Is Protestantism Dying?—Yes, said the Rev. Owen Dudley at the National Catholic Congress in Caxton Hall, Westminster, and no doubt from one standpoint he is not far from the mark, but if numbers are taken into account it is otherwise. Roman Catholicism is certainly gaining in influence in this country, and the Vatican authorities are doing their best by the recent emancipation of the Pope, and are making the most of it as a movement to help the interests of the Church of Rome. As to numbers, however, Rome is losing heavily, as the following figures given by Dr Adolf Keller, Geneva, and Dr Stewart, New York, in their work, “Protestant Europe: Its Crisis and Outlook,” indicate. In 1800, out of a total population of 125 millions in Europe, 89 millions were Roman Catholic and 33 Protestant. In 1910 out of a total population of 287 millions—278 millions were Roman Catholic and 178 Protestant. This shows a percentage of 71 per cent. in 1800 and 62 per cent. in 1910 for Roman Catholics, while for Protestants the percentages for these years were 26 and 35.6, from which it will be seen that there was a decided decrease of Roman Catholics and an increase of Protestants.
The Sabbath Question in Caithness.—Two months ago H.M.S. Marlborough visited the northern waters, and was open for inspection at Scrabster Roads, Thurso, on the Lord’s Day. The Rev. William Grant wrote a timely and well-worded protest against the desecration of God’s Day involved in this procedure. His letter appeared in the “John o’ Groat Journal,” and though it made no personal reference to the Rev. Mr Lamb, Halkirk, that gentleman, evidently sorely hit, wrote in the next issue a letter which was not what one would have expected from a minister. He barefacedly made the confession that he himself (ostensibly to see an old mate), with some of his elders and congregation, was on the ship on the day in question. Mr Grant replied to this letter, and his letter called forth a reply from Mr Lamb which revealed that this professed leader of the flock at Halkirk would have been better if he remained a sailor and left the Christian ministry severely alone. It is gratifying to report that the Sabbath position was well
supported by the correspondents in general, and by the paper, though the anti-nomian advocates tried to get an innings.
Is it Becoming?—As Dr White, the Moderator of the Assembly of the Church of Scotland is much in the lime-light at present, the pictorial Press have his photograph continually appearing in their pages. He appears in full dress in his moderatorial robes, his breast emblazoned with war medals and a huge cross dangling at his watch-chain. Personally we feel this display of war honours on the breast of a professed servant of Christ is unbecoming. If chaplains have deservedly won military honours they naturally are honoured by the King, but in times of peace these reminders of a bloody war should be laid aside by the servants of the Prince of Peace when they are no longer regular chaplains. In saying this, we admit we are not aware of what is required by military etiquette at military functions. In the case of the wearing of the Cross, however, we have a different matter. And we must confess to a feeling of suspicion, whether well-grounded or not, that whenever we see a cross dangling from the watch-chain of a Presbyterian minister, that it points plainly in a direction towards which we have no desire to see Presbyterian ministers making.
We Expected Better.—It was reported in the press that the Rev. Prof. J. R. Mackay. D.D., as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church, took part in the Armistice service in St Gile’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, on 11th November.