Welsh Journals

12 THE WELSH WEEKLY. July i, 1892. TREYECCA NOTES. ANNUAL MEETING. If revolutionary and progressive be synonymous terms, then the committee which met at Trevecca College last week was in the highest degree a revolutionary assembly. Detailed reports, both of the meetings of the committee and of the distribution of prizes on Thursday, have appeared elsewhere, and we, therefore, only propose to write a few jottings on some of the proceedings of the two days, with a view to exciting greater interest in the College, whose jubilee, as a Calvinistic Methodistic educational institution, falls this year. It would have been very pleasant, had it been possible, to celebrate the jubilee by a festival in which South Wales Methodism was interested. However, as most of our readers are aware, efforts are being made to establish a permanent memorial of the conclusion of the first half-century of the existence of the College. At the Haverfordwest Association last August, the Rev. Eees Evans, Llanwrtyd, was appointed to collect an endow¬ ment fund of £10,000, Mr. Edward Davies, J.P., Llandinam, the suggester of the movement, himself making a munificent offer. The energetic Secretary has every hope, we understand, of raising a total of £15,000, or even £16,000. Even this last sum, if the plans mentioned at the committees of last week are to be carried out, will be by no means an extravagant fund. We must congratulate the Eev. Hugh J. Hughes, of Cefncoed and Cardiff, on three counts. First and foremost, on the charming " Life of Howell Harris," which has just been published, another fitting jubilee monument. The book will, no doubt, be reviewed in these columns by a competent critic, but meanwhile we may be allowed to say that it is, in point of style, all that could be expected from the facile pen of the author of " David Ho wells." In the next place, we are glad that Mr. Hughes's reiterated proposal for some kind of public festival on the Trevecca College, prize-day met finally with a unanimous welcome from the com¬ mittee. Henceforward the " speech-day " at Trevecca will be a " field-day." One could not choose a prettier spot wherein to inhale for a few hours the fragrance of a day in June, and it will be a great stimulus to the energy of the students for them to remember that in future a large number of their friends will be present to give them ovations for their successes. And in the third place, although^by so doing we break the thread of our narrative, we must express our pleasure at the weighty and polished address delivered by Mr. Hughes to those students who were leaving the College. During the coming session six ministers are ex¬ pected to deliver addresses on Homiletics and Pas¬ toral Theology, giving the fruits of their experiences as preachers and pastors. The gentlemen selected are :_The Revs. Principal Edwards/Principal Morris, Brecon ; J. M. Jones, Cardiff ; T. James, M.A., Llanelly; W. Evans, Pembroke Dock ; W. Williams, Swansea. Great joy was manifested at the announce¬ ment that Professor Rhys had promised, when visit¬ ing Breconshire next summer, to deliver a lecture at the College. It was determined to take steps to give the Professor a worthy welcome, and to grant as many friends as possible the privilege of hearing him. An important change comes into operation in regard to grants and prizes next session. The College class examinations will have great weight in determining the position of the students, and thus the work done throughout the session, rather than the June examina¬ tion, will be the main criterion of a man's meiits. This change will no doubt be warmly welcomed by the majority. In the award of prizes, the joint results of the class and of the June examinations will be taken into account; in the giving of grants, the class examinations only. The number of students next year will be about 54, 12 candidates having just been admitted. This in¬ crease presses upon the Committee the question of accommodation. It is, we presume, no betrayal of secrets to say that the propriety of erecting a hostel at Trevecca is discussed in influential quarters. It goes without saying that such an institution would be an incalculable boon. It is a matter of great regret, not to speak of the manifest inconvenience of the present state of affairs, that the students cannot be under the same roof. The application made by a student for release from College before the expiration of his term led to an interesting discussion, which showed how ^strongly the leaders of the Connexion insist on their young men being properly equipped before undertaking pastoral work. Without reference to the case immediately before them, it is obvious that churches should be chary of tempting young men to leave college before the completion of the prescribed course of study. Everyone knows that the majority of young men entering the denominational colleges have had little or no previous training. Far from thinking four years a long period of college life, we should rather be amazed that in so short a time such results as we actually do see are attained. It is no uncommon thing to meet intelligent young ministers bewail their want of a good early education, and the short time given them to try to retrieve these disadvantages. Except in cases of extreme necessity, students would do well to consider before they leave college with their course unfinished. It is a serious thing for a young minister to enter the field without a sufficient training to enable him to grapple successfully with the various subjects of study which will hereafter come in his way. The meeting at the chapel on Thursday morning was worthy of a larger attendance than we saw. Owing to the absence of the Rev. Edward Matthews, the annual address had to be foregone, and for it was sub¬ stituted a series of short addresses. The absence of the veteran, Mr. Matthews, was universally regretted, as the meeting would have been glad to thank him person¬ ally for the valuable gift of books he has recently made to the College library. By the bye, it is to be hoped that Mr. Roger Jones, Pengam, will succeed in evolving an easily-worked scheme for a circulating library at the College. Undoubtedly, hundreds of our ministers will be glad to avail themselves of the privileges of borrowing books from the excellent library. The Rev. D. Morgan, Penllwyn, advocated two important things, the study of German, and bodily exercise. The utility of German, to the theological student especially, is obvious. A look at a number of the students convinced us that although they dwell in a salubrious place like Trevecca, yet they were deplor¬ ably negligent of the duty of taking adequate gymnastic. It appears that during the past session there has been a slackness in the matter of games. We hope the new year will see an athletic revival at Trevecca. Some of the staff are fresh from Plato, and hope they will reduce theory to practice. The Revs. W. Lewis, Cwmparc, and W. J. Williams, Hirwaen, were the other ministers appointed to speak. The latter gentleman, who, along with Mr. O. M. Edwards, M.A., had just been liberated from the hard labour of an examiner, complimented the students on their work. Next year Mr. Williams's colleague will be the Rev. J. M. Saunders, M.A., Penarth. Clever, witty, and inspiring speechlets were those of the laymen, Mr. Roger Jone3, B.A., and Mr. Rogers Llwydcoed. The former advised the students to " sport their oaks," and allow no one to disturb their evenings. Mr. Rogers said, among other smart say¬ ings, " Gobeithio aiff neb o honoch chi'n 'ffeirad." If the applause which followed his remarks is an indica¬ tion of the spirit of the men, the tutors may regard their labours as devoted exclusively to the Connexion. There was a large number of prize-winners. Of these, Millward and Lloyd had the largest harvest of rewards ; and their success, to judge by the enthusiasm of their fellows, was not undeserved. The College re¬ opens in the first week of September. ----------------*.------------___ * The South Walesand Monmouthshire colliers have decided to hand in their notice terminating the sliding-scale agreement. Here is another illustration of the vitality of voluntary principles in Wales. At the anniversary services which were held at the Gibea Independent Chapel, Brynamman, on Whit-Sunday and Monday, £118 6s. 7^d. was collected towards liquidating the debt on the chape!. The buildiDg which was erected at a cost of about £2000, was onl op; ned in 18S0, and the c'ebt now remaining is only £600 CHURCH NEWS. CHURCH OF ENGLAND. The Rev. A. Hunter Dunn, of All Saints' Church, South Acton, Middlesex, has been elected Bishop of the diocese of Quebec by the Anglican Synod, in succession to the late Bishop Williams. The Rev. Mr. Dunn was elected on the fourteenth ballot, the Bishop of Niagara up to that time having led all the other candidates. PRESBYTERIAN. It is stated that Dr. Evans will not move to Bala till the commencement of the next session. Five years ago an English cause was started at Mold, and a new chapel will be ready in October. The tender of Mr. John Williams, builder, Trefnant, amounting to £479 15s., for alteration of the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Ponkey, ha3 been accepted. The- Rev. A. M'Arthur, of Millwall, has become minister of the Presbyteiian Church at the Mumbles, Swan¬ sea. The Rev. A. D. Grey, of Holywell, has received an in¬ vitation to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at Penrith. Mb. Oswald O. Williams, B.Sc, who is now a student at the London Hospital, preparing for missionary work on Khassia Hills, India, has been appointed to represent his fellow students at the Moody Conference, which is about to be held in Northfield, U.S.A. Rev. D. Thomas, Beaufort, has accepted a call to Blaengarw English Church, and he intends commencing work there on the first Sunday in September. Mr. Thomas has very efficiently held the pastorate of Beaufort and Brynmawr English churches for seven years. The Calvinistic Methodist Church at Bedlinog held its anniversary on the 19th and 20th instant, when the Rev. James Doune, Llangefni, Anglesea, and David Lewis, Llanstephan, preached with great power and effect to large congregations. Several persons joined the several churches in the place during the meetings. A meeting of welcome to Mr. and Mrs. R. Edwards, Brisbane, Australia, on their visit to Llanbryn- mair, was held at "the Bont Chapel on Monday evening, the 13th ult. A few years ago Mr. Edwards contributed £50 towards clearing the debt on the Wern School, and afterwards contributed £50 towards repairing Bont Chapel. On behalf of the church, Mr. David Howell presented a beautiful address, prepared by Messrs. Woodhall and Minshall, Oswestry. Then Mr. Edwards addressed the audience on the advantages of Australia as a field for emigrants. CONGREGATIONAL. Rev. D. Evans, Burry Port, Secretary of the South Wa Church Aid Society, was last returned at the head of the poll in Pembrey School Board. Mr. J. T. Miles, cf Aberystwyth, son of Rev. Job Miles, has won an open arts scholarship of the value of £60 per annum, tenable for four years, at Mansfield College, Oxford. At Bethlehem Chapel, Gwaelodygarth, the Revs. fJ. Foulkes, Aberavon; E. Richards, Tonypandy; and R. E. Williams, Cilfynydd, officiated. Collections were made at the annual services towards liquidating the debt. Mb. R. R. Thomas, a member of Bethel Church, near Carnarvon, is just being ordained at Voel, Llanerfyl, and Beersheba, in Montgomeryshire. The members of his mother church have presented him with sixty volumes. The death is announced, at the age of 76, of Mrs. Thomas, mother of Rev. Arnold Thomas, of Bristol, and widow of the late Rev. David Thomas. Mrs. Thomas had been in failing health for some time, and died on Sunday. She was a daughter of the late Mr. Robert Leonard, a city magistrate. A number of Congregational names have been attached to the petition praying that a publican may be made liable to penalties who, after notice, serves with intoxicants any person who has, in a period of two years after the passing of the Act, and in the same licensing district, been ihrice convicted of drunkenness. The Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church, London, have agreed unanimously and very enthusiastically to send a second call to the Rev. W. J. Dawson, on the same terms as were offered to, and accepted by, the Rev. S. Pearson. The meeting was a very much larger one than that held on the former occasion. A favourable answer is antici¬ pated. The Committee of the Congregational Union has appointed Mr. Alderman J. Thomson (Manchester), Mr. W. Crosfield (Liverpool), the Rev. H. Arnold Thomas (Bristol), Rev. G. S. Barrett (Norwich), Rev. J. Guinness Rogers and Mr. Albert Spicer (London), members of the Council of Mansfield College, Oxford, in accordance with the scheme of management, for the ensuing year. Dr. Parker, who is now in his 63rd year, has entered on the twenty-third year of his ministry in London, and on Thursday next conducts his thousandth mid-day service, an event which is to be commemorated by a stained glass window. Rev. Reuen Thomas, of Boston, U.S.A., is to occupy the pulpit on several Sundays during Dr. Parker's absence for his holiday, which is to commence after July 24. The 80th anniversary of the birth of Rev. S. B. Halliday, so long Mr. Beecher's energetic and able assistant, and the cancellation of a mortgage of 9000 dollars (£1800) on the Beecher Memorial Church, Brooklyn, ha3 been made the subjects of extended congratulatory services. The church is now entirely free from debt. Mr. Halliday men¬ tioned that in reduction of the debt Mrs. Beecher had raised 2000 dollars (£400). Mr. E. Minshall, the esteemed organist of the City Temple, was presented on Tuesday last, at a meeting of subscribers, with a silver salver and a cheque for two hundred and fifty guineas. Mr. Minshall is not only well known by the work which he has so well done at the City Temple, but by his able services in connection with the Nonconformist Choir Union and his lectures on church