DISESTABLISHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1502, 26 July 1912, Page 6

DISESTABLISHMENT.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE AT CARNARVON. A MEMORABLE MEETING. Tho Chancellor's visit to Carnarvon on May 18 is descrilwd by the Rev. H. Elvet Lewis in tho "British AVcekly" :—"Tho I'reo Churhcc.s of North Wales spoke at Carnarvon with impressive emphasis-for tho Disestablishment and Disendowment of tho English Church in Wales. It was not numbers only, but the quality of tho men who came that made the demonstration memorable. There was a conference of delegates in. tho morning, held in tho largo Methodist chapel of Engedi; not only was the chapel crowded, but tho largo schoolroom was also filled to overriWing. Tho first resolution dealt with the question of Disestablishment and Disendowment from tho religious standpoint. Principal Rees, of Bangor College, moved it, in a. speech that happily combined tho culture of Mansfield with the fervour of Wales. Wo were set down in tho realm of first principles, as though the great clays of Edward Miall and Henry Richard had suddenly returned. Sir Henry Lewis seconded in a sentence; but ono rcniemlwral what fine Methodist traditions he, in his family, represents; and the one sentence was sufficient. Mr. E. T. John, M.P., ably followed, and then the Rev. Evan Jones, ex-president of the National Free Church Council, veteran of the long struggle for, religious equality. Ho was not there, ho said, to have the English Church in Wales injured; but neither would he have the ■'Welsh nation injured. Ho would have somo iron put into the blow of English Liberals in this matter. He would rather have tho measure wrecked, the Government wrecked, and the Liberal party wrecked than that tho Welsh nation should be downtrodden.

And what shall be eaid of tho Chancellor's historic meeting in the afternoon? The chair was occupied by the Rev. John Williams, a prince of tho Welsh pulpit. The first speech was by Mr. Ellis J. Griffith, who had a fine reception. Ho spoke in the vernacular with choice diction—brief, but effective. The Chancellor followed suit, keeping closely to his native tongue. No one will 'understand the quality of Mr. Lloyd-George's humour unless he knows the Welsh Eisteddvod; no one will understand the quality, of his eloquence unless he knows the Welsh rural chapel-he has the strength of both. The speech dealt with tho theme that the State has no right to push itself into the realm of tho religions conscience. In lucid sentences he retried the story of how great leaders, like Dr. Lewis' Edwards, sixty years ago, initiated the movement, consecrating it with deepest relisious conviction. As he went on voice Vind phrase became more powerful; timo after timo the huge pavilion rang with the voices of men who have fought and mil fight to the end. Tho couclnding pnrapxaphs of the speech had 'ill tVe finalities of a great sermon. When the Biblical phrase was not actually quoted, the souse of it was present; cheers were hushed, there was a subduing awe, a thrill as of a breath from lofty hills unseen, nnd then the audienco could bear it no longer. Tho'massed thousands lose to their fret, not with wild shout, hut as with a hvmnal chorus—almost, h sob of relief, entirely a song of redlining victory.

MARCH OF WELSHMEN. PROCESSION TWO MILES LONG THROUGH LONDON. London was invaded- on Wednesday, Juno 12, by 20,000 Welsh men and women. Fifteen thousand camo by thirty-two special trains from North and South Wales, and 5000 from Lancashire and Yorkshire. They came to raise their voices in vigorous protest against thfi Welsh Disestablishment Bill, mid although drenching rain fell throughout the afternoon there was no lack of enthusiasm in the twomile long procession which they formed through London, or in tho demonstrations held in Hyde' Park and in tho Royal Albert Hall. , ' 'Six.bands accompanied' the procession through London,' one of them being the famous Besses o' th' Barn Band. The mounted marshals headed the procession, and'following them ' came tho Middlesex military band, guarding the national flag of Wales; St. David's flag, and that of St. George. Then followed the Bishop of St. Asaph, and behind him the banner of his diocese with .a numerous guard of clergy and prominent laity of the bishopric. Behind these camo the clergy and people of the diocese arranged in detachments. Many banners were carried, and among the inscriptions were the following:—; "We want churches, not museums." "Our Patron Saint is David, not M'Kenna." "<£4oo a year for M.P.'s—sacking for curates." . "If Church endowments go, what about Nonconformist trust funds?" '■'A minimum wage for the parson." "If the Welsh Church goes—the English Church conies next." , Tho procession divided at Hydo Parkone section going to tho Albert Hall and tho other section to the open-air demonstration in Hydo Park. Lord Robert Cecil was the principal speaker in the Park, and a resolution of protest put. at six platforms was carried with acclamation. The Albert Hall was packed from floor to ceiling. The Archbishop of York presided over the great meeting in the absence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was not able to be present at the commencement. The Archbishop of York (Dr. Cosmo Lang) said tho meeting made its own speech—a mo.-t striking speech, mado not by words but by some 10,000 Welshmen who had come, to make their visiblo and amliblp app?al to the conscience and sense of justico of their fellow-citizens in the centre of their national life. They were thereto ask why,jj u t at the time their Church was rising to vindicate the memories of tho nast and to meet tho problem-; of the future, it should bo torn out of the heart of their national life where it had been for more than ICOO years. It hod been said that, the Bill had produced no enthusiasm. It had, but it was the enthusiasm of opposition. The heart of the Church htirl bwn stirred, and though the Church of England rightly s(iUloni--"< , nH , rged into • political conflict, when it did it was ant to show surprising strength. ' (Applause., And they wero supported, not only by their fellowChurchmen, but by. numbers of- tho best nnd mc-t spiritual Nonconformists as well. Ho was certain that in uniting together to brinj this nroposal to a difcredited end, they would bo doine good service, not only to tho ancient Church of Wnle=. but to tho religious life of the democracy of the countrv. (Cheers.)

Jlr. Bnnnr Lars , said: "Tho Chancellor of the Exchequer has told me that your Church is alien to the Celtic tenirornment. Well, in this, as in everything e!«p. the proof nf the ,pnddin? is in.the online .of it. and if your Church i<= nntasonistic to tho spirit of ills Wclfh Church, why is it, now that she has no ■means of imposing hor ministrations upon anyone who dors not willingly accept them, that she is growing in influence nnd in numb*™: more rapidly than any other Church ?"