Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

L-ETTER, TO THE REV. W. JONES,…

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

L-ETTER, TO THE REV. W. JONES, VICAR OF NEVYN. IIEV. Si-R,-Some men are apt to suppose all people to be similar in character and acquisition to those with whom they are in the habit of associating. When you were a minister of a Baptist church at Holywell, and going through the country collecting money towards erecting a Baptist aca- demy in North Wales, you stated then, in my hearing, that the extensive knowledge of the people upon religious sub- jects required an increase of theological and classical erudi- tion in the ministry. Now, and you the vicar of a parish Church, associating with a few dependants on clerical authority, even you, have stated to the Commissioners that, though the Welsh have a natural capacity to receive instruc- tions, yet they are generally ignorant and immoral. I be"- leave to call your attention to the dilemna into which vou and some other clergymen have thrown yourselves. The people have a natural capacity to receive instructions—so says the Reports—the needful is to have men that are able to give instructions. The Welsh clergy have lived for centuries upon the emoluments they receive for teaching the people and you must admit, either that the Welsh clergy have done their duty, or that they have not done those things which they ouo-ht to have done, and that there is no health in them. If the clergy have done their duty, by instructing those peo- ple who have a natural ability to receive instruction, how can it be true that the people are ignorant and immoral ? If the people who are naturally capable of receiving instruc- tion, be in that state of degradation in which you have stated z3 them to be, how can it be true that the clergy have done their duty ? And if the clergy have not done their duty, they must, consequently, be in the habit of receiving very high wages, for doing nothing; except that of defaming those who pay them their salaries! It is insinuated that Dissent prevented the clergy from diffusing knowledge among the people; but whether the work be hindered or neglected, the conclusion must be the same; namely, the work is not done, or your statement is not true, and which- ever conclusion be correct, you cannot consider j outsell worthy neither of your emoluments, nor of the respect due to a minister of the gospel of truth. Nonconformity is the effect of principle, and though JJis- sent may be an effect of principle in some instances, yet vou are fully aware that much of Dissent in Wales is pro- duced by the following causes. One cause was the im- moralities of the hunting and the drinking parsons, who lived, some of them, within the memory of ourselves. Another cause is the presenting to Welsh livings clergymen cl t3y who cannot speak with their parishioners; and, though it be of no importance to Dissenters, of what country, colour, or language may a political bishop and his clergymen be, yet, being compelled to pay tithes to men who cannot speak to them, must strengthen their dislike of a system, which they already believe to be inconsistent with the principles °fThere1 are ^also things connected with the Established Church which causes much animosity among the people in these days. I shall name three things. One is that many rectors and vicars are magistrates; and however honourable and impartial they may fill that ofiica, they cannot please all parties: and when the offended party be a Dissenter, lie may presume the clergymen to be prejudiced against him, and not without grounds sometimes. The second is the haughty distance some parsons keep from the people. They never speak to the poor, and to what they call the common people, except at long intervals in church; or, when some of them are so unfortunate as to be compelled to address a com- mon man from the banch at quarter sessions, or nother meetings of magistrates. And the last thing I shall name as a cause of animosity in Wales, is this gigantic, grand, and effectual home-stroke you have made by calumniating the people to the Government Commissioners. This is, you may depend upon it, a dead blow to your respectability and usefulness in Wales, as long as a Welshman's heart can feel. Your report, reported by the Commissioners, has sounded its trumpet tongue amongst the rocks of Cambria; its echo went forth as a clash of thunder all over England and the world. Our mothers, our sisters, and our daughters, are reviled; our religious ministers and our religious meetings are stig- matised; and, though the Welsh people can forgive, they cannot forget nor respect those parties who took upon them- selves the consequences of defaming their character. I conclude with a translation of words I have heard by an English vicar, of a Welsh parish in the county of Carnar- von. One Sunday morning, he read what the people thought an excellent sermon, in English; in the afternoon of the same day, he read what he must have thought, with- out doubt, a good sermon, in Welsh: and among other funny things, made more merry by his foieign pionunciation, he said,°" You, poor people and children, do not understand the meaning of the word miracle. Well, I shall tell you. A miracle is a work of the Almighty not consistent with the natural course of things; for a river to flow down a hill is natural; but a river flowing up hill, or standing in a heap, as the river Jordan once, would be a miracle. For a pigeot, to .fly, is natural-, but if you were to see apigjlging, that would be a miracle I doubt not. However, some of the children laughed at his expressions concerning the pig. Now, if a commissioner were to ask one of these children, What is a miracle? the children answering, A pig flying," and the Commissioner finding fault with the answer, I ask whose fault can it be ? Perhaps the Venerable Dean Cotton, of Bangor, can assist you in your reply. I heard him re- peating1 words similar to the above when he was viear of Bangor, rector of Llanllechid, canon of the cathedral, and unable to speak intelligible Welsh. I am, reverend sir, Your obedient servant, BEULAN.

Uauettcs.

iri I can ill gs.

[No title]

HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY,…

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY,…

--HOUSE OF LORDS, MONDAY,…

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY.