Welsh Journals

it the height of absurdity to stand upon ceremony. And to give them their due, they never presumed upon my lowness of birth, but treated me with sufficient respect. Indeed, I dont know but that I was more highly respected on account of my having raised myself to my present position from a lowly state no one certainly ever referred to it in my presence, but I gathered as much from certain remarks that came to my hearing. Of course, I was not a good preacher, being but a beginner- but I succeeded in getting the people to Church. One Sunday I overheard some remarks on my performance from two farmers. Very good sermon this morning-the Curate is improving." "Yes, I told you he had good stuff in him-I could see it in his eyes and forehead." Oh, he'll do very well-you may be sure of that. His father is a good man and a clever workman. So was his grandfather. Not a better carpenter could you find anywhere than Isaac Williams, nor a shrewder head. And I think their descendant wont shame them. I believe in good blood both for horses and men. He'll be a good sound preacher if he lives-not showy perhaps, but good to wear." By degrees the old Church began to fill from six our congregation crept up to twenty, forty, and in about six months to seventy. The number of school children also increased-young and old now mustered about 100 to 110. The arrears of unbaptized chil- dren were heavy. One Sunday I baptized thirteen. At the first communion we were but six, vicar and myself included, and for some time longer our communicants were very few in number. Here our progress was slow, but we did make some progress, that was one comfort. In the course of the year six young folks were confirmed, and as five of them became communicants, our numbers received a perceptible increase. After that, we somehow had new life infused into us-one after another joined us till at last we numbered about thirty. It was still below what it should have been, but it was better than the old days. It was a quiet life enough at Cwm-m) Vicar was not fond of company, and had few visitors. I was young and unknown, and of course had still fewer visitors. My time was taken up in visiting, consoling, or advising our people the best way I could, which I fear was a lame way. But my efforts were appreciated. I liked the people very well and my life was very happy among them. There were no great successes to cheer one's spirits, but there was a quiet slow progress which satisfied me that I was doing more good. There was a good deal of time left for study-for the parish was small and compact. I had one incubus, to be sure-there were two sermons a week to write, for my vicar seldom preached. For a young man unused to sermon- writing, this was a heavy task. I did not know how to set about a sermon, and had paid too little attention to such models as might have come my way. During our last term at St. Bees, the fourth term men were in the habit of writing one short sermon a week, which was examined and commented on by the Principal. However, these were looked upon as themes or exercises in composition rather than as sermons, and I am afraid that the writing of them did not greatly facilitate subsequent sermon writing. Of course, such sermonettes were expected to be original in a certain sense-that is, absolute copying was forbidden, but commentaries were allowed. In this kind of compilation, such works as those of Henry and Scott were in great request, because they were the best storehouse for the manu- facture of padding. Most of the men were in no way particular about the orthodoxy of the patchwork or its coherency a bit of Barnes would be tacked on to a bit of Wordsworth Puritan Henry and Cavalier Hammond were forced into temporary union Scott jostled Patrick, and Jowett sat cheek by jowl with Trench. It was rather disappointing to anyone who pursued this ingenious plan to find the authors' names pencilled in the margin by the thin hand of the doctor, with a recommendation to sort his authorities better next time, or a sarcastic reference to a catena auctorum spoliatorum. Some were original, despising all extraneous aid, and produced some wonderful compositions. One began in this fashion The shades of evening were closing on the earth and night was casting her sable mantle over the craggy peaks and wooded dells of lonely, yet lovely, Olivet, when a small band of Christian warriors were seen wending their weary way over the toilsome ascent to a picturesque village that graced one of the summits of that world renowned range," etc. But there were not many of us capable of such a flight as this. We contented ourselves with the old stereotyped phrases, the inevitable three heads, and always ended with the orthodox "And now to conclude, let me draw your attention to," etc. I had certainly some opportunity at St. Bees of seeing a variety of sermons, for all the men's dis- courses passed through my hands on their way to the Principal, and I sometimes amused myself by reading some specimens of them, of which I have given a short sample. But reading sermons palls on most men, and I was no exception to the rule.