The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-28
THE news OF Old CWAL|A
Subjects That Interest People In the
Old Couatry.
GREAT CONFERENCE AT RhYL
Warm Discussion Of II Ii Two Welsh Pa.
psrs-Rsvival OF the Csls-A Msr-
tAyr womau's lO8tA Blrthasy.
Other Late News.

psrs-Rsvival Of the Csls-A Mer-
tAyr womau's lOStA 8irthdsy.
Other Late News.
The Banner perseveres In the discus
sion Of "The Great Conference at Rhyl
and Its Consequences" With the ut
ter disregard for truth and fair play
characteristic Of the vernacular press
Of Wales, the Banner makes the fol-
lowing extraordinary statements in
large type and In the most prominent
part Of the paper: ''The official re-
ports Of the education department
show clearly that the instruction i'm
parted in the board schools Is far SUI
perior to that given in the voluntary
schools. And It is suggested, In order
to support the claims of the latter, that
that given In the board schools should
be reduced in quality. The manage
ment Of the voluntary schools Is in
the hands of the state church clergy
and Romish priests. They decide what
education-secular and religious-shall
be impaired in the schools. They
have absolute control over everything
relating to the schools. None Of the
laymen belonging to the two churches
as Il In delegated to them by the cler-
les! The government OF the schools
Ii absolutely in the hands Of the clergy.
The teachers must please the parsons
and the priests in everything. for they
have the power to dismiss them at any
moment. But, worse than all, the
money OF the country IL used for their
support without the least control over
IT." The Western Mail, in defending
the parsons and the priests from this
attack Of the great Welsh journalist.
the Rev. Thomas Gee. says that every
body who has experience in the man
agement Of public elementary schools
knows that the foregoing statements
are incorrect anr misleading, but the
monoglot Welsh, unfortunately, ac-
Welsh journalist, however, proceeds
thus: 1.-THE catechisms and retreats of
these churches are taught to the chill
dren at the expense of the country.
The children are taught that ele-
ments of the Lords supper are chang
ed by the action Of the priests into the
real body and blood of Christ; that
priests have the power to regenerate
children in baptism and to forgive sins
upon confession" The veteran Jour-
nalists then gives extracts from q cate
chism prepared by q State church
parson. and approved of by q canon Of
Lichfield cathedral, in which the doc
trines Of the papacy are taught"
THE cELT REDIvIvUs.
The Celt, after the lapse Of two
months, has reappeared, says the Mail,
in the same guise as formerly, slightly
enlarged, but with eight pages instead
| Of twelve. 1t now halls from Llanelly,
the home Of church Independence, and
looks robust and healthy. Very few
people know the real history Of this pa
per, and q short resume Of 1t would
probably be acceptable. Some twenty
years ago a serious quarrel broke out
among the Independents about Bala
college, Of which the Rev. Michael
Jones was the chief. The late DR..
John Thomas, of Liverpool, was then
the "boss" of the denomination, but
the Rev. Michael Jones rebelled
against his authority and defied him
and his friends to interfere with his
| college. Another college was estab-
ilshed in opposition at the same place,
and an internecine war was carried
on for many years. The Celt was
started as the organ Of the party-"the
old dispensation" as 1t was called-and
to counteract the influence Of the Tyst,
the official organ Of the body. The dis
contented rallied to "Michael's" stand
ard, and many spicy literary articles
| appeared In the new organ, which sub
jected the owners to damages for libel
and led to begging perigrinations for
help to pay them. The paper displayed
considerable rugged Intellectual vigor
and strength. 1t has been published in
mn vlU In, Wo1 "a
ber opens with q portrait and sketch
! of the life of the editor, the Rev. d. 8.
Davies, Of Carmarthen, O gentleman
we'll known to the Welsh people Of
Scranton and vicinity. Mr. Davies, like
the majority OF the Welsh NOncon-
formist ministers, rose from the ranks
and possesses that form OF muscular
Christianity which Is characteristic of
many Of his brethren Of the Independ-
ent pulpit Of Wales. He was born in
1841 near Swansea. His father died
when he was only 13 years old, and he
had afterwards to earn his own living.
He worked at Aberdare for q time and
then went to America. where he spent
seventeen years Of his time. 1t was
here that he commenced to preach and
soon became very popular. He sue
ceeded the great poet-preacher, Ap
eleven years, and since 1886 he has been
the successor of Professor Morgan at
Union chapel. Carmarthen. ID. S.,"
as he Is famlliarly known by his coun-
trymen, musS be truly q great man be-
fore he could succeed such pulpit me-
teors as Ap Vychan and Professor
Morgan.
MERTHYR wOMAN's 1o5TH YEAR.
Martha Lewis. an old Welsh
LADY, who is bedridden inmate
Of the Merthyr union. work.
house. was born in September, 17sl,
thus 1t will be seen that she Is in her
105th year. She Is q Carmathenshine
woman, her parents, John and Annie
Davies, being at the time of her birth
the occuplers Of Casterran farm. near
Clynderwern. She is one Of twelve
children and Is the sole survivor. Her
hucband was John Lewis. the son of a
farmer living at Ceryg Llwydion, Grey
Rock. He died when the youngest Of
the four children of the marriage was
| only q few months old. SO that her
battle with the adversities Of the world
has been of very long duration. She
became a resident Of Merthyr about
| the period of the death Of the late
Marquis Of Bale, and for many years
prior to her admission to the work.
house she was resident of Pendarren.
She retains her faculties in truly
marvellous manner.
THE WELSH UNIVERSITY.
A London correspondent. in speaking
| OF the position of the University Of
Wales, says there is one passage in the