The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-16

Territorial aggrandizement had no
charms for them. They fought for their
homes. The pursuits Of peace had a
greater attraction for them. During the
| Middle Ages, when the rest of Europe was
buried In ignorance and darkness, there
fiourished In Wales the eisteddfod, an in
| stitution that has had a most salutary
and benifcent effect upon US, producing.
as 1t has, a nation that acknowledges no
peer In the world of music. and 1t Is
much to our credit that we seek and have
sought for centuries our national recrea-
tion, not In the debasing spectacle Of the
tourney Of old and the prize ring Of the
present. but in oratorical contests, musi-
cal competitions and In literature. Our
love of song has become proverbial. We
always loved and do love to sing. 1t is as
natural to the Welsh as Wit Is to the
| Irish. 1t bubbles out upon all occasions
| and in all places. Like Banquo's ghost,
1t Will not down. Our songs tell us Of the
| beautiful hills and valleys, our murmuring
brooks and wild torrents Of Wales. They
breathe with the calm spirit of peace. Our
hymns fill us with great and sublime de-
votion. Our music Is of the heart.
I'VE know the past. What will the fu-
ture unfold? Can the future of nation
with past so glorious, so pure and Just.
be In doubt? With our ancestors remains
the past, with us and our progeny rests
| the future Inheriting, as we do, love
of fair play, love OF home, delight In
poetry and music, we ought to be found
up and doing. If our ancestors have re-
tained so much of the past that Is good and
noble, have accomplished SO much with
the limited opportunities of n conquered
people, how much more ought we and can
we do. If not In Wales here In America,
with its free institutions, with the oppor-
tunities 1t affords those that strive? Ev-
erywhere signs are visible among the
Welsh of their recognition Of the need of
education. They see that
''Tis education forms the common mind
Just as the twig Is bent, the trees in
clined.
mo nation can he great unless 1t
schools and trains its people. Educate
and you will produce nation worthy Of
all praise Educate not only the mind, but
the heart. Produce not only bright men
and women, but good men and women.
Little do we dream of the possibilities in
men until the seed Of knowledge is sown.
The Need Of Education.
81 know and you know many men, and
there are doubtless many here tonight,
wisdom, of keen penetration and calm
judgment, working for mere pittance in
our coal mines, that, had they had an
early education, might have been Lin
coin, n Mozart, Kepler or O. Bacon. The
Welsh have given to the world Robert
Morris, that financial and generous friend
Of the American Revolution!sts; Roger
Williams, the founder of religious liberty
in America; the Adamses, Christmas
Evans and many others. Little Greece
produced her Aristotle, her Phocion, her
Aristides, her Socrates, her Phdias and
her Solon. Here in America, with its col
leges that invite all who will to enter in,
and in Wales the Welsh will awake from
their lethargy and with their aptitude for
the sciences and the art will produce a
galaxy of men who will reflect everlasting
lustre on the Welsh nation. With envy,
that curse of the Welsh, crushed, with a
desire to move onward and upward, our
future is assured Let our people give the
attention to education I'm future that they
have given to music in the past and they,
in the future, will give to the world ma
ton free, intelligent and Independent, a
nation prolific of great men, nation that
will be found standing firmly and cour-
ageously for the rights of men. a nation
free from prejudice, envy and bigotry and
nation proud of its past.
Following Mr. Lewis address, the
Gwent Glee club furnished some STIR
ring music and were loudly applauded
The secretary followed by reading his
annual report, which showed an in
crease in the membership and finances
of the order.
Lewis B. Roberts. representing the
Rocky Mountain lodge" of Denver,
Colo, made on enthusiastic Welsh
speech, stating among other things
his pleasure In bringing a message of
peace and sympathy from the Rocky
Mountains to the brethren throughout
the eastern states Gabriel Lloyd, of
New York city, made pithy speech on
the good "Ivorism' had done in the
great metropolis. Mr.. Lloyd was also
a very pleasant speaker.
Morgan Fl. Williams, secretary Of the
grand lodge, who is also looked upon
as the past laureate Of the order, read
the following verses amid much cheer
ing:
Embalmed In Verse.
Little Wales, thy dauntless valor
Fills the golden page of time;
Sages. poets. proudly honor
Thy true sons in prose and rhyme.
Ancient lore immortal greatness,
Passing dimly overhead
Thou dost ease our grief and sadness
With the spirit of the dead.
Lingering fancy, hush! tits breaking
Barriers open; time has fled
And athwart my vision streaking,
pyJ,y oil II t,,i.
o Caradog! mighty hero!
Dreaded foe of tyrant Rome
Proud in heart, and still Cymro
Though exiled from love and home.
Oh, Essyllwg! whence thy sorrow,
Tribulations deep and sore?
Thou. the robe Of death must borrow;
Thou shalt see thy chief no more
Great Cynddylan patriot chieftain,
Mourned by Natures poet true;
Thou art dead; but who shall maintain
Wales and Liberty like you?
Darkness reigns; within thy manor
= Woe has raised its sordd throne;
Thou hast fallen; sword and banner
On thy bleeding breast lie prone"
Lo! my breast with love Is swelling
AS i dimly, proudly trace
Through the mists the great Llewellyn,
Best AMI lastof princely race.
Fame. proud Fame, In golden letter,
Tells us of thy mighty fall;
How King Edward. with grim letters,
Chained poor Gwalia-cruel thrall.
Poor Hael," Lord Of Bassalog
Patriot, poet, statesman true;
Who instilled the Celtic fire
To enlighten, to subdue?