Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1889-01-09 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

CASTLE-STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.  THE REV. WALLACE DUTHIE ON NE WsPAPERi.  The Rev. Wallace Duthie on Sunday evening preached an eloquent discourse on "Memories of the Year." In lookieg over the pasty. ar the preacher said, ninny charges had taken plane in royalty, philanthrophy, Parliament, Episcopacy, Nonconformity, and the Bench. Death had put on the black cap for Justice Baggaley in England, and tor Chief Justice Waite in America. Valuable lives have alto be. n threatened, but they had been restored to health in the persons of Joh Bright and Cardlnal Newman. In the experience of k.ngland 188 was the year of all murders. Crime has made their newspapers daily to run with blood, and so long and ghastly a procession ot criminals had walked to the scaffold, that the hangman's trade bade fair to take a place amongst the lucrative professions. In London, the awhority of the law had been successfully evoked to dam the evil terrain of licentiousnent which had pounced upon the youth in cheap translations of loose Continental author'. That was well, but there remained a work of purifying remained to be done. Many of their newspapers which lay upon their tables were eagerly read day after day by young Se well as old. '1 hey were primers of pruriency —the A.B.C. of nastinesa and indelicacy made easy, end he maintained that so long as column after column were filled with details of revolting murders ; so long as the immoral garbage of our divorce and Film, courts were emptier' out upon our very doorsteps and stirred up, so long they were doing a profound injustice to society and morality. What had already been the result of the unspeakable atrocities in London as reported in all their hideous details throughout the land Already they had had several Whitechapel ararcierers in miniature boys, and all over the ecuotry minds morbid or depraved had received the iucentive which had led to terrible crimes. He (Mr Duthie) knew that those who conducted their news. papers were reputable and sometimea religious men, lie did not forget the remarkable value of newspapers in the detection of crime. No one could have a stronger belief than himself in  the wholesome light of publicity which shone out from their pdges. He thought, and shotigiy urged, that the time had conic when the prises should free itself from the reproach of revolting and purulent detail,not by repressive legislation from without, but by a concensus of opinion between its leaders. Af er some other remarks upon slavery, &c., the preacher brought an earnest diacourse to a clone.  The annual dinner of the Swansea Foote Telegraphists was had at the Albany Hotel on Friday evening, the whole of the available staff (about 50 in number being present. The chair , was oiscupiqd by the popular superintendent Mr. Edwards, and the vice•ehair by his assis I tent, Mr. Desmond. The toast of The Queen" by the chairman was of course received with aeclamation, and that of the "Postmaster. General" by Messrs Critobley and Howells was also duly honoured. "The Postmaster" was proposed by Mr G. Richards who spoke in fesling terms of the kindly relations that had always existed between Mr Oakden and hieisubordinates, and the ability and assiduity with which he performed his various and , onerous duties. Subsequently an interesting musical and histrionic programme as rendered by Messrs Jenkins, Chislett, Perry, Hughes, Rees, and others, and the company scpara.ed shortly after midnight. The proceedings throughout were of ei most enjoyable and enthusiastic nature, and the catering was of the very best description.  - . - The Central Newl Glasgow correspondent telegraphs that the late Sir William Pearms's estate re of the value of £1,200,000. It is , divided between the widow and the preseet baronet, who, according to present arrange ments, remains in the Isle of Wight until after the 14th of February.  Mr Bright is progressing favourably. He has pariwci a fairly good night.