Cylchgronau Cymru

should give those who control its destinies much food for thought. Two impressions were confirmed by the Conference the first was that education is still far too much a matter of prejudice and of vague opinion the second that much of our educational administration is too narrow and local. The administrative area is still too rigorously inclusive. We are, in short, faced with the danger of a narrow parochialism, of a lack of enlightened co-operative outlook in the administration of what is after all a national education. Theological Dr. Cynddylan Jones is apparently Studies anxious to restore Trefecca into a position something akin to its old-time glory, when it had a full staff of professors, and trained in arts and theology practically all South Wales students preparing for the Calvinistic Methodist ministry. Many of them came there straight from the plough, the mine and the quarry, fired with zeal for the work of evangeliza- tion, and impatient of the restraints imposed by the need for prolonged preparation. But much water has flown under the bridges since the days of David Charles, Wm. THE first condition of success [for the Welsh Nation] is faith in herself, a real faith, not a faith expressed merely in words, but a living faith issuing in deeds. I believe in the natural genius of the Welsh people, and in their capacity to make their University respected among the Universities of the world. and I would say to the public bodies of Wales and to all Welshmen-Have faith in your University if you have not, none else will have faith in the wisdom of its governing body, in the efficiency of its Colleges, the high standard of its examinations, and the value of its degrees as a testimony to training and attainments. The foundation of your University confers on you a new power it confers on you also a new res- ponsibility make your University what it should be, and never err by want of confidence in your power to make it great." Those were the words of profound wisdom addressed to a group of Liverpool Welshmen, soon after the institution of the University of Wales, by Principal Viriamu Jones, one of the inspired prophets of higher education in Wales in its adventurous days. Since those words were spoken, nearly a quarter of a century has passed, and there are scores of devoted Welshmen to-day beginning to inquire whether the achieved result is alto- gether worthy of the ideal and the devotion of the pioneers, and whether, in facing an uncertain and critical future, our educational leaders and counsellors possess the vision and the sincerity and the courage of those who laid the foundations of our system of University and Higher Education. It is, we know, only a little over a year since Howells, and Edward Matthews, and the denomination, in removing its college to a university centre, and confining its operations principally to a course in theology to students already well trained on the arts side, has marched with the times. Would the venerable doctor put back the hands of the clock ? It is significant that when he launched his proposals at the Port Talbot Association he was as a voice crying in the wilderness, and found himself in a minority of one. Leadership, in the pulpit and out of it, can be won only by men in close and vital touch with the needs of their fellows, and no step could be more retrograde than to revive a system which isolated minis- terial students for a period of years in a rural seminary far away from the hum and clatter of the people. The Associations of Trefecca are admittedly sacred; its traditions are an asset that must be jealously preserved and as a retreat for quiet days for ministers in need of solitude and rest, the place is ideal. This is true likewise of Bala,. Lampeter, and Brecon. Perhaps the time is not yet, but it soon must be when each of the three university towns in Wales will have its United Theological College, with doors wide open to the students of every branch of the Christian Church. THE OUTLOOK THE SPIRIT OF REACTION the appearance of a State document of first importance, dealing in detail with the whole issue of Welsh University education, and all educationalists in the Principality are agreed that its conclusions and recommendations are marked by sound experience and true statesmanship. Nor have we any doubt that there is a sincere determina- tion to give effect to the administrative reforms recom- mended by the Commission, but it is of the utmost impor- tance at the moment to remember that administrative perfection, though of enormous importance, is in fact no evidence of real vitality and no security of future prosperity. We may reconstitute our Courts and Councils, we may polish our syllabuses, we may multiply our Faculties and reorganise our studies, we may extend our activities, and place our finances on sound economic bases and, in the end, find ourselves with a corpse. Indeed, we fear that this belief in the universal efficacy of mere organisation without any reference to the spirit in which it is carried out and without much concern for the personality and ideals of the men who are to run the reconstructed engine is one of the chief dangers of Welsh education at the moment. We can say more. There are signs on all hands that the obsession with the immediate technicalities of reconstitution has to a great extent obscured true vision and blotted out from our sight the great first principles which we should always attempt to apply to all these questions. During the last two years, there have been three attempts at the election of new principals for two of our University Colleges. It is not our intention here to criticize the