The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-20
WELSH JOTTINGS.

1T Is 81 years ago that the British and
Foreign Bible society was established.
1t Is interesting to recall the fast that
the first mover in the matter was Rev.
Thomas Charles. of Bala, one of the
founders of Welsh Calvinistic Metho-
dism.
Thus wrote one of the most celebrated
church dignitaries of this century on
the future of the Welsh language: at
may die. but you'll die ages before it.
You cannot justify your present posi-
tion by saying that you are waiting for
the shoes Of a dead language
The Cymro and the eisteddfod are in
separable. Last weeks Herald Gym
reig contains an interesting account of
an eisteddfod held at Newcastle, New
South Wales. The proceedings lacked
little of the usual keenness and enthus-
iasm which characteristics the old insti-
tuition in the mother country. Among
the several presidents We find the
names of the Rev. Seth Jones, the
bishop of Newcastle, and J. c. Ellis,
NJ. 2.
Rev. Edward Roberts, d. D., the pop
ular Baptist minister, of Pontypridd, is
no more having died at the ripe age
of 75. For several years he was joint
editor of the "Athraw," and for eight
years the sole editor of "Seren Conner"
He translated "Theodosia Ernest" into
Welsh, and published a selection of
tunes and hymns called "Y Caniedydd
l euanc." His greatest work, however,
was his documentary, Exigetical and
Homiletical on the Epistle to the Gala
tians." The chapels from his designs
which now adorn towns and villages
throughout Wales are exceedingly
numerous. Soon after his arrival in
Pontypridd he designed and superin-
tended the erection of Tabernacle
Chapel, to the church of which he so
long ministered. He also designed the
well known chapels of Salem Porth),
Noddfa (Treorky), and the new chapels
now in course of erection at Treforest
and Aberdare Junction. In his death
his country, no less than his denomina-
ton, has lost worthy son, and Ponty-
pridd will long mourn the loss of most
esteemed, honored and genial citizen.
Rev. Stephen Gladstone, rector of
Hawarden, having been asked his
views on the Welsh disestablishment
bill, contributes an article headed "A
Grave Political Crisis in Wales" to
the April number of the Hawarden
Parish Magazine. He says he thinks
this is wholly question not for church.
men as such to decide, but for citizens,
and for this reason he can have moth
ing to do with. the so-called Church
Defence society, nor with the arch
bishops new scheme for the same pur-
pose. AS citizens, and also as church.
men, he thinks the case for disestab-
lishment, at all events in Wales, is
amply made out. The majority, and
probably the great majority of the
Welsh people do not now belong to
the Established church. OF thirty
four members Of parliament elected by
the Welsh. voters (as Wales is nov
reckoned) thirty-one are in favor of
disestablishment. The old church
grammar schools throughout Wales
were disestablished in the sense of be-
ing made undenominational by the
Welsh education act of 1889, which was
passed with the approval and support
of the last Conservative government.
The reverend gentleman believes that
the church's claim to exist as state
church cannot be fairly sustained. But
what of endowments? This, too, is
question to be decided by citizens. The
trustees of this property are not the re-
ceivers of it as is often wrongfully sup
posed, but the whole nation, for whose
spiritual provision alone they We're in
part given and in part eNacted by legal
processes. OF course the Disendowed
church became a poor church for the
time at all events and had hard work
to reorganize herself. Yet who could
doubt that in a country such as ours
voluntary offerings would be forthcom-
ing where work was to be done? A
humber arrangement and a more
economical administration of the
church i'm Wales would not necessarily
mean a crippled or even a weaker
church than at present. But, however,
that might be, poor church was much
more likely to do Gods work than a
richer church in possession of endow
ments, which so large a proportion of
fellow Christian citizens did not be-
leve she had a moral title to retain.
1t was to her past and present policy
of active resistance, and nothing
more-for not even reforms were seri
ously proposed-that the sufferings of
the church would be chiefly due. In a
foot note the writer adds he alone Is
responsible for the article. He wishes
to commit no one else at all by the
views he expresses. There is a very
great difference of opinion on this mat
ter, and he does not wish to bring 1t
into the pulpit.