Welsh Journals

flrwpstli Deanerp magazine. Vol. XIII. JULY, 1905. No. 151. CHORAL FESTIVAL. I must be content with giving a cursory account of the services, as the printer expects his copy to-night, and probably an abler pen than mine will supply a more critical account for our next issue. The afternoon service was announced for two, but did not, as a matter of fact, begin till half an hour later with the Old Hundred as a processional. Shortened Evensong up to the 3rd collect, with an (). T. lesson read by the Rev. R. Parker Jones, was taken by the Vicar of Trefeglwys, the Magnificat being sung to a single chant by Bishop Tuxton, and a double by J. T. Pritchard, Psalm cxiv., to 1st. Gregorian Tone, and Psalm cxlv. to a chant of Handels. The anthem ' Fear not, O Land,' wasthen sung,and the Litany followed, intoned by the Rev. \Y. L. Richards. Professor Lorimer Thomas preached a quite admirable sermonette on the duty of singing to God, and not to man or self, and the service con¬ cluded with the well-known hymn " To the name of our Salvation." Of the evening service I have only time to say that the congregation was much larger, and that the choirs were much stronger than in the after¬ noon, and either for this reason, or because the new music had been more diligently practised than the old pieces sung at the earlier service, the singing was beyond comparison better. The anthem " Great is the Lord," by Vincent, went very well, and there were really no serious hitches of any kind throughout, while the use of " Aber¬ ystwyth " to the Litany hymn, " Saviour, when in dust to Thee," which was sung kneeling, after the anthem, was abundantly justified. Professor Thomas preached a very earnest and helpful sermon on the Spirit of Christ as man's only true friend, from Psalms li., 12. Wednesday Evening, jfnlv 5th. E.O.J. LLANIDLOES. Thk Entertainment given by the C.E.T.S. Ministrels on June 14th, was a great success in every way, and reflected great credit on the troupe in general, as the period during which they had practised had been really very short. With longer preparation and diligent application, which we feel sure will be given, they ought to become quite a first rate combination. There was a very large attendance. The following was the pro¬ gramme :—Pianoforte solo, accompanied by bones, Mr. Evan* Rees; opening chorus, " Old Kentucky Home," troupe ; solo, " The Cottage by the Sea," Mr. Charles Evans : solo, " Sweet Nellie," Mr. Oswald George ; comic," McCarthy's Widow," Mr. Evan Rees : patriotic song. " For England's Home and King," Mr. R. J. Jerman ; mandoline and banjo. Messrs. Middleton and Arthur Webb ; sketch, " The Dentist "—characters : Dentist, Mr. T. H. Davies-Jones; patient, Mr. J. T. Jones: assistant, Mr. Aubury Phillips. Opening chorus, "Poor Old Joe," troupe; comic song, " Operzootics," Mr. Evan Rees: comic song, " Join in the Chorus," Mr. Albert Roberts: song, "Dear Old Home Songs," Mr. J. D. Owen, accompanied in three choruses by the troupe ; stump speech, " Old Mother Hubbard," Mr. Charles Brown, comic song, " I couldn't," Master Fred Davies (encore) ; violin solo, Mr. John Vincent Hamer; song, " The Campdown Races," Master Bertie Lewis ; song, " The Warrior's Return," Mr. John V. Hamer; comic song, " P.C. Moriarty," Mr T. H. Davies Jones ; song, " Only half-a-crown," Mr. J. T. Jones ; song, " She cost me 7s. 6d." Mr. Isaac Bradbury; song, " Bink's Private Band, " Mr. Charles Brown, accompanied by the troupe on kassoos; sketch, " Nigger Excursion," engine, Mr. Evan Rees ; driver, Mr. J. T. Jones ; first-class passenger, Mr. F. Bowgen, third-class (Stafford), Mr. Charles Brown ; guard, Mr. T. H. Davies-Jones; the ghost, Mr. R. J. Jerman. Selection by Bink's Private Band, conducted by Mr. T. H. Davies Jones; finale, "God Save the King." Troupe Interlocutor, Mr. R. J.