Church Bazaars.—The following letter which appeared in the Glasgow Herald in reference to a United Free Church Bazaar speaks for itself, though in our opinion the speaking might be stronger than it is.
“GLASGOW, 20th November, 1901.
“SIR,—Your readers will observe that a three-days’ bazaar is to be held this week towards the erection of a United Free Church at Shawlands. In the elaborate circular issued by the committee we are informed that ‘The Players will appear in a comedieta,’ that there will be a ‘display of Indian club swinging by lady champion of the West of Scotland,’ and that ‘the distinguished London palmist, Miss Craufurd Tait,’ will hold ‘consultations daily during the hours of the bazaar—fee, 2s. 6d.’ We are
assured by the Church Committee that ‘the science of palmistry . . . is a faithful and reliable delineation of the character, habits, tastes, and personal history, &c.’ ‘Don’t miss this splendid opportunity of having your hand read scientifically,’ the committee add. Our Lord Provost and Dr. Ross Taylor (who are to take part) may not now think it necessary to consult a palmist, but I hope your reporter will not fail to take down any words of encouragement they may offer to young Councillors and prospective Moderators, in calling their attention to this unique opportunity. I presume Dr. Kennedy, Dr. Corbett, Dr. Wells, and Dr. Adamson, when they expressed their willingness to take part, were not made aware of all the arrangements, but I venture to say that if the distinguished representatives of the United Free Church who are advertised for the opening ceremonies told the Bazaar Committee that before they took any part in the proceedings Miss Craufurd Tait must receive her fee, and be sent back to London, it would do more for the cause of Christ in this city than a good many special missions. Has it come to this, that the United Free Church is so anxious to erect buildings to the glory of God that she does not much care what means are used to raise the necessary funds? I observe that, although this is one of the church-planting charges, Dr. Howie is to take no part in the proceedings on any of the three days. Will Dr. Howie go a step farther, and call the attention of his Presbytery to those undignified—to use no stronger word—methods of advancing the cause of Christ? This is not the only case in which United Free Church bazaars have had similar unedifying accompaniments.—
I am, &c.,
H. M. WORKER.”
An Outbreak of Crime.—The past month has been marked as a strange time of crimes and outrages. At the beginning of the month, Mr. Henry Ross, a Glasgow merchant, was shot in his warehouse by Mitchell, a disaffected servant of the firm. The victim expired on the spot and the assailant instantly shot himself dead. Mitchell was a church-going man and respectably connected. It seems he was thwarted in his schemes of advancement in business, and so he deliberately planned the outrage by way of revenge. Within the last few days one revelation after another of depravity has shocked the public mind. A gentleman was lured by a swindling advertisement to treat with a scoundrel who inveigled him into a room in a Glasgow hotel, and there attempted to murder him. The assailant, who was worsted in the encounter and tried to escape by a desperate leap from a window, now lies disabled in the infirmary. The motive here also was the lust of gain. Mr. Taylor, the victim, was known to have a large sum of money in his possession in view of business arrangements with the supposed advertiser, and the plot, which was deep and deliberate, included him and another victim in its range. A bank robbery in
Liverpool of £170,000 also comes into the record, and a double murder and attempted suicide by a young married woman in Edinburgh, who killed her two children and then attacked herself, completes the black list.
The Scots Worthies.—Copies of the new edition of this work may be had, as formerly intimated, from the Rev. Dr. Kerr, 19 Queen Square, Glasgow, 3/- post free to the United Kingdom, 3/6 to the Colonies.