Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion facts for kids
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (Welsh: Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion) is a Welsh society based in London. It's like a club for people interested in Welsh culture and history. Anyone can join! It first started in 1751 to be a social, cultural, and helpful group.
The society stopped for a while between 1787 and 1820, and again from 1843 to 1873. When it restarted, it focused more on Welsh culture and old things (history). The current society says it's a continuation of the one from 1751. Even though it's still in London, most of its members (two-thirds) now live in Wales.
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History of the Cymmrodorion Society
First Society (1751–1787)
This first society was founded in 1751 by two brothers, Lewis and Richard Morris. They were from Anglesey, Wales. Lewis Morris came up with the name "Cymmrodorion." It means "earliest natives," referring to the Welsh people as the original inhabitants of Britain.
The society started for a few reasons. One main reason was to help the Welsh Charity School. This school was set up in 1716 to help Welsh children in London. The Cymmrodorion also wanted to raise money to help poor Welsh people living in London.
But the main goal was to be a social place for Welsh people in London. It also aimed to be a center for Welsh culture, as Wales didn't have a recognized capital city at the time. They held regular meetings where people read papers on different topics about Welsh literature and learning.
Richard Morris was the first "President" (Llywydd). After he died in 1779, the society held a competition for the best poem about him. This competition was an early version of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
The Cymmrodorion and another Welsh society worked together to run the Welsh Charity School. The Cymmrodorion used the school building for meetings and even had a library there. They wanted this library to have every book ever printed in Welsh, plus old manuscripts. It was seen as an early idea for a National Library of Wales. They also helped raise money for the school with an annual dinner on Saint David's Day.
The society also helped with an important legal case in 1766. This case was about a Welsh-speaking area in Anglesey where an English priest was appointed who couldn't speak Welsh. The Cymmrodorion supported the local people who argued that priests in Welsh areas should be able to speak Welsh. Even though the priest stayed in his job, the case set an important rule: only clergy who could speak Welsh should be appointed to Welsh-speaking parishes.
The first society ended in 1787. Its special Presidential Chair was given to another Welsh society in London. However, the Charity School continued to do well.
Second Society (1820–1843)
The society was restarted in 1820. This happened because people in Wales wanted to create a National Eisteddfod (a big festival of Welsh culture). They felt there needed to be a main organization to help with this. So, the society was called the "Cymmrodorion Society or the Metropolitan Cambrian Institution."
Important people involved in restarting it included John Jenkins and Walter Davies. The society's presidents included Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet. The society published Welsh books and gave out medals to support Welsh culture.
However, there were disagreements between the Cymmrodorion Society and other Welsh societies. They argued about money, Welsh spelling, and whether the Eisteddfod should focus more on literature or music. Because of these disagreements, the society seems to have closed down in 1843.
Third Society (1873–Present)
The society was brought back to life for a second time in 1873. Key people like Hugh Owen helped make this happen. Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet, whose family had a long history with the society, became the first President.
This new society played a big part in making the National Eisteddfod of Wales an annual event, starting in 1861. It also helped in the discussions that led to the creation of University College Wales, Aberystwyth in 1872. Later, it helped establish the National Museum and the National Library of Wales in 1907. The society also published the Dictionary of Welsh Biography, which is a very important book about famous Welsh people.
What the Society Does Today
The society has its own publications, like a journal called the Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. This journal has been published regularly since 1897. They also publish other books about historical sources. These journals are being put online by the National Library of Wales.
The society also holds lectures. These talks are all about Welsh culture, the Welsh language, and Welsh literature. Even though it's based in London, the society holds many meetings in Wales too. Each year, they have a special lecture in Welsh at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. This lecture is named after a famous Welsh poet and academic, Sir T. H. Parry-Williams.
Society's Beliefs
The first society's motto was "Undeb a Brawdgarwch" which means "Unity and Friendship." The later societies have a different motto: "Cared Doeth yr Encilion" which means "Let the Wise Cherish Antiquity" (or old things).
The society has always been known for not being connected to any specific religion or political party. This means it focuses purely on culture and history, not on religious or political arguments.
Where to Find Them
The society's address is 157–63 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8UE. This is also where the London Welsh Centre is located.
