Welsh Journals

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If our analysis of the current of Welsh life in its religious aspect be even approximately true, then certain dark and disquieting facts of contemporary life become explicable. A candid friend and critic of the Welsh people has recently declared that there is a poison in the life of modem Wales, whilst one of the notable figures of eisteddfodic circles has given expression to the prevalent misgiving and heart-searching in his lament over the dearth of great men and women. If by com- mon consent the genius of our Celtic character lies in the direction of spiritual truth," what greatness is possible when we have ceased to hearken to our noble calling, and are content with slothful indolence entrenched behind the achievements of our forefathers ? Moreover, the certain inevitable result of a successful persecution is spiritual death to its victims the unholy compromise for ever seals the fate of the man or woman who accepts it. What sense of personal worth, what stoutness of self-respect can remain? What real elevation of sdt is ever possible to the unwilling participator in this pious fraud ? Unhesitatingly we declare that the conditions of life in Wales to-day place a premium on hypocrisy; all that is vital in the young life of Wales is being done to death by the heartless Juggernaut of prejudice and intolerance. The disastrous consequences of this tampering with truth produce their fell effects in our daily life we have accustomed ourselves to an insidious duality in our moral concepts. There are the expressions of opinion and courses of conduct which conformity to established usage enforces upon us, while deep down in the recesses of our mind is the persistent voice of that other self which refuses to be quelled. Who would dare to compute the number of those who are doomed to fritter away a distracted existence between the alter- nating demands of their real and reputed selves? Wherever the organized tyranny has reduced individual life to this pitiable condition, it is sheer mockery to ask for evidences of greatness to maim the eager aspiration of the sou! is to destroy the vital principle of human progress. That is the poison which pervades the entire system of a nation's life its damning effect in reducing to barrenness the whole field of national effort is becom- ing increasingly evident. In the words of John Morley, A sky of grey November, while mist the lowland fills; And the wine-red bracken glowing like sunset on the hills; Bird-cherry's bright, pure scarlet; Larch-woods powdery gold, And fiery beeches flaming in the valley's emerald fold; There are crimson hawthorn-berries, rose berries coral fine, And on the blue-spurred mountains like light the birches shine Softer than a dove's breast-the shadowed, silent sea- Silver like a dove's breast, where no motion seems to be: The tranquil tide is sleeping, no seagull dips his wings, But the soft lights move and quiver, the only living things Here are lines of maples yellow as the woods of fairyland. And glorious golden chestnuts, green oaks on either hand. All grey yet diamond-lovely the distant mountains beam. With emerald turf and wjoodlands and the brackens rough red gleam. Decay Ah, no the springtime was but meant to bring it here, God's lovely thought consummate, his mystery made clear. O, lonely elfin mountains on the sombre hills unfurled. Your magic, burning beauty is the secret of the world the consequences of putting immediate social convenience in the first place and respect for truth in the second, is a distinct and unmistakable lowering of the level of national life." Nevertheless, the hope may be permitted that our old Welsh proverb may be verified, and that a dark and discouraging phase of our history is drawing to a close, that a fresh dawn is at hand. Forces have been let loose which may well transform institutions and customs that have become hoary with age. In the present generation the apathy and indifference of the mass has been stirred forced to face the poignant situations of a world war, it has realized how futile were the venerated forms and how imperative a sure foothold in life. Meanwhile the revolt against the domination of the least progressive element in the country spreads; slowly the number increases of those who abjure the compromise. Steadily, if we be not mistaken, power will pass from the hands of the ruthless tyrants w| have so shamefully abused their trust. For they, with their easy acceptance of a creed, were never the guardians of the religious tradition of Wales rather are those the true successors of the sturdy fathers who dare to march forward in the forefront of the army of progress. The source of their strength was a personal experience of the way of salvation and an unflinching determination to follow the truth vouchsafed to them so Welshmen of this age must catch something of their spirit, and build in Wales a social conscience on the firm basis of personal experience and knowledge. It may be that a new vigour may be infused into the old forms if not, then resolutely and patiently we must lay the foundations of a new edifice. Above all things we must avoid a hypocritical conformity," and to that end we must practise the large unlimited toleration which Roger Williams preached over three hundred years ago. Wales will be then freed from the soul-destroying compromise which is sapping its strength, and as Welsh- men we shall learn to look at one another with a clear and steadfast eve, and march forward along the paths we chose with firm step and erect front," remembering always that it is truth that in the forum of conscience claims an undivided allegiance." AUTUMN WOODS. L. Winstanleyf.