Welsh Journals

flrtupstli Deanerp magazine. Vol. II. (New Series). MAY, 1906. No. 161. CHORAL FESTIVAL. Rehearsals will be held during the month as follows :— Sunday, 13th ... Llanwnog at 7-30 p.m. Wednesday, 16th ... Llanidloes „ ., Thursday, 17th ... Llangurig „ „ Sunday, 20th ... Carno ,, ,, Sunday, 27th ... Caersws ,, „ Wednesday, 30th ... Llandinam „ „ Thursday, 31st ... Trefeglwys „ „ It is hoped, if possible, to have a Sectional Festival at Caersws Church, sometime in June.—W. L. Richards, Choir Director. GENERAL. We desire to call the attention of our readers to the " Bangor Diocesan Calendar:" This is an annual publication which gives a full list of clergy, livings, and their value (about which much misconception exists), and a great mass of miscellaneous information about the diocese. Every layman, who wishes to be acquainted with the progress, or otherwise, of Church work, ought to possess a copy. The book may be obtained of Messrs. Nixon and Jarvis, Lome House, Bangor, for Is. (post free 1/3). If several joined and ordered their copies through the Vicar of their parish, the cost of carriage would of course be considerably reduced. LLANIDLOES. The congregations in Lent cannot be described as good, although they never fell below a certain measure of respectability in the matter of numbers, and all the strange preachers seem to have been appreciated by those who heard them. The Curate of Rhay¬ ader, the Rev. M. Morris, was the preacher in Passion Week. In Holy Week the Vicar of Eglwys Oen Duw gave most earnest and useful addresses the first three evenings, and the Rev. L. H. A. Griffiths, Vicar of New- bridge-on-Wye gave the Communicants' Address on Maunday Thursday, and took the Three Hours' Service on Good Friday, and preached in the evening. The congregations were distinctly disappointing this week, except at the Three Hours', which was about the average. We can quite understand the temptations of the lengthening days— especially with such fine weather—when Easter falls late. Still, if Churchpeople can¬ not deny themselves in Holy Week, we are almost tempted to despair of their real belief. On Good Friday evening the choir did themselves full justice in their rendering of Maunder's Cantata " Penitence, Pardon and Peace." They had not had very many practices, and we had not expected great things, but they rose nobly to the occasion, and sang, perhaps, better than ever. Choruses and solos (the latter taken by Messrs. J. Davies, C. Owen, R. J. Jerman, T. Phillips and R. M. Davies) alike went well, and the whole work had a most devotional effect. Where all was so good it may seem invidious to single out anything, but we must mention Mr. Phillips's rendering of the last solo, which proved that his voice and skill are as good as ever ; in fact, he has never sung more finely. The church ought to have been packed—but it was not, more the pity. Easter Day was very satisfactory in every respect, and the number of communicants held up wonderfully, considering the number —some thirty or more—who have died or left during the past twelve months. Altogether 202 were present at Communion—less than 1905, but better than any previous year, and we were glad to see nearly all the Confirma¬ tion candidates attending.' Altogether about 224 communicated in April, as against 229 last year, which, of course, was an exceptional one here as everywhere else, so that we need not be discouraged by a slight falling off. What is now wanted is that those who come at Easter should come regularly during the rest of the year. The services were very bright and hearty, and the general congregations good, and the anthems, morning and evening, above the average. Wesley's beautiful music to " Blessed be the God and Father," was well sung in the evening, in spite of insufficient practice, and the solo was admirably taken by Miss Criss Kerr. Thb collections during the day—which, as