Welsh Journals

Welsh Societies. THE NATIONAL UNION OF WELSH SOCIETIES. EU HIAITH A GADWANT." RECENT years have witnessed a great revival of interest in the preservation of the Welsh language and in the promotion of the ideals of the Welsh people. Without being unduly egotistic, the above union may claim some credit for being the fountain from which have flowed some of the living waters which have revived many a dormant Welsh society. The union was inaugurated at Neath in 1913. Its first president was the late Sir Edward Anwyl. Mr. D. Lleufer Thomas, M.A., suc- ceeded Sir Edward, and when Mr. Thomas, owing to multitudinous other duties, was com- pelled to resign, Mr. Edward T. John accepted office, which he has ably and diligently filled up to the present. The union aims at safeguarding the interests of the Welsh language in the schools and public life of Wales. It carries out its mission through its various constituent societies. These are very far flung-from Manchester to Fishguard, and from Cardiff and Newport to Liverpool and Holywell. Glamorgan and South Wales in general constitute the main strength of the union. This is as it should be, for the Angli- cising tendencies are most forcibly felt in these districts. Conferences and public meetings have been held at populous centres. The annual conference at Aberdare in May, 1924, was a conspicuous success. Barry was the venue of the 1925 con- ference. Individual societies organise lectures on national subjects, and serve as a popular university in their immediate districts. Welsh adults have become familiar with the history public opinion is ultmately moulded and formed. The societies in the various ancient tribal divisions of Wales constitute federations, and these also are most active in promoting confer- ences and public meetings. Lately, a very active campaign on behalf of Welsh Nationalism has been in progress. The Rhondda societies have been more or less to the fore in the campaign. Aberdare arranged a series of meetings, and the North Wales societies have been organsed in 1925. The union has verified the truth of the saying, Nothing succeeds like success." It now com- mences its second decade of activity, and pro- mises to exceed in usefulness even its earliest years. Most of the prominent public men of Wales are in the movement-either directly connected with the Council of the Unon or with the various federations, or associated with the individual societies up and down the land. The union is non-political, inter-denomi- national-or, rather, undenominational; it aims at being purely national in its activity and out- look. A Welsh Holiday School is annually held at Llanwrtyd. Its director is Mr. Roland Thomas, M.A., Brecon. The chairman of the Council of the Union is Councillor Philip Thomas, Neath; the treasurer is Mr James Clement, Sciwen; and the general secretary, from the formation of the union, is Mr. D. Arthen Evans, Glyn Geraint, 15, Somerset Road, Barry. WELSH FOLK SONG SOCIETY. By Mrs Gwyneddon Davies. AMONG THE many Societies that will be holding their annual meetings at the Pwllheli Eisteddfod will be the Welsh Folk Song Society, which this year will be entering on its 25th year of most valuable service to the student and lover of music in Wales. In the early years of this century, throughout Europe, from Russia to Ireland, from Norway to Greece, there was a great movement leading to an intensive research into the folk music of the different nations, and ultimately resulting in a definite recogniton of the value of folk songs in the musical ife of the people, and the activities of the Welsh Folk Song Society have just been part and parcel of this wonderful renaissance. The Society was formed at Carnarvon during the Eisteddfod of 1906 by a small group of enthu- siasts, who were convinced that there was still a rich store of folk songs lying hidden in the memory of the old people, and it was then decided to form a Society which should give an organised lead to the collecting and recording of folk melodies. The movement was initiated and inspired by the zeal of Mr J. Lloyd Williams, of Aberystwyth, who at that time had already formed his group of Canorion at the Univer- sity College at Bangor. Among those who were present with him at the first meeting were Sir Harry Reichel, Llew Tegid, A. P. Graves, the late Sir John Rhys, Sir T. Marchant Williams, Sir O. M Edwards, Robert Bryan, and John Williams (Carnarvon). The Society's first President was Sir Wm. Preece, the eminent scientist. He was succeeded by one whose name is loved and revered throughout the Principality. It was a fitting tribute to pay to Mary Davies, who over 50 years ago, with the singing of Y Deryn Pur," and other Welsh folk songs, had sung herself into the very hearts of the Welsh people. The result of the 25 years' work of the Society has fully justified the faith of its founders. Some