Welsh Journals

*■ pniYSM mimw WQfflW. * No. 51. Vol. V. MARCH, 1897. Price One Penny. LLANIDLOES. It is with the very deepest regret that we place on record the death of Mrs. Jane Marshall of Severn View, which took place on Monday night, February 22ud. Always frail, each recurring winter tried her health severely, and she had been confined to the house for some months, but had on the whole with the exception of one severe attack borne the confine¬ ment fairly well until a week before her death, and the end when it came fell upon us all as an unexpected shock. We lose in her one of the most loyal church- women, who was always ready to help any movement in aid of the Church in Llanidloes. One of her very last ccnscious acts was to pay a subscription towards the tea to the National School children in celebration of the opening of the new room. The funeral which "Was a choral one took place in the Parish Churchyard on Friday, February 26th, and we never remember to have heard the service more exquisitely rendered than it was on this occasion. The Rev. J. O. Evans took the collects and pronounced the words of committal, and the Vicar and Curate also took part in the service. We offer the mourners and most especially Miss Marshall, our sincerest sympathy. The Vicar in his sermon on the ensuing Sunday, February 28th, pointed out how in the Epistle and Gospel for the day, death ■which is too often regarded as dark and dreary is represented as a passing from darkness to the fullest light. No less loyal and zealous a churchwoman, though age and infirmity had for some years made it impos¬ sible for her to attend the services was Mrs. Da vies, Upper Green, who died on Sunday, February 21st, and was laid to rest in the Churchyard on Thursday afternoon, February 25th. She was one of those who did much for the Church and especially for the Choir wi days gone by in a generation of which very few representatives now survive.. She leaves an aged husband and several daughters, all of whom have our dullest sympathy in their bereavement. It is to be regretted that the Vicar made no allusion to her in his sermon on Sunday, February 28th, but he was not aware that the mourners were present. Lent will have already begun when this number is in our readers' hands, and we trust it may be utilised as a.real preparation for Easter and a means of draw¬ ing nearer to the Master, and realising His great love to man as shown not only on the Cross, but in every work and act of His daily life on earth. That love as the Vicar said on Quinquagesitna Sunday evening, if actually realised by us must produce that answering love to Him in our hearts without which faith and almsgiving, spiritual gifts and earnest service and even martyrdom are nothing worth. He recommended as one method of driving out the lack of love which it is to be feared is so common, a determined effort to dwell in thought on the figure of the Crucified Christ, and in pursuance of that suggestion his Lenten course of week-day sermons will centre wholly round the Person of Jesus. Ash Wednesday March 3—The self devotion of Jesus. Thursday, March 11—His Obedience. „ „ 18—His Gentleness. „ „ 25—His Prayerfulness, „ April 1—His Courage. „ ,, 8—His Sympathy. „ „ 15—His Love. The Vicar also proposes to give every Sunday evening after the Collection Hymn, during Lent, a short (ten minutes) instruction in preparation for Easter Communion as follows : — 1st Sun. in Lent, March 6—Who appointed Holy Com¬ munion and why ? 2nd ,, 3rd „ 4th „ 5th 6 th ,, Who are to partake of it and to what end ? „ What is it to those who come to it and how ? ,, What good reasons are there for coming to it ? ,, What bad reasons are given for not coming ? ., What is required in those who come to it ? The Ordinary Sermon will be shortened so that the Service will be little if anv longer than usual