Centenary of C. H. Spurgeon’s Birth.
The centenary of C. H. Spurgeon’s birth is to be commemorated on the 19th June. The extraordinary popularity of Spurgeon’s sermons is one of the wonders of modern times. His first weekly sermon was published in 1855 and the last on 10th May, 1917 — a total of 3563. The War which held up many publications was responsible for the cessation of these sermons. These sermons were read throughout the English-speaking world. Their simplicity appealed to the common people. The preacher’s command of a very virile English style made them very readable. The centenary of his birth has called forth quite a number of books — most notable up to date being The Treasury of the New Testament being four handsome volumes in beautiful binding at the price of 3 guineas. The price, no doubt, is heavy but the publishers (Marshall, Morgan & Scott, London) offer the volumes on the instalment system. These volumes contain some of Mr. Spurgeon’s choice sermons on New Testament texts. Perhaps Spurgeon’s greatest work was his Treasury of David one of the most valuable commentaries ever written on the book of Psalms. His name will go down in history as one of the greatest preachers in the Church. In a short notice like this we cannot enter on a discussion of his theology and his faithful contending against error except to say that he fearlessly denounced all doctrinal movements that led away from the teaching of the Scripture.
Spurgeon’s Greatest Sermon.
Opinions may differ as to what was Mr. Spurgeon’s greatest sermon but it is generally admitted that the one with the title “Supposing Him to be the Gardener” is the favourite. The text is John xx. 15. The thoughts came to him while sitting in a lovely garden, in the midst of all kinds of flowers blooming in delightful abundance. His thoughts went out first to the gardener whose care had made this delightful garden and from this he turned to meditate on the Church of God as a garden. “Supposing Him to be the gardener” he conceived of a paradise where all sweet things flourish and all evil things are rooted up.” The whole train of thought is worked out with consummate skill and thousands have read this discourse with joy. This sermon was reprinted in our Magazine (Vol. xxxvii. p. 456) by the kind permission of the publishers, Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Paternoster Buildings, London. It may still be had from them.
The Roman Catholic Population of Scotland.
The statistical inquiry by the Scottish Churches Council has the following statement—”The continued increase in the Roman Catholic community. This community totalled 130,000 in 1851, or $4\frac{1}{2}$ per cent. of the population; 327,239 in 1881, or $8\frac{3}{4}$ per cent., and 645,000 in 1931, or $13\frac{1}{2}$ per cent. Since only 10 per cent. of this community is of Scottish blood, this large increase is to be explained by the immigration of Roman Catholics from Ireland, and by their large birth-rate. The 1881 Census revealed the record number of 218,745 Irish-born immigrants settled in Scotland. In 1931 they had fallen to 124,296, of whom 44,235 had been less than twenty years in the country. The ratio of the Roman Catholic community to the whole population has been further raised by the large number of those who have emigrated from Scotland. Leaving out of our reckoning the 100,000 Scottish lives which were lost in the war, we observe that in the period 1901-1931 the net emigration from Scotland to various parts of the Empire was 884,531. Add to these the 366,486 persons born in Scotland and now resident in England and Wales. In Irish immigration and Scottish emigration we find sufficient explanation for the increase in the Roman Catholic community.”
“Re-statement of the Church’s Faith.”
The Church of Scotland General Assembly in 1930 had the matter of Creed Revision brought before it but owing to doubts as to the advisability of tackling such a difficult subject the proposal was partially shelved and the Assembly agreed to the appointment of a special committee to investigate the lines upon which Creed Revision might most profitably be conducted. Next year, the Committee, in reporting progress advised against Revision of the Confession of Faith and recommended “A Brief Popular Statement of the Faith” based on the Statement presented to, and commended by the Assembly of the United Free Church in 1921. This was approved of generally by the Assembly of 1932. The following year the Committee reported that it was busy on its task. The Brief Statement is now ready. It seeks to be “a public expression of the Church’s Faith, suitable to the times, and affording an authorised basis for the instruction of catechumens.” The Committee ask for general approval in order that the Statement may be submitted to the Presbyteries. The Catechism is to wait until the approval of the Statement. Criticism of this document is reserved until we see what treatment it gets from the Assembly and, meantime, we dismiss the subject with the remark that the Committee made a serious blunder on basing its Statement on that of the U.F. Assembly of 1921.
Britain’s Drink Bill.
We have been favoured, says the John o’ Groat Journal, by Mr. George B. Wilson, B.A., consulting secretary to the United Kingdom Alliance, with a print of his notes on Great Britain’s Drink Bill in 1933. He finds that the consumption of beer in England and Wales during 1933 showed an increase of 3.4 per cent., and in Scotland a decrease of 5.9 per cent., giving a net increase for Great Britain of 1.8 per cent. The amount expended on alcoholic liquors in Great Britain in 1933 is estimated at about £224,845,000, as against about £232,500,000 in 1932—a decrease of approximately £7,600,000, or about $3\frac{1}{2}$ per cent. The expenditure per head is calculated at £4 19s. 4d. for Great Britain, £5 2s. 3d. for England and Wales, and £3 15s. 6d. for Scotland. The special features in 1933 were:—1. A substantial increase in the consumption of beer, due to a reduction in price under the 1933 Budget. 2. An increase in the consumption of spirits and wine. 3. A substantial increase in the consumption of absolute alcohol, but 4. A reduction of nearly £10,000,000 in the actual expenditure on beer—notwithstanding the increased consumption. 5. The people of England and Wales still drink more beer than milk—beer 700,000,000 gallons, milk 650,000,000 gallons. 6. A great increase in the market value of brewing securities and considerable improvement in profits during recent months. 7. A substantial increase in drunkenness during 1933—coinciding with the increased consumption of beer.
In Bad Religious Company.
The Oxford Group “team,” says “Layman” writing in the English Churchman (London), which is touring the United States and Canada was welcomed at New York by Bishop Manning, one of the leading Anglo-Catholics in the American Episcopal Church, and by ex-Governor Al. Smith, whose membership of the Church of Rome probably cost him the Presidency. Among the members of the team is the Rev. R. G. Legge, Vicar of St. Mark’s, Victoria Park. Mr. Legge recently organised a large Group campaign in his parish, which was extensively reported in “The Church Times.” One of the latest converts to the Movement is the Bishop of Hankow, who sees in the Oxford Group “a kind of modern Franciscan Adventure, full-time members of a team corresponding to the friars, with all of us summoned to be members of the third order—to be troubadours of God and to catch men.”
“Death Cannot Sever.”
We called attention to this notorious book (see Magazine, xxxvii, 321, 370) by Dr. Norman Maclean some time ago. We then expressed the opinion that if the Church of Scotland had any fidelity to the truth still left it would not allow the book to pass unnoticed but as far as the courts of the Church of Scotland are concerned a silence as complete as that which reigns in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s has fallen upon them. We are glad to see, however, that here and there, voices have been raised against its notoriously unscriptural teaching. Recently a searching criticism appeared in the Bible League Quarterly (London) from the pen of that veteran and valiant defender of the Bible, Dr. Baxter, the author of Sanctuary and Sacrifice. Dr. Baxter’s criticism has been reprinted in a small pamphlet which may be had from the Secretary of the Bible League, 45 Doughty Street, Bedford Row, London, W.C.1. The price is not mentioned in the copy received but we presume it will not be more than 2d.
Helping the Enemy.
Recently the Perth Presbytery of the Church of Scotland decided to urge share-holders of Craigie Hill Golf Club to reverse the decision to have golf on Sabbath. This decision has caused a good deal of controversy and a meeting is to be held on 1st June to take a vote of the shareholders on the matter. At the meeting of Presbytery two ministerial members made statements as reported in the public press that ought not to go unnoticed. The Rev. P. R. Landreth, St. Mark’s, Perth, said in moving that the Presbytery take no action that, “Apart from the fact that the question had been sprung on them, he thought it was inappropriate for them to advise shareholders who had yet to meet. He had never understood it as any function of the Courts of the Church to advise business men as to what action they should take. His reading of the history of the Church of Scotland had been that all the blunders that had been made had been due to the interference of ministers and elders in matters with which they had nothing to do. He explained that recent figures had shown that 35 per cent. of the population of Scotland had nothing to do with the Christian Church. He thought that it was foolish to imagine that it would injure the ethical outlook of any sensible man or woman if, instead of sitting in a stuffy church on a ‘Sunday’ afternoon, they found entertainment for the mind and body in striking the gutta ball with the cleck. If recreation such as ‘Sunday’ golf fitted those persons who engaged in it for better work, they were perfectly entitled to golf if they pleased, so long as their liberty did not interfere with the liberty of other individuals, and was not a menace to the State. If they were to deal with the question of ‘Sunday’ observance, he felt that it was a matter which should be dealt with generally. Why should they not also deal with people who played ‘Sunday’ bridge and other things instead of concentrating on individuals who found harmless pleasure in striking a little ball?”
The Rev. T. H. Keir, Bridgend Church, Perth was of the opinion that in any letter which was sent they should make it clear that the Presbytery was not condemning the general principle of ‘Sunday’ golf, but that their view was that under the present conditions ‘Sunday’ golf was not in the best interests of the community. “I do not think,” he said, “Anyone can say definitely that ‘Sunday’ golf is wrong. St. Paul I am sure, would not have said so, and I am prepared to follow St. Paul against any Presbytery. If the rulers of the Church are to be such bigoted religious maniacs as to insist that on ‘Sunday’ people should only go to church, I cannot agree with them that that is for the good of the community.” It is gratifying to know that both these gentlemen found no seconders for their motions. During the War any of the King’s subjects who helped the enemy either by pen or speech had a hot time of it and if their disloyalty came to the ears of the authorities these friends of the enemy found themselves in serious trouble. One wonders in reading the above speeches if the speakers ever honestly considered what they were doing in accepting the Confession of Faith even in the loose way it may now be accepted in the Church of Scotland. Our reading of Scottish Church history differs very widely from Mr. Landreth’s; to us, if one thing stands out more prominently than another on the page of that history it is that the greatest blunders the Church of Scotland ever made was when some of her ministers were helping the devil they were allowed to do so with impunity by her church courts. Mr. Keir in trying to shelter under the wings of Paul is as far astray in his exegesis as Mr. Landreth is in his history.
Glorying in their Shame.
The following advertisement appeared recently in one of the dailies: “Southsea for Sundays. Southsea is the resort of no restrictions. On Sundays, golf courses, tennis courts, bowling greens, croquet lawns, cinemas, etc., are open to all.” The devil has resorted to many devices to further his kingdom but we were not aware that he had entered on the advertising business until our eye caught the above advertisement.