Cylchgronau Cymru

A RECORD OF CHRISTIAN WORK AMONG THE CaMnistic Methodists or Presbyterians of Wales. Vol. II. No. 5.] MAT, 1886. [Price One Penny. azotes an6 ©ommente. We had made arrangements for a portrait and a short memoir of the late highly- respected and much-lamented lay officer of our Connexion, C. Hughes, Esq., J.P,, Wrexham, to appear in our present issue; however not having reached us in time, we are compelled to hold them over until next month. Two more of the fathers have gone to their rest, and that after a long day's toil. The Eev. D. Hughes, Carmarthen¬ shire, was born in the year 1799, at Llangeitho—the Jerusalem of Welsh Methodism, and was received into full membership at an early age, being spoken to on the occasion by the Rev. T. Charles, of Bala. When about 15 years of age he removed into Carmarthenshire, where he commenced to preach when only 19, and having spent the greater part of his long ministerial life within the boundaries of that county, he died at Llanelly on the 18th of March last, having reached the patriarchal age ot 87. He was "full of sap and green" to the very end; H though not a profound preacher his heart was in preaching, and not only in preach¬ ing but in making new sermons to preach. The very last sermon he preached was a brand new one—never preached before— and it is said that he had fifteen sermons written out which he had never had the opportunity of delivering. He was of a gentle, courteous disposition; his character pure and spotless, and the doctrines which he preached in his life were his stay and support in death,—the great verse of his very last day on earth being, " In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of our sins." The Rev. Griffith Jones, Tre'rgarth, died on Sunday, April 18th, in the 78th year of his age. He had been ill for about three years and a half, and en¬ dured great suffering with the fortitude and resignation of a true man of God. He commenced preaching in the year 1832, and thus had been in, harness for more than fifty years. His end was peace. Fkom the discussions which took place at New Quay and Ruthin Associations, to¬ gether with the general consensus of the opinions expressed on both occasions, it is abundantly evident that the time is very near at hand when radical changes will be made in the character of the studies to be pursued both at Bala and Trevecca. The Bala Committee, two years ago, screwed up their courage to pass a resolution to con¬ vert their College into a Theological Hall as soon as practicable; but all their courage seem to have been expended in passing the resolution, for they took no further action in the matter, nor, as far as the evidence goes, were they likely to do so, were they not taken to task at the Ruthin Associa¬ tion. Now, however, they are expected to face the matter in right-down earnest, and to give themselves no rest until the work is successfully accomplished. We can see no force in the plea that they did not like to hurry matters during the life-time of Dr. Edwards, for it is well- known that the venerable Doctor is in full accord with the contemplated change, and we believe that he would die happier —may that event, however, be far distant —were be to see the new dispensation in successful operation before he was called hence. As regards Trevecca College, we think that the Association acted wisely in deciding to limit the election to the Classical Chair to a definite period, and if the special Committee, which is to meet at Llanelly this month agree to imme¬ diately strike out mathematics from the curriculum, our way will be gradually clearing up, and we shall be able in a year's time to start upon an altogether new course. We were greatly pleased some time ago to learn that the Rev. T. J. Wheldon, B.A., had given notice of a motion with the view of ventilating the important question of one College for the whole of the Connexion, and -we are glad to find that the South Wales Association have also taken up the matter, and forwarded a resolution to the General Assembly inviting a discussion on it on. the; part of the whole Body. It was most assuredly a mistaken policy to have established two separate Colleges, and the sooner we re¬ trace our steps the better both for the students and for the Connexion. Had we but one College we could afford to engage the services of four or five Pro¬ fessors, and with such a Professorial staff there would be no difficulty in persuading men who had graduated at our National Colleges to enter for a theological course of two or three years. Our readers will be glad to learn that the Rev. Grif. Hughes, one of our indefati¬ gable Missionaries from the Khassi Hills, has reached home in health and safety. This is the second time that he has come home since he first went out about twenty years ago. We hope that he will be allowed a few months of almost perfect rest from all public labours before he will be called upon to start upon a lecturing tour up and down our country, though, undoubtedly, everybody is anxious to hear the very latest reports from eye-witnesses of the progress of our missions in that far-away land. We have just read with great interest a letter from the Rev. Jerman Jones, which has been sent to the Welsh papers, in which he gives a graphic account of a missionary tour recently' made by him through the northern district of Khasia. In summing up his report, he says that the various outlying stations are in a hopeful condition ; in one or two places only the Cause had been stationary, while in all the others considerable progress had been made during the past year, and the christians seemed more vigorous and en¬ ergetic with the work of the Lord than [Ti times gone by. During the last few months there has been a great revival of interest in the Cause of Missions in England and America, and a larger number of candi¬ dates for the various Mission fields have lately offered themselves to the different Societies in both Countries than ever be¬ fore during the same period. We should like to hear that this wave of interest had also touched our Body, both in the matter of money and of men, and of women too.