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Mr Evan Roberts. ] -]

OLD v. NEW THEOLOGY.

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OLD v. NEW THEOLOGY. CONFLICT AT ABERCWMBOI The Two Sides give their version. If the City Temple has won renown as the birthplace of the New Theology, to Bethlehem, Abercwmboi, belongs the hon- our, if honomr it be, of being the first church to expel the followers of the Rev R. J. Campbell. Dr. Warshauer, when he visited Aberdare some time ago, said that the old Orthodox Theology was dead, only its adherents were unaware of the fact. But at Bethlehem, Abercwmboi, it is very much alive. The minister, 11 out of 12 deacons, and all the members except some 16, are as one in their de- termination to keep pure and undefiled the faith of their fathers. The Rev. J. Bowen Davies, the pastor, has been there since 1897, and during the last 10 years the membership has in- creased from 164 to about 350. 262 new members have been received by him dur- ing the same period. In the present action he is taking, in conjunction with his church, against the « I:ecalcitrants," he is receiving the support of Bethesda, the local Baptist Church, and also a large number of outsiders, who have written and wired congratulating him upon his timely and pluoky action. From inquries made by a Leader representative from a supporter of the minister, we are enabled to give a history of the movement which has culminated in the present trouble. It transpires that last summer, the New Theologians rare- ly attended the Sunday services, prefer- ring to meet in a field to discuss the new gospel. Mr. Roderick Rhydderch is said to be the teacher, while two members of the class were Mr. Samuel Davies, one of the deacons, and Mr. Jonathan Pugh. These men have been suspects in the church for some time, but it was only a month ago that the first public intimation was made by them. It was at a church meeting, when the appointment of preach- ers for the Gymanfa was being discussed. One of the Campbellites suggested that Mr. E. R. Dennis, Aberdare, be one of the preachers. The suggestion was im- mediately tabooed, for it was well known then that Mr. Dennis has changed his views and had accepted a call to become minister of the Rhondda Unitarian Churches. The 'sequel to this bold move was that the heterodox members were subjected to a catechism on Tuesday, Oct. 20th. At a church meeting on this date, the pastor put a number of questions to the New Theologians present. They were asked if they believed in the deity of Christ, and one of their number said No," to which the other members sig- nified their approval. They subsequent- ly denied other doctrines, such as the Fall, the Atonement, Inspiration and In- fallibility of the Scriptures, etc., which are considered to be fundamentals of Christianity. At the close of the meet- ing the Rev. J. Bowen Davies and his deacons, plainly told them that from that day they, and those of similar belief, must no longer consider themselves members of that church. The ex-communicants have protested against this action, and last Sunday evening a scene was created just after the service. When the first meeting was over Mr. Jonathan Pugh got up and com- menced to protest against the action of the church. He had not said many words when Mr. Philip Rees, A.C., one of the deacons, led off with a hymn, the congregation joining, and thus complete- ly drowning the voice of Mr. Pugh. The non-members filed out during the singing, and the members, as usual, in- cluding Mr. Pugh, remained. The latter again attempted to speak, but was promptly stopped by the pastor, who closed the meeting without holding the customary seiat. The incident caused quite a sensation. Interviewed on Monday, one of the most prominent men connected with Bethle- hem said that the Campbellites were a lot of theological suffragettes, and if they persisted in their conduct, the long arm of the law would be requisitioned. H .W f) are bound to expel them," he continued. "Our Trust Deeds will not allow men holding such heretical views to remain inside the church. The Trustees could shut up the church to-morrow and ap- peal to the Congregational Union if the minister tolerated such views." "What about Tabernacle, Aberdare, and the City Temple, and other Congre- gational Churches?" asked the reporter. It may be," was the reply, that the trustees are in sympathy with the minis- ter and with the New Theology. But even in those cases the real principles of the church are being prostituted." "What are these Trust Deeds? I see that those whom you have expelled claim that the Congregational Churches have no creed." "That is absurd. The Congregational Churches have been established on the tenets referred to in the Trust Deeds, and whoever is out of harmony with those views has no right to remain in a Con- gregational Church. He is an impostor. The mode of Baptism, for instance, is but a side issue, but ministers and mem- bers have been known to change their denomination over such a question as that. The New Theologians, however, go further, for they deny practically all the fundamentals of Christianity. They seem to go beyond Unitarianism. "What are the tenets in the Trust Deeds ?" "They refer to a 'Declaration of the Faith, Church Order, and Discipline of the Congregational, or Independent Dis- senters, adopted at the annual meeting of the Congregational Union, May, 1833.' This lays down that the Scriptures are Divinely inspired and of supreme authority; that God is revealed as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; in Christ's mediation, etc., etc." But why should Bethlehem take this course? Possibly there are New Theolog- ians in every Nonconformist Church in the valley." "Yes, there are a number in Bethania and Soar, Mountain Ash. In the former place they are allowed to teach in the Sunday Schools and take part in 'holi'r p,yne.' The ministers and deacons should take their courage in both hands and have them expelled. In our Sunday School we have for some time. studiously avoided appointing a New Theologian as teacher. It is often said that the best ycung men are drifting towards Ration- alism. It should be noted that we are not losing the best in this instance. Most of them have adopted the political views of Mr. Campbell, and are I.L.Peers. They are a very cantankerous lot, and the church will go on better without them." "They refuse to consider themselves excommunicated ?" U Yes, but they are nevertheless. Their names have been struck off the register." What if they persist in attending the services and partaking of communion?" "We shall take legal proceedings with- out any hesitation. Their logical course is to leave this church, and join the Unitarians, or set up a new denomination of their own." The deacons of Bethlehem are Messrs. John Davies, David Davies, Wm. Rees, Daniel Isaac, Philip Rees, A.C., Evan fones (builder), John Evans, Joseph Wil- .iams, David Jones, Augustus Davies, Elenry Williams, and Samuel Davies. The ast-named is the one who has been ex- pelled. We learn that last Sunday evening several of the expelled members attend- id Rev. George Neighbour's Brotherhood Church at Miskin. t THE OTHER SIDE. WHAT THE EXPELLED MEN SAY. Our reporter had an opportunity on Tuesday evening of conversing with seven or eight of the sixteen who have been ex- pelled. Mr R. Rhydderch at once volun- teered the fullest information. He said that the first discordant note was struck in Sunday School, when, in. consequence of a remark made by one of the scholars, Mr. Evan Jones, builder, who is a Sun- day School teacher and a deacon, called a person an "Iiifidel." Some of those who participated in church meetings and prayer meetings studiously referred in scathing terms to the New Theology. All this, of course, was rather exasperating to the men who sympathised with Mr. Campbell's views. In August the time came to select two preachers to officiate at the Gymanfa to be held next May. Amongst the 11 names nominated were Rev. T. Rhondda Williams, Bradford, and Mr. E. R. Dennis, who was then a member of Siloa Church, Aberdare. As is customary, a vote was taken, and fhe two selected ones were Rev. Rhondda Williams and Rev. David Rhydderch, Llandovery, a brother to Mr. R. Rhydd- erch. It transpired that neither of these could come, and so another vote was taken until the list had been reduced to five names (including Mr. Dennis).' This was in September, and in the meantime Mr. Dennis had received an invitation to become the pastor of two Unitarian Churches. On the motion of Mr. Samuel Davies (one of the New Theologians), it was decided to cancel this list and pre- pare a new list. That was carried. The fresh list contained the names of Rev. J. M. Jones, M.A., Aberdare, and Rev, Enoch Hughes, Cwmtwrch. One of the deacons objected, and referring to the latter's sermons at a previous local gather- ing, said that his teaching was unhealthy (afiach). Proceeding, Mr. Rhydderch said: The minister and deacons have not treated us fairly. Whenever members are to be ex- communicated the custom of the church has always been (1) to appoint two deacons and the pastor to speak to the erring ones; (2) to give notice of motion that the names of such members are to be struck off the roll; (3) to give those members notice to attend the church meeting at which the resolution is to be passed. Reporter: Were these regulations ob- served in your case? Mr. Rhydderch No, not one of them. The church meeting that discussed our affair was held on Tuesday evening, Oct. 20th. No notice had been given that the matter was to be brought forward, and it should be noted that there were only 12 present. It so happened that two or three of our way of thinking were there. The following resolution was passed by those 12 members out of nearly 400 that are on the church register: That .¿his church meeting decides that those who fellow the New Theology must consider themselves no longer members of this church. At this meeting our colleagues were subjected to a theological inquisi- tion by the minister. Mr. Jonathan Pugh here took up the thread of the story and related the ques- tions and answers. The minister asked if they believed in the Fall. Mr. Pugh replied No," the others not answering. The next question was, "Do you be- lieve that Christ's death reconciled God and man." An answer in the negative was again given by Mr. Pugh. Then came the following: Do you believe there is more virtue in the blood of Jesus than, say, in the blood of John Penry?" Another of the expelled men answered "No" to this, meaning that there was no essential difference except in degree. The resolution referred to above was then, I passed, A conversation ensued, and the New Theologians were told that they were afraid to go out to the world (" ofni myned allan iJr byd"). They were fur- ther told that they did not understand the Rev. R. J. Campbell. "Thank you for the compliment," was the retort. On the following Thursday evening further conversation took place at a meet- ing, when Mr. Jonathan Pugh and his colleagues were told that they did not know anything-that they did not under- stand .Sir Oliver Lodge. One of the deacons was asked if he believed that the soul of Dr. Martineau had gone to God? The deacon replied that he had never heard of Dr. Martineau. These are the men," commented the speaker to the re- porter, we have to deal with, who know absolutely nothing of the 'religious awak- ening in the country. If it were in their power they would heat the fiery furnace seven times seven its wonted tempera- ture, and put us all inside. The spirit of persecution has not been killed, it lives and flourishes at Abercwmboi." You maintain," interposed the Press- man, "that you have not been properly expelled P" "Yes" was the reply. "They wish to get rid of us, but they decline to under- take the responsibility of excommunicat- ing us. What they would like is that we should voluntarily withdraw. We say they have no right to expel us except for some kind of misconduct. They can- not drive us out for any offence re matter of-creed." But are not the Trust Deeds based on a Declaration of Faith adopted by the Congregational Union in 1833?" A good many things have happened since then, and it is rather toS late in the day to subscribe to those beliefs." What about the future—do you in- tend to persist in remaining members and to avail yourselves of the privileges of m embers p" No, we have decided to leave them alone, and not to attend there in future." "THE CHURCHES AND THE NEW THEOLOGY." Dear Sir,—The other day some startling news reached us from Abercwmboi. They are making history down there just now —on the cheap. Thirteen (unlucky num- ber) members of the Congregational Church were excommunicated for being New Theology men. Thirteen put out of the. Synagogue Now I firmly believe the churches need purifying. But may I suggest that a church member can be guilty of worse things than the sin (?) of being a New Theologian. I wonder how many boozy deacons there are in our churches ? Which is the 'greater of two evils-drinking or New Theology? I sub- mit that the proper persons to go, and that, too, through the back door, are those who have something morally wrong in their lives. I should like to know how many of the elect which still retain their membership at Abercwmboi, are in the habit of paying their debts? The next step, I take it, will be to show the door to the drinking deacon and the non-pay- ing pew-holder. But here a difficulty arises. Who is to do it? "He' that is without sin let him cast the stone." That is inspired Scripture. There are plenty of stone—big ones—lying about; but not quite so many who are morally qualified to throw them.—Yours truly, W. J. ROWLANDS. Congregational Minister, Hirwain.

Funeral of Rev H. J. Harris.

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To Oppose Mr Keir Hardie.

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