Welsh Journals

RELIGIOUS. "On August 1st, at the historic Priory Church, Brecon, now the Cathedral of the new diocese of Swan- sea and Brecon, the Electoral College of the Church in Wales, consisting of 41 representatives, chose the Right Rev Edward Latham Bevan, M.A., D.D., as the first bishop of the new See. "Dr. Bevan, who was Suffragan Bishop of Swansea in the old diocese of St. Davids, out of which the new See has been carved, and Archdeacon and Vicar of Brecon, is 61 years of age, and for many years has been a conspicuous figure in Church work and social welfare activities. "The session of the Electoral College was protracted -from 10-30 a.m. till 5-20 p.m.-and throughout the day, near the church door, a considerable assembly awaited, in sunshine and storm, the decision of the conclave. "The deliberations of the Electoral College and the ballot figures are, of course, secret, but no election is possible unless a candidate secures two-thirds of the votes recorded." — South Wales News. Mr A. A. Head presided at the annual meeting of the Council of the "Welsh Keswick," when the follow- ing resolution was moved by the Hon. and Rev Talbot Rice, M.A., seconded by Mr C. Joyce (Newport), and unanimously carried :The members of the Council of the Uandrindod Wells Convention feel that the time has come for the careful consideration of the future of the movement for the deepening of spiritual life in Wales begun at the convention held in 1903. The Council desire to acknowledge the deep obligation that they feel to Mr Albert A. Head and others from England who have given constant thought and prayer and much labour to this work. They rejoice that the movement has now taken root in Wales, and is widely affecting the spiritual life of the Principality. They feel there- fore that the time has come for holding a conference of representatives of religious life in Wales to prepare a plan to make the convention more fully representative of the religious in Wales, and to take over the whole responsibility for the carrying on of the movement." The Council unanimously agreed to take steps to call such a representative conference for the carrying out of the resolution. On Thursday afternoon special thought was given to the fact that this was the 21st Convention, and very warm appreciation was expressed of the long-continued and devoted service of Mr Albert A. Head, the president. The speakers included Mr Head, Rev and Hon. W. Talbot Rice, Rev O. M. Owen, and the Rev D Wynne Evans. The balance sheet, submitted by the treasurer (Mr Joyce) showed that the cost of the 1922 Convention was £ 219 7s 10d. and that the receipts towards the expenses and extinction of debt in 1922 were £ 407 8s 2d. The debt balance at December 31st last was £ 216 13s 6d. Correspondence. To the Editor of the "Welsh Outlook." Sir.­Though nothing is further from my mind than to enter into a discussion with Dr. Lloyd Owen, may I make the position perfectly clear owing to the fact that his article is announced as a rejoinder to mine? Much of Dr. Owen's article was taken up in em- phasising the claims of Wales geographically and historically, its growing national spirit, and the increasing use of it within recent years as an adminis- trative unit. This, of course, is common ground. Few indeed to-dsy are they who refuse the claims of Wales in this direction or who doubt the ability of its people to administer self-government, notwithstanding the talk about servility." As he emphasises, Wales already has been entrusted in practice with no small measure of self- administration. The whole problem. however, is how to bring the question of Home Rule. from being a discus- sion in political science, to be a vital factor in practical politics. May I suggest that, in the first place, all those interested should meet, and, after a thorough examination, arrive at some reasonable measure of agreement as to what is needed. It is futile to expect something from the Imperial Parliament unless we ourselves are agreed as to what that something should be. This will involve a closer study of the subject than many have hitherto given to it. The next step will be to devise ways and means to bring the matter clearly before the electorate. It is no good our adopting a suspicious and cynical attitude towards our parliamentary representatives, for the crux of the whole business is the electorate which chose them. If, therefore, the public (as apart from a few publicists) favour the scheme, then of necessity there will be chosen members whose efforts will approximate to their promises. If we could get such a united front on this question as was shown recently with regard to the Ceiriog scheme, then progress would be reported. In the third place, mere negative thrusts, just as hurling epithets at the present form of government, even though they be justified, will not help us much. If difficulties arise let them be faced, for it is moral cowardice not only to magnify them unduly, but also to persuade ourselves that they exist not.­Yours truly, T. H. Lewis. A PRINCIPALITY WITHOUT A CONSTITUTION. Sir,-Anent my article on Welsh Home Rule in your August number, may I add a postscript? How humiliating for Wales to be a Principality with- out a Constitution! Wales should at once have a Parliament, with the Prince of Wales as a figure-head or something more, such Parliament to be almost plenipotentiary in domestic matters, though federated along with England, Scot- land, Ulster, and Manxland into a Regno-federal Par- liament-Itself in turn to become federated into an Imperio-federal Parliament along with the Irish Free State and our Colonies and Dependencies, all again to be, as a whole or severally (or both) members of the League of Nations. In such a Welsh Parliament the claims of Capital and Labour, of Welsh language enthusiasts, and those who are unconvinced of its indispensability, of wet and dry (or would-be dry) areas, of advocates of religious in- struction in schools and those content with non-religious moral instruction, and other contending claims, will have to be long and earnestly fought out and adjusted, making liberal use, perhaps, of the principle of con- tracting-out. In the meantime let all unite in demanding a Home Rule Constitution for a Principality with the Prince of Wales as head. At the present time controversial matters, such as mentioned above, are calculated to break up our national unity and weaken our national strength, and outside and alien aid is commandeered by either side. Much better compose our family differences within the doors of a Welsh Parliament. Incidentally, with such a Home Rule Constitution, Welsh University education, if not also secondary and elementary education, would become a national charge, and such disturbing and paralysing factors as the decision of Montgomeryshire to reduce, and finally stop its University grant, would be eliminated. Unite To win for Wales a Constitution; Not fight For present items of fruition. Agree To disagree o'er applications; First make For Wales a place among the Nations! ­I am, sir, yours, etc. E. LLOYD OWEN. Criccieth, 27/8/23.