Welsh Journals

July 29, 4892. THE WELSH WEEKLY. OPEN COUNCIL. POLITICS ON SUNDAY. To the Editor of the Welsh Weekly. Dear. Sir,—-A few printers'errors have crept into my letter which appeared in your last issue. I hasten to correct them, so that I may not be misunderstood. In the quotation from '' Dafydd's " letter, the words '' refuse to " are omitted. To omit these words utterly changes "Dafydd's" meaning, and I regret the error, though I am not responsible for it. The quotation should read : '' Christian people should refuse to allow the Sabbath to be desecrated." In the sixth paragraph, the line " The Liberals to have a good deal to say and do with the matter,"—the word •' ought " is omitted after " Liberals. The sencence is "The Liberals ought to have," &c. Again, the last sentence in the sixth paragraph is only a part of what I had written, and the double negative in it makes it meaningless. The whole phrase ought to be: "Perhaps the Liberals were not responsible for arranging the demonstrations, but they were responsible for not requesting their representatives to keep away." Yours sincerely, R. E. T. To the Editor of the Welsh Weekly. Dear Sir,— I have long ago made it a point to shun rather than to seek religious controversies, being fully persuaded that the bone over which this class of eontroveralists usually worry themselves, is simply sheer love of fight, and that the ultimate purpose of all their barking and snarling is to make one another's life a little bitterer here below, as if fate had not been cross enough to the happiest pi them. I heartily reciprocate the admirable tone of R.E.J.'s criticism of my last letter, and although he writes anony¬ mously, his sincerity and kindly manner convince me that he is not of that fraternity whose strange system of anonymity enable them to treat their opponents with malignity, and their subject with incincerity. It is far from being my intention to treat the opinions of R.E.J, on the Sanctity of the Sabbath with anything like levrity ; indeed, I am entirely in accord with him when he states that the welfare of the people is inseper- ably bound with the keeping of the Sabbath. We simply differ as to the meaning of the term " keeping the Sabbath." I strongly urge that discussing social and political issues which offer direct opportunities for serving God and man in a practical manner does not militate against "Sabbath keeping" as I interprate the term. In my opinion it is undoubtedly a duty incumbent upon the men, to whom we entrust our earthly suffrages, to promote on every occasion, to the utmost of their power, the diffusion of practical Christianity : for the blessings i£ confers are of inestimable value to mankind, and as it is indispensably necesary for our happiness here, as well as hereafter, that justice and mercy should prevail, it follows as a natural consequence that if either gratitude to God or mercy to man find a place in their hearts, they should be zealous in dispensing those temporal blessings among the masses which are an integral part of the divine message proclaimed by the heavenly host:—" Peace on earth, good will to men," and which also stands pre-eminently in the teachings of that life which exhibited for man a love stronger than death. Surely, the individual who thus devotes an hour or so on Sunday afternoon to the advocacy of questions arising out of our social condition, commits no crime against society, nor sin against his creator. Lalways maintain that the Sabbath was made for man, and am entirely out of sympathy with the ultra- puritanical opinion held by R.E.J, that the introduction of these questions on the Sabbath will ultimately end in its dethronement. We may rest fully assured that unless every-day " Christianity can become also the accepted faith of the people on Sunday, its influence must ivevitably undergo a serious popular decline. In¬ deed, Protestantism, and especially Nonconformity, is gradually coming more and more forward as an active political and social influence towards establishing the kingdom of God on earth, and I have much more faith in the imperishable dignity of man, and in the high vocation to which, throughout his earthly career he has been appointed, than I have in merely church and chapel-going on Sunday. To indulge in gloomy prognostications with respect to the dethronement of the Sabbath, appears to me to be extremely sentimental, when knowledge and education are busily opening the eyes of the masses and increasing the number of thinking minds. There is indeed a deep-lying struggle going on between practical and theoretical Christianity in these days, and the sooner the former overcomes the latter the better for both humanity and Christianity. Political and social reedom will help humanity towards a higher freedom than mere release from the oppression of a fellow-mortal, and this freedom, which is man's reasonable service towards his fellow requires quite as much preaching on Sunday as it does on any other day in the week. A religion that hath its origin " mewn Duw-ddyn," and that is constituted to be universal should, in my humble opinion, meet man in all directions, and come into contact with him at every point in his life. It should be as suitable to instruct him in matters appertaining to earthly as to heavenly life, and a finger-post to direct his course in things that are temporal as well as in things that are eternal. And so does the religion of the Gospel of Christ. Its precepts are adapted to our advantage in all circum¬ stances of life; and as tyranny and oppression are like twin-despots in our midst, keeping us hrwn in the ditch. The clear precept of Christianity is : " Dethrone the twin- despots and assist your brother out of the ditch, yea, on Sunday." And in all seriousness the only rational view I can take of the action of the two political representa¬ tives of the Merthyr district who addressed their consti¬ tuents on a Sunday is that they only lead whether the multitude was of itself dimly minded to run, viz., to dethrone the twin-despots and to do what was in their power to ameliorate the condition of a fellow-being who had been trodden upon for standing up for what his Creator had undoubtedly intended for him to be in his rights. Yovrs truly, W. A. ROBERTS. • 30, Wellfield Road, Walton, 25th July, 1892. THE COLWYN BAY TRAINING INSTITUTE. To the Editor of the Welsh Weekly. Dear Sir,—On the receipt of your issue for last week I read with no small degree of amusement the letter re the above institute, signed by "A Baptist." He there refers to the last letter of the Rev. W. Hughes as manifesting a far better spirit than his previous one, though I for my own part failed to detect any difference, as both appeared to have been written in an excellent spirit, especially when we consider how dear this work is to Mr. Hughes's heart, and the unceremonious maimer in which it was so unjustly attacked by Principal T. Witton-Davies, B.A. But what about the spirit of this last letter written by "A Baptist" himself. Surely there is here a very decided difference in the tone of his letter, although, even when it was evident to all that he was greatly mistaken about the spirt of Mr. Hughes, he is not gentlemanly enough to acknowledge his error. I fear that the only conclusion to be arrived at is that what was said of him by " Wickliffe" in another issue of your paper is, after all, only too true. Without any de¬ sire to continue in this controversy, I must confess that the esteemed founder of the Colwyn Bay Institute has by far had the best of the argument up to the present. His reasons, &c., appear to me to be altogether convincing and sound, and I sincerely trust that the result of this contro¬ versy will only tend, as it appears to do, to increase the number of the supporters of this noble work, in order that it may be developed in a manner worthy of its glorious object. I must, however, say that I heartily endorse "A Baptist's" sentiments when he tells us that he considers " the subject one of the gravest importance, and demands the highest wisdom and the soundest judgment in dealing with it;" but surely, if he wishes the " Christian spirit" to be manifested, as he now appears to do, he ought first to set a better example than that which was so evident in his first letter, though I am very pleased, indeed, to find that he has, however, somewhat repented by the tone of his second. I remain, dear sir, Yours faithfully, ANOTHER BAPTIST. There are two sorts of men who exercise influence. The first are those who perpetuate their own opinions, bequeath their own names, form a sect, gather a party round them—who speak their words, believe their belief. Such men were the ancient Rabbis. And of such men, in and out of the church, we have abundance now. It is the influence most aimed at, and most loved. The second class is composed of those who stir up faith, conscience, thought, to do their own work. They are not anxious that those tney teach should think as they do, but that they should think. Nor that they should take this or that rule of right and wrong, but that they should be conscientious. Nor that they should adopt their own views of Goe, but that faith in God should be roused in earnest. Such men propagate not many views ; but they prypagate life itself in inquiring minds and earnest hearts. F. W. Robertson. NORTH WALES BAPTIST COLLEGE. The annual meeting of subscribers was held last week at Bangor. The Rev. H. C. Williams (Corwen) presided, in the absence, through illness, of the Rev. A. J. Parry (Cefnmawr), with whom, on the motion of the Rev. Gethin Da vies, D.D., seconded by Mr. Thomas (Cefnmawr), a vote of sympathy was The Rev. J. Griffith (Llanfairfechan) read the report of the executive committee, which recommended that the college be affiliated with the University College of North Wales on the lines suggested by Professor Silas Morris, the vacations and terms to coincide, and that there be two courses for students-—one a complete course in arts first and theology afterwards ; and, secondly, a shorter course in theology alone, with such other subjects at the University College as the students might desire, the complete course to be three years at the University College, and two years at the Theological College, and the shorter course, three years, as before, at the Theological College.—Votes of thanks were accorded the ten gentlemen who had purchased the college premises at Bangor.—The Rev. C. Da vies, in proposing the adoption of the report, said that the removal of the college from Llangollen to Bangor had been effected in a most economical and praiseworthy manner, and the work had been most commendably carried out by those who had taken it in hand (hear, hear).—Mr Roberts (Ponkey) seconded the motion, which was agreed to, and, on the proposal of Alderman Cory (Cardiff), Mr. R. Beck was appointed financial secretary, Messrs. W. P. Matthews and R. Gray being elected auditors.—On the proposal of the Rev. R. H. Jones (St. Clears), seconded by Alderman Lewis (Llanllibio), a vote of thanks was accorded the officers and committee, and it was agreed that all ministers trained in the institution and eligible under the rules should be placed on the general committee.— The Rev. Owen Davies asked to be excused from con¬ tinuing in the appointment of honorary secretary. Principal Gethin Davies remarked that the college had passed through an important crisis in its career, during which the advice and counsel of Mr. Davies had been of very great service. The name was unanimously retained. On the motion of the Rev. W. Hughes (Colwyn Bay), seconded by Mr. Simon Jones (Wrexham), and supported by Professor Silas Morris, a vote of thanks was passed to the special preachers at the meetings, and on the proposal of the Rev. D. Davies (Llandudno), seconded by Mr. R. Winter Jones (Bangor), a similar compliment was paid to the examiners. Votes of condolence were passed with the families of the late Rev. J, Thomas, Carmarthen, and Mr. W. Williams, Llangollen, and Mr. W. Thomas, Llanelly, who were members of the executive committee. The Rev. D. Williams (Holywell) gave notice that at the next meeting he should propose that the annual allowance for maintenance of students be increased to £24. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. T. Hughes (Llangollen) for his services as honorary treasurer for 30 years, and it was agreed to appoint him and Dr. Roberts (Pontypridd) honorary life members of the college. During the day a sermon was preached by the Rev. John Thomas, B.A., Salendine Nook, and there was a reunion of former students at Penuel Chapel, when a paper was read by the Rev. D. Davies, Llandudno. At night there was a public meeting, at which Mr. T. T. Marks, C.E. (Llandudno), presided, the speakers including the Revs. Owen Davies, Carnarvon; J. Thomas, B.A., Salendine Nook ; and J. W. Williams, D.D., Hyde Park, U.S.A. At its clase prizes and certificates were presented to the successful students. Mahomet did not believe more emphatically that God was one, than did the thinkers of the first two centuries of our era that man was one. It was recognised that what was common to the slave and the emperor was more important than what was special for each, and it is hardly possible for us who see this as a truism, to realise what it was to those who hailed it as a great moral discovery.—Jtdia Wedgewood. At the age of sixteen I was led by the example of a younger sister to confess Christ by becoming a member of the Congregational Church. Happy in full surrender to God, I wanted to be the instrument of imparting this happiness to others. I soon became a Sunday-school teacher, trudging some four miles to a small wooden room at Coxheath every Sunday after¬ noon, my first text for addressing the children being the one I had first learned as a child. Crowds of poor people then, as they do still, thronged the hop-grounds at picking time. I resolved to go and speak to them, but took no one with me to witness my possible failure. I soon collected a crowd. That I might, have text enough to suggest matter, I took the parable of the Prodigal Son. After reading it slowly through, I began my sermon. At the end of ten minutes I had finished all I h«d to soy, and then I was wise enough to stop. This was the beginning of the happy open-air preaching which I have continued to engage in up to the present time.—Rev. Neivman Hall. .