The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

ILM/s Inspectors Reports. PENTREPOTH BOARD SCHOOL. 13uyls SCHOOL. I. TLii school his, in spite of difficulties arising from tho building operating, inr.il^ very good progress in the various subjects of instruction and continues to be conducted with much energy and enthusiasm. GIRL'S SCHOOL. The elementary woik was in many respects very gocd. Wtitteii arithmetic was weak in the third and fourth standards, and mental arithmetic in the second, third, fourth, and lif!ii standards. The latter Eubjcet will nut improve unless worked up methodically. The whole of the second standard we;e represented in the arithmetic of the first standaul, an entirely ui justifiable pre>fceding, and hnif of the sixth st-tr.dard were presented in the arithmetic of the fifth standard, while there were no girls in the ",ev nth standard. English find history weie, on ilia whole, good. The needlework exercises had inprove4 and were good. The singing by note was very good. The recitation of the fourth and fifth standards needs mu-h more intelligence." INFANT'S SCHOOL. "Thit school continues to be, 0:1 the whole, well taught. The reading of the first, second, and third .net, classes admits of iilpyo.e-, t. No syllabus or reco, ( of progress books had been kept. The annual transfer of Sl hoiars to the girls' department should not be made before the inspection." SUMMARY ot' GRANTS EARNED. Boys' Girls' Infants' Principal Grant 14s 12s Gj 9s Discipline and Organiza. tion Is 6d le Gd Gs Needlework Is — Drawing. — — is Singing by ote Is la Is CLASS SUBJECTS. I English ••• *3 2s Geography 2s — English History — 2s — Tu "I a i 20s 178 D. Trirett having gainud a Queen's Scholarship, in recognised under Article 50. All the candidates 1 presented for the uiiice uf pupil tetcliers were successful.

PENYGRAIG. PKSYGEAIG AND ILulA CHAPELS -On Monday and Tuesday, May lStli und 19th, Mr W. Emrys Lloyd, of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, was ordained :¡8 pastor of the above churches. Seimons wers preached in both chapels by the Revs W Rogers, Pembrey; W C Jenkins, Kidw?lly II Widianw, Llochrhyd D Rees, Capel Mawr: Peter Davies, Pant teg R Reas, Alltwen D S Dairies, Carmarthen Powell, Pontardulais D E vviiliama, Hcnllan L. Price, Ffyucnbedr Garibaldi Thomas, Nantgaredig and David Evans, Carmarthen. Appropriate portions were real, and prayers offered by the Revs L Price, Ffynonbedr S Thomas. Buncoed W Lloyd, Carmarthen D Thomas Llanybri; Thomas Bryn, Mnesteg Cadvan Jones, Carmarthen H S Williams, Loughor and J D Jones, Ffynondrnin. The churches presented the young paitor with ,£10 woith of books a a token of their sincerity,

Pertrefl Felingwm. Chwech Pennill Cysfadleiso! yn Ei<?eddfod Velin- gwm, dydd Llun Pasg diwcddaf. Yn aJilwyf cang 'Egwad enwog, Rhwng mynyddau Cymru lan, Ar It 11 Cloiel ich f;o. yn risialcg Sait gwrthddrvchuu tlws ein Brodyr tawel o'r un teulu, Lion a lUwn heb un yn IIwno, O'r un enw a'r nn cedran Yw Pentrifi Felingwm. Awn i'r uwchaf, gwelwn yro Luaws o balasau cain, A'u preswylwyr clyd a threfnus, Heddwch yw arwyddair 'rhai'n Ysgol Fwrdd i'r ieuaingc nwyfus, 'Gael dadliygu'n iiodau heirdl, Esyd fawredd byth ar enw Felingwm a'u ffyddlon feirdd. Thomas Timmins, Macr diwyro," YI1 Mhalasdy Glan-y-dwr, Djvies, Owrt, y cerddor Enwcg, Evan Faer, farddcnol wr Mr Evans fwyn o'r Felin, Gydhi olwyn falu fawr, D) fal a difiino'n dilyn Er ein cysur ar y llawr. Dau dafarndy yn dyferu I'r sychedig ar ei dtith, Hughes, y Plough, nid haws yw peidio Myn'd i'w Faelfa lawer gwaith Bsiiitch awn yn nghwmni "Cloidach," o mor swynol ywdy wedd, Ti chwareu March y Cread SydJ. fel adlais ffrydiau hedd -Pcntref issaf ddaeth i'n golwg, Cartref mwyn y Felin ban Ffactri a pheiiisinu nyddu, Dafydd Jones yn uwch i'r lan Dilladyddion a gwehyeldion, Cryddion cryno, beirdtl o fri, Dyma lie mae cartref Dafydd, Royal Shoeing Smith, P.C. Tine ei forthwyl ar yr eigion, Dora ar ddistawrwydd mud, Tan bo'r boreu gwyn yn ag >r, Dorau aur y D wyzain f) d Hoff benirefi eich gwarchodlu, Yw yr oesawl fryniau trwrr, Tithau Sittim, daml urddasol, Y dy w gem ein Felingwrn. MUKMUH CLOIDACH. (L. J.)

The Education Bill. To the Editor of the Carmarthen TVecldy Reporter. Siu, Will ) ou allow me, through your columns, to offer to those of your readers who are taking part in the campaign against the Edaca'ion Bill, any information that we may b in a position to afford ? It often happens that facts and statistics, which are difficult to obtain locally, are easily accessible to a central organisation. Any such facts we will d) our best, to supply on application. I take this opportunity of saying that we have in print leaflets on the Bill, specimens of which I shall be happy to send to anyone wh > likes to writs for them. Yours faithfully, BERXHAKD WHISIIAW. Natii Dal Education Emergency Oommittep, Surrey House, Victoria Embank rent, Louden, W.C., May :L3rd, 1896.

A Slander oil the Welsh People. To the Editor of the Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. For some time I have been anxiouf'diat the Welsh people should know how grossly and persistently th' y are tdsnelered in English Church newspapers. The Ritualistic papers in particular abound in venom and scurrility. Some of the charges are ridicukuu: in themselves, ccu isting of mere spiteful tittle-tattle. Does a Welsh School Board let a brass band practice in a sch; oi on Sunday, or a Haptist congregation hold a bazaar en Gocel Friday, or a deacon give a tedious preacher a quiet hint to cut his sermons shorter ? Then these trivial mat era are ndJuced as proofs that religion in Walts is at a very low tbb. At such things we can afford to laugh but of late tho old slender has been revived that the Welsh people are grossly immoral, and it is alleged that their immorality is due to their Non- conformity. The latest end worst journalistic outrage of this kind is a loug article in the Church Times of May bt. Of course it ie anonymous, but the writer declares that every one of his statements is supported by "men who are among the most experifneed clergy in South Wales The sub- headings of this attiele are FUggestive, 44 Demoralisation and Dissent," Religion without Morality, "1 wo National Sins." Here are one or two choice extracts — "The really appalling result cf Dissent is the moral evil that has undoubtedly resulted from the divorce of religion and conduct. 4i When one finds that just in those parts of South Wales where Dissert is strongest, immorality ar.d crime cf a peculiarly revolting kind are rampant that one of the distiicts held up with truth by Liberationist speakers and newspapers as a place where Dissenters are ten to one, and the chapels are crowded, is the most criminal district in Great Britain; that in another district, oftm similarly quoted, tic offences againet the Criminal Law Amendment Act are five times as numerous as the average in England and Wales then, indeed, the corrupt fruits of the corrupt tree become ppparent. 44 The two leveling national failings are untruth- fulness and sexual immorality, which latter in ccitnin districts has become ciiminality, and I believe they are largely the result of Protestant Dissent. lhat sexual immorality is a grievous national evil is denied by robody who knows the countty. 41 The worst feature of the whole business is not that particular forms of ein are prevalent — that is the case in eTery rountry-but that these who prcfets to be the leaders cf the people, instead of trying to eradicate the sin, try to explain it away or even deny its existence. The firt great difficulty that^ir.cets the Church in Wales, then, is this elemoralisation rejultinj from Dissent." I might be weii content to let these sentences stand in their naked hideousness, for my object is to make known to the Welsh people how they are being elefamed. When honert, God-fearing Welshmen and Welshwomen are thus maligned simply because they are Nonconformists they will more than ever understand how foul and ciuel and unlovely and un-Christ-like is the spirit of Sacerelotalism. For half a ccntury this charge has been repeated in vaiious forms. Thirty years ago my old friend Henry Richards exposed the mendacity of priestly assailants of the Welsh people. The time has come when the work must be done over again. In Wales itself bishops and clergy of the Church of England speak fairly to their countrymen, but when English audiences are addressed they lament the wickedness of the Welsh, and protest that it is due to their detestable Disseat. Now let us turn to the facts as regireb illegitimacy as given in the hst Annual Report of the Kr^i^trar of Births. Deaths, and Marriages. In the first place it is not true that tho rate of illegitimacy is higher in Wales than in England. In England and Wales it is 4'3. The attrage of more than half the counties of England is higher than that of Wales, and yet the writer in the Church Times h,8 the uud&city to declare that sexual immor:\1ilY is one of the two leading national failings The argument that because Dissent and illegiti- macy prevail in Wales therefore Dissent is the cause of illegitimacy i, absurd. Let us apply the same argument to the -.Evtabliehed Church and English counties. The illegitimate births in Wales are 4T of the whele; now let us turn to England. The Established Church is strong in Oxfordshire, and the illegitimate biitlis arc 5 7 j it is strong in Norfolk, and the illegitimate births ara 6*8 it is strong in Cumberland, and the illegitimate births are 69. St all we therefore say that the Established Church is the cause of the high, rate of illegitimacy in these counties ? Thete is equal reason for this assertion as for the assertion ihe Chvrch Time* that illegitimacy in Wales is the. fault o.! Dissent. Every man who thinks for a moment will see that the race of illegitimacy alone is nn unsafe index of molality- In Lpndon the rate is lowest, and yet London is far from being the most moral part of England. The rate of illeintimacy is lower in South Wal e than in Noith Wales, but it is notorious that South Wales is net morally superior. High rates of illegitimacy prevail in agiioultural districts, and therefore it is not suipiining to find that the rate in North Wales is G'G. But cross the border to the neighbouring agricultural counties of Shropshire and Herefoid, and what do we find ? Shropshire illegi imacy ia also G-6, exactly the same rate as that of North Wales, while in Herefcrelihire the rate rises to 7-6. In Shropshire add Hereforelshire Dissent is weak, and tho Established Church is in overwhelming strength yet as regards illegitimacy Shropshire is as bad as North Wales, and Hereford- shire far worse. If it be true that the illegitimate birth rate uses when the people arc alienated foro the Established Church, it oucht to fall" when the people are attached to that Church. The facts do not coincide with the theory. Apparently tha defamers of the Welsh people reckon that the command "Thou shuli not boar false witness egainst thy neighbour" is for the present suspended 10 the interests of the Church but possibly the wide publication of such attacks m the Principality itself nav be effective in pruenting them for the future.. HOWARD EVA us. Liberation Society, 2, S^rj.ants,'lr.n, Lmrd n,

Ferry side and District Gossip. The Whitsuntide holidays passed off splendidly. The weather was magnificent, and the illage was gay. happy, and lively with the thousands of visitors who had come for the day to feast upon its beautiful sceneries' and; to inhale its healthy breezes. Rirely has there been seen 8u::h"a large numbc(ot people in^Ferrvfiele on the same day. A word of praise i" abo due ti all the holiday-seekers, who gracni the village with their pieeence on Monday A more orderly and respectable class of people couiel hardly be met with. There were a lew exceptions peihaps. but comparing, the crowds wl i, h thronged the place they were a very insignificant number. -0- Many penple resident i.t the place have been under the impression for some months past thit it was intended to erect a ridge over the^railway crossing. If it is to be built I suppose the G.W.R. Company intend to get it ready by the Millenium. It W8B:a shame tojsee hundreds of people having to wait for at least one half-hour for the trains ti pass away before opening the gates to olio v the visitors to cross the railway and go on to the beach. Besides that, a large number of men, women, ar.d children were exposed to unnecessary danger in running across the railway when the trains were shunting. Surely the G.W.R. Company could have the bridge ready by Whit-Monday—a day when more holiday seekers come to the Ferry than any other day in' the year. A petition his been going the round of the inhabitants of the village lately soliciting signatures for the purpose of prohibiting the holding of stalls in the publil; places of resort. We hear a gieit deal about Protection and Fair Trade nowadays, I wcneler whether this is an attempt to localise the principle, so as to give an idea how it will work imperially. We have a McKinley in Ferryside who has bet his heart upon placing a disastrous tariff upon poor stall-holders, as much so as his great Yankee prototype desires to extinguish the British tinplate trade. Bit we have no doubt that the Old Firm "is still young enough to brave the tempests of another 100years. Let the petition of Free Trade of Ferryside be universally and in- tiuential y signed by the working class people, whose motto is "Live and let live." -0-- And I. too, went with the" madding crowd to Llanstephan on Monday, but not to the race-course. I cannot imagine whatever could have possessed the Committee to drive folk out of the village to such rn outlandish spot as the field where the races were held. Why, the road there is as rough and craggy as the 41 Rocky Road to Dublin/' If Llanstephanites do not wish people to come and see them by all means take the annual races still further afield. I know many people who were so disgusted with the walk that in future they are goiug to act on the principle once bitten twice shy." --0- Indeed! and are the business people of Llan- stephan tis foolish as business people outside of Llanstephan 1 I never could believe it. They are as jealous of oach other there, so I was told on Monday, as they are in every other mortal-struck village. It is not an Arcadian grove after all in spite of its many and varied atttractions. Remem- ber when you next have your races that Union is strength and" that whatever broils disturb the street, there should be peace at home." -0- A lady who takes a deep intercut in the Friendly Society is quite incensed at the note which appeared a few weeks ago, stating that that Society was a Church of England Society. It is, she says, I. untrue and unjust." In proof of tha". she has just handed me the member's guide, in which the following t\i pears :—" Associates to be of the Church of England (nJ such restriction being made as to members) and the orgmisation of the society to follow as much as possible that of the Church, being diocesan, ruridecanal, and parochial." DIUYMUS Dous.

Socrates and Agricultural Depression. And tho persons thus impoverished lurk, I should suppose, in the city, harnessed and armed with stings, —some owing debts and others disfranchised, and others labouring under both misfeirtunes,—hating and plotting against the new owners of their property, and against all who are better off than themselves, and enamoured of revolution." -Repulllic of Plato, book viii. (B. C. 400.) When Socrates had comfortably disposed himself wiihin the porch of the temple of the Old Lady of Threadaeedie-street, and had gathered about him the chief men of the various commissions of Royal appointment, looking to the relief of certain distressed labourers and artizans, he, turning to Agricultor, said; It is thy mission to afford sustenance to man, the fnore freely thou givest such sustenance, the more blessed thou art." "Nay," answered Agricultor, 44 such food as I provide hath become so cheap that I starve while I furnish it." How can that be," asked Socrates, that he who supplies the food starves in its furnishing? For the reason," he replied, that what I raise I keep not, but with it pay my debts." Then," said Socrates, from the fruits of the soil must all debts be paid." And Auierieanus and Australasias and Indicns groaned in concert, Yea, in the sweat of our brows, and the fruit of the soil, must our debts be paid." Socrates looked curiously around at these men for they were outside barbarians, each bearing into the temple a load npon his back. And divers were the contents of their loads but all were from the soil; corn, and cotton, and wool, and all things that a husbandman liath gotten from his work. And they all answered 44 W7e be here to pay our debts. „ I And are tllese taken for debts ?" asked Socrates is there not in this laud brought forth food and raiment Then why do ye bring more ?" And they answered It is to buy gold, for in gold are our debts payable." Then these outside barbarians took up their burdens and went within to the men who held the gold, who were also the men to whom they were in debt. And Amerieanus saith "Hear ye; for a guinea of the gold thou hast, which I mast buy ouly to pay back to thee, give I seven bniohels of wheat." But Indicua pressed forward and said 44 Nay, I must have the gold to pay thee, and will give eight bushela for a guinea." And Australasius likewise offered more of his substance than both the others for he too had debts whereby he was bound to buy the gold to pay it back again. 1< or the debt was owed to him who had the gold. And the chief men of the commissions of Royal ippointment, looking to the relief of distressed labourers and artizans, said, turning to Socrates Let us get hence to a quieter spot. Truly, these outside barbarians do disturb our meditations by their cries, and we must go forth to find tha cause for which we were appointed." And they arose, and went forth, and inspected the lands. And one saith, Fertilizers are costly things." And another saith, "Our labourers desire too much for their wives and daughters." And another saith, It is the tithes." Hut none sought wisdom; each went on unheeding the end. Then Socrates, reviewing the scrolls of time, read therein that hopeless toil breeds despair and despair breeds hate, and hate brings revolution, wherein all values meet destruction. And he said "TllÆsc capitalists apparently do not see their enemies since by their demand for gold alone, only the drone and the beggar multiply in the State!

C W M DWYFEAN. CONCERT.—On Thursday evening, the 14th inst., a very successful sacred concert was given at the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel of the above place. The sacred edifice was tastefully decorated with evergreens. See., for the occasion. Theartistes were: -Hoprano, Miss Phillips, Newcastle-Emlyn contralto, Miss Stephens, Llanstephan tenors, Messrs Vf Phillips, White Mill, and T Evans, Bbicnycoed baritone, Mr Harry Evans, Carmar- then bass, Mr T Conwil B'16nS, Carmarthen; accompanist, Mr II Caeralaw Jones, Carmarthen. The concert was opened with a capital rendering of Mr Pughc new part song, 41 Y Delyn Aur," by the 1.11lnpumpsaint Male Voice Party (conductor, Mr B Daniels). All the artistes charmed the packed audience with their singing. Miss Stephens's 4< Baban diwrnod oed," and Miss Phillips's Y gau a gollwyd," being perhaps the most highly appreciated whilst Mr Conwil Evans scored with" G wlad yr Eisteddfodau." The pro- gramme was very well arranged, and was not too long, as is often the case. Almost every song was encored, but the Chairman (the Rev E Davies, Llanpumpsnint) ruled that it would not be per- mitted. Towards the end, however, the reverend gentleman himself broke the rule, and each sirger had to re-apppar. Before the end of the entertain* ment the Itev S Hvans, the respected minister o the chapel, proposed a vote of thanks to 1 1* Davies, Clyngwyn, for the uso of the piaro, the Ch,l,i.n for presiding Mr then BlrutW" Hon «nd the finishing strains all left, testifying that they had never encnt a more enioya'-e coup It appeirs that, from a financial point of view, the concert was also a great success. Wnl-rtred p-v™,a.S' for the Dinner and Supper Table, will be sent Post Free on seceipt of Address by AL! I:!<:I> BIRD & SONS, Birmingham —N.B.—Grocers can have Copies for Distributing among their Customers oa Application,

LLANDILO. THE WATER SUPPLY.-The report on the proposed Llandyfan water supply, which has been made by Mr Morgan Davies, engineer, Swansea, !Jas been received by the Clerk to the Urban District Council, and is considered very favourable. It will be considered at the nexthneeting of the conncil. PRESENTATIO.-At the Baptist School, on Sunday last, Mr T. Griffiths, as a wedding memento, was presented by the scholars of the Sunday School for his faithful services,with "Robert Ellis's Commentary Oil the Naw Testament," in three volumes, The preeentatiem was formally made by Mr C. Jenkins, superintendent. Several of the teachers in addition spoke eulogntically of Mr and Mrs Griffiths, and he appropriately responded. 41 FOR TUB BLOOD IS THE LIFF. "-Clarke's world- famed Blood Mixture is warranted to cleanse the blood from al impurities, from whatever cause ar a. ng For scrofula, scurvy, eczema, skin and blood diseases, pimples, and sores of all kinds, its effects are mar- vellous. Tnousandsof testimonials. In bottles, 2s9d and 11s each, of all chemists. Proprietors, Lincoln and Midland Counties Drug Company Lincoln. Ask for Clarke's Blood Mixture, and do not be persuade to take an imitation.

AV H I T L'A LN 1). THE METHODIST SCHOOL went to Llanddowror, whilst the Indepecdents withhold theirs at Henllan next Monday. SUNDAY SCHOOL*ASSOCIATION.—The Biptists held their Sunday School Association on Whit Monday at Nazereth Biptist Chapel, Whitland, when the Bwlchgwynt. Whitland, Glanrbyd, and Ffynnon schools recited. ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FOnrTlIE IXTEl. MEDIATE SCHOOL —Saturday, the 20th June, has been fixed by the managers for the Entrance Examination, which will be held at the St. Clears and Whitland Board Schools, ths full particulars of which will be found in our advertisement columns. Scholarships of the value of £ 0 will be awarded-that is, school free for the year-and 92 bursary added will be granted to those gaining the highest number of marks-) for the Whitland and 0 for the St. Clears District. The managers are tc be complemented in having put all ages on the same level and geography standard 4, 5, or 6 can be taken at the option of the candidates, and girls can take geography or sewing, but must state which in sending in their names to th? Secretary, Mr J Griffiths Rees, Whitland, which they should do as soon as possible. Tho managers are busily engaged preparing for laying the foundation stones of the new school buildings.

LLANDDOWEOK. SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. On Whit- Monday the Methodists of the district held their annual Sunday School Association in the above place. It is hardly necessary to say that the Mydrim district was divided many years ago, and that the arrangement ',remains as such up to the present time. The geography of the division was very satisfactory. In other respects the division can hardly be praised, because all the strong churches are found in the one section only This is a very strong argument, we think, in favour of the union which was proposed in the committee meeting on Monday, and was left for further consideration in the future. If redistribution can- not be arrived at, union is greatly to bo desired. The attendance of the schools on Monday was almost complete, Laugharne being the only one that was not present. Five schools in all assembled. The children of the Welsh churches recited together. The English also adopted the same plan. The officera were in very good form. The Chair- man was the grand old chief cf Whitland. Mr II Davies, Willow Bank, and the secretary Mr G T Rees, of the same town, is second to none, unless to the leader himself. We give the names of the schools in tho order they recited names of the catechisers and the field of labour of each one. The devotional part of the morning service was administered b the Rev Vincent Thomas, Pendine. The Welsh children recited first; a chapter of "Rhodd Mam." Mr W Beynon, Trinity, St. Clears catechised them; Then the school of Roses recited the parable of the 10 Talents. Mr J Lewis, student, questioned them. The school of Whitland followed, whose tield of labour was the last chapter of the Ephesians. The Rev J Davies, pastor, cntechised them, and whose prayer closed the morning service. The afternoon meeting was introduced by Mr Beynon, student. The Rev Vincent Thomas, Pendine, then questioned the English children, whose field of labour was the History of Joseph. Llanddowror Sohool recited next (being catechised by Mr Beynon) the Epistle of Judas. After them Pendine School, questioned by the Pastor (R37 Vincent Thomas), recited tho first chapter of the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy. The Sunday School of Trinity, St. Clears, was the las: to recite. Their field of labour was the first I chapter of Paul to the Ephesians, and the catechiser was their pastor, who 'closed the afternoon meeting by a prayer. All dif Ueic work remarkably well and the sin;ing throughout th3 day was exselbnt.

FERRY SIDE. CRICKET MATCH—BURKY PORT Y. FERRYSIDE —Tbi3 league match was played on the ground of the latter team, in delightfully fine weather, on Whit-Monday. The scoring was as follows FERRYSIDE. 1ST IXXIXGS. W H Mitchell, b T Evans 0 R Dyke, c C T Williams, b T Evans 0 D Williams, c S Lewis, b T Evans 4 W John, b,T J Lewis II Rev R J James, b T J Lewis D Evans, b T J Lie wis 0 H Lawrence, c C T Williams, b T R Griffiths 8 J Reeves, c C T Williams, b T J Lewis 2 II Joins, b T J Lewis 0 W II Saer b T J Lewis 7 B Davies, not out 3 Total 27 BUUKY Pour. G P Lswis b D Williams 18 C T Williams R Jones, b R Dyke 20 T R Griffiths c R Dyke, b R Dyke 2 T Evans, b D Williams 12 T J Lewis b D Williams 13 R A Bowser I b w, b H Jones 15 W J Thomas run out, b W John 1 J Prossor b II Jones o E Leyshon b It J James I D C Phillips, not out 7 b Lewis t, It J James (j Extras. 8 Total 108 FEUKYfelDE. 2XD JXNLNGO. W II Saer b G R Griffiths 2 B Davies b G R Griffiths 2 D Williams run out lo K J James b G 11 Griffiths a W II Mitchell b T Evan? 0 R Dyke b and c T E?ans 2 B John not not o W Jones itot o-,it 1 Extrns 9 Total for six wickot.s 33

CROSS INX, GOLDEN GROVE. GRAND EVENING CONCERT. On Thursday evening, 21st insii, the friends at Cross Inn were treated :o a capital programme, of high-class music at the Methodist Chapel. The building had ben most tastefully decorated for the occasion, the platform having a choice collection of beautiful plants, whilst the ante-room, reserved for the ise of the artistes, was t harmingl v decorated with cut flowers, nul was much admired by those hose lot and privilege it was to mj.ke, use of this pretty room. The whols decorations reflected great credit upon those concerned, and especially the ladies who had kindly provided the necessaries. Ihe concert was timed tq commence at 7 o clock, but long before this hou; the sacred edifice was cr°wde": The much-esteemed and ever-popular this chu.ch, the Rev Eleazer 11<>c^p^ the chair, and conducted the Proceeu'u5 to have a,u»l good ,.jlo Tho "Srt0LaS commenced with a piano.ort. c • > q £ OweD, but, thanks to his dear little giri i j a violin solo, m whicl » J conclusion she ability of u.hlf'h,?,r' ";ccred. Miss Rosina Davies WASENTHUSIASTICAYCL^eie^ {y Ma<. tery feeling g-i-o <= ith capital rendering followed by Mr °jome. Misi May John, °f «' The Davies then sang a beautiful 11A.M., and M j ^aMr Gabrid Wimala8( who duet entitled splendid rendering of ^0aPv Cadben."gand « followed by un- J htfv the "Star" of the evening, Miss May doubteu y r 'w .?uifil,eut renjeri„g Qf The Heavenly Song fairly brought dQ'u the houee d 6he was rapturously 6ncared. To this she simply bowed her acknowledgement, and the first part of the programme was biought to a close by a quartette. The second part of the programme ran as follows, every item being encored Song, "Beddynyr Ardd," Miss Davies; duet, "FJo gently Deva," Messts Jones and Wiiliaitsj sang, Y fam y Baban," Miss May John; semg, 4tThe Star of Bethlehem," MJ? ti P Williams; duct, 41 Solfa," Mias John aiad Mr Q P Williams song, Mr Todd t^ancq; song (by special request), 44 Holy City," Miss May John quartette, 41 God is a Spirit," Misses John and Davies, and Messrs Jones and Williams The accompanist was Mr Luther Owen, Llanelly, who, needless to say, performed I the duties in a most efficient and satisfactory manner. FOR CHEAP PRINTING of every description send your ordera tQ the Hc/u^-ter Office. Orders by post receive prompt aud careful attention.

I The Deaf h of GJadstoiiiaii Home Ilnie. REV. IIUG N PJIRT. HUGHES' OPINION. When Mr Dillon, the leader of the principal section of the Irish Party, stlt down, after giving his official support to the Second Reading of the E iue ition Bill, Gladstonian Home Rule uttered its lust sigh and died. So ends one of the most heroic, tragic, and distressing chapters in the history of England. 'I he majority of the Liberal Party and of the Evangelical Free Churches, in their intense desire to offer some generous repara- tion to Ireland for rentutiea of misrule and wrong, strained their piej^t'iccs anel preferences to the very utmosc in order to gratify the Nationalist sentiment of Irishmea. They made the greatest sacrifices, both personal and public, that have ever been made in the political history of this century. The Nonconformists especially found themselves separated from their religious kinsmen in Ulster, and submitted to frightful misrepresentations, divisions, and strife which the advocacy of Home Rulu involved, in their passionate longing to do justice to the Irish race. The very fact that they hated Popery :60 intensely made .them the more anxious to avoid even the appearance of injustice to Papists. They were keeuiy^ali'e'to the! suicidal haste with which Mr Gladstone rushed the question without consulting Mr Bright or Mr Chamberlain, or preparing, the intensely conservative mind of England for so great a change, but they recognised the sutdimity and the moral grandeur of his aim, and with bleeding hearts responded to his trumpet. They hoped desperately that the Nationalist Party in Ireland would realise and appreciate the self- sacrifice and the enthusiasm-.with which the most convinced and most determined Frotestants in the world were trying as far as possible to meet the wishes of the majority of the Irish people. They hoped that Mr Gladstone's appeal to the better and most generous side^of][ the LIrish character would awaken a response such as would enable them to bury the controversy and the antipathies of centuries. In their effort to help another race and another faith, their]_foes were those of theirjown household, and they had to allow some of.their own most cherished and sacred objects to bj placed indefinitely; on.onù side. ^.What has been their rewaiel ? The first cheque to their sanguine hopes came when the Irish National Party resolved that a convicted adulterer was not untit to be their political leader. That calamitous decish 11 was partially reversed when it was discovere 1 that the Nonconformists of England would not sacrifice molality to the exigencies of party. :Then came the miserable eternal strife of the Irish Party, which produceel an incalculable imptession upon the English people, who resent and despisp above everything a disposition to quarrel in public. and an iiabilitv to restrain the expression cf passionate feeling. Another terrible blow followed when the Irish ..Parliamentary Pariy^used i-.s votes and influence to prevent the erection of a statute to Oiier Cromwell in England. Then "ctine the Gencral Election, when serious and devout Non- conformists were staggered to discover that aU over the country Irish electors were actually voting, under the direction of their priests, against the Home Rule candielates, and in favour of the deadliest enemies of Home Rule. This deliberate substitution of Romanism for Home Rule icached its climax when the Irish Patliamentaty Party went so far last week as actnally to use the cosrciveMiscipIine to which that party is subjected, in order to compel every member of it to vote in favour of the Eduealien Bill. This was not only a deliberate subordination of Home Rule to the interests of the Roman hierarchy, but was a llagrant violation of the principle of Home Rule itself. The Bill in ejueetion was a purely English measure. It had nothing whatever to do with Ireland. And yet Irish members voted in a body on a purely English question at the dictation of Cardinal Yaughan, and in deliberate opposi- tion to the deepest convictions of theia only English ficiids, and friends who bad made the greatest possible sacrifices, both public and private, 111 their intense desire to elo jbstice to Ireland. It is quite clear that the existing Irish Party does not believe in Home Rule except for them- selves, and that Home Rule itself is fiung on one side when there is an opportunity of promoting or advancing jHome Rule. The Irish Nationalist Party having deliberately resolved that Home Rule is no longer the primary object of their policy, but that Home Rule, political gratitude, and every other consideration are to be sacrificed to the wishes of cons, Catelinal Vaughan, it would be simply puerile for English Nonconformists, or any British political party, to make further sacrifices on behalf of Irish Home Rule. This journal was the first responsible, representative organ of Evangelical Cliristianiiy in England to accept the principle 01 Home Rule. Our advocacy of that principle has involved us in gte;.t saer ificts, to which we iefer only to jubtify;our right, and indeed our duty, to speak now. We are as convinced as ever that the whole eivitisedworld is tending towards a federal svstem of government, and is increasingly opposed to centralised despotism. We believe that .111 each of the fourjgreat divisions of the Batish Isles the sentiments and ideals of the four different races that inhabit these lsirB: ought to ^prevail, so far as ja consistent with tho.unity and supremacy and vital interests of the Empire at large. But atsuredly English, Welsh, and Scotch prevail here; and it is quite as wrong for Irishmen to trample on our deepett ecii victions.as it would be for us to tramp 0 on theirs. We must fight for our own views 111 England, and Rom?n;.st^ Irishmen, resident in England are entitled to d) what they can to subject England once more.to the authority of an Italian priest. But it is totally inconsistent with Home Rule or wita patriotism for a compact army ot Irishmen to cross the Irish Channel in order to interfere in purely English and Welsh business. We do not;'complain that I the Irish Parlia- mentary Party is now organised in the interests of the Vatican, and is placed absolutely at the dis- posal of Cardinal Vaughan. All we tay is that this wholly justifies a gnnt many things which have been said by our Ulster kinsmen, and which we had charitably hoped might be mistaken or exaggerated. The Irish Party bad made their choice. We have tried to cultivate friendly relations with them they have responded by combining with our most implacable enemies to mako upon us the dead- liest attack withii. living memory. Mr Gladstones method of dealing with ihe Irish difficulty is there- by finally 'discredited. ^Tho onlyfquettion wc,;neect consider now is whether, these circumstances,, some practical step can not be taken to heal that breach in the Party, of Protestantism] and progress which has to so fearfully an extent paralysed the forces that meke for "National Righteousness. Division among the frierus oi Civil and Religious Freedom thas created a unique opportunity for Clericalism, Mammonism, the Liquor Trado.and the Sporting League. All this implies fltlctlOn upon the high-minded)consei"i:trJU8,sections 0 Conservative party. Mary of th»m we know greatly dislike the company m which the. themselves.^But. might we net, make a ''P appeal to genuine Liheral Unionists in this country and in Ulster ? They.canjte no .uK^re g-at.hed^by the exieting situation than we aie. lhcy^ wish to ciipple to en-hrone Clericalism,°or to givest he .Liquor lrade mi .the Gambling fraternity .full sw n; for—t the paat ? M«.y wo not onre more stand ^uW^o^.oulte ta op,o.U,™ <0 ,he p.«.pU- which have degxaiid fcpam, and m eLf. l e of the principles whch; have. m.K.o ^England.-Hit Mithodixt Tiuwx.

LLANFYRNACH. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL'ASSOCIATION of the different Sur.tUv Schools in this part was helel Whit- Mcnia'y at Ifermon, Llanfyinach. The meetings were "crowded throughout. The; Rev J) Williams, minister of Bethany Chapel, LIanstephan. qucfetioifcl ^Llar.fyrnaeh School oil the second (Jhsptei of Acts. Mr VViihams occupied the pulpits of Ilermon and Star Churches on Sunday, and powerful sermor.s were el jlitered throughout the day to large congregations. — Mr Williams is a most promising young minister.

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