The Funeral of King Edward.
The body of the late King was removed from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, on Tuesday, the 17th May. Here it lay-in-state, until the day of the funeral—Friday, the 20th. During these days, an opportunity was given to the people to witness the scene—an opportunity that was taken advantage of by many thousands, who showed unmistakable marks of reverence and affection for the deceased monarch. In fact, the sense of sorrow and sympathy on the death of King Edward VII., has far exceeded anything of the kind at the demise of any of our former sovereigns—his mother Queen Victoria excepted. The scenes at the funeral were remarkable for their splendour. The remains of the King were transferred from Westminster to Paddington Station, and thence to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, where, after religious service, they were laid in the Royal vault. The widowed Queen, the new King and Queen and all the members of the Royal Family took part in the procession. There were also present no fewer than eight Kings from other countries, including the Emperor of Germany, and thirty Royal Princes, besides distinguished men from all parts of the world. The pageant was altogether exceptionally brilliant and memorable. Such is the tribute men pay to a fellow-mortal. By the order of King George, the funeral day was observed as a holiday throughout the Empire. Religious services were held in all centres. Possibly these outward demonstrations were to some extent overdone. “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter i. 24, 25.)
Non-Church-going.
No one who has any interest in the spiritual well-being of his countrymen can help feeling appalled at the extraordinary increase of non-church-going in the country. If the Scotsman estimate be correct, one-half of the population of Scotland is beyond the pale of the churches. No doubt, in some cases, if the non-church-going is attributable to unscriptural worship, it says something for the non-church goer, but unfortunately this is not the cause of the plague. Contempt of God’s ordinances where there is scriptural worship is a serious sin, and those who can light-heartedly forsake them for no scriptural reason, are preparing themselves for those spiritual judgments that He has so often sent on the despisers of His own instituted ordinances.
On the Down-Grade.
At the last meeting of the Synod of the Original Secession Church, a report by a Special Committee dealing with the attitude the Church should adopt to the Deceased Wife’s Sister Act was also debated. Professor Morton moved the deliverance of the Committee, which was to the effect that in the light of Biblical teaching the Synod could not condemn every such union as sinful and as placing a bar in the way of Church communion, and so would leave her ministers and office-bearers to the exercise of a wise and prayerful discretion in their dealings with those entering into them. The Rev. John Sturrock, Edinburgh, moved as an amendment that the Synod resolve to adhere to the existing law of the Church on the subject of marriage, being satisfied that it is in full harmony with the teaching of God’s Word. The motion of Professor Morton was carried by a majority.
The Whitehaven Disaster.
During the past month, and amid the Royal mournings, a terrible disaster took place at the Whitehaven Collieries in Cumberland, whereby 136 men lost their lives. The sad event has evoked deep and wide-spread sympathy, and a fund has been started for the bereaved, which now amounts to about £40,000.
Territorial Army and Sabbath Desecration.
A writer, signing “Sentinel,” in Glasgow Herald of 7th May, calls attention to a new departure in Sabbath desecration. He states that “instructions have been issued for the Glasgow Territorials to assemble and proceed to camp on Sabbath, 17th July, and to return to and be disbanded in the city on Sabbaths 24th and 31st,” and in the course of a vigorous and well-written letter declares his judgment as a Territorial officer, as follows:— “Irrespective, however, of the physical aspect, I shall, for my part, refuse on Scriptural grounds to allow those Territorials over whom I have control either to proceed to or return from camp on a Sabbath Day, and should this deplorable defiance of God’s law be persisted in, I shall in the future take an opposite course to that which I have followed in the past, viz., of encouraging young men to join the Territorial Army.” “Amen” we say to this manly and Christian declaration. Let our authorities be warned that if they flippantly run counter to the laws of God in their arrangements, they are preparing for themselves the attack of a foe before whom all the armies in the world are but as smoke and chaff before the whirlwind. Let God arise to the conflict, and all his enemies and the enemies of His laws shall be scattered and utterly destroyed. The leaders of our people in military and other matters are only laying the foundation of Britain’s downfall if they trample upon the divine commandments in the manner that has been described above.