The Shorter Catechism among the Philistines.
This sturdy little document is once again under fire. At a meeting of Edinburgh Education Committee held on 22nd April, it was pointed out that the Syllabus of Religious Instruction for the schools did not include the Shorter Catechism. The spirit of the age certainly has no liking for the doctrines taught in the Catechism any more than it has for the doctrines in the Bible. Many causes may be assigned to the desuetude of the Catechism but we think the root cause is the aversion to the distinctive scriptural doctrines taught within its covers. We might quote the opinions of men eminent as theologians and well versed in theology as to the pre-eminent place the Catechism had in their estimation. But another race has arisen in the Church and who have influenced the people by their flabby teaching. The plea advanced against the Catechism that its teaching is too profound for young minds and is therefore more harmful than otherwise. What that teaching did to generations of Scottish children since the 18th century gives a knockout blow to this argument so often advanced without taking historical facts into account. The Scotsman, true to its attitude is, of course, with the Philistines.
Evolution Protest Movement.
It may interest some of our readers to know that there is a vigorous anti-evolution movement on foot in England. Pamphlets are published by this movement against the evolution hypothesis exposing its fallacies and showing how widespread its ramifications are. The B.B.C. deservedly comes under criticism. There is one booklet to which we would desire to call attention:— Evolution: A Handbook for Teachers and Students prepared for the National Christian Crusade by a Medical Scientist with the Co-operation and Advice of a number of Workers in Biology and the related sciences.” In its 92 pages there is packed an almost incredible amount of scientific information combating the evolutionary hypothesis. It is specially useful for ministers, students and pupils in higher grade classes. It may be had from Douglas Dewar, Almora, Park Avenue, Camberley, Surrey, price 6d. (post free, 7d.) or 4/6 per dozen, post free. Those who wish more literature on the subject may have a parcel of booklets and leaflets suitable for distribution by sending a P.O. for 2/6 to Mr. W. E. Filmer, B.A., 78 North End, Croydon, Surrey. It is scarcely necessary to remind our readers of the menace to the Christian faith by this insidious movement in the name of science. It has invaded every realm of human knowledge—theology, biology, anthropology, comparative religion, zoology, history, etc. It has swept over the scientific world like a tidal wave and threatens to submerge all that is vital in Christianity. Every movement, therefore, which has as its aim the exposure of the unscientific nature of the hypothesis deserves the support of all that wish well to Sion and the preservation of the faith of the rising generation in the great fundamentals of the Christian faith. It is a true estimate of the booklet, “Evolution,” referred to above, that it contains “a tremendous amount of authoritative information.”