by Peter Garwood
(courtesy of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs)
OPENING DAY
The Welsh National Temple of Peace and Health was meant as a symbolic gesture of the commitment of the whole of Wales to two causes by providing space for two organisations: the King Edward VII memorial association, which funded research into tuberculosis, and the League of Nations Union in Wales, formed to support the work of the League of Nations and its efforts for international peace.
The day of the opening of the Temple of Peace and Health arrived: a typical November day with a gale that had torn branches off trees in Cathays Park. In his opening speech, Alderman Sir Charles H. Bird CBE said:
“Much thought has been given to the question as to who should be asked to unlock the door on the occasion of to-day’s function, and it was felt that no better choice could be made than some representative Welsh mother, to represent not only the mothers of Wales and the Empire, who lost their sons in the Great War, but also to the mothers of other countries, the loss of whose sons has brought such poignant sorrow to them, whatever their nationality may be.
So it is that we have with us today Mrs James of Dowlais who lost three of her sons, and we are all happy in the knowledge that she has been spared to join with us in this ceremony of dedication.
It is, therefore , with great sense of the honourable position to which I have been appointed as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Welsh National Temple of peace and Health, that I now call upon Mr Percy Thomas, the architect of this building to present Mrs James with the key, and to request her to perform the opening ceremony.”
At the ceremony Mrs James was wearing a hat and holding a large bouquet of scarlet carnations given by the Hon. Lady Davies and was wearing all three sets of medals that had belonged to her sons. Mrs James spoke into the microphone:
“We are assembled here to day to take part in the solemn dedication of this building for the noble purposes for which it was erected.”
She was presented with a Golden Key by Mr Percy Thomas, the architect, to open the doors of the Temple. He said: “Mrs James I have pleasure in presenting you with this key and asking you to accept it as a little token of this what I know must be a memorable occasion for you.” Mrs James said “thank you” and gave a short speech:
“In the name of the women of Wales it is my privilege to open the building. I dedicate it to the memorial to those gallant men of all nations who gave their lives in the war that was to end war. I pray that it may come to be regarded by the people of my country both of our generation and of those that are to follow as a constant reminder of the debt we owe to the millions who sacrificed their all in a great cause and as a symbol of our determination to strive for justice and peace in the future.”
Because she was speaking in a low voice, and despite the microphone, the newspapers reported that not all the hundreds of people present were able to hear her.
She then took the key from the presentation box and symbolically put the golden key into the lock of the bronze doors (which are still there today), pushed the door open and was the first person of those gathered outside to enter the newly opened temple of peace. The guests entered the Great Hall and sat down. Mrs James and the bereaved mothers then entered the Great Hall and the assembled crowd stood up as the bereaved mothers and other representatives entered. They walked down the central aisle to the platform. Hundreds of guests from all over the world stood up in tribute and respect.
Hymns were sung, and prayers given, The Rev. Dr Elvet Lewis spoke in Welsh and then ended his remarks in English: “So this day we dedicate this Temple for Peace and Health. Health will make for better peace and peace will make for better health, and then the blessing of God will come on all people around us in god fellowship, in kindness, and in a harmony that will last forever.”
The mothers chosen to represent countries from all over the world stood up and spoke. First was Mrs E. Lewer of Aldeburgh speaking on behalf of the mothers of Great Britain, then spoke Mrs R Struben form the Union of South Africa, speaking for the British Commonwealth mothers. Mrs Cederlund of Sweden for the Scandinavian countries said: “In the name of the women of Scandinavia I associate myself with the dedication of this building. May it be a constant reminder to the people of Wales of their duty to further the cause of progress, freedom, peace, and justice and of the debt they owe to those who fell in the defence of these ideals.”
Mrs Moller spoke for the U.S.A., and Madame Dumontier from France spoke for the European countries.
For a full account of the opening ceremony, see ‘The New Mecca: an account of the opening ceremony of the Temple of Peace and Health’, which, thanks to Wales for Peace volunteers, can now be accessed through the People’s Collection Wales.
Mrs Minnie James in later life
Minnie James died at the age of 87 and was buried on 3rd April 1954 at Merthyr Tydfil Council Cemetery Pant. Her death was reported in the Merthyr Express on April 10th 1954 (Page 16). This mentions that she had opened the Temple of Peace in 1938 and that she had been an active spiritualist for over 71 years. It reveals that at the time of her death, her youngest son William was alive and that her daughter, Winifred, was also living.
The paper stated: “It is difficult for those who knew her to realise life without Mrs James. She had known great sorrow in World War 1, her three sons, David, Jack and Tom made the supreme sacrifice. This experience merely enriched her life and was responsible for her many ministrations of good. He home was a sanctuary to many and the obvious tributes paid reveal the esteem in which she was held by her close as well as by far distant friends.
She will long be remembered for her gentleness, her immense triumph over personal sorrow and serenity of spirit. It was a privilege to have known her. Her home and wide circle of friends gaze sadly at the vacant chair but gratefully recall the lines:-
“The memory of the just is blessed”. She will long be remembered as the heroine of the spirit who was so aptly chosen as official opener of the “The Temple of Peace”.
Her daughter and son, Winifred, known as “Winnie” and William , known as “Billy” never married and moved out of 8 Cross Francis Street in 1968. Her surviving children do not appear to have had any children themselves and with their eventual deaths the James family passed into history.
Peter Garwood (with notes by Ffion Fielding), August 2017.
Thank you to the Welsh Centre of International Affairs for allowing me to use this truly fascinating article.
Original article can by found at:
http://wcia.org.uk/Senedd/WomenWarPeace_Stories_MinnieJames.html