The Dornoch Case.
—This case, as most of our readers know, has received more than ordinary attention from the press and as, at the time of writing, it is still in the hands of the kirk-session of Dornoch congregation and the Northern Presbytery, we do not wish to say anything that will in any way interfere with their future action but as our readers will naturally look for some comment to be made in the Magazine we take this opportunity of advising our people to keep quite cool and not to be disturbed in the slightest by any verdict the world may pass on our Church. If the Free Presbyterian Church were dependent on the favourable verdict of the world there never would have been a Free Presbyterian Church at all. When the smoke has cleared away it will be seen that the real issue in this case is whether an office-bearer of our Church, in view of the well-known attitude of the Church to dancing, is to be allowed to have a dance or dances in his house (when known to the session) without bringing himself under the discipline of the Church. Let our people keep their eyes fixed on this issue and we have no doubt their verdict will not be that of the world. Underlying the whole business, camouflage it as the press may, is the great and long-standing issue between the Church and the World. The other issues raised are subsidiary to this.
Westminster Divines Condemn Dancing.
—When the Westminster Divines drew up the Larger Catechism they distinctly stated in answer to the question—What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?—that among others were “dancings” (Larger Catechism—Answer to Question 139). Every office-bearer (minister, elder and deacon) of the Free Presbyterian Church in subscribing the Deed of Separation assents to the Larger and Shorter Catechisms as part of the Constitution of the Free Presbyterian Church. These documents are specially mentioned in the Deed of Separation and every office-bearer at his ordination has been asked—“Do you approve of the Deed of Separation of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, adopted by its first Presbytery at Portree on the 14th day of August, 1893?”—which he has solemnly answered in the affirmative. By that answer he has condemned “dancings” (public or private), by his own mouth before witnesses. Besides it should be remembered that the Church of Scotland in the 1649 Assembly passed a law prohibiting and discharging promiscuous dancing (i.e., dancing by both sexes) and referred the censure of the same to the several presbyteries of the Church. This Act was confirmed by the Assembly of 1701. The present Church of Scotland may have cast these Acts aside as she has done so many others but that does not say that we, as a Church, have done so.
Ludendorff Again.
—What the newspapers term a “Ludendorff outburst” appears under his signature in the current issue (August) of the war-chief’s weekly magazine. “Your first duty,” writes the General, “is to protect your children from Christian influences, which are beneficial only to Jews and priests, and which destroy our own tribe and our people.” The General is a bit mixed in his language as well as in religious matters. Paganism is spreading in Germany and it may be that God will give this great nation over to the heart’s desire of so many of them. Still our prayer should be that God would deliver the land of Luther from such a judgment. There can be little doubt that the Lord has still many praying people in Germany whose cry is going up to the God of salvation for deliverance.