Welsh Journals

* OTYSM DOTE?? EQJW&PIIJE * No. 127. Vol. XI. JULY, 1903. Price One Penny. GENERAL. It is with great regret that we chronicle the approaching departure of the Rev. Morgan Jones, Vicar of Llandinam, who has been appointed to the Rectory of Llanwrin. He has long felt the tedious and weary journey to Banhadlog too great a tax on his waning energies on Sunday, and his difficulties were added to by the position of the Church and Vicarage each of which implies a hill to climb, and so far as he benefits by going to a parish where there is only one Church and that stands close to the Rectory, we cf course rejoice for. his sake. But this magazine loses in him a steady supporter, and the clergy will be deprived of a wise adviser, a staunch unwavering friend, said a kindly and broad-miuded leader. Mr. Jones is by far the Senior Rural Dean in the Diocese, having been appointed as far back as 1876, the next oldest not having received his commission till XS84, and the rest dating from 1S90, and later. Rural Deans have sometimes extremely difficult and disagreeable duties to perform, and in past years not a few such have fallen to the lot of Mr. Jones, and he always succeeded in carrying them out in a tactful and con¬ ciliatory spirit. His own parishioners will doubtless bear witness to the fidelity with which he has dis¬ charged his duties at Llandinam. Meanwhile, we wish him all success in his new parish when he goes— which we hope will not be for some time yet. We understand that the Vicar of Llanidloes will succeed him as Rural Dean. THE CHORAL FESTIVAL, TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— As Trainer and Conductor of the Church Choral Festival held at Llanwnog Parish Church, perhaps you will kindly allow me to offer a few remarks of a general character upon the Festival itself. It was not without certain misgivings on my part that I consented this year again to assume the conductorship of the Choirs. However, in virw of the recent performance, together with the crowded congregation at Church, we may, I think, be pardoned for indulging in mutual congratulations. Not of course, that the performance was free from blemishes—to expect a faultless exposition fo Church Music with the material at hand would bespeak a too optimistic temperament—but it was highly gratifying to find that all'the choirs had been engaged in an honest effort to master the selected music, and that most of the choristers had made it their duty to do their part in promoting the success of the Festival. Concerning absentees, I believe that several of them were unavoidably so, whilst so much cannot be said of others. I desire to take this opportunity to convey to the several choirs of the Deanery this expression of my sincere gratitude to all, for the kind manner in which they received my instructions, and for their efforts in carrying them out. The recent Festival did not, as I have alreadv conceded, furnish a perfect rendering of the selected music. Apart from my own shortcomings, I more than once during the service observed that a section of the choirs appeared to be oblivious of the existence of the Conductor. His direction too—given at the Rehearsal—that the hymns throughout should be sung in harmony, was quite forgotten in the hymn before the sermon, which somewhat marred the general effect. Perhaps too it would have been better to have had the Llan¬ wnog Choir in front, and not seated in the Chancel. These admitted flaws were however amply atoned for in the splendid rendering of the anthems, and certain hymns. In the anthem " Fear not, O Lord," the choirs gave a brilliant rendering of that popular composition. This notice would not be complete without a word of praise to Miss Rose Thomas, who so ably presided at the organ. Miss Thomas laboured under the greatest difficulty, in not having the advantage of being able to see the Conductor. The well-intentioned efforts to place a mirror in a favourable position for that purpose were unhappily not crowned with success, and the organist had to accompanv under very grave difficulties. Yet in spite of this, she bravely held to her post, and she certainly deserves the hearty thanks of the choirs for her valued services witH organ. • \"\