Benedictine Monastery, Cassino.—The Monastery, a large building 1400 years old, has been heavily bombed by an Allied air force. The monastery has figured prominently in the news for some time. This has been due to the fact that the building occupied a commanding position on the Fifth Army front and the Germans had used it for military purposes and thereby endangered the position of the Allied troops in that quarter. A special appeal from the Vatican asked that the building should be spared the ravages of war, and it was only after some days of hesitation the position was attacked. But why all this outcry against the destruction of this building? Have not many large cities, teeming with inhabitants, been razed to the ground and their destruction accepted as the inevitable necessity of war? But of course, this monastery is the cradle of Benedictine Order of Monks, and as such sacred to Roman Catholicism the world over. In this outcry Rome shows herself in her true colours. What does she care how many precious British lives are sacrificed on the altar of her superstitious veneration for so-called sacred buildings.
Every right-thinking person, whether Protestant or Roman Catholic, while deploring the necessity for such destruction, will justify the action of our commanders.
No doubt the same problem will have to be faced again as our armies near Rome. We trust, however, that neither the clamour nor the intrigues of the Romish Church will in any degree influence our leaders where even one British life is in danger.
News Item, 19th Feb.—“The King and Queen, along with Princess Elizabeth and General Montgomery attended the international football match at Wembley.”—Whatever propaganda value may be attached to such news in the way of showing how “Britain is taking it,” this and all news of a similar kind can only succeed in grieving the hearts of the godly in Britain. During the last war one of the popular slogans was “Business as usual.” That attitude has in this war been severely criticised and, in our opinion, rightly so. But if “Business as usual” is justly open to criticism how much more lamentable is the attitude indicated by “Pleasure as usual.” Is this a time to play?
“Sunday” Cinemas in Dingwall.—As reported in the Northern Chronicle of 16th February the Town Council of Dingwall decided, without a dissentient voice, to support a request for the opening of the cinema for the entertaining of the troops on Sabbath evenings.
It appears that the Provost was approached by the Sub-Area Commanding Officer who asked if something could not be done to entertain the troops on Sabbath evenings, and suggested the opening of the cinema.
The members of Dingwall Town Council have evidently yet to learn that there is a Higher than the Sub-Area Commanding Officer Whose wishes ought first to be consulted. The command of God in this connection is explicit “Thou shalt remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.”
The most deplorable feature of this whole matter is that the Town Council of Dingwall is only following the evil lead given by the magistrates in most of our towns where troops are stationed.
Religion in Schools.—In the Education Bill for England and Wales at present before Parliament, the teaching of “Religion” in schools figures quite prominently. This would appear to be all for good, but on closer consideration the good is only apparent, not real. This is accounted for by the very wide meaning given to the word “religion” and even to the phrase “Christian religion” in these modern times. The Bible as “God’s Infallible Word” has not only been discarded by many so-called Christian leaders and teachers, but its teaching is often held up to ridicule in the interests of Higher Criticism. A letter which appeared recently in a South England newspaper makes very disquieting reading and bodes ill for the future of English youth. The writer had just returned from attending a special Divinity course for school teachers at Oxford University. Those attending the class were confidently informed that modern scholarship had entirely altered traditional Christianity—the inspiration, infallibility and authority of the Scriptures were all denied and disproved, and the more detailed instruction given was all in line with this dangerous assumption—for assumption it certainly is. This particular course was attended by about 80 teachers from all parts of the country, a great many of whom appeared to accept this travesty of the Christian faith without question. The evil inherent in such teaching must be incalculable.