Welsh Journals

*■ PTHYSTM DQfiWW l^JGJIZEQE. * No. 28. Vol. III. APRIL, 1895. Peice One Penny. LLANIDLOES. When this number comes into the hands of our readers, we shall be standing on the threshold of Holy Week, a time when we ought all to make some special effort to draw nearer the Master, and prepare ourselves for participation in the great Easter Feast. We much fear that Lent has not been used as it might by our church-people this year. Of course it is sometimes deceptive to judge from outward ordinances, but the attendance at daily evensong has been scanty in the extreme, and scarcely a score have mustered when there was a sermon. The weather has certainly been bad, but we are afraid that many will brave rain and wind to attend a concert who shrink from it when there is " only a service " ! Our arrangements for Holy Week are as follows:—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, H. C. at 8-30, Matins 11, Evensong and Sermon 7-15. The subjects of the Sermons will be as follows :— April 8, Monday—The Events of the Day. „ 9, Tuesday—The Watch by the Cross. „ 10, Wednesday—The Centurion. „ 11, Thursday—-The preparation for Holy Communion. „ 12, Good Friday—Litany and Anti-Com¬ munion Service 8-30, Matins at 10. Three Hours Service 12 to 3. We have been fortunate enough to secure the services °f the Rev. William Evans of Aberystwith—one of the most thoughtful and suggestive preachers we know—to take the addresses at the " Three Hours," and we hope to see a better attendance than ever. "« need not remind readers that those who cannot stay for the whole time can come in or go out at any "nae during the singing of any of the many hymns ^hich are sung during this service. In the evening, * Sacred Oratorio " God with us " by J. Eliot Trow¬ bridge will be sung by the Choir—to begin at 7. A Election will be made towards the choir expenses. Saturday, Matins 11, Evensong 7-15. (Welsh), and mid-day. We very earnestly press upon the attention of all our loyal churchpeople the fact that it is a rule of the Church of England— definitely laid down in the Prayer Book, and not the fancy of any particular man or party in the church — that all communicants should partake of Christ's special ordinance on the Feast of the Resurrection. Wo have heard that some of our churchpeople say we have too many celebrations on the great feasts, and that it favours of popery ! ! It is scarcely neces¬ sary to say that the extra services are held simply and solely for the convenience of the people; experience having shown that more attend when there are services at 8 and 9, than when there is only one at 8-30. On April 14th, Easter Sunday, there will be four °elebrations of Holy Communion, viz., at 8, 9, 10 N.B.- -On Palm Sunday, April 7th, communion will be at 8-30, and not(as usual on the first Sunday of the month) at mid-day, and there will be Sunday School. The second joint debate between the Y. M. F. S. and the Llanidloes Literary and Debating Society took place on March 4th in the National Schoolroom, the Vicar in the chair. The subject for the evening was that " The study of Welsh forms a necessary constituent in Welsh Education." The affirmative being taken by the Y. M. F. S., for whom the Rev. W. D. Roberts opened in an effective speech. He was seconded by Mr. Lewis Lloyd, and supported by Messrs. D. L. Doughton? E. D. Davies, W. O. Davies, and G. W. Cope. The negative was proposed by Mr. Harrison, seconded by Mr. J. Jones Meredith, and supported by Messrs. A. J. Lloyd, J. Lester Mills, S. P. Davies, and J. Morgan. Mr. Harrison having replied, Mr. Roberts wound up the debate in a speech which drew hearty applause. On a poll being taken by ballot (Mr. Edmunds acting as returning officer, and Messrs. Herbert Roberts, T. Pryce Jones as counters.) The result was declared :—Against the motion 74 For 62, majority against 12. It must be