Welsh Journals

July 22, 1892. THE WELSH WEEKLY. LECTURES ON CHRISTIANITY. By the late Principal D. Charles Davies, M.A. (Translated for thS Welsh Weekly). Lecture VI.— The Word "Chris¬ tianity." The word Christianity is used in common par¬ lance of anyone who professes to follow the Lord Jesus ; and the word Christian of His teaching, the ordinances He established, and the conduct of which He gave an example in His life. But this definition is very vague and indefinite. It may contain much, or next to nothing; we may dis¬ pute concerning the subjects of the teaching, disagree with respect to the ordinances, and fail to see eye to eye with respect to the conduct and the example. Here and there, a man may be found, who counts himself a Christian, because he agrees with the teaching of the sermon on the Mount, but only on the condition that he be allowed to omit the word " Cod " from every verse where it is found, or be free to consider it a poetical word only ! It is certain that the words Christian and Christianity, like many other im¬ portant words, are altogether emptied of all special meaning. Nothing is more dangerous, and more's the pity more common, than that a word, which at first contained a large, broad, deep meaning, should in the sight of those who speak it, lose all its meaning through continual use and familiarity with it. Though the word in itself continues to contain all its original meaning, yet to those who use it, it may degenerate into a mere word sug¬ gesting no meaning at all; a dead word, a body of syllables and letters without a soul in it. That is the fate of many colloquial words. Man has in his soul a certain secluded spot where dead words are buried. It would be a supreme blessing to him were some archangel to shout till the graves of that burial place were emptied, breathing new life into the old words, and causing them to arise in glory and put on immortality. And, if we cannot have a general resurrection of them, it would not be a small thing to have the privilege of rolling away the stone from the door of the ^grave in which the word " Christianity" is laid. Next to the honour of coining the word, would be the honour of raising it again to dignity and glory, for we shall never find a better, nor so good a word. That man may with reason boast a little, who can make a new word, a word that was needed, a word that completely met the need, a word that in time became current, a word without which, in the mind of those using it, it was im¬ possible to convey the idea conveyed by it. But very often the names of the authors of new words are unknown, because it was only long after their death that their words became current. Some man whose history is quite unknown, except the bare fact that he lived at Antioch, happily struck on the word " Christians." A more excellent word than the old word disciple was needed, and here is a new word in its stead, the " excellent name " referred to by John, a more excellent name than the previous one; so excellent name that a new will never be found to supersede it. The word obtained a wider meaning than was thought of by man from Antioch. All he did was to call the disciples Christians ; from that grew the word " Christianity " to denote their religion; and the adjective " Christian " to denote their feelings and their conduct. To understand the full meaning of the word will surely open a new field of truths before our mind. The first characteristic possessed by the word is that the disciples of Jesus were not named after his personal name but after his official title. Be¬ fore explaining this, leb it be noticed, that a word was formed from his personal name,, which is used to denote a spirit and a behaviour most contrary to his. Centuries after the completion of the Holy volume, a man arose in the Roman Church called Ignatius Loyola, and he formed within it a brotherhood, calling it after our Lord's personal name "The Order of Jesus," hence Jesuit. From the Protestant view of the principles and purposes of this order, the word Jesuitism was formed. This word now denotes, not a sect or a party of men, but a spirit, and that a cunning, a wicked, wily spirit, which will reach perforce pro¬ fessedly religious ends at the expense of the principles of truth and right and through tricks most contemptible. In accordance with the spirit, the conduct is such that every man of pure and guileless character must hate and con¬ demn. Rather than name this spirit and conduct after Jesus' personal name, it would be much more proper to call it after the names of the evil one— Satan or Devil. The characteristic feature of this word is that the name of the person, in whose mouth was found no guile, has become the root of the name of the most hateful deceit on earth ; that what would above all things rouse Jesus' holy indignation against it, should be known by a word whose root is His own name. There is the keenest satire in the fact that the name Jesus is the root of a word denoting a spirit, above which he himself would have proclaimed woe with divine emphasis. There was nothing even in Pharisaism itself which roused his anger more than the Jesuitical element in it. (To be continued). MARKET SQUARE FLOWER SHOW AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION, MERTHYR. This Annual Show came off with great success last week. This show has come to be regarded by the inhabitants of Merthyr as one of the institutions of the town. This excellent institution, whose ninth anniversary was cele¬ brated on Wednesday and Thursday last, has been the means of fostering industrial habits among the young. Mr. J. P. Biddle presided at the opening ceremony. He was accompanied on the platform by Mr. David Jones (High-constable), Mrs. David Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Davies, and the Rev. J. G. James. The President said this was their ninth annual show, and he thought they could take to themselves the credit of having done a great deal of good since they started. The children, and the rising generation, generally, had reecived much instruction and encouragement from their parents, and others with whom they came in contact at school. Looking round the show he saw the map drawing of the boys, and the needlework of the girls, which, he thought, did great credit to the little fingers. He was extremely pleased to see the High-constable, and was sorry he could not call him the mayor, because he thought that would be tho proper tile for their chief official. He thought that instead of saying High-constable Jones, he might, at some future date, be able to say Mayor Jones. (Applause.) The High-Constable, who was well received, said it gave him the greatest possible pleasure to assist them in any way, and more especially by coming there to declare the show open. He had never been to a bazaar or flower show in that capacity before, and therefore he did not know what he was expected to say. The aims of the show was deserving of every encouragement, especially as one of the objects was to instil the spirit of application into the minds of the little ones. The introduction of the competitive element would make them take a greater interest in their work. The Committee were not relying upon charity for the success of their show. Unfortunately, charity did not go down, and the articles that were being offered that day would be found to be full value for the money, and the Committee were going to devote one- third of the profits to the Merthyr General Hospital This object was a laudable one, and the success of the under¬ taking was rendered certain by the number that were present, as well as the large quantity of exhibits. The past history of the show would make them all feel satisfied that the present one was going to turn out well. He was very glad to find himself amongst so many faces that he had known for years in Merthyr, and he hoped to be made acquainted with those he had not known before. There were several other speakers to follow, and on the platform they had their Member of Parliament in embryo. He had much pleasure in declaring the show open. Miss Jessie Macdonald then presented the High- constable with a button-hole, and affixed it to his coat. Mrs. Alfred Davies, in proposing a vote of thanks to the High-constable, said she felt sure Merthyr ought to be congratulated upon possessing such a gentleman as Mr. David Jones as its chief officer, and she regarded the name of High-constable as only another term for mayor. It was evident Mr. Jones took an interest in their social life. Merthyr was not only surrounded by beautiful scenery, but had many other advantages. There were good Board Schools in the neighbourhood, which were the means of laying a good educational foundation. (Hear, hear.) Not only were there Board Schools, but Higher Grade Schools, which were a step higher. She was in the Higher Grade School that morning, and felt very much interested and surprised to see the proficiency of the girls. She heard they were going to have some Inter¬ mediate Schools, and that would form another step in the ladder right up to the universities. Merthyr ought also to be congratulated upon having a Flower Show and Industrial Exhibition like that on. (Applause.) She had been all around the show, and had been veay much struck with the work exhibited. The fancy work must have taken up a great deal of the time and patience of the boys and girls. She was glad to see that the children were being encouraged to make useful articles, such as needle¬ work and cooking, and that the girls had not only to cook the food, but go the shops and buy it, and were limited as to price. They would find these things useful in after life, because it was about as difficult to know how to spend money properly as to know how to earn it. (Applause.) Mr. J. M. Berry seconded the vote. The Rev. J. J. G. James said he was very pleased to see so many present who did not belong to the same denomination as themselves. He felt he should be expressing the sentiments of the committee when he said that without the help of other denominations and other churches it would be quite impossible to carry on the show. It seemed almost like e millennium on a small scale to see people of all shades of belief and of all parties represented there on the common ground of showing an interest in the children and of desiring to do all they could to promote the efficiency of the little ones. He thought that was the common ground on which the millennium would be founded by and bye (applause). Mr. Alfred Davies spoke of tha punctuality of the High Constable, which showed him to be a man of business. He thought business men ought to come more to the iront, and not leave the work of making laws, &c., to be done by lawyers and military men. It often hap¬ pened that such men did not know how to explain the laws which they made ; and he hoped that business men like Mr. Jones would come out more into public life. The vote wos unanimously passed, and the High Constable briefly acknowledged the compliment. A choice musical programme was then proceeded with, followed on Wednesday evening by a juvenile choral competition, and a dramatic performance. The proceedings were opened on Thursday at 3 o'clock, by Mrs. T. H. Bailey, Pantrebach. The chair was occu¬ pied by Mr. Hooper (vice-president), who was supported by Mrs. T. H. Bailey (Birmingham), Mr. J. P. Biddle, Rev. J. C. Jomes, Mr. E. Stephens, and Mr. C. Bates. The Chairman said they commenced their flower show and industrial exhibition in the Market-square School¬ room for the children of that school, and it was so successful there that they determined to try it on a larger scale. At the first show they had between sixty and eighty entries, whilst in the present show there were nearly eight hundred competitors, including the choirs. Each year the committee tried to introduce some fresh attraction, and the new item this year, he believed, was the ironing competition. Some people said that the Market-square people were selfish in keeping the show to themselves' but instead of doing this the committee had invited the town and neighbourhood to compete in the entries. Mrs. T. H. Bailey said she had much pleasure in being there to express her approval, and she might say the approval of her husband also, of what might be called a time-honoured institution of the town. She hoped it might go on for a great many more yeors, and continue to be very successful. Master Joseph Morris then presented Mrs. Bailey with Mrs. Pailey with a choice bouquet of flowers. Mr. E. Stephens, on behalf of the committee, proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. Bailey for having so kindly opened the show, and for the admirable address she had given them. Mr. Charles Bates seconded the vote. The Rev. J. G. James, in supporting, said that some people were inclined to criticise them with respect to the advisability of having so secular and enterprise connected with a Christian Church, because they thought that these secular enterprises tended to take away the spirituality of the church. Some of the best people he knew had raised these objections, and he would oely say to such people that if they never used secularising enterprises for the purpose of making money or anything else, then they would be able to throw a stone at others. So far from an institution of that kind tending to secularise the church, he thought they tended to spiritualise the world. If they considered what the children had te do in making their way in the world, then they would feel that nothing was better than to teach them to excel in all useful arts and sciences. If untainted amusement could not be found in the world, then let the church provide employ¬ ment and amusement for their children. The vote wos then passed unanimously. The progress of science is the result of oscillation between opposites. To an Irenasus, a Polycarp, a Justin Martyr, a Tertullian, the picture of the world during the Christian centuries would have the aspect of a millen¬ nium, when contrasted with the age of Pagan domina¬ tion and Pagan persecution. In their eyes, accustomed to the darkness of heathenism, the world as influenced by a widely-diffused Christianity would seem to be a world in which Christ ruled.—Bev. J. P. Oledstone.