A GREAT EXAMPLE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 52, 2 March 1934, Page 13

A GREAT EXAMPLE

ST. DAVID OF WALES

MEMORY HONOURED

St. David's Day was celebrated by tho Welsh Society at a social gathering the Congregational Church schoolroom, Cambridge Terrace, last evening. < t In his address, the president (Mr. Hugh Owen), referred to the enthusiasm with which' Welshmen the world over paid homage to the memory of their patron saint. Great as was the pride of Welshmen in the charms and riches of their native land, their greatest national asset was to be found in the intellectual tasks and moral habits of the people, and it was because of tho influence exercised by St. David in the development of those qualities that his memory was held in ever-increasing veneration. They were told that some time in the sixth century there arose in tho southern part of Wales a leader of supreme power and personality, with gifts and abilities vastly beyond those of his living compatriots. Welsh people had made him the ideal of their national aspirations, and they tried to aim at the perfect example which tradition credited to-him. St. David was a great and eloquent preacher, Mr. Owen continued. That ho was a bishop_ was a historical fact, and he Taised in South Wales alone over fifty churches. More churches had been dedicated to his memory than to that of any other saint in the annals of Christendom. He was also a great educationist. Mr. Owen mentioned the establishment many years ago of a complete system of education made possible by the., contributions of the quarrymen of North Wales and' the miners of South Wales, a system which enabled the humblest Welsh ,boy or girl to attain a high educational status. It might bo said, he remarked, that the Welsh people found even their recreation in mental rather than in physical achievements. Their national Olympia was the Eisteddfod, an institution" that had done so much to stimulate the love for literature 'and foster tho gifts for music and arts.- ■,■'.. Mr. Owen stressed the significance of the successful efforts made by St. David's descendants to maintain the independence, of their, national cult. Among the greatest Welshmen of modern times, he mentioned Mr. , Lloyd George in politics, Lord Justice. Vaughan Williams and Sir Samuel Evans in law, Sir John Williams and Sir Robert Jones in medicine and orthopaedic, surgery, and in art Inigo Jones and Goseombe: John, During the war the Welsh regiments and their leaders made a great name for thqmsolves, and everyone was proud that they had proved themselves worthy descendants of the "Meriof Harlech.". . : - Addresses were also given by Dr. Beaumont," vice-president, Mr. Jones, president of the Hawera Welsh Society, Mr. Noel Evans, treasurer, and Mr. John Tucker. During the evening vocal and instrumental items were given.by Mrs. McLeod, Mrs. Wilmah, Miss'Bowen, Miss G. Wilman, Mr. T. J. Jenkins, and Mr. G. Evans. Supper was served, and the social concluded with Welsh community singing. .■...'-.