The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

CARMARTHEN THE SEARCHLIGHT Crme coire, and sit you down yon s'call not budge You shall not o. till I set you up a gla8, Where you may see, the inmost part of you —————— SHAKKSPEABK There is notning at all incongruous in a fair being held in Lammas street. August fair is held on old Lammas day. This is a fact which can be. padded out into a column or two of archteology. »*• The Llanelly people are at it again. They want Home Rule—to be free from the dom- inatioit of our County Education Committee. There is a lot to be said in favour of such separations on both sides. Perhaps, it would be a blessed relief to England, if the Irish had Home Rule. «*» One of the funniest sights at the fair was a country lad riding a horse and us in <r an umbrella for a whip. ° • ft* People never know what to expect with motor cars-,of a kind. A party of Cannar- marthen people drove to Llanstephan on Sunday Ill: a pony trap. On their return, they shunted into a lane to allow a motor oar to pass. After it had passed they emerged on the public road to find that the motor car 'had broken down and was runn- ing back down hill by its own weight. They just got into the hedge in time to escape destruction. Whether the car has managed to get home yet, deponent knoweth not. b ••• A racing motor car passed so quickly on St. Clears road on Sunday afternoon that nobody could read the number on the plate. Tliis fact has prevented the owner being charged with driving at the rate of 90 miles an hour. Another motorist broke the record on Monday. He travelled from the Fusiliers' Monument to Guildhall Square in half an hour—being at the rate of five hours a mile. This is what happens when petroliers go scorching in the midst of horse fairs. • *» Sir Lewis Morris complained that the holding of the meetings at the County Offices prevents the attendance of the public. Many members of the Education Committee would have welcomed such a protection when 400 delegates waited oiL them a few years ago to ask them to adopt the National Policy. If such a thing happened now, the deputation would be asked to send in a couple of spokesmen whilst the rest remained in the street. General Booth, at Water st. Chapel, told a story of a miner in a shipwreck throwing away his bag of gold so that he might rescue a little girl. The moral is that the love of lucre must be sacrificed by those who do noble deeds. The unfortunate thing is that many people can applaud such anecdotes and spend the whole of the next day planning how best to do a smart stroke of business. They applaud as a certain Agnostic Judge prayed at an Assize service—without preju- dice. Mr Patagonia Lewis has proved con- clusively that the bulk of the tramps who get relieved at Carmnrtlien are not Welsh- men. Evidently AVelshmen do not go on tramp—or else they prefer to tramp some- where else than in Wales. • ft* The tramp plague is a great one; but it is only a minute fraction of the cost of pauper- ism. The relief of tramps at Carmarthen only costs £1 a week more or less. On the other hand, there is over £100 a week dis- tributed in the Union amongst residential paupers. »** It is a significant fact that the amount of outdoor relief is increasing, and that the Guardian, for the parish of St. Ishmaels has given notice to take steps to consider its re- duction. It is untrue to say that Wales is a nursery of paupers—if anybody ever made such a sweeping statement. But the Car- marthen Guardians are certainly more generous that they used to be to outdoor paupers. A very interesting discussion at the Far- mers' Club last week showed that cows really can give milk which is below the legal stand- ard. Magistrates usually regard this theory as a fiction which is put up to explain the addition of the milk of the cow with the iron tail—commonly called the pump—with that of the Shorthorn and the Jersey. The moral seems to be that farmers have to see that their cows give proper milk—if they intend selling the milk. A very good bioscopic view might be made of the block of traffic at Pensarn Crossing on a Saturday. The rearing and the backing of the horses, the charging of the cattle, and the stampede of helpless humanity would make an interesting film. Then if a free view could be provided for the directors of the Great Western Railway, we might get some improvement. • ft* General Booth said that he would staive those who could work but who would not work. This may appear to namby paml.y people to be unchristian but n't is thoroughly evangelical. Paul in his second epistle to the ThessaIonians says (III., 10) "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you that if any one would not work neither should he eat." If people would only read their Bibles they would find that Christianity is not the scheme of impossible benevolence which it is sometimes represented to be. iI.. I must really apologise for sayill]; that "Peidiwch tori'r blodau" (Pluck not the tender flower) is too often used a test piece. I am assured that it is most Mutable for a test piece, and that suitable test pieces are very rare. To speak ill of such pieces is taken by musicians as something perilously akin to blasphemy. There are parents able and willing to pay for training their children as pupil teachers, and yet there is every difficulty in their way because the County Council have rigorously decided that only a certain number shall be trained. One could quite understand the teachers themselves being desirous to limit the number of apprentices; but it is astound- ing to find the public authority limiting them —and calling out against the scarcity of teachers! • ft* The ordination of Mr W. J. Williams, the senior student at the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, will take place at Carway, Llangendeirne, in October. Mr Eric Davies will be ordained at Laugharne in September probably. • ft* Carmarthen people are getting something to occupy their minds. A local jeweller is show- ing a "radiometer" which revolves under the action of light, and a chemist is offering a soda water machine as a prize for guessing how many bulbs are in a. glass case. If some publican would only offer something to mix with the soda, the thing would get exciting. ..It There is more traffic nowadays in front of the garage than at the railway station,. Cars stopping to take in petrol in King st. are so numerous as to interfere seriously with. the rest of the traffic. One of the things clone at the Farmers' Club was to criticise the statement of a vet. surgeon who said some time ago that 30 per cent. of the cows supplying milk to a neigh- bouring town are tuberculous? How could he say-so? How indeed? Don't ask too many questions when it comes to tuberculosis or consumption. It is a subject on which one is chartered to mako reckless and sweep- ing assertions. ° •#» There are dangers connected even- with cocoanut shies. A young lady who was acci- dentally struck by a ball at the pleasure fair has been badly cut about the head. Our 33 local Volunteers who had been doing a week at Salisbury Plain returned from camp on Sunday morning. Were it .not that the date was changed at the last moment, the attendance at camp would have been larger. Brigadier John. Pees, one of the chief accountants of the Salvation Army. who accompanies General Booth onms tour, is a nephew of the late Mr Davies, of Penymorfa. and a pupil of the late Mr Alcwyn Evans, Carmarthen. ALEIHEU.

The State of the Bulwarks. lo the Editor of the Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. DEAR Slll,-You will, perhaps, pardon me for encroaching upon your space to draw the attention of the inhabitants of the town to the state of the Bulwark on the Llangunnor side of the river. Some years ago, as a result of an appeal through i the Press—I think it was by Mr Walter Jtnkins and Mr T. E. Brigstocke, J.P.-rutRuient money was procured to put the path in decent order Since then the path has been allowed to get into a very bad state several of the turnstiles are in a rdther delapitated condition, and in the one nearest the White Bridge the foundations of the gate have been undermined by the inrush of water during floods and high spring tides, with the consequent result that the turnstile has fallen down, and now lies in the large aperture caused by the water awaiting total destruction or the appearance of some workmen to re-place it in its proper position. The owner or tenant of the field has fixed a few poles across to prevent the horses and cattle straying to the adjoining field, aud persons who desire to proceed further on this delightful walk have either to clamber over this obstruction—not an easy or graceful performance for a lady—or return. Unfortunately, this side of tte river is in the county, and consequently, so I understand, not under the supervision of the Town Council otherwise, possibly, the matter would receive attention from them. Under the circumstances no one is evidently responsible for the up-keep of the footpath and it is for this reason that I make this public appeal. It is in matters of this kind that a Public Improvements Association or a Pathway Preservation Society would be of inestimable value. Such societies exist in other towns, and in this way walks are looked after and the rights of the inhabitants to public paths and walks are keenly safeguarded. There are numerous walks round about Carmarthen which require attention. A lot of talk is made about making Carmarthen attractive for visitors as a holiday resort and residential centre, but unless we in some way assist to attain this object by preserving and keeping our beautiful vralks in decent oider we cannot hope to secure such a result. During the summer the Bulwark on both sides' of the river is resorted to by hundreds of the inhabitants and visitors, and during spring tides these walks are the most delightful atout Carmar- then. I understand that the matter of the Bulwark on the town side of the river, as well as the question of the repair of Pil-Offi Bridge, will be dealt with by the Town Council at an early meeting but I hope that the public wiil not allow the Bulwark on the other side of the river to remain as it is, and will try to put the path in a decent state of repair. Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce, the funds of which body is, I understand, pretty strong, will see their way to take the matter up, and in the event of a subscription list being opened I will have much pleasure in contributing my mite. I am, Sir, Yours truly, A. J. JONES. Carmarthen House, Carmarthen, August 12th, 1907.

Evan Roberts's Recovery. A Welsh correspondent has had an interview with Mrs Penn Lewis, of Leicester, where Mr Evan Roberts, Welsh evangelist, has been recuperating after his severe strain on his nerves during the time of the revival. He expressed a hope to her before leaving last week that he would be strong enough to recommenee work as a revivalist next month.

General Booth at Carmarthen, II: ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES IN THE STREETS. RECEPTION BY THE MAYOR AND CORPORATION. GREAT PUBLIC MEETING AT WATER STREET CHAPEL. General Booth arrived at Carmarthen on Thursday the 8th August. He has been for some weeks on a tour throughout England and Wales and has been having enthusiastic receptions wherever lie, goes. He progressed by more or less ea-sy stages from North to South Wales. After coming from Aberyst- with, he paid flying visits to several towns in Pembrokeshire, and arrived at Carmarthen by the St. Clears road at 7.30 p.m. on Thurs- day. It would be difficult to rememhe,r a case in which any visitor, however illustrious, received such a reception. As the four cars —containing the General, his staff, and baggage—arrived at Water street corner he received a tremendous ovation from the great crowd which had been anxiously await- ing his arrival. There was a great rush to see the Founder of the Salvation Army emerge from his White Car. He proceeded immediately to the schoolroom at Water st., where he was met by the Mayor and Corpora- tion and several friends. The Town Clerk road a short address in which he voiced the high opinions which they held of the General's lifework. General Booth made a brief response, expressing his gratitude for this civic reception. After he bad formally replied, he said "I will shake hands with any gentleman who does not object to it." This remark was received in the same spirit in which it was made, and helped to put every- body on a footing on easy familiarity. He remarked also "The Americans have a very nice custom of introducing themselves" but the Mayor, who was in his robes and chain of office introduced the members of the com- pany one by one, as several of them felt a bit shy at taking the hint thrown out. It is scarcely necessary to f-ay—in view of the un- secrtarian character of the work of the Airmy that the company presented included repre- sentatives of every Christian community in the town. As Dr Bartlett, of .Abergwili-a. nonagenarian Christian worker—was intro- duced he said "I am ten years your senior." "Then I hope you are ten yrars a better man," said General Booth. After this pleasant social and civic function had been completed, ah adjourned to the adjoining chapel where some thousand or more people were singing hymns and anxiously awaiting the advent of the General. On his making his appearance in the chapel, the General received another tremen- dous ovation. The meeting opened with the singin.g of a hymn, and then the Mayor pro- ceeded in a very brief sipeech to introduce the speaker of the evening. Then, General Booth started to- make the best use of the hour or so at his disposal to unfold the lessons of his life work. He was very humorous at times whenever a funny story would illustrate his point-for William Booth is still a Yorkshiireman although he has every right to call himself a Cosmo- politan,—a citizen of the world. The speech w-as full of pathos as he referred t-o the manner in which lie had been assisted in his early days by the devotion of his departed wife. It was the fall of a darker sentiment as he detailed the horror with which he looked round on the great city full of Blas- phemy and Uncleanness, and Despair, and of his desire to do something to introduce the Sweetifess and Light of the Gospel into this awful mass of Sin and Misery. Then there was a note of triumph as he told of the success of the Great Work. And there- was a note of appeal as he showed how there were yet worlds to conquer, and how strenu- ous efforts and liberal donations were yot required to extend the campaign. Incident- ally, the speech revealed the secret of the General's success. He is no meek and mild sentimentalist, but a practical business man. Whilst full of sympathy for the deserving poor, he said very plainly that 3ie would starve those who shirk work until a day or two of hunger brought them to their senses. And we who live in a district which is over- run by tramps—mostly undeserving—felt that General Booth was a practical man of the world who would not waste philanthropic kindness so as to produce pauperism, but would endeavour to cure it at the root. He concluded by saying that he would offer the Salvation Army to the vjtreat Judge, as the result of his Life's work; and then he turned to the congregation and iiskerl them "What will you do" He suggested that they too had to answer this question and what had they done to further the cause of Christ with the means and opportunities at their disposal? Would they help the work of the Army? And down he sat—leaving liis hearers something over which to ponder very seriously. The next speaker was the Rev A. Fuller Mills, who gave some interesting reminis- cences of Salvation Army work in the pioneer days in the slums of Glasgow—in the days when the Army was viewed with great suspicion by the Christian Churches, who wore astounded at its unconventional- ism. Councillor Crossmau followed, and made a very happy reference to the General's magnetic influence—the power to influence others—which is an indispensable attribute of a really great man. After the meeting, the General proceeded to Lime Grove, where he was the guest of Mr W. Morgan Griffiths, J.P. Mr Morgan Griffiths, although a devoted adherent of the Anglican Church, bias neve,r found it in any way inconsistent- with his principles to be a warm friend of the Salvation Ai-niv--aiid that at a time when the Salvation Army was not so woII Slpoken of as it is now, and WhØll it had few friends in influential quarters. General Booth was up betimes, and left Limo Grove at 9 a.m., to continue his tour. Before starting, he and Mr W. Morgan Griffiths and Mr C. H. Morgan Griffiths were photographed in a group by Mr J. Morgan, Lammas street. The motors started at 9 a.m., and after being "held up" for a few seconds at Peinsarn. level crossing, prpcecded rapidly to Kidwelly, where the next stop was made. ALETHEIA. THE ItE(-IEPTION. On Thursday, General Booth, the com- mander-in-chief of the Salvation Arimv, visited Carmarthen. He arrived at Carmar- then about 7.30 p.m. in his motor car from Pembrokeshire. I'here were four care in all, containing the General and his styff, the luggage, reporters, etc. As the white cjir containing the General arrived at the corner of Water street, he received a public" acclam- j mat ion. General Booth proceeded to Water street solioali-o,oiii, where the Mayor and Corpora- tion were in waiting. The Town Clerk read the following address "On behalf of the inhabitants of Carmar- then, we the Ilayor, Aldermen, and Coun- cillors welcome you to our town and grate- lj fully recognise the devotion and the ability which you have for so long given to the work of the Salvation Army, that great organisa- tion which has brought hope into the lives of thousands of the most wretched of our fellow men and thus wrestled with sin and misery in, places which had seemed beyond the reach of religion and philanthropy. Wts trust and do not doubt that good will come of your present mission, and we hope that you may tie allowed to give still ftii,thet- ye,,t"O to the service to which you have already devoted a long and vigorous life.—J. N. Williams, Mayor." General Booth in responding said: Thank yon Mr Town Clerk. Your worship and gen- tlemeini. I am much obliged and gratified by the kindly sentiments which have prompted you to meet me. I shall be very hopeful that our meeting will bring some satisfaction to your own mind, so as to justify this going out of the ordinary course of things and presenting a civilian with this kind address and your coming out to spend an hour or so. I trust that the influence of the meeting will justify this and that some good ferl i,llg will bo created and perhaps some Instructive information may be dis- seminated and that we shall altogether have a very useful meeting. I am very grateful to you." THE PUBLIC MEETING. After the address the General was illtm- duced by the Mayor to those present. Besides a full muster of the Town Council, there were present the Rev T. R. Walters, M.A. (Vicar of St. Davids), Rev A. Fuller Mills (B.), Rev E. Daivies (C.M., LI an pump- ] saint), Rev D. J. Thomas (Eng. Cong.), Rev s D. Creigfivn Jones (Wes.), Rev T. Nevison i Phillipson (Eng. Wes.), and Mr W. Morgan i Griffiths, who was the the General's host 1 during his visit. i Immediately after the civic reception, the '< General proceeded to the adjoining chapel, < where a congregation numbered by thous- < ands was waiting. 1 The Mayor said that lie had the pleasant duty of introducing to them General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, and one, of the greatest living organisers—a man who had been instrumental through the grace of God in rescuing thousands of our fellow men body and soul from the bondage of Sin, and in bringing them to the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. Goneii al Booth who was received with great applause said that he thanked them for the very hearty and enthusiastic reception which < they had been pleased to accord him—an enthusiastic reception which had commenced within the streets of the town and which had been continued within the ii-ails of the build- in o: and stimulating to him—encouraging to man's life work could not but be encourag- ing and stimulating to him—encouraging to him in the hours of darkness and depression which must every now and then come into the heart of a man upon whose shoulders were placed such tremendous responsibilities, as it had pleased our Heavenly Father to place upon his. He regarded the sentiments which had been expressed that day as having been. intended not so much for himself as an individual as for the great organisation with which lie had been so closely identified. Looked at from that standpoint, he did not think lie should be boastful if he said that were well deserved. The Salvation Army deserves welt of the nations in which her flag flies. He referred to the work for the welfare of the people, moro especially for that class of people u-ho are comparatively outside the pale of all ordinary religions and philanthropic effort. The Salvation Arimy has notli• ii(g to conceal. She is willing that you should know not only what she does but why she does it. He said "Judge not the Salvation A rimy by what people 6ay about her." Public opinion' is a very unreliable authority;; it is very chang #ui. One day it is blessing you and strewing your path with flowers, and the next day it covers you with execration as it drags you to cruci- fixion. The Salvation Army has nothing. to I complain of; she has won her way into the confidence of the best and truest friends of j mankind. He would not ask them to judge the. Salvation Army by wht it thinks of it- self. The Salvationist as a rule has a very good opinion of his own show. He believes in the principles on which it is founded ho believes in the officers who lead him forth, and in the General who directs his course. But do not judge the Salvation Army by what it thi.nks of itself-altb.ouffli nobodv, could know them better than themselves. He knew a gentleman a large employer of labour who received an appl.icat.ioni for work from an Irishman. His broad shoulders and his merry counoonance betokened not only the ability but the willingness to do a good day's work. The employer promised to en- tertain his applications but said ho must produce a testimonial cr-om somebody who knew him. Next day the man. turned up with this testimouial, "This is to certify that Patrick Moloney is an honest industrious reliable workman, and well deserving of confidence. (Signed) Patrick Moloney." "But" said the employer "I must have a character from somebody else who knows yen." "And sure, sir," said the applicant "who should know Patrick Maloncy better than Patrick -^laloney. .-Lie. thought the Salvationist was as likely to know his own affairs and to speak the truth concerning thorn as those half frie ds who si,t in the outer circle and who did not look upon the Army with most kindly and impartial eyes. The time has come when those who had the means should look at this work -and help them to extend it up and down the world. He did not aisk for support on. the ground of the Orthodoxy of the Army, although that was a very important matter. They are a people who consider themselves to be and whom in his own soul he believed to be the People of God. And consequently it was of some importance that tlieir creed should be in harmony with the teaching of the Word of God. e work of the Army is based upon those great Cardinal Doctrines that in the days gone by shook the world, which have landed so many of our forefathers on the Golden Shore, and which brought so many of us assurances of sins forgiven. Tho Salvationist believes in a Great Living Being who is round about us. He believes that Silll is an. abominable tilling no matter how it may be dressed up to satisfy the palate or to profit the iplrse. He believes in the Judg- ment at the end of the world and in the everlasting destines of Heaven, and HeU. He believes in the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ—that Sacrifice by which the way was opened for the mercy of God to flow out to Man, and by which sufficient sav- ing grace was produced to meet the wants of every human being in this world. This is no unimportant matter in Ithese days when so many who stand as teachers of the people do not know what they believe. But ht did not ask for support on, it hat ground. Aime of the .greatest scoundrels of the world had been believers; they had been as big scoun- drels as the Devil himself who believes and who trembles. He did not ask for sympathy on the ground of the activity of the Army. The Salvationist has a notion' that Faith without Works is a dead useless thing, and that no matter how good a 'Mail's creed might be, it would be Damnation to him at the La.st Day without works. The jBalva- t'.onist believe! in smashing the Devil's traps, and in extricating the poor unfortunate human beings who had had the misfortune to get caught in them. He did not ask for sympathy on the ground of their toils and their labours and sufferings. They all knew that there could be a good deal of labour and a good many sermons and addresses and hymn singings and very little at the end of it. But he did say '"Judge the Salvation Army by what she produces; judge her by what she has to show for her labour." That is the standard which is accepted in the commercial world. In commerce, those inte- rested did not want to know-the, character of the articles bought and sold or the methods followed i tV thu transact ions tif businQss. They wanted to know "What are the profits? What is the dividend?" It was the same in the 'military world. When a nation ,wasunfomunately engaged in war- fare, the question was not what marches the army had made or what sufferings it had endtrred. What the nation wanted to know was -!RUW manv of the enemy had been taken prisoners? What successes have you achieved to bring this luiifo.i,rtuiiat-o war to an end?" The Salvation Army had, of course, its defects, its disasters, its retreats, and its disappointments. It must have these things when it baittleg with tlfe woipt fpss Af Earth "lid He did not say that the Salv,tt- oil, Army was the only people in this field of conflict in this very town, he knew that there were other hearts palpitating with the suffering et the people and other hands stretched out to save theni. The gi,t, ft t organisation.of the Salvati n Army had been made out of nothing. Forty-two years ago he stood in the heart of the great metropolis of London. Ho stood there alone. He had no powerful corporation behind hin. 1-0 did not know who would lend him a hand or give him a shilling. It was true that his now departed wife was with him heart and soul. She was then engaged iii, labour among the higher and more- respectable classes of society. He looked round on that ocean full of blasphemies, and harlotry, and crime. He gazed upon it, and and longed to plunge into it. He wont with his wife, and she decided that "Thy God shall be my God, and thy people my people." They had to fight their way against every imaginable obstacle; misrepresentation and slander fol- lowed them like a flowing stream and sur- rounded them. He was often amazed to think of the persistency with which he was attacked. But in spite of all opposition that Man and Devil could hring against them, the work had progressed. The plant had stuck its roots down deep into the ground and sent forth its branches to the uttermost endsi of the. earth. Some of his friends were a little aiixjouv at the thought that in the ordinary course of things he must soon be passing away. And they asked "What will become of it when the General is dead?" The General was not- dead yot. The General so possessed rightly or wrongly with the idea that his lite was important to his own people—and if thc-y liked to the world outside—that he had made up his mind to live as long as lie could. But even if the Angel of Death knocked at its bed chamber in this ancient town, the electric flash that carried round the ivorld the news that "The General is dead" you Id also carry the further ineasage "Long ive the Genoa). "So far as human ingenuity ind the highest legal counsel could advice, viii-aiig-oniolits had been made so that when me General passes off the stage another monies on, and the Salvation Army goes rolling on. Look at the discipline which has .)oe,n brought into being. They wore aware that the backbone of the Army's support jomes from its own people. It is true that they appeal to the public for the sake of Jesus Christ, and as they loved the poor perishing multitudes. Some taunted them with the failure of their operations, and said "Why don't yon save all the drunkards? Why do you not reform all your criminals?" He said to them "Hold hard; the army is only like a child learning to walk. When we have had hundreds of years of expei ience and opportunity for improvement perhaps we shall be as clever as you are." For the first ten years, the Army had made very, little progress; the real movement had only begun 32 yea.rs ago. Sometimes they were looked up as veiy ignorant people. He doubted whether there was any organisation outside the Church of Rome which worked in as many different languages as the Salva- tion Army. They had 7,500 separate socie- ties; 1-5,000 officers paid and supported; and 180,000 lay officers. They had 25 newspapers in 17 different languages. They had 20,000 bandsmen, nearly everyone of whom had beem dragged out of the lowest depths and nearly everyone of whom had learned all the I music he knew in the Army. There was an idea abroad that theirvbandsmen were paid; not one of them receives a penny or any reward save the satisfaction that he feels an doing God's work. It is true that the music may not always be of the highest character but what it lacks in quality it makes up in quantity. The instruments were worth zEI00,060, and they cost £ 30,000 a year to maintain in good order, and the bandsmen provided all this one way or the other by giving concerts and in various other ways. The Salvation Army Band had lately re- ceived a little bit of a lift up. No less a musical critic than Mr Bernard Shaw—who could not be accused of any bias in favour of the Salvation Army—had attended a couple of musical festivals and he said that for "the rendering of religious music the Salvation Army was at the top of the tree. Sousa was not in it." The Army fed 200,000 hungry men and women and children every week; and they provided shellter for 22.000 persons every night. They had 130 rescue homes, which were the means of rescuing 6,000 girls every year. They had materntiy homes, enquiry offices for lost frelativos, farm colonies', Ihbour bureaux, emigration offices, by means of which they endeavoured to make things better for the for the world, body and soul. They grappled with the Church less crowd. It was a lament- able fact that there was a disposition among the people to give the cold shoulder to the House of Prayer. There was a tendency on the part of the working man and his family to turn their backs oil the House ,of God. In London two million, people never set foot inside church, chapel, or mission room. If von go to the Continent or America, you find the same indifference growing and in- creasing. Indifference was growing not only in Christian lands, but even in heathen lands. He had been astonished in Japan to find that the great mass of the people ignored the worship in the heathen, templeg, which had fallen into the hands of a small clique. Japan, is without a religion. She is almost as irreligious as the towns and cities which call themselves Christian. It is true that there are amongst Salvationists men and women who have been an the depths; but it is not true that all Salvationists are con- verted blackguards, converted drunkards, and reformel criminals. He could assure ,them that such was not the case. He had done a little thieTing when he was young it is true. He had stolen some apples from an attic in this parent's house; that was when he was five years of age and he had been for- given. They had converted thieves amongst them they gloried in such trophies. Our Lord carried the penitent thief to Paradise as a specimen of which the Salvation Army was going to bring along. The Army had been instrumental dn making homes that- were like Hell to be like Heaven. With regard to this, the Gfllorrll told a story of two of the Salvation Army girls entering a house in which the husband had his wife by the hair and was attacking her with a carving knife. They managed to persuade the husband to leave his wife alone and both husband and wife were now attached to the Salvation Army, and respectable mem- bers of Society. They had during recent years rescued 50,000 young girls from a life of siu and had done something to pre- vent them falling ijvgain. Their statistics showed a hundred drunkards converted every week. They knew, of course, that all those converted did not remain steadfast. All the blooms in the orchard in the spring- time did not develop into fruit. AH the people who were converted during the Welsh revival—or who said they were converted— are not leading Christian lives to-day. He believed there was good in every body if yoi could only get at it. And in proof of this, he told the siory of a vert a in conversion of a .notorious female in Cardiff. Referring to the unemployed, he said 'that he divided thom into three el-n<ss<>5;. There is a class of people who through old age or sickness or any other caiiise cannot work. He would keep them in comfort—provide them with a home and give them the War Cry to read. He would deal gently with old people. q shall be an old !mí\u, myself if I live long enough." The second class consists of those who are able to work. but who are unwilling and who will remain unwilling so long there aro people who w i'll keep them without work. They go about the country frighten- ing people at lonely farm houses mid living on chickens and all kinds of nice things. They are of the cJ.ass" of "Unhappy Medium," who said that lie was too light for heavy work and too heavy fox Mght work. He would find them isome work to do and make them do it. How would he make them do it? By starving them. When they had had nothing to eat for a couple of days, they would do ib. The third class consisted of those who are able and wiUiu-g to work, but who cannot get work to do. He would provide these with work. The nation ought to do it. A nation which can snend millions on ironclads ought to be able to take care of its own people. If work could not- be found for them in the towns lie would place thorn on the land. Find them the capital and show them ]iow to do tne woi"k, The speaker then sketched the plan of the little experimental estate with eottagea and five acre lots on which in the course of time, he hoped the families would not only have become eelf- supporting but would eventually hecomo the owners, ot-t'he freeholds; It land could not be found in ihis country, the people could bo taken, across the seas. The Salvation Army had sent 30,000 people to Canada, and not five per cent, of them wanted to eoine back ag^in. TljMV wet-e not crying for Old Age Pensions; they were goifng to make Pensions for themselves. There is something to b L, done for our criminals. The governor of one Canadin provinces had off (,red to hflJ over the entire mania-gemeni of a new prison to the Salvation Army. Sixty-two years ago God had come to him and had sont him forth to labour for t-he benefit of his fellowmen. Ho had had to contend against poverty. Talk of eight hlours a day! He had had to work thirteen or fourteen hours a day. His way had after some time opened towards the ,niiiii-Ai-v. The end of his earthly pilgrimuge must be drawing nigh aiid when he stood before the Eternal Bar ihe would say with all humility that tho outcome of his life had been the Salvation Army. He did not care whe- ther they were Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Ohinrebmen, or Catholics; he asked them "What are you doing to help the I p Salvationi Army? God help you to do your, duty." Rev A. F. Mills moved a vote of thanks to the General for his address- He mentioned that in the early days of t(h(,. Aiiny he had met General Booth and the' late Mrs Booth n Glasgow. Ho (Aft" Mills) had done some slum work and lodging house work in that eitv years 'ago. Mrs Booth asked him "Do you favour the Army?"—a significant ques- tion at that time, because there ivei-e many Christians who did not favour it. The Salva- tion Army did a great work in that city they ventured where no one else WOII(I. A young mail connected with the Presbyterian body who had tried to do some Christian work amongpJt, the dwellers in one district of the crtv had had h'is clothes torn off his back and had been tarred and feathered. One caue of the success of the Salvation Army i was that it defied conventionalism. Con- ventionalism is killing the evangelistic spirit of the Christilan religion. Personally, he 9 did not. believe in spasmodic revivals. He did not believe it was God's order; he he- lieved in a perpetual daily revival. The Salvation, Army had taught our Evangelical churches and others that the work can be done if we have the 'men to do it. Mr J. Grossman, in seconding, said that they were deeply indebted to General Booth for coming amongst- them his address had been. a spiritual inspiration which he (Mr CrOsisiinam) believed they would carry away for many days to come. Inspiring as the address had been, there was one thing which the speaker enjoyed better, and that was comillgill contact with General Booth. There was about him a personality which is mOre than what he says. Some men's pre- sence inspires you; tfome men had about them a magnetic influence. We could do with more of General Booth's sort in this world. General Booth, after responding, moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Corporation for supporting him at the meeting, and to the 'members of the church for the loan of the dhapel. -Iliiis was unanimously carried.

Carmarthen Board of Guardians. The fortnightly meeting of the Carmarthen Board of Guardians was held at the Guild- hall on Saturday. There were present:— Messrs D. L. Jones, Derlwyn (chairman); J. w illiams, Abergwili; D. Williams, Aber- rant; Benj. Phillips, Con wil; W. J. Thomas and W. Brazell, Llanarthney: E. Davies, Llianguiinock; E. illiams, Llanfihangel- A be i vow in James Jones, Llangain J. T. Williams, Llailginnin, D. Phillips, Llall- gunnor; Griffith Morris, Llanpumpsaint; J. Francis, Llanstephan; T. Davies, Merthyr; D. Edwards, Newchuroli D. John, St. Clears; J. Jones, Ferryside; Rev A. F. Mills, Messrs J. Patagonia Lewis, and E. A. Rogers, Car- ma rthe.n MASTER'S REPORT. The Master, in. his report, stated that Mrs E. R. Williams, Spilman street, kindly sent a parcel of illustrated books; Mrs Reed, a parcel of illustrated books; and Mrs D. Evans, Penlhvyn Park, a parcel of magazines There were 83 inmates in the house as com- pared with 65 on the corresponding day last year. OUTDOOR (RELIEF. The reports Of the relieving officer showed the amount of outdoor relief distributed for the fortngiht ending on the previous Board- day to have been, as followsFirst week, 964 paupers, being an increase of 6 as com- pared with the coiTosponding week la.st year expenditure, tl38 lis 3d. being an increase of t7 7s 3d. Second week: 958 paupers, being an increase of 1; expenditure, £ 131 14s, being an increase of -L(j 2s. TREASURER'S REPORT. The Treasurer's report showed the balance in hand on the previous Board-day to have been £,0-13 5s. THE X A TON A LI TV OF TRAMPS. Mr J. P. Lewis: It was mentioned by Mr Mills in the report of the Alcithyr Conference that we in Wales were a nursery for pauper- ism- more in proportion than any other part of the country. Rev A. F. Mills; I did not say thai, Mr J. P. Lewis said that he had ascer- tained at the Carmarthen police station the nationality of the tiamps relieved during the preceding half year to be: English 913, Scots 73, Irish 291, Welsh 365, foreigners 37. Of the JE21 18:s paid only fcCS Is 8d was paid on behalf of AVelshmen and the sum for the year was £ 43 16s Id, of which tl2 3 4d was paid for elshmon. Wales did not repre- sent more than one-third of the whole ex- pense. He thought that it was high time that they as a nation should uphold their own country. Of course, they were a part of the Empire, hut they were not responsible in Wales for this army. He was told that the gentleman who had made this statement was a Welshman. If lie were, all that the speaker could say of him was "Cas y gwir na charo'r wlad a'i maco." Rev A. F. 'Mills: I think this is entirely out of order. Mr Lewis ought to have given notice of morion, You cannot expect me to answer this now. It is unparliamentary to expect me to reply off-hand. I should have an opportunity to go through the blue books and the statistics. I do not believe a word of it (laughter). Mr W. J. Thomas said that he was very I much astonished that Mr Mills had not I something to say for himself. Rev A. F. Mills It is out of order. Mr Griffith Morris said that Mr Mills bad made qn unconditional surrender. Rev A, F, Mills said that the charge was not made by him, but by a rev. gentleman from Fulham. He had only made his report as a delegate. Mr J. P. Lewis: Yon are a paid officer to i go by us. "Von ought at the time to have objected to it. Rev A. F. Mills: Mr Lewis does not know but what I did. Mr W. J, Thomas said that it was most interesting to find these two gentlemen who qsually fought under the same fla-g now crossing swords. THE RAILWAY BENEVOLENT FUND. Rev A. F. Mills called attention to a ease of the widow of a railway employee who was now in the workhouse. He believed that she entitled to 4s a week pension out of a fund but that the in is lets would not pay it to the ('U-ir.j^ins ji-s she was now in the AVOi IvlHiUSe. The Clerk said that the money .referred to belonged to a Benevolent Fund; and there was no legal obligation to pay anything, It was purely an act of Wnevolence. They would not pay if she was in the workhouse, Rev A. F. Mills said that- it was a ques- tion whether it would not be better for her to have a !'OÜ1U outside and get the money, The matter was deferred for further enquiries. OAKUM PICKING v Rev A. F. sa d that it was a question wether they ought not to make some provi- sion foi- the picking of oakum. There were tramps who were not able to break stones, and oakum picking had been found suitable and profitable work for them. Mr J. P. Lewis said that now was the time to get a room for it. The Clerk said that lie believed it had heNli tried years ago at Carmarthen, and had been found not to be profitable. Mr D. John said that wood cutting was not profitable. Mr J. P. Lewis; It is the first time I knew that. THE RATE OF PAUPERISM, Mr J. Jones said that there were « good many complaints that there were people- (ltt ing relief who ghtnQt to get it, and that pome were getting too much. He be- lieved that there were a lot on the books who were not destitute. The ratepayers com- plained a good deal of it. Tlip relieving officers ought to go into it. Mr J. D. Evans: We do that. Mr J. Jones: I should like you to go more into it. Mr W. J. Thomas said that this was a. matter which ought to be gone into in those parishes where pauperism -was high. The Chairman said that the Parish Coun- oils had a list of the paupers. They should be asked to i-opo-it.-This was agreed to.

United Counties' Friendly Benefit Society. The annual meeting of the United Coun- ties Friendly Benefit Society was held at the Council School, TVhitland. on Saturdav after- no on, Mr Bees Davies, Whitland, presiding. The secretary, Mr G. Thomas, Carmarthen, presented the. statement, showing a balance T n w}lich, on the motion of Mr mi 'ftt'h-S-Rees, Whitland, was adopted. The lo,st, Valuation showed that the society possesses ft balance of over £ 2,000 after meeting al): liabilities. Mr Rees Davies of Whitland, was re-elected president; Mr D, Davies, Maes;gwynne was elected viee-presil dent m addition to those alreadv on the lists The next annual meeting will he held at Maenclochog.

NEWCHURCH, CARMARTHEN, At the Boar's Head Hotel, Carmarthen, a*, Saturday, Messrs Lloyd and Thomas, auctioneers offered for sale a freehold farm called Trenewydd' Newchurch, the measurement beirg 48a 3r., and the yearly rent X,53, exclusive of rates. The property was withdrawn at £ 1,475. The solicitor was Mr D E Stephens, Carmarthen. ,¡- CARMARTHEN Printed and Published by the Proprietress, M. LAWHEXCK. at her Offices, 3 Blue-street, FBIDAY, August Ititln 190?. 1