New Roman Catholic Saint.
Recently the “Scot-man” had a paragraph calling attention to the canonisation of the “blessed” Peter Canisius. The newspaper report says that the canonisation took place with the customary splendour, and the function was attended by thousands of pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Holland. The Pope announced the name of Canisius was to be added among “the doctors of the Church.” One wonders if the “Advocatus Diaboli” (the Devil’s Advocate) whose function it is to bring up all that can be said against one who is about to be canonised did in this case lay emphasis on the fact that Canisius was an energetic persecutor of the Protestants in Germany who nicknamed him “the Hound of Austria”—a play on his German name Hundt (dog), which he latinised into Canisius. We believe not, as that would only be a qualification for sainthood in the eyes of the papal authorities. The Pope, we are told, after the ceremony of canonisation of this Jesuit-persecutor, was warmly applauded by the kneeling multitude of the faithful, and when he returned in the afternoon to pay his respects to the new saint he was again enthusiastically received.
Corpus Christi Procession in Badenoch.
It was recently announced in the public press that for the first time in the recent history of Roman Catholicism in Badenoch a Corpus Christi procession was held at Crathie. Two altars were erected and the procession started from St Michael’s Chapel, the “host” being carried in front by one of the priests. If our memory serves us aright Corpus Christi processions are illegal in this country, and the aggressiveness of the Church of Rome is not only seen in the attempt made to ignore the law of the land but in the district chosen for the procession—Crathie as our readers are aware being in close proximity to the Royal Palace of Balmoral. Apart altogether from the significance of the boldness of Roman Catholics flaunting their idolatrous symbols before the eyes of Protestants we cannot help seeing in this new move not only disloyalty to the laws of this land, but daring dishonour to God’s Son; the latter aspect being far and away the most serious in our eyes.
Building the Tombs of the Prophets.
The sons of the men who stoned the prophets for their outspoken faithfulness were obsessed with an idea in Christ’s day that they should by outward show indicate that they respected these witnesses, though in their practice they paid little or no attention to their teaching. The same thing is happening in our day. The annual Convention and Memorial Service in remembrance of the Covenanters and of those who fell in the War was held in the open on the north side of Greyfriars’ Church, Edinburgh, on Sabbath, 21st June. Dr Harvey, the Moderator of the United Free Church, was present, and delivered a short address, as did also the Rev. R. Moffat Gillon, Bruntsfield United Free Church, and Prof. G. S. Duncan, St Andrew’s University. At the conclusion Miss Harvey unveiled a memorial wreath, which was placed against the Covenanters’ Monument, while pipers of the Postal Pipe Band played “Lochaber No More,” the ceremony ending with the sounding of the “Last Post.” All honour to the young men who fell in the Great War, and the more we think of them the sorer the heart feels, but there is no use of confusing issues so as to place their sacrifice and those of the Covenanters on the same level. And the incongruity arising from this confusion is further seen in the presence of the Pipe Band on the Lord’s Day playing “Lochaber No More!” Greyfriars has witnessed many a strange sight, but surely, for sheer incongruity, lack of a sense of the fitness of things, and historical obliqueness of vision, the spectacle of respect being paid to the Scottish Covenanters by playing “Lochaber No More” is about as ludicrous as any ever witnessed in Scotland.
The Bible in the Ulster Public Schools.
The controversy between the Government of Northern Ireland and the Presbyterians and other Protestants with regard to religious instruction in the elementary schools has now been settled. The Government’s new Education Act met with determined opposition. According to the agreement, Local Education Authorities will have power to adopt a programme of simple Bible instruction to be given by the teachers provided it is of an entirely undenominational character. Half-an-hour daily is to be set apart for this purpose. The teachers are to be required to give this instruction as a condition of their appointment. The Roman Catholic Church has set itself sternly against this arrangement. They have refused, and still refuse, to transfer their schools to the Education Authorities. According to the Roman Catholic Primate, Archbishop O’Donnell, the parish priest is the man best qualified to select the teacher who would instruct the children in a Christian way. This is what one would expect from a dignitary of the Church of Rome, but while we feel ourselves in direct antagonism to what he says, we cannot help feeling that the agreement come to is manifestly a compromise, and like most compromises where religion is concerned, it may yet prove anything but satisfactory.
How Do We Regard the Bible:
Such is the title of an extraordinary leaflet by A. Herbert Gray, issued under the auspices of the Social Problems Committee of the United Free Church of Scotland, and in view of the impending Union, it is well that we should have some idea of the views tolerated in the United Free Church on the Holy Scriptures, for as far as we are aware these views have not been repudiated by any responsible Court of that Church. We quote a few sentences which will give our readers an idea of what we mean when we describe this leaflet as extraordinary. “We Christians,” says the writer, “love our Bible. As life goes on most of us come to love it more and more. We go to it in sorrow and find comfort. We go to it in perplexity, and find light. We go to it when we are weary, and find inspiration. It never fails us. . . . Do we hold that every word of the Bible is true? No! we do not. Do we accept the views of the Bible on scientific questions? No, we do not. Do we approve all the moral sentiments expressed in the Bible? No! certainly not. Do we regard the Bible as infallible history? No. Do we agree with all the opinions of St Paul? No, we do not.”
Tennessee Again.
In former issues we called attention to legislation passed by the State of Tennessee forbidding the teaching of evolution in any of the State-aided colleges and schools. A very interesting development of the new law has just taken place through a young teacher, Mr Scopes by name, who is accused of teaching Darwinian theories. If we are to believe the highly-coloured American forecasts of the trial, the case is to be one of more than ordinary interest. At the time of writing this note the trial has begun—thousands of people have come to Dayton—Mr Bryan is to conduct the prosecution, and the services of some of the most eminent barristers in the United States have been retained for the defence. In a speech on his arrival at Dayton, Mr Bryan said, among other things:—”The contest between evolution and Christianity is a duel to the death.” It is to be hoped that Dayton will live up to its good name, and spread the light of day rather than the darkness of the night, for, as Mr Bryan has truly said, “Christianity and Evolution are as antagonistic as light and darkness and as good and evil.” Scoffers in the press are already holding up to ridicule the Tennessee legislation, and bemoaning the awful calamity to the world’s learning should the dim, flickering light of the evolutionary will o’ the wisp be quenched.