the church ieeling that I could not forgive an enemy. On such an occasion I have refrained from saying the Lord's Prayer. I dared not tell my God a lie." The chief doctrine of Jesus Christ's Gospel was forgiveness. "Let us go back in our imagination to the Cross of Cal- vary," says the preacher. "We see our Saviour being spat upon. He is scourged, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the cross. But what are His words, '0, Father, forgive them." These words in themselves are enough to undermine the Socinian fabric and to testify that Jesus was really the Soni of God. While the "madding crowd" jeered at him, and while the blood trickled down his face like the precious ointment upon the head His one thought was of piirdon to his enemies." Mr. Morris now gives a little of his own personal experience as a preacher. He has preached the. Gospel for 18 years, and he has found that nothing is so detri- mental to true religion as hatred and an unforgiving spirit. 'Ilbie demon quenches the spirit and ruins the churches. If there existed enmity between any Christ- ian brethren he advised them. not to par- take of the holy communion until they had first reconciled themselves. How could they drink out of the sacred cup while the cancer of malice was on their lip:' and in their hearts ? The preacher has by this time gone into considerable "hwyl," and his gestures and contortions indicate a frame quiver- ing with emotion. (Joining to the second heading of his ser- mon he observed that Christ entreated His followers to begin at Jerusalem be- couse that meant commencing a good work at home. They could never do good deeds until the heart had been cleansed. Unless they carried into action, during the week wihat they preached on Sunday their preachillg was in vain. v The preacher made a clear reference to his recent experience as a visionary. when he remarked that not once or twice or three times had God revealed himself to .him in faith. He would reveal him- e, I i' to all who sought diligently and be- lieved sincerely. It was often said by men of the world that there was no reality in religion, He was sorry to note that many professing Christians gave grounds to this" a'legation. Jn. the train on the previous night hp (had heard a man while under the influence of drli'nk, re- mark to a companion, "I am a Church- man, yon know, and T be in Church to-morrow." What hypocrisy I Yes, re- ligio-n should be practised at home. How many of them conducted religious ser- vices. on their own hearths? He was told that, there were 12,000 people in the parish of IJangyuwyd who did not go to a place of vor-hi,o. And yet we were sending missionaries to the benighted ('.liiuese! Let ns commence our mission at Jerusalem. There is on, very acceptable feature in the Rev. Meredith Morris' oration, It is brevity. His sermon on Sunday morning could not have lasted more than 15 minutes.

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Merthyr Board of Guardians. The above was held on Saturday, Mr J. Hogers in the chair. MR BIRCHAM'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. MERTHYR GUARDIANS AND RELIEF. Mr PUT. Bircham, Poor-law inspector, who is retiring at the end of the current month after upwards of 32 years service, paid his farewell visit to the Merthyr Union Workhouse on Saturday. In addressing the guardians Mr Bir. cham said that this was one of the most important Unions in his district, and in many respects it was the most interestmg one of all, because it contained a variety of industries and a very large area, and was difficult to work. They were not assisted by old endowments of any kind, and there was no means without the aid of the guardians of helping the poor when destitution arose. He came into the dis- trict in January, 1874, at the time of the great strike and lock-out. The advice he gave on the strike of 1898 was ruled,, technically at all events, to be not accord- ing to law, but he had not very much doubt that, in opening stone-yards, they did the best they could under the circum- stances. The present law was not satis- factory, as it was now applied to the kind of eases with which they had then to deal. It was ruled now that, although the guardians must relieve the wives and families of married men when they are destitute, they could not relieve the men, and the consequence was that some men could stand with their hands in their pockets and take the relief given only to their wives and children, while others had to go through the labour tefst cl before they could get anything. He did not consider this a very satisfactory- state of things. Since 1874, Mr Bircham went on to say. the change of the indoor administration of the workhouse had been quite wonder- ful. He thought he could point to the new infirmary as a pattern, he was going to say to the rest of the kingdom-at all events to the rest of his district. lie could, with confidence, say that they treated their sick indoor poor as well, or, rather, better than almost any other un- ion he knew of. With regard to the treatment of particular cases of a tuber. culosis, consumptive, phthisical nature. he did not see why, instead of sending patients away to Sandgate at a great ex- pense, they should not provide some place within reasonable distance of their own union where those cases could be treated. Mr Bircham paid a high tribute to Dr. Ward, the medical officer, and the other officers concerned in the adminis- tration of the workhouse. In 1877 the rate of pauperism in the union, he said, was 2.2 per cent of the population. Upon the census of 1901 it was over i) per cent. Taking the whole of the coun- try the population had increased 88 per cent. during the last ten years, though pauperism had remained about stat ion ray. Taking all Wales and Monmouthshire, the population during that time had in- creased 13 per cent., the rate of pauper- ism had decreased 13 per cent., and the expenditure had increased 22 per cent In South Wales and Monmouthshire the population had increased 16 per cent.. the rate of pauperism had decreased 7 per cent., and the expenditure had increas- ed 32 per cent. In the Merthyr Union the increase in population had been If). per cent., the rate of pauperism had in- creased 4 per cent., and the expenditure bad increased 67 per cent. The rateable value however, had increased only 22 per cent. He did not think the future happi- ness and well-being of the working classes depended upon the Guardians finding them relief when they became paupers and building palaces to put them in. He believed that the future well-being of the working classes would be best promoted bv the Government providing by legislation that the social condition of the poor were not what they were now. During the'Iast six months the Board had relieved "419 men on account of their sickness. That meant to a large extent these men had made no provision for themselves by be- longing to clubs. If youug men saw other people getting relief in this way the less trouble would they take to provide for themselves in the future. With all their sins as guardians, the overseers extracted out of their pockets in this union about £ '130,OOOfa year. Now, out of that all that could be:debited to the guard- ians in any way connected with the re- lief of the poor was about £ 45,000. eluding over X6,000 for the maintenance of lunatics at asylums. Taking out this £6,000 in respect of which they had to' collect what they could from relatives. they had considerably less than £ 40 000 spent by the guardians in connection with the poor. This was coniderablv less than one third of what was raised bv what he had always called a misnomer— the poor rate. In conclusion. Mr Bircham tnanKea pasu ana present members of the board for their kindness and courtesy towards him, and he thanked especially- Mr F. T. James, the clerk. It was decided to record on the min- utes the board's appreciation of the kind- ness and courtesy which the guardians. had always received at the hands of Mr Bircham.

Penderyn and Vaynor School Committee. A meeting of this committee was held at the Merthyr Workhouse on Thursday, under the presidency of Mr W. Williams. J.P. The other members present wert- Messrs Joseph Price, J.P., David Evans. John Rogers, and the Rev. J. Hathren Davies. I? The clerk read a statement of accounts which showed that a good balance* re- mained in hand. The committee felt that in as much as there was such a large number of pupils already at Brymnawr and Aberdare, no new scholarship could be offered.