Football Crazy Crowds.
On the morning of the 13th day of March, tickets were sold at Hampden Park, Glasgow, for the International football match between Scotland and England. Hundreds of people spent the previous night wandering the streets in the vicinity to be sure of being in place to secure tickets. By 5 a.m. in the morning there were more than 5000 outside the ticket gate, and at 7.30 a.m. there were 15,000, when tickets began to be sold. Then about a hundred persons rushed to get further ahead for fear of losing the chance of obtaining tickets. Others tried to stop them. Women who were there screamed. Boys were crushed against a wall. And within seconds thousands were rushing wildly in a mad stampede. Nine mounted policemen were ordered to draw their batons and charge into the crowd to stop them, which they did with success. Otherwise there may well have been serious injury to many and even loss of life. What a picture is this of the indeed mad rush after sport and worldly pleasures to-day! A mark of perilous times is, “men shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Further comment is unnecessary for those who view such miserable scenes in the light of the Bible.
Spain Warned of Protestants.
The Scottish daily press of 10th March reported that Spanish Roman Catholics have been warned against the dangers of “increasing Protestant activities” by Cardinal Pedro Segura, of Seville, who is noted for his anti-Protestant zeal. In a pastoral letter he said the death of King George the Sixth had been used “to create the atmosphere of benevolence towards Protestantism.” The Glasgow “Bulletin” in reporting the above added “A Protestant chapel in Seville was attacked last week by a group of well-dressed young men, who assaulted those present and set on fire prayer books, hymn books and Bibles, causing damage estimated at £200.” Let our readers note the true Roman Catholic Church in action against Protestantism in Spain. If they had the power, the same would happen in Scotland, England and Ulster. On the other hand, just think of the great outcry there would be in this country if a Roman Catholic chapel was entered, those present assaulted and R.C. religious books burned. What a wailing would arise from R.C. authorities against such “diabolical intolerance,” well knowing the regard for the liberties of all classes in this professed Protestant realm. But the liberty in this our Country is being abused by Rome, which is the outcome of our Christian and Protestant religion and the democratic way of life. May God in His great mercy preserve us from the persecuting power of the “Man of Sin.”
The Necessity for a Creed.
We were recently rather amazed at reading in a professedly evangelical Protestant magazine the statement “The average Christian does not bother his head about creeds if he has made the great surrender of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.” This plausible popular view among many professing Christians in our day is nevertheless the sheerest sophistry. The great Puritan divine, Thomas Manton, had a very different opinion regarding fundamental principles. “Some say,” he states, “fundamentals are few; believe them and live well, and then you shall be saved. This is as if a man in building should be only careful to lay a good foundation, no matter for the roof, windows, or walls. If a man should come and unroof your house, and tell you—”Friend, I have left you the foundation, the main buttresses are safe, you would not take it well. Why should we be more careless in spiritual things?” Those who do not believe in being held to a printed Creed of their Christian beliefs have their own Creed all the same, although it is not in print.—J. P. MacQueen.
A Strange Turn of Events.
After writing the opening article in this issue of our Magazine, the “Monthly Record” of the Free Church of Scotland, for April, came to hand. To our surprise the opening article in this Free Church “Record” deals with observations upon the Free Church and Free Presbyterian Church, in an unsigned article in the March issue of “Life and Work,” the Church of Scotland monthly Magazine. We cannot now deal with the details of this criticism of us and the Free Church by the Church of Scotland writer, but we read in the Free Church reply that he “bemoans the separation between the Church of Scotland and the Free and Free Presbyterian Churches and depreciates the unco-operative attitude of these Churches.” We appreciate that the Editor of the Free Church “Monthly Record” exposes the modernistic, unspiritual, and worldly activities and criticisms of the Church of Scotland. He does so generally on the basis of worldliness, lack of a scriptural gospel, and
erroneous teaching of students in the Church of Scotland, etc. So far so good. But the purpose of this “Note and Comment” is to remind readers of the attack by a Free Church writer upon the Free Presbyterian Movement of 1893, as dealt with in our opening article in this issue. Surely the Free Presbyterian Movement and separation was essential, and originated on account of worldliness, false doctrines and an abandonment of the Confession of Faith by the Declaratory Act, Free Church of 1892-93. Yet the Free Church writer recently described it as a movement which did more to embitter the religious and social life of the Highlands than any other Movement since the Reformation. And so we have a situation wherein the Free Church writer bitterly attacks the Free Presbyterian Church in December, 1951, and vigorously criticises the Church of Scotland in relation to the Free Church, in April, 1952. We hold no brief for the Church of Scotland, a Church which is permeated through and through with worldly practices and false and soul-destroying doctrines. Nevertheless, in the light of what we here record, we cannot refrain from observing that the Free Church writer attacks the Free Presbyterian Movement, which adhered faithfully to the Truth, and the Church of Scotland for forsaking Truth. Now, where does the Free Church writer really stand? Where does his Church stand? And finally, why do the Courts and the people of the Free Church permit so much collaboration with the modernistic and unsound Church of Scotland, if the opening article in the April issue of the Free Church “Record” is the true voice of that Church as a whole?
Church Notes.
Communions.
May—First Sabbath, Kames and Oban; second, Scourie and Broadford; third, Edinburgh. June—First Sabbath, Tarbert, Applecross and Coigach; second, Shieldaig; third, Lochcarron, Glendale, Helmsdale, Dornoch and Uig; fourth, Gairloch; fifth, Inverness. July—First Sabbath, Lairg, Raasay and Beauly; second, Staffin, Tomatin and Tain; third, Halkirk, Rogart, Flashadder and Daviot; fourth, Achmore, Bracadale, North Uist and Plockton. August—First Sabbath, Dingwall; second, Portree and Stratherrick; third, Bonar, Finsbay and Laide; fourth, Stornoway, Vatten and Thurso.
The Meeting of Synod.
The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland will meet in the Free Presbyterian Church, Inverness, on Tuesday, the 20th day of May, 1952, at 6.30 p.m., the Lord willing. The Rev. D. J. Macaskill, M.A., North Uist, the retiring Moderator, will conduct divine worship at the above hour.—Robert R. Sinclair, Clerk of Synod.
Fort William Debt Cleared.
In the Lord’s goodness, the debt on the Fort William mission house has now been cleared. In making this announcement the congregation heartily acknowledges the kindness of the Building Fund Committee, and the many interested friends who have helped towards this pleasing state of things. After encountering many discouragements, this small congregation appears to be better established than ever before, and we commend its future to the prayerful interest of our people. “For who hath despised the day of small things.”—John Tallach, Interim Moderator.