its own, many of its old territories have been given up to other nations. This is especially true of Schuylkill, Carbon and Lehigh counties Pa. Many Welsh churches of all denominations have been compelled to disband.

In all places the Welsh churches feel the encroachment of the English language on them, and this cannot be shaken off. The question to day is, What must be done? I cannot but admire the intense zeal made manifest by many of my own countrymen. How battles have been fought to keep the stranger in the back-ground. The encroachment of the English language on the Welsh churches is a fact, and what must be done?

1. WITHSTAND THIS TIDE, WHICH IS A RISING TIDE, AS LONG AS IT IS PRUDENT.

I believe that the existence of the Welsh language, in its present condition, is due more to the Welsh Presbyterians than to any other Welsh denomination, and this mainly through the instrumentality of their Sundayschools. Through this glorious institution they have performed heroic deeds. As far as my observation goes, the Congregationalists and the Baptists have not put forth such robust efforts. The Eisteddfod of the present day does but little to keep alive the Welsh tongue, for many of our most popular Eisteddfods are nothing more than mere musical festivals. Their popularity shows what the people want. Nearly all the adjudicaing and speaking is carried on in the English tongue. Many Presidents are totally ignorant of our glorious old language. and the conductor is asked by the Committee to speak so as to make John Bull and cousin Jonathan understand him. The Eisteddfod at Utica, Middle Granville and a few other places in the East, and also at a few places in the West, are conductmainly in Welsh, and here the people cling to the "Hen Iaith." The Welsh

language cannot lift up its voice and say, "I owe my health, strength and life the to Eisteddfod."

There is a little undue haste manifested sometimes in forming English classes in Welsh Sunday-schools. Some may say that without the Welsh we are not any poorer; I beg to differ, It will be a sad day in many ways when the Welsh language will enter no more into the sanctuaries, for it has been for centuries the language of the hymn sung, prayer offered, and the sermon. I shall never forget the words of the celebrated Francis Hiley, of the Baptist church at Llanwenarth, Monmouthshire, when he exclaimed in my presence many years ago: "Thanks be God for the Welsh language, it has been dyed red with the blood of Calvary." Its past history, the rich associations that cluster around its very name, the holy ties that bind it to our hearts and memories demand our respect and love. The English tide is strong and it threatens at times to sweep everything Cymric before it, but we will withstand it as long as it is wise for us to do so. We will do our very best by zeal and enthusiasm to build bulwarks to keep back the tide.

2. YIELD GRACIOUSLY WHEN THE PROPER TIME HAS COME. Will the Welsh language die out in the United States? I am almost afraid to answer lest some of my good and excellent brethren should think that I am a Judas. I have enough confidence in them to believe that if they differ in their voices from mine, they will do it in the kindest manner, I will venture to answer the question in this way, Independently of Welsh immigration, and that especially from the North, the dear old language will die out in the United States to all intents and purposes. It will forever remain a grand and sublime subject for study, but for public use it will be almost a thing of

the past. I hope this day is far off; I do not thing it is very near, may it be very distant in the far future.

I know some who on an Eisteddfod platform would hotly say "The Welsh in this country will never die,' and shout until the roof trembles, "Oes y byd i'r Iaith Gymraeg," (the age of the world to the Welsh language) who nevertheless, bring up their children, in total ignorance of the language they profess to love with all the burring intensity of a Welshman's heart.

In the Welsh ministry the field is narrowing year after year. Welsh churches must have ministers, who, to a very great extent are able to preach in both languages. The demands are such that the one tongue preacher is an obsolete article in many places, where a few years ago thriving Welsh churches shed their light without the aid of the Saxon.

What to do witth the young people of our Welsh churches is a problem which must be solved. In some churches it has been partly, and only partly solved, but not without hard struggles, and sometimes bitter contentions. In trying to bring about the solution of this problem in more than a solitary instance, the peace of the church has been disturbed and its harmony broken. In many instances the older brethren have manfully fought for the old language, and have wisely laid aside their own preferences and manifested a willingness to give in, and devote a portion of the Sundays in the month to English preaching, and other exercises. Some have an English sermon once a Sunday, some twice a month, others more economieal once a month. If many Welsh churches desire to retain their young people they must give them some English. It will be unwise in the elder members to fight against this. The tide is rising, and the tide cannot be kept back.

REFORMS IN CONNECTION WITH FUNERALS.

27

BY REV. R. GWESYN JONES, D. D., UTICA, N. Y.

Burying the dead is an ancient h mane and decent practice. The fir account we have of a special spot bury is where Abraham bought Macpelah to bury his beloved Sarah; a great many were buried there after her. To bury the dead is a matter of necessity lest the air be corrupted and kill the living. Every dead animal should be buried or burnt so as to keep the air as pure as possible. The funeral should show respect for the dead, but it should also be arranged so as not to wrong or overburden the living.

There are expenses occurring in the sick room which can not be avoided. The doctor's bill may become heavy; the nurse's bill may be great, and there are many other necessary expenses during a long sickness which are unavoidable.

But since an expensive funeral can in no way benefit the dead, there is no reason why the Undertaker's bill should be allowed to run higher than the ability of the living to pay with ease. Why should relatives who have nothing to spare have coffins twice or even six times as costly as they need be? Why bury the best of the deceased's clothes when a relative or friend really needs them for warmth and comfort, while they are no benefit to the dead? If a woman orders that her best shawl be buried with her lest her sister should wear it, I think her request should not be carried out.

Joseph made a very expensive funeral for his father Jacob, but he had all the wealth of Egypt to meet the cost. Nothing of the kind was attempted for either of the twelve Patriarchs.

The family of a millionaire may make a great show without feeling it

burdensome; but it would be foolish for persons of limited means to try and imitate them.

Some forty years ago it was customary in parts of Wales to give a silk hat band and a long silk sash with kid gloves to the officiating ministers, bearers, and some special relatives or friends. Also a piece of cake, a cup of warm beer and a glass of wine were given to everyone present. Why? Because it was the fashion. But it has been dropped in many places if not everywhere. We laugh at the heathen because they lay food, a bow and arrow with other things with the dead, because we know they cannot benefit him. How much wiser is it to cover the coffin with costly flowers which cannot benefit the dead in the least, but will fade in a day or two, so that they are only an useless expense to the living? Why cover the coffin with black cloth which is no good whatever but making it about twice the expense?

Then why have a dozen or more carriages to convey to the grave parties who did not think enough of the dead to visit the sick room once in six months or a year? Would it not be better to have only the near relatives to accompany the departed to the last rasting place?

The religious services at funerals should be conducted so as to comfort rather than burden the living. Every thing, the reading, prayer and remarks should be as short as possible. The relatives are tired through long watching and grief; the drivers often out in the cold and storm; many want to catch the train, so that a long service does more harm than good-irritating instead of comforting.

Again funerals should not be on the Sabbath except in cases when they cannot be on Saturday or postponed till Monday as in case of accident or contagious diseases. The Sabbath is

God's day for religious worship and meditation. Sunday funerals hinder these. They cause a great deal of traveling on that day. They disturb the regular preaching services and Sabbath schools of neighboring churches.

The funeral of the dead is a secular business throughout. It is a work that does not belong to the aim of the Sabbath. I do not see how Christians who attend funerals on the Sabbath can advise or blame others for using the Sabbath to their own purpose. Are teams traveling in a funeral doing any more sacred work than if driven for some other journey? The only excuse that can be given for Sunday funerals is that it is easier to get a crowd together. But is a crowd essential? Is it any benefit to the dead or the living? Would it not be better to have together the friends of the deceased and family who will come any day in the week if possible? If men cannot afford to come to a funeral on a week day, surely they cannot afford to come on the Sabbath. If a man cannot use his own day to go and bury his friend, he has no right to steal God's day which he expects us to use for his service and our own spiritual edification.

neighbors together to help him bury If a man has a right to gather his his dead on the Sabbath, why cannot he invite them to help gather his harvest on a very wet season?

If it is right for men and women to go to funerals on God's day, where is the wrong to go and visit distant friends or even drive out for pleasure?

How can ministers who attend funerals on the Sabbath day speak against opening the World's Fair or any other places of amusements on that day?

I write to those who believe in the sanctity of the Sabbath, and in our moral obligation to use it simply for

turn unto dust. The more imperishable the material that surrounds the dead is, the more dangerons is it far for the living, as the gas, which the earth would absorb if it came in immediate contact with it, may escape into the air and poison it.

They also condemn crape as being costly, useless, injurious to health and making the mind gloomy. It is a kind of advertisement of one's mourning, while real grief courts isolation and weeps in secret.

The Report makes no mention of Sabbath funerals or opening the coffin in church, though the names of a great many ministers are at the end. But they promise to issue pamphlets and throw greater light on the subject in future.

The

however, carry salary but affords an earnest man great and varied opportunities for doing national good in investigating the vast misappropriation of the revenues of the country. Welsh members are returning to London and will be in full force at the opening of Parliament next month. A large demonstration is to be held by London Welshmen upon the burning question of disestablishment in the Principality.

An important charter committee to promote a Welsh University has been sitting, which has drawn up a con

FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

The past month has been a quiet period in Welsh politics, broken only by the presentation of the petition against the return of Sir Pryce Pryce Jones for the Montgomery Boroughs

at the last election.

At the annual banquet of the Hon orable Society of Cymrodorion at the Hotel Metropole, a national presentation was made to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Sir David and Lady Evans. The presentation consisted of a portrait of lady Evans and a silver service of plate, the inscription thereon recognizing the generous charities and munificent hospitalities discharged by him to the "honor of Wales," during his term of office.

Sir John Puleston, who was so handsomely beaten at the last general election by that eloquent David of Welsh politics, Mr. Lloyd George, M. P., presided at the banquet. He mentioned that the Marquis of Bute had given £500 to the society to enable it to promote Welsh literature, science

and art.

Mr. Thomas Ellis, M. P., who is now Junior Lord of the Treasury, has been appointed by Mr. Gladstone to be a Charity Commissioner, a dignified post, which in his case does not,

entire control of the University will by this be placed in the hands of a court of 100 members, of which 13 will be appointed by the crown; 26 by the county councils of Wales, 36 by the authorities of the three existing university colleges of AberysBangor and Cardiff, and others by the heads of schools. Theological degrees will be granted at this University, and it is anticipated that it will be the most influential institution in the Principality.

That fighting prelate, the Bishop of tral doctrine of Christlanity was in St Asaph recently stated that the "cenprecarious hands," so far as the Calvinistic Methodists of Wales were concerned, He makes this statement upon two items of evidence:

1. That the Calvinistic Methodists have officially and repeatedly committed themselves to the support of undenominational teaching in our elementary and intermediate schools, and that (2) at the opening of Bala Theological college the principal, the Rev. T. C. Edwards, is reported to have used these words: "Now Calvinistic Methodism is going to take a new departure. The object of the new departure is not to denounce or even to refute error, but to discover and teach the truth." Further the Bishop add