It is an individual struggle for existence; an unscrupulous fight for personal success. As John Fiske says: "It is the epoch at which the predominant intellectual activity is employed in achievements which are mainly of a material character. With greatly increased power and mechanical improvements we are on the edge of poverty. Nearly the whole of this American community toils from youth to old age in mainly procuring the means for satisfying the transient wants of life." "Man is the rapidest motion and self-motion," says Carlyle; "restless with convulsive energy, as if driven by galvanism, as if possessed by the devil, tearing asunder mountains"what for? For the bare gratification of material wants. Truly the worst form of slavery and drudgery, love of gain, and the excitement of competition as means to accomplish that aim, is absorbing the human mind. Every moral and spiritual principle is endangered in the attainment of this material object. Human beings. are in extreme danger of being reduced to mere animals, or worse still, to automata. The moral and the humane are sacrificed on the altar of material progress "The wicked regardeth not." The sense of right and wrong has been replaced by the feeling of succeeding and not succeeding. It is not a matter of civilization, but of accumulation. It used to be a common belief that kings and princes were the cause of inequalities and poverty, but modern republics and ancient popular forms of government have shown that the lower classes can produce the worst kind of tyrants, and that the evil is not of a class, but of man. It is a question of human depravity, and the question of right can only be solved and settled by the evolution of the spiritual nature of man, and the subjugation of the personal and the selfish, viz the development of righteousness. It is righteousness that solves every social and moral difficulty. Wickedness is the embodiment of selfishness and pride, which never considers the rights of others. "The wicked regardeth not. In France, in the 17th century, the laboring class dared to say that the three states were brothers, viz ecclesiastical, the aristocratic and the laboring; but the aristocratic resented this, and responded, "That there was no manner of brotherhood between them and the working classes. We are in a miserable condition," they said, "if that is so!" Now a class of people that so despised their fellowmen were far from being considerate, and were hastening to their own destruction. In the following century, these workers, these brotherless sons of labor, these shoemakers, cobblers, and hand-workers of all descriptions rose up, and pretty nearly annihilated those proud aristocrats who had disowned them, and disinherited them a century earlier. A writer gives us the following picture of labor in France in the time when the aristocracy denied all relationship with the slaving classes: which shows the regardlessness, the recklessness, which prevailed among the nobility. “The "The poor people labor incessantly, neither sparing their bodies or souls; they labor, cultivate and harvest; they sell and bargain; there is neither season, nor month nor week nor day that does not call for their labor. They seem to be the ministers and mediators between God and life; and after all this slavery what have they? Sweat, anguish, nakedness, famine, and at last, a common ditch for a grave!" They were a class of people producing for an idle body, slaving for the sole purpose of supplying the wants and luxuries of those who utterly ignored and despised them. Their extreme poverty was the direct consequence of the regardlessness of the ruling class. This state of moral recklessness led to a frightful condition of anarchy and destruction. (To be continued.) CHRIST IS KING. By Index. Music by O. H. Evans, Mus. Doc., Marysville, Ohio.. In ages past the saints of old In gladness of His coming told; Through faith they saw the glorious dawn, And from afar to Him were drawn. Long, long ago they knew His name, They sang and glorified His fame: They saw the happy days appear, They saw His throne so bright and near! And angels wondered of'r His birth And joyful praises filled the earth! O! Bethlehem, sweet Bethlehem. Where Christ to us was born! What light around those meadows shone! The air was glad with harmonies. And angels whispered nigh, "Now has appeared among all men The glory from on high!" He was despised, rejected, and was slain, Esteemed we not His sorrow and His grief; We saw Him dumb in agony of pain, We thought Him wounded for His unbelief; We saw Him climb the weary Calvary, We scoffed and mocked Him all the way He trod; We saw him hanged and nailed upon a tree, Afflicted, stricken, smitten as of God! Twas on that tree on Calvary He rescued you and rescued me: He overcame all sin and shame. And now there's healing in His name! Now is raised the Holy Mountain, Now His Throne is seen on high; Now the crucified Redeemer To all wounded hearts is nigh! Come! ye thirsty ones, ye hungered, Come and leave your ways of woe; Come to where the living waters Through the peaceful pastures flow! Now the feast of God is ready! Now the gospel tidings ring! Over valleys, over mountains. Christ is Savior! Christ is King! Now is life for all the dying, Now is healing for the sore: There is pardon in abundance. There is joy forevermore! FIELD OF LETTERS December "Cronicl" has several articles discussing live subjects, such as "Future Wales," "Paul in the light of Jesus," &c. besides, we find notes by the editor on topics of the day; events of the month; memoirs and a variety of poems. "Myfanwy" is a novel by Allen Raine, which, if it were written in "English English," instead of Welsh, and if it had for setting an ordinary landscape, might be considered trite and overromantic even to mawkishness, with its theatrical situations and absuru climax. But written as it is with a foreign, not to say outlandish, environment, and with a setting picturesque in every detail, the story strong in outline and free from a trace of unpleasantness, it has an agreeable effect, and is not only readable but very interesting. "Cymru'r Plant" for December is beautiful and bright as usual, and we wish to commend its appearance and contents. Every family in Wales should take in a publication so interesting to children. Its contents for December are as follows: The Palmtrees of Palestine, the Snowdon Railroad, Tales of South America, Uncle William's Stories, &c., &c. The Rev. John Evans (Eglwysbach) was at the time of his death engaged in preparing a boon on "Preachers and Preaching," which he intended publishing under the title "Gweinidog Llwyddianus Cymru Fydd" ("The Successful Minister of Future Wales"). He had written seven chapters, under the following headings:-I, "Ei Ragbarotoad au Naturiol," II, "Ei Gynorthwyon Celfyddydol," III, "Ei Wai Rheolaidd," IV, "Brasluniau o rai o Brif Bregethwyr y Byd," V, "Nodweddau Hen Bregethwyr Cymru," VI, "Hawliau Gweinidog Cymru rydd ar yr Eglwys," VII, "Ei dylanwad ar Dynged ei Wlad," &c. "Young Wales" for December has several articles which will not fail to interest a native of Wales, viz. “Agricultural Industry of Wales," by J. E. Thomas, C. E. It furnishes considerable information regarding farming, and lays out facts and figures which are new to many. "A Forgotten Welsh Novel" by Owen Royston is another readable paper. The other interesting articles are: "The Development of Picturesque Wales," "Gwilym a Benni Bach," "Pioneers of Nationalities," "Welsh University Notes" by the editor, &c. The December number brings "Heddyw" to an end, and it is really a loss to see a bright publication like this disappear from among our monthlies. Are we to understand that 'Heddyw' dies not from lack of support, but from the retirement of the editor? Why couldn't it be continued under the care of another editor? This last number has a variety of articles and illustrations of interest, such as Lawrence Lowe, H. Parry's Papers, Beth a Wneir yn Mawddwy, The Defects of Bermo, &c. Insane Literati and Llanfachreth Fair are humorous and entertaining. The December number also concludes Vol. IV. of "Wales," which will be the last. is also the editor's farewell. The original aim of the editor was to make this magazine a means of enlightenment to the English-speaking parts of Wales, but he over-rated his strength and leisure. The duties of his profession calls for all his time, and this consideration compels him to abandon "Wales," as well as "Heddyw." This number contains "The Escape of Richmond," by H. O. Hughes, Newport; "Justice to the Dead Friars," by Hon. Mrs. Bulkeley-Owen; "A Lapse of Memory" by L. A. Hughes, Llanengan; and the conclusion of "The House of the Twisted Sapling." The preface to the fourth volume The November "Cymru" is attractive. The cartoon is the Chapel Proclaimer. He is a character of considerable importance. His work is partly performed now-a-days by the newspaper. He used to be next in dignity to the minister. "Hanes Cymru" is continued in this number, followed by several articles which cannot fail to interest the reader, such as "Many Books," "Judge David Lewis," "Well-known Poets of Wales," "The Wizard of Cwrt y Cadno," "Cornish Literature," and several other minor papers, with an interesting variety of poems. This number is precious. Contents of the "Drysorfa" for December are as follows: Address of the retiring editor; "Boasting in the Cross," by the late Rev. W. Ellis, Beddgelert; "The Forward Movement" by the Rev. J. Morgan Jones, Cardiff; "The Rev. Evan Jones, Llandinam, with a brief history of the Wern Family," by J. Jones, J. P., Llanfyllin; "Dignity of Man" by the Rev. Owen Owen, Pentrefelin; "Tale of Peggy Gib" by Mrs. J. M. Saunders; with work and movements of the denomination, reports of foreign mission, &c. The editor for 1898 will be the Rev. J. Morgan Jones, Cardiff. For Lue "Drysorfa" for the coming year articles and papers are promised by Rev. T. Levi, J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.; Dyfed; Owen Prys, M. A.; Griffith Ellis, and many other wellknown writers. The contents of the "Dysgedydd" for December are as follows: "Paul's Gospel," by the Rev. D. M. Jenkins, Liverpool; "Michael Faraday" (continued), by T. C. Jones; "Reminiscences of Eglwysbach;" "The Duty of the Church Towards the Poor," and "Memoirs of the Rev. T. Jones, Tabor," &c., events of the month, missions, reviews, poetry and reports of associations, &c. In this number also the committee present their prospectus for 1898, wherein they promise articles by the following popular writers: Rev. D. Adams, Liverpool; D. M. Jenkins, O. Evans, D. · D., R. Williams (Hwfa Mon), Proff. Anwyl, &c., &c. The "Geninen" for 1898 promises to be interesting and instructive, and the following well-known literati have been engaged to furnish articles and papers for the January number: Principal T. C. Edwards, D. D.; The Very Rev. Deacon of Bangor; Lewis Probert and J. R. Morgan, D. D. (Lleurwg); Griffith Parry, D. D.; W. Jones, M. P.; Professor J. Rays, M. A.; Principal Morris, D. D.; D. Lloyd Jones, M. A.; Michael D. Jones; Elfed; E. Cynffig Davies; Alavon; Ben Davies; Charles Ashton, &c., &c. The following subjects will be discussed during 1898: "Welsh Literature of the Present Century: Is it Regenerating or Degenerating?" "The Eisteddfod: Is it worth Perpetuating?" "The Welsh Pulpit: Its Influence; "Welsh Denominations: Their Characteristics." Leading writers of every denomination will express their views, and support their respective religious peculiarities. Also articles will be continued on the lives of departed Welshmen of national fame, such as the Very Rev. Arch |