CAMBRIAN NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17771, 15 February 1926, Page 10

CAMBRIAN NOTES.

CWNRARG. Some very beautiful hymns have been chosen for the. Welsh service in the Cathedral this year. Some are in the minor key, as is often the case in Welsh hymns. In comparing English and Welsh hymnology, Welshmen do N not claim that their hymns are better than the English, but as Welshmen, they think there is no comparison. We all think the keeping of the Welsh language would be advantageous to the culture of the Nation—but some say, in these commercial days, that it is not a helpful language to travellers; but rather the contrary, possibly on account of the accent, for Welsh speakers always speak English very correctly. To the Weigh the language is always pleasurable on account of its associations, and, above all, for its literature; still, in the realms of literture, the claims may be a little exaggerated. No one can compare the immortal Shakespeare with Twm o’r Nant; such a comparison is unfair to both. The language should be encouraged to help Welshmen to give to the world what Wales alone can give—her poetic spirit, her enthusiasm, her veneration for her heroes, her unswerving loyalty and her music and song.

The Welsh language would never have survived these hundreds of years had it not been essential in some way The language may languish and only live in small communities of Welsh folk who cling to it for old associations, but the music of Wales is a universal language, appealing to all, and understood by all the peoples of the world, and it will live for ever, fdr whatever serves the nations as a wh6le will never die. Those who argue about Welsh for the Welsh are rather narrow-minded, and would debar themselves from much more than they would gain. The appointmen of an ex-officer who did not speak Welsh, to an important office in Montgomeryshire, raised a storm of criticism recently: even in Christchurch there was some controversy on the subject, but the Welshmen of Winnipeg have surpassed themselves in their righteous indignation about it; though it is clearly no business of theirs. One of them waxed very eloquent, and “wrote to tne papers,” that last resource of those who fail to make their influence felt in any other way. He says “the weary exile in his rude log cabin, the blase seeker of adventure on foreign strands, or the enforced absentee alike, turns his thoughts, when alone, to the murmuring rills, tlpe placid landscape and the majestic grandeur of the mountains of his native land. To the proud possessor of the Celtic temperament is added the delight of the remembrance of his native tongue, the language of his forefathers, and in all possible times and seasons, he arid pis native brothers foregather to celebrate in rhyme and song the glories of their country. Imagine then, our astonishment, our disgust, yea, our fury, when we read of the appointment of an applicant to a public office who could not speak Welsh. Shades of Owen Glendower! All the wealth of poetry, the magnetic mysticism of music and the soul-stir-ring rhythm ;of the Celtic language, together with the heroic deeds of our patriots of old, rise before us as we think of the Philistine who dares to ignore his native tongue, and condemns it because it cannot express the sordid terms of £ s d, nor be the medium of shopkeeping accountancy. What was the secret of the resistance to those Sassenach assailants who vainly attempted to overrun our beloved Cymru, or what carried men like Lloyd George to the dizzy heights of fame but the inherent strength given by the knowledge that they- were of a race whose origin and tongue were lost in antiquity, whose history was wrapt up in the Celtic language, and whose souls were steeped in the wondrous streams of a music, second to none, when rendered in the native medium of expression? . Cannot -we call up the spirit of some bardic genius to versify this obvious apathy to your native tongue, as a condemnatory warning to the generations rising and unborn, or shall we leave it to oblivion and let it be wiped out as a foul blot on the escutcheon of a proud race?” This with vigorous hand thumpings and in Welsh should inspire terror into the heart of that official who knew more of law than of Welsh when he applied for the post of chief constable of Montgomeryshire. CHOIR. There was a good practice in the Cathedral on Sunday for the service in honour of St David on March 7. and several well-known members of the choir who had not been able to come before were present. Next Sunday there will be a practice in the Cathedral chancel, and Mr A. Owen will be present. Madame Gower-Burns will sing a sacred solo—as she has done at the seven previous services. Miss Bessie Pollard, who has been away from home, will play the accompaniments.

Tickets for the banquet at Dixieland and the concert in the Jellicoe Hall on February 27 can be had on application to the honorary secretary and members of the committee, and should be secured at once.

At a recent, wedding at St Paul s Church, Papanui, Mr Foster, the organist, played some of the beautiful old Welsh airs and hymn tunes. Many Welsh people present appreciated the pleasing little compliment to the bride, who, on her mother’s side, is Welsh, and to her Welsh friends.

Members of the. C ambrian Societyheard yesterday with much concern of the accident which befel one of the members of the choir, and the careless miscreants who caused it are greatly