The Present Papal Aggression: in view of recent and current events.—We have pleasure in bringing to the notice of our readers this pamphlet by Rev. Dr. Leopold Clarke. Dr. Clarke’s standpoint may be gathered from the following sentences:—Rome is a sleepless, relentless foe, finding in every changing political condition throughout the world new settings for her peculiar ambitions and activities, which, of course, have only the world for their limit. We need in these days a more robust, full-blooded, clear conception of Rome than ever. It is not simply that she is an intolerant religious, having some reasonably limited objective and in indulging in periodical aggressions to secure it, as there have been and there are many such. Much less is she any part or portion of the Christian Church, as some too charitable people wish to think. . . . Every priest is an invader of the Crown Rights of Jesus Christ, a falsifier of His work and gospel; an insolent intruder in the domain of the human spirit which is the divine prerogative, etc. Dr. Clarke not only denounces Rome but he brings forward facts culled from many fields damaging evidence in support of his denunciations. This is particularly the case in the field of international politics and in connection with world-leaders such as the late President Roosevelt.
This pamphlet may be had from the author, Rev. C. L. Clarke, 22 Beech Road, Langley, Bucks. Price 2d., post free. There is a reduced price for larger quantities. It would be a useful work if some of our people who can afford it would purchase quantities of the pamphlet for circulation.
Demand for the Bible.—So great is the demand for the Bible in certain countries that the Bible societies are unable to meet all the demands. The National Bible Society of Scotland, according to a press paragraph, has an order for 8,000 copies for service-men who have returned home. The same source states that the demand for Gaelic Bibles far exceeds the supply.
New Translation of the Bible.—The matter of a new translation of the Bible was raised in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. One reason advanced was that some of its English could not be understood by the general reader. Our fathers had not the educational advantages we enjoy but they never advanced such a complaint. Thousands and thousands have been poured out in education in Scotland. We are told the Shorter Catechism is too difficult for school children; now it is the English of the Authorised Version that is acting as an obstacle. We are ardently becoming intellectually weaker as compared with our fathers. Of course, there is another reason behind all this opposition. The fate of the last translation (the Revised Version) should be a warning to all would-be translators.
U.S.A. Request for Severance of Diplomatic Relations with Vatican.—According to one of our largely circulated dailies, President Truman, a Baptist by creed, received representations from all the Protestant churches in America, except the Episcopalian, that he sever diplomatic relations with the Vatican. Said a spokesman for 30,000,000 Protestants: “Any form of diplomatic relation between the Government of the United States and the Vatican is contrary to the historic American principle of separation of Church and State. We have no quarrel with the Roman Catholic Church as such.”
In reference to the above matter the Glasgow Herald had the following paragraphs:— “President Truman assured a group of Protestant American ministers that Mr. Myron C. Taylor would be recalled as the President’s personal representative to the Vatican, Dr. John A. Maclean, representative of the Southern Presbyterian Churches, said yesterday in Richmond (Virginia).
“Dr. Maclean (according to the Associated Press) said that they were assured that the appointment was a temporary expedient to give the President the fullest opportunity to make his contribution to peace, and that Mr. Taylor’s services might terminate soon, but certainly with the signing of the peace treaties.”
It is to be hoped this will happen. What about Britain’s relations with the Vatican?
Note.—The writer of the obituary on Mr. Donald Mackenzie was the Rev. D. A. MacFarlane, M.A.