Scriptures for British Prisoners of War in Germany—
Letters received from our men in German camps indicate that those who possess Bibles are allowed to read them. Thus one Highland soldier writes—”I have now the New Testament almost by heart”—and another—”The New Testament is my best friend here.” We should endeavour to place the Word of God in the hands of all these men, and pray that in captivity they will know the liberty wherewith Christ maketh free. This information was passed to the National Bible Society and readers will appreciate and note the following directions:— “Any who have relatives as Prisoners of War and who wish a copy of the Scriptures sent, are asked to send to the General Secretary, The National Bible Society of Scotland, either at 224 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2, or 5 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. Please give the NAME, NUMBER and CORRECT POSTAL ADDRESS of the Prison Camp, and a copy of the New Testament (Authorised Version), or a Bible, if specially asked for, will be sent. The Testaments and Bibles have also the Metrical Psalms, so that even in a strange land familiar messages come to the captives. The Scriptures are sent to the prisoners FREE—and they are a reminder to them that many in Scotland remember them in prayer. While no charge is made, 1/- will help to send a New Testament, and 2/- to send a Bible, and gifts for this purpose will be welcomed. This provision for Prisoners of War is part of the larger Scheme for providing New Testaments for the members of H.M. Forces, and although there have been many generous donors to the Society’s ‘War Fund’ Appeal, contributions are still needed. Over £8,000 has to date been expended, and over 275,000 copies have been provided to Chaplains and others for distribution, and requests come to the Society daily for further supplies.”—W.G.
Cynical Euphemism—Ever since John Henry Newman, afterwards Cardinal in the Papal System, introduced “the note of urbanity” into English literary criticism, euphemistic terms
have been employed to camouflage the most sinister duplicity and criminal double-dealing. It is not only the Jesuits who are experts at cynical euphemism, but since the time of Matthew Arnold, who lauded Newman’s “note of urbanity,” one is not considered cultured or refined, or even literate, who does not employ this euphemistic method, in preference to calling things according to their exact meaning and design. An appropriate example of this method of minimising the impression otherwise calculated to be created by sin is that of calling, not merely ambiguity and exaggeration, but deliberate lying, by the plausible euphemism of “a terminological inexactitude.” Few, probably, realise the harm done to the interests of morality by this wickedly plausible method, and its widespread influence and consequences.
This method is falsely supposed to be the very essence of impartiality, regulating emotion and sentiment within the constraining limits, and under the controlling power of reason. Let us illustrate. For instance, John the Baptist, the Saviour’s forerunner, on seeing the refined and cultured ecclesiastical leaders of his day, coming up from Jerusalem to hear him, exclaimed, “Ye generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come,” while the Saviour Himself addressed the same class of people thus: “Ye scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell.” The Apostle Paul himself addressed Elymas as follows: “O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” Such language, according to present-day literary standards, would be described as rude and crude. It is to-day supposed to be the true essence of disinterested equity and impartiality if the vilest propagator of heresies and the most unscrupulous violator of solemn ordination vows is lauded and eulogised for his supposed counter-balancing good points and qualities. We sincerely believe that this modern “note of urbanity,” thus employed, to put a veneer over God-provoking evil, is one of the greatest characteristic evils of our day.
Evangelical or Evangelistic?—This generation unfortunately has become only too much acquainted with, and accustomed to the phrase “evangelistic campaign” and what it denotes. Ever since the Moody and Sankey so-called revivals in this country it was only to be expected that two such “advanced” and “broadminded” denominations as together make up the ecclesiastical organisations called “The Church of Scotland,” should have been wholehearted in their adoption of these popular so-called evangelistic methods. Even to-day, when the Arminianism that was generally the chief feature of the pulpits of these two denominations, has degenerated, in many of their pulpits, to infidel Modernism, the evangelistic campaigns have lost none of their popular attraction among them. Whenever, for instance, they feel their need of a stirring up, in this connection, they send for some such evangelistic campaigner as Rev. Lionel Fletcher, rather than pray for an outpouring of the supernatural influences and operations of the Holy Spirit. It will then be widely announced that decision cards in abundance had been signed after each campaign, and this method of counting heads is, self-complacently and unquestionably, taken as being synonymous with supernatural conversion. It will be noticed, however, that these evangelistic “converts” never become distinguished for their Sabbath Observance, and the reason is to be found in their Antinomian perverted view of the text “we are not under the Law, but under grace.” This is popular Keswick Convention Arminian Antinomian theology, which needless to say, is un-Scriptural. It does not produce practical godliness, but an unwarranted, arrogant assurance of faith.
Thus, in view of the unsound theological associations of the phrase “evangelistic campaign” it is passing strange how a professedly evangelical Calvinistic denomination like the 1900 Free Church should have become so enamoured of the term “evangelistic” rather than the time-honoured term “evangelical.”
Is this another instance of “evil communications corrupting good manners,” for it is now a well-known fact that some Free Church ministers and prominent laymen have for some time past become enthusiastic patrons of the Antinomian Arminian Keswick Convention?
Literal Education.—It took from two to three hundred years after his death, for Scotland to fulfil, in the realm of education, the ideal of John Knox of a school in every parish, so that the bottom rung of the educational ladder was placed at the door of the humblest Scottish cottage, and its topmost rung at the threshold of the University, thus giving “the lad of pairts” equality of opportunity in the educational realm, to develop his latent mental capacities to their culmination and consummation. Many, however, who thus quote, with ardent enthusiasm, John Knox, as an educationalist, either conveniently or ignorantly forget the motives determining the renowned Reformer’s enthusiastic activities in this connection. In this as in his other activities, his main object was the glory of God in the highest mental, moral, and spiritual equipment and training of his compatriots, and, through them, of mankind generally, for the service of God in Church and State. To-day, however, it is not as a handmaid of religion that education is sought, but it is generally true that educational pursuits have as their object either mere culture, or sheer selfish aggrandisement, enlarging one’s capacity to earn money, “get on in the world,” and attain to a higher social status. This selfish, carnal, materialistic attitude to education in our day is the very antithesis of John Knox’s ideal, and of man’s primary duty:—”Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you.” “The soul of education is the education of the soul. Education without the Christian religion is a sharpening of tools without giving direction as to their use.”
Not a small part of the calamities of the world at the moment are due to the lack of truly Christian education in every grade of school, and not least in the Universities of this and other countries. As the late pious and scholarly Rev. Prof. Gresham
Machen, D.D., put it:—”Given a depraved nature, education without religion is education seeking its own depraved level unhindered. Education without God is an engine without a Governor. More than that, due to man’s fallen state, education without God is an engine in reverse. Without religious motive any education is adding power to irresponsibility.”
We are simply amazed at professing Free Presbyterian parents who send their children to Aberdeen and St. Andrews Universities, where there is not the blessed counteracting benefit and influence of the services of a Free Presbyterian place of worship. As this lamentable state of affairs may have been due more to thoughtlessness than indifference in the past, and in view of the agnostic teaching imparted so generally in the Universities, we would kindly but firmly appeal to all Free Presbyterian parents to send their families to Glasgow or Edinburgh Universities in the future.
Mails from Canada and the United States.—It has come to our notice that Mails to this Country from Canada and the United States, posted in November and early in December last have been lost by enemy action. Subscribers to the Magazine who have sent Subscriptions or donations during that period and do not find same acknowledged in the Magazine may conclude that such letters are lost. We shall be obliged by our friends by making enquiries at the Post Office of issue, giving particulars, when a duplicate Money Order may be issued.—J. Grant, General Treasurer.