Welsh Journals

12 THE WELSH WEEKLY. January 29, 1892. CHURCH NEWS. Church of England. Eev. J. W. Wynne Jones ha3 decided upon having the ancient Parish Church of Llanbeblig (Anglesea) com¬ pletely restored. The beautiful south window, hitherto invisible from the interior owing to the intervention of an unsafe and unsightly gallery, will be ^filled with stained glass. Of the eight professors at St. David's College, Lampeter, no fewer than seven are Oxford men, viz., Principal Ed- mondes, Vice-Principal Davey, Professors Walker, Wade, Williams, Green, and Mostyn, all of whom did brilliantly at the University. The sister University of Cambridge is at present unrepresented on the staff, while Professor Scott, in lonely isolation, represents Dublin University. The difference between the Chapter at Bangor and Dr. Roland Eogers, the Cathedral organist, has assumed another phase, a writ claiming damages for slander having been served upon the Manager of the local newspaper which published certain letters bearing upon the con¬ troversy. By direction of the Bishops of St. Asaph and St. David's special prayers were offered up in every church in each diocese on Sunday of intercession for the stay of .the great plague of sickness which now prevails. The Bishop him¬ self is only slowly recovering from a very severe attack of influenza, which has also prostrated several of his clergy. The Bishop of St. David's, who announced to the clergy of his diocese his intention of going abroad at the end of December, has been detained at home by influenza, and, although he has now recovered, he has been compelled to postpone his intended holiday, but hopes to take one later in the year. It is proposed to erect a place of worship in Manchester, where Church of England services will be conducted in the Welsh language. A site has been secured, and Professor Boyd Dawkins is endeavouring to secure financial support for the project from leading gentlemen in Wales. An important conference, which should have been held at Chester for the further development of the campaign in " defence of the Church in Wales," has had to be adjourned owing to the prevalence of influenza. The value of the tithe rent-charge for this year is only £75 8s. 3Jd. per cent. The average value for 56 years has been £100 4s. 4|d., proving that the commutation scheme was a fairly equitable one. But in the year 1878 the value of the tithe rent-charge was over £112 per cent. So the incumbent of a parish in 1892 will receive nearly 37 per cent, less than the incumbent of the same parish received in 1878. Would it not, then, asks a correspondent, be a fair arrangement if some body like Queen Anne's Bounty, or the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, were empowered to collect all the tithes, paying each in2umbent at the rate of £100 per cent? It is represented that in the parish of Wrexham, between 1875 and 1891, more than £100,000 has been expended for distinct purposes of Church work and extension ; and that, moreover, at Easter, 1891, there were nine churches and five mission-rooms ; 10 clergymen, with 21 Sunday services, 22 celebrations during the month, 835 Easter communi¬ cants out of a total of 1259, and 14 Sunday-schools. At the quarterly meeting of theLlandaff Upper Deanery, resolutions were passed in favour of an application to the Crown for licence to the convocations to deal with the matter of clergy discipline by canon, in accordance with the constitution in Church and State. Lobd Windsor, the patron of the Glamorganshire living of Radyr, has left the appointment of a successor to the Rev. H. G. Williams in the hands of the Bishop. Presbyterian. The Annual Business Meeting of West Gate Chapel, Pembroke, was {held on Thursday evening, January 21, 1892, preceded by a social tea for church and congrega¬ tion. The schoolroom was very gaily decorated with garlands of evergreens, &c, and a beautiful banner of red cloth stretched across the platform with the Sunday School Union motto for the year inscribed thereon: " By.love serve one another." About 270 partook of the good things pro¬ vided, the tables being served by the adult lady members of the Church, assisted by the younger women. The meeting was presided over by the venerable pastor, Rev. W. Powell, looking, at over three score years and ten, hale and cheerful. We may mention here that the connection with the sister church in the village of Hundleton being discontinued since July of last year, they becoming connected with Gilead, the arrangements with Rev. W. Powell, as pastor, ceased, but on December 18 ult., at a large gathering of the Church, he was very unanimously elected-'pastor, amid earnest prayers, that God would continue to bless his future life, aa He had during the past 55 years in our midst. And we rejoice to say that he enters upon this year with every sign of prosperity, financially and spiritually. The Church numbers 190 members; Sunday School 260 ; Band of Hope 20. Total collected during year, £205. We pray for showers of blessings to continue falling on us. In a letter in the Monthly Tidings—the Welsh Presby¬ terian organ—the Rev. J. G. Davies, of Newport, makes an appeal to young men to consecrate themselves to the work of the ministry. Referring specially to the English churches of the denomination, he says that the ministry is languishing for want of able, earnest men. Churches are seeking ministers, and cannot find them. He says:— There is at present a large number of our English churches without pastoral oversight. The number is, indeed, so large that the question must be one of the most pressing concern to the Connexion. Having been lately in com¬ munication with the officers of some of these churches, I find that there is one supreme reason which will account for this lamentable difficulty. That reason is the lack of men. We are in sad need of suitable men. It seems that the ablest and most promising young men of our churches do not enter the ministry. They adopt other callings, choosing to become lawyers, doctors, teachers, merchants, and leaving the great work of the ministry to others of less ability and meaner promise. The Rev. Dr. Grddylan Jones, of Cardiff, has been pro¬ strated by influenza. Large sums have been raised at Holyhead in connection with the Calvinistic Methodist Sunday Schools, viz., Armenia, £129 ; Hyfrydle, £167 ; Millbank (branch), £24 ; London Road, £40. The English Sunday School have voted £20 during the year towards the chapel building fund, and the surplus, after defraying the ordinary work¬ ing expenses of ths school, is appropriated for the same object. Revival services at Llanrwst have been attended by dense throngs. The meetings are undenominational. Last week we alluded to the " forward movement in¬ augurated in Breconshire by the Trefecca College students," and this week we are able to chronicle satisfactory results. Up to the close of the first seven days of work three meetings had been held, and bearing in mind the severity of the weather, the attendances were most encouraging. The Velinnewydd meeting had, owing to the heavy snow¬ storm, to be put off for a short time. The Velindre meeting was addressed by Mr. J. Jenkins and Mr. Burgess; the speakers at Llyswen were Mr. J. D. Lloyd and Mr. D. Pieton Evans; and at Pengenffordd, Mr. Jenkins and Mr. E. Moses Evans. §f*A4 Pwelheli, Carnarvonshire, it is proposed to erect another chapel. The monthly meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists of North Cardiganshire was held at Tabernacle on Tuesday and Wednesday, under the presidency of Councillor Griffith Williams. It was arranged that the Rev. Cadwaladr Jones, of Llanafon, shall take charge of Caradog as well as Capel Afon. A request for a pastor was received from Dyffryn. The Rev. W. Morgan, Gam, was elected Presi¬ dent for the year. The congregation at Tabernacle was stated to be about 1400, 628 being Church members'. Collections, exclusive of pew rents, made a total of £1517. The sum of £800 of the amount is to be devoted to the Jubilee Mission Fund. The total annual collections in the district towards foreign missions amounted to £188 lis. 6d.; over £2800 had been received towards the Jubilee Fund, and it is expected that the fund will ultimately reach £3000. At the evening services sermons were delivered by the Rev. E. W. James, Dolybont; E. Philips, Newcastle Emlyn ; D. Lloyd Jones, Llandinam ; and Cadwaladr Jones, Afan. Congregational. Rev. G. E. Catlin, who has been in charge of the English church at Llandudno for the past six years, has been presented with an address and a purse of gold. "Ebenezer" Church, Llanrwst, has invited the Rev. D. S. Thomas, Beddgelert, to become their pastor, and we understand that the rev. gentleman has signified his accept¬ ance of the same. Mr. Thomas is a native of Towyn, Merionethshire. Dr. John Thomas, who unhappily lies in a very serious state of ill-health at the time of writing, laid recently especial stress on the appointment of " Hcrber " to the Chairmanship of the Congregational Union for 1892. For this is the year when undoutedly/'Welsh Disestablish¬ ment " will be decided at the polls. Rev. E. Caleb Davies, of Llanon, has been asked to accept a pastorate at Plymouth (Pa). But on the urgent solicitation of his present charge he has decided not to cross the Atlantic. South Pembrokeshire Congregational Association.—■ The Christmas quarterly meeting was held at Tenby, on Wednesday, January 13th, under the presidency of the Rev. W. A. Edwards, Pembroke Dock, the chairman for the year. The Association embraces thirty-five Churches and twenty-one pastorates, all filled once more. The atten¬ dance was good, in spite of frost and snow. Revs. J. Lloyd Williams, B.A., of Tenby, and R. Harries, of Narberth, were cordially received into the Association, and Rev. D. Jones, of Zion'3 Hill, was nominated for admission at next meeting, to be held at Neyland. A vote of condolence was adopted with the Revs. J. Lewin and R. Ann, in their sudden bereavements. The following were nominated to represent the Association on the excutive of the " South Wales Church Aid Society": Rev?. W. A. Edwards and J. E. Griffiths, and Mr. Greave, Pembroke Dock ; Rev. J. L. Williams and Mr. W. Davies, of Tenby; Rev. F. N. Colborne and Mr. Munts, Haverfordwest; and Rev. R. Harries, Narberth. Recommsndations for grants in aid were made. The Chairman read a timely address on the " Forward Movement of the London Missionary Society, and the suggested Week of Self-denial." The secretar y read a list of the Churches who had not yet contributed to the Church Aid Society this year. Resolutions were passed urging the claims of both societies for further support from the Churches. Another pastorate has become self- supporting, and relinquishes the grant—Saundersfoot and Sardis. The pastor read an interesting historical sketch of the Congregational Church at Tenby, to be entered in the Record Book of the Association. The subject for the special paper at next meeting is " The Inspiration of the Old Testament." Reader, Rev. J. H. Williams. Con¬ sideration of the suggestions of the Church Aid Society as to admission of evangelists, etc., into the Congregational ministry, and as to the visitation of the aided Churches, was postponed for want of time. At the afternoon conference an able paper was read by the Rev. Jas. Phillips, on " Church Membership, its Responsibilities and Obligations," followed by a discussion, in which several ministers and others took part. In the evening a public meeting was held in which addresses were delivered by Rev. Dan Phillips, St. Florence, on " The Duty of the Churches in relation to the Sabbath and Week-day Services "; by the Rev. F. N. Colborne, Haverfordwest, on " The Duty of the Churches in relation to the reading of the Bible ; " and by the Rev. Lewis James (Secretary) on " The Duty of the Churches in relation to the Training of the Young." Revs. Howell Powell of Pembroke; J. G. Evans, Saundersfoot; W. Davies, Horeb ; R. Lewis (CM.); B. Evans, (B); and Mr. Babb, (W), also took part. Sermons were delivered the previous evening by Revs. D. M. Pieton, Templeton, and Morris Morgan. Present besides the above named of the South Wales Temperance League, Revs. J. Williams, Carvau, and D. Davis, Wolfesdale. The Tenby Church' as usual very handsomely entertained the Association. The new Pastor has entered into an important sphere. There are souls to ba won for Christ, a Church to be built up, and errors to be combated. Tenby is a stronghold of Sacerdotalism. Mr. Williams has the sympathy and best wishes of all his brethren. All unite in praying, "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces." The quarterly meeting of the North Glamorgan Welsh Association was held at Bethania, Merthyr Vale, on Tues¬ day, the 19th inst. Rev. T. Morris, Dowlais, presided. A resolution was adopted, emphatically protesting against ■' the accusations of the Bishops, and a protest was signed' by the ministers present. The Chairman reported thatthe.' prospects of the London Missionary Society in this district : were more promising this year than ever before. A resolu¬ tion was unanimously adopted expressing the meeting's deep sense of the great loss sustained by the cause of education, religious equality, and progressive legislation generally, through the death of Mr. F. Sonley Johnstone, and offering its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. Sermons were preached by the Revs. E.Edmunds, Hirwain, and J. Davies, Abercwmboy; and the Revs. E. W. Williams, Hirwain, and W. S. Davies, Llwydcoed. Rev. G. Thomas, late pastor of St. Paul's Church, Neville Street, Cardiff, has accepted the pastorate of the Indepen¬ dent Church, Llanvaches, near Newport, Mon., which is the mother of Independency in the Principality, having been formed in 1642 by Rev. W. Wroth, a student of Jesus College, Oxford, after he had been ejected from the parish church for refusing to read "the Book of Sports." Mr. Thomas's father, Rev. David Thomas, was pastor of this church for 38 years. Bethania Church, Dowlais, has suffered a great loss by the death of Mr. Abraham Bowen, at the age of 75. He was the father of choral singing in Dowlais, was leader of the Bethania choir for 50 years, treasurer for more than 30 years, and deacon for 22 year3. He was the father of the late Mr. David Bowen, one o£ the best-known accom¬ panists of the Principality, and father-in-law of Rev. David Evans, Audley Range Church, Blackburn. About a year ago he was presented by the people of Dowlais with a silver tea and coffee service, and a large portrait of himself on porcelain. The church gave him an address. The Rev. Luther Martin, formerly of " Gohebydd" Memorial Church, London, has been called to the pastorate of the English Congregational Churches at Berwydd and Cefnfaenor, near Welshpool. Mr. JffiNKYN James, of the Memorial College, Brecon, his been unanimously called to the pastorate of the Churches (1) at Middle Hill and West Hooke, Pembroke. Ihe Rev. W. Davies has closed his ministry at Ancoats, Manchester, where he has laboured for 10 years. The mortal remains of Mrs. Evans, of Dolgwili, were interred in the graveyard of the Congregational Chapel, Abergwili, on Wednesday afternoon, 20th iost. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Wyndham Lewis, E. Davies, and Miles Evans, Abergwili. There were also prespnt the Revs. Cadvan Jones and Joseph Harry, of the University College, Cardiff. The quarterly meeting of the Welsh Congregational Association of East Glamorgan was held on Wednesday, 20th inst., in Soar Chapal, Cwm Park, Treorky. Mr. Idris Williams, occupied the chair. The attendance, which was large, included the Revs. W. I. Morris, Pontypridd; T. Cynonfardd Edwards, D.D., Cardiff; I. Williams, Havod (secretary) ; T. Davies, Cwm Park ; M. C. Morris, Ton ; W. Davies, Treorky ; H. P. Jenkins, Treorky ; L. Probert, D.D., Pentre; M. Jones, Tynawydd; D. G. Williams, Ferndale; J. Rees, Treherb,rt ; and T. Thomas, Ty'nywern (treasurer). The following new members were received:—Rev. T. Cynonfardd Edwards, D.D., Cardiff, from the North-East Pennsylvania Congregational Associa¬ tion ; the Rev. D. Davies, Llanharran, late of Widnes, from the Union of the Welsh Churches of Liver¬ pool and Manchester; the Rev. T. J. Rees, Pentyrch, late of Carno, from the Montgomery Association. An appeal was made to the Churches in the district to prepare the statistical returns and send them to the Rev. J. G. Jenkyn, Llwynpia, so as to enable him to prepare the annual statistical report. It was resolved to continue this year as usual the collections in aid of the Sustenta- tion Fund. Votes of sympathy was passed with the families of the late Duke of Clarence, Rev. W. Watkiss, and Mr. F. Sonley Johnstone, of Cardiff. The following resolution was unanimously passed on the proposition of Rev. E.Jones, of Treoes, seconded by Rev. H. P. Jenkins : " That this Conference lejoices that the National Liberal Federation has adopted Disestablishment and Disendow- ment of the Church of England in Wales as a plank in its platform, and, in view of the probable return of the Liberals into power, respectfully suggests that the South Wales Liberal Federation should take the necessary steps to have a complete scheme or Bill prepared by the leaders of Welsh Liberalism, embodying their opinion on the ques¬ tion, in order that the Welsh representatives and their constituencies may be as united as possible in their demands, not only in its main features, but also on its details." The next meeting was fixed to take place at Blaengarw. Sermons were preached by the Revs. R. E. Williams, Cilfynydd, and D. Davies, Llanharran ; the Revs. T. J. Rees, Pentyrch, and E. Gronow, Pontypridd. Revs. J. Foulkes, of Aberavon, and H. Ivor Jones, of Portmadoc, have been holding anniversary services at Bethesda, North Wales. At a meeting of Congregational ministers held in Chal- ford, Gloucestershire, Rev. E.Jacob, of Ebly, was presented with a Bible and an illuminated address on his retirement from the work of the ministry, at the conclusion of 50 years' work, 19 of which were spent in Wales and 30 in Ebly. The presentation was made by Rev. G. T. Coster, of Stroud. Baptist. Brynhyfryd Church, Treharres, has presented its de¬ voted Pastor, the Rev. W. Jones (who has just declined a very important call elsewhere), with an address, portrait, and costly articles.