The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

CORRESPONDENCE. We do not hold ourselves responsible fot thp opinions of our correspondents. INTERCESSION DAY AT I BARMOUTH. To the Editor. De^r Sir,— May 1 be allowed a little space to call the attention, and, if possible, to create an interest in the inhabitants of Bar. mouth to the above announcement. Special Intercessary Services will be held at other places in the Principality, and it has been laid upon the hearts of representatives of the Free Churches the need of the hour at Barmoutb. The hour constitutes a challenge, a call unparalled in the history of the ages. Are we, as inhabitants of Barmoutb, ready to accept the challenge, and to answer the call? Next Wednesday, Dec. 8tb, special Intercessary Services will be held at Ebenezer, Wesleyan Chapel, at 2 p.m., and at Caersalem CM, Chapel at 7 p.m. I need not say that this arrangement is but the form given to the spirit that is moving in the nation and the world to-day. We find this spirit revealing it- self in letters from our gallant soldiers in the trenches. I received a letter sometime ago from a loving friend, who is scheduled among the missing. This letter was an appeal to the Christian Churches to arouse within the Churches a spirit of prayer on behalf of our soldiers and sailors. Hundreds and thousands of similar letters have been received throughout the land, and some are read out publicly in our Churches, and in these letters you have the travails of their souls. They are pleading for our prayers on their behalf. I am given to understand that the appeals of these gallant men have not had the desired effect. What is the answer to I to these appeals? I will not allow my- self to mince words, the burden is too crushing. The answer is this-a •k dwindling minority at the prayer meet- ing, intercessary services and theSunday morning service. I have no sympathy with the attitude of many sincere and pious men and women, who cling to their own denomination, and who say in effect that they are able to worship God much better on their own hearth than in unity with other Churches. That spirit is an enemy within the gates." Sooner the better it is done away with and killed. What would be our position to-day as a nation if the British soldiers refused to fight our battles in unity with J the Belgians, French, Russians and the f Serbians. This attitude, which is more denominational than spiritual, is a direct j contradiction to the spirit of the hour. We realize, to-day, more than ever, a profound sense of oneness. The nation is united. There is a marvellous unity in the churches. Dare we even to whisper a word of discord ? Let us put this spirit into action next Wednesday, and unite with one heart, one mind and one spirit, to confess our individual and national sins and to come into contact with the Higher Forces through our prayers and faith, may be released, and that we, individually and collectively, may receive a new spirit of seriousness, self control, and a deeper sense of our need of God. Let us join together as inhabitants of. armouth at this intercessory service, to intercede with God on behalf of our gallant boys, on behalf of the Nations at War. I venture to appeal in the name of God, and in the interests of the need of the hour, to each member of the com- munity in Barmouth to use his or her I influence to make this day historic in the annals of the town. Is it possible to arrange a half-holiday for the child- dren of the town,and impress upon their minds the importance of attending Divine service during the day? What a grand and noble thing it would be to see as far as possible eoch indidual member of the families of our gallant soldiers and sailors, wivea and children, fathers and methers, brothers and sisters, join- ing together in the act of intercession on behalf of their loved ones. EDWARD J. PARRY. Epworth Villa, „ Barmouth. P.S.—An important engagement will prevent me from being present, but I shall heartily join at the stated hours with you in prayer.—E.J.P. PRISONERS OF WAR. BRITISH MERCHANT SEAMEN I DETAINED IN ENEMY COUNTRIES. To the Editor. Sir,—This Association, as a repre- sentative body of British Shipmasters and Officerss, is gravely concerned in the distressed condition of these British Merchant Seamen who are detained as Prisoners of War in Germany, Austria- Hungary and Turkey. For some time the members of this body have privately assisted a number of these with a weekly contri- bution. In view of the approach of Christmastide it is felt that a special effort should be made to ameliorate the pitiable plight of these British subjects by sending them a gift of provisions, and, if the funds permit, some warm clothing. There are 2,000 Merchant Seamen prisoners of all ranks, and to carry out this proposal at least £ 1000 will be needed. The position of these prisoners is a serious one, and my Council, in j asking the favour of your columns for this appeal, are assured that the pro- posal to bring them Christmas cheer will meet with the approval and support of all who recognise our indebtedness to the sailor for the maintenande of the vital overseas services which at the present moment mean so much to us as a nation. Gifts will be gratefully acknowledged by the undersigned. I am, yours faithfully, THOS. SCOT f, Secretary. Tower Building, Water Street, Liverpool. APPEAL TO THE NONCONFOR- MISTS OF WALES. To the Editor. l Sir,— Lord Derby's recent letter has brought our Country into a new crisis in connec- tion with recruiting, and we feel that, as Nonconformists, we should appeal to our young men to respond to the call of their consciences on behalf of their country and their religion at the pre- sent time. As everyone knows, we bate war with all our hearts, and we hate it now more than ever, but we feel that the dreadful conduct of this terrible war by our enemies, and the object they have in view of crushing Great Britain and trampling under foot everything that is dear to us as a Country and Empire,call upon us to use all our energy and malie every sacrifice to gain a decisive victory over the enemy which would destroy us. We should not like to see compulsory enlistment in oqeration we feel that it would interfere with our personal liber- ty, and with the military efficiency of those who are compelled to enlist, so that in order to avoid this, and to ensure victory on the basis of personal voluntary effort, we wish our young men to consider their position seriously, and to show all readiness to do what they can to support the principles held most sacred by themselves and their fathers. Everyone who enlists now will have the opportunity of chosing what unit of the Army be would wish to join (which will not be allowed when the next call of the Government comes), and this will give them the advantage of joining the Welsh Army, a portion of which is now encamped at Conway and Kinmel Park. Their officers in these places will be Welshmen, and those who join will have every fair play to gain posi- tions in the Army on their own merits. They will be cared for by Welsh Chap- lains and Ministers, and the Brigadier- General Owen Thomas, himself an ardent Welshman, will supervise all their movements, both military and social. We think it most important for the parents of Wales, whose sacrifice has been so great, to see that they secure the healthiest and safest place for the bodies and souls of their sons, and we believe they will do this by en- listment in the Welsh Army. The appeal is signed by eleven well-known Nonconformist Ministers.